I missed the State of the Union address, but I started watching it via internet. It was all choppy so I think I'll try again later. The first part wasn't that great. Bush still thinks that Democracy is the only way to prevent terrorism. Because we all know that Timothy McVeigh was from the Middle East.
I read an article in the Times today about Evangelist and how there are a huge group of them throwing "watch parties" for the State of the Union Address. They are Born Again groups that think that God wants more than just to protect the sanctity of the family and protect marriage; it doesn't stop there. He wants other things like a cleaner environment, better welfare for the poor, and that sort of things. The things that mostly Democrats work for.
I always wondered this. Why are all these conservative Republicans all rich and not-caring about poor people and drive around in SUV's and do everything immoral and non-Christ-like? How can they be of God? God isn't about money and corruption or a caste system. How do they justify themselves? I surely hope that God exists so that when Judgement Day comes around, all those assholes go to Hell and get anally raped on a continual basis in a poor neighborhood by a black person who doesn't want a Ten Commandments Statue in his face.
My favorite guy is Rick Santorum. I like this fucking Christ photo I saw of him with a solemn face with his hands out like Christ showing his wounds. The caption said about how he compares homosexuality to beastiality and incest. Who the fuck is he to make that judgement? Has he partaken in incest? Has he had sex with an animal? Has he had gay sex? To gays, what he does may be comparable to that, but they're at least nice enough not to say that or judge you on things like that. The way these assholes view anyone with an opposing view or lifestyle is comparable to Hitler's take on the Jews.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Everyone loves "Curb Your Enthusiasm" because Larry David just says what's on his mind and is funny. What's not funny is when you live in Los Angeles, you're around all those assholes all the time. So in essence, it's a reality show. What I don't get, is when I'm like that to people, they all get offended and touchy and tell me "that's not good customer service." I'm just telling it like it is. I don't see how it's not funny when I do it.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Ohira Film Festival 2006 Vol# 797
Among the myriad of films viewed this weekend, we saw Little Otik. This movie is the funniest shit ever. Very, very good. Characters, so well developed and awesome I hated almost all of them. Almost all of them I wanted to die. Except the Otik's father was great. He's probably the only sensible person in the entire film. Also Alzbetka´s father. That guy was great as well.
Renting this movie is totally worth it just to see the father's reaction when he made the wooden kid for his wife and his wife all of a sudden reacts as if it's real and goes with it.
Have you heard "I Can't Get Behind That"? That song is bomb. The drumming reminds me of the 411 Theme song/Hawai'i Five-O theme song. Then the lyrics are just great in itself. Come on, Henry Rollins and William Shatner ranting about stuff they can't get behind? That's probably the most fail-proof song in the history of mankind. It could be just Shatner and Rollins ordering food from a Chinese Menu and it'll go platinum. "I can't get behind student drivers using my streets to practice driving. When you learn to drum, you don't go to the studio. Use the parking lot!"
I watched Rocky & Rocky II yesterday as well. Like everyone, every time I watch that movie, I get super inspired and start working out more and harder. Unlike everyone who watches it, every time I watch it, I always think about drinking that five raw eggs drink he did before he started his five-week training regimen.
Renting this movie is totally worth it just to see the father's reaction when he made the wooden kid for his wife and his wife all of a sudden reacts as if it's real and goes with it.
Have you heard "I Can't Get Behind That"? That song is bomb. The drumming reminds me of the 411 Theme song/Hawai'i Five-O theme song. Then the lyrics are just great in itself. Come on, Henry Rollins and William Shatner ranting about stuff they can't get behind? That's probably the most fail-proof song in the history of mankind. It could be just Shatner and Rollins ordering food from a Chinese Menu and it'll go platinum. "I can't get behind student drivers using my streets to practice driving. When you learn to drum, you don't go to the studio. Use the parking lot!"
I watched Rocky & Rocky II yesterday as well. Like everyone, every time I watch that movie, I get super inspired and start working out more and harder. Unlike everyone who watches it, every time I watch it, I always think about drinking that five raw eggs drink he did before he started his five-week training regimen.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Added to that...
I forgot. Last night, while Jeanne was talking to one of Susie's friend, one of her other friend sat down and asked, "What are you guys talking about?"
"Work, clothes...all that stuff," the girl replied.
"The Matrix," I added.
They looked at me and asked, "What? Did say chick stuff?"
"I said 'the Matrix.'"
"Oh." Tumbleweed
"Work, clothes...all that stuff," the girl replied.
"The Matrix," I added.
They looked at me and asked, "What? Did say chick stuff?"
"I said 'the Matrix.'"
"Oh." Tumbleweed
Another Day
During the period of time that I was listening to "Get In The Van," I went to Chicago. While strolling through the Wicker Park area, I went into Myopic and they had the book of "Get In The Van." I didn't buy it but I looked through it briefly. I'm not sure if it said it or not, but I think it said something about Greg Ginn telling him that he should keep a journal.
The reason I'm not sure if it said that there or not is because I had a dream shortly after that I was hanging out with Black Flag. In my dream it was in '83 or so. I went on tour with them, and it was right before we left where I think Henry might've told me about the journal thing. So I was really excited to go on tour because I've listened to this CD a bunch of times. So we're in Europe somewhere and I'm in the car with all of Black Flag and everyone is writing in their journals. I tried talking but wasn't allowed to, because they were all hard at work. It was a real let down.
Last night we went to Echo Park and hung out with Susie at a place called the Gold Room. Echo Park is an awesome neighborhood. It's the mexican/hipster area. The bar we met Susie at was a small bar and they had a mariachi band playing. We walked in and Susie was talking to a group of people. We stood somewhat behind her and a waitress wearing this netted top with disgustingly huge breasts and a short red skirt asked what we wanted. I ordered our drinks and she escorted us to a booth. On the way there, Susie noticed us and told us to come sit in their booths. The netted top and short red skirt thing seems to be their uniform at this bar.
But back to her taking our drink order. The mariachi band was performing to the table right next to us and she says, "Can I get you something?"
I ask Jeanne what she wants and as soon as she is about to tell me, the horn player starts playing his trumpet right in our faces. So the waitress again asks what we want and as soon as I try to tell her, the horn player bramps again. This goes on for about a minute. It's really awesome because this place is not that big of a place and you can barely hold a conversation with anyone without yelling at top volume. And I'm not complaining. I've never been to Echo Park before. It's a nice place. I can see why all the hipsters live there.
Susie's friends were all very nice. Especially the one who bought us drinks. Probably not because he knew us or talked to us at all that night, but because we were on the table Susie was at and he was going to buy drinks for her and just so happened there were six people at that table. Cheers! Her friends are apparently all musicians, designers, and all that jazz. One of Susie's friend who, at that point, was sitting right next to her said something to me and I couldn't hear what she said. I smiled and nodded at her. She kept looking at me like she was waiting for an answer. So I said, "What?" She said it again. Barely audible over the noise but I thought she said, "So, you know Susie?" I smiled and nodded again then continued to look around. I turned back to her direction and she was still looking at me with the same blank expression, so I said, "What?" She pulled in closer and said, "How long have you known Susie?"
"Oho! I don't know. A year?" Looking at Susie. She shakes her head. "Uh, Six months?" Susie nods.
I talked to this one guy who I immediately liked. His name is Shawn and he's an apprentice for this tattoo guy down in Anaheim Hills. He gets paid $150/hr as an apprentice and once he becomes a tattoo artist there, he'll get paid $300/hr. The place he works at isn't like a small tattoo place where people go to get "Mom" tattooed on them at. It's a place that people go to to get like a full-body tattoo. Or like a Dungeons & Dragons scene on their back (which he did do). He said once that this Mexican kid kept coming in and wanted an F-18 or something (it's this big Mexican gang name) tattoo on his head. He said they couldn't because he's 16. Then one day, this huge Mexican guy comes with him and he says, "This is my son. Give him a tattoo, or we're going to have a problem." He told him to hold on. He asked his boss and his boss looked out at this guy and said, "Do it. Do it for free."
Anyway, the thing about this guy that got us into conversation initially was because he mentioned something about skateboarding and we ended up talking for a while. It started out talking about Danny Way clearing the Great Wall of China. He said he was at that DC premiere. Then we started talking about Plan B and how we remembered Danny Way from H-Street days. Then about the Plan B team from the early-mid ninties and the New Deal team. Then about Rodney Mullen and how he used to do demos and be sponsored by Billabong or something.
Susie's friend Darryl is having a party tonight and we might go to it. Depending how we feel. I'm really looking forward to going, as we don't do much here and I really like going to new places and meeting new people.
I talked ot Susie for a bit about how Kaiser Permanente is surrounding the Hubbard Dianetics place. She said it happened to be that way, but I was kind of curious as to how a plot of land would be available right in the middle of the Kaiser industry there. Maybe down the street I could understand, but not there. She was telling me that she's going to a party today who the director from "But I'm a Cheerleader" is throwing. She said she hadn't seen that movie. I told her that it was a Don't-be-gay-anymore-camp movie and the main character found out she was gay by going there. And that one girl with the horned-rimmed glasses is hot.
Speaking of cheerleading, a while ago I thought I saw Joe Knapp walking down the street here. Last night at the gas station, I thought I saw Chris Harding.
I got an email at work that was a girl's response for a rate we're working on with her. My co-worker asked her to send her the name of the company and the price because we do price matching. She responded saying, "Why would I do that. To lose a good opportunity and reveal your competition. I search for the BEST rates..."
I could easily respond to this nicely and explain, but fuck her. This is what I responded with:
Because we do price matching. If they are a legally licensed company and the rate you say they quoted you is real, we will match it and give you a 5% discount on top of that.
We need to know what the rate is because then anyone can just call us and say, "Oh, this limo company said they would do it for $5 and hour." What proof do we have?
We are trying to help you, but if you don't want it, you can use the other company.
Thank you,
Brett
This is what I ended up sending. It took some revisions, but this is the final one. I had to tone it down a lot. I don't want to help anymore, so I should just send her the original one I had typed up. It basically said to fuck off and we don't want her business because she's so fucking stupid. I might end up doing that. As I type this blog up I'm getting more and more upset because I really want to email her and put more stuff like, "Yes we want to know our competition. Do you know what a fucking business is? If someone's cheaper than us, maybe we're overcharging and need to make more competitive prices...so fuck you, bitch! Don't think you're all fucking smart. I'll fucking drive a limo up your fucking ass, slut!"
Arghhhhh!!! I need to stop thinking about this or I'll send something bad...I can't wait for a reponse from her. She has waged war. She will rue the day she ever thought she was fucking clever.
The reason I'm not sure if it said that there or not is because I had a dream shortly after that I was hanging out with Black Flag. In my dream it was in '83 or so. I went on tour with them, and it was right before we left where I think Henry might've told me about the journal thing. So I was really excited to go on tour because I've listened to this CD a bunch of times. So we're in Europe somewhere and I'm in the car with all of Black Flag and everyone is writing in their journals. I tried talking but wasn't allowed to, because they were all hard at work. It was a real let down.
Last night we went to Echo Park and hung out with Susie at a place called the Gold Room. Echo Park is an awesome neighborhood. It's the mexican/hipster area. The bar we met Susie at was a small bar and they had a mariachi band playing. We walked in and Susie was talking to a group of people. We stood somewhat behind her and a waitress wearing this netted top with disgustingly huge breasts and a short red skirt asked what we wanted. I ordered our drinks and she escorted us to a booth. On the way there, Susie noticed us and told us to come sit in their booths. The netted top and short red skirt thing seems to be their uniform at this bar.
But back to her taking our drink order. The mariachi band was performing to the table right next to us and she says, "Can I get you something?"
I ask Jeanne what she wants and as soon as she is about to tell me, the horn player starts playing his trumpet right in our faces. So the waitress again asks what we want and as soon as I try to tell her, the horn player bramps again. This goes on for about a minute. It's really awesome because this place is not that big of a place and you can barely hold a conversation with anyone without yelling at top volume. And I'm not complaining. I've never been to Echo Park before. It's a nice place. I can see why all the hipsters live there.
Susie's friends were all very nice. Especially the one who bought us drinks. Probably not because he knew us or talked to us at all that night, but because we were on the table Susie was at and he was going to buy drinks for her and just so happened there were six people at that table. Cheers! Her friends are apparently all musicians, designers, and all that jazz. One of Susie's friend who, at that point, was sitting right next to her said something to me and I couldn't hear what she said. I smiled and nodded at her. She kept looking at me like she was waiting for an answer. So I said, "What?" She said it again. Barely audible over the noise but I thought she said, "So, you know Susie?" I smiled and nodded again then continued to look around. I turned back to her direction and she was still looking at me with the same blank expression, so I said, "What?" She pulled in closer and said, "How long have you known Susie?"
"Oho! I don't know. A year?" Looking at Susie. She shakes her head. "Uh, Six months?" Susie nods.
I talked to this one guy who I immediately liked. His name is Shawn and he's an apprentice for this tattoo guy down in Anaheim Hills. He gets paid $150/hr as an apprentice and once he becomes a tattoo artist there, he'll get paid $300/hr. The place he works at isn't like a small tattoo place where people go to get "Mom" tattooed on them at. It's a place that people go to to get like a full-body tattoo. Or like a Dungeons & Dragons scene on their back (which he did do). He said once that this Mexican kid kept coming in and wanted an F-18 or something (it's this big Mexican gang name) tattoo on his head. He said they couldn't because he's 16. Then one day, this huge Mexican guy comes with him and he says, "This is my son. Give him a tattoo, or we're going to have a problem." He told him to hold on. He asked his boss and his boss looked out at this guy and said, "Do it. Do it for free."
Anyway, the thing about this guy that got us into conversation initially was because he mentioned something about skateboarding and we ended up talking for a while. It started out talking about Danny Way clearing the Great Wall of China. He said he was at that DC premiere. Then we started talking about Plan B and how we remembered Danny Way from H-Street days. Then about the Plan B team from the early-mid ninties and the New Deal team. Then about Rodney Mullen and how he used to do demos and be sponsored by Billabong or something.
Susie's friend Darryl is having a party tonight and we might go to it. Depending how we feel. I'm really looking forward to going, as we don't do much here and I really like going to new places and meeting new people.
I talked ot Susie for a bit about how Kaiser Permanente is surrounding the Hubbard Dianetics place. She said it happened to be that way, but I was kind of curious as to how a plot of land would be available right in the middle of the Kaiser industry there. Maybe down the street I could understand, but not there. She was telling me that she's going to a party today who the director from "But I'm a Cheerleader" is throwing. She said she hadn't seen that movie. I told her that it was a Don't-be-gay-anymore-camp movie and the main character found out she was gay by going there. And that one girl with the horned-rimmed glasses is hot.
Speaking of cheerleading, a while ago I thought I saw Joe Knapp walking down the street here. Last night at the gas station, I thought I saw Chris Harding.
I got an email at work that was a girl's response for a rate we're working on with her. My co-worker asked her to send her the name of the company and the price because we do price matching. She responded saying, "Why would I do that. To lose a good opportunity and reveal your competition. I search for the BEST rates..."
I could easily respond to this nicely and explain, but fuck her. This is what I responded with:
Because we do price matching. If they are a legally licensed company and the rate you say they quoted you is real, we will match it and give you a 5% discount on top of that.
We need to know what the rate is because then anyone can just call us and say, "Oh, this limo company said they would do it for $5 and hour." What proof do we have?
We are trying to help you, but if you don't want it, you can use the other company.
Thank you,
Brett
This is what I ended up sending. It took some revisions, but this is the final one. I had to tone it down a lot. I don't want to help anymore, so I should just send her the original one I had typed up. It basically said to fuck off and we don't want her business because she's so fucking stupid. I might end up doing that. As I type this blog up I'm getting more and more upset because I really want to email her and put more stuff like, "Yes we want to know our competition. Do you know what a fucking business is? If someone's cheaper than us, maybe we're overcharging and need to make more competitive prices...so fuck you, bitch! Don't think you're all fucking smart. I'll fucking drive a limo up your fucking ass, slut!"
Arghhhhh!!! I need to stop thinking about this or I'll send something bad...I can't wait for a reponse from her. She has waged war. She will rue the day she ever thought she was fucking clever.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Wacky Day
I just saw two of the most ridiculous things ever. Living in Los Angeles you just can't avoid being surrounded by idiots. Stupid fucking people who just don't know how to think. Like if you're trying to parallel park on the street with your blinkers on, people will honk. They drive by and flip you off or yell at you. If you stop to let people in the crosswalk cross, the people behind you honk, as if you just decided to stop for no reason. Just stop and meditate for a while. Which is probably why, to quote Bill Hicks, "California's the only place where common courtesy has to be enforced." That whole pedestrian right-of-way law.
So I was on the way to the mechanic to give him a check for one of our limos. I caught a red light. So did this van that was in the left turn lane who was waiting to turn. I stopped at the line. He stayed stopped in the MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION!!! Swear to god. I thought maybe he stalled or something. So the cars with the green had to go straight or turn left while driving around him. Then the next set of cars got their green and drove around him. Then we got the green and he made his turn.
This fucking idiot didn't want to turn on the red light, so he decided it better to stay in the middle of the fucking intersection. What the fuck is wrong with this guy? The other phonomenon that occurred at this point was that not one person honked. Not one. Maybe people just couldn't believe someone could be that stupid.
I can't even get away with doing something as reasonable as parallel parking without furrowing a lot of brows and almost getting assasinated and this ass-clown does the most ridiculous thing ever and people act as if nothing's going on. Did this guy close his eyes and pretend no one was there?
Going to hang out with Jeanne's friend Susie and Alex tonight. Wonder what we're doing? I don't have money. I was trying to save money because next week, Alex's band Irving is playing a show. I was really looking forward to that show. I have a big interest in seeing bands in their hometown. It could be really great or really lame. This is Los Angeles. I'm not expecting much.
So I was on the way to the mechanic to give him a check for one of our limos. I caught a red light. So did this van that was in the left turn lane who was waiting to turn. I stopped at the line. He stayed stopped in the MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION!!! Swear to god. I thought maybe he stalled or something. So the cars with the green had to go straight or turn left while driving around him. Then the next set of cars got their green and drove around him. Then we got the green and he made his turn.
This fucking idiot didn't want to turn on the red light, so he decided it better to stay in the middle of the fucking intersection. What the fuck is wrong with this guy? The other phonomenon that occurred at this point was that not one person honked. Not one. Maybe people just couldn't believe someone could be that stupid.
I can't even get away with doing something as reasonable as parallel parking without furrowing a lot of brows and almost getting assasinated and this ass-clown does the most ridiculous thing ever and people act as if nothing's going on. Did this guy close his eyes and pretend no one was there?
Going to hang out with Jeanne's friend Susie and Alex tonight. Wonder what we're doing? I don't have money. I was trying to save money because next week, Alex's band Irving is playing a show. I was really looking forward to that show. I have a big interest in seeing bands in their hometown. It could be really great or really lame. This is Los Angeles. I'm not expecting much.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
J. Mascis
There are a select few people who can use a wah-wah pedal very effectively and beautifully. J. Mascis happens to be one of them.
Pogues
Hey Headley,
Looks like the Pogues are playing in the US in March. All their shows are sold out except one in Boston.
Looks like the Pogues are playing in the US in March. All their shows are sold out except one in Boston.
Morning Commute
I was driving home from the vet this morning and was listening to 103.1. Someone called and said, "Dickey. I'd like to request something." He asked what. The guy says, "Pogues! Pogues! Pogues!"
I haven't heard a Pogues song on the radio in over 10 years, let alone someone requesting one. I got super excited. I kind of bummed out when they played "Haunted." The version on the "Sid & Nancy" soundtrack, no less. I dealt with it. Leave it to fucking Dickey Barrett to play that song. Then he gave his psuedo-knowledge of the Pogues upon completion of that song.
Then a little while later some ass-clown calls up and says, "Hey Dickey. You're doing a great job. I don't get the radio station out east so I'm listening to you online. Who did that song you played a while ago? It was something like Mars Walters."
Then someone else called and said, "Can you play some Operation Ivy?"
Sure thing.
I got excited again. Operation Ivy is one of my favorite bands. Leave it to fucking ska-man Dickey Barrett to play "Sound System."
I haven't heard a Pogues song on the radio in over 10 years, let alone someone requesting one. I got super excited. I kind of bummed out when they played "Haunted." The version on the "Sid & Nancy" soundtrack, no less. I dealt with it. Leave it to fucking Dickey Barrett to play that song. Then he gave his psuedo-knowledge of the Pogues upon completion of that song.
Then a little while later some ass-clown calls up and says, "Hey Dickey. You're doing a great job. I don't get the radio station out east so I'm listening to you online. Who did that song you played a while ago? It was something like Mars Walters."
Then someone else called and said, "Can you play some Operation Ivy?"
Sure thing.
I got excited again. Operation Ivy is one of my favorite bands. Leave it to fucking ska-man Dickey Barrett to play "Sound System."
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Pierce Brosnan: Round 2
I just noticed on that cover for that "Grey Owl" movie below that it says, "Special Edition." What the fuck does that mean for that movie? The good version? They got an actual actor for it? Got the movie to be, at least, interesting?
Dream Boat
I don't remember most of my dream last night, but I do remember one part that I bought a gram of crystal meth and smoked a bit. Then I felt the high again, in my dream. I have this thing in my dreams that if I take drugs, I get high. Like before I ever did acid or coke or crystal meth, I had dreams that I did them, and I was able to feel the high in every aspect and all the physical sensation. It was kind of a creepy and weird. But anyway, the same thing happened last night with the meth and I thought I was going to get addicted to it again, because I had a whole bag left. I was walking down the street and there were cops who were approaching so I stashed the meth in this thing of oregano that I happened to have with me. I figured that the oregano would hide the smell of the meth if I get searched. But after I placed it in there, I realized that the bag of meth was a little damp and the bag was a tea bag. Therefore the meth would be covered by the oregano, thus ruining it for any further use. So I took it back out and wiped it off. I have no idea what this dream was about.
Another part of it, I was looking through some book that I thought it was a yearbook, but found out that it was, in fact, a book of people who died in the Iraq war. Amongst them was Sharnelle. This girl I went out with for a spell in high school. I was sad. I don't know what this dream was about either.
Another part was me as a great warrior destroying the evil warlords single-handedly. All my men were killed, and I was being attacked left and right and I could not be stopped. Then I woke up and I was at Club Nico and Chris Headley was there. I asked, "Head, what are you doing here?"
He replied, "I loved this place so much, I bought it." This dream, I understand very well.
Anyhow I'm very excited about getting off tonight as I get to do laundry. I also have not wanted to work this entire week, so this week just dragged on and on and as you could probably tell by my blogs, it's been very miserable and taken in stride. Also, tomorrow is my day off. I've been reading "The Trial," which is really great so far and I'm only in the first 30 pages of it. I plan to put a huge dent in that one tomorrow. We're getting two of our Netflix movies as well: "Little Big Men" and "Seinfeld: Season 1, disc 2." You know those old Seinfelds where they throw in the comedy act in between scenes? I never thought those to be funny. I really hate stand-ups for the most part. There are a bunch I like, but most of them are not entertaining. I actually want to beat them in the head with a shoe. But on the first Seinfeld disc, he did a bit that actually made me laugh.
Headley, thanks for the records. I like the huge shipping contraption you sent. At first I thought you just sent me a piece of cardboard for me to practice breakdancing on. Then I thought that maybe it's that glass prison thing that those bad guys from "Superman II" were in.
Speaking of "Superman II," there's this liquor store next to the laundromat and there's this cool guy that works there. I think that he likes me. I kind of joked that he was my lover because whenever I got there he looks at me dreamily and we talk a little. There's kind of this weird thing in the air. But I went there last week and I didn't really notice anything different at first and then he said, "Nice beard." I said, "Thanks," but as I said that I noticed that he had started growing a beard as well. Very weird, I must say.
Another part of it, I was looking through some book that I thought it was a yearbook, but found out that it was, in fact, a book of people who died in the Iraq war. Amongst them was Sharnelle. This girl I went out with for a spell in high school. I was sad. I don't know what this dream was about either.
Another part was me as a great warrior destroying the evil warlords single-handedly. All my men were killed, and I was being attacked left and right and I could not be stopped. Then I woke up and I was at Club Nico and Chris Headley was there. I asked, "Head, what are you doing here?"
He replied, "I loved this place so much, I bought it." This dream, I understand very well.
Anyhow I'm very excited about getting off tonight as I get to do laundry. I also have not wanted to work this entire week, so this week just dragged on and on and as you could probably tell by my blogs, it's been very miserable and taken in stride. Also, tomorrow is my day off. I've been reading "The Trial," which is really great so far and I'm only in the first 30 pages of it. I plan to put a huge dent in that one tomorrow. We're getting two of our Netflix movies as well: "Little Big Men" and "Seinfeld: Season 1, disc 2." You know those old Seinfelds where they throw in the comedy act in between scenes? I never thought those to be funny. I really hate stand-ups for the most part. There are a bunch I like, but most of them are not entertaining. I actually want to beat them in the head with a shoe. But on the first Seinfeld disc, he did a bit that actually made me laugh.
Headley, thanks for the records. I like the huge shipping contraption you sent. At first I thought you just sent me a piece of cardboard for me to practice breakdancing on. Then I thought that maybe it's that glass prison thing that those bad guys from "Superman II" were in.
Speaking of "Superman II," there's this liquor store next to the laundromat and there's this cool guy that works there. I think that he likes me. I kind of joked that he was my lover because whenever I got there he looks at me dreamily and we talk a little. There's kind of this weird thing in the air. But I went there last week and I didn't really notice anything different at first and then he said, "Nice beard." I said, "Thanks," but as I said that I noticed that he had started growing a beard as well. Very weird, I must say.
Stupid People Part 8,000,000
All the men have Bill O'Reilly and all the women have Oprah. The two figures that say stuff and no matter what it is, their legions of followers comply without a whimper. Ooh, Oprah's new diet. How's she doing it? And it's something that's been around for ages and readily available for anybody who is actually interested in losing weight or whatever. They're just too lazy to look up the information themselves. Which is probably why they're so fat in the first place. "You should do this."
"But Oprah said that she does this."
Funny thing. There was this huge Oprah billboard by the Culver City Denny's by Jefferson/405. It has her huge ugly face and the topic of the show that week or day. One day it said something something funny like, "Child Molesters" or something like that. But if you didn't know she had a show, you might think that's a declarative billboard.
I've mentioned before about how people get all meticulous about our rates here when I quote them I say that the rate includes gratuity, tax, and other fees. Then they ask what the other fees are. I hate that because it doesn't matter what they are. Why does it matter? You asked how much it costs for a particular service, I tell you. If the price is great for you, take it. If not, move the fuck on. They all try and get all business-like on the phone like, "It'll be $400."
"So what does that break down to hourly?"
They ask you that because they are comparing the hourly rate with another company's. Which is dumb since I've already told them the total price. By their rationale, If Company A charges them $75/hr and for the amount of hours they rent it for plus fees and comes to $500. And Company B charges them $60/hr and with fees and all comes to $800, they'd go with Company B. Is that a bit much of me to make out of all this? Not really.
Or there are some people you quote and give them the total and then on their end they're dissecting the rate you quoted and trying to break it down. So they're thinking outloud going, "$400. And that's four hours at $65/hr..." And I just say, "And there's a 10% fuel surcharge, 8% tax, and 3.9% administration fee."
In fact, anything anyone says anymore, just infuriates me anyway.
"But Oprah said that she does this."
Funny thing. There was this huge Oprah billboard by the Culver City Denny's by Jefferson/405. It has her huge ugly face and the topic of the show that week or day. One day it said something something funny like, "Child Molesters" or something like that. But if you didn't know she had a show, you might think that's a declarative billboard.
I've mentioned before about how people get all meticulous about our rates here when I quote them I say that the rate includes gratuity, tax, and other fees. Then they ask what the other fees are. I hate that because it doesn't matter what they are. Why does it matter? You asked how much it costs for a particular service, I tell you. If the price is great for you, take it. If not, move the fuck on. They all try and get all business-like on the phone like, "It'll be $400."
"So what does that break down to hourly?"
They ask you that because they are comparing the hourly rate with another company's. Which is dumb since I've already told them the total price. By their rationale, If Company A charges them $75/hr and for the amount of hours they rent it for plus fees and comes to $500. And Company B charges them $60/hr and with fees and all comes to $800, they'd go with Company B. Is that a bit much of me to make out of all this? Not really.
Or there are some people you quote and give them the total and then on their end they're dissecting the rate you quoted and trying to break it down. So they're thinking outloud going, "$400. And that's four hours at $65/hr..." And I just say, "And there's a 10% fuel surcharge, 8% tax, and 3.9% administration fee."
In fact, anything anyone says anymore, just infuriates me anyway.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Beverly Hills Sux!
So Jeanne quit her job this morning. Again. But this time it's permanent. The reason she stayed was they told her that they'd hire someone within a week or two and give her a few days off to fix up her sleep schedule and then start on day shifts just doing the auditing. Meaning that she would not have to deal with any customer at all. And get a raise. How can you turn that down? So she agreed.
Two weeks later, still no hire. Still the same stupid management thing. Still the same stupid problems that never get fixed. Still the same stupid Beverly Hills customers. I'm not sure if people are just genuinely dickheads or if there's some transformation process they or their minds go through upon crossing the threshold of the normal world and that of Beverly Hills.
Same way that I wonder about people that I deal with on an everyday basis at home or on the road or at the grocery store. Everywhere I go it seems as if I have this dumb spell following me around that infects everyone in a mile radius. It also has the ability to travel via phone lines. It's like Pennywise but instead of torturing me by my fears, it gets me by making everyone around be way dumber than usual. Like they're dialing the number here at work and while the phone's ringing they're talking to their partner saying like, "...then it split so I sold half my stocks [ring] and put it into a futures account. If you [ring] keep it there, you have this option of diversifying the [ring] contract and then..."
"Paramount Limousine."
"Duh, I'm a stupid-head."
Two weeks later, still no hire. Still the same stupid management thing. Still the same stupid problems that never get fixed. Still the same stupid Beverly Hills customers. I'm not sure if people are just genuinely dickheads or if there's some transformation process they or their minds go through upon crossing the threshold of the normal world and that of Beverly Hills.
Same way that I wonder about people that I deal with on an everyday basis at home or on the road or at the grocery store. Everywhere I go it seems as if I have this dumb spell following me around that infects everyone in a mile radius. It also has the ability to travel via phone lines. It's like Pennywise but instead of torturing me by my fears, it gets me by making everyone around be way dumber than usual. Like they're dialing the number here at work and while the phone's ringing they're talking to their partner saying like, "...then it split so I sold half my stocks [ring] and put it into a futures account. If you [ring] keep it there, you have this option of diversifying the [ring] contract and then..."
"Paramount Limousine."
"Duh, I'm a stupid-head."
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Death to Smoochy
Currently, I'm on hold with a lady who called for a pick-up later today. She asks if we service the John Wayne Airport and I say we do. I ask when it's for and she says it's for today so I ask what time. She's looks through her papers. Can't find it. She looks some more. Still no dice. She's looking for about three minutes, which in on-hold-on-the-phone-time is very long. I hate when people aren't prepared for things they know they need to have ready. For example, people in line ordering something or having something rung up and at the very last minute when they are told the total, they start looking for their wallets or checkbook or whatever they have to make a payment with. Some don't even look for it then. They tell you what they want and then you tell them the total and then they keep looking around at something they may want, additionaly. Which is fine. Except when I'm in a line, I know the cashier wants nothing more than to move the line and the people in the line want nothing more than said cashier to move it.
So I try my best to be as efficient as possible. So I get prepared ahead of time. Looking at what I want and pulling my wallet out. Checking if I have cash and if not, looking around to see if they take other forms of payments that I may have, which makes total sense to do now since you don't want to wait in line all this time and place an order, only to find out they don't accept cards or checks, because a lot of people do do that and when you tell them you don't accept this or that they look at you like they're expecting you to say you're joking or something. Then when they find out you're not, they say something like, "Well you should accept cards. Every where else does." Also, if it's a place I've never been to before, especially if there's a line, I like to observe the ordering process and listen to what and how others are ordering so I don't spend 10 minutes in line and move up and ask, "So what do you guys serve here?" That seems kind of an unreasonable situation to wait in line for 10 or more minutes and get up there and not know what the line was for, but it does happen. Let me assure you of that.
I watched this movie called "Death to Smoochy" last night. Pretty good movie, except the fact that I found some flaws. I won't get into all of them, but one of them was in the end credits. Ed Norton, Robin Williams, and Catherine Keener were ice skating. That's not the messed up part. The messed up part was they started flying around. Flying around on ice skates! That was so fake.
So I try my best to be as efficient as possible. So I get prepared ahead of time. Looking at what I want and pulling my wallet out. Checking if I have cash and if not, looking around to see if they take other forms of payments that I may have, which makes total sense to do now since you don't want to wait in line all this time and place an order, only to find out they don't accept cards or checks, because a lot of people do do that and when you tell them you don't accept this or that they look at you like they're expecting you to say you're joking or something. Then when they find out you're not, they say something like, "Well you should accept cards. Every where else does." Also, if it's a place I've never been to before, especially if there's a line, I like to observe the ordering process and listen to what and how others are ordering so I don't spend 10 minutes in line and move up and ask, "So what do you guys serve here?" That seems kind of an unreasonable situation to wait in line for 10 or more minutes and get up there and not know what the line was for, but it does happen. Let me assure you of that.
I watched this movie called "Death to Smoochy" last night. Pretty good movie, except the fact that I found some flaws. I won't get into all of them, but one of them was in the end credits. Ed Norton, Robin Williams, and Catherine Keener were ice skating. That's not the messed up part. The messed up part was they started flying around. Flying around on ice skates! That was so fake.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Ugly People
I saw part of the dumbest movie probably ever made in the history of mankind. I sometimes actually enjoy watching a Ben Affleck films somewhat, especially in comparison to this movie: "The Thomas Crowne Affair." Pierce Brosnan is on my list of most horrible actors ever. He's handsome, like a mannequin, but he's not good looking. His acting skills are nothing to talk about either. Whether it be that fucking dork in Mrs. Doubtfire or playing a fucking Indian. Look at that cover. How can you take that movie serious? Even playing James Bond he's fucking horrible. His IMDB profile says that he was chosen as People Magazine's list of Top 50 Most Beautiful People In the World. This is the magazine that voted Jon Stewart in that list in 1999. Pierce Brosnan I can sort of see how people could find him attractive, but Jon Stewart? Who the fuck chooses these people? Maybe whoever voted Mr. Stewart on there thought it was 50 most funniest people, but couldn't read and thought it said most un-funniest people. Maybe next year Forrest Whitaker will make the list.
Even if Pierce Brosnan wasn't in this, I would not like it. It's as if they gave a group of eighth graders a chance to write a screenplay and this is what they came up with. Not saying that a group of eighth graders wouldn't be able to write a good story.
I'm tired of watching movies with sophisticated guys who just walk through life untouched. They know everything. They have all the money in the world. They have pull around town. Their house gets searched by the cops with a warrant and he's home and he has his lawyer there to invalidate the search warrant. How interesting is that?
Monday, January 16, 2006
MLK Beyatch!!!
I totally forgot that today was Martin Luther King Jr. day. I saw a picture in the paper of his daughter. Let's just say that she looks like him with a bad wig.
I dropped Jeanne at work last night only to come home and have her call to tell me that she ended up being off but has to work Friday night. So I go to pick her back up. Her work is stupid. She has the same, set schedule everyweek. You would think if they changed it, someone would notify her.
On top of that, they put a memo in her box about these mandatory eight hour workshops on a Monday and a Wednesday where they're having a hired professional to come in and teach them how to be nice to customers, which reminds me of that great "Office" (the real "the Office") episode. Anyway, besides this being a stupid idea for hiring someone for that, the classes are eight hours, I think it was 11:30am-7:30pm. Jeanne would have to work Sunday night 11pm-7am, wait for the meeting to start (because by the time she came home she'd have to go right back), go to the meeting, then get picked-up at the end, come home, and go right back to work. Same thing on Wednesday. I told her that if they make her go to this thing without rearranging the schedule she should quit.
It's so stupid. Customer service is dumb. I think you give a certain amount of respect that's on a normal common sense level. Just the respect you give to anyone. Once they go above that level, fuck them. It's all just because people are too sensitvie, and companies care too much about making the customer happy rather than their employees' self-esteem. Customer satisfaction is totally necessary but how much can you take? I don't want stupid mother fuckers coming back. Unfortunately, Jeanne's work is full of those types. The ones that get mad at her because she doesn't know every single company that offers a Beverly Hills tour.
Anyone who takes a tour of Beverly Hills is stupid. Beverly Hills has nothing. It has big houses, Rodeo Drive, and restaurants and other shops. That's it! Rodeo drive is nothing spectactular either. It's just the same shops you see at any mall, but bigger shops and you pay way more for the same product. Why would anyone want to see this? Because this is the type of culture that they are raised in. If you see 90% of the new money rich people, they're so unoriginal and boring. Everything they do is so cliche. They do stuff like get an ugly car they probably don't even like, but they do because rich people have them. Look at the way they dress too. Or, "I drink wine, because I love art." Okay, dumbass. Wine has nothing to do with art. Well, with most contemporary art, it makes me enjoy it a little. Tolerate is more like it. "Here's a rock. It's a found object. It symbolizes my discontent for the corporate media."
When I go to places, I like to experience and see things that you cannot experience or see anywhere else. Going to shop in a place where the only unique experience you get there is that you spent ten times as much as their shop at the mall and you were around a bunch of vacuous, snobby, fucking bitches all day long is not my idea of a vacation. If that's what a vacation is, I'd rather just stay home and deal with that. It's so dumb.
When Joe went to San Diego and was looking for stuff to do, people would tell him, "There's this mall or this mall...." Doesn't anyone do anything besides shop? Why do you go places to just do what you can do anywhere else? The only place I could justify going shopping at on vacation are record shops. Not Tower Records or Virgin Mega-Stores, but a used record shop.
What else do you see on a Beverly Hills tour? "Here's fucking Brittney Spears' house. Isn't that awesome? Don't you feel so much better having seen her house?" It's all useless things. I'm not going to be the one wasting my time doing stuff like that and actually being impressed. Then finishing it all with a nice cup of crappuccino from Starbucks. Nothing like a day in Lame-ass-ville.
I have an attainable goal for the near future. It's to get full coverage insurance for my car. What I'm going to do is hit every stupid driver on the road. Not hurt them, but just hit them so they realize it was stupid to do what they did. More and more recently, people have been doing stupid stuff around me. Stuff like making a full stop in 40+mph traffic to drive completely across all lanes to make a turn. Not safely done in anyway. And all these keep happening in areas that obviously have another turn just up ahead where they can turn around at. Totally unecessary and dumb. And they always have this stupid look on their face that I just want to crush. I just want to hit them so they pull over and I'll say, "What the fuck are you doing? Are you kidding me?" And the rest of the things I usually say to people while driving. I'd be kind of a vigilante of some sorts. Along with my other plans of hitting people on cell phones that drive stupid. I have no problems with people who drive and talk. Just be able to do it.
Another problem I've been noticing a lot recently are in the merge lanes on the interstates. A good driving tip is if you are not getting off soon, stay out of the right lane. That way, people can merge on quickly and safely and traffic will flow smoothly. On that same note, people merging should know that they are now entering a 65 mph zone that people usually drive 10 miles over that limit. I know some on-ramps are stupidly built at an incline, but it doesn't three miles to gain that much speed. Also, people who merge into the merge lane at the merge point while cars are merging on can go fucking die. I'll help you die, too. Once I get my insurance policy.
I dropped Jeanne at work last night only to come home and have her call to tell me that she ended up being off but has to work Friday night. So I go to pick her back up. Her work is stupid. She has the same, set schedule everyweek. You would think if they changed it, someone would notify her.
On top of that, they put a memo in her box about these mandatory eight hour workshops on a Monday and a Wednesday where they're having a hired professional to come in and teach them how to be nice to customers, which reminds me of that great "Office" (the real "the Office") episode. Anyway, besides this being a stupid idea for hiring someone for that, the classes are eight hours, I think it was 11:30am-7:30pm. Jeanne would have to work Sunday night 11pm-7am, wait for the meeting to start (because by the time she came home she'd have to go right back), go to the meeting, then get picked-up at the end, come home, and go right back to work. Same thing on Wednesday. I told her that if they make her go to this thing without rearranging the schedule she should quit.
It's so stupid. Customer service is dumb. I think you give a certain amount of respect that's on a normal common sense level. Just the respect you give to anyone. Once they go above that level, fuck them. It's all just because people are too sensitvie, and companies care too much about making the customer happy rather than their employees' self-esteem. Customer satisfaction is totally necessary but how much can you take? I don't want stupid mother fuckers coming back. Unfortunately, Jeanne's work is full of those types. The ones that get mad at her because she doesn't know every single company that offers a Beverly Hills tour.
Anyone who takes a tour of Beverly Hills is stupid. Beverly Hills has nothing. It has big houses, Rodeo Drive, and restaurants and other shops. That's it! Rodeo drive is nothing spectactular either. It's just the same shops you see at any mall, but bigger shops and you pay way more for the same product. Why would anyone want to see this? Because this is the type of culture that they are raised in. If you see 90% of the new money rich people, they're so unoriginal and boring. Everything they do is so cliche. They do stuff like get an ugly car they probably don't even like, but they do because rich people have them. Look at the way they dress too. Or, "I drink wine, because I love art." Okay, dumbass. Wine has nothing to do with art. Well, with most contemporary art, it makes me enjoy it a little. Tolerate is more like it. "Here's a rock. It's a found object. It symbolizes my discontent for the corporate media."
When I go to places, I like to experience and see things that you cannot experience or see anywhere else. Going to shop in a place where the only unique experience you get there is that you spent ten times as much as their shop at the mall and you were around a bunch of vacuous, snobby, fucking bitches all day long is not my idea of a vacation. If that's what a vacation is, I'd rather just stay home and deal with that. It's so dumb.
When Joe went to San Diego and was looking for stuff to do, people would tell him, "There's this mall or this mall...." Doesn't anyone do anything besides shop? Why do you go places to just do what you can do anywhere else? The only place I could justify going shopping at on vacation are record shops. Not Tower Records or Virgin Mega-Stores, but a used record shop.
What else do you see on a Beverly Hills tour? "Here's fucking Brittney Spears' house. Isn't that awesome? Don't you feel so much better having seen her house?" It's all useless things. I'm not going to be the one wasting my time doing stuff like that and actually being impressed. Then finishing it all with a nice cup of crappuccino from Starbucks. Nothing like a day in Lame-ass-ville.
I have an attainable goal for the near future. It's to get full coverage insurance for my car. What I'm going to do is hit every stupid driver on the road. Not hurt them, but just hit them so they realize it was stupid to do what they did. More and more recently, people have been doing stupid stuff around me. Stuff like making a full stop in 40+mph traffic to drive completely across all lanes to make a turn. Not safely done in anyway. And all these keep happening in areas that obviously have another turn just up ahead where they can turn around at. Totally unecessary and dumb. And they always have this stupid look on their face that I just want to crush. I just want to hit them so they pull over and I'll say, "What the fuck are you doing? Are you kidding me?" And the rest of the things I usually say to people while driving. I'd be kind of a vigilante of some sorts. Along with my other plans of hitting people on cell phones that drive stupid. I have no problems with people who drive and talk. Just be able to do it.
Another problem I've been noticing a lot recently are in the merge lanes on the interstates. A good driving tip is if you are not getting off soon, stay out of the right lane. That way, people can merge on quickly and safely and traffic will flow smoothly. On that same note, people merging should know that they are now entering a 65 mph zone that people usually drive 10 miles over that limit. I know some on-ramps are stupidly built at an incline, but it doesn't three miles to gain that much speed. Also, people who merge into the merge lane at the merge point while cars are merging on can go fucking die. I'll help you die, too. Once I get my insurance policy.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Netflix
I don't know why, but the past few rentals from Netflix has had delays. It's been shipped from sources outside of California, which they do sometimes. It's no problem, but I don't know how it can happen that three of them are like that. This means that in a week and a half period, we will have gotten three movies. That's stupid. We may have to go to Crap-buster tonight. I hope I get my refund check from school. That rental car fucked me up financially.
Speaking of financially, I need to get more boxer-briefs. I can't wear just regular briefs because they suck. I love wearing boxers, but the waist line for me is 34 and medium sized boxers fit into that category. But the leg-holes on them are too tight and it cuts the circulation in my leg off. I don't know what the waist size are for the large ones, but I assume they're like 35+. Maybe I should check?
I was going around the apartment the other night singing "Sound of Music" songs either in a falsetto or tenor. I was getting a kick out of it. Then last night, I was running around the apartment singing Public Enemy songs. First I was actually rapping them, but then turned it into a musical. Jeanne thought it was funny. I wish I knew more words to "Can't Truss it." I started that in falsetto and it was funny as hell.
I'm finishing up "Regulators," by Richard Bachman and starting "the Trial" by Franz Kafka. Both of these books I've gotten from roommates and haven't given it back to them. I didn't purposely steal them like the way Stephan stole my "If I Should Fall From the Grace With God." That is totally unacceptable. "Regulators" along with "Desperation," "Wouldn't it be Nice," & "the Stand," were leant to me by Grant. I had them ready to give it back to him when I moved, but Jeanne packed it up. Andy's "the Trial," I forgot that I had that. And I have every intention of returning them. Not like Stephen totally denying that he ever had my Pogues album. But that was also the period that I couldn't find a lot of my Pogues albums and Headley kept coming over saying how he just got that album off of Ebay. He lucked out on "Rum, Sodomy..." and "Red Roses For Me." But I'm still missing my "If I Should Fall From the Grace With God."
I just got off the phone with a girl looking for a car from West Hollywood to Santa Monica. I quote her and she asks why it cost so much. I tell her it's at a two hour minimum. She tells me that airport runs from West Hollywood are $60, why is this $170. I tell her that the airport runs are $70, and this isn't going to the airport; it's going in the other direction nowhere in the direction of the airport. She starts arguing more and I tell her, "That's what it's going to cost for what you want. If you don't want it, don't get it." I don't understand these people. They call for a rate and you give it to them. If you don't like it, don't use it. We're not the all-mighty, universal rate quoting company.
Next call was equally as stupid. "Hi. How much are your cars?"
"Which ones?"
"For three people."
"Either $45-$50."
"What's the earliest you can get a car out here."
Pause. "That depends where you are getting picked up from."
It seems to me that people in LA think of LA as a small neighborhood or something. It's like they don't realize how huge of a city Los Angeles really is. I told Jeff about calls I get for people requesting rates, and I'll ask, "What city is this picking up in?"
"Los Angeles."
"What part?!"
We started joking about this. In essence it's like, "I need a ride."
"Where do you want to be picked up from?"
"Earth."
Speaking of financially, I need to get more boxer-briefs. I can't wear just regular briefs because they suck. I love wearing boxers, but the waist line for me is 34 and medium sized boxers fit into that category. But the leg-holes on them are too tight and it cuts the circulation in my leg off. I don't know what the waist size are for the large ones, but I assume they're like 35+. Maybe I should check?
I was going around the apartment the other night singing "Sound of Music" songs either in a falsetto or tenor. I was getting a kick out of it. Then last night, I was running around the apartment singing Public Enemy songs. First I was actually rapping them, but then turned it into a musical. Jeanne thought it was funny. I wish I knew more words to "Can't Truss it." I started that in falsetto and it was funny as hell.
I'm finishing up "Regulators," by Richard Bachman and starting "the Trial" by Franz Kafka. Both of these books I've gotten from roommates and haven't given it back to them. I didn't purposely steal them like the way Stephan stole my "If I Should Fall From the Grace With God." That is totally unacceptable. "Regulators" along with "Desperation," "Wouldn't it be Nice," & "the Stand," were leant to me by Grant. I had them ready to give it back to him when I moved, but Jeanne packed it up. Andy's "the Trial," I forgot that I had that. And I have every intention of returning them. Not like Stephen totally denying that he ever had my Pogues album. But that was also the period that I couldn't find a lot of my Pogues albums and Headley kept coming over saying how he just got that album off of Ebay. He lucked out on "Rum, Sodomy..." and "Red Roses For Me." But I'm still missing my "If I Should Fall From the Grace With God."
I just got off the phone with a girl looking for a car from West Hollywood to Santa Monica. I quote her and she asks why it cost so much. I tell her it's at a two hour minimum. She tells me that airport runs from West Hollywood are $60, why is this $170. I tell her that the airport runs are $70, and this isn't going to the airport; it's going in the other direction nowhere in the direction of the airport. She starts arguing more and I tell her, "That's what it's going to cost for what you want. If you don't want it, don't get it." I don't understand these people. They call for a rate and you give it to them. If you don't like it, don't use it. We're not the all-mighty, universal rate quoting company.
Next call was equally as stupid. "Hi. How much are your cars?"
"Which ones?"
"For three people."
"Either $45-$50."
"What's the earliest you can get a car out here."
Pause. "That depends where you are getting picked up from."
It seems to me that people in LA think of LA as a small neighborhood or something. It's like they don't realize how huge of a city Los Angeles really is. I told Jeff about calls I get for people requesting rates, and I'll ask, "What city is this picking up in?"
"Los Angeles."
"What part?!"
We started joking about this. In essence it's like, "I need a ride."
"Where do you want to be picked up from?"
"Earth."
Friday, January 13, 2006
Touche Wikipedia
Well I was right about these not being indigenous to Hawai'i. But I guess they do grow them there.
Chocolate Love,
I have a box of Hawaiian Host chocolate covered macadamia nuts. This is super good. I've got shitty coffee to compliment it as well. Great story. I like that Hawai'i has this huge market with macadamia nuts. So huge that you would think they're indigenous to that place. I know they are to Australia. And I'm pretty sure that they don't grow them in Hawai'i.
Headley
Headley, this is an excerpt from Henry Rollins' journal:
"I have gone to that Seneca book many times over the years. Always a source of inspiration. I get inspiration from a lot of places. I need it. Whenever I’m onstage and I feel like turning my head to the side instead of running right into the propeller, I think of two words: Bill Hicks."
"I have gone to that Seneca book many times over the years. Always a source of inspiration. I get inspiration from a lot of places. I need it. Whenever I’m onstage and I feel like turning my head to the side instead of running right into the propeller, I think of two words: Bill Hicks."
Monday, January 09, 2006
Tree Frog
This is the grossest thing I've ever seen. Click on the enhanced picture. I can't even look at it for more than a second without wincing.
I've been having fun recently with parting words. I have this infatuation with things like that. Salutations like, "Hey Chief." But recently I've been fascinated by sign offs (I'm not sure of what you call them). Like say Bill and Tony are talking to each other and then they're done talking and parting ways and Bill says, "Tony." Then Tony says, "Bill." It's usually accompanied by a nod. I've started doing that to my drivers and the fleet manager here. Except he said, "See you later." Then I said, "Tony," and he stopped and turned around. Then I waved and he paused and then said, "Brett." Then he left. I started laughing.
I've been having fun recently with parting words. I have this infatuation with things like that. Salutations like, "Hey Chief." But recently I've been fascinated by sign offs (I'm not sure of what you call them). Like say Bill and Tony are talking to each other and then they're done talking and parting ways and Bill says, "Tony." Then Tony says, "Bill." It's usually accompanied by a nod. I've started doing that to my drivers and the fleet manager here. Except he said, "See you later." Then I said, "Tony," and he stopped and turned around. Then I waved and he paused and then said, "Brett." Then he left. I started laughing.
Whiskey Day
Oh, boy do I wish I had some whiskey tonight! So after the whole car debacle the other day, I got my car back only to have it overheating again. I talked to the mechanic and he said to run it for a while to let the coolant flow through the engine. I did. It didn't. I bought more coolant and filled it to the "cold fill level." Then I drove it around and it was all right. Even today I drove it around and it worked out fine. Then we drove to Hometown Buffet to take advantage of the $20 gift certificate that I have that doesn't cover two people, but almost does. I'm not ungreatful for the gift certificate, but you would think that being that it was given as a gift for two people's meals that it would've covered it. But I digress. So we drove to Hometown and it was packed. Out-the-door packed. So we decided to come back during the week.
On the short drive home, the car reached just below overheating point. I started getting pissed. This always happens right before taking Jeanne to work. The rest of the week is all right. I always stress out about the car whether it will start or breakdown or whatever. Everything sucks about it. So we got a rental and almost didn't because we needed a $250 deposit on a credit card, which we don't have. Anyway, the counter guy was very sympathetic to our dilemma (sp) and disregarded the deposit. That guy has a huge place in my heart. Especially being that nothing goes my way it always seems to be one thing after another. If ever there is a good spell in my life, all that means is that I should worry more because something big is going to go wrong. And don't go thinking that I'm just thinking negatively about things and that's why it's happening. Fuck you if that's what you think! I used to take everything with a good sense of humor and just think, "Things will get better."
And they always did, and things always keep happening. But I would still go on. And that was my life. And then since this whole moving-to-California thing happened and more things keep happening and happening and I keep on saying, "At least things can't get any worse. This is probably just a sign that we need to get off our asses and find out what we need to do to progress. Things can't get any worse."
But it does. No matter how bad things get, especially to ridiculous levels, things still get worse and worse and worse and worse. How much of a fucking sign do we need?! Okay fucking God!!! The past four hundred fucking signs you have put in front of me was good enough. I get the point! We're trying to fucking better our lives. Back the fuck off and let us move on. What the fuck must we do to get past this?!!!
I can't take this anymore. It seems I can't get anywhere. We can't get anywhere. Everytime we thing we have a way out, the dream just gets further and further away. I don't want to do anything anymore. I really just want to give up on everything and move home with my parents and curl up into a ball and don't talk to anyone ever again. I don't want to do anything. I can't do anything. We can't even go to school. We're so bad into credit debt and a shitty situation that we seriously can't do anything. We're stuck.
On the short drive home, the car reached just below overheating point. I started getting pissed. This always happens right before taking Jeanne to work. The rest of the week is all right. I always stress out about the car whether it will start or breakdown or whatever. Everything sucks about it. So we got a rental and almost didn't because we needed a $250 deposit on a credit card, which we don't have. Anyway, the counter guy was very sympathetic to our dilemma (sp) and disregarded the deposit. That guy has a huge place in my heart. Especially being that nothing goes my way it always seems to be one thing after another. If ever there is a good spell in my life, all that means is that I should worry more because something big is going to go wrong. And don't go thinking that I'm just thinking negatively about things and that's why it's happening. Fuck you if that's what you think! I used to take everything with a good sense of humor and just think, "Things will get better."
And they always did, and things always keep happening. But I would still go on. And that was my life. And then since this whole moving-to-California thing happened and more things keep happening and happening and I keep on saying, "At least things can't get any worse. This is probably just a sign that we need to get off our asses and find out what we need to do to progress. Things can't get any worse."
But it does. No matter how bad things get, especially to ridiculous levels, things still get worse and worse and worse and worse. How much of a fucking sign do we need?! Okay fucking God!!! The past four hundred fucking signs you have put in front of me was good enough. I get the point! We're trying to fucking better our lives. Back the fuck off and let us move on. What the fuck must we do to get past this?!!!
I can't take this anymore. It seems I can't get anywhere. We can't get anywhere. Everytime we thing we have a way out, the dream just gets further and further away. I don't want to do anything anymore. I really just want to give up on everything and move home with my parents and curl up into a ball and don't talk to anyone ever again. I don't want to do anything. I can't do anything. We can't even go to school. We're so bad into credit debt and a shitty situation that we seriously can't do anything. We're stuck.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Bad Day
All right, when you're driving a car and trying to not overheat it, you have to do this thing at redlights where you turn your engine off. When the light turns green, you start it up again. Once in a while you may have trouble starting the car up, and on that occasion, a honk may be necessary for people not in the know of what you're doing. Understandably, because you could be one of those millions of idiots who do their meditating while waiting at redlights. But five honks by each car behind and them angrily driving around you and yelling stuff is just stupid. Like people are out there purposely stalling their cars at traffic lights. That new phenomenom that's sweeping the nation.
The same phenomenom that plagues our gas stations when you're trying to drive a car but keeping it from overheating, you pull into a gas station so you can fill the car up with water to cool it down and the car in front of you pulls up to the pump all stupid so you can't go forward and then you have to stop and reverse a little and go another direction and the asshole behind you honks his horn for a few seconds and when you get around that first car, the honker gases his truck and swerves around you. Then you drive your car up to the water pump and pop your hood and it's all steaming heavily and the honker guy in the truck tries to not make eye contact with you.
It was a long an arduous journey, but we made it to the shop and saw the torn hose that caused all these problems. There was another whole ordeal with AAA that was stupid as well and made us avoid them altogether. I have no money until tomorrow, but I do have gift certificates to Hometown Buffet and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Too bad I don't have one for the grocery store. I do, however, have a cold 24 oz. beer waiting for me at home.
Which reminds me, I was thinking about living in Colorado. Denver area. I read an article a while back about all their microbreweries and how you could go to a local pub and have a huge array of local brews on tap. That would be awesome. A new beer every night. Plus breweries usually have samplers that you can order.
Next paycheck goes to a new Minidisc player.
The same phenomenom that plagues our gas stations when you're trying to drive a car but keeping it from overheating, you pull into a gas station so you can fill the car up with water to cool it down and the car in front of you pulls up to the pump all stupid so you can't go forward and then you have to stop and reverse a little and go another direction and the asshole behind you honks his horn for a few seconds and when you get around that first car, the honker gases his truck and swerves around you. Then you drive your car up to the water pump and pop your hood and it's all steaming heavily and the honker guy in the truck tries to not make eye contact with you.
It was a long an arduous journey, but we made it to the shop and saw the torn hose that caused all these problems. There was another whole ordeal with AAA that was stupid as well and made us avoid them altogether. I have no money until tomorrow, but I do have gift certificates to Hometown Buffet and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Too bad I don't have one for the grocery store. I do, however, have a cold 24 oz. beer waiting for me at home.
Which reminds me, I was thinking about living in Colorado. Denver area. I read an article a while back about all their microbreweries and how you could go to a local pub and have a huge array of local brews on tap. That would be awesome. A new beer every night. Plus breweries usually have samplers that you can order.
Next paycheck goes to a new Minidisc player.
Perks
The best thing about working at a limo company at Rose Bowl time is the availability of the drivers and the ability to drink in the limo. On the way to take Jeanne to work (405 northbound) I noticed a smell that was very similar to maple syrup. I asked, "Do you smell that? It smells like maple syrup."
"Maybe there was a maple syrup plant explosion," she said, jokingly.
Then we took the National exit and the hood started smoking. It was our car. I immediately looked at the temperature guage and it was neutral. I pulled into the Ross' parking lot and popped the hood. The radiator intact and everything else, so it was the coolant hose that came off and the steam was it on the hot engine. I'm drunk now, so I'll tell more later. We got a cab to Jeanne's work, compliments of Jeanne's work. I called Tony who was supposed to be dropping off his clients in Beverly Hills about that time. He dropped them off and picked me up and moved my car to a safe zone (more on that when sober). So I jumped in the back of the Hummer stretch and found wine left by passengers and whiskey and vodka and a long ride home. I polished off the wine and had three glasses of whiskey and have one left from before I left the Hummer. Awesome.
I need to go.
"Maybe there was a maple syrup plant explosion," she said, jokingly.
Then we took the National exit and the hood started smoking. It was our car. I immediately looked at the temperature guage and it was neutral. I pulled into the Ross' parking lot and popped the hood. The radiator intact and everything else, so it was the coolant hose that came off and the steam was it on the hot engine. I'm drunk now, so I'll tell more later. We got a cab to Jeanne's work, compliments of Jeanne's work. I called Tony who was supposed to be dropping off his clients in Beverly Hills about that time. He dropped them off and picked me up and moved my car to a safe zone (more on that when sober). So I jumped in the back of the Hummer stretch and found wine left by passengers and whiskey and vodka and a long ride home. I polished off the wine and had three glasses of whiskey and have one left from before I left the Hummer. Awesome.
I need to go.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
I forgot
I totally forgot one of the main stupid thing for that story. The security guard was pissed because they had the "Do Not Clean Room" tag on their door. That's why their room wasn't cleaned.
Fuck Stupid People
So Jeanne just put in her two weeks today. Tired of dealing with rich assholes. Aside from the stupidness of her company which would take me hours to list, the customers are way too much for anyone to handle. And her owners don't do anything but tell them to kiss the customer's ass. No matter what. Do as you're told. So there's a reason why their hotel has been rated the worst in the nation with their chain, it's because they have the most stupid, whiney, lame-ass, ridiculous customers.
So here's last night's debacle: For their overnight shift, it's just Jeanne, a security guard, and the valet. They think it's slow so they only need one person. Jeanne is not allowed to leave her desk or go upstairs, so any requests for things, the security guard needs to do it. And there are a lot. And he never gets tipped or told thank you. So last night, this lady calls, after midnight, to say that her room wasn't clean and there were no clean sheets on the couch. Jeanne told her that the roomcleaners aren't there at this time (being after midnight) but she'll send someone up. She sends the guard.
Her husband then comes downstairs to yell at her saying that "she" should be the one bringing the sheets not a security guard. Or they should have room service people to bring these things. "And the drapes were open after the room was cleaned. They should close it." While this was happening, there were people waiting to check in and the phones were ringing, so the guard came in the back to answer the phones to help out. The guy then said, "You should be answering the phones, not the security guard!" This guy, yelling at her. Not allowing her to do anything, is telling her she should be doing something that she can't because this fucking asshole is being ridiculous.
Then the guard stepped in and the guy kept going and the guy told Jeanne and the guard, "You guys should have more employees here around the clock to service more people and not have the security guard do things."
The guard said, "This isn't a five star hotel."
"What's your name?"
"Andre."
"I'm going to tell your supervisor you said that."
"Go ahead. What's he going to do? This isn't a five star hotel."
I thought that was pretty awesome. But anyway, this is a regular occurence at this hotel and Jeanne is the only one there to take all this shit. That's not even getting into the stupid stuff the company does that's dumb.
So here's last night's debacle: For their overnight shift, it's just Jeanne, a security guard, and the valet. They think it's slow so they only need one person. Jeanne is not allowed to leave her desk or go upstairs, so any requests for things, the security guard needs to do it. And there are a lot. And he never gets tipped or told thank you. So last night, this lady calls, after midnight, to say that her room wasn't clean and there were no clean sheets on the couch. Jeanne told her that the roomcleaners aren't there at this time (being after midnight) but she'll send someone up. She sends the guard.
Her husband then comes downstairs to yell at her saying that "she" should be the one bringing the sheets not a security guard. Or they should have room service people to bring these things. "And the drapes were open after the room was cleaned. They should close it." While this was happening, there were people waiting to check in and the phones were ringing, so the guard came in the back to answer the phones to help out. The guy then said, "You should be answering the phones, not the security guard!" This guy, yelling at her. Not allowing her to do anything, is telling her she should be doing something that she can't because this fucking asshole is being ridiculous.
Then the guard stepped in and the guy kept going and the guy told Jeanne and the guard, "You guys should have more employees here around the clock to service more people and not have the security guard do things."
The guard said, "This isn't a five star hotel."
"What's your name?"
"Andre."
"I'm going to tell your supervisor you said that."
"Go ahead. What's he going to do? This isn't a five star hotel."
I thought that was pretty awesome. But anyway, this is a regular occurence at this hotel and Jeanne is the only one there to take all this shit. That's not even getting into the stupid stuff the company does that's dumb.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Rose Bowl
There was a short but very pointless article in Sunday's LA Times. It was about the Rosebowl, which features USC vs. Texas. The articles was how George Bush is rooting for Texas.
I guess what bugs me about that is that someone actually got paid to find this information out. This information that any fucking person in the world would know. Aside from that, who the fuck cares? It does nothing for anyone to know who the fuck this assclown is rootin' for.
I guess what bugs me about that is that someone actually got paid to find this information out. This information that any fucking person in the world would know. Aside from that, who the fuck cares? It does nothing for anyone to know who the fuck this assclown is rootin' for.
New Year's
So I got offered a raise here at work. But I'm also in the process of getting my financial aid in order for school, so hopefully I don't have to work as much. It's a good raise, but nothing's better than not having to work as much. Anyway, I got coerced into working tonight. I was into it at first, but as soon as I booked the last car I thought, "Oh my God. I don't want to work tomorrow night."
I told Sean that I didn't want to work and he kept trying to use his sales/managing techniques he always uses on me and fails miserably because it only enrages me further for him thinking I'm dumb enough to fall for that. So I'm telling him that I don't have a cell phone, so I won't be able to meet up with the passengers...Jeanne's off of work and I don't think she wants to stay alone at home on New Year's Eve. To which he replied, "Okay, just tell her, 'I know you wanted me to be home tonight, but I'm going to be making a hundred dollars by doing this job.'" I look at him and I say, "I'm not saying that. If I do the job, it's because I want to. That's not a good reason. It doesn't matter that I need the money, that reasoning isn't going to fly. I work all the time and we hardly have time together. She's not going to want to give up a night that we can do something together so I can make a hundred extra dollars."
It went on for a while, then I said, "Sean. The only way I'll do it is if I can bring her along with me." He said yes. I said yes. So I'm driving tonight. Also, part of the negotiation process was I'm not working all day and then going straight into the job. So I'm here at work for four hours, just to get things done and make sure all the jobs are okay for tonight.
One thing that I told Sean was that I don't appreciate working so much for so little and even if I got paid more, I don't want to work that many hours.
So I did the job on Saturday night and it was pretty fun. I usually end up with cool people when I do driving jobs. The only shitty thing was that everywhere was closed and there are no Denny's in the Beverly Hills area. So after dropping the passengers at this bar, we drove around for a while looking for a place to hang out and wait at, but no dice. So we ended up hanging out in the car doing crossword puzzles. One thing that I forgot was that the car we drove had a TV/DVD player. I was so pissed at myself for not remembering that. It didn't even occur to me until we were outside of the pick-up address.
After midnight, they came back to the car and we drove them to Silverlake. Dropped them off in front of another bar and this couple walked up to the car and started talking to them and asked me if I could take him and his girlfriend home right up the street. I said yeah and he offered me $30. Then one of the passengers told me that they had personal stuff in the car and didn't want other people in there. I said sorry. I didn't know that they didn't know those people, because they were meeting friends at this place and they walked right up to the car and met them as they arrived. Ooops!
So in this area, or 10 minutes west of here, is Hollywood and there were two Denny's within three blocks of each other. So we went there and ate and waited. It was pretty good timing, because on the way back, right as we were approaching the bar they were at, they called for their pick-up and wanted to go a party that was a few blocks away. I drove there and this party was up an incredible hill. We drove so slowly up it and I thought we were going to either slide back down the hill or the car was going to flip over. It was almost at a 90 degree angle, no kidding.
So I dropped them off and decided to drive around this neighborhood. It was kind of fun. The streets were very narrow and the road was all uprooted to the extreme. The roads here would probably be very suitable for a Land Rover or a Hummer. It was fun. I wish I had my bike or probably my skateboard. They called shortly after that and wanted to bail the party. So I grabbed them an headed back to their place passing once again, Hubbard Dianetics, which is completely surrounded by Kaiser Permanente facilities. Hmmmm?
Tom Cruise was outside fixing his spaceship.
I told Sean that I didn't want to work and he kept trying to use his sales/managing techniques he always uses on me and fails miserably because it only enrages me further for him thinking I'm dumb enough to fall for that. So I'm telling him that I don't have a cell phone, so I won't be able to meet up with the passengers...Jeanne's off of work and I don't think she wants to stay alone at home on New Year's Eve. To which he replied, "Okay, just tell her, 'I know you wanted me to be home tonight, but I'm going to be making a hundred dollars by doing this job.'" I look at him and I say, "I'm not saying that. If I do the job, it's because I want to. That's not a good reason. It doesn't matter that I need the money, that reasoning isn't going to fly. I work all the time and we hardly have time together. She's not going to want to give up a night that we can do something together so I can make a hundred extra dollars."
It went on for a while, then I said, "Sean. The only way I'll do it is if I can bring her along with me." He said yes. I said yes. So I'm driving tonight. Also, part of the negotiation process was I'm not working all day and then going straight into the job. So I'm here at work for four hours, just to get things done and make sure all the jobs are okay for tonight.
One thing that I told Sean was that I don't appreciate working so much for so little and even if I got paid more, I don't want to work that many hours.
So I did the job on Saturday night and it was pretty fun. I usually end up with cool people when I do driving jobs. The only shitty thing was that everywhere was closed and there are no Denny's in the Beverly Hills area. So after dropping the passengers at this bar, we drove around for a while looking for a place to hang out and wait at, but no dice. So we ended up hanging out in the car doing crossword puzzles. One thing that I forgot was that the car we drove had a TV/DVD player. I was so pissed at myself for not remembering that. It didn't even occur to me until we were outside of the pick-up address.
After midnight, they came back to the car and we drove them to Silverlake. Dropped them off in front of another bar and this couple walked up to the car and started talking to them and asked me if I could take him and his girlfriend home right up the street. I said yeah and he offered me $30. Then one of the passengers told me that they had personal stuff in the car and didn't want other people in there. I said sorry. I didn't know that they didn't know those people, because they were meeting friends at this place and they walked right up to the car and met them as they arrived. Ooops!
So in this area, or 10 minutes west of here, is Hollywood and there were two Denny's within three blocks of each other. So we went there and ate and waited. It was pretty good timing, because on the way back, right as we were approaching the bar they were at, they called for their pick-up and wanted to go a party that was a few blocks away. I drove there and this party was up an incredible hill. We drove so slowly up it and I thought we were going to either slide back down the hill or the car was going to flip over. It was almost at a 90 degree angle, no kidding.
So I dropped them off and decided to drive around this neighborhood. It was kind of fun. The streets were very narrow and the road was all uprooted to the extreme. The roads here would probably be very suitable for a Land Rover or a Hummer. It was fun. I wish I had my bike or probably my skateboard. They called shortly after that and wanted to bail the party. So I grabbed them an headed back to their place passing once again, Hubbard Dianetics, which is completely surrounded by Kaiser Permanente facilities. Hmmmm?
Tom Cruise was outside fixing his spaceship.
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