What in the world?

Home

2007-05-03T02:58:50Z

I have a (town)home to call my own. It's in Streamwood. I live by forest preserves. I have almost no cell service. I just had internet set up today. I am doing a lot of cleaning. I have been off of work since Saturday. I have to go back on Friday. There is a lot more work that needs to be done, including painting and new carpeting. I have boxes and boxes of books. I need bookshelves. I will have a housewarming after the repairs are done. You will be invited. I am tired. Good Nite

Happy Birthday Darlene

"What the hell are you doing here"

2007-02-08T05:31:16Z

I just got back from Florida, it sure is nice in places that are 70 degrees warmer... well, at least when the differnce is zero to 70. I probably would have a hard time going from 70 to 140.

I arrived on Sunday morning to surprise my dad and watch the superbowl with him, and the above quote was his first response. It was nice to be with family and to relax. This was my first single day off (non-holiday) since early November, and I have not had consecutive days off since October.

I wish the Bears won, but I was in such a good mood being there that I don't really care what happened. I spend so much time by myself here and much more time in the office, it just felt good to be with people who aren't my coworkers. I have not written in a very long time, so I don't really know what to say here. I just got a raise, so that's good, right? I like my job even though it consumes every spare second. Hopefully that will stop during the summer when the sports teams don't play. We'll see, everything is new and ecxiting and challenging, so I can't really say how anything will go. Well, that's all for now

a new year

2006-11-03T06:44:39Z

I was on the blue line yesterday, and at the Damen stop a very hipster girl got on fashionably attired in matching green hat, jacket, and pants. A minute after the train was on it's way to Division, a woman hurled at the far end of the car. The girl in green shrieked "Oh my g-d." and in a surprise move ran to the emergency button n my end of the car to alert the train operater that there was a sick woman on the train. When we stopped at Division the operator came in, the green girl said "do you have anything to throw on that, it smells awful." "No, I don't have anything," replied the operator as she walked back to the front of the train. No one asked the woman if she was okay and all the green girl really wanted was to avoid the stench. At this time I had actually started to catch a whiff... and my lord it was unbearable. At least the girl in green had a point. We were still stopped, so I got up and went to the next car. But even more shocking, I was the only one. Are people this lazy, or this resigned to their places in life, that they don't even make an effort to leave a neauseous area and seek a non-toxic car?

In other news, I have been splitting time between my new job and HOB for the last three weeks. I'm done on Saturday, and then I will be officially at my first salaried job. It's been crazy so far, but I've learned so much. I can't wait to actually get in there permanently and make changes that will make everyones job easier. In more other news for some of you, I begin my search for a new place to live on Sunday. Yep, after three yeasr in the city I'm moving back to the burbs, Hoffman Estates to be exact, cause it took my two hours to get out there on Tuesday morning. I don't want to deal with that, especially when it starts to snow.

i'm walkin'

2006-06-22T23:37:41Z

Haven't walked too much recently, and since the sun wa shining and the wind was blowing, I thought I'd make the most of my afternoon. Went to Navy Pier for the first time since March, I love the smell of cinnamon roasted cashews. Got some sun, and a blender. Yep, Bailey's gave me a blender, i don't really know why. Anyway, saddled with this burden of carrying around a blender, my whole adventure was cut short. I wasn't going to walk home from Navy Pier with a blender. So, I became a tourist and took the free trolley back to the blue line. It was fun, everyone should take some time to be a tourist in their home city.

work

2006-06-16T17:56:51Z

That's pretty much all I do these days... work. And I've got three more months of it. This week I'm actually going to earn overtime from my second job. That's sick. Anyway, just saying hi to everyone cause if I don't work with you, then I won't see you.

disappointment

2006-05-16T23:01:26Z

I was amped to go for jury duty today. The last few times I've been called I had to cancel for one reason or another, but today was my chance. I didn't get much sleep, but that wasn't going to affect me. I get in at 9:30, we watch some videos and at 11:00 they call three panels: not mine. I fell asleep. at 11:30 they called three more panels: not mine. I fell asleep. At 12:00 they call lunch break, I grab a bag of chex mix, wtach some trash tv, and fall asleep. At 3:00 they tell us we are excused, I fall asleep. Not really, I went to the grocery store and now I'm home. What a waste, and now I have to wait at least a year for my next chance to be an active citizen... maybe I'll vote at the mid-term elections.

up and away

2006-04-14T17:01:40Z

Every nite I check to see what the weather will be like tomorrow. For this entire week "tomorrow" was the high point and then it was supposed to drop back into the fifties. But every day, the next day just kept being warmer and warmer. Is this the global warming people talk about? The weather experts keep hoping that it will start getting colder, but it just gets hotter and hotter? Naturally tomorrow is supposed to be the start of a trend to get back down to the fifties next week, but it wouldn't surprise me if turns out to be 90.

1 and 0

2006-04-03T06:15:58Z

Mother nature likes me. I was bummed that I didn't get Sox tickets for opening day for the first time in a few years. I was more bummed that I was at work and wouldn't even get to watch opening day for the first time in even more years. But then came the rain, the lightning, and the tornado watch. And three hours after the fourth inning was supposed to end, I was comfortably at home with pizza in my hand, ready to enjoy five innings of a White Sox winner.

Oh wow

2006-03-31T17:25:09Z

I am a member of BMG, the music club. It's real easy to decline the monthly selection, everything is done online now. But they charged me for a 3 doors down cd in December which I never ordered, and they never sent it to me even if I did order it. Without a cd to just return I had no clue how to get my money back. The online customer service form isn't designed properly and they don't list a phone number to call. For over two months I've been trying to find a way to fix this, and a couple weeks ago I found a way to take a survey on BMG's service. I included my account number and e-mail address so they could contact me. They actually sent me an e-mail that included a phone number. I called a couple minutes ago. I said "in december i was charged for a cd I didn't order and I never received it." She said "Okay, we'll go ahead and cancel that order and refund the charge to your credit card, have a great day." That's it, one minute, done. It's so great when you actually get to talk to someone.

books

2006-03-29T00:48:23Z

How much money would I have now if I hadn't spent so much buying up CDs when I was younger and books now that I'm older? Probably not that much because the excess would probably have been spent on ways to dumb myself down. Anyway, my problem is that I can't stop buying books. I get bored walking home from downtown, so I stop in book shops to pass some time, but I can't leave without something catching my eye. The angel says that I need to save money and the devil says that it's a book and it's all worth it. Today I finally bought myself a new atlas, it will replace my current volume which I have had since elementary school. It has almost no binding anymore and the copyright reads 1987. I hate throwing away books, I'll be sad tomorrow (maybe I'll keep it) . But it's been almost 20 years, I think the world has changed a little.

rut

2006-03-24T21:13:44Z

I hate being stuck in a rut, I feel like I am trapped in one every few weeks lately. I do the same things, I look for ways out. I search for jobs, I look up information on how to work and travel in New Zealand and Australia, I check to see if new immigration laws have been passed to make it easier for me to move to England, or Canada. I'm doing the same job I was doing two years ago, and no sign of advancement, I want a job where I actually make a difference somewhere, and where I feel important. It just makes me feel like I'm wasting time. If I haven't advanced in two years, then I really could have gone to New Zealand for a year and I wouldn't be any worse off... minus some friends and a couple tours. I don't know, I still want to go, it would be an amazing year (I think) but wouldn't I just be putting my life on hold for yet another year... any thoughts from my four readers? On the plus side, thanks to payday and tax refunds, I am now a lot better off than I was yesterday.

GINA (in case you skipped over this one) I had a dream that you taught me how to play guitar, would you?

83

2006-03-02T22:54:08Z

I've been staying with my father in St. Cloud, FL since Sunday. Flight in was easy except for the landing when the auto-land decided to slam on the brakes and send everyone hurling forward. It was rainy and only around 65, but that was still a 55 degree improvement over Chicago. Every day since has been amazing, 78-80 degrees without a cloud. Monday was Seaworld with a much better shark exhibit than the shedd. You're inside a tube where they actually swim over your head. Tuesday was the Kennedy Space Center. Two cool 3-D Imax movies and a ton of interesting information. I also went in one of those astronaut training machines that spin you at 4-Gs. Wednesday was MGM Studios. When we got there we realized that all the rides we were thinking of were at Universal. But, though it is Disney and more for kids, there were fun shows and the Aerosmith roller coaster was a fun 75 seconds. Of course the real reason I was looking forward to this trip was the relaxation. The whirlwind theme park tour is over and the next few days will be less vacation oriented. Today it was 83 and we went to an Astros/Indians spring training game, I am thoroughly burned. So naturally I came home and went straight into the pool. It is the first day the water has been warm enough, the ocean is out of the question. Swimming, reading, and a hockey game tomorrow. It's going to be tough coming home on Monday, but I may create some good news when I get back. Other good news is that I'm single. It's true I probably have been for nine months, but I've decided to admit it to myself and seek the next battlefield. Any takers? Cheers

why me

2006-02-20T04:59:24Z

apparently there are people out there who want me to write.

I leave for Florida in a week, that's going to be a nice 70 degree swing in temperature. I went out to celebrate my boss' birthday on Saturday and had some alcohol. alcohol makes one need to use the restroom. I then took the el to Fullerton and walked to Hil's new apartment. however, i couldn't find her street because it has no name plate, and it was negative 10 at least, and i really had to go. So, I learned that hot urine creates pretty steam when it colides with cold pavement in the corner of a parking garage. isn't this what drunk people are supposed to do? I love proving how much of an adult I am these days.

surge

2006-02-06T22:50:08Z

Outside noise bothers me, loud bass gives me the worst headaches, especially when the sub is vibrating everything in my apartment. Such was my state yesterday as my upstairs neighbor had a loud party starting at 5:00pm. I was fine while watching the superbowl with Paris here and my tv loud, but once she left I turned the tv down and wanted to only hear what I wanted to hear. I recently purchased a space heater for my room, so I turned it on full and went back to the tv room to let my bedroom get toasty. About two minutes later the power went out. We're always having power outages, too much equipment being used in the three flats, and them blasting their stereo didn't help. In my effort to gain peace and quiet I continued to plug-in my heater and turn it on full... and I may have turned on a few extra lights...

I didn't ruin their party, but they did decide to turn things down after the power went out around seven times.

Farewell

2006-02-05T10:05:37Z

I know I was bitter before, after my grandma died and Rockit Girl sent out a mass email regarding their retirement. I'm no longer bitter after the enormous love fest. I really haven't been bitter for a while, but I wasn't sure how tonite would play out. When I first got there I wanted to shy away from everyone, just dance during the music and then leave. But that scenario ended after ten minutes when Rockit Gina walked past me and asked me about my hair :-) Next I got ready to throw myself at the mercy of the gods, otherwise known as the Venom Lords when Emily saddled over to me. We didn't talk much, but caught up a bit and talked about our infamous tour. She thanked me for coming, having not been around in awhile she was hoping I would make it. Little comments like that mean a lot to me, and I always hope that the poeple out there, like Emily, know how much I care for them too. No need to comment on VL, I think my opinions are obvious, but they threw me with three new songs. I got to dance along with Jenn and Bree during RG, it was such a great show. I'm glad I didn't try to be a wallflower.

The following is a review of the RG set for the message board, you can skip it:

I really had forgottem what Rockit Girl music does to me, how it makes me jump and scream. It had been a very long time, and to be honest I don't listen to the songs these days. Though that didn't stop me from remembering every word. Hearing the songs was different tis time, as every song also came full of memories. With Chad behind drums for the entire set, RG went through a chronological run of the band history featuring an ensamble of very important Rockit Girls and Boys. "Got a Gun" was first, invoking the simple memory of the only other time I had heard that song live. The second song was "Love All Wrong," which will always be my favourite RG song, the first one I ever heard and the song that made me fall in love in a dirty bowling alley one October nite. It took two songs for me to realize that this really was the last time I was hearing Gina sing "tired" in the way that only she can. And I can give examples of Gina-isms for almost every song that I was witness of for the last time, but I won't. Kathryn played for the first six tracks, including every lift-off track except "Clone." Special treat for me since my first show was the third for Kimberly and (J)enn, meaning that I never saw Kathryn play. Most amazing part was having her there performing the backing vocals that I've heard her sing so many times but never seen. Former Emil Muzz and Rockit Boy Chris joined on guitar for "Jokes On You," and "That Girl" to round out the set. The next act featured Kimberly and Jenn who were huge in my rockit development, not just because I had crushes on them both. Kimberly is so sultry when she is up there with her guitar just swaying along, while Jenn is the most inspiring "I'm exactly where I want to be and I couldn't be having more fun" star. They performed "Big Fake Out," "Liquor is Perfect," and "Go On And Go." The crowd loves "Liqour" just as much as Gina does, although her pregnancy caused her to miss out on a favorite ritual. I love the song too, it used to always get stuck in my head and piss me off, and I'll always remember helping the girls do the clapping in the studio. The third act featured the members I've spent the most time with, John and Emily. I found it amusing that they switch places with Kimberly and Jenn, in that John on guitar is going crazy, breaking his neck while Emily on bass has her casual stance and the slight grin she shows off while playing. They ran through "Get Back," "Wear You Down," "Bright Lights, Big City," "Hey, Hey," "The Song You Sang To Me," and the "Mother, Mother" cover from their air time on Q101 Chicago. Everyone had their hands up for "Hey,Hey" which was incredible to see. The whole show was incredible, being surrounded by so many other loving fans rocking out, and all the friends I've made from former and current bandmates. Kathryn, Kimberly, and Jenn went back on stage for the final act. The show closed with the rush of "Gonna Roll." An eclamation point to prove that even though there won't be shows, the music has and will continue to do damage. And that is the end of my 37th Rockit Girl show, and the last that will ever be.

Through all that I actually didn't talk about Rockit Girl. The show kicked off with a video/photo montage that Gina created highlighting all the periods and members of Rockit Girl, I recognized a few of the shots. But the rock is the story, right, not Gina's artistic computer skills. Gina was glowing, and not from her baby, she was just on fire. Saved everything she had for this last show, put it all out there, her hair down and up in the air at the same time. Everything was a bulls eye tonite. She was posing with the guitar, running her hands through her hair, saving up for the final jump as a song ends, thrashing her head with the music, doing all those gina-isms that I've been watching for years and will sorely miss.

Songs will remind me of a lot of times, as they do with everyone, and obviously Gina's songs will remind me of her. "Hey, Hey" reminds me of the time she wrote out the lyrics for me just because I couldn't possibly go to a show and not be able to sing along. "Bright Lights," is one of my favourite memories, listening to Gina figure out the song on the rooftop of her old apartment. Not everything was peaches and cream, never-the-less she knows how one of a kind she is and she knows all that she has done to impact my life. Thanks again for one more opportunity to see you take control of a crowd.

recognizable

2006-02-05T08:36:38Z

I am! How about that. With my hair down to my shoulders a girl I had Spanish with senior year of high school recognized me at HOB. That was a couple weeks ago. Today as I was coming home from the Rockit Girl farewell show (which if I write another entry you should already know about) Malena, a girl from my senior year brit lit calss saw me walking down Milwaukee and shouted "I know that kid." Even more impressive is that I was in cold windy chicago mode with a hat covering most of my head. In both cases I also recognized but names get jumbled. I get flustered, I wouldn't expect people to remember me, people who I was barely acquantances with. Cool

old-ness

2006-01-17T03:03:27Z

Went to visit my grandparents today. Haven't been there in months, and yet I always enjoy going up there and letting them talk. Grandpa still remembers a ton about the city and it seems like he had spent time everywhere with all his stories. At one time he lived near where Paris lives now and spent a good half hour describing the religious speakers in the temples and churches fifty years ago and the fabulous restaurant under the "L" which is now a liquor store. I get sad when I leave though because you never know when it is going to be the last time. Grandpa always walks over to the kitchen or living room window as I walk down the stairs. Then he watches me as I walk to my car and waves as I drive away. He can't see anymore, so there was no waving this time, but I know it's the one image of my grandfather that will always stay with me. I love that I can talk with him now, for he has been deaf for almost my entire life, but new hearing aid technology allows him to hear.

After I left them I decided to drive around my old neighborhood. I passed by a very recognizable house that seemed terribly dark. I pulled into the driveway to see a "sold" sign. This house is where the only girlfriend I have ever had grew up. And of course I visited the house that I grew up in, where the tree that I planted at the age of 11 is now as tall as the two-story house. They had the front window open (which we never did unless it was a great sunny day) so I had a great stalker-like view of the first floor and how different it looked. They got rid of our dining room and filled the void with an expanded kitchen. Change is sad sometimes, and driving around the openness of the suburbs filled me with a heavy sense of loneliness, isolation. Normally I enjoy that feeling, like when I'm hiking a mountain and the only thing around me is nature. But not this time, I didn't like this feeling at all.

I really do

2006-01-10T23:07:55Z

Apparently going to Google and typing in "(name) needs" is all the rage
here is what I got:

Dan Needs some Hugs
dan needs the love too, y'all
Dan needs Bush Hogging (i have no clue)
Dan needs clear limits
Dan needs patience to deal with this woman (or maybe...
Dan needs traffic from PJM whores (but really...
Dan needs a few good homos.
Every week, Monday to Friday, Dan Needs to Know something from you!
Dan needs your input
I agree that Dan needs a haircut
Dan needs to sing a lot too
Dan needs to include the emotional reasons to use Linux (that's when life has hit rock bottom)

More importantly Dan needs to do something else

off to see King Kong

pleasure

2005-12-16T03:06:20Z

I take pleasure in denying friend requests on myspace. I've never been denied, so I'm not sure what happens. But I really hope they get a big and fat DENIED in bold red on their homepage.

river

2005-12-06T19:09:16Z

I work right on the river, and I get to walk across it everyday. As I was heading towards work I began to daydream about what it will be like to walk across the river when it's warm outside, when I can just linger. I have fond memories of many rivers. Taking the Chicago architectural river tour in elementary school, walking along the Thames on several occasions, crossing the riverwalk in San Antonio with mi familia, cruising down the Mississippi, white water trips on various rivers in Colorado and Wisconsin, and more recently sitting and reading along the Milwaukee River in August. I don't know why I like rivers so much, just a fact about who I am.

Later, on my way back to the clark/lake station, I crossed the river and took some time to watch it. it hasn't frozen over, I wonder what temperature it needs to be for that to happen. But last nite I was surprised to see that it was steaming, Chicago's great steaming river. Wasn't really steam, it was quick rising fog, because the air is so much colder than the water, but still pretty cool to see. I am easily amused. Have a great day

Stealing from Darlene

2005-11-24T05:52:36Z

Five years ago, it was FALL 2000

Take this quiz, post the results, and see how much things have changed since then.

5 years ago...

How old were you? 18/19

What grade were you in? Sophomore in college

Where did you go to school? Bowling Green State University

Where did you work? Unemployed collegiate, but an active member in five campus organizations

Where did you live? In Darrow Hall of the Kreischer Quadrangle

Where did you hang out? My dorm room, third floor lounge, ice arena, or the UAO office

How was your hair style? Part down the middle, kind of like how it is now. I didn't cut it til spring.

Did you wear braces? Nope

Did you wear glasses? contacts

Who was your best friend? At school I'm not entirely sure, probably Sarah Gove. Wish this test was for six years ago so I could list the friends I miss from freshman year.

Who was your boyfriend/girlfriend? Nobody

Who was your celebrity crush? The Donnas, Mena Suvari, Winona Ryder (I wrote a thesis paper on Bram Stoker's Dracula, thus watched the movie over and over and over)

Who was your regular-person crush? I never went after anyone, but I found Sarah Casto and Jessica Canter appealing

Were you a virgin? yup

How many piercings did you have? None

How many tattoos did you have? None

What was your favorite band? Smashing Pumpkins

What was your biggest fear? Living a life without SP and eventually losing friendships that were on hard times

Had you smoked a cigarette yet? nope

Had you gotten drunk or high yet? nope

Had you driven yet? Yup

-----------------------------------------------
HA HA HA!!! LETS SEE WHAT YOUR junk is now!!!!!
---------------------------------------------

How old are you? 24

Whats your educational status? College Graduate

Where do you go to school? nowhere

Where do you work? House of Blues Chicago

Where do you live? Chicago, IL

Where do you hang out? home, hob

Who are your best friend(s)? Paris

Who is your boyfriend/girlfriend? Sometimes it's my best friend

Who is your celebrity crush? None at the moment

Who's your regular-person crush? Paris

How many piercings do you have? Still none, it'll stay that way I think

Have you had sex yet? yes (I like the "yet" part of this question)

How many tattoos do you have? none

What is your favorite band? Venom Lords (I need to find new bands)

What is your biggest fear? That nothing will ever be enough to think of myself as happy

Have you gotten drunk or high yet? yes, and yes

Have you driven yet? Working in the city, Midnite is lucky if I drive her once a week to get groceries. Poor Midnite

so what?

2005-11-12T08:14:27Z

It's two am
I should be in bed
Venom Lords rocked
but my view was blocked
work starts at 8:30
if I don't shower I'll be dirty
another paris-free nite
will end once I tun out the light

click

Glorious

2005-11-06T05:58:31Z

Outdoor showers, I love them so much. I can't remember rain this strong since maybe March or April, and I'm pretty sure I wrote a journal entry about that, as well. I stepped out of a slight drizzle to get a burrito at a place down California. Less than five minutes later I was outside in an enveloping puddle. I tossed the menu into a trash can five steps from the door because it already was disintegrating in my hand. I may be feeling sick right now (my excuse for missing VL) but nothing cheers me up like lightning and rain.

Won't you be my neighbor

2005-11-01T05:15:27Z

saturnalia7's Halloween party:

2_legit_2_quit dressed as a Level 4 thief.
amedsped dressed as Kate Moss riding a deer.
hinikujin dressed as Optimus Prime.
lucifersure dressed as Captain Kirk from "Star Trek".
mothermouse dressed as something average, but what, specifically, you can't tell.
santa_sty dressed as Ted Williams.
waterviolins didn't dress up, spoilsport.
xxbatdarxx dressed as a new superhero: Digi- Genie.

Throw your own party at the Hallomeme!
Created with phpNonsense

Some of these are dead-on... you know who you are

New Day

2005-10-18T14:02:35Z

Today is the beginning of yet another phase in my life. I start my H O B training in just over an hour. I'm excited to have this new job, my first ever full-time position. I'm nervous about being the new kid with no one to boss around like my old box office job. Today and tomorrow are corporate training, history lessons, motto's, mission statements and the like... but I also get to go over my benefits :-P

What else is going on... my brother has lost his mind, the White Sox are in the World Series, and Paris moves into her own apartment this week. I want to make sure I get to the venue on time, but I'll expand on some of those other things later