Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

• 01.19.10 Disk Utility: The underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972) posted in Technology, Uncategorized

  Hello, Disk Utility. You’re usually a great tool. Not today. All I wanted to do was Verify Disk Permissions and you would immediately spit back at me:

  Error detected while verifying/repairing permissions on disk4s2 Server HD: The underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972)

  There were no physical disk errors reported and I just had a gut feeling that there was something else going on.

  Turns out, there was. /Library/Receipts. This directory is incredibly hard to find documentation on, which is why I’m writing about it here.

  The problem:
  Permissions for the entire Disk Utility receipts directory structure was wrong causing it to error immediately upon check.

  ls -l /Library/Receipts
  drwxr-xr-x 31 axl admin 1054 Nov 23 13:41 boms
  drwxr-xr-x 3 axl admin 102 Jan 12 16:50 db

  The fix:
  Recursively give the boms & db folders the right permissions.

  chown -R _installer:wheel /Library/Receipts/boms
  chown -R _installer:admin /Library/Receipts/db

  ls -l /Library/Receipts
  drwxr-xr-x 31 _installer wheel 1054 Nov 23 13:41 boms
  drwxr-xr-x 3 _installer admin 102 Jan 13 10:46 db

• 05.27.09 Engagement photo session posted in Uncategorized

  On Saturday, I had the wonderful opportunity to have an engagement photo session with Emily and our photographer, Stacy Richardson. We travelled to downtown Annapolis where we proceeded to change into some vintage inspired clothing and walk around town for about an hour. Then we changed into some more casual clothing (which I was very thankful for because it was 85 degrees out and I was HOT), went to a park, and goofed off for another hour. I love the teaser pictures that Stacy was kind enough to post on her website and can’t wait to see how the rest come out.

  Emily looked absolutely gorgeous in her dress and heels. She spent a lot of time on that dress, trying to make everything just right. And I think she did. So well, in fact, that a few people actually thought we had just gotten married!

  Doing this made me a lot more comfortable being around someone taking our pictures all day. At first I wasn’t sure what to do but by the end I felt really good at being myself. I can’t wait to do it again on our wedding day!

• 03.12.09 Moved in and moving forward posted in Uncategorized

  I’ve completed the move into new house. It really feels like that today because Comcast finally came out and installed my cable line — meaning I now have the Internet. The move was so absolutely jam packed that it seems like ages ago and seems like I’ve done so much since then. I can’t even remember the last time I went climbing or did anything but work on the house. I can’t remember the last time I could sit around for more than an hour on a reliable internet connection. This house has been a full-time job, albeit something I made into a full-time job, but a full-time job regardless. It’s weird to be sitting around here and thinking about business and ideas again. Hopefully the comfort of being in here and being able to dream and have some freedom again will lead to some creative posts and ideas!

• 02.17.09 New hobbies posted in Uncategorized

  I came to an interesting realization today: My two passions, lindy hop and bouldering, are relatively new hobbies in mainstream media. Both were emerging and gaining popularity just as I was in high school. Things that didn’t exist in my childhood like having a local climbing gym or a local dance scene (on certain levels the dance scene did exist but not as it does today) are something that would actually be accessible and cool to someone of age 16 today. I don’t doubt there were areas around the world that picked up on these cultures sooner than others but it makes me wonder about the future of my investment in both if they are so incredibly new. And if they are just a phase, they must be leading to bigger and better passions. But what could be better? I have no freaking clue!

• 12.15.08 For sale posted in Uncategorized

  I have a bunch of stuff that I’m trying to sell before the Christmas holiday. If you or anyone you know might be able to use any of this stuff, please let me know! I haven’t had a chance to take pictures of everything yet, so check this page a couple times for additional items.

  Electronics:

  • HP Laserjet 2840 – $350
  • Hitachi CM772 19″ CRT monitor – $40
  • Netgear RP614 router – $10
  • Sonos BU80 bundle – $600
  • Sony Trinitron 36″ KV36FS13 TV and stand – $350
  • Griffin radio SHARK – $15
  • JVC DVD player – $20
  • Panasonic TAU 27″ Flat Screen TV, Model CT-27SX12F – $110
  • Sanyo AVM-2055 20″ TV – $20

  Xbox Games:

  • Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory – $10
  • Fable – $10
  • Halo – $10
  • Halo 2 – $10
  • Castlevania Curse of Darkness – $10
  • Ninja Gaiden Black – $15
  • Mega Man Anniversary Collection – $5

  Xbox 360 Games:

  • Project Gotham Racing (PGR) 3 – $10

  Furniture:

  • Grey metal/padded office chairs – $70
  • Modern art print – $25
  • Ikea Sandhem black leather sofa – $400

  Household:

  • Kensington Desktop Vac – $10
  • Roomba Discovery robotic vacuum – $90
  • Sharp Carousel Microwave R-308JW – $30
  • GE microwave oven – $20
  • Whirlpool WHKM-D40 water cooler – $90
  • Tall birch-colored Ikea wardrobe
  • Simple Human 38L stainless steel trash can – $80
  • Ikea ironing board – $20

  Collectibles:

  • Cal Ripken Jr commemorative bobbleheads (set of 3) – $40
  • Melvin Mora Bobblehead – $10

  Clothing/Accessories:

  • Wilson’s Leather brown computer bag – $30
• 04.02.08 Photo gallery updates posted in Uncategorized

  I realized today how behind I was behind on updating my picasaweb photo gallery for friends and family. There are some really good images up there, including some gigs Emily and I did with Sommer and Dorry. I’ll just go right ahead and give you links to each so you can easily view what’s new.

  Boston Tea Party 2008

  Painting Emily's house

  Baltimore Bandstand Gig

  Jewish Museum of Maryland opening exhibit

  Ice rain camping at Green Ridge

  Hanging out at Adam's

  Emily's Christmas present

  
  

• 06.04.07 Poison ivy stinks posted in Uncategorized

  After my relatively small stint with poison ivy from Shreveport, I should have been a bit more careful with my decision to play paintball in the woods on Saturday. Woops. I have poison ivy all over my forearms now. DOH! I’m terribly uncomfortable. I think I need some of the stuff DDD recommended in my last post.

  Regardless, the game was fun and it was nice to spend an entire day with Josh and other friends I have not seen in over a year. Josh will be getting married in a couple weeks and I’m looking forward to the wedding where I’ll be able to swing dance with EEE.

  On a side-note, how could I have forgotten that I already was in a wedding where I swing danced. I must be getting forgetful in my old age.

• 04.10.07 Pee shivers posted in Uncategorized

  I managed to come across a mildly interested article a few moments ago titled “ The mysterious pee shiver.” I’ve always been quite shocked when I’m in the bathroom with a guy who orgasms whilst peeing by letting out an “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.” It seems so unnatural. Yet obviously, there is some somewhat-factual cause for this.

  Equally odd are the men who strike a pose similar to the “hands up you’re surrounded” police pose whilst urinating. I don’t get it. I simply don’t get it, yet men everywhere feel the need to hug the wall while they pee. At least hugging the wall is a bit more manly than being unable to pee standing up. I remember reading a story a few days ago about some poor sap who couldn’t pee unless he was sitting down. Now that… is sad!

  The cold I spoke about last entry has managed to stick around as some form of whooping cough, not quite whooping or as dangerous as the actual whooping cough, especially since I was vaccinated earlier this year, yet still quite annoying. Just thought I’d update those who are thinking, is he still sick?

• 03.15.07 Television shows I can watch posted in Uncategorized

  There are very few television shows I can stomach for a duration of time, but thanks to my trusty “cool gadgets for the cool guy” website, Uncrate, I’ve just learned that one of my favorite shows, Man vs. Wild, recently came out on DVD.

  I’d love to befriend someone like Bear Grylls one day and go out for a survival course or two with nothing on my back. I’m sure it would be uncomfortable and challenging, but a challenge like that is something I’d love to conquer and say I’ve done. It would make me feel a little more comfortable backpacking alone, knowing I’ve been in a survival situation before and gotten through it.

  Now, if only my parents gave me a name like Bear!

• 02.08.07 Anna Nicole Smith conspiracy posted in Uncategorized

  I don’t usually post stories from news sources, but this is literally “hot off the press” and I think is really interesting:

  Reality TV star and former model Anna Nicole Smith was pronounced dead Thursday after being taken to a Florida hospital, a law enforcement source told CNN.

  This was taken from CNN.

  I think there must be some sort of conspiracy against her. Most likely, the money she made marrying the old billionaire tycoon, but then lost to his son in a court ruling, but then he died, but then her son died, and now she’s died — must have something to do with it. Talk about bad money. Bad karma!

• 01.18.07 Who is more sensitive? posted in Uncategorized

  I sometimes wonder about the whole "pain concept." Can women really take pain better then men? Case in point: I can hold a much hotter pot or pan in my bare hands without it scorching my skin than EEE or a number of other ladies in my life. Now, one could argue that I can handle more pain than them from that situation, so why in the world do people always say women can withstand more pain then men? Perhaps there are studies that prove me wrong somehow. Maybe men truly are less sensitive then women (emotionally and physically — har har). If so, how can someone say that women take pain better. How do you even measure the threshold of pain? Perhaps women can deal with truly traumatic pain better because there is some sort of woman pain dealing mechanism, so whereas a man would simply shut down and proceed to die the woman continues to deal, but is that a true measure of how someone can take pain?
  

• 01.11.07 One down posted in Uncategorized

  Got one thing on my resolution list down. I am now the proud homeowner of a house about 4 blocks away on Fait Ave. There’s so much work to do and so much more I could do on the house. I’m having some trouble grasping where to start and how much to try and do at once. Other than that though, I’m basking in the fact that I could be living in my house just as soon as I add a bathroom and remodel the upstairs and drywall everything and redo the kitching. Ack! What was I thinking?
  
  
  
  Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that it’s in bad shape. It’s just that it could be in better shape. And while making it in better shape, why not go all out and do it all the right way. Right?
  

• 12.15.06 First and best gift posted in Uncategorized

  Chris M. You rock! And Gift List It, you rock too! Seriously! I added an axe there because I needed an axe. You don’t know how embarrassing it is borrowing an axe from a neighboring camper or using your swiss army knife saw (yeah, the 4" one…) to cut wood while you’re car camping. I looked at home depot a couple times but couldn’t bring myself to buy a fiberglass axe. I really just wanted a classic wood axe and what do you know, I received a wooden axe in the mail today. It looks kind of special too… from a place called Snow & Nealley and says it’s handcrafted, sharpened, etc. I’m impressed and very grateful. My friends are so good about buying awesome gifts, especially when I have the damnedst time buying them something (if I ever even do).
  
  
  
  My worries about Chris being an axe murderer are now sufficiently quelled, especially due to the fact that I can now kill him just as easily as he could kill me. And that is why this is the best gift. Who needs a gun (*cough* Dom) when you have an axe. Muhahaha! Thanks Chris!

• 10.09.06 Growing up, buying a house posted in Uncategorized

  Heather and I placed an offer on a house on Saturday. It’s so close to our place now that we literally could walk everything over there. I’m excited, a bit scared, and very anxious about getting this place. We’ll see what they think of our offer. With the market now, we’re in a situation where we can lowball things and we did, so if we’re lucky things will go well with what we offered. A lot of responsibility, but then again, it’s great to know we’re taking this step towards being all grown up.
  

• 09.22.06 25 posted in Uncategorized

  And so it is that I turn the big quarter of a century, or half a half of a century today. I’d like to point out that I’m wearing jeans with holes in them and still feel quite young, although my body is feeling a little ragged from climbing rather extensively last night. I’d also like to point out that 5.8’s have begun to seem easy, whereas 5.9’s are impossible to complete. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s annual gala was last weekend, and to make myself seem older I wore a tux and pretended to be important. I have pictures and promise to see them soon, although who here actually cares what I look like in a tux? You all just come here for the pictures of my hot girlfriend anyway. Admit it.

• 07.07.06 Like father, like son posted in Uncategorized

  
  
  Check out those Adidas kicks! Either my Dad is 22 years ahead of his time, or I’m retro-cool.
  

• 06.26.06 Myspace suit posted in Uncategorized

  Being a part of the web application world, I thought I might mention how absurd this recent Myspace suit is. I really hope out of a matter of principle myspace and its lawyers fight instead of just paying off the plaintiff’s. I found an article in the New York Times this morning that was pretty good overview and some good quotes, including:
  
  
  

  "This MySpace lawsuit is reminiscent of a relatively new and sometimes lucrative form of American justice: the consumer passing blame to a provider," Ms. Swindler wrote. "Is it the fault of Philip Morris if people become addicted to ‘light’ cigarettes? (A jury said it is.) Is it the fault of McDonald’s if a customer if burned when she spills hot coffee? (Also yes, according to a jury.) And is it MySpace’s fault when teenage girls are duped by older men? I guess we’ll see what a jury decides."

  
  
  
  
  And another, which had me chuckling and questioning my 8 coffee-a-day, 6pack a night, chain smoking habits:
  
  
  

  "I recognize that there’s a certain part of the population who don’t know a steady fried chicken diet is bad for them. I feel bad for these people," Mr. Chan wrote. "However, these are probably the same people who don’t put on their seatbelts and who suck down endless coffee during the day and Coors at night. So let’s be honest with ourselves here. You’re not going to save these people. You’re just screwing up the chicken for the rest of us."

  
  
  
  
  This was referring to the recent KFC suit for partly hydrogenated oils. Darwin at his best, baby!

• 06.12.06 Broken car posted in Uncategorized

  Due to unforecastable vandalism, my car is still leaking water when it rains. How am I handling this? I’m ignoring the issue as long as I can so I can find the bastard and break his motherfucking knees.
  
  
  
  Really though, I don’t think I ever had anything stolen until recently, and I’m down a bike seat, an iPod, a car window, and a bunch of other stuff. The window is replaced now, but I wanted to publicly complain about the lack of courtesy inner city vandals have. If you want my iPod, come get it from me face to face, you scared bitch!
  

• 06.12.06 An Inconvenient Truth posted in Uncategorized

  I went to the premier of An Inconvenient Truth with a group of friends on Friday. I have some mixed feelings about the movie, but it was close to what I expected — which was what I’d call a very political movie geared towards making you believe in and want to do something about the global warming problem versus being a discovery channel special on what we can do to fix the global warming problem.
  
  
  
  EEE could be seen gritting her teeth through lots of the movie, while everyone else seemed to find it somewhat interesting. I bring her up because I don’t want to give anyone the impression that this is a movie filled with countless great tips that will have an immediate effect on the world. It’s more of a "wake up and rattle the doors of your politicians" kind of movie, the kind that makes Al Gore look like a saint. (And well, compared to G.B. that isn’t all that suprising). She expected some compelling evidence and some equally impressive solutions which was not the case.
  
  
  
  I think they could have rounded it a bit more and given us some tips on what we can immediately do to save energy, but who hasn’t heard the things we can do to save energy thousands of times? The idea is larger, that as a nation the US should be paving the way towards energy efficiency but instead we’re far, far behind. Lawmakers are the people who have a good bit of authoritative control over this progress, so it’s up to us to get them to move in this direction.
  
  
  
  If the idea of the movie interests you, or if you saw the movie with me, you might be interested in another movie coming out soon called Who Killed the Electric Car? Another politically oriented, tree-hugging, energy crisis type of movie.
  
  
  
  Oh, and a small rant here. Al Gore is quoted as saying "This isn’t so much a political issue as it is a moral issue." I’ve been very careful about my use of the word "moral" since I read Garner’s insightful Beyond Morality, and while I guess it works for most people, I’d much rather AG make this an ethical issue of the people of the world than saying we have some sort of moral obligation to fix this problem.
  

• 05.31.06 No hair posted in Uncategorized

  I’d been threatening to cut my hair for a while and I finally did it last night. I know EEE does not like it, but I think I look a bit scarier. Maybe now people will think twice before messing with me. The funny thing is, the before picture to the left is one of the best pictures I’ve taken in a while. It’s been really hard to learn how to smile right after the surgery. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll grow it back soon.
  
  
  
  
  

• 05.25.06 The froth (otherwise known as latte head) posted in Uncategorized

  Lattes at Starbucks have this froth on the top. I can’t think of any other place I’ve ever gotten one before with froth. I really like the froth. It’s definitely, definitely, the best part. It’s almost like beer head, but better, and well, I think it’s milk not beer. It could be coffee froth and coffee froth would be even better but I’m not sure that is possible. I wonder how hard it is to make froth like Starbucks. Do you need some sort of special froth machine? Normal steamers don’t seem to add froth, but maybe I’ve never used a professional level steamer. However, I’d guess I’d have to have been at some professional coffee shop once in my life. Strange.

• 05.22.06 Meet the family posted in Uncategorized

  The inevitable meeting between myself and Emily’s family happened as well. Not a bad inevitable, just inevitable as in it had to happen at some point or another and I wasn’t about to go in dragging my nails, kicking and screaming. In fact, I can honestly say I was pretty excited to meet them. I had met her mother before but it wasn’t a, “Hi, we’re together” thing it was more of a, “Yea, we dated once” thing and then I danced with her. So I’m sure I was on her good side for at least dancing with her. And well, mothers aren’t really scary to begin with. Fathers on the other hand can be, and although Emily’s father has a few inches on me, I think I could take him. Not that I tried, you know… but of course I sized him up just on the chance that he took me by suprise. Hah! Little would he have known I was prepared!

  I had dinner with her mother and sister Thursday night at the “other” tapas place near Emily’s apartment while we sat outside in the cold. Then we got crepes, which I have to say are awesome with caramel and I got my own which meant no compromising with Emily on whether or not we can have caramel. Then on Saturday, I took her family on the gunpowder hike east from Bel Air Road to Pot rocks, where we had fun trying not to fall in the water and then after we did fall in, just walking through the water and goofing around. Dinner Saturday night was with her entire family, including her father’s parents, her aunt, Alan, and Anne Charlotte over at Rocco’s Capriccio in Little Italy. We had a few bottles of Clos du Bois Merlot, which has been one of the tops on my “wines I like” list for quite a while.

  Sunday morning Heather and I had breakfast over at Claddagh’s pub with some great stuffed french toast, sausage, pancakes, and scrapple. Yes, we both love scrapple and yes, we both know how gross it really is. Then we walked around Canton a bit and spoke of our dreams of owning a house here and conveniently went into two open houses. The views were incredible and I lost track of time when I realized I was supposed to be over at Emily’s for a round of disc golf in Druid Hill Park with her family. Luckily, they were late as well and I met them over at the course just after they finished the second hole. They had to leave before we finished the game, and I left to spend my typical Sunday evening with my family.

  So meeting her parents was good. I really wasn’t too nervous. I think the only bad thing is that they all saw the inside of my house, which was very unexpected and not nearly in presentable fashion. I wasn’t about to deny them of the use of my bathroom though, which luckily wasn’t in all that bad shape. Shew! Hopefully next time I spend time with Emily’s family, we’ll have electricity 90% of the time and my house will be clean.

• 05.22.06 Graduations congratulations posted in Uncategorized

  A lot of us just graduated: Heather got her bachelors. So did Shannon. Dan got his tech certification for being a mechanic. Emily got her masters. Her sister (Ashley) got her bachelors as well. And well, I got my associates too! Not that I think it’s nearly on the level of a bachelors or even better, a masters.
  
  
  
  Due to the unusual festive situation, there have been all kinds of gatherings, including this wonderful dinner on Friday night with the Marsiglia and Lancaster families over at our favorite local Thai hangout in Towson, Thai One On. We had a camera with us, so as soon as I can steal some pictures from my father’s camera I’ll be posting them here on this post and in my gallery.

• 05.02.06 Vice versa posted in Uncategorized

  On the drive back from backpacking in Shenandoah, there’s a slight disparity in messages on billboards in Baltimore — at least when interpreted only on the print and not in context. First you see a sign that says "Celebrate cultural diversity" then you see a sign that says "The road to equality." I found it a bit ironic that these two almost opposite messages exist. Each has it’s importance and in context I’d totally agree with the message behind each. Yes, it is important to treat all people equal. Yes, it is important to celebrate and embrace cultural differences. At the same time though, striving to completely embrace each is hard because of the principles behind the message:
  
  
  
  I think the point behind celebrations of cultural diversity is to develop a sense of identity and belonging to a group. This is primarily for the members of a group. It’s just plain and simple human nature to yearn for a sense of belonging somewhere. As a secondary result, this will bring awareness of the group and its culture to others so perhaps they understand and can embrace the differences as well.
  
  
  
  In contrast, I think equality in society is based around the notion that we’re all human, all one in the same, all part of one big melting pot of culture, race, or religion. We all deserve a chance at being treated just like your brother, mother, or friend.
  
  
  
  Where am I going with this? Nowhere really, I’m just entertaining the idea that the age-old struggle between cultures will always exist because it’s an impossible thing to balance when you yearn for both diversity and similarity. I realize similarity is based upon a principle that we’re all different and that we should still treat each other the same, but I think that right there is human nature at its best. When you have it one way, you want it the other and vice versa. Hence, I like my vegetables with salt and cracked pepper. Having just one would never taste right. Epiphany… no, but food for my thoughts, at least. Yum.
  

• 04.17.06 A little bit slower posted in Uncategorized

  I’ve been slow to write here, mainly because I’m doing a lot outside of here that I just can’t seem to make the time to write about. The big thing in the works is a backpacking trip to Shennandoah. Emily and I have a decent bit of gear — but a lot more to go before we can head out on our trek. Lots of planning to do, but as soon as I figure out whereabout we’ll be I’ll post some info.
  

• 03.09.06 No car for one week posted in Uncategorized

  I drove my car for the first time today in exactly a week. This wasn’t a boycott on the car — it was actually a result of my battery dying and my slacking ways of fixing it. I knew I could do it, but I knew it would be a pain and boy was it. It almost took 2 hours to get that thing in there because of some stupid nuts that you couldn’t reach without some serious stretch armstrong arms. Anyway, it’s all fixed up now and my car drives.
  

• 02.06.06 Text, text posted in Uncategorized

  It’s all text… Driven by a lot of recent designs that are completely textual, I’ve designed this site to entirely use text. No images. None. The comment space is a little larger too, which should make things interesting. I’m not sure I’ll keep it so big. Perhaps I’ll start hiding comments on the main page or I’ll start sending out some cookies to hide old comments and only display new ones. Regardless, I’ll take all feedback to heart, so speak up!

• 01.26.06 Degree posted in Uncategorized

  Hooray for me, I now have my AA degree!
  

• 01.24.06 Photos posted in Uncategorized

  There hasn’t been much to write about, but photos have sure been coming out the wazoo. It all started out with a beard, which was then promptly shaved once I had a girl to kiss. Then I moved on to an evening at Dom’s. Then just for the sheer gross factor I took some of me at 136lbs. Emily’s parents made some reference to wanting a picture of the two of us, so I pulled out my camera early 2 Saturday morning’s ago and took some lazy pictures. Somehow the camera found its way out again last Friday while I was playing guitar. Then early Sunday I played a long due paintball game at Josh’s, after which we decided to spar outside in the dark with swords. Knowing I had a million pictures to download, I figured I’d take my camera along to swing dancing and grab a few shots but my battery ran out rather early.Lots to show. If you check my gallery enough you’ve already seen these, but if not, there’s your heads up!

• 12.06.05 Christmas List posted in Uncategorized

  The christmas list is up again this year! Like last year, it requires a login and password. New this year is the ability to add friends and view friends lists. It’s sort of a myspace-like gift registry without all the pointless hoopla myspace, friendster, or orkut promote. If you’d like an invite, feel free to ask. It’s a great way to manage your family’s Christmas desires while keeping the whole "secret" gift-giving element of Christmas alive.
  

• 12.01.05 Loads of work posted in Uncategorized

  I’m alive, I’ve just been cramming loads of Chemistry into my head for a class I’m taking in school. Between that, finals, two research papers, and my impending surgery, you should expect to hear very little from me for the next few weeks.
  

• 11.16.05 A button jar posted in Uncategorized

  I’ve come to the conclusion that I need a button jar. Yesterday, I found a package of buttons on the floor. I put it with the package of buttons I keep in my little bedside table box, but then today I found a button on my chair at work. It’s an extra button, no need to worry about my clothing falling off or anything. Regardless, I should get a button jar.
  

• 11.11.05 A picture share posted in Uncategorized

  I broke down and ordered myself the Canon SD450 on Wednesday. I received it Thursday! Talk about fast shipping. I didn’t overnight it or anything so that was a really cool suprise.
  
  
  
  I got a copy of a cd with recent pictures including the camping trip, as well as some pictures from a hike at the Catoctins Emily and I took back in June, and also some Halloween swing dancing pictures.
  

• 11.07.05 Home safe posted in Uncategorized

  I’m home safe. In fact, my wrist is even feeling a little better. We’re preparing to move into a new office. Lots of packing, cleaning, painting, hammering, and dust. Oh what fun! There have been some pictures in my gallery but I’m sure more will follow.
  
  
  
  The camping trip was awesome. I can’t believe our luck with the weather. It was simply amazing. Not too cold, not too warm. Perfect. I’ll post pictures as soon as I get the pictures. I’ll probably be getting a new digital camera soon. I don’t think I can handle another holiday season without one.
  

• 11.01.05 What happened on Halloween? posted in Uncategorized

  Well, I went swing dancing. Amy has a few pictures. Dancing seemed really rushed. Emily and I ate there since we didn’t have time to eat dinner and between that and taking some cash at the door the night was over. Heather and a group of dancers figured they’d go to Max’s over in Fells Point. It was crazy packed over there and while Emily and I were waiting to get in I think someone drugged me or something.
  
  
  
  You’re probably like, what? But really, I’m serious. I started out lightheaded and things started spinning like crazy and then I got this awful headache. I sat down on the curb for a bit, struggled to walk back to my car, and gave Emily the keys to my car. I had 2 beers by this point in time, however I really doubt it was the beers I was feeling.
  
  
  
  I think everyone I’ve told this story has mentioned that Emily probably drugged me but for some reason, I just don’t see myself being that lucky.
  
  
  
  I started feeling better around 3am. Went to sleep and woke up with a horrible shearing pain in my right wrist. I don’t know what I did but it hurts like a bitch every time I try and move it a little. I’m going to have to stop dancing for a week at least to give it some rest, which just plain sucks. Today was a gorgeous day too, oh how I’d like to have gone mountain biking. I’m also going to Old Rag mountain on Saturday, which means I won’t be able to do any good climbing since my wrist is totally ripped to shreds. Boo.
  

• 10.30.05 Halloween posted in Uncategorized

  There are sure going to be a bunch of pictures this halloween, but I thought I’d post one of my favorites from Dom’s site.
  

• 10.29.05 Things change so quick posted in Uncategorized

  In a week, literally, everything seems so different. Marianna and I broke up. I’ve started dancing 3 days a week instead of 2. I’m doing some dancing lessons again. It’s not really the dancing that changed things though. MMR and I were at that comfortable point, that point where you don’t have to do anything but it felt like you were doing something and it was fun. I don’t know if that makes much sense. I liked that. It was, as I said a second ago, comfortable. Adam, Lindsey, Dom, and Jaimie liked her a lot… so I hope you guys aren’t made at me. It’ll just be back to the whole single Jason thing with all of you. No big deal. Just next time you all go to melting pot you better invite me. You could even pay for me. That would make up for going without me last time.
  

• 10.20.05 Yeouch! posted in Uncategorized

  I got a new band for my braces this morning. It’s thicker and instead of being some sort of synthetic material it’s a steel wire. My mouth hurts. Bad.
  

• 10.19.05 We all learn posted in Uncategorized

  Just when I thought I had the whole world thing figured out, someone out there has to go around and screw it all up. To understand this story properly, you must first remember I am colorblind. Yes, I’ve worn red pants. Yes, I once asked my mother why blue jeans were called blue jeans if they were purple. I also never understood Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham until relatively recently. I personally think the latest story takes the cake.
  
  
  
  I was giving a presentation for my Human Learning class Monday night on experiential learning. While illustrating an idea, I used colorblindness as an example of how you can experience something through someone else and even attempt to see what they see (this is the idea of an artificial experience for those actually wondering what I was teaching). My example started with my shirt, which I knew was brown but thought it could be any green/tan/khacki/olive color. I know it’s brown because Heather told me it is brown and since things follow rules I can match brown with a blue blazer. Then I went for example two and looked around the classroom. Ahh, why not use the teacher, I think. She’s wearing a bright blue sweater and I explain how I know her sweater is bright blue because very few people would ever wear a bright purple sweater. To me, this seems quite logical. Statistically, more blue is worn than purple.
  
  
  
  The class looked at me for a few seconds and…
  
  
  
  Our teacher said, "If only I were actually wearing a blue sweater."
  
  
  
  Woops! Talk about classic Jason puts his foot in his mouth syndrome! Needless to say, I was quite embarassed.
  

• 10.12.05 It’s been forever… posted in Uncategorized

  I was supposed to go camping this weekend but we’ve decided to stick around the office and do more work. I guess that is a good thing but it’s depressing because I’d like to go out and have some fun. I have a bunch of pictures around the new office and the work we’ve been doing so I’ll have to upload them real soon so everyone can see what’s going on.
  

• 09.22.05 Happy Birthday to me posted in Uncategorized

  So I woke up this morning and Heather [and I guess Becca & Tracie although I'm not sure] decorated the house this morning with like 20 balloons and ribbons and stuff! Now I understand why she wanted to leave early from swing dancing last night — that must have taken quite a while.
  
  
  
  I’ve never had anyone do that before. Makes me happy.
  
  
  
  Thanks!!!
  

• 09.21.05 Just a reminder to myself posted in Uncategorized

  I hardly ever go back to figure out what I wrote on my last birthday or last Christmas, but I thought it might be noteworthy to mention that Marianna (MMR) and I are now an exclusive couple. I’m very used to being single so this is really different for me.
  
  
  
  I doubt Heather approves (just because of her stance on relationships in general) but the rest of you have probably wondered what took so long. The good thing is, I like MMR and it seems like most of you like her (or have been lying for quite a while).
  

• 09.14.05 Found! posted in Uncategorized

  Well, I said my CC and ID were lost but now they’re found! I guess someone turned them in at the aquarium. I have no idea how it happened but whatever. Yesterday in the mail I received a nice package from the aquarium. There they were! Thanks good natured person who turned them in, and thanks aquarium for sending it back to me. At least I don’t have to go to the DMV. Too bad I cancelled my CC.
  
  
  
  I broke something with my comment system. I’m receiving your comments but I can’t post them into the database so no one can see what you say. I’ll fix it eventually but for now, deal with this being a one-sided thing.
  
  
  
  P.S. My birthday is in one week. I’d love an Xbox.
  

• 09.12.05 Lost posted in Uncategorized

  I lost my primary credit card and my license on Friday night. I’m not exactly sure how… I know I had them out to pay for a coffee at one point, but other than that I can’t figure out how they disappeared. I had them in my pocket, seperate from my wallet (which I did not have with me, yay!). I was wearing a pair of new khacki’s from Gap, so I can only place blame on the fact that I was just not used to how my pockets held stuff and they just happened to slip out.
  
  
  
  Thinking about it a bit more, I think MMR probably stole them from me. That or Adam… hmmm. I have devious friends. Luckily Adam saved the day with a company credit card. Woo!
  
  
  
  I went mountain biking yesterday with Dan and fell. Right on my face. That was exciting. It’s making me reconsider the whole helmet thing… although a helmet wouldn’t have helped at all considering it was my face that hit ground. Usually though, I’m far enough away from cars, asphalt, and other bikers that I really don’t consider it. Tree’s are made of rubber, right? Yea…
  

• 09.09.05 Woohoo, a couch! posted in Uncategorized

  I finally got a couch last weekend. Up until now, we had a couple lawn chairs setup for everyone to sit on. Not all that pretty if you ask me.
  
  
  
  I got this pretty sweet sofa from Ikea. MMR "bought it for me" so I could get the discount.
  
  
  
  My birthday is coming up… so maybe I’ll get some more goodies for the home. I still need a knife block and some key knives, a coffee maker, some more assorted pots and pans (I think I left some of mine at the Florida home), a big rug, and some pictures to hang.
  
  
  
  I also decided to stop collecting DVD’s and got an account with Netflix. I’m not sure where it’s coming from, but mostly I’m just sick of watching the same thing over and over. So far I really like Netflix so we’ll see.
  

• 08.08.05 I’m back posted in Uncategorized

  The break is over. I’m back, along with Dom and the rest of my sites!
  

• 07.29.05 Mysterious creatures posted in Uncategorized

  What is this? I have no idea, but my godfather managed to get a picture of it before it ran off.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Notice the evil looking eyes and eyebrows? Yes, this thing is mean!
  
  
  
  Update: It has come to my attention that this is not an isolated incident. I was given pictures of another creature. I wonder who this is…
  
  
  
  
  

• 07.28.05 Internet at home posted in Uncategorized

  I now have the internet at home! Woohoo. Additionally, I can even watch tv! I doubt I’ll ever do so, but at least I have the internet and a place to work from home again. This place is starting to feel like home…
  

• 07.25.05 Moving south (again) posted in Uncategorized

  I’ve moved south again, although not as quite south as before. This time to Baltimore city. Canton to be exact. The move went pretty flawlessly on Saturday the 16th. Thanks Dom, Jaimie, Adam, Mom, Dad, Heather, Tracie, Chad, and Uncle Tom!
  
  
  
  On Sunday night (the 17th), MMR and I left for Busch Gardens, Williamsburg on a trip we had been planning for a little while. I spent Monday and Tuesday with her in the park. It was really hot, supposedly 116 with the heat index one day (or so we were told). Lines were short and we rode a bunch of roller coasters. I really loved Apollo’s Chariot because it made me black out every time I rode it. That upset me a little because I’m worried I can’t be a jet fighter pilot one day because the G’s will get to me. Maybe it was just the heat, who knows. I’m sure you can train your body for that kind of thing so I shouldn’t be so worried. We drove home in horrible traffic Wednesday.
  
  
  
  I’m getting pretty settled into the new place. The only real big purchase left is the sofa, which was a pretty big dilemma. How do you get a big sofa into a 27" wide doorframe of a rowhome? My current solution is to buy a sofa with recliners built in, because almost every one of them can be taken apart into multiple pieces. I don’t think I’d really ever use the reclining function, but at least they’d work.
  
  
  
  Other purchases include a wardrobe solution (my room doesn’t have a closet) and a living room rug (it’s all hard wood floors). They’ll be fun to get but I just can’t seem to find the time to do it all. I was originally slating a housewarming for this Friday, but I’ve found out a few people can’t come. I’ll talk with Heather today but I think Saturday might be a much better day. Plus, we won’t have to worry about work and all that jazz.
  
  
  
  Oh, and that’s another thing I forgot to mention. Heather moved out with me, so I’m still living with 2 family members: Heather and Rags.
  

• 07.11.05 Pizza… with a spoon? posted in Uncategorized

  Just so everyone knows, I’m eating pizza with a spoon. Why would one eat pizza with a spoon? Well, let me tell you.
  
  
  
  See, there is this place in Canton called Nacho Mama’s that has wonderful pizza. It’s called the Godfather Pizza. Yes, it is that good. While good, it is quite messy, often requiring the use of a knife to prevent droppage of the wonderful toppings. I have a knife — but no fork. Thus, I’m left with a spoon.