Thank you!

Thanks to everyone that went to the party last night! It was incredible!!! We need to do these things more often. I miss everyone, even those of you who live nearby. Hope to see you all again much sooner than later!

D.J. White and Eric Gordon are my best buds

Great game tonight. It was sloppy and we still pulled it from the fire.

I want to be on campus for March madness as often as possible. It's awesome to see the Hoosiers really kicking ass again.

Couple entertainment notes

-The latest Foo Fighters video cracks me up. Watching Dave Grohl cry all the time as "Davey Grolatron" is dorky and oh-so funny.

-Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman star in "The Other Bolelyn Girl" = I don't care how ridiculous the movie is... it's gonna be HOT.

11.16.2006

I was going through some old playlists and found this one that I really loved from a while back that I thought you all might enjoy. Check it out:

Waple's Hot Beef Express featuring The Spunky Dunkers

One of my favorite things about music is how whenever I listen to any one album, especially one that's new to me, for a extended period of time, I will associate that music with that time period in my life for a long time afterward. Examples: Most of the Beatles' "Past Masters" album I associate with a vacation my family took when I was in like 4th grade in the summer in NM and CO. The tape my dad made me was mostly that. Every time I hear Common's "Be," I think of the summer after I graduated and visited IU in August. I stayed at John's, he played it for me and I loved it. Then I listened to it a lot when I was in Mexico, so I think of the times I would walk to work listening to it. Brad made me a cd of Murs' "3:16" and I listened to that a lot one summer, especially while mowing the lawn and at the gym. I just think it's fun that the music has more feeling in its unique way to me. It also amazes me how much time has passed since then.

Plus, I was checking the blog and had to post.


I'm looking forward to your party, Thom. Also, I wish it was like 70 degrees outside. And I wish there were more people who wanted to go to Miami with me in late March. It's looking like I probably won't go. Oh well.

Woo-hoo!

I just noticed that Sir Michael Conway will be attending my book release party!

The Zeitgeist is becoming my poltergeist.

Sometimes I do this thing where I put TV commercials on mute and keep track of the words in the commercials. You can learn a lot about our culture by doing this. For instance, many companies' slogans these days involve change and progress. Why might I consider this to be significant? It's the spirit of our age - we are amidst some turbulent times, between wars and climatic adversity and everything else, and yet we're also in an era of technological innovation and other advancement, so it's nice to see even the most commercial parts of our culture - commercials themselves - are focused on change (hopefully for the better).

That being said, doesn't the concept of "Zeitgeist" and even "the collective unconscious" seem a bit haunting? It's both really awesome and really freaky. Part of me feels like we're all connected due to this and yet another part of me feels like there are influential people who decide certain things to alter how the mainstream and oft less-educated public views the world (not just the media, to which I contribute). Discuss.

ah crap

My mom just asked me if there was anything interesting coming up at Viator, to which the answer is always "no." However, after I thought about it a minute more, I remembered that the turnabout dance is coming up and basically all new teachers have to chaperon it. Well, I feared that this conflicted with your party, Thom, and it does. If I can't get someone to switch with me, which will be based on luck alone, I wouldn't be able to make it until about 11:45. I'm not happy about it, but hopefully when I email the faculty this week someone will be able to switch out with me. That is, unless anyone reading this blog wants to be me for the night and chaperon for me. All you do is stand around, and I'm 100% serious. Sorry, Thom. I blame the kids.

Flat tire

I wouldn't have been able to make it to Indy after all... a damn pothole put my car out of commission until Monday. Those potholes are friggin' ridiculous. We will have to continue Randall's rock star party tour at my place Feb. 23!

It's Randall's Birthday Today!

After a quarter of a century since the Rockstar's birth, we celebrate his life and times in a contemporary wine and cheese environment with a photo slideshow and collage display. Other refreshments will be served with a side of bigass rock show down in broad ripple. Contact for details.

Electioneering

I am really concerned.

Based on the stats, there weren't many young people at the polls today. What's up with that?

Huckabee is one of the most religious candidates I've ever seen, and yet he's surprising everyone.

McCain might pose a problem for the Democrats since he's a bit liberal.

And, finally, as I waited in line to fill out my ballot, I noticed the people around me who were also waiting to vote. I couldn't help but think most were Republican. And I certainly noticed that all of them were white and old. Granted, this is symptomatic of my region, but I still got this sense from everybody that this country isn't ready for Obama or Clinton. I mean, people are saying the evangelical vote is sizeable and it matters this year! What the f**k? I guess I've forgotten who else lives in America...

This party is going to be great.

Enough said.

Movin' and Groovin'

It's been a good weekend so far. As some of you may know, I am going to be job searching again this spring so I've started the preliminary process of getting in touch with those that helped me before with my resume and cover letter. Today I met with two of those people, two ladies, who were helpful and appreciative of my visit (I brought gifts of food and flowers... women's Achilles heel). But one of them, I found out, actually used to teach a Chicago History class at New Trier and she shared some books with me and information that was really cool. I'm hoping it'll liven up my course a bit this semester. So it was nice to get a little of that early job search work done. It also looks like I'm heading down to the Green Mill Jazz Lounge with Mike and some others tonight. You all may remember that we tried to go there for New Year's one year and never got in because of the line. Well, not this time. We're going to get there on time and we're seeing Mama Digdown's Brass Band. It's only 10 bucks and I like brass, so I think it'll be a good Saturday. And the name just sounds great.

Yesterday I got together with a girl! A rare occurrence for me. It was a snow day, which was a bonus anyway, but we saw Gospell, the musical, that night as it was opening at my high school. They gave faculty a free dinner (it was catered sort-of fast food Italian, but it was simple and good) and free tickets to the show, and I'd just met up with this girl Rachel the weekend before, so it was nice to see her again. We were acquaintances in high school and both did theater and now we are both teachers, except she teaches at an elementary school. We've kept in touch here and there, but were never really great friends. I don't really have much interest in dating her although she's cute and nice and fun. It's just nice to have a girl to hang out with for a change. It makes me feel a lot less like a loser.

And of course, tomorrow is the Super Bowl. It's nice when weekends aren't filled with all work and I'm excited for the Green Mill because I've never been in it before and it's got a lot of Chicago history ties. As for now, I've got to write a letter of recommendation/bullshit and then maybe plan a class before I head out. I hope everyone's got fun plans for the Super Bowl.

Snow job/Bling reunion

Let it be noted that the primary reason it seems I'm monopolizing this blog is because I'm sticking to this "post every time you check it" idea. I hope more of you post more often.

A 20-minute drive home from work took me an hour and 45 minutes today. I hate the winter so much!

I want you all to know about this band Idlewild (the alternative/post punk group, not that cheesy other group). I've been listening to Idlewild since it first hit the scene, and I just don't know why they've never caught on. The raw energy, pure melody, and progressive metaphysics of its music and lyrics is staggering, especially with the latest two albums.


My official book release for "Out of Context" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at my place. Be there for the bling reunion!