Green Pepper Jelly

is what I saw when I opened the refridgerator yesterday. Even now knowing this jelly's intended purpose, it still is a disgusting first impression because, normally, when you think "jelly," one's mind tends to go to fruity tastes and their combination with peanut butter and one's choice of bread. My imagination instantly came up with a potential taste for this new jelly on said sandwich. I am sure you, by this point, have done the same and have decided that this would be disasterous. I don't doubt that it would taste good given the proper habitat(i.e. fancy hors d'oeuvres), but initially, horrific at best.

Seems like I had many more food-related thoughts as I ate much more than my share of it over the Christmas holiday (two huge meals, two days in a row). Unrelated, but has anyone noticed a rise in news anchors as well as celebrities-endorsing-something making it completely obvious that they are reading a teleprompter? I can't tell if it has always been that bad, and I didn't notice it or if people are getting lazy. I mean, we are talking network, nightly news - not the local news. With a commercial, it's not as important because it is a one-shot deal, probably a couple hours work, but with news anchors, their job is basically to read a teleprompter and look good at it.

blah, blah. I got a new job. It is okay. It is better moneys with a wealth of hours available. I like it better than washing windows. More funds for the business, I guess:







As it relates to the previous post, I am still feeling pretty awesome about the world and life and all that crap. So, the ambiguity continues.

Vagueness Alert!

I feel as though I can acheive the impossible right now.

When I Watch You...

Tara had a birthday get-together tonight at the Young Avenue Deli. At first, it looked to be the norm for a social gathering of 5 or more people. Even when it's around people I know very well, I tend to say hardly anything both for lack of trying and for lack of inclusion (I'm not really THAT shy). But this did not remain the case as I conversed at great length with Maggie and James. This happened the last time I saw these two which was a good while now - about a year. If that wasn't enough, Edward's girlfriend, Lynn, coincidentally showed up, and we also talked for a bit. This is to say I was having quite a pleasant time with no disrespect meant towards the actual "party" (they were having plenty of fun and alcohol without me). I am capable of chitchatting with the best of them, but I suppose it's much easier to relate to/talk to fellow artists/musicians.

As the night turned into morning, I went to play a Mike Dees show at the Hard Rock Cafe downtown. It was pretty cool. I was very smitten with a waitress there who looked like a Brittany Murphy auditioning for the role of Popeye complete with forearm anchor tattoo. Usually, I am immune to short, blonde hair and bubbly, waitress-like personality, but this morning there was no such luck. This infatuation isn't terminal, but I thought it was worth mentioning given her very distinct appearance if nothing else. Anyway, after the hoard of Egypt Central groupies left, 15 minutes of real pop, real rock ensued. Now, the employees of the Hard Rock Cafe know what it's like to have "For the Birds" super-glued to their brain. So, all in all, I rather enjoyed myself tonight.

Schnikt!



Colorless Christmas lights in the front yard:



Chipmunk.
Chipskunk.
I am debating answering every call I receive with "What's up, crack whore?"

If you have seen Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, then you may be familiar with the scene where Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) gets pushed into the bear pit at the zoo, and she sees the bears and wanting to not wake them, lets out a near-silent "Heeelp!" This is quite similar to the reaction I had when my mother dragged me to Southern Traditions, a store in Olive Branch, about a week ago. Thomas Kincaid, porcelain angels, naked-men-who-I-assume-were-supposed-to-be-Indians-riding-horseback-holding-guns bronze statuettes - these are the things that prompted my inaudible "Heeelp!" that day.

The one set of porcelain nicnacks that actually had a somewhat unique style was the one thing in the store that freaked my mom out. They were faceless people and angels thus relying soley on body language to convey meaning/emotion. I found this humorous.

So, yeah. If you are not happy with your store-full-of-crap and you want some of that faux-small town flair, then mosey on down to the O.B. They are sure to have something overpriced for you!

I Beg Your Pudding

Just saw I Am Legend tonight. It was pretty good. Kind of a 28 Days Later meets Castaway. Monsters-formerly-humans chasing hero plus one guy all by himself going a little loopy (that's not an implication of a twist, I assure you). It wasn't bad, but something about it was...bland.

But the reason I paid my $6.50 (would have gladly paid the $8.50) was for The Dark Knight trailer.

Holy Ca-cow!!!

It looks frickin' amazing. There were things I didn't like about Batman Begins, but all in all, I still enjoyed it. This new one looks to be much more Nolan-esqe. Heath Ledger was not my first choice for The Joker (Tim Roth was always in my head to play a new Joker), but I am certain anyone who sees the trailer will be won over. The laugh alone will convince you. I am officially, overwhelmingly excited about this movie. Which is a whoooole lot more than I can say about the twenty or so new "epic" movies that I saw previews for before The Dark Knight one.

Recent pictures:

Gargle, gargle, gargle

I enjoy me some Robot Chicken, and I really can't get enough of this snippet. Yesterday was boring and uninspiring. I hope today is much better. I am off work again because of the scattered showers (that's my excuse anyway). I really need a new job. Washing windows isn't really bad, but it certainly doesn't pay well (especially part time).

Now that my complaining is over (I could go on and on, though not nearly as much as Michael), the reason I started this blasted blogginess: photography-time!









So, so close to being caught up.

Hahaha. Show Me What You Got.

I had a pit-of-my-stomach sickness earlier this morning. The kind of thoughts depressing enough to make me feel like I might throw up. As much as it pains me to give her this much credit, such thoughts involved my ex-wife and how things ended. It hurts me to think of how she and I both were such cowards. Her, for giving up, bailing out, abandoning something that is supposed to be permanent (even in this fickle, divorce-ridden day in age) and for childish reasons (i.e. she wanted to go be a child - live free and bone someone else she fancied). Me, for letting her go with little fight to no fight at all. As desperate a situation as I found myself, I did nothing. She said the word, and I gave a resounding, "So be it." It could be that my apathy had already set in because I knew it was coming. But this isn't an attempt to analyse (I spent several months of this past year doing more than enough of that). These are just thoughts that, thankfully, I don't have that often anymore, but nonetheless plagued my mind. I guess, even now, as much as I have learned what it is to positively and truly hate another human being and as progressive as my life has been going lately, part of me still wishes things had gone differently.

So, yeah, kind of a drag blog today, but I make no excuses, but I will make it up to you. Nothing but smiley photos:





Since I wrote this entry (I transferred it from my moleskin where I composed it), I feel much better. I don't know if God likes Public Enemy, but as soon as I finished writing, "Who Stole the Soul?" came on my playlist on my phone which made me feel rather awesome.

So, I had three photo shoots this weekend. Trying to get that portfolio ready to go. I can't wait to get everything back. I just finished Tinman, the SciFi Wizard of Oz revamp. It is pretty cool so far. Happenstance is a french movie starring the lovely Audrey Tautou and freaking rocked my world. I also saw HardBoiled for the first time. Wow. Undeniably one of the best action movies ever, but now, my mission is to see The Killer which, to those I've talked to (and respect their opinion), they say is even better.






I think apricot-flavored things (jelly being the item that prompted this line of thinking) are very underrated. I don't know if many people like apricots or even have tried them. They certainly don't seem to be anyone I know's first choice. But my point is that apricots are delicious. So, um, eat them. Eat the jelly that is the kind made with and from said fruit. That is all.

Wheat Bread

I guess my taste buds have changed because I prefer it over white.

Bought All-Star Superman. I also bought a comic called Living With the Dead, a decision that was based soley on the art (which kind of reminds me of Clerks-era Phil Hester). After reading it, I don't really regret it, but it is not really written well at all. You win some. Lose some.

Dog Soldiers, a film by Neil Marshall (Descent), is most awesome. He really is a master of tense are-they-gonna-make-it? moments. I saw on IMDB that he is working on a film called Doomsday so I need to remember to be on the lookout for that one.

"Into the Clear" by Andrew W. K. is a minute and a half of pure hope.

Voila:





Almost up to date, folks.

Your Life Was Ended By Murmaids

So, just trying to catch up a little here. The Dethalbum: awesome! Death Note: The first anime in a good long while that has peaked my interest and sunk its claws in and won't let go. I am hooked. I am finally getting around to shooting the roll of Kodachrome that I bought a month ago. I don't know whether to really make this roll something special or to shoot like normal and expect the results to be the something special. I'm leaning towards the latter because I certainly don't want to force it. Anyway, blah, blah, black and white, blah, blah:

Audrey Tautou's Smile Can Change The World

Even when she's playing a totally obsessed psycho. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is such a film that fits that bill and quite well done might I add. Not life changing but a really good watch. I have been doing some composing today that will hopefully fit into my semi-concept that I am working on. That and watching movies. Here's my a triptych I put together.



I rather like it. I kind of considered doing black bars. I probably wouldn't have out of pure laziness if not for the additional input on the part of chrishaley. If you choose, you can click here, and see this REAL big. If I were remotely html-inclined, I would make the images slightly bigger on here, but I'm just glad I have the current sizes not cut off. So, that is Jason's car that was less than 2 months old before it became totaled (much suckage). Fortunately, he escaped unharmed.

Where There's Gold...

So, wow...haven't updated in a good while. Many things happened some of which I'm sure that I forget. MC Chris show (awesome!). Thanksgiving (much food goodness). Acquired the Dethalbum deluxe edition (\m/!!). Saw/rewatched plenty of good movies: Re-Animator (1st time), Knocked Up, Magnolia to name a few. Of course, I've taken plenty of photographs:









There is plenty more where this came from. I just want to not post too much. I will make a point to update much more frequently. It is weird because I have had inspiration to write blog entries, but I just never got around to doing them. Ah, well. Shut up.

Break Me Off a Piece of That Applesauce

So, I officially reclaimed Regina Spektor today. One of many in a long line of shared or (in this case) mutually appreciated artists/bands that holds some connection with the ex-ball and chain. By the mere quoting of Ms. Spektor's lyrics, I was, for a while, deeply offended - as if to say that my ex doesn't deserve those lyrics. Though my feelings on the matter are steadfast, I can say with pride that Begin to Hope has finally re-entered the fold of the music library...of my heart (aww). I listened to the album four and a half times today, and it was enjoyable every time. Now, if only the same can happen for Children of Bodom and Dir En Grey, I will be all set:









That's all (my brain can throw up) for now. Got a roll back today so I'll be posting again soon.

The Eyes Are The Groin Of The Head

I was going to go into detail about the Ben Harper show and how not amazing it was, but I kind of lost steam. I love Ben Harper (although I have barely heard the new record), but the show was very lack-luster. By saying this, I am even factoring out the fact that he played "Use Me" which, let's face it, is a song that is covered by probably 90% of the local cover bands and the last thing I want to hear any band play ever. Even with that out of the picture, it still didn't have the bite that I remember when I saw him the first time. To say nothing of the fact that the Orpheum is a terrible place to see a rock show. It is pretty, but when you can hear the conversation (MUCH conversation) of the people around you more plainly than you can hear the band, this is not a good sign.

I am not saying that there weren't moments of brilliance because there were. In midshow, he played a long instrumental which was beautiful, but even more than that, the crowd actually shut up for a few minutes. All I can say is that I am glad it was free.

There. Aren't you glad I condensed this down to a small paragraph (and a half)? Had I been overly motivated, it would have been much longer, and a much bigger waste of everyone's time. Anyway, in case you people haven't noticed, I have added The Official Website of Jeffrey Combs to my links to the right. You will probably soon see this picture on there:



I wrote a some words a couple of posts down about my time in Little Rock and getting to meet, not only Jeff Combs, but this guy:



And to top it all off, I found out that the Norse god of thunder is taken:



Sorry, ladies. Well, I suppose that will be all for the time being. Hopefully, I'll be getting to use my plastic Big Shot camera soon. Oh, and pretty, pretty trees/moon/houses/night/stars picture pretty, pretty.