Michael

In this KTVU news story, (not nearly as good as this one from KRON back in the day) you can clearly see this insecure wacko obsessed with having a gun brandishing his unloaded pistol at the library and the starbucks, both located two blocks on either side of the house where I grew up and where Mom and Dad still live. Do we really need to turn the crazy up to 11?

Video

This episode of South Park cracked me up! And adding Christopher Walken to the mix is crazy genius.

When someone's mind is made up, what can you do? Not a whole lot. Of course it's devastating being told by someone you've been dating that they don't feel for you how they did a couple of months ago. Well, I hope you've enjoyed the last couple of months that weren't as good as much as I did. I am thankful for my friends Don and Joseph who were there for me tonight, canceled their plans to spend the evening with me. You can't ask for better friends than that. I spent a lot of tonight in tears, and I never cry. Ever. So I imagine that, even though it was a relatively brief relationship, I'll feel it for some time.

Here's to the future. Unpredictable as it may be, let's hope there are treasures to be found.

Is there anything more frustrating, unsatisfying, and aggravating than being angry and upset with someone who seems utterly unaware that there's anything wrong?



I need a hug.

With a simple base of two cups of beans (measured when they were dry), one pound of ground beef, and a 28 oz. can of tomatoes you can make a whole lot of chili. I mean a LOT. As in, after serving out two bowls I had so much left that it didn't even fit in my biggest tupperware. Needless to say, I'll be eating chili for weeks to come. But it came out yummy, so I won't complain. So, I had chili and rice last night, how else can I change it up so I don't get too bored? Chili dogs, of course. Maybe some cornbread. Can chili be used for sloppy joes? Suggestions?

Yeah, the picture is hella blurry, but I just had to say that seeing Heart last night was so cool!! Ann and Nancy are still rock goddesses. My only complaint is that they didn't sing some of the songs I love, but everything they did sing was spot on. Amazing.

Thanks Joseph, Ryan, and Stephen for a fun night!

Just in case there is someone out there who may be unsure or have questions, let me just say this: I strongly recommend against pouring boiling bacon grease on yourself. But if you do, it helps to have had a few glasses of wine beforehand because that really takes the edge off the burning sensation.

Yeah, this is a little bit too partisan and snarky, but dang!

Well, I'll say this. Il Trovatore was no Tosca. But it was still pretty good. Although, of the four leads, I did not care for two of the actors. They sang well enough, but among all that coloratura the pronunciation of the words just gets totally lost, which is a problem for me anyway, but these two took it to another level entirely, I thought. That disappoints me a little, but I suppose I should just enjoy the melody of their singing, and all four could belt out notes like you would not believe.

I'll refrain from summarizing the plot, if you're that interested I'm sure you can look it up on wikipedia as easily as I can. Before the show, they presented bits of history and trivia about the opera and Il Trovatore apparently is distinguished for having the most "ludicrous" plot of any opera ever. And, yeah, it's crazy. It never ceases to amaze me that operas have such ridiculous stories and the events sort of just happen without any meaningful causality or sense. It's not like watching a movie where you expect a somewhat natural occurrence of plot points. And the last line of the entire four act opera, Azucena drops this huge bomb on the count who is rightly upset by it, and then BOOM! the curtain is down, show over. It's so quick. I don't know, perhaps I've grown accustomed to Puccini and need to give other composers a chance.

Lots more shirtless men in this opera than I've seen in any other productions though, so it wasn't all bad.

Only I suspect he's singing about a slightly different variety than what I feel. :(

"What are the upstairs neighbors doing?" I thought. Are they going on vacation or something? It sounds like they're rolling heavy luggage around right above me. Just put it where you want it and stop rolling it around on the wood floor. I looked over at the clock, it was almost exactly five in the morning. Then I heard it again, even louder this time. Suddenly a bright double flash in the window. Oh crap, that was thunder I was hearing. And it was so loud! BOOM!! Then I found out what was meant when people say "the heavens opened." No build-up to it, just an immediate and torrential downpour. How long has it been since I saw lightning? Since I was awake, I decided I'd go out and get a better look. I threw on some clothes, grabbed an umbrella, and went for a little walk in the rain. The problem was I didn't know where to go for the best view. I thought the top of the Douglass steps, but there are too many trees and buildings around. Then I walked over to Kite Hill, but fear got the better of me. Is it smart to go into this unlit park/open space in the middle of the night by myself? Probably not. And by this time, it seems the storm had already passed on. A few weak flashes accompanied my walk home, but now, back in bed at 5:45, it's over.

Bullshit and not cute.

The Plug Has Been Pulled on Energy 92.7

I watched this FORA video again today, and it made me chuckle again. I thought I had posted this before when it was new, but can't seem to find it, or I just suck at remembering. So here it is. Actually it's nothing special or thrilling, but the very last sentence he says will make a few certain people laugh with me. Sorry if this is repeated.

So, today at work I was searching the internet for an image of Ronald Reagan (don't ask) and I found one on some random dude's blog. Not a very unusual story until I get to the part where I actually started reading some of his posts. His name is Jon Rucini and he's running for State Comptroller of New Jersey and he's crazy. I leave you the URL:

http://jonrucini.blogspot.com/

Here is his latest post about his opponent David Yassky.


Yeah.  Uh huh.  Oh, and there were pictures to accompany his arguments.  Check those out.  Also, notice that beneath every picture on his blog he has a comment about it that starts with the word "Notice". 

P.S.  I keep reading more and it gets even funnier. Seriously, take some time out and read through this!

Not another one. 

Carnelian Room calling it quits

Totally. Sad.

The price is high when taste comes first

Everyone should find a great restaurant that serves fresh, organic, sustainable food and patronize it at least once a month. This article should be evidence that the money is well spent.

For anyone looking for a Vegas Trip recap, may I direct your attention here for the time being. Blog updates as things happen, wow! How far technology has come.

SF Weekly got under my skin a little this morning, almost literally, because one of the layouts was completely black with white text on it, which looks sharp, I must admit, but left my fingers covered in black newsprint which has since spread all over the white keys of my keyboard and probably elsewhere. I call foul! The normal amount of newsprint is bad enough, but this is ridiculous!

Anybody want to go to the next Opera in the Ballpark on Saturday Sept. 19? Il Trovatore will be simulcast at 8pm. I'll be there. I had a great time at the last one. It's a chance to eat a picnic in the outfield at Pac Bell, er...SBC, I mean AT&T Park and soak up some high culture all for free. Keep it in mind.

Say what?

Fora TV - 50 Best Websites 2009 - TIME

ETA: A video on the Time site.  FORA featured first ahead of Yelp and BoingBoing.  Nice!  

Not sure if I'm a fan of the red tank top, though.  Is that how people dress up to be on the internet these days?

Last night Silvio and I took each other out to a nice dinner for our birthdays. Nothing too fancy, just out to Eureka in the Castro. Of course, the food was delectable. Because curiosity got the better of me, I talked Silvio into sharing a small plate of fried chicken livers with horseradish sauce. They were really yummy! Soft, creamy texture with crispy cornmeal breading. Mmmm. For dinner Silvio went with the tri-tip with buttermilk blue cheese mashed potatoes. Always a winner. I had the special of lamb sirloin with a fried green tomato and red pepper jelly. That was awesome! The jelly was just spicy enough, and as our waiter, Matt, said, the fried green tomato will "change your life." No dessert because I had a cake waiting at home. But, thoughtful guy that he is, Silvio brought a magnum of Nicolas Feuillate gold label champagne to the restaurant.

It was so different from their blue label, much fruitier, almost a port like flavor with nice nuttiness and the tiniest, softest, most velvety bubbles ever. Such a treat.

Today when I went to work, it was so cloudy and dreary out. I thought this would probably be the gloomiest birthday I have ever experienced. But by lunch the sun was out and it had warmed up into the 70s. So it turned out to be almost perfect, weather-wise. I had a birthday cake at work and am looking forward to a delicious crab feast at Brad's house in celebration of Joseph and my birthdays.

So, at the risk of sounding a bit saccharine, I'm grateful for all the family and friends who have helped me celebrate the occasion of surviving another prosperous year of living. I can confidently say it's been a happy birthday. And I haven't even been to Las Vegas yet.