A History Of Violence

So I watched A History of Violence yesterday. Took a short drive to Marshalltown and got in for free since it is also a Fridley Theatre. And to tell you the truth I really liked it. And if you have read Laura's blog you will know that she is going to be rather upset with me right now. That is, until she reads that I am just kidding and actually have not seen it and do not plan to see it on her advice. Besides I didn't have any time tonight to watch a movie I had a volleyball game to play.

I have been playing regularly on Sunday afternoons over at Grinnell college with the best group I have ever played with. I don't mean that they are the most talented, although they do especially well alongside there varying ages of 21-65, I mean that they are so very much fun to play with. The regulars include 2 geology profs, the physics lab tech, a high school science teacher, a long route truck driver (complete with sweet long white beard and long white curly hair), and many other college students and college employees. The skill levels are all fairly high and make for great games. Through Sundays I got hooked up with a league team. I played last spring season finishing second and hope to one up that this year. We have a great team, everyone plays well together, and seems to have a great time.

Tonight we won all three games. Part of me wishes the opposing team had one the last one but what can you do. The other team happens to be captained by a fella who left our team after last season. Himself and other currently on our team did not get along so well so I guess it is for the best. With that in mind I was really hoping to play well and we did. To top it off we also won. The end.

I now return myself to the regularly schedualed episode(s) of Six Feet Under (most of the way through season two now, and one can only take so many loses at the chess table before storing his king for the night).

Thought It Was A Nightmare

So right now one of these is going by my apartment. "No big deal" one might think. I would have thought the same last week if you told me they would be bringing in these guys. But little did I know that they had 256 of these guys inside the thing:

With these little guys working overtime inside that drum I can feel the thing coming around the corner. First it is just a little vibration in the floor but crescendos to nighmare levels when he (i.e. they) are right in front of my building. In fact my skins begins to itch in my legs things are shaking so much and for so long. I hope that is the last of them. I don't think I can wake up a third day in a row like this and not start cursing out of the window at them.

No Solid Food for 4 Hours

Finished the second of 2 dentist appointments for my "reconstruction". Went super smooth and since my nap, which ended 2 minutes ago, my face is back to normal. That should be it for the foreseeable future. Another cleaning in 6 months or so but with regular brushing, which I do, and my new habit of flossing, every other day or so, my teeth should be in great shape for some time.

Hit 2 media landmarks last night. I finished book 6 of the Harry Potter series and watched the final episode of Six Feet Under season 1. I believe that I like Harry better but Six Feet Under is very intense and provides some great thoughts/experiences regarding death. So now I join the ranks of fifth graders waiting for book 7 (do you think now is too early to get in line at B&N?). Thanks to someone else’s blog comment (names will be withheld to protect the guilty) the closing of book 6 was not much of a surprise but still good.

Last night as I watched David pray in desperation something like "Lord please help me; Please fill this emptiness with your love" I realized that they are presenting some truth. I don't mean about faith in God, but about our collective struggle to find love and fill our emptiness. I am not stating that I believe the shows writers are Christians and that is why I am intrigued. But simply that I appreciate their presentation of some people’s stories and the human condition. The fact that these stories keep facing the death of others (they run a mortuary) adds a factor that I know almost nothing about. And besides they do a good job with the music.

Day Off

My ears are ringing a little right now. Been blasting music for the last hour. But feel much better.

Today was my first of two dentist appointments. As I am under Fridleys dental insurance thought it would be keen to take advantage of it. They did a little "reconstructive" work (i.e. filled a cavity). Must say that it went very well. No pain and very little discomfort, most of which is right now where the injections were. The secretary ladies called me yesterday to confirm my appointment. Being as I was still in bed at 8:30 am when they called I ignored the call. Did the same thing when they called again at 11:15 asI was still in bed, they left another message. Got a call during my shower at 1:30 and again right as I was walking into work at 3:30. Both times it was them and I was mosly occupied so I left it ring, no messages these times. When they called at 5:30, I imagine on their way out the door, I left it ring on principal.

I did answer it today though. They called at 11:01 (my appointment was at 11) as I was turning the corner of their block. I assured them that I was on my way and could see the front door. Despite the borderline harassment it was the smoothest visit I have ever had. The doc did great work and kept me abreast as to what he was up to in there. My teeth look exactely the same to me but without soreness as I floss between those two teeth. Will be in next week for the same thing right above that spot. Am thinking that I will call them two nights before and leave a message around 3 am or so 'to confirm my appointment'. I wonder if they will see the irony and laugh, or just think that I hate them?

Won and lost some great games of chess today. Would be happy to post them if anyone is familiar with chess notation.

Not sure why I needed the music overdose. Had a lingering sence of ennui as the day went on and it seemed to peak as I read through my friends blogs (welcome to the blogging world ian). I miss you cats. You know who you are. Played of lot of my classics. Maybe you'll see a playlist in the near future.

Another Night On The Town

Been at the Down Under Pub every night this week, Amber Bock pints all around. Tonight was probably my favorite so far though. Bruce and I won 6 pool games in a row (picture a 6' 2" Hagred from Harry Potter and you won't be too far off) and I had a great chat with Bobby from Bulgaria (the true home of feta cheese so they say). This guy Bobby has a great mastery of the English language but has these pauses in his speech that reminds me of a small child learning to talk.

I almost hate to burden you readers with this, but I really miss my love. With school starting we have cut back on show times at the theatre and that combined with Brielle being back at school, I don't seem to know what to do with myself. I find myself just sitting and thinking about times past: from Brielle's first night in Grinnell to the time Ethan and I walked across campus to visit Laura completely covered in bubble wrap from head to toe. Ani Difranco says that "Art is why I get up in the morning." I think the love of friends (or the memory there of) gets me up.

I tracked down one of the fellas that was at my house the night of the "robbery." It turns out that we (Adam Brenaman and I) had invited him up, but that his "friend" was the one that walked off with my items. He apologized up and down many times as we talked and professed his adherence to karma (karma is real) and how he felt terrible that he had brought this into my house. He offered to replace the items and buy me a shot/beer every time we see each other for the foreseeable future, but I said that my stuff back would be more than enough. Time will tell what really happens.

Watched 40 Yr Old Virgin and Red Eye as I ate my Chinese on Friday. Laughed real good at 40 Yr Old and spilled my burning hot soup on myself during Red Eye (have a red mark on my forearm as I write this).

Yeah I got nothing really. Just some random news.

Love you all.

Peace.