Making One Bread

You Know What I Think?

2008-03-05T21:20:00.006-06:00

*I think that you're both the same candidate when it comes down to it. At this point I don't care who wins, I just want the stupidity to end.

*I think that either of you will be good for the country...for four to eight years. The changes that you speak of will take a lot longer than that. In four to eight years we're sick of you. We want change again. What can I say- I, They, America, all have A.D.D. And we fidget.

*I think that you should stop fooling people into thinking that your health care plans mean anything. Neither will pass. Stop talking about it to gain some fake sympathy votes. It's far more realistic to patch up the broken system rather than overhauling it.

*I think that education is still important. I know that not everyone thinks that, but c'mon you two. Can we hear you talk about anything besides health care, the war, and the economy? I know, I know, those are extremely important, but I want to hear more.

*I think your change is good. Let's be honest though- the change you speak of will, for the most part, not happen. As much as you want it what Romney said his entire campaign is true. Washington is broken. You're all Washington.

*I think you you both speak of important things. Things that, yes, should change. But you're biting off more than you can chew. More than America can chew. You're biting off more than we can afford. Be honest and realistic.

*I think I love what you stand for, but sometimes you get so caught up in the ineffectiveness of the current administration that you have given everybody an out. Personal responsibility be damned, just blame W. For everything.

*I think your government is very big. I think I get confused by your desire to stay out of our moral lives (which I thank you for), but then dictate where my finances are spent. I know it's idealistic, but why can't I invest into programs and ideas that I see worthy?

*I think that I can say things like this all the time, but in the same breath...

...God, America still needs help. Can we just make sure that honest people don't lose their houses? That our roads are still safe? That are kids are well educated? I don't have the answers. I wish you did, but I know that's asking too much right now.

*I think I am making a conscious to choose moral ethics over economic policy. That still may change though. I think that for me, the bi partisan system makes me choose either my value system or my wallet. That kind of sucks.

*I think you're all still politicians. You all did whatever you needed to do to get to the top. There is never going to be the perfect candidate.

Recession Shmreecession

2008-02-01T08:24:00.000-06:00

At least ONE company is bucking the trend of stagnant or negative profits.

Assholes.

Not Sure Who To Vote For?

2008-01-26T15:56:00.001-06:00

Then check this out.

Apparently Hillary's my gal at 80% with Mr. Obama right behind at 78%.

I still have to go with Barack I think.

He's the self proclaimed best dancer of the bunch.

Turn Right To Go Left

2008-01-13T13:51:00.001-06:00

OK, Finn...I just watched Cars. Now your uncle can actually have intelligent conversations with you. Ka-chow!

The Private Life of Martys

2008-01-10T22:27:00.000-06:00

OK, so stop panicking, the blog is no longer private. It should be, but I don't have the heart to make it so difficult for you all to read about my amazing life. Probably will be soon, but for now it's business as usual.

Not That I Actually Watch This Show (ahem)

2008-01-10T22:18:00.000-06:00

Derek Webb (well, I guess technically Caedmon's Call) was on Grey's Anatomy tonight. He reminds me that there are actually amazing Christians still in this world. You should seriously check out his music, but more importantly check out his outlook on the world. It's pretty powerful.

Quote of the Night

2008-01-10T21:15:00.001-06:00

Jessie and I were watching the Wild beat the Red Wings in overtime (great game), and when they showed Marian Gaborik's game winning goal in overtime Jessie said "Ooooh, right through the five- hole." Yeah, my wife knows hockey....

My Two Scoops

2008-01-08T23:24:00.000-06:00

OK, like the rest of America, I am stoked for the new American Gladiators. You need to know that this was the greatest show of my childhood. Seriously. Saturday morning, my brother and me sitting in front of the TV. We were completely enthralled with the likes of Nitro, Tower and Turbo. We hung on every word of Mike Adamle and Larry Csonka as they took us play by play through events like Assault, Break Through and Conquer, Joust, The Wall, Swingshot and of course The Eliminator...

...However, the new series is not without its flaws. NBC, listen up, because I'm willing to work with you guys here....

-Too many crazy camera angles that make it tough to follow the action. Just give it to me straight, folks.
-Too many (scripted) interviews. I don't want to hear every competitor say they're giving 110% before every performance. Less talk, more rock.
-The announcer sucks.
-Not a mistake.
-And of course, the lack of the greatest comptetitor of all time:

Erik- Can I get a witness?

We Report, You Decide

2008-01-06T08:36:00.001-06:00

Poll: Bullshit Is Most Important Issue For 2008 Voters

Resolute

2008-01-01T22:17:00.001-06:00

*This time for real- I'm done smoking this year. I want to be able to look at our kid after that first time I catch them smoking and be able to say that "Yes, I used to smoke too, but I quit for you, kid."

*Save money. It looks like it can happen, but it's still going to be hard this year with the little one coming and all- but isn't the little one all the more reason?

* Either A. put a deck on the house or B. start working on a finished basement. We need more room.

*Do more around the house. Like I have a choice now.

*Work less, family more.

*Get into music again. This last month I've gotten in touch more, and it's been fun.

...It's amazing when I look forward to this year and I get to say that 2008 is the year when everything changed. I'm so excited.

Here's to the new year.

More Than Meets the Ear

2007-12-20T18:20:00.002-06:00

I'm watching Transformers right now. It's really an awful movie, but do you want to know the worst part about it? They keep mispronouncing Qatar.

Yes, I am a geographical elitist.

The Bread Making Process

2007-12-13T20:56:00.001-06:00

Just in case you ever want to feel like a complete moron go back and read your blog over the last two years. My summation:

1. I talk about work way too much. Mostly it's something having to do with working too much, which in all honesty...how boring.

2. I don't post often, and when I do post I try to give a summation of the last two months by saying I work to much.

3. I hvae a lot of tpyos.

4. My writing style has changed, but it always seems to be pessimistic. Am I a pessimist or do I just love giving that impression. I mean, even in a post where I'm complaining about being pessimistic I'm being pessimistic. Weird.

5. I get awkwardly deep sometimes. I think to the point where a lot of people reading this would think that I'm depressed or something. I need to let you all know that sometimes it's simply because I'm listening to Iron and Wine and that happens when I listen to them.

6. I wonder who else reads this besides the usual suspects.

Welcome to the Jungle

2007-12-11T03:07:00.001-06:00

So, yes. Jessie is pregnant. It's amazing. It's a miracle. It's exciting. It's nerve-racking. I've been the lucky husband that has a wife that isn't puking or showing any symptoms at all really (except falling asleep on the couch at 9:00 rather than 9:30). However, this whole thing has kept me on my toes and made me appreciate both the the miracle of life as well as the fragility of it.

Creating a life is almost one of those thing that's hard to whisper because everything feels so delicate right now. Through both first and secondhand ways I have learned to become aware of how in an instant everything can change. My accident started it all. A week later I found out Jessie was pregnant. I don't think of the the obvious what ifs....Then the we found out we got to share in pregnancy with two people very close to us, only to see the pain of the unspeakable. There just aren't any words for that....Then one of my best friends lost one of his best friends in his basement. His buddy was just visiting him from Mankato with his wife and child. My buddy woke up to go to work and received a call right after he got there to come home immedietly. By the time he made the five minute drive back, his best friend was gone. I didn't really know the guy, but shit...it kind of got stuck in me.

So what am I saying? Shouldn't I be thinking happier thoughts? I think the point of this post is that I am. I am truly elated. I am truly blessed. But most of all I am in awe of the miracle. I'm not sure if anybody can truly appreciate this miracle. It's one of those things like love: It exists, and in the hectic world that we live in, sometimes it takes events like these to truly make one pause realize it. Makes you want to go around and let everyone around you know how much they are loved.

And boy, do I love you all....

On a lighter note, I'm trying to convince Jessie that if we have a boy, his middle name MUST be Axl. Think about it ________ Axl Rowles. Perfect. I need help from you guys here. She's not really going for it.

More to come. More often.

Hillside Manor: Sometime After 2AM

2007-12-11T02:58:00.000-06:00

So I was sleeping fine. A little thirsty, but all in all, sleeping peacefully. Then I woke up. About a half hour ago. Now I can't get back to sleep. 3:00 in the morning and all I can do is lay in bed and think about how busy I am. Work is just nuts right now and the madness of the season is finally catching up to me. This is the first time that I've actually managed a store during December (remember last year I was just getting ready to start opening Maple Grove), and I must say that the adaptations I have to make to my daily routine, both in the store and at home, are throwing me off a little. Then I look at the calendar and think, 'You know what? I'm good. Three more weeks left....'

Funny how I let my crew know that this is the season they're going to be putting in more hours, but make more money than they've made all year. I tell them they can sleep in January. I suppose that means me too, but I honestly, I didn't mean it literally.

Not a Promise, Just a Threat

2007-10-29T07:37:00.000-05:00

hey buck-

me. you. the north woods. a rifle. this weekend. be there.

love always,
your worst f' in' nightmare.

Adjust Yo' Neck

2007-10-26T19:24:00.000-05:00

*So I'm feeling much better two weeks after the "Big Crash." My back is still a little sore in the morning, but it's nothing that 3 Advil Liquigels can't handle. Although I do kind of wish that I would have gotten something stronger to get me through last week...like Percocet. I took four days off just to recover. I did nothing. Hung out with Jessie, drank a lot of beer and moaned and groaned every time I tried to get up and actually move around. I may still go see a doctor eventually, but I'm kind of opting for the quick fix of a chiropractor instead.

*I leave for Vegas in a week for a store managers meeting. Whenever I tell people that they get all excited for me. Stop it already. It's not as cool as it sounds. Meetings, meetings and more meetings followed by meetings. Don't get me wrong, it should be pretty fun, but...meetings.

*Besides that, not much happening. Just life. I'm amazing.

By Popular Demand

2007-10-18T23:27:00.001-05:00

This is my leg. Read it and weep, folks....

and no, I still haven't been to the doctor. Why? Because I'm such a freakin' man.....

P.S. I am feeling MUCH better today.

How?

2007-10-14T19:53:00.001-05:00

Warning: This is a very long read.

"Marty, wake up!"

I open my eyes. I'm tired. I woke up at 4:30 to go duck hunting with Tom and John. We saw nothing. Well, three ducks, but really, nothing. Apparently all the local ducks up and headed south already and there hasn't been a cold snap in Canada to force the Canadian ducks down.

Then an afternoon partridge hunt where, after stumbling through the woods for 2 hours and trying my best to follow the rules, we were skunked again. Too warm out? Lack of dog? Or was it the new clothes I'm wearing giving us bad luck? I've got to get the skunk off these according to Tom. He's superstitious like that.

So I open my eyes and Jessie asks if I'm ready to go out hunting again. I'm tired, but pretty eager. I want to at least get a shot off. I'm going alone this time. Tom's too tired, John's out on the deer stand with a bow, but Tom knows a trail about a mile up the road where I'm bound to see some partridge. I'm not sure if he knows that I don't even know what a partridge really looks like, but I'm awake now and pretty eager still.

"I'll take the truck. You're going to follow me to the trail on the four wheeler. There's going to be a couple of times on the way where you'll have to break from the trail and go on the highway, but don't worry about it. It's illegal, so if you get caught, you pay the ticket, but I've never been caught. Just stay on the asphalt when the shoulder gets to small." Tom's drawing up a scratch map of the trail and going over the final details and precautions I should take on the hunt.

"OK, I got this...let's go. I'm awake and pretty eager to get a bird today."

After a quick trip with Jessie on the back of the four-wheeler up to the gas station I get back and am ready to go. I run inside to grab my gloves. My hands were pretty cold from the ride to the gas station.

I kiss my bride, Tom hops in the truck and we're on the way. The trail starts out about five feet off the road. Just your average snowmobile trail. Easy to manage. Suddenly the trail ends and Tom slows down to wave me over to the highway. I ride over and start to follow him. A couple cars pass as Tom waves them through. The cars are close to me. Scary. This thing tops out at 40 mph. Tom's going about that. I gotta keep up. The shoulder has enough room for a four wheeler. I'm not too worried. We pass the part where the road goes over the lake. I hop on the asphalt. I feel exposed. Like at any time some car can come speeding past me and push me to the shoulder.

The lake passes on both sides, I hop back on the shoulder. 'God, Tom's going fast....'

I didn't even have time. I catch the lip of the shoulder. I lose control for an instant. The shoulder disappeared under me and gave way to....I look up into this swampy grassland. This is bad. Tom's going to think I'm such a dumbass. Another rookie mistake by the green north-woodser.

Jessie.

Fuck.

It's a blur. I know those thoughts ran through my head in that split second. I also remember the four wheeler literally rolling over me.

Jessie.

Fuck.

It's funny what goes through your mind those moments after. You immediately take inventory. 'Move, damn it.' I hurt. Is something broken? The first thing you want to do was simply move. 'Move damn it.' I probably laid there for about five seconds just wondering what the outcome would be. 'Is this it?' That's a very scary question. Think about it. Think about the moment. 'Is this it?' Scary.

Then I pop up.

I can't breathe. At all. I'm gasping for breath, but no air is going in our out. I look up for Tom. I think he's turning around. He had to have seen that.

I hope he saw that.

Can I walk?

I can walk. I think. I'm moving. I hurt. Everywhere. God I hurt. My back has mind numbing pain shooting across it. My neck. 'Breathe.' I can't.

I look up to the road. I'm about five feet down a steep embankment. Emphasis on steep. I fell all that way. Flipped. Rolled. What happened? 'That's a big embankment.' I need to get up there. I struggle to scurry up it. Tom's coming. I get to the road. I can't breathe. At all. I look down to the four wheeler. There's smoke coming from it. 'Fuck, I broke it. Tom's going to kill me.'

"MARTY, ARE YOU OK." Tom's getting out the truck looking about as worried as I've ever seen Tom. He speaks deliberately.

"I...heh...think...SOOoooo...."

I'm expecting the worst. I'm thinking in my head that I'm probably in shock. My leg's probably broken. My face gashed open. My ulna's sticking through my Minnesota Wild sweatshirt.

"Breathe, Marty. Breathe. Look at me.... There's blood on your face. Where's that blood coming from? It's this egg on your head. It's bleeding but it doesn't look to bad.... Turn around. Are you OK? Breathe. Follow my finger. Good. Now look me in the eyes and count to ten." I do. It's hard because I can't breathe. At all. He pokes my ribs. Feels my arms and legs. "I think you're OK."

"Hehhh...really?" Somehow I find relief in those words. OK feels good. I don't feel good. But I'm OK.

"Yeah, you're wife's gonna kill you for those ripped pants, but you can walk, I don't think anything's broken and your not bleeding too badly. Just from that egg." I look down at myself. These pants are torn to pieces. That's OK, they're not pants I care about. I spit cat tails out of my mouth.

"Really...hhehh." I can't breathe. At all.

"I think I am OK." Shit. I think I broke that four wheeler. I look back at it. It's still idling. "I'm sorry, Tom."

"Marty, you're OK, that's all I care about. Are you OK??"

I think I am. Holy shit, I think I am. How? That four wheeler rolled on me.

Tom's going on about a cloud of cat tails and how I'm so lucky. Wow. I'm coming into the reality of the situation.

"You want a smoke." I look at him like he's crazy. I can't breathe. At all.

"I...just...need...to...catch...my...breath...."

I look up and there's a lit Marb Red in my face. I take it. I smoke. People are stopping asking if I'm OK. My pants are ripped, my back hurts like a bitch, I'm bleeding, but I think I'm OK. Tom grabs my gloves that I dropped on the road when he wanted to check my hands and yells at me for wearing gloves on such a warm day. Sorry?

We assess the situation. I'm OK, the four wheeler's five feet down in the ditch. "Marty, stay here, I'm going to have to pull this thing out with my truck. I don't have a tow rope and I'm sure as hell not going back to the cabin yet, so we'll use the winch to get it out." He turns around and we get climb down to the four wheeler. I hurt so much. I still can hardly breathe. God, I hurt. Everywhere. And I still can't breathe.

I climb back down to the four wheeler. I know I'm hurting more than I ever have in my life, but Tom needs my help to get this thing out of here. I just want to go home already to my wife. I start releasing the winch it goes ten feet out. "Marty, keep going...Marty your pulling it in, not out." I'm not. I'm pressing out. I can't explain myself because I can barely breathe. Still. "OUT, MARTY, DAMN IT!"

"I...AM...!" I'm trying to tell him that I'm pressing out with the winch. I can't. I can only point in the direction I'm pushing the button.

The winch is broken. The quarter inch steel cable is tangled like a rat's nest. Damn it. We start the four wheeler back up. It dawned on me then that it's still running. I thought I broke it. Tom gets on. "Get back up to the road." People are still stopping. I don't think we need help. Tom looks around. He sees the plan. He puts the four wheeler in reverse. 'You have to be kidding me.' It was a hot knife through butter as he backed that sucker in reverse out of the ditch. About 100 ft worth of ditch at that. Amazing. It still works. Absolutely amazing. I mean, that thing literally rolled on top of me. Rolled....!

"Go to my truck, Marty. Drive it back. I'll take the four wheeler." Thank God. "Now, you have to explain to Jessie and Cindy that wasn't my fault. It was your own damn fault. Cindy's still going to kill me, but it WAS NOT my fault." He's 100% right.

I climb into his truck, still dazed. Breath is kind of back. Not really though. Shallow breaths. I turn around. My back...My neck....I'm alive, I'm moving...How? That was bad. Could have been much worse. As I drive I marvel at Arctic Cat that Tom is riding. How does that thing still work?

I climb out of the truck. Cindy's finishing the stew.

"I...got...in...an...accident....I'm...OK...Don't...be...mad...at...Tom, it wasn't...his fault...."

Jessie runs in from the living room. I woke here up from her nap. She looks at me. Concerned. I'm here. She's here. I'm so lucky. I can't even tell her what happened or how happy I am to see her, or how bad it really was. I can't talk. I can't breath that well still. They want all the info that I can't give. Tom tells them when he walks in. Wow. I'm OK.

Jessie takes me to the bedroom to change. I literally can't move. She helps me take my hunting boots off. I break down in tears as I realize what just happened. Tom pokes his head in. I think he understands the emotions that I'm feeling. God, I was glad he was there. God, I'm glad that Jessie's here. I'm OK. I hurt soo much, but I'm here. I'm OK.

So the final inventory. I have a very sore back right below my shoulder blade, my neck is killing me, I can't move very well, I have two huge bruises on my inner thigh, a lump on my head and scratches all over. That's it. I'm OK. It took me about an hour to fully get my breath back, but it's here. No collapsed lung. No broken ribs or other bones. No broken back. No stitches needed. Just really banged up. I mean, I remember that four wheeler rolling over me. Literally. This should have been worse. The best pain ever is the "I'm OK" pain.

And once again I ask, "How?"

Last night I laid in bed before I went to sleep and my mind started racing with what ifs. You can probably guess what I was thinking. Worst case scenarios and the like. Then I came to the realization. There are no what ifs, only this moment. And in this moment I'm OK.

I don't really care how.

And Your Hairy Butt....

2007-10-02T15:48:00.000-05:00

So I'm not going to post the video, because that's all I seem to be doing lately, but...

"You ran for the president of Iran. We ran together to a tropical island."

Genius Mr. Samberg, genius....

Sorry About All the Videos....

2007-09-30T00:11:00.001-05:00

But this is too easy....

What a Fool Believes

2007-09-21T16:26:00.001-05:00

This Song Has Always Been Freakin' Amazing

2007-09-12T17:08:00.001-05:00

You Like Horror Films?

2007-09-08T21:02:00.001-05:00

I just got done watching literally the SCARIEST MOVIE EVER! Do yourself a favor and check it out.

...And with the 10th pick in the 2007 (fantasy) NFL draft...

2007-08-31T08:56:00.000-05:00

So here's my fantasy team for this year. Am i ecstatic about my team? Well, no, but I think all in all I drafted well. 10th overall pick, three solid backs, three solid receivers, a TE that is still the only receiving threat on his team (and a solid backup on the best offense in the NFL), and the ability to play match-ups with the QB and defense spot. Feeling pretty good about 'em...but then again, doesn't every fantasy player right about now?

Team Name: You Love MSP Bathrooms
QB- Matt Leinart, Ben Roethlisberger, Steve McNair
RB- Brian Westbrook, Travis Henry, Cedric Benson, Correll Buckhalter
WR- T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Randy Moss, Hines Ward, Joey Porter
TE- Alge Crumpler, Dallas Clark
D- Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars
K- Olindo Mare

The Jam of Summer '07

2007-08-28T14:25:00.001-05:00

This was an old customer in the Roseville store. He was one of those guys that returned EVERYTHING he bought so all the sales guys dreaded selling to him. Now he's been on Jimmy Kimmel, was made fun of by John Mayer on Best Week Ever and has some pretty good spoofs on YouTube. He is so amazingly talented.

Perfect....

2007-08-27T12:35:00.000-05:00

This Gap Sweater Is Fucking Awesome

So, I'm in the Gap, right? The new fall line is out, and I'm looking at the standard fit, straight-leg jeans. And these fuckers are just awesome....

To My Guys....

2007-08-18T23:53:00.000-05:00

Hank and Wally,
I didn't realize that it got this bad. I know how much time you spend with your mommy and I realize we snipped off the seeds, but c'mon! You are males. Do not forget this weekend as bachelors, OK? Drink beer, smoke cigarettes, watch Entourage, Cops and Vikings football, eat nothing but things you can make in the microwave and leave messes all around the house (actually you guys got that one down). That's being males. No more excuses, not even the lack of balls one....

...Is For Stalkers....

2007-08-18T23:50:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I joined facebook.

But I also got AIM on my phone. debussy100.

Reason #1,254,945,634

2007-08-18T23:41:00.000-05:00

Could somebody tell everyone at church to lose the voice. You know what I'm talking about...the church voice. There are a couple different ones (the greeter voice, the worship leader praying voice, the pastor getting really passionate about abortion voice) and every single one of them is not the same voice that they use that they scream at homosexuals and witches with.

I absolutely love Christ, but absolutely detest most Christians. And I had typed a different word than detest before I got worried my mom might read this....

Just Amputate It Now....

2007-08-18T23:34:00.001-05:00

These last two weeks my foot has been killing me. Yes, I saw the doctor and as per usual he told me nothing. Nothing at all. I've been doing what he says which involves icing it and taking advil (yeah...thanks doc), but all it did was give me a big lump on my foot.

Marty, If It Weren't For Bad Luck....

2007-06-03T12:35:00.000-05:00

*OK, so I'm not going to get into the long story of how my car got impounded because of a over-zealous police officer, a series of unfortunate events (comedy of errors of sorts), a traffic stop two months, no, five days, no, two days ago, a $150 trip to the impound lot, and another $130 trip to the DMV, plus God knows how much two tickets will end up costing me on MY TRAFFIC COURT DATE, but....

The one thing that sticks in my head right now is my conversation with my boss:
TOD: "Marty, remember to never let me fly with you."
MARTY: "Huh? What do you mean by that?"
TOD: "Well, if it weren't for bad luck, you wouldn't have any luck at all."
MARTY: "Oh." >sigh<

At least it's luck?

Minn e sow ta

2007-06-03T12:30:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of proud of this....Is that bad?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: North Central "North Central" is what professional linguists call the Minnesota accent. If you saw "Fargo" you probably didn't think the characters sounded very out of the ordinary. Outsiders probably mistake you for a Canadian a lot.
The West
The Midland
Boston
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Whew

2007-05-20T23:37:00.001-05:00

OK, so now that I've spent way too long working on that song list and Jessie has gone to bed I just have to take a moment and say...(see title)

Lost two Assistant Managers this week. To say that I'm working a lot is an understatement. The last five days I've worked over 50 hours and the end is not yet in sight. This week will be much of the same with Memorial Weekend coming up. It's funny though, because I'm not FREAKING out like maybe I should be. In the end sometimes you have to tear things apart in order to make it right, and that's what is happening. I'm happy with the new direction of the store and I know that I, nay we, will be better for it. Maybe this means that I am really starting to come into may own as a store manager. That makes me feel proud. However, once again, the week is not over....

This Took Way Too Long....

2007-05-20T21:13:00.001-05:00

Soundtrack to your life:

What you do here is rack the depths of your cd/tape/vinyl/ipod collection or brain and come up with what you consider to be an awesome tune that you could see playing in the background at these stages of life.. hope you have fun with this, i look forward to seeing the soundtrack of your lives :)

•Opening credits: Stuck Between Stations- The Hold Steady
•Waking up: Morning Lullabye- Ingrid Michaelson
•Average day: The Crane Wife- The Decemberists
•First date: The First Five Times- Stars
•Falling in love: Snowbirds and Townies- Further Seems Forever
•Love scene: Table For Glasses- Jimmy Eat World
•Fight scene: Leave (Get Out)- JoJo
•Breaking up: August In Bethany- The Juliana Theory
•Getting back together: I Know I Know- Tegan and Sarah
•Secret love: Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley
•Life's okay: Bottom of the Barrel- Amos Lee
•Mental breakdown: Cold Water- Damien Rice
•Driving: You Can Have It All- Yo La Tengo
•Learning a lesson: A Better Son/Daughter- Rilo Kiley
•Deep thought: Passing Afternoon- Iron and Wine
•Flashback: {Untitled Track} (4) - Sigur Ros
•Partying: D.U.I.- Har Mar Superstar
•Happy dance: Just Like Heaven- The Cure
•Regreting: These Days- Jackson Browne
•Long night alone: Raining In Baltimore- Counting Crows
•Death scene: I Will Follow You Into the Dark- Death Cab For Cutie
•Closing credits: Philosophy- Ben Folds Five

For My Health

2007-05-07T21:53:00.000-05:00

Since nobody's looking right now I'm blogging for my own sanity. Actually, I'm sure that Jess still checks up every once in a while...but...still....

No talk of work. No talk of dogs. Just talk.

I need to start playing piano more. I don't really know what happened to me, but I've completely stopped. I used to like to...now I have found too many excuses to not do it. It's funny how I work in a music store, got a music degree, but hardly call myself musical anymore. Hell, even in the car I just listen to sports talk radio. I should be in a band again. Mike Langhoff, the old drummer of Johnnyrook, wants to start a studio side project with me. I told him I would...but will I? Will I find some stupid excuse to not do it? Maybe.

My mom called this morning. I didn't call her back. Why do I do that?

I think about Haiti a lot still. I keep hearing about refugees that are trying to get over here in small boats and the toils that come along with that. I want to take a boat back over. If I could drop everything I would start sailing the opposite direction. I dream about the place probably twice a month. Vivid dreams. Dreams where I'm back at Wings of Hope. The kids remember me, I speak fluent creole and somehow I feel complete again. Maybe someday I'll convince Jessie to join me in dropping everything and we'll just go. If you ever call the phone and all it says is "We did it", well, we did it.

Thinking of church literally makes me sick to my stomach and twists me in knots. I think I really despise the Christian community. I wonder sometimes if that's a sin. I still believe with all my heart, and it's not like the church has scarred me beyond repair (maybe my college did that job)...I just don't relate. At all. Not even to "hip" churches I'm supposed to relate to. I still think I'm a devoted Christian...however, I get scared sometimes. If you ever read this Brad- call me.

I know it's been a while but this is too good....

2007-05-03T12:23:00.000-05:00

Ironically, he looks cold.

This is why "This Is Why I'm Hot" is hot: Because it's hot. There are of course other reasons the breakout single from Mims, a Washington Heights rapper who intends to carry New York hip-hop on his back and restore us to glory, is hot. It ascended to number one on Billboard's Hot 100, for example, and topped iTunes' singles chart as well. But consider these other, purer, more intangible reasons why it's hot, best explained by Mims himself over the course of the song. Where appropriate, we will back him up with visual aids.

The most amazing line in "This Is Why I'm Hot"—and, even at this early a juncture, quite possibly the most amazing line of any song to see release in 2007—is "I'm hot 'cause I'm fly/You ain't 'cause you not." Brutal and unassailable in its simplicity. Consider the reasoning, first, of just "I'm hot 'cause I'm fly":

Mims is hot because he's fly. But it raises the question: Does being hot guarantee one's being fly? "You ain't 'cause you not" would seem to clear that up:

It would appear that fly and hot are interchangable. If you are one, you are both; if you aren't at least one, you are neither.

If you find completely overlapping Venn diagrams visually unhelpful, consider this tautology:

If that's a bit pretentious, then maybe a blunt flowchart works best:

The other remarkable, oft-quoted line in "This Is Why I'm Hot" is "I could sell a mil' sayin' nothin' on a track." Critics gibe that "This Is Why I'm Hot" proves precisely that; others muse on what Mims would sell if he deigned to actually say something on a track. Would he sell less than a mil'? Exactly a mil', as when he said nothing? Or a great deal more than a mil'? The song does not elaborate.

In any event, note that he can do those things, not will, which suggests he might not. As these claims and predictions are speculative, there are more possible outcomes; it seems reasonable to assert that Mims can't sell more than a mil' sayin' nothin'. Though we would love to see him try.

Sonically, the most entertaining part of "This Is Why I'm Hot" is the first verse, in which Mims underscores his hotness by touting his skill at adapting to regional styles, as the slow, minimal, eerie beat morphs beneath him, sampling both "Nuthin' But a G Thang" and "Jesus Walks." In the Dirty Dirty (South) he makes the ladies bounce. He slows it down in the Midwest per their preference. He does it the Cali way in L.A., and in Chi, in addition to adeptly moving the crowds from side to side, everyone loves his fashion sense. (If you enjoy nothing else about "This Is Why I'm Hot," acknowledge the rakish, immensely appealing way Mims says the word attire.)

Our quarrel lies with "If you need it hyphy/I take it to the Bay," an homage to the Oakland–San Francisco Bay Area's relentlessly knuckleheaded and sorta wonderful hyphy movement, with its proclivities for going dumb, making thizz faces, ghost-riding the whip, etc. (Yahdidabooboo.) But unlike Mims's other geographical shout-outs, that's all he says here—"I take it to the Bay/'Frisco to Sac-town/They do it e'y'day." First of all, no one calls it "Frisco" except rhyme-starved rappers, and the only worthwhile MCs living anywhere near Sacramento are in prison. But even worse, there's no style adjustment here—he just takes it to the Bay. This is wholly insufficient for hotness—several entities that take it to the Bay do not qualify:

The song's other two verses are a relative letdown—Mims can get chopped birds by the flock, he's got money in the bag, he coordinates his outfits, he compels you to Google the word guap, people tend to like how he records, he's into big spendin', bah. He does intimate that we will find him "with different women" that we personally have "never had," which is awfully gentlemanly of him, really. Since we're feeling charitable we'll assume all of Mims's women are hot; with regard to our own conquests, it's best to be honest with ourselves.

Though a fantastic song, "This Is Why I'm Hot" verily reeks of Skee-Lo. It's so distinctive and goofy that no follow-up could possibly do it justice. But even if Mims is not built for endurance, he has given us an invaluable gift nonetheless—reclaiming and re-energizing the word hot after years of abuse. Plumbing one's memory (with a bit of Internet aid) reveals how even reputable musicians have overused the "I'm hot like _____" construction. Behold:

Yes. Mere mortals are hot like other people or things; having ascended to a higher plane, Mims is hot like Mims. It doesn't get hotter than that.

Like I Got the Time

2007-02-21T19:35:00.000-06:00

So Jessie did a good enough job of making me feel sufficiently guilty for not posting in a while, and I really want to be here for you when you want the Marty update, but that's also something that Jessie has been good at doing. She's beating me to the punch on everything! But still....

~ So the first item of business isn't the business of Guitar Center, the crazy weather, the ineptitude of Minnesota sport teams, or some random Hank and Wally story, but this....

SIX DAYS!

Probably the hardest thing I've done. I left what seemed like some of my best friends, my greatest comforts and the ones I could always run to when life got too stressful. The problem with these ASSHOLES is that they are trying to murder me. Literally. They make me feel soooo good and whisper these sweet nothings in my ear (lungs) that everything is OK, but in fact they really want to kill me. Bad.

So goodbye to the Camel Special Lights and the occasional Parliament buy two get one free, it's time to part ways. I can't say I won't miss you, but honestly it's the whole thing where I'm paying you my hard earned money to give me cancer and emphysema. So basically...ummm... Fuck off....

~ Speaking of hard earned money work has been crazy. I love it though. Bigger store, bigger business and it's home. Now that the 70 hour work weeks are starting to dwindle down to more like 50 it's giving me a little more energy. Well, apart from the last two days when I've been pretty sick, but once again...I blame those old friends of mine. Now the routine starts and I get this store rockin' so next year when we actually matter, we fire on all cylinders.

And I go back to Cali in a week and a half. Suckers.

Son of a Preacher Man

2006-12-14T20:09:00.000-06:00

This man has honestly been one of the most influential people in how I developed my world view. Hopefully after this story he'll impact many more in the same way.

55040

2006-12-09T20:55:00.000-06:00

*So about a month and a half ago I got a call from my district manager telling me that I had to start training my AM who had worked at GC for three months to be the next store manager of the Sioux Falls, SD location. So everything I learned in two years (which isn't everything) I had to teach to my guy in one month....

Gosh, it feels good to be back. Real freakin' good. By now you all probably know what was at one time the worst kept secret west of the Mississippi that Jessie and I are moving back home so I can open the Maple Grove, MN store. Basically I'm going from the smallest store in the chain to one of the highest profile stores opening this year. I'm not saying that to brag I'm saying it because...

Fuck. The last two days I've been helping out at the Twin Cities store which is about the same size store as mine. Granted, I'm not doing a ton there, just helping out with the dirty work, but I completely forgot what it feels like to be in a store that big. Its run. run. run. I ran Sioux Falls like a mom and pop shop. Laid back, loose and very...well, very not GC. That's what the situation called for. Now I need to flip it. 180. Then spin it around again. I'm not nervous in the least about doing it. Its just a matter of...doing it....

And the drive sucks again.

*Recently Kari posted that they switched over to Firefox from Safari and magically everything worked again. We did it too.

Agreed.

*Ingrid Michaelson

*And for those of you who read Jessie's blog the answer to that question you so desperatly wanted her to answer is Sawyer from Lost. Its no real secret on that one.

Hi Tech!

2006-11-25T22:26:00.000-06:00

I'm posting this from my new Treo 700p that my lovely wife bought me for my birthday. My cellphone is way more complex than I'll ever be.

I Don't Blame You

2006-11-09T17:50:00.000-06:00

*Its been a while, I know, and you've probably stopped checking this on a regular basis. Its up to me I guess to keep you interested, and boy, has it been interesting.

*I went to California for a managers meeting. That was nice, although I didn't get to see you, Bradley. It was beautiful there. I feel like such a business man when I tell people that I go out to California three times a year for my work. However, when that work is Guitar Center and the evening consist of getting drunk and bitching about the Operations Department that whole business thing goes out the window.

*While out there my old manager, Sean Holmes, informed me that he stumbled across this website while searching for himself on Google. He said he almost called me because he thought that I was on the brink of suicide when I first moved out here because my posts were so depressing. Well, Sean, since you stumbled across this site again while vainly searching for your name on Google, the joke's on you. I don't know how the joke's on you, but it is. You'll see....

*I voted. Mainly so I could say NO to the abortion ban in South Dakota and so that when I complain about the government and people say "Well, did you vote?" I can say, "I sure did," and then give them a box on JuJu fruits, force them to eat the whole thing in one bite and watch them choke to death. Somehow voting is the only way I can get a right to complain, but I'm sure that even if I didn't vote and carried out Operation JuJu fruit they wouldn't test me again...

*Lots of visitors came out to Sioux Falls. Drew and Leuer were here. We drank a lot and watched Death Metal Zombies starring Shengar Banta. You should go on Ebay and buy it. It's a classic. Then my mom and dad came. Dad and I watched football and complained about the pathetic Vikings offense for about two hours while Jessie and mom shopped. Just about perfect. Now we get to see Kari, Erik, Corinne, Ryan??, Finn and hopefully Lego. I don't know who Hank and Wally should be more scared of- Finn or Lego....

*Speaking of Hank- he went to the hospital again with a seroma about two weeks ago. A seroma is blood and fluid that forms in torn scar tissue and makes a huge lump. Not dangerous, but that's not the point. The point is that if Hank wants to keep getting sick like this and going to the hospital he needs to get a frickin' job. I can't support that hobby.

*This website layout still sucks. When I have time (most likely in June) I'll change it.

*For your benefit you want to check this site regularly because I have big news coming up...all the time. Don't forget about me and I will update more than twice a month.

Did I do This Right?

2006-09-23T21:04:00.000-05:00

Since everyone is doing this damn poll, I figured it was my turn. Even though Bradley doesn't think I'm smart enough to join in the posing....

1. One book that changed your life – When the Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1991

2. One book that you've read more than once – I seriously watch Dog the Bounty Hunter all the time

3. One book you'd want on a desert island - Lost is the obvious answer here. The less obvious answer is Charles in Charge. I never really got into that one, but I'm sure if Scott Baio was my babysitter he would give me beer and let me smoke in the house.

4. One book that made you laugh out loud – News Radio. Great show.

5. One book that made you cry – Andy Richter should have never left Conan. Damn it...Andy....

6. One book that you wish had been written – I really wish that when The Mighty Ducks was filming in Minneapolis I could have been an extra. A lot of people I know were.

7. One book you wish had never been written - The 98 Vikes. Hands down.

8. One book you're currently reading– See the below post about my TiVo schedule.

9. One book you've been meaning to read – 24. Still haven't seen it, but I know I have to. Its inevitable.

B For Effort

2006-09-22T22:24:00.000-05:00

Ok, so here's my first draft of my new layout. Expect it to continue to change, as this is my first CSS effort and first designing effort period. Not bad, but there are issues. I know. Feel free to rub them in my face below. However, I'm tired, Jessie needs Marty time just as Marty needs Jessie time, and I need to feel like I accomplished something tonight.

In this sentence I am thanking Kari for all the help!

Love and Some Verses

2006-09-18T17:29:00.000-05:00

You know those moments when you're listening to an album and all of the sudden you just close your eyes and are taken away?
It took me....

>Deep Breath<

2006-09-15T17:55:00.000-05:00

Life has slowed, dust has settled and there is once again an semblance of normalcy. Gosh, I have so much to catch you folks up on. Seriously this time. Let's start with a couple lists:

My Fantasy Football Team

2006-09-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

QB- Matt Hasselback
QB- Phillip Rivers
RB- Steven Jackson
RB- Willis McGehee
RB- Thomas Jones
RB- Steven Davis
RB- Duce Staley
WR- T.O.
WR- Mushin Muhammed
WR- Nate Burleson
WR- Braylon Edwards
WR- Eric Moulds
TE- Heath Miller
TE- Joe Klopfenstein
DEF- Bears

Overall, not my best draft. Starters are OK and certainly dominated Mr. Daniel Bubna last week, but we'll see how this one pans out. I've won the whole thing with worse.

Our TiVO schedule

2006-09-15T17:53:00.000-05:00

- Lost
- The Office
- My Name Is Earl
- Law and Order
- Law and Order: SVU
- Law and Order: CI
- CSI
- CSI: Miami
- CSI: NY
- Grey's Anatomy
- Desperate Housewives
- Oprah (This season is looking to be the most exciting in years)
- The Chelsea Handler Show
- Vikings Football
- Laguna Beach

That's all I can think of. The sad thing is that this is pretty much the same schedule as last year with the addition of Lost, which we finally caught up on. I think CSI for sure has to go, but what can I add. I don't have the intestinal fortitude to be able to take on 24, so please don't suggest that. Otherwise I'm open to your thoughts. Especially you, Corinne and Erik, seeing as you're the TV experts and us siblings have the same taste for the most part.

Taking Suggestions

2006-09-15T17:52:00.000-05:00

I also need suggestions for a new cell phone ringer. My previous ringer was Rockin' the Suberbs by Ben Folds, but my crew at work thought it was too wussy. So I changed it to Mystical's Dangerous. I feel as if this ringer is simply too hardcore. Your input is appreciated.

Tough Guy

2006-09-15T17:51:00.000-05:00

In case you didn't see this on Jessie's blog here's Hank. He says he had a abscess on his skull caused by some bug, so they put a tube in his head to drain the puss and ooze. What I think happened is he just got a botched piercing and is afraid to tell us.

And the Obligitory Work Update

2006-09-15T17:50:00.000-05:00

Like I said to start this post off, it has slowed down quite a bit. There are actually moments here and there when I'm not at work. I think these moments are oddly enough actually referred to as "Not Working." This "Not Working" thing is really foreign to me, but there are times when it actually feels as if I'm enjoying it. Please let me know if this is normal. The main cause of this phenomenon is the fact that I got myself and Assistant Manager. Boyd is the brother of the guitar player from Johnnyrook. I hired him as a personal favor to Zac and promoted him because he's my friend....Actually that's not true at all. I don't know why you thought it would be.

However, there are still people outwriting my entire store from the Minneapolis location. Consistently.

370

2006-08-25T22:55:00.000-05:00

So geez, what a whirlwind. Last night we killed it here in Sioux Falls and made this town proud. I've never seen a store as busy as I saw it last night and today we were the number three store in the whole district. Now that's saying something.

The most important thing though was that today I was alone in the store making all the calls. It was the most fun I've ever had at work in my entire life.

Where Jesus Wept

2006-08-09T23:51:00.000-05:00

I'm forcing myself to blog right now. Not that I don't want to, but as many of you know, after so much has gone on in your life you don't know where to start. In reality, however, when I think about it I don't have a lot to say that you would truly care about.

This move has been stressful. All the reasons I've bitched about before are suddenly upon me. I mean, the store is doing great. I'm fine on that front- the guys love me, I'm on schedule, I'm bringing this town to its knees- but the move....

We just found a place to rent. I was driving around SuFu (for some reason Sioux Falls kids call this town SuFu) with my new buddy Josh and said "Hey, wanna see the place we're gonna live in?" He obliged. We drove around and all I could remember the house was on the corner and had some sweet gardens. After slowing down in front of five houses and saying "There it is...wait no...it must be further down" we came to a house that i drove by because the gardens looked way too extravagent to be ours. Well, after closer inspection this house with the immaculate gardens was ours. Its amazing. And the landloard does all the yardwork. We win.

But we have to rent our house now. I don't even want to talk about it (unless you want to live there).

Seriously, I'm trying to think of more things that you would care about. I can't. Most likely because I don't want to get into it. That's just the way I am.

For those of you who haven't planned the fall trip out here to SoDak you better get on the bus. We have spare rooms to spare.

Honestly, we miss you. Thanks for the support through this whole thing.

It Just Keeps Striking Me.

2006-07-21T01:02:00.000-05:00

I know I'm not saying much in these posts, and I'm sorry about that. Today I was looking at my actualy profile on myspace and saw that my location said that i live in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I live in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I live in Sioux Falls?????

I live in Sioux Falls.

Amazing.

Thus Far Its Been a Whirlwind

2006-07-20T11:27:00.000-05:00

*So all I can say is holy crap. Calling 20 people a day, interviewing ten and trying to manage everything else involved with this move has been crazy. Its been hard at times, its been fun at times, but most of all its been stretching at all times and I love it. Please give me a call when you read this. I am a tad lonely out here and would love to hear a familer voice. If I don't pick up I'll call back. Promise.

Still The Hammer Holds

2006-07-06T23:39:00.000-05:00

So its here. The moment I've been waiting for/dreading for the last year of my life. The moment that all the hard work I've put into Guitar Center finally pays off. The moment that I am finally able to start walking down that fork in the road towards a new future.

I'm off to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to be the General Manager of that location.

Its not that I have doubts about going there. Its not that I am scared of whether or not I'll succeed. Its not that I don't have confidence that its that best thing to ever happen to us...

But holy shit. I'm moving. I've lived in Minneapolis my whole life. I love this town. I love this state. I love my family (both of them!). I love my friends (that now I wish I had made a greater effort to see them more often) I love GC339 and all those bastards who work there (and even some of those jerks at 392). I love my house (dear God, please sell and fast). I love it here.

But

I'm gonna slaughter that city and make all those emo/hardcore kids that live there realize that its time to grow up and become real musicians. They won't even know what hit them.

Bebo Norman puts it best.

And maybe I am a little scared....

Hide and Seek

2006-06-23T10:49:00.000-05:00

It's been such a long week of my life. I literally feel like GC has taken over and consumed every aspect of my life. The saddest thing is that I'm not really complaining. The fact that my own store is looming so brightly over me is making work worth it inside. However, on the same hand it has pulled me away from things that I know are more important to me. When I was at the manager's workshop in Cali I asked one of the vice president's of the company what the hardest part of being in management is. He said without it's the delicate art of managing work and home life. Not that it can't be done, as a matter of fact, that's the mark of both a good manager and a good husband/father. Its about finding that balance and boy, am I still searching. Working six days a week, 10 hrs a day and some nights until 11PM makes it hard. I will figure this one out though.

Sorry 'bout that one. I shouldn't post while listening to Imogen Heap.

Jets to L.A.

2006-06-12T07:43:00.000-05:00

*So later today I will be setting my feet down on the not- so- fertile soil of of Los Angeles and, true to form before any big trip I take, I couldn't sleep last night. Think I'm nervous?? I suppose that it was around 4:00 AM when I finally got to sleep, so I'm praying to God that I don't have some stupid kid sitting behind me on the plane kicking my seat the whole way. If this is the case I will turn around and go Arnold Schwartzanaager on his ass a la Kindergarten Cop.

*On a semi-related note I finally got to bed by watching my TiVO'ed Holland World Cup soccer match. I'm not a huge soccer guy, but when I was down in Haiti I got really into this plucky Dutch team in the European Championships. I guess I need someone to root for, so I figure I'll root for the underdog. What's that you say? Holland isn't an underdog. Well, I'd like to see you try and play soccer in those damn wooden shoes. Good luck, buddy.

*What can I really say about Sean Holmes, new store manager of the mighty 339? From the moment he came you could tell that he is a high quality manager and from what I can see all its going to mean is that the store actually works.

*Does someone wanna do me a favor and turn the switch off in my head that makes me constantly think of work. Please? I mean, you guys gotta be pretty annoyed and uninterested.

*And finally, I'll miss you, babe. Take good care of my two guys and hopefully when I get back Hank isn't scared to go outside anymore and you tell Wally to call me if his brother is picking on him too much. Good luck with your first week of summer school and you show those kids who's boss. Fail one of those little bastards for me. Bye, hun! Mooah!

Mow 'Em Down

2006-06-05T17:21:00.000-05:00

*I just mowed the lawn. I'm hot and tired. Very hot and tired.

*So not only is GC 339 getting a new store manager, but we're getting a new district manager too. The two people that I had manipulated into making them think I'm a good guy are both gone so now its back to square one.

Actually, I'm really excited to meet both of them. Our store has been perpetually down and seeing as 339 is the biggest store in the district they ain't gonna bring some joker in to manage us. He's gonna be a rock star and maybe, just maybe, I'll get a bonus. Or heck, write the numbers I should be writing. I'll keep you posted on a semi weekly basis.

*California in t- minus 7 days. This guy who's been hiring and firing all around the district is gonna be there. Kinda nerve- racking. Oh, and Brad, my rules and reg sheet says that I am not supposed to visit "my family or old school friend while out on this trip." Sorry, friend.

*Well, Jessie's home. I'm gonna take off and be a good husband.

And Now I'm That Guy

2006-05-28T22:44:00.000-05:00

I hate being the one to cause turmoil.

It's that simple and yes, that cryptic.

Its funny how crappy situations can teach you so much.

When I was a teenager I took those personality tests and found I was a raging phlegmatic. I don't want to be the guy to stir things up. You see, I just want to be the amicable one. Nothing turns my stomach more than when I'm that guy, and now all of the sudden...I'm him.

Dear Jesus, switch it off. Just please, switch it off. For some reason I can't make this one right inside.

I promise I didn't mean to.

Sure beats work

2006-05-24T11:26:00.000-05:00

*Even though we didn't catch anything, sitting on a lake in northern Minnesota sure beats working any day....I caught nothing, well, next to nothing as my four pound bass was exciting. But still...it was relaxing. Especially when Hank almost drowned when he swam half way across the lake and wouldn't come back. Or when I lost my glasses in the mucky water and had to go in 50 degree for about ten minutes while i fished around with my feet for them. Actually now that I think of it- those parts weren't all that relaxing, but they still beat work.

*I'm on a downloading kick now that we have internet. I tunes now has 1,498 songs, 4.2 days of listening time and 6.6 gigs. It was about half of that before. But have no fear- my I-pod can hold 20 gigs. We have a ways to go.

*So a lot of changes are going on at work. I found out yesterday that its official my manager is leaving our store. So probably starting June 1st there's gonna be big changes. I don't know what to think. I guess I'm more nervous than anything that this new manager is going to be all gung-ho and go nuts with trying to save the mighty 339. Fire 15 people his first day and murder the door staff. It certainly is a position that could attract a guy like that. I guess we'll see. I'm safe though. They already bought my plane tickets to L.A. Suckers.

Haha!

2006-05-19T16:34:00.000-05:00

I'm going fishing up north. See ya Monday. Don't you dare try calling as I won't have reception/the want to talk to you....

How Do You Drown a Blonde?

2006-05-17T23:31:00.000-05:00

Everytime I visit this I eventually break into tears from laughing. Oh, and for those of you keeping score- I am alone with nobody to do my typical 'fake laugh at your incredibly un-funny joke.' No, my friends, this is high comedy....

Here ya go.....

Widget (and not the world watcher)

2006-05-17T11:59:00.000-05:00

I forgot that I need for you to know that I writing this blog from my new Blogger widget on the dashboard of my Mac. I'm becoming such an Apple geek. I love it.

Oh, and if you have a blog that doesn't have an rss feed then I'm going to need you to go ahead and get that done, so I can moniter your blog from my RSS scrolling widget....

Like River Phoenix From the Ashes....

2006-05-15T20:03:00.000-05:00

Well, my friends, the time has finally arrived. I will no longer have an excuse to not blog, at least a computer excuse that is. I sold the keyboard just so I could be more connected with the likes of you turds. Please welcome a new Mac Mini to the Rowles household. Pretty exciting if you ask me. For you spec geeks: 1.5GHZ single core processor with the Intel chip set, 1 gig of ram on the motherboard upgradable to 2 gigs, 60 gig hard drive and the ever famous Superdrive DVDRW. $700. Brand new.

Its been a busy couple of months. I didn't say exciting, just busy. Work has kept me very occupied and at times wanting to pursue a career in shoveling manure out of a burning vat of acid, but I'm plugging away and hopefully in at year, if things go as planned I will chugging beers with fellow store managers at the manager retreat. GC is sending me off to LA for a manager in training workshop for a couple of days in mid-June (Bradley, I truly hope my schedule allows us a romantic evening together). Other than that for the most part I'm just stressed out of my mind. All I can think about is work and my numbers. I can't tell if I want my own store for the pay or just to get the heck out of commissioned sales. It kills me. However, a light does exist at the end of the tunnel, or should I say weekend. Jessie and I are headed up to the cabin to finally relax and get some much needed walleye in our lives. As King David and Jeff Buckley once said, "Hallelujah."

And hallelujah is right.

Now admit it...you miss me....

2006-03-21T09:33:00.000-06:00

Soon, my friends, we will see a new era of Marty and Jessie on the interwebthingy. Maybe. We just need to get the super fast internet and then life could be better for you. I wish I could say more, but I'm in Chicago and we're about to go to Magnificent Mile and Jessie will be in shopper's paradise. Maybe I'll buy Nomar jersey at half price. Welp, check back eventually...maybe I'll be better....

Making One Bread

2006-02-05T10:17:00.000-06:00

Sonnet XLVIII

Two happy lovers make one bread,
a single moon drop in the grass.
Walking, they cast two shadows that flow together;
waking, they leave one sun empty in their bed.

Of all the possible truths, they chose the day;
they held it, not with ropes but with an aroma.
They did not shred the peace; they did not shatter words;
their happiness is a transparent tower.

The air and wine accompany the lovers.
The night delights them with its joyous petals.
They have a right to all the carnations.

Two happy lovers, without an ending, with no death,
they are born, they die, many times while they live:
they have the eternal life of the Natural.

— Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets (Cien sonetos de amor)

I love you, honey. Happy anniversery.

Finally

2006-02-01T08:28:00.000-06:00

*No more broken delete key, no more moniter that is coming unhinged from the keyboard, no more getting a billion popups, no more having to deal with fifteen error messages saying that IE doesn't work, no more bumping the computer the wrong way brings it to a deadly hault, no more Windows 98....

*More producing music on my computer, more listening to music on my computer, more producing and listening to said music through this, you may see it as a disadvantage having 56k (and really I'm just trying my best to cope with it) but I see it as an advantage because now while the page is loading I just spin in my chair and play this, my chair is actually a computer chair, i guess to simply sum it up I don't want to vomit all over myself whenever I log onto the internet. Yeah, I got a new computer, reformatted my old hard drive and my life is no longer in shambles. Thanks Drew.

*I've never done one of these. I think they're stupid.

36 things you might not know about me...

1. what color is your underwear right now? Its obvious some horny high school kid wrote this to his crush pretending it was a chain quiz, but simply just wanted to know what color her underwear is. Well sonny, the jokes on you because I don't wear underwear.
2. What are you listening to right now? Amos Lee
3. What are the last 2 digits in your phone number? 84 (God, I miss you Randy...cash money, homey...cash money....)
4. What was the last thing you ate? Probably Cooler Ranch Doritos
5. If you were a crayon what color would you be? As Jessie would say, "This question's gay."
6. How is the weather right now? It's my day off, I don't go outside.
7. Last person you talked to on the phone? Drew
8. Whats the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? 'She's not as hot as Jessie'
9. Favorite Food? Tacos
10. Do you drink? Only when I'm alone
11. Do you smoke? Absolutely
12. Ever get so drunk you dont remember? Once again this is the horny teenager trying to get some dirt on her....
13. Hair color? Brown
14. Eye color? Brown
15. Favorite TV Show? Laguna Beach...I need my fix....
16. Favorite Month? May
17. Have you ever cried for no reason? I have some emo in me.
18. Last Movie you Watched? Left Side! Strong Side! Left Side! Strong Side! Ahhhh!!
19. Favorite Day of the Year? This Sunday
20. Are you too shy to ask someone out? Poor kid....
21. Hugs or Kisses? Either one as long as they don't have almonds
22. Chocolate or Vanilla? Nothing clever comes to mind....
23. What books are you reading? Z's been letting me borrow Term Limits by Vince Flynn. That was about a month ago....
24. Piercings/Tattoos? I had my eyebrow pierced on a trip to Texas. Two months later I realized I wasn't "alternative" enough to have it. And Jessie's dad nearly castrated me.
25. Favorite movie? Left Side! Strong Side! Left Side! Strong Side! Ahhh!....Actually I don't know if that really is, I just wanted to be clever.
26. Any pets? Hank and Wally.
27. AIM? debussy100.
28. Butter, Plain or Salted popcorn? That's none of your business and as a matter of fact a pretty rude question.
29. dogs or cats? Hank and Wally
30. Favorite Flower? Lady Slipper...and you thought I'd be sarcastic on this one....
31. Have you ever fired a gun? Yes. At camp as a kid.
32. Do you like to travel by plane as opposed to car? 33. Right handed or left handed? You sick bastard.
34. How many pillows do you sleep with? 2
35. Who are you missing right now? 1. Jessie 2. Drew. I don't work with either of them.
36. Who famous do you think is gorgeous/handsome? I'm not going to answer a question with such awkward grammer. For those of you keeping track that is the second post I have mentioned Amos Lee and Holly Williams in the same post. I refuse to branch out. Oh, and yes, Drew did get three mentions in this blog. I owed him big, besides I know he'll comment.

*Thanks. I now feel much worse then when I started this post. That took way to much of my life away.

I'll Tell You My Dirty Little Secret

2006-01-29T00:32:00.000-06:00

*Soooo...I leave for Madison on Thursday. Soooo...I have to wake up at four in the morning to get me and my co workers there. They have me working in accessories at the big G.O. out there. I frickin' hate accessories. Its the remidial class in the school of Guitar Center. Crap. By the way for those not 'hip' to the GC language G.O. is grand opening. While out there I'm going to free to T.O. myself into dialing the GP and GS and by GPQC'ing everyone in the store and adding a PG to every qualifying ticket. Get me the hell away from that place. Someone? Anyone? Its creeping into my pores. The other night I was up late and caught myself wondering what I should change my approval password to. I dream about the frickin' place non stop, my venacular resembles that of an arrogant rockstar, and for God's sake (and worst of all) the other day I was sitting at home bored off my rocker and the thought entered my mind 'maybe I should just go into work.' Then I decided I had better things to do like NHL 2K6...or slowly tearing my fingernails off on by one....The saddest thing is I complain, but in my heart of hearts I know I love my job. And that is my sad existence.

*Shouldn't I have more to blog about than this? I mean, its been so long....I guess not...Here's the latest quiz. Just a precursor to this one- the moment I saw this quiz I knew from the get go who I was going to be. I mean, if it isn't obvious to you that I'm Tyra you just simply don't know me well enough. As a matter of fact the whole time I was thinking "Don't be Tyra, don't be Tyra, don't be Tyra!" After all, this outcome to me is predictable and boring and we all know that variety is the spice of both your life and mine....

Take the quiz:
Which Victoria's Secret Angel are you?

Tyra Banks
You are easygoing, sweet, and care for others!

*And while we're on the topic of sercrets....

Things I Shouldn't Watch

2006-01-12T10:58:00.000-06:00

*A couple nights ago Jess and I were talking about our finances and I had mentioned some thing I saw on Oprah that was a pretty good idea. She gave me a funny look and I knew immedietly that I had let the cat out of the bag. But let me explain...so with Tivo we have a season pass for Oprah and sometimes I might see what the topic is. Afterall, sometimes she has KG or Lebron or some topic that maybe can relate to me. As many of you know I'm a talk radio junkie and the way I see it Oprah can be like talk radio only on TV....I'm sorry I'm only trying to justify it. I know that's not possible. I know its also not possible to justify how I stayed up until 1 AM riveted to my TV watching Project Runway on Bravo...As Jessie slept next to me...and I was the one who chose the programming. Now you know- this is what marriage does to you.

*I'm getting my computer fixed starting Friday. I hope. Go Drew, go.

*I now work on Sundays. I always promised myself that I would never work Sundays, but Z (my boss) sees it as some kind of trial by fire to see how well me and my co-manager do with no adult supervision....Sucker.

1 Month, 1 Day and What Happened In Between

2006-01-04T10:33:00.000-06:00

*It actually is your fault for having so much faith in me. I know in your mind you thought, "Oh, Marty is busy, but that doesn't mean he'll completely neglect his blog." As a matter of fact, that is precicely what it meant. After all, why would I want to talk to you guys after working all day? I mean, you all are kind of rude....

*Anyways this is what happened in my sabbatical...ready???...I worked. Too hard.

*Doesn't it feel good to be caught up?

Pizza, TV and...What Else Is There?

2005-12-02T10:02:00.000-06:00

*Wow, what a week. For all of you who care my birthday was better than planned. Yeah, work sucked, but I pulled through and when I got home Jessie made me a Freschetta frozen pizza. It was amazing.

I now can allow you to hear my keyboard that I have speakers on and the Vikes-Browns game that my boss took me to looked much better through my new binoculars (my boss never looked at the cheerleaders that were ten rows away through them). Good times.

*Probably my most exciting gift, however, was from Jessie. It was Tivo. Maybe I can finally watch Lost like the rest of my family. I have been the red- headed step child when my Tivo obsessed family starts waxing poetic about this season's most heart pounding thriller. Out of defiance I didn't Tivo Lost. I just can't jump in right in the middle and besides, the youngest is supposed to rebel. And I'm too good for that damn show. Just like I'm too good for Harry Potter. Just like I'm too good for Coheed and Cambria. Just like I'm too good for finishing this blog and putting a period at the end of this sentence

Thanksgiving

2005-11-24T01:57:00.000-06:00

*Jessie is sleeping, and I'm wide awake. She's so cute when she sleeps. She's so cute when she doesn't sleep. In fact,I hope that if you don't have someone as amazing as her that you find them, and if you do that you hold on to that person with all you have.

Thank you, Jessie.

*My birthday is on Friday. Its going to be the busiest day of my life. Feel free to think of me. Its been a good run thus far.

Thank you, Mom, Dad, Erik and Corinne.

*Dear Lord,
I do my best to provide.

Love,
Marty

Thank you, Jesus

*My singer/songwriter just came through.

Thank you, music.

*I want to see you more. Its my fault. Honestly.

Thank you, friends.

The Day After Tomorrow

2005-11-17T15:07:00.000-06:00

*I, like many Americans on Tuesday nights, have made it a ritual to partake in My Name Is Earl and The Office (although I do recognize the superiority of the British version). Anyways, on the most recent episode of the latter Pam and Jim found out that Dwight thought it was Friday when it was really Thursday. Seeing as they have the propensity to give Dwight hell, (as I think we all would) they allowed him to think this through the entire day with hilarious consequenses.

Why do I bring this up you ask? Upon further review by myself I have had the same misconception for about the last two weeks. I'm serious, every single day I think its Friday and have been talking to people like it is. Having two non consecutive days off can really throw me off, I guess. I'm OK...

*Its snowing. Fox 9 is probably shutting down the studios in preperation for a global ice age. Its OK newscasters, even though you are probably not from Minnesota and hate everything about this state as you clinch you jaw and pretend you just love the Vikings, we are Minnesotans and know how to deal with this catostrauphic powder falling from the sky. Keep up the phony laughs.

*I'm going through the painstaking task of changing over my email account. Lycos only gave me 5mb of storage. Google gives me 2665mb of storage. Hard choice, I know. UPDATE YOUR RECORDS! My new email address is makingonebread@gmail.com.

*Keep it loose, child; keep it tight.

You Know Those Days When You Just Feel "Eh..." For No Reason? Yeah, That's Me Today. Thus, the Cliche Cryptic Apparent Depressive Blog Post...

2005-11-14T19:35:00.000-06:00

But creating a title that long sure did make me feel a whole lot better....

Waiting to Exhale

2005-11-10T14:41:00.000-06:00

*I feel so weird. This is my second day off this week from work (e.g. I'm not working six days a week). It seems like I'm doing something wrong and that I'm going to go into work tomorrow only to find out that I no longer work there for failure to show up for my shift. Deep breaths, Marty. You are allowed to relax.

*There are so many video games I want right now. So many. Video games.

*In a completely unrelated topic my birthday is in two weeks. Don't worry, I already have plans. Its Black Friday and I have to work seeing as its the busiest shopping day of the year.

*Why would I ever talk about race cars? I hate anything to do with racing. My neighbor always tries to talk to me about NASCAR and the like. Don't get me wrong, I can talk the talk seeing as pretty much 98% of my time spent listening to the radio is listening to KFAN but I seriously despise race cars.

*My fantasy football team just lost Priest Holmes. They have seriously underachieved this year. Such high hopes for the squad were crushed with injuries and better preperation by the other teams.

*I still am trying to figure out why Jessie wouldn't let me be Kayne West for Halloween....

And You Thought I Forgot....

2005-11-03T00:11:00.000-06:00

*It hasn't been for a lack of want to. Honestly. First of all I have to type this entry virtually mistake free because the computer Jessie and I have been relegated to doesn't have a functional delete key, making life difficult.

Secondly, I've been working six day weeks for the last month in a desperate attempt to get our store's numbers up so I can get my bonus. Despite my attempts, we failed and I get no bonus and thus, its going to be a long November.

*The reason I'm using this crappy laptop is because lately we've had the luxury of using the church I've been leading worship at's sweet laptop. Well, we left the church. That should be enough said on that....

*Tonight I was thrown back in drums. I know nothing about drums and, I swear to God, it is impossible to get the department not looking like godzilla played an intense game of hoops against my new look Wolves and then puked all over the floor.

*Hank just drank water. Not that its unusual, the boys usually drink gallons every day and then wake up at four in the morning wanting us to let them out (thanks for doing that, Jess). However, he got his nuts taken off today. I just can't imagine what that would be like when you walk into the doctor's office not knowing what's going on and wake up saying "What the...who took my balls away???" If you guys come see them sometime, just let them know that they are still very masculine. But alas, they're whining in the bedroom and I need to go and let them know that I think they are still very manly.

I'll be better. Promise.

I Admit....

2005-10-14T09:46:00.000-05:00

I'm boring. I have nothing to blog about so feel free to post a comment and give mea topic...any topic....I'll post accordingly.

By request of Bradley
Disclaimer: Everyone but Brad could be offended
Often we are faced with issues in our society that are so reprehensible that one has to objectively look at the world and wonder if progress has seized and our well of social justice has dried up. Each day we are faced with having to react to the evil of left handedness and the issues that arise from this. For thousands of years, the Devil has been associated with the left hand in various ways and is normally portrayed as being left-handed in pictures and other images. The way I see it if they believed this in the middle ages, we must believe it now. Hey- have you ever noticed how the word lie is in the believe? Just an observation. So if if we are to believe lies there seems to be no absolute truth and thus whatever I say must not be true. It may be true to you, but not to anyone else. I think James 6:4 says it best when it ways "the lies shall becometh the truth and thus make mountains crumble with confusion." I don't know if I blasphemed or not, but either way, its the lefties fault. Especially Ehud.

F U K C

2005-10-05T10:48:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a week. It seems as though time doesn't stop even though I beg for it to. Life has been absolutely nuts with work. It started last week as I made my way down to Kansas City to help with a store opening. The days were long and the reward was little. GC decided it would be a phenomenal idea to open two stores in the same city on the same night. Well, needless to say it was ridiculously slow and I got ridiculously bored trying to explain to a city that 'Why yes, you can record your Van Halen licks onto your computer'. The nights were fun though seeing as I got to hang out and get blasted with GC folks from around the USA. Musicians certainly know how to par-tay.
Anyways, then I got home, watched the Vikings get destroyed, watched Brett Favre come from behind to beat my fantasy team, watched me work another 12 hour day, watched my dogs grate on Jessie's last nerve, watched me grate on Jessie's last nerve...sorry 'bout that one, hun. Anyways I'm officially updated and current. Happy?

Contentment

2005-09-25T13:59:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting on my couch during halftime of this with a glass of this and this far from my mind. Life is good.

The Hammer Holds

2005-09-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

*Last night I made chicken, scalloped potatoes and corn muffins. I thought my food was delicious and that's why I didn't share with Jessie. Actually, it was because she wasn't home, but still....

*I go to Kansas City in 1 week for a Guitar Center grand opening. Is that going to be fun?

*Work is getting scary. My future is getting scary. It's not in a bad way, but in a 'Where the heck is my life going to go' scary. I mean, I finally have a vision and plan with GC, but damn, is it bigger than I thought?

*Did I tell you my dogs ate my glasses? I can still wear them, they're just a tad more textured. Among other things they have destroyed: Jessie's scarecrow doll, pretty much all my shoes, our wicker basket, candles, various telephone wire, my xbox controllers, a flower plant outside the house, the basement cement (from pooping and peeing all over it), the legs of our coffee table....But they're so damn cute.

*Speak of the devil, Wally just started freaking out. I think he hurt his leg. Its funny when either of the them gets hurt because they start yelping and then run straight to mommy or daddy and beg to be picked up. He's OK now.

I Saw These Guys Once on Animal Planet

2005-09-12T09:23:00.000-05:00

So once again, a quiz that is right on. I am really on my feet all day at work, thus making me very irritable and then...well, consider this a preemptive apology.... When the question arose in the quiz "Do you think you're cute?" I, of course, chose yes, and thus a meerkat further defines my identity. Seriously these guys are about the coolest animals in the world. They do things like kill snakes who try to eat their friends and then spend the rest of the day pretty much doing nothing but rough housing like my dogs, Hank and Wally.

You're a Meerkat!

Highly social and very protective of your friends, you only really
feel safe when you're underground. You are able to stand up for longer periods of
time than anyone you know and make an extremely good guard or watchperson. You do
have a nasty tendency to hold in your anger until it simply explodes without
warning. You owe everything you have to a magazine cover.

Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

All That I Want Is You In the End

2005-09-07T23:51:00.000-05:00

*Work has been exhausting. It used to be that I could go home from GC and forget, but these days I come home from work and think 'Gosh, work was stressful today.' Sometimes I want a stiff drink to make me forget, or some Amos Lee or Holly Williams to relax me, and sometimes I think I want to just keep driving up 65 to a place far, far away. What I realize more and more though is that I only need one thing when all is said and done.

I deeply miss you and I'm coming to hold you in your dreams right now.

The Musician's Lament

2005-09-06T10:14:00.000-05:00

*So yesterday was Labor Day. How was yours? Did you go to the beach? Or up to the cabin? Or have a BBQ with some pals? I bet it was fun...I worked. Granted I had one of the best days I've ever had at Guitar Center ($10,000+ in gross sales) but I still miss having holidays. I guess that's retail.

*I need more music. Let me rephrase that- I need more music that I've created or had a part in creating. I work around music all day, I play at chuch, I have a frickin' sweet keyboard but sometimes after being around music for so long all day I just want to relax. This has left a void. Zac from Johnnrook stops up to work a lot. I miss that band. I miss being a part of the creative process. I like hearing about the band and wish them the best no matter which way they go. I just need to once again be connected.

*If I were still on livejournal my mood would be somber. Its funny, because I'm not upset about anything. Just reflective. Well, maybe I'm upset about having to work six days this week.

School's In From Summer....

2005-09-01T14:44:00.000-05:00

*You know how I know my wife loves me? She makes me grape Kool-Aid. She hates grape Kool-Aid.

*Jessie started school today. After having her around all summer when I was home, its kinda quiet around here. Well, not so quiet seeing as there still are two puppies who love tearing scarecrows and newspaper to shreds. Bastards. There is good news to this story though! I get another year of hearing ridiculous stories of high schoolers and reading papers from 9th graders about why sk8ers rule, which ATV I should be riding and with any luck how Mike Jones and Paul Wall brought the city of Houston out of virtual obscurity in the hip hop world and took the "screwed" lifestyle to the forefront of the industry in just one summer.

*On a similar note did I tell you that Lil' John was at Guitar Center one day? He bought a Mackie SRM450 from Mark Gust. We have a guitar in the warehouse that we have celebrities sign and he signed it: "What?" 'Lil John'

*I think the reason why I always write about pop culture and MTV when I blog is because its all that's on that holds my interest in the mid day. That's the only time I blog....P.S. I'm not apologizing.

On the Count of Three I Ran Back To My Fantasy

2005-08-29T10:33:00.000-05:00

*I know everyone was waiting for my fantasy squad, so here goes....

QB- Jake Delhomme, David Carr, J.P. Losman
RB- Priest Holmes, Julius Jones, Carnell Williams, Mike Anderson
WR- Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Michael Clayton, Lee Evans, Reche Caldwell
TE- Todd Heap, Heath Miller
K- Nate Kaeding
D- Philly

I know you're impressed

Keys

2005-08-24T11:09:00.000-05:00

*I got my keys at work the other day. I then proceded to buy a circular (not oval shaped) caribeener and clip it onto my belt loop. I then proceded to be even more awesome than I could ever have imagined.

*Then I brought the keys to the company van home last night and had to go into work early to return them. It's not like I live 50 minutes away from work.

*Then I went to my parent's house because I have keys to it and they don't live 50 minutes away. I haven't told them I'm here yet...I should probably call them and let them know, but I really needed a place to print off all my fantasy football information. I mean, for god sakes, the draft is on Sunday and I have a championship to defend.

It's the Most Terrible Time of the Year

2005-08-18T03:24:00.000-05:00

*So it's 3:30 in the morning and I'm sitting up with the most awful allergies right now. My throat is itching like the dickens and I can't find a single remedy to fix it. I know Erik most likely can relate to this torturous occasion. My mom used to always wonder what the weird noise we made was when we itched the roof of our mouth with our tongue. Well mom, it's the sound of agony. Pure, unadulterated agony. Aaargh...I gotta try to get some sleep....At least the Twins have won 6 of 7.

Signs I Watch Way Too Much MTV

2005-08-16T11:25:00.000-05:00

*So as many of you should know by now last night was Laguna Beach followed by My Super Sweet 16 followed by me having a restless night of sleep thinking I was the party coordinator for a bratty adolescent with way too much money and who kept saying things like "It's my way or the highway" and "The world does revolve around me" and "Even though you planned this whole party you still can't come to it" and "If I had a choice between chewing on dog urine or inviting you to my party (even though you planned it) I'd choose the dog urine." Thanks, MTV...thanks....

Just Another Lazy Monday....

2005-08-15T16:35:00.000-05:00

*Mondays are lazy and blogging is pretentious.

*My credit got cleared at work last week which means that I can oficially have keys at work and the assitant manager position is mine. This is a good thing seeing as I truly hate accessories. I mean truly, truly hate accessories. Tim Greenwood put it best: in accessories you fill bags, in hi tech you fill trucks.

*I got nothing.

Let the Rain Fall Down

2005-08-10T12:08:00.000-05:00

*First of all, Talan you know that you should be with Taylor. I have no idea what you see in Kristin, but honestly, how could you say those things to Taylor and obviously not mean it. I don't get you. Kristin, you're nothing but a manipulative bitch. You know you don't like Talin, you just want attention. Then there's Jason. We all know that Jessica is too good for you, Jason. You deserve a girl like Alex who has no compassion towards another living human relationship. I'm realizing more and more that LC isn't such a mean person, she's just trying to figure out what she wants. She loves you, Stephen and that's that. Hopefully when you get back from San Francisco things will return to the way it was when you left.

*Do you guys think that the people from Laguna Beach will read this? I do.

*I got a migraine last night. I think it was from stressing out over the drama of my favorite show, even though it was a series of repeats that I've seen already. Its just so hard being from Laguna Beach.

Aloha

2005-08-07T00:39:00.000-05:00

This is just about perfect....

You're Hawaii!

When they first meet you, few people can tell whether you want to say
hello or goodbye. Either way, most of them will end up saying that you're their favorite
person to visit, if only they could afford the trip. But your soft and warm image is
belied by an explosive undercurrent in your personality than can leave you drenched with
tears or boiling with anger for days on end. You are rather fond of using plants as
clothing.

Take the State Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

So This Is New York?

2005-07-28T18:29:00.000-05:00

*I guess I should have checked my intinerary more closely because I really wasn't in NYC as my district manager mistakenly told me. I was in Long Island. In my mind Long Island sounded cool, but really, it was no different than being in Minnesota. It was pretty sweet though hanging out with the guys from Korg USA and hearing from the guys who developed such legendary keyboards as the Andromeda, M1, Trinity, Triton and now the new, amazing OASYS.

*Speaking of New York, I thought New Yorkers were these great drivers who always new where they were going. The guy who picked me up with the car service got lost for two hours. The joke's on you though, Guitar Center. It certainly wasn't my dime.

*Hi Jessie. I'm home.

*Sorry about the boredom of this blog, I'm just depressed about not following through on "Operation Derek Jeter Deserves the Same Fate As That Stupid Lead Singer of INXS". Jessie, you're not allowed in New York until Mr. Jeter falls in a vat of acid (like The Joker in Batman I).

Circle Me, Bert

2005-07-25T18:44:00.000-05:00

*So I leave for New York tomorrow for work. It seems that all the stars have aligned to allow me my oppurtunity to kick Mr. Jeter in the nuts. The Twins have a three game series with the Yanks starting tomorrow. I don't care if I go to the game alone, how can I miss out on the oppurtunity to see my beloved Twinkies in one of the most historic ballparks in baseball. Hopefully it will be amazing. Fellow Minnesotans, I will try to do you proud and bring sterilization by way of my right foot to the groin of Derek Jeter.

*The dogs were in their kennel for 11 hours today and didn't pee. Frickin' amazing.

*In the latest installment of "No I don't watch Room Raiders every night": I'm watching a Laguna Beach marathon on MTV. That Lauren is such a bitch.

*That's all I got for you. See ya Thursday.

Transitions

2005-07-22T00:11:00.000-05:00

*So I decided to move blogs. Although my old blog served its purpose it was just time to move on. Lets be honest Live Journal makes you pay for the same crap that blogspot and xanga give you for free. Since I already had a blogspot account...here I am. Now I'm unleashed, suckas. Update those links and get ready for gooder times.

*So I was kind of promoted to assistant manager at Guitar Center. I have to wait out a month or two in accessories to learn a "low tech" dept, but after that....MIDDLE MANAGEMENT HERE I COME!!!

*Finally...Here's the boys! Hank is on the right and Wally is on the left.