at this point in my life, I've just realized that I have no idea what I want, or where I'm going, and that really, really scares me.

so here goes.

I would like to express a grievance I have with the new McDonald's ads for the "Southern Style" Chicken Sandwich and Biscuit.

Fact: Southern people are associated with fried chicken, and not without reason.
Fact: Southern people are also associated with biscuits, again, not without reason.

Syllogism: Just because Southern people are associated with the above food items, that does NOT mean that we regularly eat them both at the same time...especially not for breakfast.

I spent the first twelve years of my life in Louisiana, which I consider to be the South, and not once, ONCE, in my life, did I ever eat fried chicken on a biscuit for breakfast. Not only did I never partake in such, but I have never seen anyone else do it either. I understand that we, as Southern people, may tend to be overweight, and out diet certainly plays no small part in that, but give me a break. In their commercial, two people with (obviously exaggerated) Southern accents are reminiscing about their "Mommas'" good ol' home cookin'. One of the gentlemen in question says that "These Southern California folk just don't know about fried chicken for breakfast."

And, I will venture, they don't. But neither to do Southern people. Granted, I am sure that some people in the South do eat fried chicken for breakfast, but certainly no more than do the same right here in Los Angeles. For one thing, frying chicken is not something I can think of anyone wanting to do very early in the morning. It's hot, messy, and takes too damned long to make it a worthwhile breakfast treat. I suppose if one wanted to heat up some leftover fried chicken from the day before and eat that for breakfast, one could, but that would just make them lazy, and in no way signifies that fried chicken is part of the everyday Southern breakfast. You know what is though?

SAUSAGE.

Sausage is something that I would eat with biscuits on a regular basis, because both of them are reasonable and logical breakfast foods. But, McDonalds already has a sausage biscuit, so they wouldn't get to have a fun little marketing project, now would they?

Sometimes I hate people.

This Holiday season has, surprisingly, been really pleasant. Florida was certainly a trip. It was hotter than hell down there, and the aforementioned people were stuffier than, well, old people. Coco and I don't get to spend as much time with Henry, and I'd never met his kids, so it was really cool to be down there and spend time with new people. Seeing Momma was great, because I hadn't seen her since August, and I was sad. Henry's kids suprised me with their lack of manners, but Momma said not to take it personally. It was only their standing us up on Christmas Day that made me angry, but in the long run, it was a thoroughly pleasant experience.

Shreveport, in contrast, was colder than a witch's tit, and I was glad I had Dad bring my sweaters down with him, or I would've frozen to death. The various Old People were surprisingly morose this trip, going on about death and such, but then again, I guess Old People tend to do that; dwell on the future. I didn't really get to see any of my friend while I was there though, which was too bad. I was so busy shuffling from family members that I had little time to do anytihng else. Next time.

New years was sort of fun. I don't know why I let the girls crash at my apartment thought. That was a mistake, and they didn't even thank me. They just up and left that next morning, without even saying so much as goodbye. All this after making me leave the New Years Party we were at, and then they proceeded to bitch at me about how they wanted to go out again. I wasn't having it, and they got all pissy, so I went to sleep.

Today I cooked. A lot. I baked two cakes, one chocolate gingerbread (with icing I made from scratch) and the other quadruple Chocolate. They were/are pretty good, not gonna lie. Then I made Spaghetti Carbonara for me and Dad and Elissa for dinner. It was good too. I want to cook again, but I think tomorrow I'll be out all day shopping, so I'll have to budget wisely.

So... I don't know how I feel about Palm Beach. I mean, it's nice, and the architecture is pretty, but it's a little....bland. Like, 75% of the people I've seen are over 70, and I have yet to see any other young people. I don't know where they hang out, or what they do. Also, mom's been riding my ass about my clothes. Apparently, it is not seemly for someone of my station to walk around in jeans and a t-shirt. I don't know what the fuck's up with that. Everyone wears like, slacks and polos, and like, blazers. Even people my age. There is only one store I've found so far that sells, like, trendy mens clothing. Everything else looks like Brooks Brothers. Which I love, but just not all that much. And mom made me shave. Apparently having a beard is a no-go down here. I don't understand all the rules, but it's startingto chap my ass. She even went as far as to go through my clothes and take out things that I shouldn't wear while I'm here, uncluding my Green and white Dunks. I love those shoes, and so help me God, I'm wearing them.

Life is good. I may have missed a little class here and there, but all in all, I'm pretty confident that I held it together this semester. Also, I've decided that I should write more, both in my journal and in general. I've been floating around a few ideas for screenplays and such, and I figure "hey, why not?" So, with that in mind, I guess an update is in order.

As stated in the paragraph above, life is good. So far, this semester, I've managed to have a lot of fun, make great new friends, and become closer to some of my old friends. The whole Katie debacle took a bit out of me, but now I feel I'm a better man for it. She seems happy, and I know I'm happy, so I'd say it was a win-win situation. Certain other members of the female population here seem not to have gotten the memo that being a flirt is one thing, but being a cocktease is another entirely. Not okay. SBG has been fun. I never realized how much I missed last year by not getting involved on campus. It's a great way to make new friends and expose yourself to new things. I've gotten used to being the only white boy in a group of otherwise ethnically inclined people, so the novelty of that wore off quickly, and I think its a group that I could be a part of for a good while. I've been thinking about auditioning for the VoCals next Spring, and I probably will. I kept chickening out before, and then I did legitimately lose my voice the week of auditions this fall, but hopefully, with a little prayer and a little Throat Coat (and maybe a little less smoking), this Spring will see a new VoCal.

I have also managed to not only maintain my summer weight, but actually lose a few pounds in the process. I don't know how it happened, but a diet of cigarettes, goldfish crackers and sprite seem to do the trick. Also, there doesn't seem to be much nutritional value to the food at the dining halls here, so that might have been a contributing factor as well. I do however, need to do a little Spring Cleaning when I get back, or before I leave, even. This place is a dump. Hardcore.

I love my new car. Y'all know mama didn't raise no hippie, but she didn't raise no fool neither, so the Prius seems like it'll work out for the long haul. Plus, we bought it, so I'm gonna be driving that bitch for a while. It's got a smooth ride, gets good gas mileage, and has a killer sound system. And since we bought it, I can tint the windows, add some speakers, make it my own, as I was unable to do with the leases. I don't think I'll be able to put rims on it though, the tires are too small.

In a strange turn of events, the CU Buffaloes are playing 'Bama in the independence Bowl, and we'll be in Shreveport when it happens, so we might go, if only to support Cocos people. It should be a fun winter break regardless. I am excited to go to Palm Beach to see mama. I have never been there before, so it will be a new experience for me. Also, I've never met Henry's kids before, so that should be interesting.

Okay. That's enough for now. I must get back to studying for my Hindi Final.

new layout...what do y'all think?

Now, as most of you know, I am no radical animal lover. I have often said that I disapprove of PETA and their methods, and still do in many cases, but now I'm not so sure. I just spent the last half hour making myself look at photos and videos of animal cruelty, and y'know what? After about five minutes I found myself bawling like a little baby. I had no idea that the indignities inflicted upon animals were so many and varied. I have always been opposed to animal testing, but some of the photos I have seen tonight actually made me vomit. Some of the "experiments" that people perform on animals have no practical application, or at least appear not to, and even if they do, it's still sickening.

For one, I find scientific experimentation on primates of any kind to be reprehensible. I have always held this belief, but it has been reinforced. Some of the things that Universities in the United States and Abroad do to "lesser" primates, such as cerebral vivisection, psychological stress induction, and various other things are simply some of the most heinous crimes I can imagine. We know that primates are intelligent, so why must we subject them to torture? If you don't think it's torture, look at the face of a macaque as it's strapped to a chair and its (exposed) brain is being fiddled with by researchers. WHAT THE FUCK?!

Also, vivisection in general. I didn't used to get riled up about testing on rabbits and mice and rats and such, because I never really thought of them as intelligent animals. Well. I don't care how intelligent an animal is, but inflicting radiation burns on a rabbit and then leaving the wound untreated to see how long it takes to die is not right.

Thirdly, Dogs. Who The Fuck decided that medical and scientific testing on dogs was okay? How can you look into the face of a dog (commonly beagles, no less), and not want to give it a hug? some of the things I have seen dogs subjected to are inhumane and inhuman. I won't go into it, because some of you may have weak stomachs. I will say, however, that I firmly believe that EVERYONE involved in research, testing or slaughter is thoroughly sociopathic.

I know that I brag that I'll eat anything that bleeds when you kill it, but I dunno anymore. If I could, I'd probably stop eating meat altogether.

i want another tattoo.

1) Open up your music collection.
2) Shuffle through a dozen songs.
3) Post the first couple of lines from each in your journal.
4) Tell people when they guess them correctly.
5) Don't be too much of a hard-ass. If you quoted the Stevie Ray version of "Superstition" and they guess that it's the Stevie Wonder version, have the grace to acknowledge they have no way of knowing the difference without additional clues.


1. I am a man of constant sorrow, I've seen trouble all my days. I bid farwell to old Kentucky, the State where I was born and raised...naked_irish

2. Think of this heart as an old accident, a hardened hit and run.

3. I'll never be a knight in armor, with a sword in hand, or a kamikaze fighter. Don't count on me to storm the barricades and make a stand, or to hold my ground.

4. Where did my baby go, I wonder where she ran off to. I miss my baby so, I'm calling but I can't get through....naked_irish

5. Four, Tres, Two, Uno....Listen up y'all, cuz this is it, the beat that I'm bangin' is the next shit.

6.  I'm so krispy, I'm so krispy, my G900 shoes $850. I'm so krispy, I'm so krispy, my ice game make you haters wanna get me.

7. Never met a man quite like you. Doin' all he can, makin' my dreams come true.

8. Ne de güzel kaşların var, Ne de güzel kaşların var Rastık sürm,ek ister Osman Aga

9. Σε πόνεσ' η καρδιά μου και σε γουστάρει,  Θέλω τα δυο σου χέρια για μαξιλάρι

10. Do yo chain hang low, do it wobble to the flo' do it shine in the light, is it platinum, is it gold?

11. Oh my soul, sometimes we don't know what to do. We work so hard bein' tough on our own, but now it's me and you.

12. Do I attract you, do I repulse you with my queasy smile? Am I too dirty, am I too flirty, do I like what you like?

Number One was Tony Furtado, but still, credit goes to naked_irish for both.

I just had the strangest sequence of dreams I've ever had.

First, it was a short dream, but disturbing nevertheless. The gist of the dream was that my ex sent out a mass e-mail graphically detailing and rating the 15 or 20 guys she had slept with since we broke up. I woke up soon after that, so I don't remember much else. But it was strange. I don't know if it is anywhere near the truth, but still.

After I fell back to sleep, I was in a casino, and it was seemingly innocuous. I was standing next to a roulette table, and the crowd sort of parted for me to join in, and someone was calling someone a donkey, and said that I didn't realize why that was such an insult. Then it got really quiet, and I started speaking in Farsi, basically saying "what's up? get back to it! go! go!" Then I realized that one of the other players was Ewan McGregor. After a while, the dealer was like "You have to pay up, Ewan" and he was all "But I'm Ewan McGregor!" and so the dealer said if he didn't pay up in cash or chips, he'd have to pay up in blood. And not figuratively, he meant like, a cup of blood. Then, for some reason, he got really belligerent, and I pulled a knife on him. But not like, a fighting knife, it was a dinner knife, and not a sharp one at that. We started fighting, and I would get in a few hits every now and then, but then he pulled a cheese knife and we really got into it. Then, for some reason, I started talking as if I were Yul Brynner in Taras Bulba. And then I woke up.

1) Answer questions and type into Google image search
2) Post pictures from results

These are the top 200 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing's users (as of today). Bold what you have read, Italicise what you started but couldn't finish, and Strikethrough what you couldn't stand. The Numbers after each title represents the LT users who tagged that book.

Ugh. I'm done trying. If I recall properly, it was Me that met quite a few of you...oh yeah, and me who you hung out with over summer. Maybe I'm wrong. But I guess I'm glad. You've made your intentions more than clear. And I hate you all. Well, all but a few of you, even though to a one you are liars and bad, bad friends.

A. Go here: http://www.careercruising.com/default.asp
B. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
C. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
D. Post the top twenty results.
E. Bold your preferences.

1. Historian
2. Anthropologist
3. Curator
4. Family and Consumer Scientist
5. Chef
6. Foreign Language Instructor
7. ESL Teacher
8. Professor  
9. Set Designer
10. Costume Designer

Surprisingly few surprises.

did I REALLY just see a TV advertisement for Abstinence?



REALLY?