Other than the annoying DLC champion Clinton "hanging in there", "continuing to get up and fight", and "able to withstand a knockout blow" and other annoying pseudo Boxing allusions. I had plenty to worry about and fret about.

Work-wise, the least of the serious issues that plagued me. We revamped and restructured what we're going to work on for the upcoming Quarter. Who knows. I hope it's a good sign. We're in the news a lot, but not in a good way. But pushing all of that aside, there's been a lot to stress about lately. I think we all go through our ups and downs and right now in terms of work, I'm in a downward shift and I don't like it.

My son has been extremely sick for almost a week now. Starting on Sunday he was unable to eat and drink liquids, throwing up all the time, and just in general disarray. I got it and was out for the count for almost 24 hours. So did my wife and her mother who watches my son at least one day a week. He had to go to the doctor several times this week and was close to being admitted to the Emergency Room to be treated for severe dehydration. Fortunately that didn't have to happen, he was given two anti-biotic shots that were extremely strong and was put on anti-nausea medicine that they put adult cancer patients on who are undergoing chemotherapy. I hate putting him on meds especially that strong but we had no choice. He's pulled through and hasn't gotten sick in over a day now. (knock on wood) He lost over a pound of weight and when you're only about 25 or so pounds that's a lot of weight to lose.

The last time I went to the doctor when I was sick and needed an anti-biotic, she warned me about my blood pressure. It's apparently quite high and not good for my age or anything. It has me worried and wanting to change my lifestyle extensively. That's a difficult proposition to undertake, huh?

Talked to my dad tonight and he also is in bad health. His blood protein should be on a level of between 7 and 9 and was a 94. They did a CAT SCAN and other tests and can't find cancer but believe it's some weird infection of some sort. The doctors have no answer. Only in the last few years have I grown somewhat close to my father. To lose him now would be horrific. I'm trying not to be pessimistic but it's difficult when no one has any answers, that should have answers or at least theories.

My brother's wife got into a bad car accident, hitting a tree when there was an ice storm. My niece was hurt a bit, bruised mostly. But the car was totalled. Of course it's a new car that my brother unwisely purchased. I worry about him and his ability to stay afloat. He doesn't have any "real skills" (I mean this in terms of what THE MAN would say) and has no college background so he's already skating on thin ice.

Couple that with the fact that our economy is sucking, gasoline is going up, and it seems as if this country cares more about American Idol than any of it and I want to fucking scream. In a hilarious grindcore sort of way.

So fuck the ides of March. I already beat you and it's barely the 9th.

"Lakai Fully Flared is probably the most amazing skate video film I've ever seen. Seriously.

mum...

Mew:

And the best ending for a television series.

Just sayin'...

Whatever.

But no really, Hatton is one of those stars in boxing that I love to watch. His trainer is cool and I love his regiment. Mayweather on the other hand is the cream of the crop, probably the best I'll ever see in my lifetime, yes better than Muhammad Ali, hands down, Mayweather has the stroke, the moves, the defense, and the grit with the dramatic storylines that made watching WWF on Sunday afternoons awesome back in the day.

Whatever.

Enough boxing talk. Today is my brother's birthday. He's become a man. That's crazy.

X-mas is coming up. I've never been much of a fan of holidays or birthdays really. I guess the sort of celebrating I enjoy, is just the getting together part, I don't really care much for the presents, traditions, and all that hogwash. But this year is the second christmas with my son, and my family. And it kind of took ahold of me when I was out buying a tree this year--yes I bought a tree! Craziness, I know! It was pretty cool and I really got jazzed up, wanting to celebrate with my son and watch his excitement and wonderment as he opens his gifts. He's really starting to talk and say stuff, and understand what we're saying and communicate back. It's exciting times and awesome to watch and witness his daily growth.

So I think people should quit doing the whole New Year's resolutions stuff and instead do an End Year resolution. That would be when we start counting down the days till the end of the year, you make a resolution, to start doing something/complete some task/whatever BEFORE the END of the year! You'll read about this genius invention or tradition in a book some day, kid! I pinky promise!

New music that's good? Hmm let me think. New Jesu is great as is the new Radiohead album. I heard that Phil Anselmo has a new band out called Arson Anthem where he plays guitar. I saw him all strung out and high on Headbanger's Ball. I mean, I guess when I was younger I'd be like "whoa, cool", or something, MAYBE?, (doubtful, I never really got into that idolization of drugged out 'tards scene), but this struck me as rather pathetic. I mean, I know he's several years my elder and here he is, probably riding the H-train or at least with a little THC TLC, and I just thought, wow what an idiot. Here you are on national TV to promote the music you say you love, your total passion, and you're "teaching" some guy how to box. I remember how much bigger that dude was when I met him at Ozzfest yeaaaaaars ago, but I guarantee at the moment they were filming that stuff, I could have given him a swift push and knocked him on his buttocks. I'm not preaching straightedge-hood or something like that, I really don't care what puffs up your skirt, but don't expect me not to mock you trying to be all serious and artistic and "creative" when you're just an obvious burn-out whose looking to chase the dragon a couple more times.

Also my brother-in-law has loaned me his sampler, and I haven't even fucked with it yet. Weak.

We had some scares recently as someone in my son's daycare class came down with a MRSA infection. Thankfully the little girl was ok and responded to medicine. And also thankfully she was never actually in my son's class after having gotten infected, but they still disinfected everything. It's weird to think that it's almost my son's second Halloween. I never really cared for the holiday (or any holiday for that matter really) but I do remember one of my biggest regrets in my life. I know it'll sound silly and what-not, but once me and my best friend decided to go out and 'smash pumpkins'. It was probably on Halloween night, though it could have been the night before or after for all I know. We drove around a subdivision and jumped out of the car and busted pumpkins on the cement. Why do I regret it? Not so much the act, but to think that a parent probably had to explain to their kid that some jackass broke their creation. And that wasn't worth it at all. Oh well, I'm a dick. Go figure.

Speaking of Halloween and stuff like that, my family and I went out to a farm last weekend and got to take a hayride, slide down some amazing slides, and watch our son be his amazing self.

Recently I heard an absolutely amazing house track on the Internets. I was fortunate enough to figure out who it was and what the track was called but I can't for the life of me find it. So torrent away, I suppose, though that's totally lame. I'd actually rather purchase the damn track. It's by Club Nature and called "We Call It Love" and was released in '05 and had some crazy remix which was the version I heard. It's definitely a floor filler.

Speaking of filling floors. The new Jesu and Radiohead are both amazing albums. I think it's funny that so many cats are all into black metal these days. Especially that ratty, old school type of black metal, ala Darkthrone. I mean I'm all for brutally raw metal and all but I think the obsession is somewhat displaced. Recently upped some reviews so go peep them. I'm very anxious to hear some new trance and house music, I need to peek out at some messageboards or something and get some good hints. Ohhh yeah, new Stephen Brodsky album, Pet Genius, is also fucking incredible.

Cool to see the '07 year of baseball near an end, though it was a magical season that found many a homerun hitter looking tired and unable to hit anything other than a line drive. I hope this has nothing to do with the crackdown of illegal drugs and HGH. I would be pretty much devastated if my favorite sports heros were found by Mr. Mitchell of doing something wrong. I've always been a Bonds apologizer but I don't know that I can expand to others. Glad the Yankees finally got rid of Torre, he was overrated as both a manager and a player though he did excel at both. Probably due to his surrounding cast, but whatever.

My neighbors are never home. It's actually pretty weird. I think they're drug dealers or something more sinister. I saw the new Transformers movie. It was mind-blowing. I'm currently trying to get through the mammoth movie "Flags of Our Fathers". It's pretty interesting and action-packed. I want to see "Rendition" as well as "Into the Wild". My wife is seeing the later on Monday and I hope she likes it as much as the Eddie Vedder penned soundtrack.

It would be amazing if the Rams won a game and the Redskins beat the Patriots but I won't hold my breath for either. Oh well, there's always next year right?

My brother-in-law loaned me his sampler. I need to get to work damn it. I really am yearning to craft some crazy tunes--would love to write an ambient/noise/drone album.

It's cold outside and windy. Thankfully it rained. About time to start a new week, dontcha think?

"I can't believe you'd elect that Bush fellow a second term, you're like totally wrong for doing that!"
"That gave him a mandate!"
"You should totally become Muslims and give up that Jesus fellow, he's a douche!"

What impeccable timing this Bin Laden fellow has, following on the heels of the announcement that the Bin Laden Group reaaaaaally doesn't like Osama and they've severed ties and pinky-promises they aren't his BFF let alone his relative. Bin Laden's tapes also manage to hit the airs in time for the '04 election and swing that vote as well as come in time for essentially an announcement that will be dour in terms of the war in Iraq which will face much opposition in the Senate for the first real time.

Amazing. It's almost like it's a propaganda game with the opposite intent. Hmm, fishy? Yes.

I feel cathartic.

Second, my new house is even more amazing.

Thirdly I should be asleep right now, getting ready for tomorrow but was called by work. Bummer, hard to fall asleep after that. Double bummer.

We're all moved in (only a few more boxes to go damn it!), for the most part. We have barely "decorated" in the sense of putting up photo frames, artwork, etc. That's part of the exciting part to unpacking in my book.

Annoyances at the new house have been relatively minimum though our first water bill was extremely high (we have to water our sod-riddled 'lawn'), the fairground and race track are nearby and loud, and the soliticitions are extremely annoying. Why would you ask me if I wanted to get ADT security if I have a sign out front that says I have it? Why would I ever want to buy furniture off of a tractor trailer from North Carolina (seriously this has been asked three or so times already). I called the cops a couple of times to make noise complaints against the fairground last night. Seriously, drag racing till midnight? I know I'm near rednecks and all, but daaaamn.

I still really want to set up my drums and music equipment this weekend but I doubt I have the time/energy.

My son makes me very happy, his smile is a drug.

It's weird to find old writings in a notebook long forgotten.

Even more weird to hear the narrator's voice in your head as if it was yesterday.

I want to read an entire novel by candlelight before I die.

New surround system we had installed is unbelievable. Double sub-woofers create the thunder of the gods! I can't wait to listen to a good techno or drum&bass album on it.

Things are going well in the household. The son is now 13 months old and daring and mischievous as ever.

Last week was incredibly productive for me at work, which is a change of pace since I'm typically never able to fully concentrate on getting stuff done. That was definitely a big upper for me, I think I missed development work a bit. I hope to continue that into next week; my days always seem to go by quicker if I'm busy doing real work and not just stuck in meetings or chasing down issues.

Our house is going to be ready by the 27th, which is the day we finally get to settle. It's been a long experience, hampered due to the fact that we had to change lots. But it will be worth all of it once we move in. We've already sold our townhouse and were rewarded with a great rent-back. Most of the house is already done--yesterday they were installing the hardwood floors and the granite countertops. All that's really left is the carpeting, the intercom system needs to be installed into the wall units, sod needs to be put down on our "lawn", the backsplash above our granite countertops, the under cabinet lighting in the kitchen, the extra jets in the shower, and one electric outlet in our garage needs to be updated. That ain't all that much! We've already locked in our rate (boo on 6.99%, weak!) and it will be unfortunate to once again have a mortgage but I'm confident that we'll get past it just like everyone else in the world. Maybe we won the lottery that I played yesterday just to be trendy, 7/7/07 and all.

I just bought our new washer and dryer unit yesterday at Home Depot. As dorky as it sounds, I was quite excited. Whoohoo! Let's hear it for EnergyStar! Al Gore would be proud!

The new Darkest Hour is pretty impressive. I still need to write a review for that album and Oxbow and some other stuff that's been banging around in my car for a while.

I watched the fight from last night that I Tivo'ed. It was highly disappointing to see that weak ass Lamon Brewster throw in the towel--I wanted to see his punk ass get knocked out. But he thanked Jesus afterwards and I guess that excuses his piss poor performance or something. Personally I think he only signed up for the fight to get paid and I think that's weak.

As I said, my son turned 13 months today. Boy he sure is growing up fast. It's amazing to see how much of a command he has over his motor skills. I wonder if I had as much energy as he does back when I was that age. Yesterday it was awesome to go off and about and have folks comment on how cool he was and how amazing his eyes are--it's all true!

Let's see.

We put our house on the market. We're now "under contract" which is good news.
I've been working my ass off, like literally. I have no butt anymore, it's still at work, yes even on Memorial Day Weekend.
My son is almost a year old, which means it's been around a year since I've seen my old bandmates. (Sorry guys, I'm a forgetful jerk).
I'm contemplating stopping Smother altogether after a decade.
All of my music equipment is packed away in a storage unit and I'm bummed.
Our new house is closer to being done.
I did a webinar about blogging ironically enough.
I need a haircut wicked bad.
My neighbors are assholes.
I quit being a vegetarian and went to consuming animals, which is a decision I constantly anguish over.
My fantasy baseball team(s) are doing moderately good.
Skinny Puppy is playing the 9:30 Club again and I think I might go with my brothers.
I got a fucking speeding ticket and the cop told me that the guy next to me was speeding too but I was "going faster".
Terrorists hate my freedom.
The Food Network is amazing but "House Hunters" is the most addictive show NOT to have a Season Pass on my Tivo.
I need to get in shape wicked bad.
I will NOT be seeing either Spiderman 3 or Pirates 3, both look like epic wastes of time.
Sinead O'Connor was pretty hot even as a bald girl.
Kurt Russell should always wear an eyepatch.
I'm contemplating wearing an eyepatch for a week and refusing to tell anyone, including my wife, why.
A house burned down right behind my house a couple of months ago.
I still bite my fingernails.
I still want to learn how to play guitar and piano.
I am still the laziest son of a bitch on the planet.
I had a really bad allergy attack a while ago and I still get mad sinus pressure.
I often wonder if I should quit it all and start a bar that will directly compete with Jaxx in Springfield.
I also wonder if a good year as a heroin junkie would be fruit for my soul.
I can't believe The Metal Guy is already having another kid--I'm not ready for Kid #2 yet.
At the Gates and Snot may be two of the most underappreciated bands from my younger years.
I'm still surprised that there aren't any real Snot clones out there speaking of that awesome band.
The Democrats are fucking pussies.

Well, I think that about does it for my summary of me.

yippee