2009: The Year in Review

At the end of 2008 I had big hopes for big changes in 2009 and figured I'd be back on the upswing in no time. Reality was a bit different. It saw abortive attempts to switch jobs, dissatisfaction with and destruction of my car, and the near-death of my social life. It ended much as it began, with me toiling away at SKF and unsure of the future. The year was fairly uneventful and my blogging suffered as a result. In 2009 I posted about one-fifth of my average for the previous two years. Also unlike previous years, I can only separate 2009 into two parts rather than three: before and after moving out.

The Year in Segments
I. January-June
The first part of the year had few notable events. I started the year dissatisfied with my job and in an attempt to change it, signed up for the Cincinnati Bartending School at the end of February. My background in chemistry and easy way with customers made me a natural and I passed the classes and got my certification. The job hunt was, unfortunately, not successful. 2009 saw the worst of the recession and jobs that would have been easy to get before now had dozens of applicants. I applied to 27 local bars, clubs, and restaurants. I got a single interview that didn't end in a job. By May, I had more or less abandoned the search and resigned myself to staying at SKF for the time being. I prepared myself for the coming move and hoped I would have the money to afford rent and food and keep my car running. On April third, I accidentally started a rivalry between Sarah and Alicia and experienced Thunder over Louisville, a giant fireworks and airshow put on as part of the Kentucky Derby festival. On May 26, I had my first run-in with a jumpy semi. It caused cosmetic damage to the Jetta and I debated whether or not I'd continue to upgrade my car as planned. I decided instead to repair what wasn't working and hope for the best.
At the beginning of June, I moved out. The transition was interesting, but I quickly adapted to living in an apartment away from home and settled into a new routine that was fairly similar to the one I'd had for the last year. I frequently wonder if I accomplished anything by moving out. I was, however, very stressed out by the end of June and resolved to take a vacation to escape my routine.
II. July-December
In July, I held up my end of a promise I'd made in 2007: I returned to New York to visit Emily. Courtney and I set off from Cincinnati in the Jetta on a rainy Saturday morning and headed northeast. We learned that Volkswagens were made for travel and are pretty comfortable for an 800-mile journey. While in the city, I experienced new things and relaxed like I hadn't in months. I ate bull penis and got briefly lost in Manhattan. I walked more in one week than I usually do in three. I sat in on another class at SVA and ate delicious food. At the end of the week, Courtney and I returned to Cincinnati feeling refreshed and optimistic.
Unfortunately, that feeling didn't last. Within weeks I'd returned to the daily grind at SKF and waited for my next escape at the end of September. Labor Day Weekend, however, was another disappointment. The fireworks weren't up to par and the drama was obscene. Meagan and I had a falling out as a result of the incidents that occurred that weekend and we still have not met, though we have exchanged a few words on occasion and could probably resume our friendship at this point. After that weekend, I continued my new routine of waiting for the next holiday and hoping things would get better.
Halloween was something of an improvement. We had a party here without incident the week before, but with less excitement than I'd expected. Many of the regulars had parties of their own to attend. I spent Halloween in Louisville and quickly returned to my sad routine. Thanksgiving was a highlight, and I spent it mostly in Louisville and/or hanging out with Emily and Andrew. I ate at Mark's and reflected on the things that had gone in my favor, few as they were. December rolled in quietly after and brought with it none of the usual holiday cheer. Being out of the house managed to isolate me from what excitement most people have and I heard the sentiment from many friends and coworkers that it just didn't feel like Christmas. My birthday was uneventful and the small party I planned ended in nicotine poisoning from a cigar that was more potent than I expected.
The year unfortunately ended with a bang. After the nonstop issues with reliability, I finally decided to sell my car in the spring when the heated seats and great winter capabilities would no longer be as important. Instead, the car was taken from me on December 16th. A truck demolished the car and left me with no car, no insurance money, and no injuries. I was happy to be unhurt but saw the event as typical of a shitty year. Shortly thereafter, my PayPal account was hacked and $600 vanished. PayPal is working on fixing the situation, but it doesn't dull the sting of so many unfortunate events at once.
On December 30th, I replaced the Jetta. I now drive a burgundy 1997 Acura Integra GS with a manual transmission. I think, in the end, the Jetta was hexed. The time that I had it saw constant repair bills, fractured friendships, the end of my time at UC, and two miserable years. I now have to take the opportunity I have before me. I have a new car. I have a new year.

The People in Review
I spent this year mainly growing apart from people, though there were a few exceptions. I'd like to reconnect with a lot of them but I frequently don't have the time or simply haven't put forth the effort. Here's the people I spent enough time with to make a note of:
Mike Mills - Mike is a 60-year-old man from Louisville who works with me at SKF. He's the one coworker I particularly get along with and makes sure to start the shift off with a conversation with me. He always stops to say hi to Sarah when she's in town and shows up with lunch and is a lot of the reason work is bearable.
James Greis - James has actually been a solid roommate and dependable friend through the year. We have our differences, but when they come to the fore we generally go to our own parts of the apartment and the conflict is over.
Alicia Zwiebel - Alicia and I share an apartment but have unfortunately been growing apart the last year or so. She doesn't get along with Sarah and spends long periods in Texas, so we don't talk like we used to. I've been making more of an effort the past few weeks, though. I have no desire to let this friend go.
Stephen Reynolds - Stevo is a solid contact in Louisville and as usual, a dependable friend. When you spend a third of your weekends in a different city with your girlfriend, having someone else there comes in handy fairly often.
Brandon Black - It seems like all Brandon and I have done for years is argue. I haven't seen him in months and have come to the conclusion that as we grew up, we simply developed important differences that have kept us a little distant. Brandon is now on the verge of burning out or so it seems, so it'll be interesting to see where he goes.
Emily Wernet - After having little contact in 2008, Emily and I made an effort to talk more in 2009 and have regained a lot of the closeness we once shared. I spent an unforgettable week with her in New York that may be the highlight of 2009 and am quite disappointed that she won't be in town at the end of the week for the New Year. We've always been able to understand each other and despite the distance, I consider her one of my closest friends.
Courtney Henderson - Courtney and I have very different schedules and almost never see each other. When we do, the conversation is always easy and natural and we get along very well. I invited her along on my trip to the Big Apple in July and we shared a lot of ludicrous moments during the Jetta's only real road trip. I'd hang out with her more if I could, though I rarely get around to even IMing her for a conversation.
Meagan McNeilan - Meagan and I had been drifting apart all year, but the friendship was at risk of ending after Labor Day weekend when I declared that I'd no longer put up with her dramatic drinking shenanigans. We haven't really talked at all since, but seem to be on friendly terms again. I know we're both ready to forgive each other for the events of that night, and hope to see her early in 2010
Sarah Lamb - Sarah and I are in the middle of our second year together and I often think that she's keeping me from full-scale depression. I haven't seen many stabler relationships than ours and have no desire to end it. She no longer gets along with some of my friends, however, and I sometimes struggle to balance my personal and social lives. Still, I think she's good for me and has been my main source of support in the last year and a half.

The Year in Music
I acquired little new music this year and changed my tastes only subtly, so there'll be no big countdown. At some point iTunes started using more memory than my computer can offer, so I switched to Pandora and have discovered some new artists. Unlike XM, this hasn't led to any purchases. My old standbys through the year have been Ben Folds and The Format.

Summarizing 2009
2009 is really a continuation of the downward spiral that was 2008. I spent the whole year working at the same shitty job I started last year and end the year with plans to abandon this city when my lease is up. I lost my car to a semi and have constantly battled the non-clinical depression of a man who is all too aware of his own failings. I'm really glad that this piece of shit year has come to an end. I have a new car now. I have a girlfriend who means the world to me and maybe, for the first time in years, I have a little ambition. I want to reconnect with friends I've ditched. I want to drink less and smile more. As December came to a close, so too did the year's misery. I recently re-established my friendship with Alicia and promised to text more. I invited Nikki to a movie and decided that she may be dramatic sometimes, but I want Meagan in my life. I'm so tired of this year, yes, but I'm about to be rewarded by its end.
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Now playing on Pandora: Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track
via FoxyTunes

Twenty-Two

Next Friday is my birthday. I may try to plan something. I can get off at ten and still get paid for the two hours I miss, so I'd like to do something that night. If you have any ideas and are free, let me know.

I was maybe thinking a sort of classy party, like Brandon suggested a while ago. It'd be a party with a dress code and alcohol as an optional side item instead of the focus like it is with most parties. I'd hunt down some fake champagne or something (Like Welch's sparkling white grape juice) and a good cigar. I don't intend to have more than two drinks of anything alcoholic that night. I just want it to be relaxed and fun.

If that sounds good to a couple of you, I'll make a Facebook event out of it. Otherwise, I'll try to figure something out.

Update: Looks like I'm going ahead with the plan. I need to know if it should be Friday or Saturday, though, so I stuck a poll up here and welcome your comments on my most recent Facebook wall post before I make an event of it.

Spammed!

I've been getting a lot of comments from bots lately. At first I simply turned on comment moderation for any post older than 2 weeks, but after the latest rash of Russian mail-order bride spams, I've turned on the hated word verification. It'll be on for maybe a month or two. I'll take it off when I think the bots have forgotten about me. I almost never get comments anyway, so it shouldn't make any difference to your viewing experience.

In other news, I'm less than a month from the big year-end post. My year has been less interesting than I'd hoped but it does have a few things worth mentioning.

I'll be in Louisville this week from Wednesday night to Monday morning for Thanksgiving.
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Now playing on YouTube: Train - Hey, Soul Sister
via FoxyTunes

Dammit, not again!

The car is once again broken. One of the hoses that feeds coolant to the heater core is leaking. This is a minor problem in older cars; you simply don't use the heater. My car, on the other hand, has a pressurized coolant system that actively pumps highly toxic red stuff out of the tiniest holes. Naturally, it's in the back of the engine where I can't reach it.

Other problems:
-One of the CV joint boots needs to be replaced, and the joint it used to cover is going bad. I have to take the driveshaft out to replace it, unfortunately, so it isn't something I can do myself. The joint itself may need to be replaced.
-The same window has been broken almost since I got the car.
-The transmission oil is what came with the car. It's supposed to be a lifetime fluid, but that's bullshit. No oil lasts 140,000 miles. Because the transmission is sealed, changing the fluid is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
-The fog lights are still not hooked up.
-Both the front and rear cup holders are broken, the lights above the sun visor vanity mirrors don't work, and the headliner is slowly falling down.
-To my knowledge, the lights on the climate control knobs have never worked.
-The low-tone horn doesn't work, which is why my horn sounds so stupid.
-I'm pretty sure one of the mirror heaters stopped working.
-My wiper blades need to be replaced and I'm almost due for an oil change.

What I'm wondering now is when I can get rid of this car and get something reliable. Maybe a Japanese car from the 90s. They're unsafe and usually not very fast, but they don't break or use much fuel and they're generally cheap and easy to modify and repair. I can no longer afford to own a Volkswagen.

Nearly a Month

I feel like I have nothing to write about anymore. I wake up, I go to work, I eat at the same shitty fast-food places every day, and I go to bed. On weekends I'm either in Cincinnati looking for something to do or in Louisville, where I frequently do things. My social life is practically nonexistent, and I have come to terms with that. It doesn't make for a very blog-worthy life, though.

In other news, James, Alicia, and I have called off the Halloween party. I heard there was another in Bellevue on Friday but I don't know the host. I will instead be traveling south in the hope that I can find a way to enjoy the holiday. At least I'm under no obligation to make a costume. I will be in town next weekend, however. The three of us will be at the Boone County Rebel Invitational on Saturday. I get off work at 10:00 Friday.
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Now playing on Pandora: Death Cab For Cutie - Brothers On A Hotel Bed
via FoxyTunes

Projects

I've been hanging out on the Vortex forums a lot recently and have learned a lot about fixing problems I didn't know I had. I just fixed the broken glove box hinge yesterday and today I'll be swapping out the old and corroded handbrake cables for new ones if I can find a pair. I also ripped out the old hood insulation after I learned that it was nothing more than a sound dampener. It does little in the way of heat insulation.

Future projects include installing neon lighting in the trunk to replace the terrible stock lighting, replacing the shot low-tone horn, and wiring up the front and rear fogs.

I also have a non-car project that I can do in half an hour with a little help: Rearranging my room. The desk currently blocks off the radiator, so the desk and hall tree need to trade places with the bed and headboard.

UPDATE: I didn't have the tools to work on the brake cables today, so I exposed the cable ends and will finish the job Thursday. I did, however, find a $10 white neon tube at AutoZone. My trunk is now properly lit. Unfortunately, the battery for the drill was dead so I'll have to wait two days to actually mount the light.
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Now playing on Pandora: The Format - Dead End
via FoxyTunes

Oktoberfest!

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is this weekend in Downtown Cincinnati. I'll be there along with whomever I can drag. If we get there at 11:00 Saturday Morning, we'll get to see Jim Koch, the man responsible for Samuel Adams, tap the first keg.

Kicked in the Eyes

I'd blog something about last weekend, but after Sunday night I'd just as soon forget the whole thing. Drama happened, floors were peed on, Jerry Springer was not invited. Nobody has blogged a damn thing about this weekend, actually. You can take it from me that what wasn't unpleasant was uninteresting. Even the fireworks seemed subpar.

I'll be in Louisville this weekend. Some plans have been made. I intend to see "9" at some point.
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Now playing on iTunes: Interpol - Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down
via FoxyTunes

Weekend Plans - 8/29 [UPDATED]

I'll be in Cincinnati this weekend. At some point I plan on removing and rewiring my headlight assemblies, and for that I'll need to get my hands on jack stands and somebody who doesn't mind getting a little dirty. It shouldn't take more than two or three hours. I need to remove the front bumper cover and grill, unbolt the lights, re-wire them, and reinstall everything. A floor jack would also be pretty helpful.

I don't have any plans whatsoever for the rest of the weekend. I'll probably clean the apartment up a bit. We still have random stuff sitting around everywhere, and the planets need to be glued to the ceiling. If you want to do something this weekend, you know how to find me.

Recent developments: I'm gonna help mom out with a project on Sunday. Also, Sarah will be in town this weekend. Sarah and I will still mostly be free except for a few hours Saturday and a few hours Sunday. I work 1:30-10:00 Friday night.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Format - I'm Ready, I Am
via FoxyTunes

Neighbors

Today is the first day of school. Friends at NKU, Xavier, and U of L return to class. They're busy. Today is a big day. Brandon notes the swarms of Freshmen, and I'm briefly sad that I'm missing it. I won't see any campus today, other than in passing. More relevantly, I have neighbors now.

I've had neighbors for most of summer. It wasn't until this weekend that the building was full. The landlord threw a meet-and-greet party last night. James and I came in second in a two-team cornhole tourney. The people in 4 and 6, respectively above and below us, were moving things around and mourning the end of summer break. They are, for the first time, noisy. I don't know if this is a permanent thing, but it won't disturb my sleep. The room below mine houses water heaters, while the room above is a sunroom, like mine but minus a bed.

The issue today was men with hammers demolishing a concrete path while singing in Spanish. Darrell is re-paving the front walkway. That, I can't sleep through.

Today is the one day of the year when I go outside, and the first breath of fresh air isn't as fresh as it used to be. I have no adventure to embark on. I will do no homework. It's my day of nostalgia for everything I gave up, and the day I envy the materials majors of my class, now in the fourth of a five-year program, who will be setting off for co-op or coming home for that first day of class in just a few weeks.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Format - Wait, Wait, Wait
via FoxyTunes

Anniversary

One year ago today, I climbed into my car and headed south on I-71. I was wearing ripped cargo jeans, a soft white t-shirt, and an old denim jacket. I had to text for directions once or twice, but eventually ended up on Skyline Drive in a southern suburb of Louisville. I chatted with Sarah and her brother for a bit. Met his girl at the time. Got poked by a cat. Eventually, we retired. We slept fully clothed, despite the fact that neither of us were accustomed to doing so. It was the first date.

Aaron's relationship has gone. So have most of the others I knew of back then. Sarah and I are still going strong. There's no reason to believe that'll change. A few people have tried to end it, I think. Drama has come up and been ignored. I have driven thousands of miles, tracing the road from here to Louisville so many times that I can see it in my head when I close my eyes. I can say, to the minute, when I'll arrive in her driveway or mine.

We've had many experiences. I've shown Sarah minigolf and concerts, Ben Folds and the love of automobiles. Sarah has exposed me to techno and the value of Little Caesar's. We almost never fight; if something is awry, it's talked over. Perspectives are shared and compromises made. We bicker about silly things to pass the time, but it always ends in a smile.

I've watched a lot go wrong in the last twelve months. Most of the relationships I've seen have gone. The economy seems to have just bottomed out and may finally be on the road to recovery. I shivered through a cold winter and learned a lot about life the hard way. It's been good to know that I have someone to share the bad times with. It's good to know that I can send a text and have my day improved.

I've rather enjoyed the last year. I can see no reason why it'll be the only one. I used to deny vehemently that I'd ever find someone I was really happy with. I'd always be single. Relationships were not for me. Besides, what girl would stoop to my level?

I was wrong. I've come to accept that. I was wrong and I'm happy that it was so conclusively shown.

I'm making that drive again tonight after work. A year is a very long time, but it seems like only a month ago that I was merging onto I-65, asking for a few last directions. It's been good.
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Now playing on iTunes: Ben Folds - The Luckiest
via FoxyTunes

Weekend Plans - 8/07

I admit I've been neglecting this blog for some time now. I haven't had much to say. I at least owe you, my friendly readers, the benefit of knowing where I'm gonna be each weekend.

Sarah will be here until Monday probably. She was gonna leave yesterday and come back Friday, but Louisville is under a few feet of water after last night's storms. Friday I'm hanging out with Sondra, a girl from Beechwood. She requested the presence of one Mr. Black if he's available and told me to bring other people if they wanted to come.

Saturday night is Crystal's 22nd birthday party. Sarah and I will be there from 7 PM to probably 2 or 3 AM. Aside from that I'm free to do whatever.

Next weekend, the 14th, is one year with Sarah. I'll be in her city then.

Like "The Happening," but not shit.

Treevenge!
It's a short film done by Jason Eisener, the same guy responsible for the Hobo with a Shotgun trailer included in some versions of Grindhouse.
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Now playing on iTunes: Midlake - Kingfish Pies
via FoxyTunes

Weekend

I've been procrastinating on writing a blog about last week. You'd think a full week in New York would make for an easy blog post. I don't think I'll get around to it. If you want the story, I'll tell you in person.

In other news, I'll be in town this weekend. I'll probably add a widget to the blog so you guys know where I'll be on the coming weekend. I'll spend Saturday in Ft. Mitchell, where Brandon and I will pull off my rear bumper and put it back on straight. No plans for Sunday as of now. Things might be rearranged if Sarah and I go to a Carolina Liar concert in Sparta on Saturday, but this isn't particularly likely.
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Now playing on iTunes: Scooter - Weekend
via FoxyTunes

Notes from the Field

I'm on Sarah's bed, using Sarah's Eee PC. It's weird hearing fireworks and not seeing any. This is the first time I haven't celebrated Independence Day in any way. We had some fantastic steak for dinner. Turns out Sarah can cook. I also burnt the shit out of my right thumb working on her car. Roughly half of the thumb is a 2nd-degree burn, with associated nasty blisters. It's wrapped in gauze and functioning normally. Other notes:

I finally swapped my air filter for a K&N drop-in. Rather than get a cone filter, I'll modify my airbox at some point to let the engine breathe easier. I intended to replace the thermostat this weekend as well, but realized that any dealer would be closed this weekend and that if I damaged the lower radiator hose or thermostat housing I was stuck in Louisville until I could get new parts. It isn't an urgent repair at any rate.

Sarah also got me the aforementioned bee shirt, which I think is fucking fantastic, and two nice glasses that I know will see use around the apartment serving mixed drinks.

That's all for now. I depart for Cincinnati Monday morning, hopefully dodging Dodges as I go. I spend the week after next, from July 11 to July 18, traveling to New York, New York. I'll sign off now; Sarah's giving me the "close the computer and come sleep" look. Auf wiedersehen!

Holy shit, a post!

I haven't been up to much recently, so I haven't had much to say. Life at the apartment quickly became mundane. I expected to feel somehow different when I moved out. I don't, really. There was no big change.

Car's acting up again. My thermostat has been stuck open for a while now, which is harmless in the summer but a bitch in the winter. I had an oxygen sensor go bad last week. Now the engine just guesses how much fuel it needs to inject. It's not a crucial problem, though, so I'll wait to fix it.

I have this Friday off, because it's a holiday weekend. I'll be in Louisville blowing shit up and working on Sarah's car. (I enjoy working on cars, so swapping her spark plugs is something I suggested she get done rather than something I was asked to do. Maybe I should pursue this as a career.)

Between July 11 and 18, I'm driving Northeast to see Emily and Andrew. Courtney is joining me. I need the bad O2 sensor fixed before then. I told Emily that I'd be back when I last left New York in the spring of 2007. I'm a bit overdue. This time I'm not flying and I'm spending more time there. Should be pretty exciting. Lots of walking in and around very tall buildings and generally marveling at the architectural wonders of big cities. I'll have plenty to blog about then. Maybe I can buy or borrow a camera before I go.

The miserable drama seems to have cleared itself up, so things have calmed down. I've returned to my regularly-scheduled boring life. No further plans for this weekend. Let me know if you intend to change that.
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Now playing on iTunes: Keane - The Lovers Are Losing
via FoxyTunes

Drama King

Seems like everywhere I go, I find drama. The only logical conclusion is that I'm causing it.

Dammit.

Home Already

The move was a success. Mostly.

My bed is here. I'm cooking myself meals and sleeping here every night. I finally have internet access. It's nice. I still need my radiator fixed so I can move my desk in and I'm gonna spend some time tomorrow installing blackout curtains, but I'm more or less moved out. I've been here three days and the place already feels like home.

That's a good sign, I think.

Hard Work Coming

It's June 1st and the start of the lease. Rent is paid, short list of essential shit is memorized. Now the work begins. I have a key now, so I'll probably run up to check the place out tomorrow or Wednesday and start taking stuff I don't need this week up. I'll grab clothes for this week and pack the provided dresser with the rest. DVDs can move this week. The real work starts this weekend, though. I work noon-8:30 Friday, so I still have some daylight available to move stuff then.

Other shit that needs to be done this week: I have an appointment with VW to fix my windshield wipers and I'm gonna run to Maaco to get a temporary fix on that fender. I'll get it properly fixed when I can afford to do so, but until then I want the fender out of my wheel well; my tire hits it on hard bumps and fast left turns.

Anyone want to do some manual labor this weekend?
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Now playing on iTunes: Carolina Liar - California Bound
via FoxyTunes

Learning Curve

I am tired. I'm tired of wasting my time, money, and effort on things that make no difference. I'm tired of constantly saving money not so I can enjoy it later but because I know my car will need another costly repair soon. I'm tired of throwing time and money at bar school and engineering, only to see them fail to improve my life. I'm tired of knowing huge quantities of random shit and not getting paid for any of it. I'm tired of being tired.
I often reflect on the past few years. What I see saddens me. I've succeeded only in my social life. I found a sister in Kaitlin and a confidante in Alicia. I found close friends in Meagan, Brandon, James, and Emily. I found the perfect partner in Sarah. I'm even closer to my douchebag brother. Outside this narrow range, however, is little but loss and despair. Since high school I've flunked out of college before the end of the second year. I bought a car that frequently malfunctions. I've been toiling away at SKF for 14 months, ignoring my status as a temporary worker and spending every second wishing I was anywhere else. I spent $850 on bartending school without a single interview to show for it. I acquired a motorcycle license but still can afford no bike. I committed a year of my life to moving out before I was ready. At a time when my peers are looking forward to senior year, I spend my days moving boxes for $9.35 an hour and reflecting sadly on the past.
Just as often, I think about the future. I wonder how I'm going to get out of SKF. I wonder how I'll pay the rent, and what I have to cut out of my budget to make ends meet. I wonder why I rushed myself into new living arrangements. I wonder when and how I can return to school, and what I might study when I get there.
I know a few things, though. I know my love of learning may someday come in handy if I can focus it. I know that if I can get an affordable, comfortable motorcycle I can put fewer miles on the Jetta and reduce the chance of failure. I know that I've always been able to slide by. I know that I have a solid support system.

Maybe all this introspection is doing me no good. Maybe I'm not half the failure I see in myself. Maybe all I need is a good night's rest. I'm tired of being tired.

Fender Bent

If you hadn't noticed my Facebook and MySpace updates today, I was involved in a wreck. Just south of Downtown Louisville, a semi with a 53' trailer blindly merged into my lane, where I was driving. I hurriedly jumped into the left lane to avoid death by truck and found that my blind spot was full of black Dodge pickup. The rear quarter of my car and the front quarter of the pickup bounced off each other. I doubt the trucker even knew what he caused.

I pulled off the highway to see that the Dodge was slowing to a halt in the fast lane. Fearing the worst, I made my way to the truck to make sure the other driver was unharmed. I basically caught him as he stumbled from his truck. The man was roughly my age, inked, probably a wigger, and looked like he had half the money it'd take to buy a truck like that. A witness and a concerned citizen stopped to help, and were soon joined by a Metropolitan Police officer. The other driver was on the floor and seemed to be in pain, which I assumed at the time was an attempt to fuck me over for the insurance.

I told the officer my story: I was being crowded out of my lane by a semi and merged into the truck as a result. He walked me across the highway to my car to retrieve my license, registration, and insurance card, then told me to wait with my car until he could get the Dodge out of the way and talk to the witness. During this time, the man's mother arrived, followed by an ambulance. The man was loaded into the ambulance and his truck was moved. I talked to his mother and learned that he had a bad back, was probably fine, and was going to the hospital to make sure he was okay. She also said the witness confirmed my story. The officer returned to send me home, and gave me a number for the incident report. Neither I nor the driver of the Dodge received a citation, leading me to believe that the police listed this as a no-fault traffic accident.

The damage, while ugly, is entirely cosmetic. No mechanical damage resulted from the accident. Both doors on the driver's side are badly scuffed, and the rub strip on the rear door is damaged. The rear wheel was blackened, and the rear wheel well is badly wrinkled. Further inspection revealed that most of the "damage" to the doors was rubber transfer from the Dodge's tire, and a quick scrub with a Magic Eraser returned the wheel to pre-accident condition. I'll clean the rest of the car tomorrow to see what the real damage is. I'll take and post pictures if I get around to it.

Oh, god! Bees!

You know those things that you really want and have the money for but are still too cheap to buy?

I give you the bee shirt.
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Now playing on iTunes: Carolina Liar - California Bound
via FoxyTunes

Weird Rescue

Last night around 5:30 AM, Meagan called in a rescue. I'm used to lifting her out of bad situations, so I was completely surprised when I learned that she was sober and at a dying party, surrounded by drunk couples. She wanted a ride home so she could get some sleep before work.

Meagan turns 20 in a little more than a week. I've known her for almost two years now and I've seen a lot of good and bad times, but I think she made it. Meagan is less of the spastic impulsive girl we worried about and more of the functioning member of society we've seen come out in the last year. She's just now ending her second decade and I think she's finally getting things in order and if not exactly happy, the girl is stable.

You're doing good, kid. I'm happy to see it. :)
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Now playing on iTunes: Against Me! - Thrash Unreal
via FoxyTunes

Up to No Good

I have some plans going. Plans keep me busy, and when I'm busy the days go by fast. Huzzah!

Tomorrow is my weekly lunch with Alicia. Since I've had a mad sea-bug craving recently, we're hitting up Joe's Crab Shack in Newport. Also tomorrow or Friday I'm replacing my boots with something more comfortable and less worn out.
Friday night I go into work early and get out at 10:00, which should get me to Crystal's party just as things get interesting.
Saturday is a NERF war with Crystal and her crew. I'll grab extra darts for my Maverick so I'm ready.
No plans for Sunday. I canceled the trip to the tank museum because few of the invites could attend.

Next weekend I'm back in Louisville. The weekend after is Emily's poop larty, followed by Sarah's 19th.
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Now playing on iTunes: Fall Out Boy - America's Suitehearts (Acoustic Version)
via FoxyTunes

Dash Dusting

It's finally nice enough to properly clean the Jetta. While I'm at it, Alicia and I are gonna fix the rust on her car. Anyone who has nothing better to do can stop by tomorrow and we'll add your car to the mix.

Other stuff coming up: I'm going to the George Patton Tank Museum on Sunday, May 3. If you'd like to join in, let me know. It's currently just me and Ethan, with maybe Alicia and Sarah joining in.
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Now playing on iTunes: Sara Bareilles - Love Song
via FoxyTunes

Thunder

I was set for an adventure to Jackson Center this weekend. At the last second, I was convinced to attend Thunder instead. The fireworks were spectacular. The airshow was amazing. Getting up at 6:45 AM and spending 16 hours on a tarp after arriving at 4 AM, paying too much for food, and sitting in a car waiting to piss for the 2.5 hours it took to get home made up for it. In every way but the the planes and bombs, Riverfest is better. The crowds are more forgiving, the timing can be sloppy. I can show up in the early evening, take a seat, and be home before the smoke clears.

Sunday was essentially sleeping and eating. I exposed Sarah to Smokey Bones and disgusted her by inhaling two sides and a full rack, backed by a pint of Sam, in half an hour. We watched Bedtime Stories while eating free crazy bread.

I still intend to go north when I can, and spent several hours on a hot tarp Saturday wishing I had, but either way it was going to be a good weekend. This weekend was also the first real test of the new lights, and they work better than I'd imagined. I tested the brights on a straight stretch of 71, and every sign for more than a mile lit up.
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Now playing on iTunes: RILO KILEY - Dreamworld
via FoxyTunes

They're Everywhere

And yet somehow I still fail to use calendars. I managed to triple-book myself this weekend. I said last April that I'd spend this weekend helping with the band mulch sale. I won't be doing that. I said in September that I'd be at Thunder over Louisville. I said last week that I'd be in Jackson Center. I then said Sunday that I'd given up Thunder to go north. That was before I'd been requested by Steve and Sara and reminded that I made a promise to Sarah. Now? Now I have no idea what I'm gonna do.

That's not true; I'm gonna learn to use a calendar. I have one in the phone.
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Now playing on iTunes: Jimmy Eat World - Electable (Give It Up)
via FoxyTunes

Short Weekend

I convinced Sarah to come up for the weekend, and it was too cold to detail the cars. Aside from that I have remarkably little to report. I met Alicia's friend Seth Friday night. Seems nice enough. I also fixed the vent in my car. The passenger-side center-dash vent was stuck closed. I tried shoving the eraser end of a pencil into the vent. It seems to have done the trick. Next car mod: side turn signal lights. Mine are old and yellowed by UV damage and a new set of crystal-clear lenses with chrome reflectors is cheap. I can swap them myself in five minutes or less.

In other news, the job hunt continues. I've yet to get an interview, though.
I'll be in Jackson Center, OH this weekend. It's been too long since I spent any time up there and Alicia's friend is hosting a party. It'll be a good opportunity to hang out with some people and test my new lights on country roads. Unfortunately, this'll keep me from invading Thunder over Louisville.
The following weekend, I'm back in the 5-0-2.
Friday, April 30th, I'll be at a party thrown by the infamous Crystal.
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Now playing on iTunes: Ladybirds - Shark Party
via FoxyTunes

Spring is Back

And you know what that means: It's time to detail the Volkswagen! The new lights are a lot shinier than the rest of the car, so if it isn't raining this weekend and the weather agrees with me, I'll be washing, polishing, and waxing my VW. Last year's helpers got to see on my hands and knees taking a toothbrush to my wheels. If Sarah decides to come up for the weekend, her car will be next in line. I might also do my mom's Saturn. I'm calling for volunteers Saturday afternoon. The bonus of helping is that your car will probably also end up shiny.
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Now playing on iTunes: Scooter - Trance-Atlantic
via FoxyTunes

Out of the Dark

Every so often something happens that completely takes my breath away. It's rare, but it happens. When I got my car back today, I was almost overcome with emotion. The new lights are absolutely beautiful. I can't put it into words. I can't explain how happy I am. Fortunately, I have pictures! See my Facebook to comare the old and new side-by-side.

New Lights:

Low Beam:

High Beam:

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Now playing on iTunes: Scooter - Eyes Without A Face
via FoxyTunes

Bad Monday

Yesterday was the worst one of 2009. Stuff that went wrong, in approximate order:
Sarah's mom wakes us up early.
We learn that winter has returned.
I leave Louisville (and Sarah) behind.
No job postings on Craigslist.
My headlights don't arrive until after I leave for work.
My hip hurts the whole shift.
The vast majority of orders at work are unusually unpleasant.
I discover a scratch on my glasses shortly before the small outer screen on my phone breaks.
It keeps getting colder, so I go to Goldstar for some hot chili. The 3-way is cold and tastes funny.
I slice my finger open on a pallet less than a minute after lunch, then later bust open my knuckle on a hub.

Today has, so far, been better. I scheduled the headlight installation and will drop the car off after work tonight. I replaced my phone with one that is exactly the same as the old one, but with a camera. I now have large quantities of Scooter on hand. The lead singer, H.P. Baxxter, sounds exactly like Billy Idol when he sings rather than raps. It's snowing, but I can live with that.

Spring is always so expensive...
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Now playing on iTunes: Scooter - Jigga Jigga
via FoxyTunes

Volkswagen: Now with More Fail!

I wandered about getting price quotes for installation of new headlights. This is for simple, bolt-on, plug-in light assemblies. Because VWs are built like Swiss watches, it's a two-hour job to swap and align a pair of lights. I'm not sure how long it'd take on your car. The prices are as follows:
German auto specialist up the street: $160. They have the advantage of being within walking distance of home.
Champion Volkswagen: $168.88. They have the advantage of probably including tax in their hourly labor costs.
Cost of headlights, including tax, shipping, and shipping insurance: $157.24
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Now playing on iTunes: The Mary Onettes - Lost
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Poll's Closed.

The winner: Chrome. I'll post before and after pictures here when I take them. The new lights should be in within the week. The old lights are, sadly, clearer when wet. You see them wet in the following images. The worst thing about my old lights: Pay close attention to the difference (or lack thereof) between the high and low beams. Also, the flash from my 5-year-old Sony CyberShot completely drowns them out.

Old lights:

Closeup:

Low Beam:


High Beam:


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Now playing on iTunes: Ben Folds - Cologne (Piano Orchestra Version)
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Your Opinion, Please

My headlights are unsafe. They're badly fogged and misaligned and ugly. That's all there is to it. While fine for city use, they aren't adequate for long highway drives, which I make frequently. I'm going to replace them as soon as I have the money. I'm gonna buy them as soon as I get your feedback.

I've always wanted projector headlamps and settled on a style similar to the lights on new BMWs - a projector low beam and foglamp, reflector high beam, and LED halo running lamps. The two headlights that follow are mechanically and functionally identical, with yellow projector lamps (not blue HID) and are roughly $150 for the set with shipping. The only difference is the color of the plastic surround, with one being black and the other silver. Warning: the idiot who posted the black lamps added a soundtrack. I'd appreciate your speedy response to the poll above and to your right. Thank you.

Chrome
Black

I intend to make the purchase tomorrow or later today, whenever I have enough votes to make a decision.
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Now playing on iTunes: Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
via FoxyTunes

Fourteen Hundred

Sometime Saturday the Jetta started making a funny noise. I drove it for a few more days, hoping the noise would go away. A long-distance drive Monday fixed it temporarily, but it was back in force yesterday. When even a drive to Colerain didn't help, I took it to the shop to have it looked at.

What I learned is that the rack is worn out and needs to be replaced. For those of you unfamiliar with auto mechanics, the rack is a major component of my hydraulically-assisted steering system. Mine was evidently bleeding hydraulic fluid and has teeth worn down to nubs. Since I put so many miles on my car and drive it closer to its tolerances than most people, this was bound to happen eventually. The repair is a staggering $1400. I can afford it, but it'll be a few weeks before I'm willing to spend money on anything but food and fuel.

Update: They finished the car at 2:30. As of 2:55, I'm still waiting for the clerk to finish the paperwork and tell me what it all costs, but it needs a $70 alignment on top of the repair. I was gonna get that alignment in 4000 miles at the next tire rotation, but I guess now will do. I have to give the VW guys credit for being fast and efficient, but it'd be real nice if they just built reliable cars to begin with.

Final update: The repairs, including the necessary alignment, come to just under $1000. I will never buy another car without a warranty.
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Now playing on iTunes: Westbound Train - One Day
via FoxyTunes

Long Time Gone

With Sarah in town, I didn't spend much time online. I've been in front of the computer as much in nine days as I usually am in one. I haven't updated in a while, but I'm not alone. I've seen about five updates this week, almost all of which are Kaitlin. Seems it's been a boring week. I spent it relaxing. A boring Shindig last Saturday, two trips to Fairfield for the magic of Jungle Jim's, a night at the Blue Rock and a Rock Band party at James' where I destroyed my voice with Journey and my brain with hundred-proof rum. It was good times. We watched some movies. Knowing is decent, but the ending seems hackneyed. If you like stories ripped right out of the bible and updated to fit modern times, you'll like it. I didn't get a job, which is unfortunate, and it's a let-down knowing I'll be back at SKF tomorrow without even a single interview to show for my unpaid week off.

On the bright side, Alicia will be back in a week or so and I'm out of the house at the end of May. If anyone knows of bars that need tending, let me know. I'll keep hunting until I have another job, but Craigslist only provides so many openings.
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Now playing on iTunes: Gomez - Moon And Sun
via FoxyTunes

Spring Break?

Took off work next week both because I hate that goddamn shit hole and because Sarah's in town for spring break. My goals: Get new job, plan events, have fun.

That is all. Please place event ideas in the box labeled "Responses."
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Now playing on iTunes: Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life
via FoxyTunes

I Watch the Watchmen!

This weekend has so far been eventful. Last night, I got off work and went to a party hosted by Sheri', where I mixed girly drinks. They were delicious. It was the first time I'd experience the practical results of bar school. Sex on the beach, tequila sunrise, margarita, and madras were the drinks of the night.

Today I got Ethan behind the wheel for the first time in the lot of the abandoned Erlanger Showcase Cinema. Kaitlin came along and we ended up exploring a derelict concrete plant. Kaitlin will have pictures on Facebook eventually. After that, we returned to my house and I grilled burgers and fish. We caught the 9:10 showing of Watchmen with Sean Bailey and his friends, and Kaitlin was driven out by the graphic violence. I thought it was good and though the ending diverged from the text, the meaning was preserved and the changes were relatively minor.

In other news, Sarah's spring break is a week from now. She'll be up here that week, and I'm taking the week off work both because I need to really focus on the job search and because I don't want work to interfere with a whole week that I can spend with her. Expect public appearances.

For those of you who don't know, I'm moving out in June. I'll be living with James and Alicia in James' current apartment on Dana Ave. in Cincinnati, across from XU. This means that any future parties there will have a professional bartender on staff.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Robocop Kraus - Standing In The Punchline
via FoxyTunes

Discoveries, Disappointments, and the Job Hunt

I spent today running errands and looking for stuff. I went to Party Source and the Dollar Tree looking for highball and rocks glasses. Neither had what I was after, but Dollar Tree has Gibraltar-pattern Collins glasses. Much to my surprise, Party Source had none of the glassware I need. While at Party Source, I looked for Strongbow Cider, Paulaner's Salvator doppelbock and Emily's brewery of choice, Sixpoint Craft Ales. I found none of them, but I did discover the Boston Beer Company's new "big beer" line, the Samuel Adams Imperial beers. I picked up a four of Imperial Double Bock. They also have an Imperial Whitbier and an Imperial Stout. All of them run about 10% abv, which is double the strength of a normal beer.

Now I begin the job hunt. I'll take any bartending job I can get for the time being. It's much easier to find a better job if you're already making drinks somewhere. If all else fails, a neighbor runs a bar and I'd be willing to work for tips until I could get a job elsewhere, just to have that experience. I'm keeping an eye on Craigslist and the bartending school's website, and the paper always has jobs. If you know of a place that needs a new barman, let me know. My current goal: Starting tomorrow, fill out an application every day until I get a job.

In other news, I picked up an album today: An End Has A Start by Editors. I've been listening to their debut album a lot in the last two weeks and realized I didn't own this one. Here's the video for the title track.
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Now playing on iTunes: Editors - An End Has A Start
via FoxyTunes

This Bud's for you!

Got a 99% on the written final and a 12 on the speed test, so I'm now a certified bartender. I go in for job placement tomorrow from 2-4 and then can peruse their openings online. I should have a job offer in the next week or two and a spot behind a bar by the end of March.

In other news, I'm thinking of hosting a small St. Patrick's Day party. I'll have Guinness, Harp, and Strongbow on hand for black & tans and snakebites, and a bottle of Jameson and maybe Bailey's for carbombs.
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Now playing on iTunes: mDave Matthews Band - Satellite
via FoxyTunes

Another Bar Update

Took the speed test today, but it was only a practice. The real speed test is Monday. I had to make 12 drinks in 8 minutes.

I managed 13: Cosmopolitan, margarita, shot of Stolichnaya, Tanqueray on the rocks, Grand Marnier neat, kamikaze shooter, Long Island, Long Beach, Electric Lemonade, screwdriver, Cape Cod, Black Russian, White Russian.

FYI

The bartending school midterm was today. I got a 97%. I'm feeling pretty good about this booze-serving thing.
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Now playing on iTunes: Streetlight Manifesto - Day In, Day Out
via FoxyTunes

Week One

The first week of bartending school is officially over. My midterm is on Monday. Since Tuesday, I've learned a lot of interesting stuff I never knew about bartending. I learned popular cream drinks and the common highballs. I can pour an ounce and a half of brandy and serve it neat in a warm snifter. I know your favorite shooter and understand why B-52s are so damn expensive. I know the legal consequences of fucking up. I'm having a lot of fun.

This weekend will mostly be studying, but I've had no social life this week; I need to get out sometime. Also, Sarah and Steve have finally convinced me that cargo jeans and hoodies are a bit under my age, so I'll probably look a little better in the future.
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Now playing on iTunes: Ben Folds - Such Great Heights
via FoxyTunes

Two-Part Post

First, I'd like to mention that February 14th was the awkwardly-timed six-month with Sarah. It's been a great half a year and she's probably the motivation for me actually improving my life. I have somebody to impress and keep happy now. It's working out for me pretty well. It's still hard living close enough to visit but far enough to not visit as often as we'd like, but things are going exceptionally well and we show no signs of trouble. Sarah's getting an old Acura Integra soon, so she should be making more of her own visits in the future.

Second, I start bar school tomorrow. For the next two weeks, I'll be running sixteen-hour days. IMs will go mostly unanswered. Texts sent before two will be answered between then and three. The upside is that I will finally be out of SKF and doing a job I actually enjoy.
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Now playing on iTunes: MGMT - Time to Pretend
via FoxyTunes

I Start Tuesday

So I finally got around to calling the local bar school yesterday, and as of about 12:45 today I'm officially enrolled in their 40-hour mixology class starting next Tuesday. It'll run 10:00-2:00 Tuesday-Friday next week, Monday-Friday the week after, and I'll (hopefully) graduate the next Monday. The school has a graduation rate of about 90% and they land jobs for 91% of the graduates, so as of now I have an 81% chance of leaving SKF for greener pastures within the next month. I'm after a job in the University Heights area, which is about 15 minutes from home now and about 5 minutes from home in June, where I'll serve mostly Bud Light and shots of tequila to the college crowd and make between $400 and $800 weekly. This is vastly better than my current average pay of $305.13. Plus, I'll get the two things I liked about Remke that I haven't had in a job since: flexible hours and actual customer interaction.

I will finally get paid to do something I already do for some of you guys for free, and I will enjoy doing it. Things are getting better, kids.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Format - She Doesn't Get It
via FoxyTunes

The Results!

I ended up at Scott's last night, playing cards and drinking beers. In a week and a half, Scott is taking James to Vegas for her 21st and they've been practicing a lot recently. We finally got around to trying Leinie Pebbles.

It worked. Kinda. Maybe.

While not as all-out nasty as beerios, the Pebbles somehow made the Sunset Wheat sour. It was nasty at first, but by the end of the bowl I was used to it. James, on the other hand, was less amused and downed it as fast as possible. She won the retroactively made wager of one chip.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Lashes - A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
via FoxyTunes

More plans!

If you remember, I made this earlier post about plans for 2009. After scouting out the Civil War museum, Kaitlin and I decided an adventure back during Battery Hooper Days was in order. The event is August 26-27 and costs nothing.
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Now playing on iTunes: Tegan & Sara - Back in Your Head
via FoxyTunes

Abraham Lincoln!

Kraut and I planned to eventually go to the James A. Ramage Civil War Museum in Ft. Wright. Tomorrow is their celebration of the old man's 200th birthday. It looks like kind of a kids event, but it'll be warm this weekend and I figure it's worth checking out. If you're interested in joining me, leave a comment and we can figure something out.
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Now playing on iTunes: The Weakerthans - Civil Twilight
via FoxyTunes

The Infamous Mr Reynolds

The party Saturday was canceled due to the ice storms, which left half of Louisville without power. Fortunately, another host stepped up at the last minute so we could all go out and drink ourselves silly. Stevo was peer pressured into drinking half a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 in less than an hour. He followed that with two beers and a bit of rum. In the following drunken madness, he managed to babble incoherently, shout expletives, make out with a man, repeatedly thank the party guests for coming, and mumble things about weddings, including inviting me to be his "first man." Around 2:00, his innards suddenly inverted and he proceeded to un-drink whatever it was he hadn't absorbed while Sara and I managed the collateral damage. I'll spare you the embarrassing details, but he was still drunk at 7 AM. By noon the following day he was sober as a bird and feeling better than Sara, Sarah, and myself, who had to drag his drunk ass around and get him cleaned up Saturday night. Steve is a fucking mutant.

Also, the word on the street is that Republican Twittererererers outnumber Democrat Twitterererers almost two-to-one. So all you poor, Twittering fools are right up there with Dick Cheney as far as I can tell. Independents like myself don't seem to Twitter at all. I hereby rename you "Twits."

I Know, I Know

I haven't posted since Tuesday. Almost a week. Frankly, not shit has happened since then. I went on an adventure yesterday that turned out to be a huge waste of time. Tonight was the only notable event this week.

Finally hung out with Meagan and Julie again. We had some wine, watched some movies, and then played a few rounds of PBR-fueled Apples to Apples with Chumley and Nathan. It was good times. Had a good talk with Meagan and got her point-of-view on some important topics. I'm glad I got to see them again. I hope it happens more often in the future.

Upcoming events: This week will be another boring waste, splitting my time between packaging and shipping. Friday, I return to Louisville. Saturday is the long-awaited 21st birthday bash of the one-and-only Steve Reynolds. I'll be giddily drunk out of my skull if things go right.

I'll try to post more often, but life is a bore lately.

I Have Seen the Face of God

And it was Good.

Lurking in the dark heart of Hebron (Kentucky, not Egypt. Nothing good comes from the dark heart of Egypt.) is a new Kroger Marketplace. If you can imagine a hybrid Wal-Mart/Jungle Jim's, but Kroger-Branded, you have a good mental image. It's glorious! It has a bookstore! A sushi bar! I think I saw a bed for sale! Also, I found Molson Canadian. I've been on a quest for this beer for two months now and I finally have it, just a stone's throw from SKF. Even better, it was cheap! $10 for a 12-pack. If you want to visit the place yourself and taste the magic, take 275 W to the second Hebron exit and go down the road a mile or so. It's on the right.
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Now playing on iTunes: Streetlight Manifesto - A Better Place, A Better Time
via FoxyTunes

Oh, wait. Never mind.

It started snowing around 9 PM in Hillview. I departed Sarah's at 10:30 PM. I arrived at 1:20 AM. It usually takes 1:45 to get from Sarah's house to mine.

I no longer like snow.
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Now playing on iTunes: Stereophonics - It Means Nothing
via FoxyTunes

Fluffy

Seems like every year my view of the seasons changes slightly. I guess that's normal. Until recently, I hated every iteration of winter. The cold, the ice, the big, fluffy snowflakes. I still hate the ice and the biting winds. I still hate the frigid temperatures and the way people drive. I think I've taken a liking to snow. Our new shovel clears it off the driveway well enough and now that I basically just drive to work and back on 275 at 3:00 and 12:00, respectively, I don't mind it. I can drive through the snow just fine, and I do it with minimal traffic. I've also found that snowy days are often some of the warmer winter days. The blanket of snow acts literally, insulating the city and calming the icy winds. We're supposed to get an inch or two tonight, with some on the ground and more in the air when I leave work in 9 hours. This year, I say "let it come."
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Now playing on iTunes: Jimmy Eat World - Electable (Give It Up)
via FoxyTunes

Stop-Gap

So after some research, I've realized that I won't be welding by June. It simply can't happen. If I'd signed up for classes in December, I could probably pull it off as a full-time student, which conflicts with my job. I then started looking for something I could do sooner that would also get me out of the damn warehouse.

The winner is bartending. I can take two weeks of classes and become a certified mixologist at the Cincinnati Bartending School if I pass an interview and they accept me. Tuition is only a few hundred bucks, which I can spare at the moment, and they have a job placement rate of 91%, where I can make as much part-time as I do at SKF full-time. In addition, mixing drinks and pouring beers is something I actually enjoy. I'd rather mix than drink most days. Also, I can do it literally anywhere. I can get a job in Covington now and when I move into the apartment on Dana, move to a bar in University Heights, serving drinks to thirsty Bearcats and Musketeers. The flexible schedule will let me return to school for a real job, too.

Let's hope this works, kids.
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Now playing on iTunes: Fall Out Boy - Tiffany Blews [feat. Lil' Wayne]
via FoxyTunes

Reprioritizing

Along with a new year comes new goals, and I have no shortage of them. I've reached a point in my life I never wanted to see, and unwisely signed myself into a new home before I was ready. To make this work, I have to set some goals and actually follow through with them.

Short-term: By the end of January I need to cut down spending and get back into school. It'll be Gateway for a certificate in welding, but that's enough to bring in a little more money. I can take classes in the morning and keep working at night. I need to stop spending money on myself and only buy what I need. This means that any modifications to the car will have to wait until I have a better job. I won't go out as much, and I'll cook whenever possible. The weekly beer is gone. I don't think I'll make the Reel Big Fish concert this year.

Long-term: The goal of this is to be certified in welding and have a more lucrative job by the time my first rent check is due. It'll be hard and maybe impossible, but I have to do it. After I'm settled into the apartment, I'll continue my education. Gateway does degrees in welding, or I can move to another skilled trade, but I have to use 2009 to make the most of myself. My original graduation date from UC was June 2011. That's when I want to have my education done.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to afford all this and the insurance and payments on a motorcycle. I'll just have to push that back to when I can afford it.

I'm tired of languishing in self-doubt and utter stupidity. I'm tired of my past mistakes getting me down. I need to get off my ass and actually become independent. It's a new year and a new chance, so I think I'll try to get off my ass for once and go for it.

Other general goals:
-Eat better, which is made easier by cooking more.
-Exercise more. I don't need to lose weight, but I would like to build some muscle and endurance and I can work out in the basement while I do laundry.
-Read more, which I can do by simply reading an hour or so after work every night.
-Find a way to expose myself to new music. I no longer have XM, but I can find other sources.
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Now playing on iTunes: Tally Hall - Greener
via FoxyTunes