Pattern People

:: 2006 20 June :: 6.53pm

Got the job.

Loves.

1 comment | leave a comment

:: 2006 20 June :: 9.20am

But now we must pack up every piece of the life we used to love.
Leave me alone.

For you know this isn't the first time.

In fact this is twice in a row that the angels have slipped through our landslide and filled up our garden with snow.

And I don't wish to taste of your insides or to call out your name through my phone for the glory boys at your bedside will love you as long as you're something to own.

leave a comment

:: 2006 19 June :: 3.04pm
:: Music: Beck - Hell Yes

So this entry is long overdue, and I apologize in advance for its length. Been pretty busy doing lots of cool stuff out here, so I figured I'd get everybody up to speed. Just to frame my list, I'm going to lift Michell's +/- thing, although most of my stuff is positive. Anyway, I've got a bunch of randomness to intersperse as well. Happy happy joy joy!

(+) Last Tuesday at the World Financial Center near the WTC site, they had a free concert with none other than one of my favorite bands, Eels. It was an amazing show and I left early enough to get in the front row(!). The weather was beautiful and the WFC has some great architecture and a great view of the Hudson River, allowing me to take some great pics before and after the show, in addition to the 30 odd shots I got of the concert. Like I said, the show was great... an all-out, rock with your cocks out show that rivaled the show I saw in Ann Arbor a couple years back with Stefanie. Equally good as the music was the showmanship... Mark Everett had this big buff, intimidating guy come out dressed as a security guard who all of a sudden started dancing around and playing with the other band members after the first song. E also talked to the crowd through this guy, whispering things to say in his ear, cracking me the hell up with quips such as "This is the triangle of hope," "I am enjoying this," and "I wrote that all by myself" all while sticking to his bad-boy persona. I'm going to try and get a video or two of him up... it's too funny for words. My only qualm of the night was that it was such a short concert; they only played for an hour, compared to the two/two and a half they played in Ann Arbor.
(+) Then, on Friday, I landed a ticket to see a taping of Sit Down Comedy w/ David Steinberg with Jon Stewart as the guest. It's an Inside the Actor's Studio type show with comedians. That, as well, was thoroughly entertaining; Stewart is just so funny and so charismatic, and he had everybody rolling even during the commercial breaks. Looking forward to seeing it air... the show's on TV Land. Didn't have as great a seat for that one (thanks "Friends and Family") so I didn't try to ask him a question, but I'm going to try and get tickets to the next taping as well.
(+) Took advantage of DDD's annual (or is it semi-annual?) sale and finally bought the special edition of Mystic River. Also bought Regina Spektor's new CD from BB to make up for never buying her last one.
(+) I'm not exactly sure why yet, but I found the trailer for Talladega Nights thoroughly entertaining. I was pretty weary as I was reading about it previously, but after seeing this, I'm totally game. Let me know what you think... "You like to put jelly on a lady?"
(+) Got invited up to my friend Rob's place with some of my QC colleagues on Saturday for beer and BBQ. He lives with his finance up in Cold Spring, NY, which is about a hour north of Manhattan. It's so beautiful and scenic and quiet up there, and it was such a nice change of pace to the nature-deprivation of the city. I actually went up earlier than everybody else and went on a short hike with Rob and his girl and got to see a lot of the town. I would absolutely love to live in a place like that... be close enough to take a trip to Manhattan when I wanted to and still be far enough away to enjoy some of the beauty of upstate NY.
(+) I played NBA Jam at the Museum of Moving Image yesterday. I forgot how entertaining that game was. I need to find a copy for my console.
(+) Finally started working out again today. It's so hard to get to campus these days when I'm only there a couple times a week and this freakin' heat is very counterproductive. Felt good though, even though it's been like 6 weeks.
(+) I'm having an amazing day catching things today. My iPod was taking a nosedive from the treadmill when I was running today and I did this spectacular two-hand grab as it was halfway to the ground. And then, in the shower, my soap went sailing in the air and I nicked it on the way down. And I didn't get raped either time! Hehe... told you I had some randomness to share. :-P
(-) I saw a bum on my way home today, looking for cans or something, and he had this cat who was on this horrible makeshift leash of frayed rope and plastic. The poor kitten was stretching this thing as far it could go, unable to explore any farther than the radius of the two shopping carts this guy was trucking around. As you probably know, I don't usually have much care or sympathy for cats, but the setup was just so blatantly sad and cruel, I just couldn't imagine putting another creature through that.
(-) Leeder has informed us that he believes he and his crew will most likely be moving out of their current apartment around the same time Michelle and I will be visiting. I'm not too worried though... we should be able to make it work and we have plently of time to set up contigency plans if we need to.
(+) My parents (Pa Rock and GA) will be out Wednesday through Sunday. Get to show them around and get a few free meals.
(+) It's only been two weeks since I've seen Michelle, and I only have to wait another two before I arrive home for the 4th and we get to have a delicious time enjoying the weather and go WHOOOOOOOSH until they kick us out of the park.
(-) All this fun and excitement has prevented me for tackling my big goal for the summer, which was to develop my research and get going on my predissertation. I have so little idea of what I want to do with my research, and it's really frustrating because I have such an interest in ABA, I just don't know what to do with it. Oh well, I'll figure it out eventually.
(?) Oh, btw, who the hell drunk dialed me over the weekend? It was a 269 area code... girls, was that you?

Pictures of aforementioned cool stuff to come...

1 comment | leave a comment

:: 2006 19 June :: 9.09am

I went to see Wicked yesterday. It was good.

We went to this nice Mediterranean restaurant. The food was delicious.

I have an interview today. Wish me luck. I don't even know if I want the job but I need it.

I think that's it.

Call me.

I love you.

Angel_Bob

:: 2006 17 June :: 9.01am

Jessica's sister made a xanga in memory of her. I wish I'd known the visit was Thursday. I would have gone.

I don't know why her death upsets me so much. I barely knew her.

I think it's the fact that I did know her. The fact that she graduated last year with us. It's the fact that one year ago, we were all happy that we were done with high school. And one year since then, we're all safe and sound, most of us are done with our first year at college.

Except her.

I wonder what she was thinking at that last second. Was it just "oh shit" or was she sad?

I can't think about the fact that thousands of people are going to drive past that intersection and not know. And not care that they don't know.

2 comments | leave a comment

:: 2006 16 June :: 2.52pm
:: Music: Poe - Wild

ListMania!
So out of Steven Spielberg's 23 feature-length films (that number is arguable), I've seen 18. ~~I pinch~~ I rank (by enjoyment level, not necessarily which are the "best" made):

1) Munich
2) Jurassic Park
3) Raiders of the Lost Ark
4) Minority Report
5) Saving Private Ryan
6) E.T.
7) Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade
8) Schindler's List
9) War of the Worlds
10) Hook
11) A.I.
12) The Lost World
13) Catch Me If You Can
14) The Terminal
15) Jaws
16) Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom
17) Close Encounters of the Third Kind
18) Amistad

Which leads me to this one. I realize it's kind of a clusterfuck of new and old, but I don't really know that I could make a decent "classic director" list, and besides, I don't really feel like doing two.

Top 15 Directors
1) Steven Spielberg
2) Stanley Kubrick
3) Paul Thomas Anderson
4) Wes Anderson
5) Quentin Tarantino
6) Alfred Hitchcock
7) David Fincher
8) Michael Mann
9) Sam Mendes
10) Jonathan Demme
11) Ron Howard
12) Spike Lee
13) Tim Burton
14) M. Night Shyamalan
15) (tie) Alexander Payne & Christopher Nolan

(Normally, I abhor ties in my lists... all it signifies is indecision, but in this case, these are two directors whose movies I really enjoy, but haven't really been around long enough to establish themselves. We'll see in time who sticks around.)

I'll share my reasons for posting this last later soon, but until then, enjoy it in all its E-goodness:

Top 10 Eels Songs
1) Your Lucky Day In Hell
2) Mr. E's Beautiful Blues
3) Dirty Girl
4) Saturday Morning
5) Souljacker, pt. 1
6) Love of the Loveless
7) I Like Birds
8) Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)
9) Novocaine for the Soul
10) I'm Going to Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart

8 comments | leave a comment

:: 2006 15 June :: 10.21pm
:: Mood: lost

I love you, but this is who I am. This is how I am sometimes.

This is who we are.

leave a comment

:: 2006 15 June :: 9.30pm
:: Mood: reminiscent

From The Vault
"You can have everything, you just can't have it all at the same time." Jason Frasier

Angel_Bob

:: 2006 13 June :: 3.55pm

Jessica Klinesteker died in a car accident on Sunday. We graduated with her.
Did anyone else hear about this?

I took Hannah to her voice lesson today and Duiven mentioned it. I didn't recognize the name but I looked her up in the yearbook and immediately recognized her.

I knew her. Not best friends obviously, or even friends but I knew her at least.

Goodness.

CANNON TOWNSHIP -- An 18-year-old Grand Rapids Community College student was killed Sunday when police said she ran a stop sign at Myers Lake Avenue and Nine Mile Road NE.

Kent County Sheriff's Department said Jessica Klinesteker, of Rockford, was driving west on Nine Mile Road just before 1 p.m. when she failed to stop at the sign.

The driver of a car traveling south on Myers Lake Avenue, Kerri Southwick, 35, of Rockford, could not avoid the collision, police said.

Both cars ended up in a ditch.

Klinesteker, a 2005 graduate of Rockford High School, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Southwick was not injured, but her mother, Mari Anne Parker, 57, was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Campus to be treated for neck pain.

Police blocked the road several hours during their investigation of the accident.

Kent County Sheriff's Deputy Keith Kazelskis said police don't know why Klinesteker drove through the intersection.

"There were no skid marks," Kazelskis said. "She never slowed."

Relatives told police she was on her way to a graduation party when she apparently missed her turn and continued through the intersection.

Klinesteker's family was too distraught to talk Sunday. An uncle who didn't give his name said, "We love her very much, and we miss her."

Rockford High School Assistant Principal Steve Lewis said, "The Rockford High School community is certainly feeling the loss. We've had numerous accidents over the years and it certainly doesn't get any easier."

Norma Kuzma, who lives near the intersection said the area used to be rural. Suburban sprawl, including a new subdivision nearby, has brought traffic -- and accidents.

Higher traffic and speeds make for a dangerous intersection, she said.

"It was just waiting to happen," Kuzma said.

Kuzma's grandson, Cody Kiatkowski, 10, said he had just gone out to play basketball Sunday afternoon when he heard the crash about 100 yards from the house.

"It was very loud. I ran inside and told my grandma to call 911," he said.

:: 2006 13 June :: 2.06pm

My sister started playing FFVIII again. Which means I'm hooked, again.

So I'll have to add that to my list of games to beat this summer. I still haven't beaten it, after all these years.

It's still my favorite.

Games to beat this summer:
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (again)
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Final Fantasy VIII
Paper Mario (the first and second ones)

I think that's it.

I love you all.

leave a comment

:: 2006 12 June :: 11.29am

Two years ago today, I took the ACT for what would turn out to be the first of three tries. The night before, I stayed up late talking to Nick about pretty much nothing. We somehow got around to talking about how we both still liked each other and maybe we should try again.

So we did.

Two years ago today, I was at Ben's house with both him and Nicholas, playing video games and lying around like we always did at Ben's house.

Anyway, today marks two years of being with Nicholas and I'd love to reminisce but Nick wants to jump on the bed with me.

I love you all.

2 comments | leave a comment

:: 2006 11 June :: 3.53pm
:: Mood: perky
:: Music: Genesis - That's All

God Bless America & Spirit Airlines
Booked a flight home for the Fourth (July 3rd-10th). I was about ready to give up on a trip home for the holiday (tickets were $270-$300 into GR), when, on a whim, I checked flights into D-Town. Found a Spirit Air flight, round-trip, including taxes, for $100. Yes, that's a 1 before those two zeros after it. And Michelle is going to nice enough to pick me up and take me back to GR. I'm excited. Parental set #1 comes out the week after next, with the second to follow in late summer/early fall, hopefully.

Things I want to do while I'm home:
- Grandville 4th of July parade
- Fireworks (Grand Haven, downtown GR, or Grandville... basically any place with 'Grand' in its name)
- Michigan's Adventure ("Whoooooooooosh") & Getty 4 Drive-In ("We don't need no stinkin' orange dots)
- Obligatory cookout
- Catch up with people without trying to do too much and get stressed out about seeing everyone
- Enjoy the weather (::shakes fist towards MI:: You damn well better work with me this year!)
- Head up to Laman's Landing in Ludington and visit my grandma (if she's up there at all during my stay)
- See ~~Superman Returns~~ The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift & Click
- Do a tour of my eye doctor, dentist, and GP (so I can actually get refills on my Rxs again)
- Trip to beach (if not accomplished during aforementioned fireworks)
- Make-up Dungeon visit (and other usual restaurants indulgences)

Anybody want in on any of that? Joe, you like roller coasters/water parks? ;-)

8 comments | leave a comment

:: 2006 8 June :: 9.00pm
:: Mood: momentarily satisfied
:: Music: Everclear - Amphetamine

amy wakes me up/in the middle of the night/just to tell me everything will be alright/
i tell myself the same damn thing/everyday
Finally got my grades for last semester:

Applied Behavior Analysis II (Theory) - A
Applied Behavior Analysis II (Practicum) - A
Social Psychology - A-
Ethical/Legal Issues in Psychology - A+

If it wasn't for that damn Social take-home final, I'd have my first 4.0, like ever. But I'm still really happy, not that grades matter in grad school anyway. I'm really surprised by my Ethics grade. I haven't had an A+ since high school; I didn't even know anybody gave those out at this stage of the game.

Bought a new DVD ~~player~~ carousel today. I like it. I especially like DVDs not pixelating and freezing up on me and making noises that make me want to punch babies. I'm going to watch Munich tonight... god, I love that movie.

I had a wonderful time last weekend with Michelle. It's amazing, despite all the situational difficulties that we encountered, I think it actually made the experience that much richer. And just getting drunk, watching MST3K, and generally acting retarded, I felt like I was leading a completely different life, and I liked it. And the pictures she/we took turned out great... I'll have to post some in a little bit.

"The master would not approve." Torgo

(edit 9:26pm) In today's 'WTF' news: Former American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry declined an offer to take over lead vocals in the alternative rock band Fuel, opting instead to go solo.

(edit 9:59pm) Found another thoroughly entertaining pop-culture list article:
The 13 Most Unpopular Characters in TV History
Supplemental Wikipedia entry mentioned in article:
Wikipedia - Cousin Oliver Syndrome