With a little help from my friends.

I'm in lesbians with you.

This first sentences has nothing to do with the rest of the post, but let me just say how happy I am that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was released on blu-ray and DVD last week. That is all.

I admit, it had been long time since I was able to head to Grand Rapids and just relax. A LONG time, indeed. I couldn't tell you why this is. I've been busy, yes, but so has every other person on this planet. I've had time to go to Owosso and back on more than one occasion (under-exaggerated). Even East Lansing has had my presence felt (over-exaggerated). BUT, none-the-less, one of my favorite places in the great state of Miiiiiiiichigan has been neglected. After this weekend, the only rationalization I can come up with is every time I visit this city, I find it harder and harder to leave. When I say "I find it harder to leave" I mean "I never want to leave." And this has a everything to do with the people I see when I'm there. Meagen (not Megan) and Michael (not Megan) have always been very gracious hosts, and the last few days had been no exception. Twice, after a long day of work for both, they were able to hang out, watch some movies, listen to some good music, and even chat until the wee-hours of the night (sorry about that, Meg).

Anyway, the couple at 420 Rosewood were having a Thanksgiving potluck and had invited the toast of the town to come and share in the festivities. It took three tables, 18 chairs and place settings, dozens of candles, and a steaming hot kitchen, but I'm happy to report the evening was a success. Every dish that was brought was delicious and the collection of different personalities meshed extremely well. The highlight of the night was reading the "what are you thankful for" cards that every filled out as they entered the building. The answers ranged from the very short - beer and friends - to the unnecessarily long - (mine) - to the extremely sexual and borderline racist - (insert AMAZING Josh or Katrina comment). By the way, if it wasn't clear, I'm in full support of the latter comments. Much laughter was had, some to the point of tears. I believe this crowd would be extremely receptive toward the game of Things.

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

All good things must come to an end, though. For me, that was close to midnight. Most of the guests had already left, while the remaining decided to continue the fun times at a local watering-hole. After helping pack my computer, Mike, our pal Kevin, and I stayed at the house for a short while longer just talking about this and that. I swear I ended up saying goodbye about 3 separate times before taking another seat and talking some more. Like I said before, I didn't want to leave. A reoccurring pattern when in Grand Rapids. I finally made my way on I-96 and got into Flint around 2am. I was NOT looking forward to working at 6. I can't function on 3 hours of sleep like I used to.

Ever wonder what hot candle wax feels like?

That girl is strong!

Let me just say I find myself very lucky to have such generous and loving friends. I know I've repeated this sentiment many times, but I feel it can never be overstated. I think of myself as a happy-going type of person. But honestly, I'm just a reflection of the people in my life. It's how they approach life and how they feel that makes me go. And when you're in a home filled with so much love, it's hard to do anything other than smile.

What would you do if I sang out of tune?

Turning off the lights in Flint-town,
B

My last Will & Testament.

Well...more so a small portion of a testament. In fact, there's really nothing that involves a Will right now. At all.

Why so grim? Listen, life is a beautiful thing, but so unpredictable. So I figure, why not take this random time to post something that will be a last request. This means to hold true from the moment this entry is published to the time I take my last breath. Don't worry, it's nothing serious. In fact, I aim for this to provide the exact opposite reaction. At my funeral, I hope - nay, DEMAND - that you play "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

Wait...let me rewind for a second. I don't mean to throw up a red flag or worry anyone. To my knowledge, I'm pretty damn healthy. I don't see anything horrible happening to me in the near future, and I hope nothing does. In fact, everything the last few months has been amazing, so hopefully more of the same is in the cards. But, regardless of what I said about this not being serious...it's serious. YOU, whomever you may be, MUST PLAY THIS SONG! It's perfect. A last F-U to all that think life is to be taken so serious all of the time. Plus, I figure it'd be good to get a few smiles and laughs from the grave. Not a bad plan, ey? BOOM!

So, remember, YOU - whether it's Meg, or Rhett, or Brad, or (insert name), or (insert name), or... - if my life is to be extinguished in a fantastical, Final Destination-type accident or with my eyes closed resting peacefully, THIS SONG HAS TO BE PLAYED!

That is all. Enjoy.


(Still whistling),
B

How to recognize...

...different types of trees from quite a long distance away.

Number 1: The larch. The larch. The. Larch.

You know, voting is an important right. I mean, how much extra work do you have to do if you DON'T vote on the 5-star scale of Netflix? Who wants to manually choose their movies? It's so much easier abiding by Netflix suggestions.

Ladies and gents, let's give a round of applause to Meagen Spillane for providing the opening paragraph to this post. The ol' bait-and-switch. Brilliant!

Did you know that all of last month I only blogged a grand total of 3 times!? This simply will not do. I know I said I wasn't going to force anything this time, but I averaged below 1 post per week. Not cool. We'll see how THIS month goes.

Speaking of, welcome to November! The evenings are falling below freezing, the leaves have all but left the branches they once inhabited, and I'm still wearing t-shirts to run errands. Some people never learn...

Halloween was last weekend and, by all accounts, was a...screaming...success. Hahaaaaaaa. (Shakes head). The reason I say this isn't because I went from door to door collecting obscene amounts of cavity crunch, but because the party at Brad and Colleen's had a great turnout and was a blast. The pictures are online and can be observed HERE.

On Monday, the carpet cleaning finally happened at the house. A second cleaning was recommended and took place early the next morning. By tomorrow everything should be completely dry and ready for the moving. Dear readers, you have no idea how excited I am. Now, this is by no means going to happen in one day. People are busy and, because I will be living about 10 minutes away from my parent's house, I can take my time. In fact, we probably won't even touch anything until Saturday. I still need to set up an appointment with Comcast and change my incoming mail. Still, a pretty exciting process. Oh yeah, and Ikea on Friday. WOOOOOO!

Making a list.

I'd be remiss if I were to go an entire post without mentioning a bit of music or film. At the wedding of the year that took place a month ago, the song that played everybody off and ended the night was "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. This has special meaning to a lot of the attendees because of a popular watering hole by SVSU called The Pub. In fact, there were a few Pub favorites that found their way through the speakers thanks to DJ Tee-Bo. Anyway, "Piano Man" is, was, and probably always will be their sing-along; But for me, that distinction goes to "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John. Every time I hear that track, at the very least, there is some humming involved. I'm not saying it's my favorite song, by any means. It's just a record that, if I hear it, I'll listen all the way through. The same can be said for "Alison" by Elvis Costello. I know we all have one of those, so what is yours?

He's a Sir, you know.

Life has been extremely busy the last few weeks. That's looking to continue into at least next weekend, where some pals (one mentioned at the beginning of this post) are having a Thanksgiving potluck at their home in Grand Rapids. I feel like I should probably learn to make something amazing. I hope Bradley Thibaut is willing to teach.

I feel like there's something else I need to say, but I can't think of it right now. Oh well. I hope that means I'll be blogging again in the very near future. Looks like I'm on pace to break October's post-to-week ratio.

A man named Truth,

B

Who wants to dance?

Just press play.

The intention of this post is to get you off your ass and start a dance party for one, two, or however many of you there are in the room at the time. If you can't dance to the song above, then I feel sorry for you and your broken rhythm bones - yes, plural, because anything less normally results in one jumping up, feeling the music, and getting funky. I hope you've enjoyed this stress reliever. Now back to your regularly scheduled...what was it you were doing?

Hold a hand for cover from harm,

B

You're being such a non-pillow right now!

Liz, James, & Kimiko.

I'll be honest with you, I couldn't think of a better title than the one I posted before, so I just finished the quote. Damn, I love 30 Rock.

Last weekend Michigan State went into a hostile Ann Arbor and thoroughly dismantled the Wolverines in a game that I thought was going to be a close, high scoring affair. However, the Spartans did a great job of containing Denard Robinson to the point where they forced him to beat them with his arm. He's an amazing athlete, but his passing skills (especially under duress) aren't there yet, and it showed. Sloppy throws in the red zone and miscues in the middle of the field cost him and MSU went on to win 34-17. Now it's no secret I've always been a HUGE State fan, but it even surprised me how gracious and honest most U of M fans were about this game. Trust me, I've had to hear it MANY times prior to the last few years. Growing up it was very annoying, especially since I was never one to "talk trash." And, being a MSU fan (in football terms, at least), you don't put much faith in the score until the clock runs out. But this year was different. I heard and read a lot of, "We were outplayed, plain and simple" and that was it. No excuses this time around. No real anger. No resentment. Just the realization that Michigan State finally has a stable program in place and may be beginning to dismantle the "little brother" stigma that was so graciously given to them by Mike Hart. Either way, like I say every year prior, "Good game." We'll see what happens next year.

Paul Bunyan still resides in East Lansing.

I finally got around to putting pictures of Eric and Andrea's wedding weekend up. You can check them out by visiting my facebook page or, if you're already a friend, by clicking here. I can't emphasize enough how much fun that entire weekend was. Seriously, folks. It was that good.

In some house news, the big painting work is just about finished and the next major thing is going to be getting the carpet professionally cleaned. We're hoping this might happen some time next week and, after that, we'll see where everything is at in terms of moving in.

Yesterday, All City Chess Club finally released their first track after what seemed like months since the announcement of said group was made public. The "I'm Beaming (Remix)" doesn't disappoint and contains verses from Lupe, The Cool Kids, B.o.B, Asher Roth, Diggy, Blu, Charles Hamilton, and Dosage. It clocks in at nearly 8 mins. long and is a pretty solid debut. Can't wait for the rest (or at LEAST a new Lupe album).

Have I mentioned how much I love having 30 Rock and The Office available on Netflix instant streaming? The answer is "a lot."

How about we end with some words of wisdom?

Thanks, Philosoraptor...

Fader,

B

Java Jones wisdom.

Mmmmm...breakfast pastries.

It was a brisk Saturday morning, just hours away from the the wedding all of us had driven up north to attend. Tradition has it the groom can't see his bride on the day-of until she walks down the aisle, so Eric stayed in our condo the previous night. He had suggested Java Jones for some breakfast and we all agreed. Everybody cleaned up and drove the half-mile it took to get to the middle of Elk Rapids' business district where the coffee house was located. After 9 separate drink, croissant, cinnamon roll, oatmeal, and (insert any other delicious, homemade breakfast comfort food) orders had been placed and fulfilled, we all sat around a collection of square tables. As the conversation jumped from topic to topic we found ourselves talking about how great it would be if we all moved up to this area eventually. Dreams of starting up our own businesses, who would be in charge of what, having kids grow up with each other, and more started flowing from our mouths. Brad then chimed in with, "Is this what it's going to be like when we're retired? Just sitting in a coffee shop hanging out - because this is awesome." We all laughed, signifying unanimous agreement. What a future that would be, huh?

I was thinking about this from Saturday morning until right now. What if everything worked out perfectly? We all end up doing well for ourselves and in, say, 30 years decide to move to the quiet town of Elk Rapids, set up a small business or two that we all have a hand in, and proceed to live out our lives surrounded by caring friends and great conversations in the local coffee shops?

Realistically this probably won't happen. I'm not saying we all won't have great lives or won't be successful, just the whole moving to one spot and setting up shop. No, that was more of a fantasy of what could be. However, in that moment, it was perfect. On a day where we already had two great friend's futures in mind, and in the midst of everything that was being talked about, that one statement made us forget about any worries or problems we may have had. For just a few minutes we had already moved to Elk Rapids. Ryan had set up his golf course with Josh as the local "pro", Colleen has her corner bakery, Rich and Rob converted an old office building into a small concert venue, Brad was doing janitorial work for everyone, and, as was routine by now, we all were meeting at Java Jones for some breakfast and reminiscing.

Funny how even the simplest statements can paint such a vivid picture.

Congratulations Andrea and Eric,
B

P.S. - In this fictitious scenario, I would be able to do my editing work from anywhere, so by choice I would be residing in Northern Michigan. Can't have any plot holes, can we.

P.S.S. - There aren't enough superlatives to describe how great the wedding/reception was. Wubble-U, Oh, Wubble-U.

When it all comes together.

I'm extremely lucky and am fully aware of this. For some unexplained reason life just has a way of working itself out. Let me just say It's amazing to feel, if only for a moment, as if all of your troubles have evaporated into the atmosphere. Having a clear mind is one of those simple luxuries that some might take for granted. Don't. It's too therapeutic.

Also, do yourself a favor and listen to one of your favorite songs late at night. Chances are you'll catch something you never noticed in the previous "x" amount of times you've played it. Just one more thing that puts a smile on your face.

Like a dime dropped from the top of the Empire State Building,
B

On the banks of the Red Cedar...

I'm a week late with this, but did anyone SEE the end of the MICHIGAN STATE - NOTRE DAME GAME!? Who fakes a field goal in OT for the win!? Apparently Mark Dantonio does - and then suffers a heart attack less than a hour after the game concludes. Crazy. Luckily he was let out of the hospital yesterday and is projected to make a full recovery. Whew. Let's take a look, shall we?

THE VIDEO THAT WAS TO FOLLOW HAS BEEN DELETED DUE TO REPEATED COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTS MADE BY THE ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SUFFICE IT TO SAY, SAID CLIP WAS A VERY ENTERTAINING RECAP OF THE LAST PLAY OF THE FOOTBALL GAME. A SHAME YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE IT. REGARDLESS, I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE CAPTION BELOW. THANK YOU.

Little Giants!? Somewhere, Rick Moranis is smiling.

That was a hell of a game to watch live. I couldn't imagine what the place was like. Then again...I have been lucky enough to be witness to a few amazing comebacks in Spartan stadium. On second thought, I have a pretty good idea of how the people were. Haha.

Time for a life update! Work has basically been me watching and logging footage for the past week and a half. I'm not going to lie, I'm really excited to start this baby.

Later tonight I'll be heading to Lansing to see some friends play at Mac's Bar. It also happens to be their homecoming show which makes it a double bonus: 1. Seeing friends and 2. Them being able to sleep in their own beds again.

Home, indeed.

By this time next week I'll be in Elk Rapids, MI getting ready to celebrate the marriage of Andrea Bednarski and Eric Strong. For the one time I've been there, I can say I absolutely love the area. Once again, hopefully the weather cooperates. But hey, a weekend in Northern Michigan sounds just fine to me.

I'm looking forward to this.

And one more piece of news...

I'd say that in about 2 or 3 weeks everything should be set for me to move into a house I'm going to be renting/sitting. It's in Swartz Creek and happens to be the same house my Uncle, Aunt, and cousin used to live in before moving out to California. Needless to say, I'm actually looking VERY forward to it. Now...in terms of furnishing it...

Odd blood,

B

September 20

You know, I think it's about time I start titling these blog entries. I stuck with the date thing mainly because that's what I was used to - force of habit. Keeping track of dates isn't nearly as important to me as it was before. OK, it's decided. Next post will be the beginning of the title era - hopefully something witty and original. Hahaha...I'm neither of those things. (Sad trombone)

I'm on another music kick. I mean, I'm always doing something that involves music, but every now and then I'll get into a phase of really LISTENING to it and deciding why I really do like/dislike something. In an earlier post I talked about finding meaning in songs and enjoy the challenge of interpretation. Looking back, I probably should have emphasized that's not the only thing that will draw me to a certain artist/band. Hell, probably over half of the stuff I listen to is pretty cut and dry - it's just executed a bit differently. Chromeo is a good example. Their new album came out a couple weeks ago and, even though I enjoy Fancy Footwork more, it's something that I can pop in and have a good time with. Not much thought to it, just funk. Ohhhh yeaaaahhhhhh.

On top of catchy beats, storytelling is HUGE. If you can paint a picture with words and draw me in as a listener, then my hat is off to you. Ben Nichols is someone who does this on a regular basis. Ben is the lead singer of an alt-country band named Lucero that hails from Tennessee. The opening track on their latest album is called "Smoke" and is a beautiful, 5-and-a-half minute love story. Two hard-living strangers meet at a bar and decide to take a chance on one another. Simple concept and built up perfecting in this song. In his own gritty way and with a whiskey-and-cigarette washed voice, Ben romanticizes about this chance encounter and gives you a clear look at these characters without even mentioning a name. If "A Girl In Port" by Okkervil River was one of the most tragic songs I've ever listened to, this is one of the most - for lack of a better term - romantic. Just using the fragment "unknown and beautiful" in the chorus was enough to do it for me. So good.

"Unknown and beautiful." Come on, you KNOW it's a great line.

And then there's the complete opposite type of music I'll listen to: ambient/electronic. I mean, this ranges from Justice to Hammock to LCD Soundsystem to Amiina. Usually there's little-to-no lyrics associated with it and is just something you can play to relax or start a dance party.

In summation: Music is great, but great music is really great. Wait...that was terrible.

"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music."
- Ronald Reagan

RONALD REAGAN!? REALLY? Oh well, it fits.

Oh, 1950's.

They bolted out into the streets,

B

September 17

"Don't you dare speak for someone you don't know.

They'll feel it in the back of their throat.
We know I can't construct a poem
'cause words, like girls, get bored and run.
C'est la vie - I say "I've got so many better things."
I've got nothing; You should see me.
I smoke myself to sleep...

and blame postmodern things. I can't relate,
like summer camp and coastal states.
Like alcohol and coffee beans,
dance floors and magazines.
I think its safe to say I've only got myself to blame,
but boys in swooping haircuts are bringing me down,
taking pictures of themselves.

And so I walk the web in search of love
but always seem to end up stuck.
I'm finding flaws in everyone.
I've reached the point where all I want
is to sleep around in hopes that I will catch back up.
We are parallel lines; We’re running in circles
we're never meant to cross.

I'm at a loss, you were my tangerine,
my pussycat, my trampoline.
Now all's I get are wincing cheeks
and dog problems. I signed a lease
thinking my heart belonged at 93rd and Park.
Instead I broke a girl’s heart
and flew back to Phoenix to finish the year as it started.

Can you hear me?
Are you listening?
This is the sound of my heart breaking.
And I hope it's entertaining
'cause for me it’s a bitch.
Was it worth it
when you slept with him?
Did you get it all out of your system?

I am a man...
Holding it all...
I couldn’t breath...
Coming across...
I didn’t know...
I couldn’t give up.

B - is for believing you'd always be here for me.
E - is for everything; Even when we see it though.
C - C is for seeing through you; You are a fake. Which brings me to
A - because, because you always run away.

I never finish phrases; I misspell;
Open arms are prison cells.
When I said, "I hate what I've become."
I lied; I hated who I was.
So when you start to wonder 'bout the pain in my throat,
well, don't you ever - no never, ever - speak for someone you don't know."

- The Format "Dog Problems"

How about some visuals?

Good songwriting plus creative execution equals candy for my ears. And now...time for a Zingerman's townie brownie. Mmmmmm.

I like brownies,

B

September 16

This is something I wouldn't mind owning in the near future. Just thought I'd share.

Are you cussing with me?

To better understand it, check out this link. Now that that's settled, let's find out about you. How has your day been? If you need to get anything off of your chest and, you know, vent a little, feel free. I mean, I figure if you can't talk to anyone else about it, why not talk to the luminescent warm of your computer screen? Then again, if you are talking to an inanimate object - in this instance, me - then maybe you should get out more. No offense - I enjoy the company, but c'mon now. You're better than that. What? That's all I have. The rest is up to you. Go and be happy.

Do the twist in the twisting outfit,

B

September 14

Today's dilemma seems to be I want to write, but I don't know what to write about. I have no direction at this very moment; None what-so-ever. Maybe if I keep typing something interesting will come up.

Novel just started playing on my iTunes playlist. This particular song has a real triumphant, euphoric melody that accompanies his lyrics. Tracks like this are a lot of fun to listen to.

Wow...and it happens to be followed by a song that is the exact opposite in terms of optimism and wonderment. In fact, The Streets' "Dry Your Eyes" is probably one of the most depressing songs I've ever listened to. It's about the dissolution of a relationship and the trouble our protagonist has in dealing with what has just happened. Every movement/word/reaction is described in such detail that you can't help but feel heartbroken for this guy when all is said and done. Kudos, Mike Skinner.

A great, great, great concept album.

Sorry about today. Somethings you have it and sometimes you don't.

You really got a hold on me,

B

September 13

I love this in so many ways.

A constant factor in pieces of art that "awe" me is simplicity or the illusion of it. More often than not I find myself going, "Why didn't I think of that?" Hopefully one of these days I'll beat someone to the punch.

September 10

"Boys will be boys and girls have those eyes that will cut you to ribbons sometimes."

Have you ever looked at someone who instantly shot right through your being and you felt like you've known each other forever? Me neither. But I plan on this happening at some point. A desperate fool or a hopeless romantic . I really, really hope I'm the latter.

You know why I was adamant over the fact that 500 Days of Summer was one of the best and most underrated films of last year? Because I was that character.

I know what it's like to hope

and find

and live

and forget

and lose

and obsess

and deal

and accept

and move on

and restore

and hope again.

Completely ruined or a hopeless romantic? Definitely option 2.

Great soundtrack, by the way.

DAMN IT! See what happens when it's 2:30am and there are no signs of fatigue in sight? I don't even know where that all came from. Haha.

Well, this is definitely becoming a more personal blog now, isn't it? Took long enough.

Let's end on a high note. That announcement concerning work I mentioned yesterday lasted all of 24 hours. As of earlier today, I am the active editor of a documentary that's been 3+ years in the making. This means, if all goes well, by the turn of the new year I'll have my first feature film editing credit. To potentially have a life accomplishment met in the next 6 months is something I haven't completely wrapped my head around yet. For now, I need to take it step by step and do my best to finish this project.

It's an exciting opportunity, that's for sure. Best of all, I'll be able to do this from home.

Step one: Go over the hours and hours of archived footage, take notes, and learn this story from the ground up. I'm not exaggerating when I say this will take at least 2 weeks. I'm also not exaggerating when I say this smile hasn't left my face all day.

Recently I read something that made more sense to me than I thought it would at first. It had to do with "learning how to trust life". I pride myself in being a fairly logical thinking person, but I realize there are things that just can't be explained. The more I reflected on the last few years, the more I realized how, for some reason, I never felt panicked or even that worried. Something in the back of my mind always calmed me down, but it was something that I couldn't put into words until a week ago. Trust life. It's almost too simple, but it can't be described any other way. Funny; All it took for me to get it was 25 years and "an unromantic blog entry."

Her words, not mine,

B

September 9 (B)

"Music...true music - not just Rock ’N’ Roll - it chooses you. It lives in your car, or alone, listening to your headphones. With vast scenic rituals and angelic choirs in your brain. It’s a place apart from the vast benign lap of America."

Mr. Hoffman as Mr. Bangs.

Good film. Now that we have that out of the way...hello, world. And by "world" I'm referring to the US, UK, and Denmark. Crazy, huh?

Today was one of the more interesting days I've had all year, if not the last couple years. Without going too in depth right now, I can say that a meeting was had regarding a particular editing project and good vibes were felt. Really good vibes. Not only that, but a part of the industry that I hadn't studied since college was opened back up. Since I've been doing more guerrilla/freelance filming since I graduated I had forgotten how much really goes into the entire process. Specifically, from inception to completion. Listening to these people negotiating the film rights to a book, from budget to production company to screenwriter, was exhausting. Mind you, this was something completely separate from the project I was talking about. Being able to multitask was shown to come in handy today. Wow.

What this means is, in the next week or two, I may have some pretty cool news as it pertains to work. We'll see what happens.

On a side note: Inception was a fantastic film. Christopher Nolan is pret-ty, pret-ty, pret-ty good.

Witness the "inception" of Strutting Leo. Sorry...

Iron and wine doesn't taste great, but sure can play a damn good tune,
B

September 9 (A)

It's that time of night again. About the time I get lost in my own thoughts. I remember making a post like this a long time ago (at least 6+
months back) and, in terms of my belief, nothing has changed. It always seems that late at night, especially the time when you're laying in bed trying to pass out, you're more vulnerable when it comes to dealing with your emotions. I often find myself thinking about following my heart and throwing caution to the wind when that hour hand is well passed the 12. I'm not complaining, though. I like the feeling. It's almost as if you're dreaming while wide-awake. Every action is that much more vivid, and while you're well aware this is all in your mind, you let go of the reins and let your subconscious be. This is by far one of the hardest things I've had to explain, but it's also one of my favorite.

Now realize this isn't an every day occurrence. If I'm exhausted or have had a rough day and I just want to sleep, you can bet that's what's going to happen. It's more of a mind set; And I happen to be in it this evening.

And why is it that the majority of the time the subject is always the same: love. You've all heard the saying, "It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." I completely agree. As much as the loss portion hurts - trust me, it hurts - the good times will always put you, for at least a moment, right back on top of things. And in life, I feel it's essential. Not the living in the past part, but more so having those experiences to learn from and knowing how to approach things in the future. When you can step back, see the big picture, and think critically of yourself, you've accomplished something.

Now, getting back to the topic at hand, I don't know of one person who says, with a straight face, that they'd rather be alone their entire lives. I have friends that have been through some pretty rough relationships in their life. A lot of them said at the time they were happy to finally have time to themselves, to be their own man/woman, to "play the field". Then the novelty wore off and all they kept mentioning is how stupid they were, or how they took so-and-so for granted, or how they can't sleep alone without tossing about all night. But where the good news comes in is the majority so far have found that one person and it's really a thing to behold. True happiness.

I guess my point is this: Don't take your relationships for granted. From the outside looking in, I can tell you I'd give a lot to feel like I did 5+ years ago. So when I see different couples bickering over utter nonsense I usually will just shake my head. And for a moment I may try convincing myself, "See, do you want to have to deal with that?" To be honest with you, "Yes." To have a shoulder to lean on, an ear to vent to, somebody who allows you to let down your guard and be completely at ease... I'm just saying, it sounds like a good deal to me.

I'm looking up at the clock on my phone now and am realizing it's well passed "that time" (around 3:10am). That's my que to stop typing on a small touch screen and get some shut-eye. I wonder if I'll dream tonight? Maybe if I think of the same thing over and over until I fall asleep it will show up. I could try that...or just wait for the next time I'm wide awake at 1 or 2am. That way there's a better chance I could remember. For now, I'll take my chances.

I support truthiness,
B

September 8

I find myself being attracted to anything that's original or creative. Mind you, I'm talking about ANYTHING: music, film, writing, graffiti, bicycles - when I say anything, I mean it. Where does this come from? I was in bed trying to fall asleep last night when I thought back to a conversation my Mom and I had when I was driving back from Detroit. I had just picked her and my Grandma up from the airport and was headed home when the topic of hip-hop music came up. My Mom started talking about how she doesn't get popular culture these days and how she doesn't consider that genre of music, well, real music. I looked at her a bit confused and started what would end up being about a 30 minute debate. All the while my Grandma sat quietly in the back, probably laughing to herself at the conversation. Anything you could think of was touched upon, from citing poetry to referencing Bob Dylan, 2Pac, Lupe Fiasco, the Beatles, Green Day (don't ask), etc. In the end we simply agreed to disagree; However, my Mom did say something that rang very true.

"People want to listen to music or watch movies to escape from real life. They don't want to have to think or decipher."

The majority of people out there like "it" cut-and-dried. They want to turn on the radio, hear a certain melody regardless of message, and go with it. I'm not built that way. I'm not exactly sure when the change happened, but it did. I admit, I've listened to my fair share of embarrassing, brainless music and watched a ton of terrible films. But back then I thought if the majority liked it then I should too. I'm a lot happier now. Haha.

Yes, I completely agree that music or film or any form of entertainment should be just that: entertainment. It should be an escape from the mundane routines people find themselves in. And people are free to experience that in any way they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. For me, though, that just isn't enough. Let's stay centered around the music portion in this instance. I listen to music some friends are playing in their iPods and it's all the same to me. The record labels are doing what they do best: taking something that sells, signing cookie-cutter groups/bands, pairing them with similar producers, and manufacturing hits. There's no soul in a lot of what's on the radio. I'm not saying that EVERYTHING you hear on pop radio is rubbish, just that a lot of it doesn't do much for me.

When it comes to this particular position, only a few friends are on my side. What's on the surface shouldn't be the entire story. How about an example? Exhibit A is a modern country hit with all the production, pop references, and that radio friendly sound; Exhibit B is an old school, stripped down, roots type song by an artist who, live, only needs a guitar, stool, and his voice.

A:

B:

I realize that they're two different types of songs, but on any day of the week I'd rather listen to Mr. William Elliott Whitmore. I've been lucky enough to catch him live. The inflection in this guys voice when he's up there stomping his feet, sweating, and completely immersed in music that he believes in - that's coming from his soul, for lack of a better term - was one of the best shows I've ever seen. And he was the opening act.

Any day of the week. I will stand by that.

Indeed.

In the end, though, this is just how I feel. I recognize that many people out there disagree, and that's fine. Like I said, if it makes you happy and it's not a burden on others, go for it. Live and let live...

BUT, if you're someone who's constantly looking for that something "extra," then rest-asured you're not alone.

Just pretend,
B

September 7

And I said this wasn't going to become an everyday thing. Figures. I don't post anything for 3 months then I get the bug again. However, I am approaching this different. Because it's no longer a chore I consider what I'm going to be writing from now on a truer form of a "blog" than it was to begin. I started out wanting to write for a year straight just to see how much one could actually reflect on the past. I wondered if you could draw any conclusions about yourself by simply typing a few sentences a day. I was ambitious at the start and it shows. I took my time and posted a few things that had nothing to do with the particular day in question; Rather what was on mind. And then...yeah. Sorry about that. If I don't have anything to say, I won't write. If I get the bug, I'll jump on my iMac and start a-typin'. Simplicity can be a savior to one's sanity.

DOCUMENTARIES! One of my favorite genre's of film. I love them. You name it, I probably have watched a D-O-C on it. Political, sports, environmental, coming of age, etc. "The truth is stranger than fiction" is a cliche I very much believe in. The Cove is a film I was finally able to catch a few weeks ago and I really enjoyed it. It might not be your particular cup o' tea, but the way it was put together definitely put the filmmaker's message through a bullhorn. The typical formula was there: Introduction of main players; a couple turning points; point of no return; potential failure; and the resolution. Still, it was really well done and I do recommend it. Check this out for a quick synopsis.

Spoiler alert: It's in Japan...

Let me close by saying that "A Girl In Port" by Okkervil River is still one of the most beautiful songs (tragic, too?) I've ever heard. Haha. Didn't see THAT one coming, did you? Hey, it's my blog, so I'll do what I want. But seriously, it's going on 3 years since the album's release - The Stage Names - and I can still listen to that song on a continuous loop and not be disappointed.

"I've come to feel, out on the sea,

these urgent lives press against me.

I'm just a guest. I'm not a part,

with my tender heard, with my easy heart.

These several years out on the sea

have made me empty, cold, and clear.

Pour yourself into me."

Big next couple of days planned. Hopefully everything works out.

My MacBook Pro is very old, my iMac is very new, and I'm content with this,
B

September 6

It's time for your Beatles' themed post of the day.

White Album.

"Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me and My Monkey" is the longest title given to any song the Beatles ever made. Lennon said it was about his relationship with Yoko, Paul thought it could be interpreted as a ballad to John's heroin habit, and no one really knows what Ringo's opinion is. What do YOU think?

I don't know, John...

September 5

Hello, world.

I'm back. Miss me?

(Don't answer that.)

I was just inspired to write something after a few months hiatus. Unfortunately said inspiration far surpasses anything that was ever written in this "blog" so know ahead of time you're not going to be impressed.

Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to brass tacks...

Wow, that didn't take too long to draw a blank. How about we pick up where we left off. Since June 5:

• I've worked.
• I've filmed.
• I've edited.
• Tori's internship at Genesys has gone and passed - she should be driving into California as I'm typing this.
• I finally bought a new computer (a sexy 27", quad-core iMac) that is working better than I imagined.
• The Tigers went from leading the AL Central at All-Star break to...
• College football has started.
• I've seen some great films.
• Listened to some great music.
• Hung out with some great friends.
• Played cards with some great family.
• I found yet ANOTHER Hallmark card that makes you think out-loud, "People actually send these." (Yes, I bought it.)
• I've smiled.

Here's a little sample of what this summer has brought:

I love editing.

Fun times, indeed. Now when am I going to buy that T2i? (Shut up, Rhett.)

After this post is published, I'm pretty sure I've paid more attention to this blog more than I have my facebook account. Oh, social networks.

I'm sitting here listening to The Bens while caught in a cross-breeze thanks to two windows on opposite sides of the room. What a summer day. Beautiful. I love the cooler weather, which is probably why Fall is my favorite season. The past week has felt more like mid-October than early September. Still, you'll get no complaints from this guy. Tell me, what else do you really need?

You wonder if Bailey is ever going to stop barking to go outside, then come inside, then outside, then inside, then outside, then inside, then... You'd think by now she'd realize she isn't allowed to take her 36" rawhide passed the sliding mesh screen. I'll give that dog one thing, it's persistent. Or dumb. Let's go with the happy medium and call her stubborn. Then again, what would you expect a beagle/basset hound mixed animal to be?

Don't you love it when you've got the music playing in the background and one of your favorite songs come up on the playlist?

And now for something completely different:

I love Zingerman's, too. Mmmmm.

Well, here's the deal. From now on, when I feel like throwing in a random blog post, I will. No more set schedule or once-every-day mandate. I think we can all agree the "writing" suffers almost as much as the reader's attention span when I do that. And that's not fun for anyone.

Good evening, good afternoon, or good morning - depending on where you're reading this,

B

P.S. - I will stand on a mountain and scream this until my lungs need a good air-compressor: "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father" is the SADDEST documentary (MOVIE for that matter) you will EVER see; but it's SO FREAKING GOOD! More than 2 years later I'm still saying this. Rhett and I have come to the conclusion if you get through it without crying at least 3 separate times, you probably find pleasure in drowning puppies. Who DOES THAT!? I hope this horrible tidbit of news doesn't take away from the fact that "Dear Zachary" is amazing. Goodnight, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England.

Just start tearing up now. Get warmed up.

June 5

Even though it was overcast for the majority of the day, it felt great outside. You knew rain was imminent, but the temperature was pretty mild and you couldn't really feel the air. A perfect relaxing type of day. Luckily it wasn't thunder-storming in Kansas City, so I even got to watch the Tigers pull off a win. Yup, just a calm day. Very nice.

Fans will suffice tonight,
B

June 4

Wow, it seems like there has been a ton of sports talk the past few days. It will be no different tonight, as it was announced that John Wooden has passed away at age 99. The string of national championships he won while at UCLA are unmatched, even today. It's a number that should hold up for years to come.

Undefeated,
B

June 3

A day later, and the nation is still buzzing about what happened to Galarraga. From morning shows to newspapers, everyone had an opinion. But all that really mattered was a new day and another game. Before it got underway - and to the surprise of the fans and Armando - Chevy presented him with a brand new Corvette. The smile was priceless. Also priceless was the reaction by Jim Joyce as he walked out onto the field toward home plate. The camera never moved from his face, which was trying very hard to hold back tears. Fans shook his hand, cheered, and boo'd. But as soon as Galarraga walked out to present him the line-up card there was nothing but cheering. The other umpires high-fived Joyce, as did Cabrera and Laird as they made their way onto th field. Again, he was trying hard to hold back the tears, but wasn't succeeding. Just a great show of sportsmanship from everybody involved today. And on top of that, the Tigers got the win. Austin Jackson made another unbelievable defensive play in deep center field and had 4 hits! Both Mags and Cabrera hit home runs, adding to their AL leading RBI totals. Hell, the entire team stepped up, ending with 17 hits on the day. Porcello's outing was shakey at best, as was the fact we committed 4 errors (all on the infield). Still, it was much needed win to help everybody move on. Speaking of, during said game the Commish released a statement basically saying that decisions will be made sooner than later regarding the expansion of replay in baseball and praising the class of all parties involved the last couple of days. And as we found out later, he also mentioned he would not be overturning the call to give Armando the perfect game. I didn't think that was going to happen, but in the long run, this event will have a bigger affect on the MLB now than it would have if it was called perfect. Finding the good in everything - it helps.

Tori went to East Lansing for the night to visit some friends. I relaxed a bit this evening and hit the bed hard. That was until I woke up a bit ago and couldn't get back to sleep. Getting tired again. Mmmm.

The night air is great,
B

June 2

Armando Galarraga was robbed tonight. Flat-out, no bones about it, ROBBED! Jim Joyce botched what should have been one of the easiest "outs" of the night when he inexplicably called the Indians' hitter safe. In one moment, all of baseball was up in arms - literally. On ESPN they cut to what seemed like every other game to hear what their announcers had to say about what just went down. Shock, awe, sympathy, anger, etc. was heard from the Yankees' press box to Boston and Cincinnati and all around the States. Hall of famers phoned in to voice their disapproval and the internet was on fire. And yet, during all of this, Galarraga showed how good of a sport he really is. While Cabrera was barking at Joyce, Jim Leyland started mouthing off, and what seemed like the entire coaching staff got their two cents in, the only reaction Armando gave was a small moment of shock and a slight grin. He never once got up in Jim's face to argue, kick dirt at him, or raise his voice. Hell, he didn't even give him a heated glare. He simply smiled, got back on the mound, and caused the next batter to ground out to Brandon Inge. Class.

After the game the players celebrated in the locker room, but even then the tempers were still high. Galarraga pitched the 21st perfect game in MLB HISTORY tonight. HISTORY. And it was taken away with one missed call.

It wasn't over, though. After the game Jim Joyce watched the replay and realized what he had done. Not only did he admit he was wrong and missed an obvious out call, but he went into the locker room and apologized to Galarraga and Leyland personally. In professional sports the one person you never can question is the refs/umpires. Doing so will not only get you thrown out of a game, but could end in a fine by the league or even suspension (just look at the NBA). And very rarely do authority figures such as these ever admit to being wrong. Jim Joyce, from what I've read and everyone has said about him, is said to be one of the more stand up umpires in baseball. Not just that, but one of the best, too. After hearing what he did and the words that came out of his mouth, I can guarantee you he feels terrible about that call.

"I just cost that kid a perfect game... I don't blame them a bit for anything that was said. I would have said it myself if I were Galarraga. I would have been the first person in my face, and he never said a word to me."

Honestly, both men showed as much class as I've seen in any sport recently. It was a huge call to be missed, but just like Leyland said, these things happen. It's the human element in baseball that makes the game so great. Even still, I don't see why instant replay can't be used in situations such as these. I don't agree in expanding the usage to review EVERY call, but why not implement a challenge system like in the NFL or a review process specifically geared toward the 9th inning? Oh well.

Listen, I was as upset about it as anyone. Hell, I was talking for a good hour-and-a-half after the fact and going well out of my way to lose my voice. But what I failed to realize was regardless of what the record books say, Armando and the players acknowledge it as a perfect game as do all of the fans. Not only that, but we got the "W" and Austin Jackson made a spectacular play for the first out of the 9th to keep hope alive. So many good things that happened that are going to be overshadowed for all of the wrong reasons. Most importantly, the way both men handled it afterward. I feel sorry for Galarraga, but not nearly as bad as Jim Joyce must. Rubber game tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we can get back to just playing baseball.

What are you gonna do,
B

PS - This is the thing I love about true baseball fans: they love the game first. It doesn't matter who it is, if a player of any sort accomplishes something historical on the mount or at bat, baseball fans will recognize it. When Roy Halladay threw his perfect game it didn't matter if you were a Mets fan, Yankee fan, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins, etc. it was something to celebrate. I was in awe, myself, and happy for the guy. On the opposite side of the spectrum, EVERYBODY, from Cleveland blogs to New York newspapers, are up in arms about this tonight. They collectively feel terrible for Armando and recognize that even if the records don't show it, he pitched a perfect game tonight. I don't expect Major League Baseball to change anything about tonight, but the outpouring of support from across the country shows just how great this game is.

June 1

Late again - but no worries because nothing really happened today. It was the start of a new month. That was about it. WOOOO!!!

$2 pencils,
B

May 31

A happy birthday to Mr. Aaron Ramberg and Mrs. Colleen Kildee-Thibaut. Both turn 25 today which means...CAR RENTAL TIME! I'll take an Audi, please.

Anyway, I slept in a bit today which was nice. Recovered from the lack of sleep the night before. My sister and cousin had gone to visit my Grandma and were then off to Novi to spent money. So the entire afternoon was spent relaxing, cleaning up, and waiting a LONG time for the Tigers game to start. Stupid rain delay. Unfortunately, once it did get under-way, the we were fighting from behind. We only scored 1 run the entire game and lost. Verlander was on the mound, too! I guess we used up all of the runs yesterday.

After dinner my sister ended up having some of her friends over again. There was some visiting, some fooding, and some NBA Live playing. Finally found someone else who's played the game. Haha. It was a good Memorial day overall, and tomorrow it's back to the routine. Well, maybe. The schedule could change with the re-arrival of one Josh Kennedy back in MI. Yessir, he's coming back after finishing his schooling and living out in LA for some time. It will be great having yet another industry friend around. One more to bounce ideas off of.

Blackhawks are looking strong,
B

May 30

Today turned out to include many surprises. We were under the impression my sister and cousin weren't going to get to our house (and into Michigan, at that) until late tonight or early tomorrow. Well, you could say they arrived a little but earlier than that. Like, around 4:30 pm. Apparently they decided on driving straight through the night instead of spending extra money on a hotel room for 6 hours. So in they pulled, with a car full of clothes and books and...clothes. Lots of clothes. I suppose if you're going to be staying at home for 3 months, you'd want to bring a wardrobe...or 27. Haha.

In another great turn of events, Max Scherzer, who the Tigers called up again from AAA, had his first start back this afternoon and proceeded to strikes out a career high 14 batters in 5.2 innings! For the 17 men he faced, 14 of them fanned! That's unheard of! Of only he was a little more economical with his pitch count, he probably could have made it into the 8th or 9th...possibly knocking on the 20+K mark. Again...unheard of! Glad to see he fixed his mechanics when in his 2 minor league starts. Let's hope he keeps it up!

Papermill,
B

May 29

Buying UFC events are a gamble. You're looking for knockouts and submissions to keep it exciting, but getting those results usually means the overall time of the match is short. If you want more for your money, then you're probably looking at split or unanimous decisions; however, those matches tend to drag on and are typically at a slower pace. So...you gamble. Tonight, after a lot of driving around, I stopped by my pal Justin's place where he had ordered UFC 114. I chipped in a little bit and had a pretty fun evening. As for the fights...let's just say just about every match went to the judges. Hell, even the Rampage-Evans fight went all 3 rounds (Rashad ended up winning by unanimous decision). Still, it was worth it with all of the friends around.

In other disappointing sports news, the Lakers finished off Phoenix, which means this Thursday will be the first game in a Boston-L.A. Finals. Detroit lost to Oakland in a shut out. Later in the day it was announced that Dontrelle Willis would be designated for assignment to make room for Max Scherzer (coming back from AAA). I have nothing personally against Willis, but I'm very happy that this move is being made. He just flat out doesn't have it anymore, and hasn't for the past few years. Why we gave him such an outrageous contract is beyond me. Oh, and Roy Halladay pitched the 20th perfect game in MLB history tonight. Wow.

Did you know there is a MMA fighter known as the "Korean Zombie"!? I'm getting that shirt!

27 up, 27 down,
B

May 28

Tigers lost. Boo. Magic lost. Boo. Frank keeps peeing in the sink. Boo. Well, at least I got my $60 worth out of Modern Warfare 2. I mean, for reals. I don't buy a lot of video games, but when I do, I best play the hell out of them. Mission accomplished.

In more important news, my sister and cousin hit the road earlier today; travelling from California to Michigan. Last I heard they still hadn't made it out if the Golden State. This is in large part due to a tanker that tipped over and exploded, thus closing all of the freeways for a while (this is what Tori had heard over the radio). Couple that with Memorial day traffic and you get a car moving 3/4 of a mile in 45 minutes. Not exaggerating. This I straight from Tori and Kelsey. They were literally driving at a 1mph pace. Wow.

For more information on holiday weekend California tanker explosions: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/05/tanker-explosion-snarls-memorial-day-getaway-traffic.html

The RZA, the GZA,
B

May 27

Wow. What a game. It looked to be a blow out twice but Phoenix kept fighting back. Then, with 3.5 seconds left in the game, Jason Richardson banked in a long 3 to tie it, 101-101. 3.5 is a lot of time, though; especially with Kobe on the other side. Play resumes, Bryant double but still gets off a 3, and it misses! But J. Rich, the same guy who hit an unbelievable shot seconds ago, forgot to get a body on Ron Artest, who leaps toward to the basket and secures the rebound. Less than a second left and he gets another shot up...and it's good! Lakers win 103-101 after leading by as much as 18 and letting the Suns back into it. Listen, I wanted Phoenix to win this game, but that was a hell of a way to end. Game 6 is this Saturday night in the desert. So far home court has been defended. Hopefully this stays true in a couple of nights.

As for events directly related to me, there was more lunch with the family, some computer work, payed off the credit card (as happens every month around this time), and beat the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Yup, I re-beat the game on Wii. I have been playing it off and on the past week and it was bring back some pretty good memories. Even to this day, that game stands up. So good.

Make my day a good one,
B

May 26

Let's pursue the essentials of cool; A brief study of the things so instrumental to you.

No? Well let's at least review the day then. It was goooooood. Nothing out of the ordinary. Basically we're just getting everything ready for Tori's homecoming early next week. She'll be back for a few months working at Genesis. Should be a good time.

Holes in the ground aren't fun to step in,
B

May 25

Well, the last post should say it all. Nothing really going on. Work and sleep and meals. I'm trying to stay warm in this new Summer heat we're getting. Not having central air is terrible, especially in this weather. Yup.

US soccer,
B

May 24

See: May 25,
B

May 23

I've dazed off many times while typing on a keyboard. I just did it a few minutes ago. These are the problem a person can run into while using a laptop late at night. Sometimes you start typing with your eyes closed and forget where you were going with the sentence. Oops. That just happened, too.

20 points down low,
B

May 22

I'll tell you everything about livin' free. I will, you just wait. Until then, I'm just going to tell you about a Saturday in hot-muggy Michigan. You could definitely feel the air. Not a good feelin' either. There was some running around earlier today then Chad stopped on by for a little. We got some food at BWW's and watched the Tigers go down (and end up losing) to the Dodgers. There was also a compelling Twins-Brewers game going on at the same time...but Minny ended up winning. 2 games back in the Central now. Oh well. In other news, the Magic are being dominated by the Celtics and I wouldn't be surprised at this point - and looking at how bad Orlando is playing - if they end up getting swept. Never would have predicted this. Wow. Early morning at the Buy, hence the "early" entry tonight.

Vagabond,
B

May 21

Happy birthday, Shannon!

Today was another day spent on the road, which meant more air in the dud tire. It started with lunch with the family where I had a pretty good BBQ pizza. I then stopped at home real quick to drop some stuff off and then it was off to Owosso. Rhett and Whitney were moving into their new apartment and I was more than happy to lend a hand. By the time I got out there all of the home-to-apartment trips were already made. This meant it was unloading time. After the vehicles were emptied we dropped off the extra trucks, ran some errands, and got back to start essembling some furniture. Can't beat Ikea! By the time I left at night, the kitchen table, TV stand, coffee table, and a lounge chair were ready to be used. The important electronics were also hooked up; which in this case turned out to be the TV and PS3. Finished the night with food and the Tigers game, which we lost. Willis isn't looking too good. If he continues like this, he could be released after Scherzer works out his problems in AAA. Still relatively early in the season, but still...

In another note, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming NFL season. I think the Lions are going to surprise some people. Hell, I hope they surprise me.

Cut and dry,
B

May 20

Happy May 20th to all of my jam fans out there. That's right, I'm talking to you, you strawberry and marmalade junkies. Does marmalade count? Anyway, did you know that as of right now the Tigers are even with the Twins for first place in the AL Central. It's true. Unfortunately, we have the Dodgers tomorrow, while Minny get the Brewers. Not cool.

Today was filled with a lot of driving around. From here to there, lunch to the store, the Cage to Brandon's and back home again. Still, I got to visit with the family for a bit and then some friends and then...late night dinner. Well, the dinner part is happening now. I love me some food.

Click it or ticket,
B

May 19

Austin Jackson is good. Just wanted to throw that out there. He struggle the past few series but is hitting well tonight against the A's - a game in which we have a 5-1 lead in the top of the 9th. Verlander was his typical May self and dominated Oakland's line up. Not sure if he's coming back out for the 9th, but I wouldn't be surprised given his pitch count is reasonably low. Good times.

Today basically consisted of work on the computer, a quick drive, many calls being made, and a talk with some "industry" friends. You know, just catching up. Nothing major.

I wonder what it's like to throw 99mph,
B

May 18

Sams Pizza is the best pizza around. Hands down. Now I'm really thirsty and craving some orange juice. Speaking of orange juice...ummm, nope. No idea where I'm going with that. Have a nice day!

Love or hate, war or peace,
B

May 17

Back to your typical post on a typical Monday with typical routines and typical meals. Basically, nothing big today. Hell, the Tigers game was even rained out. This could mean a doubleheader tomorrow or just an unannounced make-up date. Man, the weather has been our enemy so far this year. A Cleveland game was stopped in the 5th earlier this month (no make-up known), as well as a Yankees game (turned into first doublheader) and then tonight, against the White Sox. I swear, our schedule to begin the year has been brutal. Right after this small home-stand we're back to the West coast for a week for some AL and NL action. Yup, we have the Dodgers for our first taste of interleague play this year. Done.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste,
B

May 16

What a day. An early morning at work (that arrived WAY too early) and then a little bit of relaxing. Originally I was going to head over to Brandon's but Brad called and let me know that the first viewing for a friend of our's Mother was starting around 5. She had been diagnosed with terminal cancer about 3 1/2 years ago and was only given a few months to live. Instead she gave her family 3 more years of time that they won't soon forget. And during those trying times we'd be over to their house for New Years Eve, watching games, playing some poker, hanging out, etc. That's something I'll always remember. Well, she lost her battle Friday afternoon and very soon afterward the arrangemenst were made. I ended up spending time up at the funeral home for a bit before I ran back home for the night. A surreal kind of day.

Events like that really put a lot in perspective. For instance, I'm happy the Tigers beat the Red Sox again earlier on, but there a many more important things than a baseball game. Many more.

In my life,
B

May 15

A fun night was had, today. I drove out to Owosso to see some friends play a CD release show. Unfortunately, I arrived a tad bit late (about half way into sosaveme's set) but still got to see Mikey Mains and the Branches. Great music and even better people. After I hit up Taco Bell with Rhett and Whit and hung out until I realized I'd probably be tired tomorrow if I didn't head home and get some sleep. So now I'm in bed and about ready to pass out.

Oh, but wait. The Tigers! Nothing like winning a game in the bottom of the 12th after the opposing pitcher walked the bases loaded. Haha. Sorry, Boston! Rubber game tomorrow afternoon.

I hear in stereo,
B

May 14

I'm getting started early today. Really early. I'm wondering - in text - if anyone else ever feels like the later it is at night, the more prone one becomes to his or her emotions. For me, I find this to be true. It always was easier for me to face facts and become more true to myself the more the hours ticked away. It's a feeling of complete spontaneity mixed with truth. It's hard for me to describe, but take it as I feel I can imagine many different scenarios in vivid detail while making rational, true to life decisions. Almost like a dream, but I'm wide awake. It's just me and my thoughts. And in case you haven't figured it out, right now is one of those nights. I couldn't get to sleep. I just kept rolling around and thinking, "what am I doing?"

Do I see myself doing this particular job for the next few years? Hell no!

Am I willing to take a chance and move some place for another opportunity? I'm honestly not sure. It definitely makes me nervous.

Is there even anything else out there at this point? Not that I've found. But am I looking hard enough?

I'm still living at home. I don't have and haven't been in a serious relationship in...5 or 6 years. I love being around my friends, but at what point does that start to become a hinderance? And I hope it doesn't seem like I'm placing any blame on them. To the contrary, they're my inspiration. A lot of close friends are either married, getting married, starting a new job, moving into a new house, etc. They're living their lives, working their jobs, and - MOST importantly - they're happy. So my question is, when does one step out of his or her comfort zone and search for their niche? (Rhetorical, obviously.)

I almost called about 4 different people tonight...at 3:30 in the morning. Sometimes you just want to talk. Unfortunately it happened to be at a very inconvenient time. So what do I do instead? Type.

Life isn't easy. There is no blueprint that says, in order to be happy, you must do this, this, and this, and accomplish this and this. As cliche as it sounds, happiness (and beauty, but it's not relevant to this entry) truly is in the eye of the beholder. Money is a powerful motivator, true, but I'm more concerned with the relationships I have. That being said (Curb reference), the thing that's kept me up tonight has been the "J" word. And during these times, a good job is hard to come by.

This has been my first "real" post in a long time,
B

May 13

I was witness to, potentially, the end of Cleveland sports as a whole tonight. I say that because, really, the only thing that city saw as a bright spot between their terrible history and terrible teams was LeBron James. He was the home town kid who fell to a fledgling franchise in the Cavaliers (by luck of the lottery) and turned them into contenders almost instantly. And now a team that was favored to not only get out of the East, but win a championship, is eliminated in the second round. OUCH. That has to sting. This summer, James will be the Most sought after free agent in a class filled with all-stars. And with a number of teams with plenty of cap space and located in larger markets, all eyes will be on the Akron Hammer. Literally EVERY team in the NBA would love to add him. All of this equals sports fans in Ohio worrying and crying until July. You know, this may make me a bad person, but I find that hilarious. Sorry, I just tend to not like any team located South-East of Michigan. Needless to say, the talk and rumors won't stop for the next couple months, so get ready. Oh, I forgot to mention, yesterday Crosby and the gang were eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Again...I find this hilarious. Add in the Tigers dismantling the Yankees today (thanks, Verlander) and taking 3 out of 4 games in the series, and it was a good day in sports. A good day, indeed.

To recap, HAHA to the Cavs, HAHA to the Penguins, and YAY to our Tigers!

As for my day...definitely not as exciting as any of what was previously typed. Sorry. I haven't been too exciting recently.

I want to sample your face and put it in a hip-hop beat,
B

May 12

Did you know David Banner is the one who sing that "Evolve" Gatorade song? Yup. THAT David Banner. Funny, huh?

G series,
B

May 11

The great thing about Netflix is the streaming capability, where you can be laying in bed and with a click of a button start watching a film. This is also the worst part about it, because by the time you finish, you realize that time has moved ahead about 2 hours and you're still up. Crazy. But also...not? Anyway, the Cavs were dominated by the Celtics tonight. It looked as if it was going to be a close game in the first quarter. Then the rest of the game happened, and the home team lost by 32! Yup, that is a Cleveland home loss record (as fa as deficit is concerned). By Thursday this series could be decided. In case you're wondering, I led with the NBA playoffs because the Tigers game was postponed due to rain. A double header is scheduled for tomorrow, with game 1 starting at 1 and game 2, around 7. Get it? Got it. Good.

Priceline negotiator,
B

May 10

What can I say? Another day, another dollar, and a computer that seems to be working pretty well. Unfortunately I misplaced my phone, so I was without it until about 2 hours ago. Thanks to XBox Live and some emergency calls, I tracked it down. I swear, my cat had to be the one who knocked it down. How the hell did it end up under the bed!?

I'm having such a good time,
B

May 9

Happy Mother's day to you all. I hope you were able to spend it with some form of family. As for me, I slept in a bit and then proceeded to get ready for my Grandparents to head over for lunch. They arrived around 1:30, we sat, talked, watched some Tigers, and then had some ribs that my Dada had prepared for us. Great meal followed by more visiting and finishing the Tigers game (which we lost). After they left it was then time to head over to my other Grandma's house for more celebrating and family. When I got there the room was already full of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. Oh, also, there was more food. Can't beat it. The night concluded with a game of Balderdash, cake, and a drive back home. Eventful Mother's day, that is for sure.

I enjoy Netflix streaming,
B

May 8

Saturday's are good for getting ready for Sunday's. In this case, they're good for pre-Mother's day prep. I already had a couple of things in mind that I was going to get, now they just have to be ordered online. Thanks, intenet!

In some sad news, the Wings were elminated from the playoffs today. They were playing so well coming into the post season, too.

In some happy news, the Tigers won.

In indifferent news, Nintendo is said to be really paying attention to Apple and their portable gaming capabilities.

Shogun,
B