1-23: it's my birthdate and...

...how many steps it takes to setup my PC almost everyday at work

Do you see what I see?

Please tell me I'm not on crack
(or whatever it was that had Alice trippin' in Wonderland)

My Imagination:

My Doorknob:

To quoth the great Mugatu: "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"

Tie Food anyone?

It's a sad truth, but I would rather feed my tie collection than buy food sometimes. Since I'm a food snob that easily spends more than a healthy tithe on eating out that should place perspective on where I rank my tie collection.

Ever since living in England (home to some of the greatest ties) I have developed a mild addiction to filling the tie racks in my closet. Por ejemplo, I could go out to eat at X, Y, or Z and spend $30 on a meal or grab a slice from Este Pizza for $3.00 and "save" enough to buy that tie I saw on Saturday. I'm pretty sure a therapist would call this bargaining, a housewife would call this justifying, and I, well I simply consider this a normal spending habit. It's a mutation of the "sunk cost" theory (I know, I should have paid more attention in Economics 110). After living in the South I have also added a small collection of bow ties. It's funny how wearing a bow tie (outside of a wedding reception line) is shocking in Utah, then again sometimes I forget where I live. Tailors along the Wasatch Front specialize in letting out waistlines and replacing buttons on poly-blend double breasted suits from Mr. Mac.

Don't think I am a man without boundaries, I draw the line at bolo ties. I took an oath to never EVER wear one and intend to keep that promise. I also try to not spend too much on neckties - sure I have a few Purple Label Ralph Lauren & Hermes ties but those were on sale people, on Sale! Now I sound like my mother when she buys 40 Salsa Choppers because they were "a good deal." Eh, I got over it, so can you.

Now if the weather would transition to spring that would be great. It's hard to explain why someone would wear bright spring ties when it's 50 degrees, windy, and raining. Hey, all I can say is sometimes I live in denial.

because JDate.com has Monica Lewinsky

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

Overdue Fees + the Road to Hell?

As the old cliché states: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. My intentions are rarely bad, but the good ones can lead to tangents in my life. As much as you can plot out and implement plans, things rarely go according to the original scheme.

For example: Once upon a time my friend Kirk had loaned a book to someone and they took 2 years to return it.

I remember distinctly, he said how he forgot he even owned the book, let alone whom he lent it to. He mentioned that it was one of his all-time favorites and that I would probably like it. Yaddah, yaddah, yaddah. I accepted the kind offer and made the remark that I would not take two years to read it. I would report back with my thoughts shortly and we could discuss its merits at length.

Jump forward to the present day…

I am happy to report that I have indeed finished Atlas Shrugged. [insert applause, launch the fireworks, & notify the parade marshal to get the show moving]

This is where I would typically make my plea for you to withhold chastisement and judgments but I deserve what I get. Most people have a more productive reading schedule for a 24-month period but not me. This book left me with distaste for the nature of business and the puppet masters that manipulate industry. Before I wax long on interpretive philosophy let’s just say it was a good book, I see it for what it is, and am glad to be done with it (it's up there with the Grapes of Wrath).

In the end, I am walking away with the realization that I need reading glasses and that it might be a while before Kirk lets me borrow another book. I was glad, actually honored, to perpetuate the tradition of the 2-year loan for Atlas Shrugged. Seems that Kirk has a bunch of friends that read at a leisurely (if not completely impaired) pace. True Story.

Franz Ferdinand

The spring/summer concerts have begun and Franz Ferdinand was the right way to start things off.

With a little arm twisting and emailing I got Brian to join me for aural extravaganza. The Smith's made it too, stalwarts at front row center seating.

The venue was perfect, the Avalon Theater is not too small, very personal. The fans made for prime people watching, so many huggers, so many freakishly tall people. The music was rad and the guys set a new standard for encores - it was a mini-show with instrumental props. When the band performed a drum solo (together, you had to be there) it reached Legen...wait for it...Dairy status.

Here are a few picks for those that missed out:

The Crowd

Group Drum "Solo"

Live Remix of a few tracks

Sonic Cranberry Limeade, perfect for post-concert dehydration