Tuesday, December 1, 2009
posted by dave at 11:31 AM in category ramblings

This is my 14th day here. I guess the newness is really starting to wear off now. I’m feeling more and more homesick with each passing day. Some people told me that it would get easier. That I would get used to it. Some people were wrong. This sucks.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I have managed to enjoy myself, just not as often as I’d have liked. Going down to Kent this past weekend was a lot of fun. It was really great to see some of my old friends and visit some of my old haunts. I’ve really missed living there, even more than I thought.

I’ve noticed that I don’t like to write anymore. It always seems like such a chore. And when I do manage to bang out some sentences, nothing flows. Nothing has rhythm. This is especially true when I try to write about the mundane events of my days and nights. So I don’t write about those things. I hardly write about anything.

It’s all I can do to keep from packing up my stuff and flying home. Is this job worth it? I haven’t seen her for over two weeks. And it’s going to be another two months. How am I supposed to function with that knowledge constantly beating away inside my head? Breathing is a chore, and yet I’m expected to work, eat, sleep?

I just don’t know.

Who am I going to be when I finally return home? Will anyone even recognize me? Will I recognize myself?

Monday, November 30, 2009
posted by dave at 8:39 PM in category comics

The guy was clearly a pervert and/or a gold-digger

posted by dave at 7:50 PM in category pictures, quickies
Grrr
Some skanky old hag stole my chair while I was in the restroom. Not my seat, but my actual chair.
My problem with Buddhism
Desire is one of the things that separates us from animals. That, and not being afraid of vacuum cleaners. Elimination of desire is elimination of humanity.
Holding it in
I was going to go pee, but then everyone on Earth decide to go pee at the same time, so I decided to wait.
Not even married
I'm having Thai food for dinner. I've been having the strangest cravings lately. I hope I'm not pregnant.
Yay!
Hooray!
Hooray for HatGirl!
Funny to me, anyway
It would be funny if hiccups were contagious like yawning.
Channeling
Channeling Lou Rawls again. I wish I could sing.
Transcribing
Working on arranging my notes into a real blog entry. Stay tuned, I guess.
Place
Now I'm at the place next to my hotel. It's their opening weekend.
Yet
It's a pretty nice day. which means it's not raining.
Back
Heading back to Bellingham now.
Alaskan White
(bottle) Hazy light orange. Decent head that faded to a thin film. Light aroma and flavor of assorted spices. Nothing notable, but still a good combination.
Bizarre
It's bizarre that I used to sit here in this seat at this bar and think that I was sad. I had no idea what real sadness was, back then.
Weird
I used to date this bartender's mother.
Why?
Why does enlightenment weigh so heavily on the soul?
Wow
This bartender is a bitch.
In bed
HatGirl's fortune cookie: Everything will now come your way.
In bed
LaptopGirl's fortune cookie: You will be surrounded by luxury.
New Belgium Trippel
(bottle) Clear fuzzy light bronze in color. No head to speak of. Aroma of ripe apples. Flavor typical for the style, with a little extra maltiness. Quite good.
Right again
I rest my case.
Typical
Beautiful day, but Mt. Rainier is still hidden by clouds.
Optimistic
There's actual blue sky up there this morning. I'm optimistic that I'll get to see some mountains.
Advice
Everybody keeps telling me what I already know.
What accent?
Apparently, in Washington, my Indiana accent is sexy.
Gloomy
Hungover
Gobble gobble
I guess that's all.
Nice
Had a nice night. Almost time for bed.
Holly
I miss Holly. I wish she still worked here. I do shots with Holly.
Home
I'm down in Kent now. At my old bar. This used to be home to me. It's so surreal to be sitting at this bar.
Fear
Out of sight, out of mind...
Weird
It's a nice morning here.
Sorry
That doesn't count. Too little, too late.
Kona Pipeline Porter
(draft) Black with decent white head and lacing. Light aroma of coffee and malts. Flavor like the aroma. Fairly light, bordering on bland. Finish is a little chocolatey. A decent beer.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
posted by dave at 10:46 PM in category quiz

Tonight I took two stupid surveys on facebook. Here's the first one:

What is you're name?
Duh.

Age?
Yes.

What color hair do you have?
Blonde with a little gray.

What nationailty are you?
U.S.

What are you doing this weekend?
I have no idea.

Ever laughed so hard you cried?!
Yes.

How's your day so far?
Long.

What are you wearing?
Clothes.

What is your best friends name?
HatGirl.

Single or Taken?
Given, but not taken.

Ever been out of the country?
Yes.

What was the last thing you laughed at?
I can't remember.

What was the last thing you cried about?
Same thing as always.

Special Talents?
I can shoot pool pretty well.

What color eyes do you have?
Blue.

When's your birthday?
February 20.

Any siblings?
Two sisters, both younger.

What's behind you?
A lot of years.

What color is youre shirt right now?
Graye.

Who was the last person you shared a kiss with? (Ever have ur 1st Kiss?)
None of your business. (Yes)

What is to the left of you?
A wall.

What is to the right of you?
These questions are stupid. There's a bed to my right, okay?

Any plans for tonight?
Nope.

Should you be doing something right now, instead of taking this survey?
Slitting my wrists would be more fun.

Who do you love the most?
She knows who she is.

Do you hate anyone?
Yes.

What is youre biggest fear?
It's either giving up, or not giving up. It fluctuates.

The last person you held hands with....what is youre relationship with them now?
Hmmm, probably SneakyGirl. We're friendly exes.

Did you like this survey even one bit?
Not at all. I'm going to have to take another one to wash away the taste of this one.

This was the second stupid survey:

What is your favorite hobby?
Shooting pool.

If you have a force of habbit what is it?
Spelling words correctly.

What is your favorite TV show?
I think Lost.

What is your favorite quote?
"A witty saying proves nothing." - Voltaire

What is your favorite movie?
I don't think I could pick just one.

If your a child what do you want to be when you grow up?
I'm not a child.

Whose your best friend?
HatGirl.

Are you friendly or are you unfriendly?
I'm a dick.

Do you like Twilight or Harry Potter?
Neither one especially. I've never seen the former.

Do you like drama, comedy,or scary.
Comedies, I think.

Whichever one you picked what do you like about it movies, books,(etc.)
This survey sucks, too.

What is your religion?
Not applicable. Was raised Methodist.

If your an adult what is your career?
Computer consultant.

What is your favorite cartoon?
Pink Panther.

How old are you?
Enough.

Are you scared of anything?
Spiders and bees.

Do you like wrestling?
Doing it, no. Watching it, I used to be a fan.

Are you interested in crime TV shows?
I like some of them.

Did you like this survey?
It was almost as stupid as the last survey I took.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009
posted by dave at 12:04 PM in category quiz

What would you do if you found out one of your friends likes your crush?
Murder them, of course.

Will the last person you kissed be the next person you kiss?
I doubt it, but I suppose it's possible.

Have you ever kissed an ex after you two have broken up?
I have. Sometimes it's meant that we were getting back together, but sometimes it's just been a friendly kiss.

Ever kept arguing even after you realized you were wrong?
I can't remember doing that. I don't think so. This also presupposes that I’ve been wrong.

If a girl kisses another girl are they a dirty hoe?
It depends on whether said girls are hot or not.

Why do you hate the person you hate the most?
Because he mistreated someone very important to me, and constantly made her blame herself for every problem between them.

When you say you don't care do you mean it?
When I say it, I mean it. It's just that sometimes I change my mind later, and start caring again.

When meeting someone new, are you afraid they won't like you?
Not really.

Has anyone ever told you they loved you and meant it?
Yes.

Have you ever liked someone older than you?
I dated a girl 14 months older than me once. I'm not sure if that's enough of a difference to count.

Is heartbreak really as bad as people make it sound?
It's much worse than people make it sound, because mere words cannot describe it.

Do you believe in love at first sight?
Absolutely. I didn't always believe in it, though. I think maybe it's one of those things that has to be experienced to be believed.

Do you regret anything that you've done in your past?
I'm old. Of course I've done things that I regret.

Do you think you can love someone without trusting them?
Unfortunately, you can. Love is a feeling, not an action.

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
I think it would be very cool.

Are you generally a happy person?
I'd have to say no. This has not been a good year for me.

Do you hate it when people smoke around you?
I couldn't care less. Except clove cigarettes make me really hungry.

Which would you rather choose truth or dare while playing "truth or dare"?
Truth, I think.

Is there one person in your life that can always make you smile?
There are a couple. I won't get to see either of them for a while, though, so I probably won’t smile for a while.

Have you kissed anybody in the last 5 days?
Nope.

Have you ever sent a text to the wrong person?
I don't think so. I've emailed the wrong person several times, though.

Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone?
With the right person.

Will this Friday be a good one?
I have no idea.

Do you think age matters in relationships?
To some people it matters a lot. Not to me, though.

Have you ever lived with a girlfriend/ boyfriend?
Yes.

Are you stubborn?
I like to think that I am, but I cave a lot.

Did anything "cute" happen in the last week?
Not that I can think of.

Is there anybody you wish you could spend time with right now?
Yes, but I can’t, and that makes me sad.

Have you ever broken someone's heart?
I have. That's one of those regrets you asked about earlier.

What's something you really regret saying to someone?
Usually the truth, when I say it too harshly or realize, too late, that they're not ready to accept it.

Who was the last person you shared a bed with?
None of your business.

Now for the "Have you ever's" ready?
As I'll ever be.

Fell asleep in the arms of the opposite sex?
Certainly.

Ever physically fought with a member of the opposite sex?
When I was a kid I was mean to my sister.

Ever walked in on your friends having sex?
Nope, came close though.

Ever sang to the person you liked?
Sure, like happy birthday and stuff like that.

Do you believe ex's can be friends?
Friendly acquaintances, yes, but maybe not friends.

Where was the last place you fell asleep other than your bed?
Someone's couch.

What is/are your favorite color/s?
Like anyone cares.

Are you a shy person?
In a group I'm usually the quiet one. In one-on-one situations I'm not shy at all.

What are you excited for?
Going home.

Do you have memories that you want to forget?
Just a couple.

If you could cry right now, what would be the reason?
Same thing as always. Missing someone.

Are you happy?
You already asked this. And I already said that I wasn't. Get off my back.

Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now?
I continue to have hope, for some stupid reason. Stranger things have happened.

Are you afraid to answer sexual questions?
Not really. But I noticed that you don’t ask any. Maybe you’re afraid to ask sexual questions, huh?

Do you hate seeing happy couples?
They usually inspire me.

If you went to jail, who would bail you out?
I'd call my sisters, and if I couldn’t contact one of them I’d call HatGirl.

How tall are you?
Almost 5'9"

When was the last time you were actually happy?
Monday night I talked to LaptopGirl on the phone and wished her a happy birthday.

Will you talk to the person you like tonight?
I doubt it. It would be cool, though. *hint hint*

How long does it take you in the morning to fix your hair?
About 10 seconds.

Do you have a good relationship with your mother?
I did, before she died.

Have you ever passed out on the bathroom floor?
Apparently, when I was about 15. At least, I woke up on the bathroom floor. I have no idea how I got there.

Would you rather love one person or have many short relationships?
Love one person but have the experience to make it work. (I liked this answer so I stole it from HatGirl.)

Have you ever wondered how they make lines in toothpaste?
I always assumed it was black magic.

Do you ever feel curious about how people see you?
Sure.

Have you ever broken a couple up?
There have been times when I probably didn't help matters much.

When is the next time you will kiss someone?
I have no idea.

Who was your crush in 5th grade?
This girl named Cathy.

What is your biggest fear about making a total commitment to someone?
Lopsidedness.

Have you ever suspected anyone cheating on you?
Yes. I was right.

Do you remember who you liked on New Years?
Of course.

What did you do this past New Year's?
LaptopGirl and I went to this dive in Corydon and met up with Tim and Wendy.

Are you someone who worries too often?
I sometimes worry about worrying too much. Does that answer your question?

Could things possibly get any better?
They absolutely could.

What should you be doing right now?
Petting my cats.

Have you consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours?
Yes, after work last night.

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to be around your ex everyday?
Maybe kinda.

Have you ever been in a car accident?
A few. Some I've even caused. None really serious, though.

What are you listening to right now?
My keyboard.

If you could have something right now, what would it be?
I'm about to go smoke a cigarette.

Do you think if you died, that the last person you kissed would even care?
I think she'd be sad, but not devastated.

Let me guess, your last incoming call was from the opposite sex?
Yes, StupidGirl called me last night.

Have you ever kissed anyone whose name started with an S?
I'll have to think about that. I'm drawing a blank. Maybe not.

Do you have anything that belongs to an ex boyfriend/girlfriend?
I have one of Amy’s CDs. And some of SneakyGirl’s clothes I think.

You just took 15 shots of vodka, what are you doing?
Dying and/or vomiting, or at least wishing I were dying and/or vomiting.

Do you have a bestfriend of the opposite sex?
HatGirl! Yay!

Is there a difference between "I love you" and "I'm in love with you?"
There is. What weird timing on this question!

Have you ever turned to drinking or smoking to solve a problem?
Not to solve a problem, but to make it more bearable.

Do you believe in second chances?
I'll give a zillion chances to the right people.

Do you currently have a hickey?
Not that I know of.

Has anyone told you they don't wanna ever lose you?
Yes. I believed them.

Do you want to get married and have children one day?
I do, but I don't really see it happening.

Are you an alcoholic?
Contrary to some peoples' belief, I'm not.

Does anyone call you babe or baby?
Not to my face.

Do you want to please everyone?
No, almost everyone sucks so I don’t care about pleasing them.

Is there any emotion you're trying to avoid right now?
Yes. Two of them, in fact.

Do you like beer?
Duh. I'm a beer snob. That means I'll make fun of you if I catch you drinking swill.

When's the next time you will be getting piercings?
Right after hell freezes over.

Do you feel like anyone is playing mind games with you right now?
I'm almost certain of it. It’s the most logical explanation.

Would you consider yourself very flexible?
I'm open-minded enough to at least consider and try new things.

Are you the kind of person who has crazy mood swings?
I'm gonna say no.

How long is it until your birthday?
Three months.

How many baby showers have you been to?
None.

Where do you want to live?
I don't care. It’s not about the place, it’s about the people you’re with.

How many times a day do you crack your neck?
None. I crack my knuckles a lot, though.

Have you ever painted a room?
Does a hallway count?

What's better: cookie dough or brownie batter?
I wouldn't know, as I’ve never been a woman experiencing PMS.

What made you laugh the hardest today?
Haven't laughed today.

What's one thing you'd like to know about your future?
Have I been wasting my time?

Do you hate it when people play their music too loud?
I can't stand it.

Can you go a day without thinking about the person that's on your mind now?
I can't go more than 10 seconds without thinking about her.

Have you ever liked someone you didn't expect to?
Sure have.

Are you a jealous person?
I suppose so.

Have you cried this week at all?
Me strong man. Me no cry.

Are there some songs you can't listen to because they remind you of someone?
There are a couple of songs that I'd prefer not to hear.

Did you sleep alone last night?
Yes. *sniff*

Finish the sentence, school....
...was a long time ago.

Has anyone put their arms around you in the past 5 days?
Nope. *sniff*

Will you be sleeping alone tonight?
That's the plan.

posted by dave at 10:18 AM in category travel

So this morning, on the news, they showed Mt. Rainier. I wish I could have seen it in person, but when I went outside I couldn’t find it. Maybe you can’t see it from Bellingham. And I still haven’t seen Mt. Baker, which is only 40 or so miles away. I’m hopeful, though, that I’ll get to see Mt. Rainier sometime over the next couple of days. I’ll definitely take a picture if I see it.

After work today I’m driving south for a couple of hours. Back to Kent, my old stomping grounds. I’ll go to my old bar and maybe run across some of my old friends. Then I’ll spend the night down there somewhere, and celebrate Thanksgiving with my old friend Gene. That should be nice.

Anyway, yesterday after work I went to this bar nearby. People at work had been telling me that they had good burgers. The burger I had was just okay. The fries were a little cold. And there were about 30 old people there. Not like a couple of weeks ago, at Bearno’s back home, when there were a bunch of people in there 50s or 60s. Nope, at this place yesterday everyone was at least 65, and a lot of them looked to be at least 80.

Besides the bartender, I was the youngest person there by at least 20 years.

It was quite creepy.

This is my 9th day here. I have 67 days to go. I wish I could hold my breath that long, but I can’t. I’m going to have to breathe, and I’m going to have to live. HatGirl is being a big help. I think she actually misses me. Me, of all people.

I hope I run into people I know in Kent tonight. More likely is that a lot of people will remember me, but I won’t have any idea who any of them are. I met a lot of people when I was running the pool league there. Most of them probably remember me, but the reverse isn’t true. It would be really cool to see Holly, but she doesn't work at my old bar anymore, so I don't know how to find her.

Oh, and there’s one girl who I hope I don’t run into. I’m crossing my fingers against that possibility.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
posted by dave at 9:01 PM in category pictures, quickies
Yes
I'm still up. Glaring at my phone.
This was prettier in person
Ploop!
Funny and sweet and kinda gross, all at once.
Elysian Perseus Porter
(bottle). Black with thin tan head. Aroma of cola and roasted malts. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor same as the aroma, with a bit of a tingle to it. Good. I'd like to try this on tap.
If
If I don't get an answer, then that's an answer.
It wasn't even close
I don't know why I even bothered to try.
Please, no wagering
The race is on!
Stupid
I don't like this game.
Surprise
It's raining again.
My rock guarding the coasters I'm going to steal from here.
Anacortes Noel
(draft) Clear reddish bronze. Nice white head. Aroma of spices and maybe pumpkin. Medium mouthfeel. Tame flavor of assorted unidentifiable spices. A good beer.
On a coaster
"What'll it be then? Your 11,568th pint of the usual, or a life changing experience?"
Unfair
The bartender here is too hot.
Full Sail Imperial Stout
(draft) Black with thin beige head. Strong aroma of malts, dark chocolate, and licorice. Thick and chewy mouthfeel. Flavor intense and lasting, mostly of roasted malts. Very good.
Bored
I'm bored. I'm going to go back to that Archer's place and glare at my phone there for a while.
Clap
Why do the football weirdoes always clap and high-five each other? My theory is that it's because they suck.
Some wood
More water
Some water
Too
I'm too far away, for too long. It's too much.
Chuckanut Strong Ale
(draft) Clear Bronzish copper. Nice balanced aroma. Flavor a little subdued. Like a mild Alt-style beer. Decent.
Chuckanut Foreign Stout
(draft) Black with a decent tan head. Weak aroma of burnt malts. Flavor burnt, but weak enough to make it barely good.
Chuckanut British Brown
(draft) Clear dark brown. Minimal head. Strange aroma of malts and hops. Flavor of cola and malts. Very dry finish. Decent.
Chickanut Special Bitter
(draft) Clear dark gold. Thin whitish head. Hoppy aroma. Tastes like aluminum. Disgusting.
Movie
Watching the new Star Trek movie. At least one thing I bought at Best Buy works.
Some copper cow
Weird lunch
Some mountain
Some trees
Wondering
Does the 5-second-rule count if the pretzel lands on the sock you removed after wearing it all day?
Noticed
Georgetown 9-lb Porter
(draft) Very dark brown. Nice beige head. Subdued aroma of burnt malts. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor of roasted malts, almost acrid, but still very good. Maybe a touch of chocolate and licorice, too.
Hmmm
Am I craving a nice Belgian, or an Alaskan Smoked Porter?
Weirdoes
The dude next to me is drinking a Coors Light, despite all the real beers available. His wife is drinking a mint julep.
Crazy
It just took me 25 minutes to park. And it's raining again. And I'm parked about 500 yards away. And I keep forgetting to order my beer in an unfrosted glass. That's important to us beer snobs.
Oh well
Restraint going bye-bye..
Dinner
Spicy chicken and brocolli alfredo. Incredible.
posted by dave at 1:51 AM in category daily

...sixty-eight to go.

Today was fucked up. Everyone was gone from work. People I needed for information, or for authorization. But I dealt with it, because that's what I'm paid to do. Fix what I can fix, and document what I cannot fix. Plan and research and do my best to prepare for when I can do something that matters.

It was, mainly, a day of glaring for me. Externally, at my phone, and internally, at my heart.

I got so mad, for a while. There was no excuse for my anger, but neither was there any excuse for the source of my anger. So I guess it was balanced or some such crap.

Then my phone rang, and I wanted to live again.

So that was cool.

It's not right, and it's not wrong. It just is.

posted by dave at 12:00 AM in category daily

Happy birthday to LaptopGirl!

So many things have changed in the past year. For you, for me, for us. But the important things remain the same. The words I wrote last year on this date are now, and will forever be, true.

I'm so glad you were born, you sweet, sweet girl. The world is a much better place because you're in it.

Monday, November 23, 2009
posted by dave at 4:04 PM in category daily

I think I'm going to a new bar for dinner after work. New to me, I mean. It's next to where I work, and a couple of people have said they have good burgers. Maybe I'm craving a burger. I don't think I've had one on a month.

I need to find a place that feels right to me. I have this mental image of myself sitting at a bar and drinking and thinking. And also smoking, but in Washington I can't do that, so I've had to revise my image.

Anyway, I need to find a bar like that. Where I can just sit and drink and think. And glare at my phone, at least, Because glaring at the door wouldn't make much sense.

When I was in Las Vegas, I actually did glare at the entrance to whatever bar I happened to be in. That was more from overblown hope than from insanity. If I glared that any entrances up here, that would be pretty insane, I think. So I haven't done it. Yet.

Now I'm starving for a cheeseburger.

mysterious gray box mysterious blue box mysterious red box mysterious green box mysterious gold box

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