Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, all!

Here's a picture of someone's (not mine) carved pumpkin. I wish I could carve a pumpkin that well.

Alas, I'll simply have to settle for the triangle eyes, round nose, and simple toothy grin.

Oingo Boingo Avenged

It came as pleasant surprise to me while listening to Avenged Sevenfold's new self-titled CD that they heavily sampled an old Boingo song, "Nasty Habits." It was so much like Boingo that I had to check the booklet and then hop online to see what was going on.

Turns out the band was a big fan of the Boingo. So much so that they pulled together some of the former members (Marc Mann and Steve Bartek) to help out on Avenged's new album. Avenged Sevenfold's track, "A Little Piece of Heaven," best displays the influence and a nearly identical string arrangement as is in "Nasty Habits."

I love noticing things like this because I am so not musically inclined. I can't keep a beat to save my life. I'll puff up my chest the rest of the night at my musical might.

For more information on the new album, check out this short article.

Foreign Movies

I've been on a bit of a foreign movie kick. Tonight I watched The Valet, a French romantic comedy. It was quite good. Funny and charming and nice. It's fun to watch a movie that you can simply enjoy. This one was about a parking valet who is asked to live with a supermodel so that this billionaire who is cheating on his wife (with the supermodel) can continue to get away with his affair. It's a French movie, but feels somewhat American. It's like I could picture the movie being remade here, but not being done as well as it was originally. It's worth the rental.

I'd also highly recommend Cashback. This one's a British film, and a bit...sexier. It's a comedy about an art student suffering insomnia after being dumped by his girlfriend who then goes to work on the night shift at a supermarket full of crazy employees. There's some stopping of time, some romance, and a happy ending. I enjoyed this one so much I had to buy a copy of my own.

Other great foreign Netflix choices: Love Me If You Dare and The Black Book.

What A Weekend

So I ran for the first time in over a year. And it felt good. Today was my 11th straight Run for the Roses up in Ames, and I planned to walk the entire 5K because I am so out of shape. Instead, I started out running, and ended up running all but .75 miles of the 3.1 mile race. I was just in the zone, I suppose. It felt good and I'm only slightly sore now - I'm sure tomorrow will be worse.

I unpacked 15 book boxes and found that I'll need way more shelf space for my collection of comics, books, movies and music. I'll have to order a couple more bookcases and maybe even think about getting rid of some things (or consolidating my movies like I did my CDs).

I also went to 30 Days of Night for the second time. I ate ribs at Texas Roadhouse. I watched a bunch of 7th season Buffy the Vampire Slayer while doing work.

All in all it was a productive - but short - weekend. I hope to get back to updating the blog a bit more regularly. Sorry for the long break between posts. I think things are turning around to the point that I will have time to do some writing. Crossing my fingers.

Happy Birthday, Ryan

Happy Birthday, baby brother! I hope you have a great day. Stop by sometime when you are free and pick up your toy surprise (your presents...yes, plural).

Too Much Help

Don't you hate it when people try to help and all they do is make extra work for you? I mean, you are gracious and thankful for the help, but sometimes - if you don't ask for the help - there can be a real reason why the help isn't needed.

Ah, I guess I'm just complaining for complaining's sake. It's been that kind of day.

And yes, I've noticed how I'm not nearly as happy as I once was when I was unemployed. It's just a different kind of happiness now. I'm pleased as punch that I'm employed in a job I - mostly - enjoy, but the things that were keeping me happy have slipped by the wayside. I no longer have the time to relax and unwind.

And it's only Tuesday.

Partially Full

Over the weekend I managed to unpack and temporarily shelve the majority of my collected editions of comic books. These are are the trade paperbacks, graphic novels, and hardcover comics I have already read. Packed away in boxes are the remaining collections I've yet to read - maybe 2 shelves worth. Once I find them all, I'll put them in ABC order and be content.

I also managed to put up a few of my action figures and toys in the bookcase with doors. I like the Angel puppets - from the "Smile Time" episode - perched on top of the case best. You have to be wary of vampire attacks when coming up to my loft.

Serious.

You've been warned.

Direct TV Will Come...Eventually

I finally placed my order with Direct TV tonight over the Internet. It sounds like it will actually be a pretty sweet deal, once it is installed. At the mercy of the Internet scheduler on Direct TV's site, I am not able to get installation until November 3. It's a bit of a wait, but somehow, I think I'll survive. (It's not as though I don't have a ton of work to keep me busy.)

I'm signed up for the Choice package with the HD channels. I get hundreds of channels and XM radio stations. I will have DVR's in both the rooms. All in all, it'll be enough to keep me busy over Thanksgiving break.

I'll just have to survive a bit longer with my HD antenna and Netflix subscription.

More Bookcases

I spent part of my night after school building another bookcase - and yes, I will have a lot of bookcases. This one had doors to attach. (It was a minor miracle that the glass panes in the doors survived the trip back from Minnesota.)

I'm really digging the look of my loft with the shelves up. The only thing to decide now is where to put the small leather reading chair.

The are just two bookcases left to build. And then it's the massive job of unpacking all the comics, book, movies, and music and shelving the stacks.

Deep breath...

One of Those Days

Those days. Those rotten days where little goes right and everything seems to be your fault, your problem. That's the kind of week I'm having. Nothing is easy anymore. I have a feeling that if I try to write anymore than this little message, it'll explode into a full-on rant, and I don't want to bore you with that.

Hopefully some pizza and the building of a couple (7) bookshelves will help turn the day around.

And, there's always the new episode of Reaper on tonight. Always good for a few laughs.

And He's Back!

Yes, I am back - alive - in a new home - my home - and the Internet is up and running again.

DSL through the phone company (urg!) seems to be working fine after a bit of a struggle getting set up. I won't go into any detail because I did eventually figure it all out (obviously), but it was somewhat frustrating.

The point is...yay! I have access to the web again.

I still have a ton of unpacking to do that will keep me pretty busy, so this week I'll try to ease myself back into the routine of a blog. There will be some changes, but I'll explain them as they come.

It's just wonderful to be connected again.