Author: duane

the catch-all-egory

I made it. I. am. back.

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My sinuses aren’t the only thing thanking me for returning to the good old ATL; the rest of me is glad to be back at home sweet home. I must say, that the “holiday” weekend was not as long as it could have been, and I did at least get to see almost all of my family. I did learn a few things while I was in NC though, and I thought that I would pass these gems on to you:
1) Everyone in North Carolina smokes. If they don’t smoke, they smell like smoke. Everywhere you go, is like a bar. Take lots of changes of clothes, or wear lots of cologne. Either way, your sinuses are going to pay; big time.
2) Spending time with family should usually involve the consumption of alcohol. This is not specific to NC; it is a general rule that should be applied at any family function. It is best to stock up.
3) Everything in the Research Triangle Park area of NC (where my family lives) is at least 1 hour away from wherever else you need to, or want to go. You will do a lot of driving.
4) Everywhere in NC is now to be referred to as “the middle of nowhere”. No, seriously.
5) Probably the best thing I learned: My sister is pregnant, and when I asked her how long she was planning to breast feed, she replied, “6 weeks”. When I recommended 6 months, and sited several benefits, including the inability/decreased likelihood of getting pregnant again within that time, she insisted that you are actually MORE fertile while breastfeeding, so it is best to keep it short. I think that we should notify Nestle of this new information, so that they can use it, along with their other tactics, to convince more and more women to abandon the healthiest way of raising their children, and latch their kids onto Nestle’s products. The things you learn, right?

I learned other things, as I always do, but I am seriously pooped from the 6 hour car ride that actually took almost 9 hours. I need to rest. At least I have my friend back… civilization. See you tomorrow kids! It’s good to be back!!!

"pointless"

time to fly north for “Thanks-mas”

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It’s that time, kids; time for old duane to go home for Thanksgiving. But this year, we have decided to have Christmas at the same time as Thanksgiving (since James and I will not be going back, and will be spending Christmas with his folks); which gives us the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. So, for this year, let’s call it Thanks-mas cool? This is a notice of sorts, as well. Are you sitting down? Okay. Um… how should I put this; well, uh, they don’t really have internet access where I am going. I am talking no dial up, nothing; so… I will not be able to blog until I return (even I just started shaking). I look forward to getting back though, because I will take detailed notes on any and all “good” things that happen during Thanksmas. Feel free to keep on commenting on what I have already written though; and hey, now that I think about it, look at this as an opportunity of sorts, you now have a reason to go through the archives! YEAH!

On a side note: Hey Bank of America, quick question. What time would you think would be the best time to make one of your only two ATMs unusable, by putting it out of service? Lunch time? The time when everyone would be able to run errands and get to the bank to use said ATMs? Yeah… that’s what I thought. Oh, and PS: BOA, you suck!

HAPPY THANKS-MAS EVERYONE! (except you Bank of America) See you on the other side!!!

movie musings

RENT… the review

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Lucky enough to be given a free screening pass for one my most antici…pated movies of the entire year, I went and saw RENT last night. And here’s what I thought:

RENT opens in silence, but then, when you hear the first few notes of “Seasons of Love”, it strikes you hard; for you realize you are about to experience something different. Either different because you have never heard this song before; or different, because this is not the way RENT is supposed to open. It becomes apparent very quickly that Chris Columbus has changed some things; moved songs, removed songs, reworked story boards, and refocused characters. But don’t worry; overall it works.

Every song, every scene, you will feel even closer to the musical that so many have loved since its debut on Broadway, almost ten years ago. While some of you will scoff at the changes, and may see them as a detriment to the overall feeling the musical was meant to portray (the bohemian spirit of living for the day, and the undying sense of true love), fear not, because the spirit of RENT is whole and intact. While watching the movie, my overwhelming sense was the creation of a third dimension; to both the characters and the scenes, either of which may have been somewhat two dimensional in the stage version. The movie provides a visual landscape, that contextualizes many story elements that, while present on the stage, were limited by the nature of stage presentation. Overall, I felt the movie went deeper, and with that, it succeeded. It brought me back to the early nineties, and gives the viewer the effect of opening a time capsule, where they find grunge, poverty, spirit, and youth tucked inside. The movie stays true to the original intentions of the play, and establishes the feeling of the early nineties wonderfully; it even feels like this movie was made in the early nineties.

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show the love

coolest. news. EVER.

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Dane Cook is hosting Saturday Night Live on December 3. WHOA… SAY WHAT? That shit is so already tivoed, it is not even funny. AND, I burned to a DVD. I practically already have it in my collection, and have seen it like 1000000 times. Practically.

To tide you over:
Dane Cook – The Nothing Fight
Dane Cook – Making Up
Dane Cook – Someone Shit on the Coats

*and Amber, A cashew contours to the tip, as if to say, I’m a cashew, LET’S DO THIS!!!!

is it just me?

it’s raining, it’s pouring… really???

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Why is it that people feel the need to say, “Å“It sure is coming down out there”, or, “Å“It’s really raining out there, huh?”, when you walk into the building and are obviously completely soaked from the aforementioned rain? Did they think that I didn’t notice the rain that just soaked my pants? Did they think that I am so stupid that I don’t realize that it is rain that has just soaked my pants? Or, is it more likely, that they are mocking me for having gotten wet while they stood inside, all dry and warm? Just for the sake of argument, I am going to go with the last one. I would like to believe that people aren’t that stupid, as to think that I don’t know when it is raining, especially when I have just stepped inside out of the very same rain. I would hope beyond hope that they were not so stupid as to think that I don’t know what rain is. But perhaps? I mean, what would warrant such a response to my coming inside, soaked through from the rain? I must say, based on my “Å“rain experiences” that I may have been led to believe that people tend to just be mean, and are prone to going out of their way to mock you, whenever the opportunity presents itself. And apparently, when it is raining, is a great time. Because it is always funny when someone gets caught in the rain, right?

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"pointless"

sunday bloody sunday

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I have not done anything to be considered a “value” to society today; and it feels awesome. I have this feeling that if I were fortunate enough to eventually be able to work from home, I would be a complete bum. I haven’t even left the house. And I love it.

What I have been doing today, is painting. I love painting. And I have been doing it. The picture above, is off an incident that occurred during said painting activity; Sydney decided that he wanted to be a part of it. I went to grab him before he got in the paint, which only forced him to back up quicker; where he proceeded to lay his tail in the paint. That would have been totally okay, if he hadn’t decided to trash that newly paint-coated tail around in the air. All the mixing you see; totally dog induced. There is no editing here folks, the dog does it all.

Other than painting, I have been drinking a 40. I sent James to the store last night to get beer, and told him I wanted 2 double deuces of icehouse, you know, to drink before going out last night. Instead, I got two 40s. I am not complaining, because we live in the ghetto, and now, I can really connect to our neighbors. I may even step outside so that I can pour a little on the ground, you know, for the ones we have lost. This one’s for my homies!!! Now, I need to get back to my day of “nothing”. God I wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow.

Sunday tunes:
U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (for the record, I hate U2)
Alanis Morrisette – Crazy (James Michael Mix)
Pras feat. Mya – Ghetto Supastar (that is what you are)

music musings

if music is a victim then so am I…

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You know, there are very few things in life I absolutely love (James, beer, breathing, and so on), but one thing is for sure, music is more than a loving relationship for me; it is a passion. Often times people ask those silly questions like, “would you rather cut off your arm or your leg” or “would you rather be blind or deaf”; and honestly, at least for the last one, the answer is an astounding, “I don’t know”. And that answer, is all based on my insatiable hunger for music.

The reason that I was thinking about this, is partly because of the wave of responses Madonna’s new record is getting from gay bloggers everywhere. I am not going to talk about that AT ALL, so if you want to read about what I think of Madonna’s record, I wrote an entry. Check it out here. The other thing that got me thinking about this, is actually a good thing; I was recently asked to write for a kickass website that reviews movies, music, concerts, and other cool shit like that. I am extremely honored that he even returned my email, let alone invited me to write for the site; but I must say that I go forward with some trepidation. While I do review movies and music for my own site (ahem, you can check that out in the links in the right column), this is the first time I will write something for someone else’s site, and frankly, I am a little nervous; and probably not for the reasons that you may be thinking right now.

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blog on blog

I’ve got two words today, folks…

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Hung Over. That is what I feel right now because of the activities that I engaged in last night. I had been hearing about, and was even invited to a previous, Atlanta blogger meet up; better known as the Atlanta People With Blogs Who Get Together To Drink (APWBWGTTD), but had never gone for one reason or another. Not bad reasons, of course, but, for one, I have never really entered into activities where I don’t know anyone. I have also never gone to a bar alone. Seriously. I have always had people with me. Think whatever you will about that, I’m not ashamed.

Regardless, last night’s meet up was at the Limerick Junction in the Highlands; a bar that I have never been to. When I got there, I didn’t see anyone that looked like they may be of the ATL blogger group, so I ordered a drink. My fear of going to bars alone was now a reality, and I quickly decided that I needed to find these people. I totally and uncharacteristically, approached a group that were luckily the bloggers. First try… thank GOD. I must say that all in all, it is a great group, and I had a great time!

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blog on blog

fighting the battle of the meme-less

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Those of you that graciously come to my site, and those that happen to get really super bored and look through the archives (which, by the way, are not boring, and are actually filled with juicy goodness and marshmallow filling), will notice that I have never, to this day at least, participated in a meme or other blogger grouped activity. The reason, I guess, is because I have never tended to be a follower or a participator, and not because I look at that as a bad thing; in fact, I am pretty much the weird one that usually sits just over there, on the periphery. I guess, I just never really got into making toys with the others; I guess, I just wanted to be a dentist.

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near and dear

I have never done this before, but I feel compelled…

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I found this picture of Sydney on my computer, and I thought that it was hilarious. I have never posted a picture of him before, so I figured this one wouldn’t hurt.

Caption: “Damn paparazzi follows me everywhere. Get that light out of my face! Straight up bitches, I tell ya. Bitches.”

Sydney’s off to the vet today to be tested for heartworms. That is, so we can get him more heartworm preventative medication. Apparently, since he hasn’t been tested for heartworms in a year, even though he has consistently taken the medication, it is required that he be tested before they will give you more medication. What would happen if he had them? Wouldn’t they just, I don’t know, give him the medication?? The people that work at my vet are mental. (perhaps we should do 1800petmeds.com…) And their customer service skills are nil. Cross your fingers and hope that I don’t have to make a scene this morning…

FOLLOW UP:
I picked up dogzilla, and believe it or not, the people at Petsmart were nice. I went in there all prepped to make a scene. I was even puffing out my chest and snarling. It was even cheaper than they mentioned, and when I bought flea stuff, she gave me an extra one for free. I guess it goes to show, when you write people off, and are just about to yell “fuck you” in their face, they hold out a peace offering in a trembling hand. Good form, Petsmart. Good form.

It came up randomly on iPod:
Nelly Furtado – Forca
Caedmon’s Call – High Countries
Noemi – Y.O.U. (Noemi Mix)