Badwillhunting: November 2004 Archives

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November 29, 2004

Sweet jesus., I hate getting up early

Basically since Thanksgiving I've gotten up every morning before 10 am. For anyone who knows me this is drastically out of character - in fact, it borders on heresy. There have been some good reasons for this though, first of all it was Thanksgiving on Thursday - that was a reason to get up, enjoy some presents (my brother was leaving for basic training so we did half of Christmas on Thanksgiving).

Thanksgiving was good, a little presents, a little movie watching, some turkey dinner, desert and time with family. Friday brought us the wonder of getting to go to Beermann's tailgate party and see Dr. Tom and Nancy and get a quick picture. Dad, Josh and I went to the game and watched the end of the Nebraska Bowl/Winning Season streaks.

Ended up at work for 8 1/2 hours that night. Loooooooong night. Joe Dailey showed up, kind irritated that he wasn't that remorseful about the loss --- he seemed way too happy for only a couple hours after the game. Afterwards Beermann picked me up and we got some booze and went to my house to watch The Prisoner of Azkaban. I passed out (mostly from exhaustion, the ciders in me helped a bit) and woke up in the middle of the night with the DVD Menu looping on the TV.

Next day I got up early again anticipating us heading to a movie or something. In the end, I grabbed lunch with Beermann at HuHot - the new Mongolian BBQ in town. After that, I went back to the house for a little open-house action for my brother. Lots of people came through and there was tons of good food on hand.

Sunday morning involved waking up ass early once again - this time to go get photos in a park. It was freezing outside and we're taking photos. Got out of there in time to hit-up Starbucks and change into work clothes for a nice 5 hour shift. Did pretty well at work and watched as the snow fell.

Had one interruption in a sale when Bob came up from behind and grabbed my ass. Quite astonishing when you're trying to explain something about a DVD recorder and you get violated.

We went to Wasabi for Josh's last dinner in town and his old boss there ended up buying our entire family's dinner. It was pretty awesome. We drove him to Omaha and checked him into the hotel.

Today another early morning to go down there as he got sworn in. We then had breakfast with the grandparents. Got back and made a few phone calls. I have some stuff with a Sony interview for the PSP and an interview with Peter Molyneux for The Movies. Pretty cool stuff.

Now I'm chilling with Drew and Abby and relaxing this evening. Really need to start on some papers due over the next couple of weeks. Meh. Motivation is very low right now.

Spider-Man 2 hits tomorrow - pretty psyched to watch it again as well as a new episode of The Amazing Race. Quite a few pictures to post at some point soon.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)

November 23, 2004

One more song.

Whonder sent me this, I guess all my lyrics inspired him to give me something that he had listened to recently. Here it is. Make sure you get to the last stanza --- kind of sums up my recent situation perfectly.

I think you know what I’m getting at
I find it so upsetting that
The memories that you select
You keep the bad but the good you just forget

And even though I’m angry I can still say
I know my heart will break the day
When you peel out and drive away
I can’t believe this happened

And all this time I never thought
That all we had would be all for not

No, I don’t hate you
Don’t want to fight you
Know I’ll always love you
But right now I just don’t like you
Know I don’t hate you
Don’t want to fight you
Know I’ll always love you
But right now I just don’t like you
Cause you took this too far (too far)

Make your decision and don’t you dare think twice
Go with your instincts along with some bad advice
This didn’t turn out the way I thought it would at all
You blame me but some of this is still your fault

I tried to move you, but you just wouldn’t budge
I tried to hold your hand but you’d rather hold your grudge
I think you know what I’m getting at
You said goodbye and I just don’t want you regretting that

And wisdom always choose
These black eyes and these bruises
Over the heartache that they say
Never completely goes away
(I just can’t believe this happened and one day we’ll see this come around)
And wisdom always choose
These black eyes and these bruises
Over the heartache that they say
Never completely goes away

What happened to us
I heard that it’s me we should blame
What happened to us
Why didn’t you stop me from turnin out this way
And know that I don’t hate you
And know that I Don’t want to fight you
And know that I Know I’ll always love you
But right now I just don’t…

I promise to try and lay off the lyrics for a while :-).

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 05:08 PM | Comments (0)

Sideways, the deeper more profound look

There be spoilers ahead mateys! These are some spoilers about the plot that aren't major at first... some details. There is a major plot spoiler towards the end. I'll denote that again.

So I watched this film last Friday, had some time to write and think about it. I thought I'd share some of the stuff that really touched me in it.

Miles is the main character in the film. A writer who hasn't been able to get published and achieve his dreams, he now is a middle-school teacher just waiting for his book deal to come through. His friend Jack is about to get married, and the two go out for a week of wine, food, and golf.

We learn that Miles has been in a deep depression for a couple of years, really ever since his wife Victoria divorced him. He maintains some hope that perhaps he'll get another chance with her, he's waiting, trying to find some meaning. A waitress, Mya, has expressed interest in our wine critic, but Miles doesn't think he's ready.

Jack then drops the bombshell that Victoria got remarried a few months earlier. No one had told Miles.

This is this really painful moment in the film where I felt completely one with Miles. I knew the pain he felt, I knew the bombshell it was for him, I knew how it hurt him. Miles freaks out, grabs a bottle of wine and starts running down the hill drinking away.

He ends up at a nice dinner later, gets drunk, and leaves to go call Victoria. Once again, an incredibly painful conversation and moment in the film.

Throughout the film we see plenty of uncomfortable moments where things happen that just make you cringe in your seat. Alexander Payne has a beautiful ability to push you outside of a comfortable area as you watch his films.

BEGIN MAJOR SPOILER part

Through the conversations with Mya, we discover that Miles has a bottle of 1961 Chevel Blanc. This rare wine was going to be saved for a huge celebration, he was planning on his 10th wedding anniversary with Victoria. The wine is peaking though, and won't be much good any longer. When he tells Mya he's waiting for a celebration she responds that when you open it, it is a celebration.

Miles is at a shitty commercial winery when he finds out his book deal is over. Everything collapses at this point with Mya, Jack's girlfriend and the trip. They head back for the wedding and Miles must confront Vicki.

He sees Vicki with her new husband. They're talking and he says they should have some wine at the reception (she was as into wines as he is). She responds that she doesn't drink, and Miles doesn't put two and two together right off the bat, amazed she quit. Vicki then drops the bombshell that she's pregnant.

We see Miles leaving the wedding and turning the opposite direction of the traffic, driving home to San Diego from L.A.. He sits alone, maybe close to suicidal - Mya gone, Vicki gone, Vicki pregnant, his book dream dead, in a burger joint.

He chomps on his burger, eats an onion ring, and takes a drink from a styrofoam cup. He looks around, and reaches to a small brown bag and pours more of the 1961 Chevel Blanc into the cup. It's the beautiful scene that stuck with me.

So much there, celebration through all of the hurt, having something beautiful in with burgers and onion rings and a styrofoam cup.

The picture, in many ways says it all.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)

More sing-along lyric fun

Another good one that hit me - it's a little repetitive, but the parts that aren't have some great thoughts, challenges, and perspective. It implies something more is happening in everything, an implication that I believe whole-heartedly. Some added emphasis of my own.

Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next?
What happens next?

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

That last stanza is absolutely awesome in so many ways. It epitomizes I think one of the greatest challenges that all face, and few succeed at. Many don't even realize it.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 12:56 PM | Comments (0)

The Who's on first?

Reminded of a great song today, hauntingly beautiful lyrics. Hit me smack dab in the face. More introspection coming as I sit in the lounge...

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes

No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you

No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool

If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)

Rather annoying

According to Drudge, Dan Rather has announced his retirement effective March.

Finally.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 12:49 PM | Comments (2)

November 22, 2004

Work is fun!

I just got done with my frist real shift of work where I was sent off on my own. I have to say, it wasn't too bad. Though I didn't really know a lot of things, I was able to help most people and the time just flew by as I was pretty much talking to people the whole time.

I'd probably still have even more fun in videogames (given that I know more about all of that stuff) I'm still enjoying home theatre a lot and it's one of the most important places to work.

I'm zoned for DVD Players on Black Friday when we expect to do lots and lots of business. Gonna miss part of the Nebraska game to go there but not much I can do about it.

Started playing Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. I think in the first three hours I've seen five different "rooms" (ie, areas of the jungle that must be loaded), been through each twice, and watched around 2 hours or so of video and codec communications.

Strangely though - I'm still enjoying it in large part because of the gameplay changes. The lack of radar is like kicking out a crutch I've used for a long time while playing Metal Gear. I'll continue to update my progress as I play this and all the other games I need to work on.

Posted by badwillhunting at 03:41 PM | Comments (0)

November 20, 2004

Washing my hands

As Beermann so eloquently put it, it's time to wash my hands of things and allow a course to run its own chart. I can't effect it anymore because I've basically been saddled for the entirity of the problems in a relationship (I take responsibility for for my part which I'd say is about half. But I don't know what happened to justice, personal responsibility or common sense, hey, America is great right?). I don't need to go into anymore detail.

I spoke with Ray in Hawaii tonight, after talking for just a bit about things he said the same thing. Good conversation, he seemed to be lonely and we ended up talking a lot longer than I thought. I really miss seeing him almost on a daily basis and just chilling out while talking about life every night.

I think there is something to be said to really establishing a community of people that you can talk to about anything and work together to help each other. I don't know - I don't think we're solitary creatures, we crave this companionship, friends to talk about deep issues with, to talk about our dark feelings - friends we can trust with those feelings and who trust us likewise.

It's an interesting situation. The community of friends that I have has been stretched to places like Oahu, Kansas City, Montana, Georgia, Los Angeles, and others have kind of checked out of my life completely. I'm amazed that some of managed to keep their circles together beyond the college phase of life, I don't even know if I have enough structure right now to do anything like that.

Regardless, I've been re-energized in the past couple months by work, by my conversations with friends, and by my hope for the great things to come. I know there are some cool things coming up, some soon, some many many years away.

Here's to the future, and here's to the night.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 11:36 PM | Comments (0)

Look ma! A theatre with floors that aren't sticky

Went to the new Grand Theatre in town on its first official night to check out the new Alexander Payne film, Sideways. First, the theatre itself.

I was quite impressed. While there is nothing particularly amazing, there are some cool things. The customer service desk between the front two doors handles gift certficates and online tickets, the main desk has a huge screen above it showing which shows are available, already started, single seats, and sold out (this is pretty new and sexy for Lincoln - even if I have seen it elsewhere in California or Omaha/KC). Another nice touch is that several walls have a subdued stenciling of famous film quotes like "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." There is also a video arcade (wasted floor space in my mind, but the DDR machine seemed to be getting some hick or as Coach Callahan would call it, "hillbilly", love from the folks in town for State Football). The neat thing about the arcade is that it says "The Vault" and there literally is a huge vault door to get in.

When I got there, I tried to use my old set of Real Deal discount cards (trying to finish off the 8 punch ones before the end of the year for maximum free stuff) and the guy argued with me over whether it was still valid. He finally admitted to me that it was when I explained how each punch on it was more valuable. Then he got a sheepish look when he told me he didn't have a stamp. He looked pissed when he realized I had an electronic one too. Heh.

Sideways itself was great. Very similar in tone and content to About Schmidt. Not quite as depressing, but just as many wonderfully awkward situations, depressed and angry moments from the main character and another fat naked chick. This time though, the score is evened a bit with a naked guy (full frontal). All in all I enjoy it somewhere around the level of Schmidt. Maybe not as much, but then again, I've only seen it once. Still, one of the better films I've seen this year along with Eternal Sunshine, Spidey 2, I Heart Huckabees, Garden State and The Incredibles.

I found out last night at work that I have a 7 am meeting (which is 6 hours from now) so I suppose I should attempt to get 5 hours of sleep. What's worse is I guess I have to be in uniform, even though I don't believe I work afterwards. Uniform for a meeting at 7 am... WHEEEE!

Also, I now possess the entire launch lineup for the Nintendo DS... been playing today while waiting for things. Good stuff. The Urbz is a very addictive game - as is most of the rest of the lineup (even Madden is fun).

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 12:36 AM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2004

Touching is good.... very, very good

I may not update for a while. This is why:

I know you hate me Travicon. I'll post more pictures of her soon.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 04:07 PM | Comments (1)

November 16, 2004

Visiting the Beermann!

I finally made the trip to K.C. to see Mr. Beermann at his new place. The Settler of Catan accompanied me (yet he hasn't updated the new blog he started at the night desk a long time ago).

We spent the weekend playing games, eating cheese sauce, shopping, eating great food, touring Beermann's work, and all in all having a great time.

The back of the car was comfy..... real... comfy.

Beermann's workplace, phallic reference, or both?

How we all felt while watching Oklahoma play Nebraska this year.

The Settler came out of the shower to find this awaiting him. Two out of the three of us are probably reading IvoryTower.

The Settler got a new hat... this hat got around all weekend, it was the dirtiest slut of the trip.

See what I mean? The hat is dirty!

The Stephenson Apple Farm was President Truman's favorite place to eat, and we enjoyed it quite a lot ourselves. The whole place is a maze of short hallways, crazy dining rooms and really needs to be turned into a FPS Deathmatch Map.

This is the half-rack of ribs... what the hell does the full one look like?

The Settler and I don't fit.

If you haven't been already, the Beermann's place is a kickass weekend. I'll be going back for more...

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)

Iowa State roadtrip.....

Yeah, this trip didn't go to well. We ended up not being able to pull out a come from behind victory, and I was depressed by how poorly our team played, we should've killed them.

Joe Dailey and the offensive skill players stretching out.

The team heads out to warm up, not many fans in the stadium for warm-up.

Joe Dailey hands off to Cory Ross - the most consistent and effective move in our playbook.

Iowa State fans attempt to tear down their goalposts... ineffectively.

The keys were locked in the car, but given that the parking lot we were in didn't start moving until 2 hours after the game, we had plenty of time to find a coat hanger and bust out.

Thanks to Kerjo and his dad for driving. Good times, even in a loss, and now I only have 9 more Big XII road trips to make.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)

You gotta know what Ray sees

Best set of films playing at a theatre ever.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)

Views from the top

On a recent trip to L.A. I flew over this weather system:

Yeah, it rained a lot the next day.

More water that would be dumped on Lincoln.

The sunset the night before the storm.

Storm gusts can carry a Koala away in the wind.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)

Koala meets his clone (well, maybe with a more flexible neck)

We recently got the Koala a very late birthday present. What praytell was worthy of belating the birthday present of uber-fast-metabolism boy? Only a carbon copy of himself!

Creepily similar.

Koala makes sure the consistency of the ear wax of his Mini-Me is acceptable.

Some corporation should make its hall of fame a bunch of bobbleheads of employees. That'd totally kick ass.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)

The Leaves they're a changin'

This post goes out to new Arizonan Tom Rice... here's some pictures of all the leaves turning colors here in Lincoln (click for slightly better versions).

Can you find all the letters in the alphabet?

Pretty tree.

Hard to rake up metal leaves.

More cool trees.

One of those Nebraska sunsets.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 08:51 PM | Comments (1)

Mesa back!

I know I've been a while... but here's some fun shit:

Dez is waiting for you.

And Stolee lives to satisfy.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 08:23 PM | Comments (0)

November 03, 2004

Bush wins... thank God

I need a nap now after all of the late nightness/getting up fairly early to keep watching.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)

November 01, 2004

Fuck this whole tilt thing

My winter melancholy set in over this weekend. The clocks got set back, and right now its getting dark around 5:30, which is not where it'll stop. This really bugs me. It was completely dark at 6... SIX!

I have some pictures of the leaves changing color (all for you Tom), but I haven't gotten around to posting them. I'm being lazy right now and don't want to dick with photos. Maybe tomorrow. Meh. It's this melancholy. I'm feeling lazy right now.... very lazy. Course, I'm blogging from laying in my bed, so probably lazy.

Watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind... maybe it's not the best movie for me right now. I dunno. Dammit. I need to shut my brain off. I should probably find some sort of job to occupy myself... I need to meet some new people and invest some time. I thought I had some slam dunk work opportunities that didn't pan out.

I should probably sleep, I need to return to a less Beermann-in-college-like-schedule. Speaking of Beermann, I think I might as well go down there the weekend of the Oklahoma game...

I'm crazy. I need to sleep more often, and find something to work on that's a bigger goal. Well, I have those, I just don't have anything else to do right now towrds them, I think.

Weird... my brain is fried,
-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 02:25 AM | Comments (0)

I saw Saw

Wow... what a fucked up movie. Not really scary, just warped. Worth a matinee/student price for sure. I don't want to spoil anything, but if you're a fan of MYST style games or something like that you might see some inspiration.

-Will

Posted by badwillhunting at 01:22 AM | Comments (0)