Missing Out?

This past weekend was my 10 year high school reunion and as I'm sitting here today I'm thinking I would like to say that I would have liked to have been there. Confusing enough sentence? Maybe, but the fact sort of remains that I'm not that unhappy that I didn't go.

Sure, I would have liked to have seen some people that I don't normally get the opportunity to see when I'm back home in Sioux Falls who don't live there either, but other than that, I only thought about what I could be missing for a few brief moments while I was down at the Lake of the Ozarks. The fact of the matter is that I haven't really kept in contact with that many people from high school since we all either moved away, went to college or both.

I didn't stay home for any typical reason that most people use to not attend a high school reunion, for example working at Wal-Mart or weighing 450 pounds, I stayed home just because I didn't really feel like it. It's pretty generic and probably even lazy, but I didn't feel like dragging my wife up to Sioux Falls for the third time in about two months. Gas is expensive, and I need gas money to get back and forth to Lincoln, Nebraska in September, October and November for Husker games.

I almost decided to go the week of, I won't lie. I even told my wife I was considering it. A few people were in my ear about coming up, and I felt bad (and still do) that I turned them down in a way by not coming at all. So I'm sure I'll sit and struggle with it for a little bit, but not too much. Had I still been living in Sioux Falls it would have been a no brainer and I would have gone. I guess living away gives people like me an excuse not to go. But it sounds like everyone had a good time and that's great. I'm glad to see that my class was still operating on the same level they pretty much were the last time I was around them. The get togethers were informal and not at some stuffy fucking country club, which is what my Mom's high school class has done every time. Screw that. If they had done that I wouldn't have even given it a second thought.

Well, now I've got 10 years to decide what to do when I'm 38. Maybe I'll give it more thought this time.

Who's House?

Have you ever wondered why people will always insist that they are right? Do you ever ponder the question of why people are so adamant in their beliefs that even when shown the folly of their ways will continue down the path of self-righteousness? It stumps me just as much as it befuddles you, the curious yet intelligent reader of this blog. Both of you.

What seems to be the most frustrating aspect to me is that people who take this position generally decide to take all opposing views as a personal attack on them, God and their country. If they say "tow-may-to" and I say "tow-ma-to" they say "fuck off you jerk off." I guess what I'm saying is if I'm going to get into a healthy and heated debate I'd at least like a little foreplay before we exchange blows.

It's funny to me that people who defend the country's honor and safety against would-be terrorists by sacrificing young men and women with children into a country that was all but absent in the attacks from September 11th, will turn around and say that they hope a bomb would have gone off in Independence, Missouri yesterday while Barack Obama was giving a speech defending his own patriotism.

The thing that irks me is that these people can, within a single breath of a conversation, wish a fiery and violent death on a United States Senator and then justify and support the deaths of thousands of troops all while saying that Jesus loves us all and we are forgiven. Maybe ultra religious conservatives who wish everyday for death are happy to wish it upon others so they can come to salvation. Who knows. I'm almost done with trying to examine the psyche of the closeted John Hagee supporter. You know, the people who are all ready to quote the Bible and will tell you that they'll pray for you but will stop short of saying that God is punishing us by increasing the price of gas because of our support for the gays. They don't want you to think they're really nuts under their shallow sea of piousness. They haven't tap danced on the lines of public craziness. Yet.

All I know is that now that the headphones are off from 9 to 5 so to speak, and the public opinions of the near senior crowd is giving me a headache.

A Dog's Life

So what is a newly married couple to do for eventual child training? Buy a dog apparently. This isn't saying we are attempting to have children at this point, well, we're practic... ok so never mind. So we brought home our canine bundle of joy today from an animal shelter here in the greater KC metro. As you can see, she's a lab and no more than 10 weeks old. Her name was Misty, however we decided it was too stripperish but didn't want to change the sound of her name too much. We eventually decided on Missy. So, to friends or family that might be named Missy and reading this, don't be offended. At least try not to be. Indiana Jones was named after a dog after all.


In other news, I'm in the middle of studying for certification and licensing in my new job this week, so things on top of the new mutt will be a little busy. The ladies I work with (two of them) in my office are quite religious and Republican. But they also have open minds while talking to me. At least for the time being. There are only five of us in our strip mall office space and that makes me happy. Goodbye and good riddance corporate banking! Hopefully for good.

Strange Fascination

This is something that I've been meaning to write about for quite some time. I'm not sure why I haven't, maybe because there is a certain level of discomfort when I know that my wife will read this. It's nothing bad. I just seem to have a strange affection for bands that have female Japanese lead singers. It used to just be chick bands or bands with chicks fronting them. Don't you love saying that word? Say it out loud right now in front of your computer no matter who is around. Chicks. Awesome.

Here are two of my favorites. And no it's not because they are hot or I have some strange thing for Asians like some people do. It's very specific. Japanese female, must sing lead in a group or musical act. That's it. Perv.

Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead

Satomi Matsuzaki of Deerhoof

Sneak Preview

Ok, so last month I complained about how much buying a houst sort of sucks, but not really. Well, it's almost all over now and barring any last minute snags we will be homeowners next Friday. I'm posting just one picture of the front of the house. I apologize for the quality, it was photographed by the sellers. If we don't get this house, I'm placing the blame squarely on you, the reader, for jinxing it by reading my blog. Jerks.

Just kidding. I love you.

Best Video of the Week

You'll probably see this everywhere soon, but if you stayed up late enough to watch Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, you saw and awesome video. If you aren't familiar with the video, I put one up that has Kimmel explaining the background for the video he is in. So sit back, relax, and take 6 minutes to watch a pretty funny music video.

Buying a House Sort of Sucks

I know, it's been awhile since I've posted, but more than likely now that I have removed this blog from my former MySpace account no one is reading it. Hell, I don't even really write in it that much.

Anyway, in the past month my wife and I have been looking for new homes. As you read a couple posts back, apartment life sucks when people try to steal your car. The attempted theft on our sweet, beloved Neon only accelerated our want and desire to purchase a new home. I was fairly excited about the prospect of moving into my own house. I was aware the process of purchasing a home was fairly lengthy, emotional and complicated. I just didn't know how aggravating it would actually be.

The easiest part of it was getting pre-approved and such. Finding houses in the area of town that we liked wasn't much more difficult either. Our Realtor is even pretty easy to work with. Although she does have some hair-brained ideas about our chances of getting a home that's been on the market for awhile in a "declining market." Our broker says not to worry, so I'll believe her.

Here's the exciting part. The house we want to buy is a foreclosure. It's actually a brand new home though. Let me explain. The builder didn't sell it fast enough or just went under and lost it to a bank or the bank that originally financed the build. So, technically it's new because it's never been occupied.

Here is what you may not know about buying a foreclosed home. When dealing with a bank it takes for fucking ever. The listing agent never answers her phone. Our Realtor has to leave messages for the most mundane items that are not carried out until the next day. Oh hey, we have a question about what you just told us, we need to call you back. Oh well, looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow.

With us being first timers, it's all very nerve wracking. The good thing is that the offer we made was accepted yesterday. All we have to wait for now is our home inspection to come back all Jim Dandy next Friday and we'll be good to go when we close on or before March 28th. So, wish us luck, we are hoping that the hard part is over. Somehow I doubt it though. We are keeping positive and hope to be in our new home soon. Pictures of the real house will be posted as soon as we actually close and take possession.

Notice now that I'm married my posts are now resembling mass family emails rather than points of view on anything of interest to anyone but my wife and I? Yeah.

Feeling South Dakota

That's right, this weekend I will be braving the elements to see some people back in my hometown of Sioux Falls. So if you know me, and I know you, and you read this entry give me a call. I'll be in town from Friday afternoon until Monday morning.

This week marked my return to college. I'm now attending Park University for a journalism major and public relations minor. Well, eventually on the PR minor. We'll see how the rest of this works out. My classes are quite interesting. Let me explain.

I haven't been to school for over six years so I thought it would be best to part-time it this semester and only take two classes. Not only that I'm taking day classes Monday through Friday. My Monday, Wednesday and Friday class is Interpersonal Communication. My professor in this class is, well, interesting to say the least. She's a bit of a dunderhead, but she seems like she'll be interesting and somewhat entertaining. My other class is even more offbeat.

Since I'm attending a liberal arts university, I have to take liberal arts classes. Of course every university has electives that one must take, but this one is a little out there in terms of class requirements. It's a music appreciation class. It's an intro class of course, but get this. No tests, no written essays and the syllabus is still to be accepted and approved by the department. The professor is obviously gay, which is fine by me but it obviously freaks some of the other students out a bit. This makes for some entertainment value for me.

Ah, the students. Most of them are like me, but younger. I feel quite old and I'm sure I look old to them. I'm married and I'm going bald. I look like I'm 35 but I'm only 27. At least to them anyway. I'm sure things will work out fine, I have a good feeling about my classes for the spring and that I'll do well. Plus, the company I'm working for is paying for it as long as I get a C or better.

Let's see, what else. Oh yeah! Now that I'm a proud member of the Nebraska Cornhusker Touchdown Club it is opening new doors for me and my Husker obsession. Being a booster now, I was invited to a club function in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 7th that involves the new head coach, Bo Pelini, and the rest of his staff. It's social hour, dinner and a presentation on the newly recruited football players!

I won't be attending this year because no one else will go with me. And it's in the middle of the week and an hour and a half away. Oh well, maybe next year. My season tickets should make me feel better for this next season.

Happy New Year

Out with the old and in with the new. In our case, meaning my wife and I, we are out with the old door and ignition switch in her car and in with a new one(s). You see, the night before New Year's Eve, New Year's Eve Eve, her car was broken into with the intention of it being stolen.

My wife was going to buy cat food in the afternoon while I was going to sit on the couch and play a rousing session of Super Mario Galaxy on my Nintendo Wii. She ran back into the apartment stating that someone tried to steal her car to which I promptly responded in true idiot form, "what, like right now?"

I went down to discover the ignition switch on the passenger floorboard of the front seat and the drivers side door had been pried away from the car to gain entry (as shown above). What the would be thief did not realize is that Neon's after the year of 2002 or 2001 had chips in the keys with the expressed purpose of not being able to hot wire them from the inside. Would it kill car thieves to subscribe to Consumer Reports to learn about theft deterrents such as this?

So we spent most of our New Year's Eve afternoon filing the police report, calling State Farm (our insurance agency) and getting the car up to the local Dodge dealership. The rep from State Farm said two other clients had their Neons broken into over the weekend. The tow truck guy said he just picked up a Neon a couple miles away and the only difference is that it was black.

Now the car is checked in at the dealership, but the body shop is backed up. It is winter in the Midwest after all. At least we only have to pay our deductible rather than upwards of $1000 for the cost of the repairs. So we ended 2007 with a bang, so to speak. Hopefully the year of 2008 doesn't involve any more destruction of our property. Who knows, it is Kansas City. Maybe this is karma for my last post of 2007?

Goodbye for now, sweet Neon!