"Coming on strong Baudelaire...

…seems to me like all the world gets high when you take a dare.
Can you feel the voltage?" I can!!!

Actually, all I feel this morning is pain. Last night I had two games and while I don’t care to discuss them in detail (mainly because we lost) I will tell you this: I am still pathetically out of shape. I have been running and getting more exercise than I intended (I’ll come back to this) but I still woke feeling like I had been body checked by a gorilla. Oh wait, that’s right. I was body checked by a gorilla. This same gorilla got in a fight with a guy on our team and things got a little out of control. I swear, some guys need to lay off the juice. So, other than sore muscles, 9 blisters (yes, count them) and a majorly messed up ankle, I’m doing pretty swell. Due to all the stupid blisters I went through a box of band-aids already. (I can almost guarantee my parents are laughing right now. When I was little “Santa” would put Band-aids in my stocking because I liked to wear them a lot; it was more a fashion statement than a bandage to me.) The ankle does hurt a ton though. I got kicked pretty hard, but good news is that the swelling went down and I have the best bruise I’ve ever gotten. Here is a picture of it:


Pretty gnarly huh?! The red spots are blisters.

Ok, back to the inadvertent exercising. On Tuesday night I went out to run and noticed there was a ton of lightning in one direction. As you all know, I am a fan of lightning and decided to run so I was facing the storm; I figured it was moving away from me. The lightning was relentless and there seemed to be a whole stretch of clouds where several bolts would all come down one right after the other in a line. I went further than I normally do when running but I didn’t want to turn away from the show. I kept going and going; I saw several people in lawn chairs sitting outside watching the same thing I was. The lightning was getting more frequent and seemed brighter than before. Eventually I stopped at a park just to sit and watch in awe. After a few minutes I realized that it was indeed getting brighter- actually, it was getting closer. I had thought the storm was moving away but I was very wrong. Soon, the bolts were crashing right over my head and I concluded that now would be a good time to head back home…quickly. I also decided it might be a good idea to work on my sprints, you know, for soccer. =/


When I got back to the house I still wanted to watch so I planted myself in the driveway, securely up against the garage door. I was out there for quite some time and I really couldn’t believe what I was watching. Bolt after bolt cracked through the sky. I was able to get a couple pictures on my cell phone (it only took me a couple tries too.) So I’ll throw them up on here. I wish I could better describe just exactly how awesome it was, but its one of those things were you have to be there to appreciate it. After awhile it started raining and then hailing, so I decided to go inside. Even at 2am I could still see flashes coming through my window. It was intimidating but most spectacular.




Getting back to running- on Wednesday I went out for a light run and was gone for just over 2 hours. I somehow managed to get hopelessly lost and spent most of the two hours walking around trying to find a street that looked familiar. After awhile I found my way home, so much for a “light” run. I found out yesterday that I ended up about 5 miles northeast of where I thought I was. Some of you might be wondering why I didn't just stop and ask someone. Here is why I didn't do that: For the first hour or so I figured I would find my way back soon enough. I mean, how far could I possibly have gotten, right? Well by the time I decided that maybe it wouldn't be so easy to find my way back, it was pretty late and most people had called it a night. I didn't want to knock on someone's door and I didn't really want to try stopping a car at 11pm. See how that makes sense?


A few other interesting things happened yesterday. There was a tornado warning for our area- how sweet is that?! Unfortunately, I never even saw a funnel cloud; I was disappointed to say the least. There was also a flash flood warning, which isn’t a big deal since I live up in the hills. I had my second interview with the GM for the restaurant I’m working for. (Texas Land and Cattle Steakhouse) I don’t get to be a bartender, but if I work hard I can eventually move up into that position. Guess that means I get to bust my ass, and strangely I’m looking forward to that. I hate sitting around not working; Though, I have made somewhat good use of my time. I’ve been reading a lot more than usual and I learned how to juggle. I also put up some posters- Mr. Cobain graces one wall and is being watched by Mr. Quixote a la Picasso. On another wall I had put up 50-something pictures of family and friends, but due to the fact that I bought cheap tape and my ceiling fan is on almost all the time, there are now only about a dozen left up on the wall. I was going to put the others back up with better tape, but now its sort of become a “who will be the last to survive” kind of thing. I'll let you know who wins.
This is Don Quixote.

The rest of this week is going to be slow. On Wednesday Joe and Maggie left for Iowa and won’t get back until Sunday; so it’s just been me and Aaron and sometimes Jeanie. She really could quite possibly be 38. I obviously can’t move past that.


Something I’ve learned this week: When living at home I really took things for granted, mainly the little things; good knives, cutting board, strainer… I miss those.


Quick shout out to the folks- today I received the greatest care-package ever!!! Contents included: Two churros from Costco (twice wrapped), Cocoa Puffs, Peanut Butter, Goldfish, Fortune Cookies, Jello, deodorant, Q-tips, several “scene” sections of the newspaper, my mail, and a little American flag. How cool are my parents?! However, in my excitement to open the box, I cut my finger pretty well with the knife. Good thing my new job offers benefits.



Well, that’s it for now. And look at that, I’m ahead of schedule.

Aliquando et insanire iucundum est

It's Saturday morning and cartoons just aren't what they used to be. Actually, it seems as if the Disney channel has replaced cartoons with "sitcoms". So if my options are update my blog or watch a show starring Billy Ray Cyrus and his two kids, I think I'll take the former.

Life in the house is going pretty good and actually the little life I have outside the house is going good too. As some of you already know, the job hunt was off to a rough start. I decided to decline the job at The Egg and I, as flattered as I was that I was egg-material, I felt there was something else out there for me. After filling out countless applications I finally scored an interview at a bar and restaurant called Meadow Muffins. (Way back in the early 1900's it was a whore house, hence the name.) The interview went really well and the manager I was meeting with even agreed, but then informed me that they weren't hiring. Not only that, but they hadn't hired anyone new in a few years and they wouldn't be hiring anyone in the near future or so that he could see. I'm sure I had a puzzled look on my face and when upon asking him why he bothered interviewing me his response was a mumbled "errrmm, I don't know." I thanked him for wasting my time (well, I said "thank you") and left.

Another interview I had at a really posh, underground, lounge went so-so. By some miracle I remembered how to make a Rusty Nail, but I think my lack of knowledge for French cuisine may have kept me from getting the job. Oh well. At least this place was actually hiring.

I do have a job. It doesn't start for two weeks, seeing as they are still finishing the actual building. But the upside of that is I might get to be a bartender (should find out next week) and I will get to train with everyone else and not just be thrust into something new. So it looks like I will be making my employment debut at the Texas something something Steakhouse!!!

I'm on two indoor soccer teams and tonight I have two games. I can already tell you what tomorrow will be like and it will involve very little movement. I haven't been running regularly so I'm in for some sore muscles...

In other news, Joe (roommate #1) will be asking Aaron (roommate #2) to move out sometime next month. Why? Well, at first the reason was bad hygiene- which seemed to get a little better since Aaron recently got a girlfriend. But now it looks like she is just another reason he is being asked to leave. A few nights ago, they got in a spat around 4 in the morning. After 40 minutes of slamming doors, crying, screaming, and more slamming doors it ended with Aaron passing out on the porch and nameless girl passing out on his bed. But it looks like they have gotten over that because this morning when I saw that both Joe and Aaron were gone I was quite surprised to see Aaron's door open and out come nameless girl. The puzzled look I had at the interview I mentioned prior was now back for this. Now, I should mention that Joe, Luke (Joe's friend), and I had all been discussing this new girlfriend and rumor has it she is 38 years old. Aaron, in case your wondering is 23. Well, this morning I got a good look at her and I don't think she is 38 but I also don't think she is close to 23 either. I could be wrong, I'm not very good at guessing peoples age. Anyways, she introduced herself as Jeanie. So to make things more interesting Joe came back and when he saw that she was here and Aaron wasn't he was pretty unhappy. Between that and the fact that it smells like Aaron hasn't washed his sheets in six or seven months, it doesn't look like he will be with us much longer. I feel kind of bad for the guy, its not like he is a major jerk or anything. When I did manage to get him to talk a little, he seemed pretty nice. Guess we will see what happens. MOVING ON...

Here are a couple more things to add to my list of why I like it here:

1) Red Rocks- this is a music venue in Denver that is almost entirely made by nature. These big red rocks stick out of the ground forming a sort of circle around one main big rock. The acoustics are supposed to be amazing and the whole place is sort of this natural wonder. Joe and I are going to see the String Cheese Incident there- I'm pretty excited about it even though I don't know what the band sounds like. But it can't be any worse than what I heard at the Black Sheep... knock on wood.

2) Urbanness- While I would much rather live out in the country, being in the city isn't without some benefits. It's kind of nice to be 5 minutes or less to anything I could ever really need.

3)Foxes- Instead of gangs roaming the streets at night we have foxes. Packs of about 5 or 6 run around unafraid of people or dogs. Last night was the first time I got a really good look at them. It's so crazy, they lay down in the middle of the street, just chillin there. I want one.

4) Weather part deux- I know I already said the weather was cool, but I'm still amazed. While all of you in California are enjoying the sweatyness of the 100+ temp. I am basking in the all the glory of high 80's with a slight breeze. HA! Besides that, it's mostly the lightning that I'm in awe of. I bet the odds of getting struck by it are greater here than most other places. Annnnnd, come to find out that one only need go 30 more miles east to be in tornado territory.

And now for something I've learned #2:
One can survive solely on beer, frozen pizzas, and popsicles. (btw, this is not my diet)
(this whole section in general is becoming "something I've learned by having two male roommates")

Here are pictures of the rest of the house as requested.

living room.

dining room and door to back yard


kitchen- pretty clean huh? only because none of us like to cook


the freezer and fridge- i've come to love hot pockets (thats right pancho)



i was taking a picture of the kitchen when I saw this cute little squirrel on our fence.

and last but not least, the view of pikes peak from the driveway. It looks closer in person. Not much snow left on it anymore :(




Thats it for now, I'll try and be better about updating.
P.S. Thank you for all the letters and postcards, I really really appreciate it!

damn, i forgot my handkerchief

One of the places I applied to was the Black Sheep, an underground live music place. According to the manager they aren’t hiring but I filled out the application anyways. Another guy that works there, Spencer, talked to me for awhile and seems very nice. He has his septum pierced and it’s not as distracting as I thought a septum piercing would be, though obviously I noticed it. Anyways, he invited me to come back later that night for the show. I obliged. Unfortunately for me my roommate, Joe, couldn’t go. Lucky him. Spencer got me in for free and I talked to a few people here and there, nothing of substance, mostly just music and about the bands that were going to play that night. I was actually pretty excited despite the type of crowd that was there. This was supposed to be a “big night” according to the guys that worked there. And 60 some people did seem to fill the place. Once the band took stage and started playing I knew what I was in for. The crowd didn’t deceive me, stereotypes here ring true.

There were 21+ people there; at least the bartender was busy. But the place was mostly cluttered with high school kids enjoying being “out” on a school night. If you wore tight pants, heavy eyeliner and sported the mostly-black-except-for-one-blonde-streak hair, and had a handkerchief as an accessory than this was the place to be- undoubtedly. The band started playing around 8. If you could call it a band, and if you could call it playing. I’m not saying they didn’t have any talent- it would be hard to know. The sound that came out of the speakers could only be described as extremely loud static with perhaps some sort of distant thumping (drums). Even when the lead “vocalist” wasn’t screeching at the top of his lungs, I couldn’t distinguish the guitar or the bass and most the time I couldn’t hear the drums. I stood there wondering if he even had lyrics or if he was just making noise. But with songs titled “Can you keep it down im trying to do drugs” and “you would be cute if you were a spleen” im not sure the content of his lyrics even mattered. They “played” probably about 8 songs all of which sounded the exact same. To my amazement the crowd seemed impressed. I desperately was hoping the second band would be better, and they were. Slightly. I could actually hear a distant rhythm in the background of all the screaming. Let’s just say they got two songs through and I was out the door.

I consider myself pretty open minded when it comes to music, I’ll give just about anything a listen. And I can respect music I don’t even like, because it does take talent. Even rap and hip-hop, while I dislike it, I have respect for it (little, but its there none-the-less). But this, this was not music. This was noise. For all I knew they didn’t even know how to play instruments. And there isn’t much to be said for the people that were at this place cheering on the bands. It was like I was trapped in a room full of clones. I couldn’t distinguish the guys from the girls. For trying to be “punk” or “emo” or “different” they all looked the freaking same. I have a distinct feeling that I was the only one not wearing skin tight, straight legged jeans and the only one that didn’t have hair strategically placed over half my face. They even started “moshing” in unison. Is this what Ive been heard called "scene"? Is this what they have reduced themselves down to? The "none trend" trend.

You lazy hipsters make me sick.

I will definitely do my homework before going to another show there. Make sure the band is actually playing “music” before I go in. I’ve learned my lesson on this one.

if colorado were a cracker, it would be a triscuit

tomorrow will mark the end of week one in colorado, and its been fairly uneventful. ive managed to unpack and get somewhat "settled in". im still getting used to the idea of living in such a big city with so many people, houses, and streets that all look the same. dad, you would be proud of how many u-turns ive done this week, im pretty sure it blows your record clear out of the water. i have applied to a few restaurants and ive been given the grand opportunity of working at "The Egg and I" fine dining establishment. i'm aware that beggars cant be choosers, but its only my first week. but who knows, if i dont find something in the relatively near future there could be more egg in my future than i would care to admit.

anyways, despite my homesickness im trying to remain positive. so here is a list of the things i like:

1) pikes peak: pretty much anywhere i go i have an amazing view of this mountain still spotted with snow. it is absolutly beautiful and it keeps me sane.

2) chipotle: there are 7 within 10 miles of my house. the other day i waited over an hour in line with a can of green beans in hand....all for a glorious free burrito (and to make a donation). nothing tastes better than free chipotle.

3) my room: its smaller than i expected. its unconventional and cramped but i love it. in this big city with its 4 targets, 5 home depots, 7 chipotles, and 328 starbucks (im guessing)- my room is my own little cozy pocket.

4) weather: its rained, its been windy, there have been severe thunderstorm warnings, and yesterday.....it snowed!!!! and yet, everyday it has been sunny. im lovin this weather.

________

and now for something ive learned:
when sharing a bathroom with a guy, make sure to check for a) toilet paper and b) handtowel. apparantly my roommate uses neither.


here are some pictures of my room (this is mainly for danielle because im not good at describing the size of rooms. hopefully now she will leave me alone (: . )


this is what you see if you were to first enter the room. under my computer is a cardboard box being used as a bedside table. its fantastic. the thing over my window is actually a towel. i noticed a nail sticking out and since i dont have any hooks anywhere else... at least its not on the floor. (thats for you dad.)

here is a view of my closet and bookshelf. notice all my clothes are hanging up (after 5 trips to target for hangers, i kid you not). also, more boxes- 4 in total- being used in the closet as little shelves or something. the bookshelf i assembled myself, which was retarded of me. it turned out to be twice as tall as i thought it would be. 2 hours of cursing and chasing after little plastic screws and viola! fully stocked with all the crap i didnt know where else to put.

here we have my tv and videogames sitting on the only real furniture i took with me. isnt it nice? the door is serving as another hook, and the cardboard box here is only being used as a fire hazard.

and for the last corner of the room... from left to right we have: water, books, laundry basket (box), snowboard, and my other bedside table (another box).

this is my roommate's dog, maggie. she is such a sweetheart and enjoys laying on my bed. and on this chair. isnt she cute?

so there you have it, my first week in colorado. its not as cool as california, but we'll see how i feel next week. i miss everyone a ton!