My thoughts on the recent episode of Mad Men, don't read any further if you have not seen the episode yet. If you do so, no crying that I spoiled the episode for you. It was really good so I had quite a bit to say.
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
August 03, 2010
May 09, 2010
Trip Pictures and Recommendations
With all of these posts about my Eurotrip, I have been starting out with a picture, and if you haven't noticed already, you can click on the picture and it will take you to the pictures from that part of my trip my Flickr account. From there you can view every single one of my pictures that I posted.
I have also organized all of my pictures from Europe into a collection, divided by places and organized in the order of my trip for the most part, so you can view the ones you are interested in.
Now for a few recommendations of places and companies to patronize if you should happen to be planning a trip, and each logo will take you to their page.
I have also organized all of my pictures from Europe into a collection, divided by places and organized in the order of my trip for the most part, so you can view the ones you are interested in.
Now for a few recommendations of places and companies to patronize if you should happen to be planning a trip, and each logo will take you to their page.
December 22, 2009
Bourbon Steak
What happens when you get a bunch of us foodies together, and we decide to go for what could be a memorable meal? You end up at the Four Seasons in DC, specifically at Bourbon Steakhouse.
A few weeks ago, my friend Shaw_Girl made the suggestion that we all go to Bourbon Steakhouse since we had heard many good reviews about it and their one-year anniversary was coming up. A reservation was made for Tuesday the 15th, and we were all set to go. BG and I reviewed the menu online before heading over there so we had an idea of just what we were getting into. This would be the first time that any of us could try steaks that were dry-aged and then poached in clarified butter, which sounded really good. To also help set what would be the later tone of the evening, several of my friends had been following Bourbon Steak on Twitter, and when one of them had asked a question about dress code out loud, he had a private message within minutes with an explanation. I was liking that they were paying attention to us.
For me it was a matter of hopping a Metro train after work and getting over to the Foggy Bottom Metro station before taking a walk over to the hotel. It was a clear and cold night, but I was prepared for that. I got to the restaurant and met up with everyone at the bar area. SG was having their specialty hot cocoa, which after I took a taste of it, I was placing an order for it immediately. I think I've been ruined on hot cocoa because I will never make one that good at home. One of our companions ordered their apple cider, which is made with some Maker's Mark. If you're not a chocolate lover, go for the apple cider, especially in the dead of winter.
We were taken to our table and seated, where we would find a card from the staff member who manages the Twitter account for Bourbon Steak addressed to all of us by our Twitter usernames. It was welcoming us to dine with them that evening. I admit that was a very nice touch. After being seated, the manager came by and said hello to us, and the staff member who provided the card said hello as well. I think it was because they were aware of us coming and wanted to make sure to make a good impression on us.
We made small talk for a while as we looked at the menus and tried to decide what we wanted. Luckily we had a very nice waiter who was friendly and willing to answer questions about what was on the menu. He also didn't hesitate to let us know what some of his favorites were, which I think helped a few of us in the decision making. He also knew how to market and be very convincing. I wasn't originally going to order an appetizer, but he convinced me to do so. I went with an iceberg wedge appetizer, their 16 oz rib eye cooked medium, and a side dish of roasted spaghetti squash with prosciutto. The popular side to order that evening from our table would be the truffle mac n cheese because we were all curious to try it.
After our order was placed, the complimentary fries were brought out. These fries are seasoned and rendered in duck fat, and they were very tasty. The flavors that I remember were dill pickle, cheddar cheese, and southwestern, and they came with bbq sauce, sour cream, and a third sauce I can't remember. I could have easily eaten a pile of those fries.
Another item that came to our table was the mini rolls that had truffle butter on them. Those disappeared fast at our table just because of how good they tasted. There should be a place on the menu to order more of those, they were so good. There was just the right amount of butter on them to where you would not think of asking for more, and they were perfectly flaky too.
The appetizers came and while my iceberg wedge was good, with the cheese and the smoked bacon, a better choice that evening would have been the roasted chestnut soup due to the cooler weather. KM got that one, and I took a taste of it. The soup was very smooth and creamy, and the bit of foie gras that I got in my spoonful was perfectly tender. TF got the Tuna Tartare and I tried that as well. They make it right at your table and it was the perfect balance between the tuna, tomatoes, garlic, and other spices. It would make for a great summer appetizer.
Our entrees eventually arrived and for a few minutes we had nothing but exclamations about how wonderful the steaks were. RS and I had both gotten our steaks medium and they were cooked perfectly pink, with no sign of gray. Whatever rub they used on the steaks added a nice flavor kick to it without overpowering the steak, and it was oh so tender. Each piece of steak could just melt in your mouth. I had ordered a 16 oz steak and I would not be surprised if it was still about 16 oz after cooking, there was so much of the meat there, I don't know how I finished it that evening.
The sides that we had gotten besides the squash and mac n cheese were the brussels sprouts and roasted potatoes. All of the sides went fast because they could easil/y be served family style, and each one will feed two people for sure. While everyone did rave about the truffle mac n cheese, the surprise hit of that evening was the roasted squash. I had expected the squash to be your basic roasted squash and garnished with the prosciutto, but they added a twist to it. The squash had also been cooked in butter and cream and you could taste that flavor throughout. Oh man did we talk about that squash all night. I highly recommend the squash if you go.
Ultimately though the meal part had to come to an end, and it was time for dessert. Since most of us were stuffed from the massive meal we had just consumed, we opted to share different desserts with one another. SG and I shared the tiramisu, RS ordered the root beer float with sassafras and cinnamon ice cream and chocolate walnut cookies, KM ordered the bitter chocolate cake, and TF ordered the coconut candy bar. I was expecting a layered tiramisu, but that's not what came out. Bourbon Steak did a deconstructed tiramisu, so there was cubes of espresso soaked sponge cake arranged across a plate with dollops of mascarpone mousse and chocolate sorbet, with a few bits of spun sugar. As we tried the dessert, we discovered there were bits of chocolate covered espresso beans mixed in, which gave it a nice crunch and didn't overpower the other flavors. I tried a bit of the coconut candy bar and that is another dish I would recommend. The chocolate walnut cookies were warm when they were brought to the table and very tasty. I didn't get a chance to try the bitter chocolate cake, but I probably would have liked it. I love dark chocolate as it is.
Throughout the meal, we had a running commentary among ourselves and on Twitter about the food and our experiences with Bourbon Steak, along with pictures of what we were having. Luckily it seems the servers had no problem with us doing this. The one comment we did note for sure about our service was not only that they were good at what they were doing, but they clearly were engaged with making sure we were well taken care of. Even better was that they weren't hovering around us and interrupting the meal. We were there for over 3 hours and at no time did we feel rushed. That was a big plus because as it was, we were enjoying the company of one another and none of us had to be anywhere later that evening, so we were going to enjoy our experience. The only time we were watched closely was when we were getting all the payment stuff together so that he was there immediately after it looked like we had it all together. It was busy that night, but we still got to linger.
The other thing I liked was the environment of the restaurant and the attitudes from the employees in that it felt like a very nice place to sit and have dinner, but you were not going to be looked down upon if you didn't show up in a business suit or a cocktail dress. I felt we were treated very well there and the employees understand that if they respect us, we will respect them right back, and that includes not getting any sort of a classist attitude.
Ultimately I recommend Bourbon Steak greatly as a place you can take someone for an excellent meal. Just be prepared to drop some cash there because you're probably looking at about a $60 per person minimum for dinner. Think about it though, you're dining at the Four Seasons, so it is not going to be like you're dropping in at a Denny's there. However, my attitude is that every once in a while it is nice to go to a really good restaurant and have an enjoyable meal experience. Besides that, the timing of when we went that night was perfect, because that Tuesday afternoon, I would have a reason to celebrate...
Some thoughts that we came up with on doing next time was that we noticed that out on the patio they have fireplaces where people can take out drinks and sit at during this cold weather. It would be awesome to head to the bar at Bourbon Steak on a Friday night, order their hot chocolate or apple cider, and sit out there with some folks to chat after a long work week. Add on some of that roasted chestnut soup and you've got a meal and a drink right there.
A few weeks ago, my friend Shaw_Girl made the suggestion that we all go to Bourbon Steakhouse since we had heard many good reviews about it and their one-year anniversary was coming up. A reservation was made for Tuesday the 15th, and we were all set to go. BG and I reviewed the menu online before heading over there so we had an idea of just what we were getting into. This would be the first time that any of us could try steaks that were dry-aged and then poached in clarified butter, which sounded really good. To also help set what would be the later tone of the evening, several of my friends had been following Bourbon Steak on Twitter, and when one of them had asked a question about dress code out loud, he had a private message within minutes with an explanation. I was liking that they were paying attention to us.
For me it was a matter of hopping a Metro train after work and getting over to the Foggy Bottom Metro station before taking a walk over to the hotel. It was a clear and cold night, but I was prepared for that. I got to the restaurant and met up with everyone at the bar area. SG was having their specialty hot cocoa, which after I took a taste of it, I was placing an order for it immediately. I think I've been ruined on hot cocoa because I will never make one that good at home. One of our companions ordered their apple cider, which is made with some Maker's Mark. If you're not a chocolate lover, go for the apple cider, especially in the dead of winter.
We were taken to our table and seated, where we would find a card from the staff member who manages the Twitter account for Bourbon Steak addressed to all of us by our Twitter usernames. It was welcoming us to dine with them that evening. I admit that was a very nice touch. After being seated, the manager came by and said hello to us, and the staff member who provided the card said hello as well. I think it was because they were aware of us coming and wanted to make sure to make a good impression on us.
We made small talk for a while as we looked at the menus and tried to decide what we wanted. Luckily we had a very nice waiter who was friendly and willing to answer questions about what was on the menu. He also didn't hesitate to let us know what some of his favorites were, which I think helped a few of us in the decision making. He also knew how to market and be very convincing. I wasn't originally going to order an appetizer, but he convinced me to do so. I went with an iceberg wedge appetizer, their 16 oz rib eye cooked medium, and a side dish of roasted spaghetti squash with prosciutto. The popular side to order that evening from our table would be the truffle mac n cheese because we were all curious to try it.
After our order was placed, the complimentary fries were brought out. These fries are seasoned and rendered in duck fat, and they were very tasty. The flavors that I remember were dill pickle, cheddar cheese, and southwestern, and they came with bbq sauce, sour cream, and a third sauce I can't remember. I could have easily eaten a pile of those fries.
Another item that came to our table was the mini rolls that had truffle butter on them. Those disappeared fast at our table just because of how good they tasted. There should be a place on the menu to order more of those, they were so good. There was just the right amount of butter on them to where you would not think of asking for more, and they were perfectly flaky too.
The appetizers came and while my iceberg wedge was good, with the cheese and the smoked bacon, a better choice that evening would have been the roasted chestnut soup due to the cooler weather. KM got that one, and I took a taste of it. The soup was very smooth and creamy, and the bit of foie gras that I got in my spoonful was perfectly tender. TF got the Tuna Tartare and I tried that as well. They make it right at your table and it was the perfect balance between the tuna, tomatoes, garlic, and other spices. It would make for a great summer appetizer.
Our entrees eventually arrived and for a few minutes we had nothing but exclamations about how wonderful the steaks were. RS and I had both gotten our steaks medium and they were cooked perfectly pink, with no sign of gray. Whatever rub they used on the steaks added a nice flavor kick to it without overpowering the steak, and it was oh so tender. Each piece of steak could just melt in your mouth. I had ordered a 16 oz steak and I would not be surprised if it was still about 16 oz after cooking, there was so much of the meat there, I don't know how I finished it that evening.
The sides that we had gotten besides the squash and mac n cheese were the brussels sprouts and roasted potatoes. All of the sides went fast because they could easil/y be served family style, and each one will feed two people for sure. While everyone did rave about the truffle mac n cheese, the surprise hit of that evening was the roasted squash. I had expected the squash to be your basic roasted squash and garnished with the prosciutto, but they added a twist to it. The squash had also been cooked in butter and cream and you could taste that flavor throughout. Oh man did we talk about that squash all night. I highly recommend the squash if you go.
Ultimately though the meal part had to come to an end, and it was time for dessert. Since most of us were stuffed from the massive meal we had just consumed, we opted to share different desserts with one another. SG and I shared the tiramisu, RS ordered the root beer float with sassafras and cinnamon ice cream and chocolate walnut cookies, KM ordered the bitter chocolate cake, and TF ordered the coconut candy bar. I was expecting a layered tiramisu, but that's not what came out. Bourbon Steak did a deconstructed tiramisu, so there was cubes of espresso soaked sponge cake arranged across a plate with dollops of mascarpone mousse and chocolate sorbet, with a few bits of spun sugar. As we tried the dessert, we discovered there were bits of chocolate covered espresso beans mixed in, which gave it a nice crunch and didn't overpower the other flavors. I tried a bit of the coconut candy bar and that is another dish I would recommend. The chocolate walnut cookies were warm when they were brought to the table and very tasty. I didn't get a chance to try the bitter chocolate cake, but I probably would have liked it. I love dark chocolate as it is.
Throughout the meal, we had a running commentary among ourselves and on Twitter about the food and our experiences with Bourbon Steak, along with pictures of what we were having. Luckily it seems the servers had no problem with us doing this. The one comment we did note for sure about our service was not only that they were good at what they were doing, but they clearly were engaged with making sure we were well taken care of. Even better was that they weren't hovering around us and interrupting the meal. We were there for over 3 hours and at no time did we feel rushed. That was a big plus because as it was, we were enjoying the company of one another and none of us had to be anywhere later that evening, so we were going to enjoy our experience. The only time we were watched closely was when we were getting all the payment stuff together so that he was there immediately after it looked like we had it all together. It was busy that night, but we still got to linger.
The other thing I liked was the environment of the restaurant and the attitudes from the employees in that it felt like a very nice place to sit and have dinner, but you were not going to be looked down upon if you didn't show up in a business suit or a cocktail dress. I felt we were treated very well there and the employees understand that if they respect us, we will respect them right back, and that includes not getting any sort of a classist attitude.
Ultimately I recommend Bourbon Steak greatly as a place you can take someone for an excellent meal. Just be prepared to drop some cash there because you're probably looking at about a $60 per person minimum for dinner. Think about it though, you're dining at the Four Seasons, so it is not going to be like you're dropping in at a Denny's there. However, my attitude is that every once in a while it is nice to go to a really good restaurant and have an enjoyable meal experience. Besides that, the timing of when we went that night was perfect, because that Tuesday afternoon, I would have a reason to celebrate...
Some thoughts that we came up with on doing next time was that we noticed that out on the patio they have fireplaces where people can take out drinks and sit at during this cold weather. It would be awesome to head to the bar at Bourbon Steak on a Friday night, order their hot chocolate or apple cider, and sit out there with some folks to chat after a long work week. Add on some of that roasted chestnut soup and you've got a meal and a drink right there.
December 08, 2009
The Blind Side
I, like many other people, have now gone out to see what is currently the number one movie in America, The Blind Side. It is based on the book The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. The book itself talks first about the left tackle and how it would become an extremely important position in football, especially after Joe Theissman's career was ended because his "blind side" wasn't covered. A big part of the book focuses on Michael Oher, who at the time the book was written, was playing for Ole Miss. Now he plays for the Baltimore Ravens and was their first round draft pick in 2009.
So the movie is based on the story of Michael Oher. He was one of those kids who was kind of lost in the system and looked like he had no future until Leigh Anne and Shawn Tuohy take him under their wing and make him part of their family. That's all I am really going to say about it because to say much more will give away the movie, even if it is known how it ends :-P
The characters were well played, I enjoyed watching Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron. Remind me to never mess with Sandra if I were to meet her. I am surprised at how much different Tim McGraw looks when he's not sporting a goatee. Kathy Bates was good as well, one scene made me go "you bitch!" The movie itself was also well paced, I didn't feel like any scene was dragging on for too long, and there was enough going on to keep things interesting. Just be prepared for some emotional moments.
If you haven't seen the movie, go see it in the theaters, it's definitely worth it. I will be adding this movie to my "must buy" list of DVD's.
July 20, 2009
Cheesecake and STP!
Yesterday I attended the Stone Temple Pilots concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion with my friend CA. Her and I are both fans of STP and she managed to get floor seats to the show so I definitely jumped at the chance to go.
Since we knew things were going to get crowded, we decided to do a late lunch up in Columbia before heading over to the pavilion. The mall was nearby and they have a few good restaurants there, it was just a matter of finding the right one. I had never been to the Cheesecake Factory before (which is apparently a sin according to her and DB) so we went there for lunch. I got the Thai chicken pasta there, which was done up in a really tasty peanut sauce. I must learn how to make peanut sauce because I think it would end up being a really kick ass thing to make with some of my stir fry's. CA got the bang bang chicken and shrimp. Of course, both plates were so huge we couldn't finish it all (work lunch!!) unless we wanted absolutely no room for cheesecake. We both wanted to keep it simple since we didn't want something too heavy while rocking out later, so she went with a lemon raspberry cheesecake, and I went with key lime. I will definitely have to drop in at the place more often, even if it is just to buy a slice of cheesecake to take home.
We drove over to the pavilion and hung out in the parking lot for a while before heading into the concert area. Since I had never been there before, CA showed me around to the various places that were offered and also pointed out where the cleaner bathrooms were. We grabbed large drinks so that we could make sure to stay awake and headed down to the floor to catch the opening band, The Meat Puppets.
The Meat Puppets were good, though neither CA or I were familiar with them, so we didn't recognize any of their songs. Still, a good way to set the mood for later that night. They played for about half an hour before heading off-stage.
As the crew began to set up the stage for STP, I began to experiment a bit with my camera. One of the things that has made me crazy about my digital camera is that when trying to photograph things that can't use a flash, such as a concert or in front of glass, its full-auto mode sets the shutter speed way too slow and I end up with a lot of blurred pictures. It's really bad when I will go to something like a hockey game and out of the 50 pictures I take, 40 of them have to be rejected because they're blurry or considered too dark. I decided to try setting my camera to full manual and setting the shutter speed on my own. With a bit of experimentation I was able to come up with shutter speeds and F-stops that looked like they would work for when STP was up there.
So after another half an hour, STP finally came to the stage. The floor got crowded very quickly as more people pressed forward to get to the front of the stage to see folks. Since we were smart enough to get there early, we had an awesome view of the stage. As you will see from the pictures, we were good and close.
STP went through the catalog of their songs old and new, and it was a blast all around. Only one incident of someone hopping up onto the stage happened, and they were quickly removed. There was a guy next to us who must have been on something because he was really getting into the music, to the point where he tried early on to start a mosh pit but most of the people around him were not having it. BTW, what is with the women who were wearing dresses to the concert, especially being crowded onto the floor? Then there was the screamer in front of us, she had this high-pitched Xena warrior yell going on every time something would happen. If STP wasn't going to cost me my hearing, she definitely was.
So there were lots of good songs, a good performance, plenty of singing along, and going to manual pictures totally worked. I compared a few auto pictures to the ones I did manually, the manual ones were totally better. I had to do a lot less work in Photoshop to prepare them for uploading.
It was a concert that was totally worth attending. I see that the Killers are going to be there at the end of August, I should see if I can get tickets.
Since I am actually able to keep up this time, here are the pictures from the STP concert. Click below to see them all :-D
Since we knew things were going to get crowded, we decided to do a late lunch up in Columbia before heading over to the pavilion. The mall was nearby and they have a few good restaurants there, it was just a matter of finding the right one. I had never been to the Cheesecake Factory before (which is apparently a sin according to her and DB) so we went there for lunch. I got the Thai chicken pasta there, which was done up in a really tasty peanut sauce. I must learn how to make peanut sauce because I think it would end up being a really kick ass thing to make with some of my stir fry's. CA got the bang bang chicken and shrimp. Of course, both plates were so huge we couldn't finish it all (work lunch!!) unless we wanted absolutely no room for cheesecake. We both wanted to keep it simple since we didn't want something too heavy while rocking out later, so she went with a lemon raspberry cheesecake, and I went with key lime. I will definitely have to drop in at the place more often, even if it is just to buy a slice of cheesecake to take home.
We drove over to the pavilion and hung out in the parking lot for a while before heading into the concert area. Since I had never been there before, CA showed me around to the various places that were offered and also pointed out where the cleaner bathrooms were. We grabbed large drinks so that we could make sure to stay awake and headed down to the floor to catch the opening band, The Meat Puppets.
The Meat Puppets were good, though neither CA or I were familiar with them, so we didn't recognize any of their songs. Still, a good way to set the mood for later that night. They played for about half an hour before heading off-stage.
As the crew began to set up the stage for STP, I began to experiment a bit with my camera. One of the things that has made me crazy about my digital camera is that when trying to photograph things that can't use a flash, such as a concert or in front of glass, its full-auto mode sets the shutter speed way too slow and I end up with a lot of blurred pictures. It's really bad when I will go to something like a hockey game and out of the 50 pictures I take, 40 of them have to be rejected because they're blurry or considered too dark. I decided to try setting my camera to full manual and setting the shutter speed on my own. With a bit of experimentation I was able to come up with shutter speeds and F-stops that looked like they would work for when STP was up there.
So after another half an hour, STP finally came to the stage. The floor got crowded very quickly as more people pressed forward to get to the front of the stage to see folks. Since we were smart enough to get there early, we had an awesome view of the stage. As you will see from the pictures, we were good and close.
STP went through the catalog of their songs old and new, and it was a blast all around. Only one incident of someone hopping up onto the stage happened, and they were quickly removed. There was a guy next to us who must have been on something because he was really getting into the music, to the point where he tried early on to start a mosh pit but most of the people around him were not having it. BTW, what is with the women who were wearing dresses to the concert, especially being crowded onto the floor? Then there was the screamer in front of us, she had this high-pitched Xena warrior yell going on every time something would happen. If STP wasn't going to cost me my hearing, she definitely was.
So there were lots of good songs, a good performance, plenty of singing along, and going to manual pictures totally worked. I compared a few auto pictures to the ones I did manually, the manual ones were totally better. I had to do a lot less work in Photoshop to prepare them for uploading.
It was a concert that was totally worth attending. I see that the Killers are going to be there at the end of August, I should see if I can get tickets.
Since I am actually able to keep up this time, here are the pictures from the STP concert. Click below to see them all :-D
February 09, 2009
Sirius 109, XM 98, 6-10 PM Eastern Time
Four years and three months ago, I finally jumped on the satellite radio bandwagon because I needed to listen to more than a few country stations and a top 40 station out in rural New Mexico. I went with Sirius Satellite Radio because the music lineup looked better and Howard Stern was coming, but I also got it because they had a channel dedicated to GLBT listeners, which piqued my curiosity.
I got my radio, hooked it up, activated it, and after checking out the music, I tuned in to what was then channel 149, OutQ. The first show I would hear? Derek and Romaine, a show about pop culture and whatever was on their minds. It quickly became something to listen to while I was working nights at the lab because I could always use a few laughs between tutoring folks that stopped by. Within a few weeks I was calling in, and considering that at the time I was one of the few New Mexico listeners, they knew when it was me calling in.
I actually got to meet Derek and Romaine a few months later when they attended Phoenix Pride, and they were the nicest folks to talk to. Romaine had done a pictorial in "On Our Backs" magazine so I got her to autograph it (I still have that issue!) and Derek autographed a pride guide. Two months later, I would get to see them again at DC Pride since it was right after I moved there for work.
The show has changed a bit since I first started listening, but they have kept all of the format that makes them popular. My favorite parts (besides that it's uncensored) are listening to Coffee Klatsch since it is anything goes, "What's Your Gay Problem?" (came about after a prank phone call) which is their advice segment, and "Desperately Fucking Angry" which is where listeners get to call in and rant about whatever pisses them off. I've probably called into "Desperately Fucking Angry" the most, especially during some of the worst times of my life. Actually, I have to give it some credit for prompting me to get out of a bad situation after calling in with a rant and Derek proceeded to call me out on some of my own behavior. Sometimes you just need to be yelled at, and neither Derek nor Romaine are afraid to do it if they have to.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I enjoy the show and listen every day that I am at home. If you already subscribe to Sirius or XM, tune into Sirius channel 109 or XM channel 98 from 6-10 PM Eastern time. If you are not a subscriber, consider getting the 3 day trial of Sirius Internet Radio to check them out since OutQ is one of the channels you can listen to besides all of the music. You can also find information about Derek, Romaine, and the Derek and Romaine show, including their new blog, which is written by Derek and Romaine, along with a few of their listeners.
A number of shows have come and gone on OutQ, but there is a reason that Derek and Romaine stays around, it's just that much fun to listen to.
I got my radio, hooked it up, activated it, and after checking out the music, I tuned in to what was then channel 149, OutQ. The first show I would hear? Derek and Romaine, a show about pop culture and whatever was on their minds. It quickly became something to listen to while I was working nights at the lab because I could always use a few laughs between tutoring folks that stopped by. Within a few weeks I was calling in, and considering that at the time I was one of the few New Mexico listeners, they knew when it was me calling in.
I actually got to meet Derek and Romaine a few months later when they attended Phoenix Pride, and they were the nicest folks to talk to. Romaine had done a pictorial in "On Our Backs" magazine so I got her to autograph it (I still have that issue!) and Derek autographed a pride guide. Two months later, I would get to see them again at DC Pride since it was right after I moved there for work.
The show has changed a bit since I first started listening, but they have kept all of the format that makes them popular. My favorite parts (besides that it's uncensored) are listening to Coffee Klatsch since it is anything goes, "What's Your Gay Problem?" (came about after a prank phone call) which is their advice segment, and "Desperately Fucking Angry" which is where listeners get to call in and rant about whatever pisses them off. I've probably called into "Desperately Fucking Angry" the most, especially during some of the worst times of my life. Actually, I have to give it some credit for prompting me to get out of a bad situation after calling in with a rant and Derek proceeded to call me out on some of my own behavior. Sometimes you just need to be yelled at, and neither Derek nor Romaine are afraid to do it if they have to.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I enjoy the show and listen every day that I am at home. If you already subscribe to Sirius or XM, tune into Sirius channel 109 or XM channel 98 from 6-10 PM Eastern time. If you are not a subscriber, consider getting the 3 day trial of Sirius Internet Radio to check them out since OutQ is one of the channels you can listen to besides all of the music. You can also find information about Derek, Romaine, and the Derek and Romaine show, including their new blog, which is written by Derek and Romaine, along with a few of their listeners.
A number of shows have come and gone on OutQ, but there is a reason that Derek and Romaine stays around, it's just that much fun to listen to.
December 18, 2008
Go See Milk
Monday night Fredo and I went to see Milk since it has finally come to the DC area. From what I heard from other folks, it was a movie worth seeing, it was going to hit you emotionally, and they were right.
To me the movie was a realistic portrayal of Harvey Milk. I knew some of the history about him and the Castro area based on some of my past research, but there was so much that was filled in that I didn't know about. None of the books I had ever really mentioned his long-time partner Scott, so that was a good detail for me to know.
Sean Penn does a good job playing Milk, he seemed to have gotten into the mind of the man, which was no easy feat considering that Milk was killed 30 years ago. Luckily from what I saw in the credits, there were many people who supported this movie and gave their time and stories, so that is probably what helped put together what really is a quality movie. It keeps on moving and doesn't drag anything out ad nauseum. I liked that they mixed real news footage with some footage they created so they could put the Sean Penn character in there as well.
One thing I had noticed in the movie was that some of Milk's speeches mentioned the word "hope" a lot. I wondered if this was based on speeches that Milk actually gave or if the writers were feeling just a wee bit inspired by the Obama campaign this year. I brought that up to Fredo and he thinks the movie speeches were from actual speeches because they would be on record somewhere.
By the time I was halfway through the movie, I was hooked, and very emotionally invested in the people, always wondering what was going to happen next. When I saw Anita Bryant show up on the screen and start in with her right wing religious bullshit, I actually growled a little bit without even consciously thinking about it. No one has gotten me to react like that before.
If you're familiar with the life of Harvey Milk, you know how this movie will end up, yet by the time it gets there, you will find yourself wishing that history had not gone the way it did. I myself was holding my breath through those final scenes and later I began to wonder, just what could have happened if history had not gone the way it did? Unfortunately we will never know.
What it boils down to is that this is a good movie, period, and after seeing it now I understand why people very much felt that it was snubbed for the Golden Globe nominations. It's not another pointless debate like the "controversy" when Crash took home an Oscar for Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain; Milk was a very good movie and it should have at least gotten a few more nominations than it did.
Go see it, no matter who you are, it's worth a look. I may have to go see it again before it leaves this theater. It's already in my Netflix queue as well.
To me the movie was a realistic portrayal of Harvey Milk. I knew some of the history about him and the Castro area based on some of my past research, but there was so much that was filled in that I didn't know about. None of the books I had ever really mentioned his long-time partner Scott, so that was a good detail for me to know.
Sean Penn does a good job playing Milk, he seemed to have gotten into the mind of the man, which was no easy feat considering that Milk was killed 30 years ago. Luckily from what I saw in the credits, there were many people who supported this movie and gave their time and stories, so that is probably what helped put together what really is a quality movie. It keeps on moving and doesn't drag anything out ad nauseum. I liked that they mixed real news footage with some footage they created so they could put the Sean Penn character in there as well.
One thing I had noticed in the movie was that some of Milk's speeches mentioned the word "hope" a lot. I wondered if this was based on speeches that Milk actually gave or if the writers were feeling just a wee bit inspired by the Obama campaign this year. I brought that up to Fredo and he thinks the movie speeches were from actual speeches because they would be on record somewhere.
By the time I was halfway through the movie, I was hooked, and very emotionally invested in the people, always wondering what was going to happen next. When I saw Anita Bryant show up on the screen and start in with her right wing religious bullshit, I actually growled a little bit without even consciously thinking about it. No one has gotten me to react like that before.
If you're familiar with the life of Harvey Milk, you know how this movie will end up, yet by the time it gets there, you will find yourself wishing that history had not gone the way it did. I myself was holding my breath through those final scenes and later I began to wonder, just what could have happened if history had not gone the way it did? Unfortunately we will never know.
What it boils down to is that this is a good movie, period, and after seeing it now I understand why people very much felt that it was snubbed for the Golden Globe nominations. It's not another pointless debate like the "controversy" when Crash took home an Oscar for Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain; Milk was a very good movie and it should have at least gotten a few more nominations than it did.
Go see it, no matter who you are, it's worth a look. I may have to go see it again before it leaves this theater. It's already in my Netflix queue as well.
November 18, 2008
Birthday Activities
Except for talking about recent news issues, I have been pretty silent about what I have been up to lately.
My actual birthday was spent at Guys Night Out, put on by the Washington Wizards. I got a $102 seat, a free drink, and a picture with some of the Wizard Girls for only $55, what a deal! The arena was crowded with fans watching the game, and I was in a pretty good seat, lower level towards the corner, could see a decent view of the court. I have to admit that the arena looks way different for a Wizards game vs watching a Capitals game. I got to see the different seating configurations that they have.
The game itself was fun to watch, and the Wizards ultimately ended up winning against the Jazz, 95-87, their first win of the year. I think I might go hit another Guys Night Out later this year, besides watching and cheering on Phoenix when they come to visit.
I set up a dinner for Saturday night and was joined by Brian and James at Momiji Japanese Bar and Grill in Chinatown. It was a new place that I had run across an ad for in the city paper, and the menu looked good with reasonable prices, so I decided to try it out. We got there a little after 6:30 and the place was packed since AC/DC was going to be playing nearby at the Verizon center. Luckily because I made reservations, we didn't have to wait too long. We were seated and the hostess brought around some tea as we looked over the menu.
James had some Miso Soup while Brian and I each had some Gyoza to start. All of us got different kinds of sushi rolls, one of which would be the subject of many a joke that night. One of the rolls was called the Happy Santa, and to top it off, it was served on a long oval plate. All I could say to that it was one very happy Santa. I had the capital roll and the rainbow roll, both of which were great. All of us enjoyed our dinner, and we are in agreement that it was a worthwhile place to go. I will definitely have to go back again.
After Momiji we went over to Cobalt for some drinks. That place has dramatically changed since I was there about a month ago. Now there are more couches and a new paint job, the place seems to be trying to look more chic. At least the drink deals are still the same. One of the discussions that did come up was that it seems that gay bars really like to pour on the alcohol, to the point where the mixer is just enough to give it some color and make it a not quite straight shot of booze. It is a matter of whether or not you really desire lots of alcohol or not, because sometimes you don't want to taste the alcohol. I guess it's all about what you want.
After Cobalt it was Larrys Lounge for a couple of beers, where we ended up staying out way late, I didn't get home until 2 in the morning, it was totally worth it.
Monday I went and had lunch with Dan and Chandra over at The Barking Dog. I have met up with them for lunch there a few times before, and it's always good. There was a bit of an issue with our server that day, I hope next time we get Danielle. Otherwise the conversation was great as usual, it's always good to see them.
I find this is a great way to spend my birthday, meeting up with friends and having a day or night out with them, even if it is not on the actual day. It's totally worthwhile.
October 23, 2008
Review of The Woods
What made me decide to go up to The Woods in the first place was because a few friends I know in DC have been there and recommended the place. I checked out their website and what I saw sounded good, there was stuff to do on the weekends, they had a pool and a small private lake as well. Besides that there were hiking trails to go walking around on, and when you wanted to relax, there were hottubs available to unwind in as well. Along with that their rates for sites were very reasonable. What I would have spent for a hotel in Virginia Beach in the off season, I would spend the same to get a campsite that had electric available. It was worth the price, though I could also get away with just camping out in their field, simply because it's what I'm used to for camping. From what I hear, the place gets crowded enough during the summer months that unless I reserve a site in March, I'm sleeping in the field. I will point out that the rates double for a holiday weekend, but that would happen anywhere you go.
Besides the electric sites and the field, there are also sites with electric and water; electric, water, and sewer hookups; cabin sites; and a luxury trailer that can be rented as well. Also, there are a number of campers who have a permanent site so they have brought in trailers and built additions on them. So whether you want to rough it or not, there is likely a place where you can stay. I'd consider renting a cabin if I was bringing a few friends up here to split the cost.
Amenities are nice to cover the basics. Besides the pool and hottubs, there is a cafe where you can take your meals if you don't feel like cooking during the weekend, and some theme weekends will offer free food or drinks at some events, depending on the weekend. There is also a supply store if you forget any camping stuff. I bought a small wax log for fire starting and a long fork for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs for a very good price. There are two comfort stations that have toilet facilities and outdoor shower stalls, along with sinks to groom and a sink to wash dishes in. If the weather sucks or you're feeling self-conscious, you can head to the clubhouse, which has separate indoor men's and women's bathrooms and showers. There is a large deck with picnic tables and lounge chairs, and music playing throughout the day. It is a good place to kick back and read a book. Behind that is a sand volleyball court if that is your sort of thing. I'll have to get in on a game next year.
The lake is a bit further back, it is a 5 acre lake, and there are a few paddle boats available and a canoe or two. I am not sure what the rules are on swimming or fishing in the lake, I just know they definitely tell you not to drink the water. There is a walking trail that runs around the lake with a few park benches you can sit at and watch the views. It's all shaded so you will stay fairly cool during those summer months.
The staff that run the place are friendly, they know what they're doing and are willing to help out if you have any questions. The owner himself leads hikes into the area around the campground, to me that's good to see an involved owner. As for the other campers, you will encounter a very friendly bunch of people. There will always be other people walking around and most of them will give you a wave and say hello and exchange a few words. You can ask many people questions about the grounds or for help if you need to borrow something, and they will usually oblige. One camper offered me a chair after we were hanging around their fire for a while, which was cool considering that we had met maybe an hour before. Throughout the weekend I would meet many new people, including a few I still keep in contact with. The general attitude I got from the other campers was that they were willing to look out for one another with no strings attached. What a change from the city, where it seems that help tends to come with a price.
The other big thing about The Woods is that it is a private campground. You fill out a form and pay a small fee ($10) a year for the privilege of staying there. If you break the rules, you're outta there. Add on that there are police officers that stay in the camp, and you know you won't be messed with. However, what it also means is that your privacy will be respected, they dont allow outsiders to come wandering in. Most people you meet you will basically know on a first name basis. I don't think any more than 3 people that weekend learned my last name. In fact, there were a number of people who are not out that stay there because of the fact that their privacy was respected. Also because it's private, it's also clothing optional. Yes, there is the potential to see people walking around with nothing but shoes on, especially during hotter summer months. It doesn't mean you have to, everyone has their own comfort level on that. However, you might want to remember that ahead of time so there are no surprises when you get there. Besides, it is more fun to go naked into the hottub ;-) Just because the place is clothing optional, that doesn't mean you can just have sex anywhere you want. Public sex is not allowed on the site, and if you get caught, you will be banned from the place for life. If you're fooling around in your tent or trailer, that's another story, have at it, but don't screw around in the pool, hottub, or lake, unless you like having your name on a blacklist.
Next year I will know more about activities, but from what I saw in the end of the year slideshow, there is a lot to do no matter what weekend you want to come up, but no one says you have to do them. If you want to hang out in a chair by your tent and enjoy a drink while reading a book or watching eye candy, you can do that. No one is twisting your arm to do anything, unless you have a boyfriend that doesn't like to sit around.
Overall, I found my weekend at the Woods to be a great experience. It enabled me to get away from the city for a few days and I could have both quiet time and social time as well. Thanks to the friendly attitudes of the people who come out to camp, I got to make a few friends as well. If that's one thing I liked, it was that people were actually approachable. The camp itself not only had everything I could have wanted, it exceeded my expectations. I also like that it is a private campground because it seemed to put some people at ease about being who they are. It's a worthwhile place to check out and consider spending at least one weekend at. Also if I want to satisfy that roller coaster junkie side of me, Dorney Park is only 30 mins away, :-D
I have already put in my application for membership in 2009, and when reservations open up next year, I will definitely be planning for a few weekends. In my mind, it's worth
Besides the electric sites and the field, there are also sites with electric and water; electric, water, and sewer hookups; cabin sites; and a luxury trailer that can be rented as well. Also, there are a number of campers who have a permanent site so they have brought in trailers and built additions on them. So whether you want to rough it or not, there is likely a place where you can stay. I'd consider renting a cabin if I was bringing a few friends up here to split the cost.
Amenities are nice to cover the basics. Besides the pool and hottubs, there is a cafe where you can take your meals if you don't feel like cooking during the weekend, and some theme weekends will offer free food or drinks at some events, depending on the weekend. There is also a supply store if you forget any camping stuff. I bought a small wax log for fire starting and a long fork for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs for a very good price. There are two comfort stations that have toilet facilities and outdoor shower stalls, along with sinks to groom and a sink to wash dishes in. If the weather sucks or you're feeling self-conscious, you can head to the clubhouse, which has separate indoor men's and women's bathrooms and showers. There is a large deck with picnic tables and lounge chairs, and music playing throughout the day. It is a good place to kick back and read a book. Behind that is a sand volleyball court if that is your sort of thing. I'll have to get in on a game next year.
The lake is a bit further back, it is a 5 acre lake, and there are a few paddle boats available and a canoe or two. I am not sure what the rules are on swimming or fishing in the lake, I just know they definitely tell you not to drink the water. There is a walking trail that runs around the lake with a few park benches you can sit at and watch the views. It's all shaded so you will stay fairly cool during those summer months.
The staff that run the place are friendly, they know what they're doing and are willing to help out if you have any questions. The owner himself leads hikes into the area around the campground, to me that's good to see an involved owner. As for the other campers, you will encounter a very friendly bunch of people. There will always be other people walking around and most of them will give you a wave and say hello and exchange a few words. You can ask many people questions about the grounds or for help if you need to borrow something, and they will usually oblige. One camper offered me a chair after we were hanging around their fire for a while, which was cool considering that we had met maybe an hour before. Throughout the weekend I would meet many new people, including a few I still keep in contact with. The general attitude I got from the other campers was that they were willing to look out for one another with no strings attached. What a change from the city, where it seems that help tends to come with a price.
The other big thing about The Woods is that it is a private campground. You fill out a form and pay a small fee ($10) a year for the privilege of staying there. If you break the rules, you're outta there. Add on that there are police officers that stay in the camp, and you know you won't be messed with. However, what it also means is that your privacy will be respected, they dont allow outsiders to come wandering in. Most people you meet you will basically know on a first name basis. I don't think any more than 3 people that weekend learned my last name. In fact, there were a number of people who are not out that stay there because of the fact that their privacy was respected. Also because it's private, it's also clothing optional. Yes, there is the potential to see people walking around with nothing but shoes on, especially during hotter summer months. It doesn't mean you have to, everyone has their own comfort level on that. However, you might want to remember that ahead of time so there are no surprises when you get there. Besides, it is more fun to go naked into the hottub ;-) Just because the place is clothing optional, that doesn't mean you can just have sex anywhere you want. Public sex is not allowed on the site, and if you get caught, you will be banned from the place for life. If you're fooling around in your tent or trailer, that's another story, have at it, but don't screw around in the pool, hottub, or lake, unless you like having your name on a blacklist.
Next year I will know more about activities, but from what I saw in the end of the year slideshow, there is a lot to do no matter what weekend you want to come up, but no one says you have to do them. If you want to hang out in a chair by your tent and enjoy a drink while reading a book or watching eye candy, you can do that. No one is twisting your arm to do anything, unless you have a boyfriend that doesn't like to sit around.
Overall, I found my weekend at the Woods to be a great experience. It enabled me to get away from the city for a few days and I could have both quiet time and social time as well. Thanks to the friendly attitudes of the people who come out to camp, I got to make a few friends as well. If that's one thing I liked, it was that people were actually approachable. The camp itself not only had everything I could have wanted, it exceeded my expectations. I also like that it is a private campground because it seemed to put some people at ease about being who they are. It's a worthwhile place to check out and consider spending at least one weekend at. Also if I want to satisfy that roller coaster junkie side of me, Dorney Park is only 30 mins away, :-D
I have already put in my application for membership in 2009, and when reservations open up next year, I will definitely be planning for a few weekends. In my mind, it's worth
September 08, 2008
Jo Dee Messina
If I had to pick out a favorite artist, it would likely be Jo Dee Messina. I've been listening to her since I was in high school, starting off at the place I worked at because the bosses would play with one of her albums, "I'm Alright". At the time I had no clue of her, and it happened to be that the first album of hers that I bought was "Burn." It wasn't until later when I purchased "I'm Alright" for myself that I realized I had been listening to her for years.
Anyway, Jo Dee's music is of a genre that I really don't listen to much, but I connect a lot with the songs on her albums. Her first album, which was self-titled, is pretty straightforward, there's a few good songs, but it's definitely her trying it out and finding her "voice." "I'm Alright" is the album you listen to when you're dealing with a breakup. You have songs like Bye-Bye which talk about kicking the guy to the curb because he can't commit, but you also have "I'm Alright" which is running into an old friend. Then towards the end you have some of the more loving songs, which is kind of funny after listening to a lot of "You left me, but that's fine because you're an asshole! :-D" songs, suddenly it seems we come to that there's a decent guy around.
Following that we come to "Burn." This is what you listen to when things are going well in life. One of my favorites is "These Are the Days" which is about stepping back and learning to enjoy the pleasures of the day instead of getting so caught up in the usual routine.
There was a Christmas album (because I swear that every recording contract says that you have to record one) and then a greatest hits album. The greatest hits was nice, but Jo Dee was reportedly not happy with it because on one of the new songs recorded for the album, they did enhancements to her voice in the studio without her knowledge, and she hated how it turned out.
Finally we get to Delicious Surprise which is fun to listen to, and it signals a return to her "I'm strong and I don't need you to make me that way" type of song that we hear a lot on "I'm Alright." It's obvious when the first single is called "My Give a Damn's Busted."
I said earlier that I connect with a lot of her songs, and that's true. I think someone could gauge my mood based on which of her albums I have loaded into my Stiletto. Besides that, you could probably take one of her songs and apply it to various points in my life as well. What I like about her is her music reflects having an independent streak, which is something that I have. Plus her music is not always about the same thing over and over again, there may be a theme to several of her songs on an album, but it's not beaten to death.
So I'll be curious as to what she comes out with next since she's been back in the studio recently, and just had a new single come out.
To end this post, I'll leave you with a fan produced video (since the official video is not on YouTube!) of a song that certainly carries some meaning now:
Anyway, Jo Dee's music is of a genre that I really don't listen to much, but I connect a lot with the songs on her albums. Her first album, which was self-titled, is pretty straightforward, there's a few good songs, but it's definitely her trying it out and finding her "voice." "I'm Alright" is the album you listen to when you're dealing with a breakup. You have songs like Bye-Bye which talk about kicking the guy to the curb because he can't commit, but you also have "I'm Alright" which is running into an old friend. Then towards the end you have some of the more loving songs, which is kind of funny after listening to a lot of "You left me, but that's fine because you're an asshole! :-D" songs, suddenly it seems we come to that there's a decent guy around.
Following that we come to "Burn." This is what you listen to when things are going well in life. One of my favorites is "These Are the Days" which is about stepping back and learning to enjoy the pleasures of the day instead of getting so caught up in the usual routine.
There was a Christmas album (because I swear that every recording contract says that you have to record one) and then a greatest hits album. The greatest hits was nice, but Jo Dee was reportedly not happy with it because on one of the new songs recorded for the album, they did enhancements to her voice in the studio without her knowledge, and she hated how it turned out.
Finally we get to Delicious Surprise which is fun to listen to, and it signals a return to her "I'm strong and I don't need you to make me that way" type of song that we hear a lot on "I'm Alright." It's obvious when the first single is called "My Give a Damn's Busted."
I said earlier that I connect with a lot of her songs, and that's true. I think someone could gauge my mood based on which of her albums I have loaded into my Stiletto. Besides that, you could probably take one of her songs and apply it to various points in my life as well. What I like about her is her music reflects having an independent streak, which is something that I have. Plus her music is not always about the same thing over and over again, there may be a theme to several of her songs on an album, but it's not beaten to death.
So I'll be curious as to what she comes out with next since she's been back in the studio recently, and just had a new single come out.
To end this post, I'll leave you with a fan produced video (since the official video is not on YouTube!) of a song that certainly carries some meaning now:
September 03, 2008
New Phone? Maybe...
As you probably saw, there are two test entries in my blog referencing some phones. My current contract with Verizon expired in August so they're trying to lure me back with offers on new equipment and such. That's fine considering my phone is over 2 years old now so I am in line for an upgrade if I wish to do so.
I have to admit, I had not wanted an iPhone, until I used one of my friends. Now I would consider getting one. However, I would rather wait until some of the bugs are worked out, including the fact that AT&T seems to have issues with keeping their data network up at the moment. Also, from what I have seen, the iPhones mapping application doesn't do turn-by-turn directions using GPS like Verizon's does, which I have seen in action and it's pretty sweet. Where the iPhone does have their advantage is that it can use Wi-Fi
So in the meantime I tested some of the latest phones from Verizon to see how their phones would feel in my hands, and whether or not the internet worked well on them. I started out with the Samsung Glyde. I liked the wide screen and the touch screen was pretty responsive. It also had the best of the keyboards that I tried out that night. However, I was unable to login to Blogger or Gmail because unless something was wonky with the demo model, I was unable to type anything on the login boxes. So it's nice, but it doesn't quite do what I want.
I tried out the Blackberry 8830 as well, it actually let me login to Blogger and type out the test post. I wasn't quite so impressed with how close the buttons were on the keyboard, but I think I could get used to that if I were to use the device further. However, trying to find the functions in the browser were not so easy. It took me a minute to find the place to type in the URL's. At least it had a decent screen for showing web pages.
Next up was the LG Voyager. Again, nice screen, responsive to my touch, the browser was easier to navigate. This one also let me login to blogger and type out a post. The thing that made me nuts was that I could not find a backspace key, so when I made a typo in typing a URL, instead of the clr button doing the backspacing, it took me out of entering a URL, so I had to start over again. That's not very convenient.
I tried the Env2, and it's basically the same as the voyager, except no touch screen, and the inner screen size is smaller. So it's not the best for web pages, and displaying maps.
If I were to stick with Verizon and make my choice, I would likely go with the LG Voyager as my next phone. However, I think I may wait a while before making my decision and purchase. What I would love to see from Verizon is a phone that is capable of handling Wi-Fi, what makes me nuts is that Blackberry phones are capable of doing Wi-Fi, except that Verizon only takes and sells models that have no Wi-Fi built in. What is Verizon afraid of by letting their phones be Wi-Fi capable? I don't always want to be tethered to their network, especially for mobile web stuff because it is not always the fastest. It took a while to load up failblog.org since it's very graphics intensive, and I know it loads much faster over Wi-Fi on an iPhone. I would love to see Verizon sell a Wi-Fi capable phone, but who knows if that is in the works.
The next thing I want to do is get a friend over here who has an iPhone and see what kind of reception I get, and how well the Wi-Fi would work. Besides that I would also want to test the functionality of using the iPhone, including the on-screen keyboard, which I am a bit leery of because I think I might prefer to have a physical keyboard, but we'll see.
Of course, by the time I'm ready to buy, the prices could come down on any of the phones or plans, so I'll just watch and see what happens. At least I don't have to buy a phone right now because my old one is still working.
I have to admit, I had not wanted an iPhone, until I used one of my friends. Now I would consider getting one. However, I would rather wait until some of the bugs are worked out, including the fact that AT&T seems to have issues with keeping their data network up at the moment. Also, from what I have seen, the iPhones mapping application doesn't do turn-by-turn directions using GPS like Verizon's does, which I have seen in action and it's pretty sweet. Where the iPhone does have their advantage is that it can use Wi-Fi
So in the meantime I tested some of the latest phones from Verizon to see how their phones would feel in my hands, and whether or not the internet worked well on them. I started out with the Samsung Glyde. I liked the wide screen and the touch screen was pretty responsive. It also had the best of the keyboards that I tried out that night. However, I was unable to login to Blogger or Gmail because unless something was wonky with the demo model, I was unable to type anything on the login boxes. So it's nice, but it doesn't quite do what I want.
I tried out the Blackberry 8830 as well, it actually let me login to Blogger and type out the test post. I wasn't quite so impressed with how close the buttons were on the keyboard, but I think I could get used to that if I were to use the device further. However, trying to find the functions in the browser were not so easy. It took me a minute to find the place to type in the URL's. At least it had a decent screen for showing web pages.
Next up was the LG Voyager. Again, nice screen, responsive to my touch, the browser was easier to navigate. This one also let me login to blogger and type out a post. The thing that made me nuts was that I could not find a backspace key, so when I made a typo in typing a URL, instead of the clr button doing the backspacing, it took me out of entering a URL, so I had to start over again. That's not very convenient.
I tried the Env2, and it's basically the same as the voyager, except no touch screen, and the inner screen size is smaller. So it's not the best for web pages, and displaying maps.
If I were to stick with Verizon and make my choice, I would likely go with the LG Voyager as my next phone. However, I think I may wait a while before making my decision and purchase. What I would love to see from Verizon is a phone that is capable of handling Wi-Fi, what makes me nuts is that Blackberry phones are capable of doing Wi-Fi, except that Verizon only takes and sells models that have no Wi-Fi built in. What is Verizon afraid of by letting their phones be Wi-Fi capable? I don't always want to be tethered to their network, especially for mobile web stuff because it is not always the fastest. It took a while to load up failblog.org since it's very graphics intensive, and I know it loads much faster over Wi-Fi on an iPhone. I would love to see Verizon sell a Wi-Fi capable phone, but who knows if that is in the works.
The next thing I want to do is get a friend over here who has an iPhone and see what kind of reception I get, and how well the Wi-Fi would work. Besides that I would also want to test the functionality of using the iPhone, including the on-screen keyboard, which I am a bit leery of because I think I might prefer to have a physical keyboard, but we'll see.
Of course, by the time I'm ready to buy, the prices could come down on any of the phones or plans, so I'll just watch and see what happens. At least I don't have to buy a phone right now because my old one is still working.
July 20, 2008
Birthday with CD
A friend I made from the Capital Pride Committee through JH was celebrating her birthday this weekend. I wasn't able to make the Friday night events because they were way out in Clarendon and I did not have my car. However, I did make it out to her birthday dinner Saturday night. It was a night complete with what has to be a gold mine for people watchers and sociologists.
We all met at Amer's Cafe, which is a cafe that serves many Mediterranean dishes along with other favorites. The owners are Egyptian, so they know what they're doing. CD knows the owners quite well so that meant plenty of teasing from them of course. I also got to meet a number of CD's friends, and as it turned out, I was the youngest one at the table, but that was alright. We had fun throughout the night.
The thing about Amer's is that if you're ordering takeout from them, you're a damn fool because there is so much you will miss out on. There was a belly dancer that evening who would come out and dance for folks, including bringing some of the customers up to dance as well. CD and her friend J did dance with the dancer as well. Also, there is a woman there who does Tarot for a small fee. CD had her cards read, some of her friends had their cards read, and I had my cards read as well. I'm not giving details of my reading, but based on what I know about Tarot, this woman knows what she is doing and she doesn't bullshit you.
So anyway, consider Amer's if you're in the northern Baltimore area and dine in!
After that we went to 70's night at the Bayou Cafe. We weren't there for more than about 1/2 an hour not necessarily because the club was dead or anything like that. Their A/c was broken so it was frigging hot in there! However, 70's night is a freaking sociologist's wet dream because it's basically folks who were young in the 70's trying to recapture their youth. Plenty of disco music playing and people doing bad dancing. It was complete with some guys who clearly had bad 70's hair. Seriously, I walked by these two guys and it was like "OMG!" So I pointed them out to CD, she shows her friend B, and he is just doubled over laughing at those guys. I gotta also say that if you're into cougars, there were plenty of them there.
Eventually we couldn't take the heat in there (it was probably close to 90 inside) so we took off and went to her friend J's house (which has an A/c thank god!) where I got to meet their dogs, who are so very friendly. I think they could tell I was a dog person so they kept coming to me for attention. Around 1:00 CD, her friend B, and I all decided it was time to take off since we had about an hour ride ahead of us. I got home, showered to get all that sweat from the club off, and then headed to bed.
We all met at Amer's Cafe, which is a cafe that serves many Mediterranean dishes along with other favorites. The owners are Egyptian, so they know what they're doing. CD knows the owners quite well so that meant plenty of teasing from them of course. I also got to meet a number of CD's friends, and as it turned out, I was the youngest one at the table, but that was alright. We had fun throughout the night.
The thing about Amer's is that if you're ordering takeout from them, you're a damn fool because there is so much you will miss out on. There was a belly dancer that evening who would come out and dance for folks, including bringing some of the customers up to dance as well. CD and her friend J did dance with the dancer as well. Also, there is a woman there who does Tarot for a small fee. CD had her cards read, some of her friends had their cards read, and I had my cards read as well. I'm not giving details of my reading, but based on what I know about Tarot, this woman knows what she is doing and she doesn't bullshit you.
So anyway, consider Amer's if you're in the northern Baltimore area and dine in!
After that we went to 70's night at the Bayou Cafe. We weren't there for more than about 1/2 an hour not necessarily because the club was dead or anything like that. Their A/c was broken so it was frigging hot in there! However, 70's night is a freaking sociologist's wet dream because it's basically folks who were young in the 70's trying to recapture their youth. Plenty of disco music playing and people doing bad dancing. It was complete with some guys who clearly had bad 70's hair. Seriously, I walked by these two guys and it was like "OMG!" So I pointed them out to CD, she shows her friend B, and he is just doubled over laughing at those guys. I gotta also say that if you're into cougars, there were plenty of them there.
Eventually we couldn't take the heat in there (it was probably close to 90 inside) so we took off and went to her friend J's house (which has an A/c thank god!) where I got to meet their dogs, who are so very friendly. I think they could tell I was a dog person so they kept coming to me for attention. Around 1:00 CD, her friend B, and I all decided it was time to take off since we had about an hour ride ahead of us. I got home, showered to get all that sweat from the club off, and then headed to bed.
March 02, 2008
Saturday Fun
So JH and I decided to go out Saturday night, there were plans to go out Friday night, but those changed for good reasons, which is being saved for another entry. After having some discussions about where to go, we had decided to head out to Tapatinis for dinner, and then go to The Comedy Spot in Arlington for The Blue Show.
So I arrive at JH's house and we metro over to Eastern Market to get to dinner, and it is there that we discover that while Tapatinis has a great working website, they're basically closed like they're out of business or remodeling. There was paper covering the window from the inside, and the door was locked of course. The lesson here boys and girls is that when you want to try a new restaurant, call to make sure it's still in business since the website is not the best indicator. I just checked the phone number and it is "temporarily disconnected."
We decided we would head over to the Ballston area and find somewhere to dine before the show since we would then be right in the area and not have to rush. We looked at the brewery, but next door was a sushi restaurant. Feeling adventurous we headed over to Asahi Kaiten Sushibar.
The food was excellent, I had the spicy tuna roll, the spicy yellowtail roll, and the salmon advocado roll. JH had the rainbow roll, the tuna roll, and I think he did a salmon roll as well. We also were sitting at the bar and enjoyed sharing one of the plates that went by on the conveyor belt as well, along with a mussel dish that was on the house. Of course, as we would learn later, the place was closing up shop as of Monday. Boy we can sure pick em, can't we? I should have asked if they knew where the particular sushi chef was going because she was very good at what she did.
So we get to the Comedy Spot and get seated. Basically the Blue Show is like Whose Line is it Anyway? minus the pussyfication that Disney did to that show, especially because it was uncensored. Of course, because it's improv, things can be hit or miss, but generally it was a funny show overall. JH thinks it started out funny and went downhill, but I felt it had its ups and downs anywhere. Still, we would totally do it again, and I would suggest it for something to do with a date or a group of friends.
By the time all was said and done, it was close to midnight and JH had to work in the morning, so we metroed back to where his car was waiting and headed home.
So a good night overall, and I am thinking our next project is to check out other sushi places in the DC area. Actually I have to love my church members, I was talking about JH and I's date and was bitching about how we find this great sushi place and it's frigging closing, someone tells me of a Japanese restaurant to try in College Park. So I'm sure we'll have a report on that in the coming weeks.
So I arrive at JH's house and we metro over to Eastern Market to get to dinner, and it is there that we discover that while Tapatinis has a great working website, they're basically closed like they're out of business or remodeling. There was paper covering the window from the inside, and the door was locked of course. The lesson here boys and girls is that when you want to try a new restaurant, call to make sure it's still in business since the website is not the best indicator. I just checked the phone number and it is "temporarily disconnected."
We decided we would head over to the Ballston area and find somewhere to dine before the show since we would then be right in the area and not have to rush. We looked at the brewery, but next door was a sushi restaurant. Feeling adventurous we headed over to Asahi Kaiten Sushibar.
The food was excellent, I had the spicy tuna roll, the spicy yellowtail roll, and the salmon advocado roll. JH had the rainbow roll, the tuna roll, and I think he did a salmon roll as well. We also were sitting at the bar and enjoyed sharing one of the plates that went by on the conveyor belt as well, along with a mussel dish that was on the house. Of course, as we would learn later, the place was closing up shop as of Monday. Boy we can sure pick em, can't we? I should have asked if they knew where the particular sushi chef was going because she was very good at what she did.
So we get to the Comedy Spot and get seated. Basically the Blue Show is like Whose Line is it Anyway? minus the pussyfication that Disney did to that show, especially because it was uncensored. Of course, because it's improv, things can be hit or miss, but generally it was a funny show overall. JH thinks it started out funny and went downhill, but I felt it had its ups and downs anywhere. Still, we would totally do it again, and I would suggest it for something to do with a date or a group of friends.
By the time all was said and done, it was close to midnight and JH had to work in the morning, so we metroed back to where his car was waiting and headed home.
So a good night overall, and I am thinking our next project is to check out other sushi places in the DC area. Actually I have to love my church members, I was talking about JH and I's date and was bitching about how we find this great sushi place and it's frigging closing, someone tells me of a Japanese restaurant to try in College Park. So I'm sure we'll have a report on that in the coming weeks.
February 13, 2008
Something You Will Never See at Wal-Mart
Today as part of my errands I went to Costco to pick up a few things that I am going to need for tomorrow night. Being that it's winter and there are storms, it's raining outside, and that means that shopping carts taken out and left in the parking lot will get wet. Even after they're brought back under the corral outside, they don't dry immediately, so more often than not, you have a wet cart. It happens, that's how it goes, life goes on.
So I go and grab a cart and head in and show my card to the door greeter. She is there with a roll of paper towels and hands me one so that I can wipe off the handle of my cart and not have to use a sleeve or gloves to do so. That is the first time I have ever seen a retail store do that anywhere, and I appreciated the gesture. I am sure all of the customers who came through today appreciated it as well.
I made sure to write a letter to Costco letting them know how nice it was for them to do this. I have to laugh at the Costco website because it clearly tries to be as friendly as their staff. I mark "other" on the form for why I am writing to corporate, and after clicking to submit, it presents me with a few common FAQs to make sure I didn't miss something before I have to write them. The page started out with "We really want to help you today" or something like that, which was kind of cute.
The best part is corporate paid attention as well, within 35 minutes I had a response from them that they were forwarding it to the store manager, and 11 minutes after that, there was a personal response from the manager. More stores, both online and offline could take a lesson from Costco.
So I go and grab a cart and head in and show my card to the door greeter. She is there with a roll of paper towels and hands me one so that I can wipe off the handle of my cart and not have to use a sleeve or gloves to do so. That is the first time I have ever seen a retail store do that anywhere, and I appreciated the gesture. I am sure all of the customers who came through today appreciated it as well.
I made sure to write a letter to Costco letting them know how nice it was for them to do this. I have to laugh at the Costco website because it clearly tries to be as friendly as their staff. I mark "other" on the form for why I am writing to corporate, and after clicking to submit, it presents me with a few common FAQs to make sure I didn't miss something before I have to write them. The page started out with "We really want to help you today" or something like that, which was kind of cute.
The best part is corporate paid attention as well, within 35 minutes I had a response from them that they were forwarding it to the store manager, and 11 minutes after that, there was a personal response from the manager. More stores, both online and offline could take a lesson from Costco.
January 02, 2008
The New Bionic Woman
I know this show is on hiatus right now due to the strike and apparently there's a question of how well it is doing in the ratings. I hope they don't cancel it.
I freaking LOVE this show. I have always liked to watch a woman that can kick some ass, and this new Jaime Sommers knows how to kick ass. I want to see her have another knock down dragged out fight with Sarah Corvus again. It probably won't happen, but I can dream, right?
So the first few episodes have been focused on her becoming bionic and basically struggling to adjust to the major changes going on. Now she seems to be more comfortable with what has happened to her, but it still doesn't mean she likes it, and in fact, she likes to push her boundaries with authority. Shit, if I had her enhancements, I'd push the limits too, and I can totally relate to her desire for privacy and trying to be "normal." She's also hot, and I bet she does know how to smack you around if you try to mess with her in real life.
Either way, I love the show and I hope it gets a chance to continue. It doesn't hurt that one of their characters, Nathan, is so freaking cute to watch, even when he is being a jealous tool. You can tell he totally wants Jamie, but she won't give him the time of day.
Hotness. He needs to keep the facial hair.
I freaking LOVE this show. I have always liked to watch a woman that can kick some ass, and this new Jaime Sommers knows how to kick ass. I want to see her have another knock down dragged out fight with Sarah Corvus again. It probably won't happen, but I can dream, right?
So the first few episodes have been focused on her becoming bionic and basically struggling to adjust to the major changes going on. Now she seems to be more comfortable with what has happened to her, but it still doesn't mean she likes it, and in fact, she likes to push her boundaries with authority. Shit, if I had her enhancements, I'd push the limits too, and I can totally relate to her desire for privacy and trying to be "normal." She's also hot, and I bet she does know how to smack you around if you try to mess with her in real life.
Either way, I love the show and I hope it gets a chance to continue. It doesn't hurt that one of their characters, Nathan, is so freaking cute to watch, even when he is being a jealous tool. You can tell he totally wants Jamie, but she won't give him the time of day.
Hotness. He needs to keep the facial hair.
10% Off Your Next Purchaase
Since I know many of you out there use personal lube for whatever reason, here's an offer I just got that I am passing along. The best part is that CheapLubes.com already sells lube for less than the list price, so you're getting even more savings by using this coupon. They also ship out fast and their site is easy to navigate, so I would recommend them.
CheapLubes.com 10% New Year Sale
Get 10% Off your next order
Offer Good for the next 5 days only!
Enter discount code: Snow to receive discount
(Offer expires at 11:59 PM on Monday, January 7th, 2008)
3 lube sample pack with all product orders over $30.00 (a $3 value!)
Just add over $30.00 of product to your shopping cart and enter the discount code to receive this sample pack!
Over 1300 products in stock and ready to ship!
CheapLubes.com 10% New Year Sale
Get 10% Off your next order
Offer Good for the next 5 days only!
Enter discount code: Snow to receive discount
(Offer expires at 11:59 PM on Monday, January 7th, 2008)
3 lube sample pack with all product orders over $30.00 (a $3 value!)
Just add over $30.00 of product to your shopping cart and enter the discount code to receive this sample pack!
Over 1300 products in stock and ready to ship!
November 30, 2007
Costco for the Win Again.
A few months ago I posted that I was cutting up my Sams Club card and going with Costco. I can say that I made a great investment by doing so.
Costco has my car battery, it has more CCA's and costs less than the ones sold at a nearby auto parts store.
I have lately been having a bagel with peanut butter for breakfast. Costco sells 1 dozen bagels for $4, and they're baked daily.
Last weekend I went in to take advantage of a coupon for a 160gb portable external hard drive for $80. I ended up walking out with a 320gb hard drive for $20 more, and at $100 it is much less than what it is being sold for online.
They have these pita chips which are freaking awesome. The Simply Naked ones are perfect when paired with the hummus that Costco sells.
Three words...Kosher Hot Dogs.
Lots of freshly pre-made food.
So I've listed all the advantages for me. I really truly do love going through the store because there's always something different, and it's rare that I don't leave with something for the house. The only thing I would want them to do now is stock organic chunky peanut butter (they only have smooth) but that's just me :-)
I'm probably a bit of an odd demographic for them because I don't have a family or a business so I'm less likely to purchase in bulk. However, they have enough of the fresh foods in decent sizes that I don't have to worry about not having enough room for it. I suggest that if you know someone with a membership, take a visit with them and you'll see what I mean. I've been told that the Arundel Mills location is even better than the Beltsville location, so I might have to check it out, though I love that I'm basically 5-10 minutes from the Beltsville one.
Costco has my car battery, it has more CCA's and costs less than the ones sold at a nearby auto parts store.
I have lately been having a bagel with peanut butter for breakfast. Costco sells 1 dozen bagels for $4, and they're baked daily.
Last weekend I went in to take advantage of a coupon for a 160gb portable external hard drive for $80. I ended up walking out with a 320gb hard drive for $20 more, and at $100 it is much less than what it is being sold for online.
They have these pita chips which are freaking awesome. The Simply Naked ones are perfect when paired with the hummus that Costco sells.
Three words...Kosher Hot Dogs.
Lots of freshly pre-made food.
So I've listed all the advantages for me. I really truly do love going through the store because there's always something different, and it's rare that I don't leave with something for the house. The only thing I would want them to do now is stock organic chunky peanut butter (they only have smooth) but that's just me :-)
I'm probably a bit of an odd demographic for them because I don't have a family or a business so I'm less likely to purchase in bulk. However, they have enough of the fresh foods in decent sizes that I don't have to worry about not having enough room for it. I suggest that if you know someone with a membership, take a visit with them and you'll see what I mean. I've been told that the Arundel Mills location is even better than the Beltsville location, so I might have to check it out, though I love that I'm basically 5-10 minutes from the Beltsville one.
November 29, 2007
Loving It
As I mentioned previously, I got my DS this past weekend and I absolutely love it. I'm glad I waited to get it when I did. I'm totally addicted to playing Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. It takes a while to get used to the controls because basically you move Link by dragging the stylus around. The only issue I have with the controls is that because Link's walking speed and direction is determined by where the stylus is and how far away it is from Link, if you're close to a door on the edge, sometimes the stylus is too close to him so he doesn't move. Still, I give them creativity points for coming up with this because it makes the game different.
I also bought Brain Age to have something to do. Currently my brain age is 68 because I took way too much time on the test they use for measurement. It's the test where they will show you the word Yellow but you're supposed to read back the color of the text and not the word itself. Yes, the microphone does figure out what you answer. Now that I'm getting the hang of some of the exercises on the game, I am thinking it will go way down. I've also been working the Sudoku puzzles that are on the game as well when I'm on lunch or on the train.
There is one issue I have right now with those who make cases for the DS. I tried to find a case that I could use to carry my DS and games, and I just want something to hold my stuff, I don't need anything very fancy. The problem was every single case I looked at had "Nintendo DS" or something similar plastered on the front or side of it. To me, I might as well be carrying a flashing "MUG ME!" sign because anyone can see that you're carrying a DS. If the case didn't have the patches all over it, it was open enough on the sides that someone could figure out "Hey, he's got something expensive, get him!"
Oh well, currently my DS now sits in a very nondescript camera case, and if it's not in a zippered pocket with me, it's in my bag.
I also bought Brain Age to have something to do. Currently my brain age is 68 because I took way too much time on the test they use for measurement. It's the test where they will show you the word Yellow but you're supposed to read back the color of the text and not the word itself. Yes, the microphone does figure out what you answer. Now that I'm getting the hang of some of the exercises on the game, I am thinking it will go way down. I've also been working the Sudoku puzzles that are on the game as well when I'm on lunch or on the train.
There is one issue I have right now with those who make cases for the DS. I tried to find a case that I could use to carry my DS and games, and I just want something to hold my stuff, I don't need anything very fancy. The problem was every single case I looked at had "Nintendo DS" or something similar plastered on the front or side of it. To me, I might as well be carrying a flashing "MUG ME!" sign because anyone can see that you're carrying a DS. If the case didn't have the patches all over it, it was open enough on the sides that someone could figure out "Hey, he's got something expensive, get him!"
Oh well, currently my DS now sits in a very nondescript camera case, and if it's not in a zippered pocket with me, it's in my bag.
November 18, 2007
Twenty-Four to Twenty-Five
So just over a year ago I hit the age of 24. Boy what a hell of a year it turned out to be. I think anyone who has known me over the past year would not disagree with that statement.
The first quarter of the year started out fairly normal. I did get a Nintendo Wii, which turned out to be one of the best purchases I made. I love playing it, and now with a Gamefly account, I'm able to try games for as long as I want before buying them. Work would have a moment of upheaval as one of my co-workers who was also a good friend of mine decided to leave. It meant that I took over a majority of the projects he was working on. This left me in a moment of panic because one project was written in Visual Basic, and I had never touched VB, so it meant that I had to give myself a crash course in VB so that I could take on this project and keep it going. As it turned out, I did just fine, and in fact would later solve a major problem plaguing this application, which will save hours of headaches for field reps and tech support alike.
Second quarter, that's when things all changed. It started with a trip to Connecticut to visit my family, with side trips to NYC and Boston. Those were fun, but it also spelled the end of my relationship with Mike as some of his behaviors forced me to face some realities. I broke up with him in early May, with the intention to just be roommates since it was easier financially. However, this wouldn't happen.
This summer I met the man who would bring out a number of rediscoveries and changes in me. I'm a better person for that, but that will be detailed at another time. I also quit using my old blogging service, LiveJournal, and moved over here to blogspot. Don't bother digging up the old blog, it's been locked down. I find I don't miss it, that place is a lot like high school in that people stop caring about the content of their blogs and start caring about who they are "friends" with. I fell into that trap myself, but now I'm out of it.
As for work, I was promoted, and a good part of it was in recognition of being able to step up and take over when my co-worker had left. It was a well-deserved promotion and from the review that have come up since then, I have only gotten better.
To round out the end of the 24th revolution around the sun, I moved into my own place. That right there would have to be the biggest event of the year. Thank god for the person who fucked up and didn't apply for the apartment here because I was able to snap this place up and get the fuck out of dodge. It was also nice to see that I had about eleven people help me move, it made the work easier and it got done faster. From talking to other people, it speaks volumes about how many care for me.
So now I'm here at a quarter century and it feels like the start of a great new adventure. I've started running again, changed my diet for the better, visited a lot more of DC, met some great new people, reconnected with some friends, and discovered new things about myself. I'm wiser and stronger; I've become more assertive, which does piss some people off because they are being called out on their bullshit, but fuck em, I don't need them in my life. I am happy with where things are going now, and I know they're going to get better. I can't wait to see what this next year holds.
The first quarter of the year started out fairly normal. I did get a Nintendo Wii, which turned out to be one of the best purchases I made. I love playing it, and now with a Gamefly account, I'm able to try games for as long as I want before buying them. Work would have a moment of upheaval as one of my co-workers who was also a good friend of mine decided to leave. It meant that I took over a majority of the projects he was working on. This left me in a moment of panic because one project was written in Visual Basic, and I had never touched VB, so it meant that I had to give myself a crash course in VB so that I could take on this project and keep it going. As it turned out, I did just fine, and in fact would later solve a major problem plaguing this application, which will save hours of headaches for field reps and tech support alike.
Second quarter, that's when things all changed. It started with a trip to Connecticut to visit my family, with side trips to NYC and Boston. Those were fun, but it also spelled the end of my relationship with Mike as some of his behaviors forced me to face some realities. I broke up with him in early May, with the intention to just be roommates since it was easier financially. However, this wouldn't happen.
This summer I met the man who would bring out a number of rediscoveries and changes in me. I'm a better person for that, but that will be detailed at another time. I also quit using my old blogging service, LiveJournal, and moved over here to blogspot. Don't bother digging up the old blog, it's been locked down. I find I don't miss it, that place is a lot like high school in that people stop caring about the content of their blogs and start caring about who they are "friends" with. I fell into that trap myself, but now I'm out of it.
As for work, I was promoted, and a good part of it was in recognition of being able to step up and take over when my co-worker had left. It was a well-deserved promotion and from the review that have come up since then, I have only gotten better.
To round out the end of the 24th revolution around the sun, I moved into my own place. That right there would have to be the biggest event of the year. Thank god for the person who fucked up and didn't apply for the apartment here because I was able to snap this place up and get the fuck out of dodge. It was also nice to see that I had about eleven people help me move, it made the work easier and it got done faster. From talking to other people, it speaks volumes about how many care for me.
So now I'm here at a quarter century and it feels like the start of a great new adventure. I've started running again, changed my diet for the better, visited a lot more of DC, met some great new people, reconnected with some friends, and discovered new things about myself. I'm wiser and stronger; I've become more assertive, which does piss some people off because they are being called out on their bullshit, but fuck em, I don't need them in my life. I am happy with where things are going now, and I know they're going to get better. I can't wait to see what this next year holds.
November 17, 2007
Beowulf in 3D
*No Spoilers*
I went and saw Beowulf last night in 3D. I say go see the movie, whether it's in 3D or not, the 3D is just icing on the cake. I had read the poem years and years ago in high school so I knew the basic plot, but I enjoyed having the movie fill in a lot of the gaps in what I could remember. The fight scenes were awesome, and the movie kept moving so you were never bored with a bunch of unnecessary subplots.
Now I just need to find a guy who looks like Beowulf.....boy was he hot, and so was the Angelina Jolie character (which basically looks like her). Hell, I'd love to just be the middle of a sandwich between those two...rawr!
So anyway, go see it, it's a movie worthy of seeing in the theaters, even better if you can see a 3D showing.
I went and saw Beowulf last night in 3D. I say go see the movie, whether it's in 3D or not, the 3D is just icing on the cake. I had read the poem years and years ago in high school so I knew the basic plot, but I enjoyed having the movie fill in a lot of the gaps in what I could remember. The fight scenes were awesome, and the movie kept moving so you were never bored with a bunch of unnecessary subplots.
Now I just need to find a guy who looks like Beowulf.....boy was he hot, and so was the Angelina Jolie character (which basically looks like her). Hell, I'd love to just be the middle of a sandwich between those two...rawr!
So anyway, go see it, it's a movie worthy of seeing in the theaters, even better if you can see a 3D showing.
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