test post*

tonight: Caffeine coworker gives other a right-hook to the buttocks-pow-then spouts, "violence is fun." I grab coffee # 758 of the year and sit and wait for the bus...red headed girl keeps looking at me from behind her notebook which she is reading like a newspaper...yak with staff outside about citations, websites and preferred burial procedures. Bus shows up, I shake to it before I miss it like so many times before....set next to three giant goth chicks, each of whom could eat me up and spit me out, I behave myself and stare out into the street...get off on the s.side...walk past guitar player and two other guys who yell at me to sing with them "Lord I was born a rambling man..." song I laugh and walk past, they keep yelling for me to join them for a least half a block.
Walk into the coffee/bar place I've been hanging out the past few Saturdays...sit at bar and fire up the gin and tonics. I really don't know why I'm doing this, I don't really drink. Place is real busy and upbeat compared to previous nights, I'm not really sure if I'm into this scene right now..I ask if the tv could be put on..I'm denied..I'm a little pissed, all I wanted was the History channel on mute...I could follow the subtitles of "Modern Marvels, the Hoover Dam"...I slam down four gnt's and leave..the guys next to me are holding each other's hands like they were the last couple on earth...I not gettin the vibe tonight..ha..tip, bathroom, leave. On the way back to the bus I pass a long line of folks waiting to get Cambodian food from an outdoor vender..pass diner, see plate of hot roast beef sandwich with gravey/potatoes close to window, think about stopping in, naugh...I don't need that this time of night. "Buddy can you spare a cigarette?", "sorry can't help you I don't smoke"...wait at least 30 minutes for bus, watch the nightlife crowd walk by...bus comes and takes me close enough, stop and visit boyz who started superhero rpg before I left...they are still at it having a good time, I chew on a few of their cold pieces of pizza, leave them a few bucks and go home to sleep (after I write this of course..ha..)

"So when do we start the game?" Richard: "You mean the game between you and me, it's been going on for some time now."...Richard's so funny..haha..more later..ha.

The old man was wearing a yellow theme, beads and a yellow whistle around his neck. His tie was the best, yellow (of course) with brown and black diamonds...I should have told him he had a nice tie, but I didn't. I think the old man was crazy, but that's ok.

Dinner: venison steak, huluski (cabbage and noodles), home grown tomatoes. Life doesn't get better.

Walk by and glance at outdoor rack in front of street used book store scores a copy of I am Legend by Richard Matheson. This is the 1971 Berkley paperback that sports a painted The Omega Man movie cover. This movie was the adaptation of the book and starred Charton Heston as Dr. Robert Neville, the last man alive after an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons. The movie is good seventies scifi with Heston shooting up alot of vampire/ghouls...looking forward to reading the book, as I have heard much about it.

While checking out a copy of Bulfinch's Mythology and yet another book about WW1, I joke with the venerable campus book store owner who then out of the blue asked me how many times I feel in love this summer...for a brief second I felt like I was asked "what was my favorite color" from Holy Grail..I sputtered, hesitated, then said..."twice"...I wasn't tossed in the air so it must have been the right answer...pause...we both laugh..I walk out..

Walking back from the gym I notice a worn ace of clubs card lying on the sidewalk. I walk by it, then turn around and pick it up and put it in my pocket. The ace of clubs isn't the ace of hearts or diamonds but I can use all the aces I can get in my hand.

I think I have had about seven gin and tonics in me so this should be good (I usually don't drink like this..lol!)....spent the evening on the historic south side, walked around a bit, started with coffee and lemon scone at tuscany, decided a burger would be good now, pass diner, walk in, it looks too slow so I walk out. Spy early seventies look Burger King, totally my scene, decide the time is right for a whopper w/cheese. BK register person can't wait for her shift to end, her machine sounds like a ticking bomb ready to explode....I get my whopper...posse of punk kids are cussing up a storm, I laugh and run the gaunlet through them...whopper actually put together well, does the trick...done...on the way out one of the punk kids asks me for a quarter, then calls me an asshole, hahalol...I decide to go back to tuscany for bar action...I begin the run of gin and tonics...really good looking guy with black hair and glasses two seats down from me is besieged an architect who won't shut up. All he does is talk about this project and these connections and those other pompous friends he has...he literally won't shut up...good looking guy never says anything...this goes on for almost two hours...I felt like doing something drastic to shut him up...good looking guy was really sharp, with a nice olive top over a good build with a particular awesome back that was facing me through this agony...I tried to get achieve some level of GLG's attention but I was too inept and the architect way too mouthy...blahblahblah...it wouldn't stop..I decided to leave.. I think GLG escaped without the architect...good for him...he deserved much better that that one sided conversational horror....

August 17th, 1943---On the anniversary of its one year of operations in europe the Eighth Airforce launched a 376 B-17 raid on the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt and the Messerschmitt factory at Regensburg. This was the largest and furthest raid into Nazi Germany made by the USSAF to date. The Luftwaffe response was furious and resulted in the loss of 60 B-17's during this raid.

Zipping around the city with the turk, first stop a former traditional diner turned lite Asian food and coffeebar. Place looks the same but somehow newer and brighter..we both get the Iced Vietnamese Coffee to go...really good, will be back. Nice night to be out, weather not to hot, relatively comfortable. More out and about leads to Chinese take out place where we eat and split pupu platter and dumplings, vanilla cokes. Spend time at used book store, they close in sixteen minutes, everything else closes in fifteen minutes. I try to navigate us through the rougher part of town to find open later non-bar hang out I heard about only to find my directions faulty.....we decide to call it a night.

Coffee with bagel and honey, reading about the black gentrification of The Hill in the Times, remarkable photograph of the Roosevelt Theatre, one of The Hill's prime nightsports in it's heyday on page A-11. Like clockwork the two co-workers I always see together wait in line, joke with the help, prep their coffee then happily leave together, they seem pretty much inseparable. The Ramones have been playing all through this, its a good fit.....off to work.

This was a necessary evil in today's fight against hot and sticky weather, I had the Reeses ice cream bar and it was better than I thought it would be. Boy, its still really @#&% hot around here, it would be nice to get a cool front through soon. I think my sweat is sweating.

Today I was called the perenial "bull in a china shop"....I'm just like that sometimes...I just can't help it...sometimes things want me to knock them down...snort..drag hoof..snort...Went to a Philipino restaurant with the turk, our meals were amazingly meat laden with heaping mounds of beef and chicken...I thought food from this part of the world was supposed to light and delicate...wrong...don't tell the big rig truckers..if they get wind of this place they'll be here 24/7. Coffee afterwards at a victorian cafe, we ougled the new strategic Napoleonic wargame by GMT, fooled around with the turk's two player variant for a multi-player ancients game and then did a few rounds of the new Knizia Lord of the Rings game. The Knizia game is very clever and fast, I liked it alot and will probably play it many more times.

I haven't seen a live show in about 5 or so years. There were about seven groups but they were amazing. Ragtime opener-I got rhythm/Fascinating rhythm-The House of the Rising Sun-Channel One Suite. No one plays and shows jazz in this medium better than the Blue Devils.

She parks her bright blue car aggressively in front of me as I walk down the street. The happy blond gets out, walks over to look at someone's garbage that they are about to throw out, looks at the broken multi-color plastic wagon. She turns around at me and says, "au thot I coud fix that for the kidz." Completely happy, completely smiling she walks back and drives away just as aggressively.

I have developed a fine mid-summer cold. I currently have a pounding headache. I am melting in this hot weather. I am not at work and it's driving me crazy. My chin and jaw are red splotched...I still shave like a ten year old.

GEEZEEESFUKKACRISTOS.....why is every time I'm getting kitty litter at the fuckin unifart the entire Asian student snack cravers club shows up before me. Augggghhh....ITS SO SLOW IN LINE....UUGGGHH.....and they're all using their student charge cards...and the sixty something couple behind me are crying about their Klondikes melting...don't look at me just start eatn' those chocolate covered goodies!!....skin head checkout guy senses my whimpering pain and waves me forward because I'm going to pay in CASH, while he waits for the slower charge sales to go through...good man!!!...step-step-step..push door outta here!!!

Today#1: Walk in the Coffee joint for quick buy and go lunch, as I walk in I notice to my left a young brown clad ups driver on break hanging out with the young woman who pushes a baby carriage with plastic babies. No one ever talks or sits with her, never ever, the plastic babies are sometime substituted with small stuffed animals. I get my grande Kenya, turkey sandwich and a cranberry scone and turn to the milk and sugar area. As I pour skim into my coffee I notice unshaven older western dressed gentleman writing large words in a well used standard composition book....pour too much milk....skim milk everwhere....I am a coffee house slob...I can't take myself anywhere....I try to clean up as best I can...as I walk out one of the owners is bringing cases of the famous french soft drink, Orangina.
#2"Whats that up there, with Judy Garland on it?" "Oh, that's Wizard of Oz Monopoly, here I'll get it down for you." "Wow that's really great, I really love Judy Garland, I not gay or anything I just really like Judy Garland." "Don't be embarrassed sir, lots of people like Judy Garland, not just gay people." Ha
#3Out of control out the supadupa market, nectarines look good. I'm driving aggressively, I'm not watching out for the other guy, I almost cause a few wrecks. I need Johnson's Baby Shampoo!!!!! I almost buy Kraft sponge bob square pants macaroni and cheese with powder sea blue cheese but I don't.....lame.

Quick late summer dinner: Homemade meatloaf on Italian roll with Heinz ketchup, cool glass of water and a California nectarine.

Holiday Highlights: Attended small town USA 4th of July parade yesterday, wasn't as small and short as I thought it would be. Rows and rows of various lawn seatery line the street sides, red white and blue balloons all over, this was a bigger thing for the locals than I thought it was going to be, I'm not a local so what do I know? Duck into a parade route bar for a cold one with my compadre, place is completely packed, "Mars Attacks" is on the super station, ha, they disintegrated Congress! Back into the hotness, I have no hat, no sunscreen, I'm really going to burn. Parade starts, VFW vets, fire trucks, boy scouts, christian group, most beautiful baby, Queen of the parade, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up, 3rd runner-up etcetc, fire trucks, girl scouts, clowns, classic cars, politicians,
local pizza chain car, local hospital singers, Boss Hogg motorcycle club, christian group, very happy tailwaggin fire station dogs, high school marching band, Uncle Sam, polka band pulled by truck, Civil War reinactors w/cannon, firetruck, firemens' band, drill teams, majorettes, cheerleaders, highschool marching band, christian group w/rock band pulled by truck, clowns on stilts, everybody throwing candy, and a llama, thats right a llama. Nice weather for a parade, not a bad thing to take in this July 4th, 2002. oh, later watched the Boston Pops perform the 1812 Overture through the miracle of television.

HotHotHot...perfect day to work some, buy new shoes and do laundry at the laundromat. Needed new foot coverings badly, bought new white basic NB crosstrainers and a nice pair of NB black walking shoes, eyed up sexy green Diesel (tm) tennis shoes, I think I'll go back and get them soon. Spent some time at Castle Caladan with House Atreides and then with the Baron of House Harkonnen while watching my sock collection roll again and again drying. I think those Harkonnens are up to no good...more later. Late dinner at Super China Buffet, run gauntlet of heat mutants on the walk back...sweat.

Thank heaven for 7-11...To hot to stay inside, decide to take a late night walk toward the campus/business place. Usual bands of bus waiters, street people rocking back and forth and wearing mexican hats, shady agents, etcetc. I pass the Authentic and think about getting a hot dog but the crowd looks too rough and I don't feel like fighting, besides their dogs aren't all that, the fries however are a different story. I decide to stop at the less active 7-11 to scout out some bad food, I decide on two wrapped chicken rolls that have been on the griller for probably too long, a evil looking pastry from the Atlanta Breads display and some Welch's grape juice. I watch the woman in front of me spend $33 on six premade saranwrapped hoagies, a gallon of fruit drink and a large bag of Lays potato chips..wow..I don't feel as bad now. Walking back I pass an abandoned shopping cart that a few hours earlier was the place where Bible thumpers were passing out tracks to salvation, I try to make a connection between them but I can't. Past the action, I decide to plop down and devour my convenience store repast, across from me Galileo and Michelangelo from the museum seem relatively uninterested. Gather mess, march back home, still hot.

Late dinner at Saladins, thought I give turk/mex food a chance. Had a chicken bbq buritto that came with some sort of feta cheese salad. The food was good and the help didn't seem as bothered as the last time I saw them. The only other patron while I was there was an Asian undergrad that was woofing down a large plate that appeared to be a humas/chili/beans dish. Coffee at Startrucks after...walk home I pass determined skateboarders and tribal drumming and dancing on the campus lawn.

Its really hot and people are showing off alot of skin because its the thing to do when its so fucking sweaty-humid hot. So where is this going, well I'll tell you in one word...tattoos. This summer I swear everyone has one somewhere on their skin canvas. Moms, dads, kids, punks, homeless, old people, freaks, professionals, losers, babies, pets, grrrls, fat, skinny, brawny, bald, construction workers, nerds, students...etcetc. The sizes and quality vary wildly from little spot illos to full reproduction of fine art to huge tribal designs..etcetc. Walking art for the 21st century...whats my problem?...I need to get stamped and inked so I can run with the pack....but a part of it all...step up to the plate....perhaps a nice popular corporate logo or some famous holy icon art to watch over me...I'll have to give it some thought....I really need to get with it.....ha....

Sometimes I have to step out of the place, to survey the local settings with an objective or two. Step out toward campus, everyone looks hot and bothered, I too feel melty. Pass what was a former easy going mexican restaurant, now it called SALADINS. Some young Turks bought it, kept half of the menu mexican and added some middle eastern items, I guess you could call it TurkMex cuisine. As I said before this place had a easy rep, now the Turks have a odd habit of hanging out in front looking bothered no matter the temperature. I really think they have something going with this TurkMex attitude thing, I sure it will be a hit with their target demographic. My singular objective had arrived: coconut/pistachio waffle cone at Andrew and Davids, they weren't swamped so it was an easy thing. Crunch the last bit with the m&m at the very bottom, walk back home, no one is eating anything at Saladins, white shirted workers scowl as I walk pass.

Tattoo art today---T-shirtless tanned guy sports Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" on shoulder, an amazing piece.
Lunch today---chicken, kielbasi and peas in that order.

With picks like The Abominable Dr. Phibes, and the terrifying Fing Fang Foom the Retrocrush Top 100 Monsters list is on the right fiendish track. Geezus, Phibes and the Fing Fang Foom kick so much ass, I'm so happy they made the list.

Torgonus almost sliced off part of his ear while shaving today(not to be trusted with sharp objects or anything with sharpness), was attacked by a large colorful metallic beetle that Torgonus thought he should pick up off the ground(attracted to shiny objects). However, Torgonus did meet two new friends, Tee and Eff while getting a strawberry milkshake at Tastee Freeze.

Morning coffee and scone turns into spectator chess as white decimates black in an early morning field clash. Early on the white knights charged forward to take out the black queen and her entourage. It was all down hill from there as black's moral was broken and the clash became a rout.
Caught a glimpse of the gym centipede as it scurried across the carpet till it reached its hiding space under the cable machine base.

Today's art: Ample deltoid sporting tattoo of Alexander the Great taken from a mosiac design at Pompeii of the battle of Issus.
Tried a bottle of Orangina today, I was told that it is the most popular soft drink in Europe, it was alright I guess.

Conquerer of the known world inked onto a 21st century human and a soda pop about one tenth as exciting as Orange Crush...it was that type of day.

After work beer drinking with the boyz has let me a bit woozy. Just spent twenty minutes or so discussing what are the hot new snack foods with the staff at the corner Uni-mart. Uni-mart generally sucks, but they have no close competition and the have a great location, you know the first rule of retail, "location, location, location!" I settle on a 99 cent bag of Fritos brand Chedder Ranch Flavor Twists, God, I must be drunk.

Suprise visit from long lost cousin and her girlfriend late in the afternoon. Scampered out to the Unius Grillious for samiches and pierogis(ah, pierogis). We whimped out on having the famous key lime or deep dish apple pie as our desert possiblities, maybe next time.

A well regarded President, a quirky zombie lord, a faithful assistant, a helpful canine and a responsible metal man equals this terrific new comic. Did I mention the demon summoning vegetables? Very fun, very great, available at your local comic shop this week, run don't walk, grab your spare change!

It still cold,wet and hail is falling. Also, the Mormon missionaries seem to be on the move in greater numbers in our vincinity. Coldness, wetness, hail and Mormans, we are sooo lucky. I wan't let them convert my Proton Man even if it means sending him out into the harsh weather! Go away we're not interested.....!!!!

I love my Proton Man robot I bought at the Warhol last night. I wind him up and he doesn't go far, but he works real hard at it. I admire that. Outside: very cold, very wet.

After almost three weeks my cold is finally leaving. I have no idea what type of hanger-on bug I had but its gone, good riddance! I think it was the several mgs of vitamin C bombardment that brought the germs to their knees(or whatever germ equivalent.)

Went to an afternoon showing of the new Star Wars movie. I am hardly a rabid fan and I didn't even see the last movie, but I can say I really liked what they did with this new one. I won't say much more so not to spoil it for anyone but I think Lucas is back on track producing fine Space Opera. A very good looking movie that I along with Spiderman will see again. Previews for Minority Report, Men in Black II, and Austin Powers all looked very promising for this Summer's entertainment.

Had a tough time getting out of work, this and that kept messing up my timetable. Bus trip to the center of town, off bus, cold rainy night walk, trying to avoid any meetings with the bands of armed children. Cross the very yellow and historic 7th street bridge which at the end gets me to my destination: The Andy Warhol Museum. The Possession Obsession exhibit was closing this weekend and I wanted to see it before it was gone. The exhibit which occupies the 7th floor starts with an over the top cookie jar collection that is hard to absorb all at once, simply an amazing display. the cookie jars are flanked by dinner ware collections and some Warhol pieces. I really liked the robot and Cabbage Patch Kids works. Other rooms featured jewelry, furniture, a fine collection of native American items along with some Warhol pieces with native american subjects. Giant wooden Punch statue, Art Deco items, a collection of busts with an incredible period Napoleon were all displayed. I walked through the lower floors spent some time with the Maos, the amount of work done seems to be staggering to me and I know there's more, alot more. Walk into the archive room, see a rather large collection of old big little books and catch site of the numerous shelves of "time capsules," each seem to be plain brown boxes with year dates marked on them, a large stuffed dog seems to stand guard to this locked room. I buy The Andy Warhol Diaries, a keen "proton man" wind up metal robot, and the latest issue of Interview at the gift store. Back out into the cold rain and swiftly move toward getting home. I will be back to spend more time here at a future date, lots to study and appreciate here.

This seems rather odd....

Since it was such an important part of yesterday's entry and we are approaching that Summery time of year I thought I'd post this fine fruit salad recipe. I take this all the time when I'm invited over to the Jeffersons for a festive outing in the country.

"I'd like to buy a game to give my married niece, I know she likes to play games." " Also, it can't be anything that she could buy at K-Mart or Target or any thing like that, you don't sell games that they sell there, right?" "Yes, most of what we sell you won't be able to buy in large chains, let me pick out a few things you think she might like." "How about this game called Lost Adventure its our most popular two player game, it's about starting and completing jungle explorations to gain the highest point totals...everyone seems to like it quite alot, maybe its something she could play with her husband?" "She likes cards but is the game complicated?" "Her husband is a nice person, but he's not too bright and can't seem to carry on a conversation, that looks too hard for him, I don't think she married him for anything upstairs if you know what I mean." I start visibly laughing, she does too, so I know it's alright. "Well then how about this game, its called Halli Galli, its about making a fruit salad with different fruit cards and hitting this bell when you are completed, its supposedly alot of mad fun, its for 2-6 players and its for ages 6+. "Ohh...Halli Galli, I like the sound of that, so you use the cards to make fruit salad..how very fun sounding, so very Summery, they live in the country and I know that they like to eat fruit salad out there in the warm weather." "Do you think that the game will be too easy?" "No, it will be just perfect, given what you have told me about her husband I think it will be just right, besides when you sit down to play a game who wants to think, you just what to have fun!" "Right, right, one more thing, I know they have an Afro-American couple for friends that they may play this game with, you don't think this game will offend them will it?" "Sometimes you can't be so sure when you buy certain things that you may be offending a certain race or lifestyle..if you now what I mean." I start laughing again, almost fall to the floor laughing, she starts laughing too, almost falls with me, I realize I'm being unprofessional and get both of us up. Other customers are starting to wonder what the hubbub about, and also start smirking. "I think this game will be just fine, unless they have some type of fruit hang-ups, phobias, or issues above the average person..I think it will make the perfect Summery fruit salad card game with a bell that they can confidently play with their Afro-American friends...really" "Great, I'm sold, I'll buy it!"

A small scouting party of ants are trying hard to get into the contents of my cherry red cold syrup...could it be that they have tiny ant colds or are they drawn to the intense sugary scent...or both?

Ha!..now I will be able to navigate labyrinths and difficult terrain with my Robotic Rats and my army of Giant Stinking Plants will be seen by curious visitors from around the world...

Dining Advisory: Last weekend I went to Red Lobster and spent way too much money on way too mediocre food. The only good thing for me was the beer(Corona) and some alright biscuits...everything else was real ordinary and less for the price. Three of the four of us felt the same, except for the person who wanted to go in the first place(this person has been placed on food advise probation). The place was extremely busy and there was a line as we were leaving...I don't understand why people LOVE this place..but it seems they do...I will not be returning for a long time if I can help it...

Feeling used, bruised and generally beat up from retail con action this past weekend, not to mention sick. The way too cold climate control of the facility along with the thousands of participantes walking about usually results in me getting some type of bug each year, but I think I'm feeling better already. While having the Great American eggs/bacon/pancakes breakfast this morning, I egged on a university policewoman to go for the Feta cheese in her omelette, she was waffling, but I was able to convince her. After a few bites she thanked me profusely for the suggestion. I left happy knowing I had brought another human being closer to the joys of Feta. After breakfast I went to buy some books, something really amusing, something gothic and something historical.

Richard: I'll not bother you because I realize you are in "convention" mode. I know that means you'll be drinking alot of coffee and sleeping with creators this weekend..so I'll just leave you alone..ok...

Akbar was succeeded by his son Salim, who took the title of Jahangir. In his reign (1605-1627), Jahangir consolidated the gains made by his father. The courtly culture of the Mughals flourished under his rule; like his great grand-father, Babar, he had an interest in gardens, and Mughal painting probably reached its zenith in Jahangir's time.

Last Trip: Get up and get some steak, eggs and some blueberry pancakes as my last hotel meal. Back at my room I finally notice the Cleveland City Visitor magazine setting on the coffee table, on the cover Jeweled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals. I've always been a fan of the Mughal empire(really, I'm not kidding)....maybe my next trip. Check out with enough time to get train out, call cab. Along the way I chitchat with the driver, look at his dashboard clock, I notice its about one hour later than it should be then it hits me.....aaarrrrghhhdamn damngrrrsonavabitchgggrrr fuckingdaylightsavingtime imafuckingidiotgrrr.....driver tries to get me in on time but when you want the train to be late, it is of course, right on schedule...which means I missed it. Switch gears to Greyhound station which has a bus going out in about two hours which really isn't too bad. I buy my ticket. The Cleveland station is large and busy with ordinary people moving to all points. Metro Security is all over the place, I decide to cool my jets with some $1.27 Greyhound coffee as I take in the activity and the artdeco look of this big station. The Greyhound coffee isn't as good as the Amtrak coffee but I guess I'm drinking it. Lots of people of all types, lots of different bags and luggage, lots of different stories I'm sure. The Greyhound logo is everywhere but there is a Leader of the pack mega-sized hound icon hanging high above the others and looking down on all of us ordinary people...I think I feel safe...I start to get in line for the trip. Metro Security is actually checking bags...I hope my SHIELD clearance will explain the large rawhide tossing bone I have packed away...he checks me next...woo...I'm safehaha. Our driver checks our tickets as we get on, he looks like an old salt with this routine sporting his Greyhound uniform. I'm on and the people just keep on coming..till we're completely full. Large black woman with heavy red coat braves to set next to me, she holds on to her small purse for dear life. We start out leaving Cleveland behind, I try to sleep as much as I can, I think everybody else has the same idea. The trip back seems to go much faster and I find myself arriving at the home station in good time. A very very good trip and it's good to be back with everything intact..

More Trip: Wake up to participate in hotel's breakfast buffet, then cab off to the Lakewood Civic Auditorium to attend the 2002 NPC Natural Ohio prejuding. Get there early so decide to scout about for a good cup of coffee. I stumble upon Madison ave/st check out Madison Trash, used t-shirts and stuff and My Minds Eye, indie record store. Both are closed, seem very hip and remind me of some places I know back home. My jodar homes me into Mudslide on Madison, a very cool looking place, I have a house roast in a large cobalt blue mug which is very good...I'll be back. I return to the auditorium for the prejudging that moves quickly through the various classes accompanied by eighties pop hits on repeat loop. Thirteeen member judging panel guzzles bottled water and chomps protein bars like there's no tomorrow, all while joting down the scores of the athletes. The level of the competitors is pretty high for this show, looks like the men's finals will be between a certain lightweight and light heavyweight ..we'll see what happens. Cab back to the hotel for a little rest, return for the early evening final show. Promoter Dave Liberman does a great job as mc, keeps the large crowd engaged. The main guest poser of the evening was Greg Rando, the 2001 NPC Team Universe Overall Champion. Greg suffers with a degenerating eye disease that makes him legally blind, which makes his accomplishment even the more incredible. Greg was the bigest object on stage that night and got through his routine with no problem at all. The men finals was won by super ripped and sized lightweight Justin Wilcox over the gigantic light heavyweight Jeremiah Forster. A rare judging call of a lighter weight class beating out the big guys... at the announcement the heavy and light heavyweight overalls looked more than fairly disappointed. Shows over and I have a little trouble getting a cab so I decide to walk back to Mudslide to get another jo and call from there. At Mudslide an off duty employee named Ray overhears me asking about calling for a cab and volunteers to drive me back to my hotel. I felt that it would probably be ok since this guy worked here..right?!hah! I get my coffee to go and Ray shows me to his jeep that I notice has multiple American flag stickers of different sizes all over, I'm guessing to ward off any lurking terrorists. Along the way Ray talks about how people should be nicer to one another and how his bonding trip to Las Vegas with his four brothers was a complete diasaster. Ray gets me back to my hotel without killing me like I thought might happen and begrudgingly takes payment. Catch SNL before passing out...great MTV4 skit with japanese girl band..hahah..ha...ssnnorrree...snnoorree.....

More Trip: Fortythree rolls into the station and grinds to a halt, I grab carry on and trundle out to the waiting area. Once inside I take on my usual confused state but I am quickly snapped out of it by Cleveland Uber blogger Jocko. It was great to finally meet Jim in the real world, he was immediately super friendly and all smiles from the get go, a very nice greeting after the trip. Jim was good enough to leave work early to pick me up and get me to my hotel. We start talking about stuff as Jim points out city sculptures of interest while weaving through downtown. We pass an immense Civil War style memorial that looks unbelieveable. After a little confusion on directions but good talk along the way, we get to my hotel. Once settled in Jim recommends eats at an asian place and we pick up his friend Dave to join us. Switching to Dave's silver vw bug we arrive at the Minh Anh restaurant. Good food, very nice conversation, my grilled chicken was delicious, tried some tasty beef cinnamon soup, this was a great place to eat. Jim gets me back to my hotel through near blinding lake effect snow storm. Very nice of Jim to get me orientated in Cleveland, truly a top-notch guy, it was great yaking about stuff and having good asian eats. A little tired, I call it an early evening.

The trip: Amtrak station waiting for #43 to show up. Watch large woman carefully open about four different small snack chips/curls/pretzel bags one at a time into larger plain potato chip bag. After depositing the contents of each one into the larger bag she shakes it up. She is obviously a high priestess of snacking, who am I to judge? Two well dressed goon types show up lookin around for something or someone, after awhile one plays a coin operated pistol shooting game, I'm thinking how perfect. Call for #43 puts me into action, leaving my priestess and pluggers. Passing the Amtrak engines never ceases to impress me, nearly unstoppable mechanical power forgotten in the 21st century. Finally onboard I'm offered a very small and very soft pillow to assist my dozing. The trip starts and the little pillow I secretly scoffed at works quite well as I get back some of the sleep I missed last night. The quickly passing outside is snowy and grey with sunbeams occasionally cracking through. Cafe car two cars behind opens up, excuse for me to try Amtrak coffee along with premade ham/turkey half sandwich with Pepperidge Farm oatmeal cookies. I curl up with a complimentary USA Today, read about the world falling apart..good coffee..I get another in the nice Amtrak paper cup. Back to roomy seat, hardly anyone onboard, agreeable warm temperature, pull out trip book, knock off a few chapters...soon see the cityscape of Cleveland on the horizon....

New stuff..looking forward to playing Justice League of America Monopoly sometime...really cool JLA version of a tried and true classic...nice metal tokens of all the best known members and great renderings of all the characters on the board and box..very sharp looking...and yes I'll buy Green Lantern's power battery for $150.00...

Jerry made the comment today that no one around here(work) every gets reprimanded for anything...he's right...its a damn circus around here...the boss needs to get his head examined...but at the end of the day the staff gets the job done...and that's what matters..despite the chaos...the staff is golden.

Four Corronas, nice cheese and crackers at small farewell party for store going out of business. Store is a street institution that has been selling great international stuff for some 28 years...amazing operation...can't believe it's really closing...it will be missed. Owner is a truely great man who I will miss seeing on a daily bases...I wish him great luck with his upcoming writing and photography projects...I think whatever he does it will be just great...

Stop that man with the razor.. he's really going to hurt himself this time....shower...shave(badly as usual..blood a common sight)..monkey suit...Dale coaches me on tie length..last minute adjustment...free ticket finds me at the opera to see Madama Butterfly. Packed house..have to confess to nodding off a bit in the first act despite fine vocals...slam down some needed coffee at intermission...more awake for act two..intense aria by Butterfly.. title of this piece escapes me now...story goes down hill for our gal who gives it all up at the end..large falling red drapery...

Charles Mingus background for preworkout coffee..good...George Benson played at gym instead of regular techno inferno..good...unusual compliment given by other gym member for amount of poundage on lat pulldowns which really isn't that much in my opinion....nice...good...all in all good strong paced gym time with bis, back and legs...lots of cold rain on the walk back...not so good...probably will get sick...worse...my collection of umbrellas never where I need them..what's with that?

I just got back from visiting the Lobster Man's villa. I brought along some Somoas girl scout cookies to hopefuly make a non-verbal friendship offering, but all lights were out, with no LM to be seen...I guess he must be sleeping. Sleep Lobster Man sleep.....

Lost a fast and furious session of the Milk and Cheese boardgame to Dale while on break. Victory was mine till Lady Luck spat on me at the last moment...MERVE GRIFFIN!!!!

Just got back from seeing the Lobster Man's house in progress at CMU campus. Talked briefly with his sister about his project, I think it a pretty great idea. Apparently some dunderheads tried to mess his place up over the weekend. Sis yelled up to her Lobster brother that I would be looking about and it was ok...got a few distant glimpses of the Lobster himself shuffling around doing stuff.

An actual fax recieved at work today: This Shakin', Rockin' Rollin' Easter Bunny or chick, at the touch of a button, pops out of the highly decorated easter egg and begins to dance and sing. Rock to a licensed Easter version of the classic ZZ Top hit "She Got Leg's"....One FREE demonstration egg with each order(limit one per order)...Don't Miss Out on this Incredible Offer!..CALL NOW: 1-800-786-3456..I think this is the best fax ever sent to us...it's nice to know we have a choice between an Easter Bunny or "chick"...Tall Man keeps the original motion picture soundtrack to "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" on near continual loop today as a few shady characters and tumbleweeds roll in and out of Dodge.

After a long phone conversation with someone I haven't talked to for about a year and a half I was interrogated by Dale. "Who was that"?..oh..just a friend who I haven't talked to for a long time..."Friends..your not allowed to have friends..friends are bad for you"....oh Dale...so psychotic..so protective. Earlier in the day Dale informed me that for the past two years I have been the focus of his personality destruction/reformation procedures....well...that explains a few things.

Back from lunch at the Golden Palace Buffet on campus..two full plates of stuff and a bowl of egg drop.. good food for a good value. Currently sporting a splitting headache that started this morning and won't stop knocking me..time to man up and get things done here at work.

back from gym: Reintroduced tricep extensions to the program..reminded why this exercise is nicked "skull crushers"..sorta tough, probably best with a spotter so you don't give credence to the name. Stopped at Starjerks for a coffee, cranberry loaf and a...hey.. you big doofus that last Times is mine..aaugh..the big dummy picked up the last NY Times before I could grab it..damn...I should just take it from him and make a scene..but I won't..besides he's bigger than me..grrr..he's lucky I play by the rules..and..why did I get this for here..there is no place to sit..damn yup peoples everywhere..luckily some nice University of Miami folk give me a small part of their table to occupy. Coffee and cranloaf quickly inhaled, leaving U of M banter, back out into whats trying to be Winter.

Richard: I feel like I need to get a little on the edge... I'll eat this nutrition bar that made for especially for women..its called Luna..

B-34...place yellow Romeo heart..N-22...place orange Tres Chic heart...I-13..no match...O-69...place white Cutie Pie heart. Little girl with leopard hat eeks out "Bingo" and wins what she can take from 600 old rekkids..oh well..clear the board of the little candy hearts and play again. This happening is in a former Giant Eagle turned community center, what looks like the remains of a Valentine's Day party occupy a few dimly lit tables. Tin servers with string bean bake, sweet potato casserole, two pierogis, rice/mushroom something and lots of bad heart shaped candies of all sorts. Next to the rather interesting food choices was a center volunteer popping fresh, free and very salty popcorn. Between Bingo games we had music from The Legion of the Incredibly Strange Superheroes(surf/new age band dressed in bad superhero costumes), The New Pussycats(Tom Jones cover band) and Zowie(surf and spy music). All in all a pretty odd night with dancing robots, free beer, food and coffee, bingo, bad music, fun people and scads of children kicking a soccer ball everwhere. As a final note: field agent Jo flawlessly completed her mission and retrieved the psychedelic egg for further study at HQ.----Last night at the Bingo A-Go-Go

Yesterday: The best part of the work day was our visit by Ajax, Julian and their human buddies. Ajax is a large black lab, and Julian is an equally large pittbull mix..simply wow..or should I say bowwow(sorry I couldn't pass that up). I saw their humans pacing outside wondering whether they should enter, I waved them in.. big smiles and wags. Wow again.. very happy, very inquisitive, very very pulling, very big, and very well behaved considering how huge these dogs are. Julian makes a petting friend with another customer, Ajax starts yelping and crying that he's being left out, the attention deficit is quickly remedied by Julians fan. Julian smells Polish donuts behind the counter and decides to investigate...leash operator saves Julian from big jelly donutface. Julian is one big lump-o-muscle, and luckily, a well demeanored dog, Humans decide on buying the Lord of the Rings RPG and then are dragged out by the heroes of this post. Promises were made that they will return as they(the human buddies) felt the poochies liked the store. Ajax and Julian are now my canine buds.
Today: Absolutely nothing to report, had to retroblog above because machine was on the fritz last night and I just had to mention my new buds.

After work: Nice weather draws me to campus for late dinner. Walk past Hocus Pocus, for a few minutes I make friends with friendly black cat in closed store window. It brushes around the votive candle display and the window wanting me to give it a scratch between the ears, but I can't. Settle on BaBa D's for some Middle Eastern fair, stuffed cabbage in specific. Salad and hummus prelude is quite good as is the main course. Arabic language and music comes from behind me, I'm the only patron in the restaurant. Arabic mixes with english as fellow employees help waitress with her calculus homework. I decide to have baklava, music breaks into Middle Eastern version of "Louie Louie", I can't believe my ears. I have to ask waitress what music we're listening to, she calmly says, Egypt's greatest hits 2001. I'll have to come back here for more of this.

"I have to answer one of nature's fundamental calls..I'm going to get a cookie"....Arthur

All yellow ping pong table on page B10 of today's Times makes me want to break out my paddle slam some white plastic. Doubles are fun, but two players is the best way to play the game...SLAM..AHHHH...wadayamean..its..OUT..uhh..your point..16-18..your serve.

Archimedes, inventor and mathematician of ancient Syracuse, provided many devices to defend the city against a Roman siege during the Second Punic War (215 B.C.). One was a crane with a claw attachment that hoisted Roman galleys partway out of the water, and then released them to fall back and capsize. The Romans were so frightened by his machinery they were said to run in panic every time a bit of rope or wood showed over the wall.

Current event fun from CNN and the Christian Science Monitor: A former cook of Osama Bin Laden told a CSM reporter that when it was time to exit stage left from Tora Bora, Bin Laden had three offers for escape. The first was from Iran, the second was from Iraq and the third was from some "Mafia" types. Yes, you heard it right, the cook said "Mafia" types. Oh, if only to be a fly to see the Osama meeting with the mob(chortle)and then to proceed to shit repeatedly in his soup and everything else around him...thats what I'd do if I was an Afghan camel fly..yesiree.

Just came back from seeing the movie Amelie. Really a great film, didn't really know what to expect, it was really clever, quick paced, and very funny. Photography was well done and quite beautiful. I'm really glad I decided to see this film, very well done! A box of DOTS was easily consumed during the watching. Before the movie I stopped and picked up a menu at Pino's Mediterranean Eatery, this place has been getting the buzz around here and was packed with happy eaters..will have to try it sometime soon. Did try some coconut tofu at Zaw's Asian Food nearby..it was alright but I think that next time I'll try something with real meat like the Mongolian Beef or the Pineapple Chicken..the tofu really wasn't doing it for me tonight.
Last night was also a movie night. After running into my barber, his wife, and one of his film proteges at Starbuck's I decided to go with them and see the movie I laughed at everytime I saw the trailer: The Mothman Prophecies. I think it may be the worst movie I've see for awhile. Totally unfrightening. I realize horror is a hard genre to pull off but this was just plan stupid. Richard Gere was unconvincing and spent most of the movie looking confused and talking to the "Mothman" on the telephone. At one point Gere asks the MM on the phone what is he(Gere) holding in his hand..to which the MM responds correctly "chapstick"..Gere flipped out drops the phone and the chapstick...hahahah..now thats very funny and not at all scary. Do bad some nice shots of Pittsburgh were wasted on this feeble attempt at a supernatural thriller. The Moth Man urban legend is so great..the actual Moth Man should have haunted the set and stopped this movie from ever being made..oh well. France, Amelie, good, smart movie. U.S., The Mothman Prophecies, complete waste of everyones time and $. It was it least fun hanging with three other fun people for an evening, better than staying at home.

At work: Today was incredibly slow, so slow infact we pulled out Dale's black and purple wizard Furby(you know the toy that everyone was killing for three or four holiday seasons ago.. Dale found his last summer for $4 at a thrift store) and tried to use it as an oracle to decide future store policies and purchasing decisions. The weather was so nice and business so dull that we took our little furry friend outside on our deck to sing and answer our queries. Great reactions from lunch time street crowd as Wiz-Furby did his thing..its little wizard's cap is da shit! Wiz/Furby!!Wiz/Furby!!Wiz/Furby!!

Morning coffee at the usual place, reading John Buscema's obituary in the Times while Annie Lennox asks if I'd lie to her, then Tom Petty tells me he doesn't want me around no more. No refills, I really like Ann and Tom but I get the hint, I'm out of here.

Uggg.. the Stillers have lost. The whole city will be numb and depressed for about a week. Started the morning trying to get through the excellent 9-11 compilations by DC and Dark Horse at the Coffee joint. Kept being interrupted by street native Mr T who wanted to talk about his his various conspiracy and Atlantis theories. It was ok though, talking to the T is always fun and the 9-11 parts I got through were excellent. Late January in the burg and people are walking around in t-shirts and shorts...waughhh... I want to make a snowman!

Quote of the day keeping with the theme: "He doesn't need a doctor.. he's fucking Polish!(Dale remarking on the genetic sturdiness of those of eastern european stock)

At work: Attack of the Mutants! High quotient of nutties out buying stuff. Bought a small stack of old 70's comics from some morlocks today mostly because they were books I read as a kid. Morlock quote: We didn't know you were here but we found you on the intermenet(yes that's right, intermenet). Lucky us, our sorryass abandoned site brings them to us, god bless the "intermenet". Late day encounter with know it all, short, musclebound, anti-semite fuck looking for chess set. Why do I suffer these people? When I saw that his t-shirt had the word "testosterone" on it I should have realized gears were missing.

Boss sprung for Pierogi lunch for troops on all fronts. Potato, cheese and potato, sauerkraut, sauerkraut and kielbasi, cottage cheese, cheese potato and jalapenos(jalapenos?) all backed up by Haluski(cabbage and noodles) and Galupki(cabbage rolls). Oh, and the pierogi(s)? were soaked in butter and onions. Everyone stuffed, everyone happy, any diet resolutions tossed to the side today. The ladies from Pierogi Shack(converted gas station into polish food take out) out did themselves and have been swamped with orders because of upcoming Stillers playoff parties. We have to do this again in a few weeks, absolutely incredible.

Todays work quote(made by accounting firm salesperson):We're family based.....even though it(the flyer) says "internet".
Tomorrow: Pierogi!

little work: Dwarven engineers dote over teenage grrl assistants while the tomb takes shape. Metal staff plots pierogi lunch for the tribe on thursday. Husker Du and "Die Meistersinger" peacefully coexist on our musical menu. Snow is all melted and that.

The cast of weird continues: While getting caffeine snacks for Heavy Gear participates at the annex I run into the Crazy tall long bearded guy at the Coffee stop. The same strangent who almost ran me over at 1:00A.M. last night was getting the day old bagel hook up from the boyz. Giant bag of a few dozen or so bagels is gently placed into the rogue shopping buggy, fuel for the Midnight races. No cream available for Richard's decaf, owner of the shopping cart holds door open for me as I walk out. The street is covered with snow.

Trying to find lost notes for post, walking back late at night on sidewalk.. I hear the rattle of a shopping cart behind me.. I don't want to look back, I know its something insane.. walk faster. Rattle continues stronger...faster..I walk faster..it rattles faster..damn its going to pass me..damn..then it does. I knew it! Crazy looking tall long bearded old man pushing metal shopping cart full of garbage and noticeable milk carton races past me and rockets up the street. I can't find my notes anywhere.

At Work again: Balin's Tomb is still pink..Master of the annex requisitions new improved palette for the customer base. Art comtemplates weekend escape to Cleveland to see Dirtbomb at the Ballroom. During mail call the rekkid agents are glued to the screen watching 98 OZZFest at Starlake, I watch with them for a bit. More processing of product..field a cheer-up call..successful..who orders all this shit! Card trade of rare elf for determined goblins. Dale swoons Warhol museum intern..she escapes. New spiderman front piece looks snazzy and a vast improvement over what was there before!

At Work: Started with book processing which leads into coffee break with bagels and Argentinian bread pudding. Lots more processing..Howard Stern with super over the top Letterman as guest on the radio..its always a guilty laugh with Howard. Later at the game board Balin's Tomb is being worked on for store demo soon..Foo Fighters and Queen's Flash Gordon movie music are being played alot for quick energy. Pink insulation foam core everywhere, the price of creativity. The rekkid agents are selling the hell out of the "Dragons" and other choice numbers. Much talk about the upcoming "Stillers" game between the sports sages. Evening musical cap of the Overture from "William Tell" on QED by National Symphony Orchestra followed by more Queen Flash Gordan. Close out, everyone leaves so we can do this tomorrow.

The two things of note today: A street artist who I never have seen before came in and wanted to sell us a small water color he did of our building. I hesitated at first but he was weirdly nice and said he spent last sunday afternoon doing it out in the cold. The more I looked at it the more I liked it and he seemed like the real deal. He wanted 5 bucks, I gave him a 10 spot. He was thrilled to have coffee $. Money well spent for both of us. I guess if I was a whiz kid I could have a picture of this up here, but I'm not whiz enough yet, so maybe later. Thing two, coworker coaxed me try a vanilla peep Valentine heart. Its nice to know that the people who gave us peeps to begin with have decided to branch into other holidays..now thats confectionery vision!

It could have wiped out France! Despite not really liking CNN I tend to watch it a lot, today they spent 10 seconds talking about an asteroid that was only sited in december and could have packed a real whallop if it hit. But it didn't and the anchor person kept on smiling and went on to the next story.

Today I was attacked by a common household spice. On lunch break I stopped a the local Indian supply shop to pick up some paprika that I thought would jazz up the chicken I was going to cook. In addition to the small red can of "Rajah" paprika I also picked up some somosas, potato cakes and a hot pepper thing. Chicken, fun Indian food, what could go wrong? Chicken in the pan, I was ready to add the "Rajah", I pulled the tab on the can and it instantaneously blew up like a paprika bomb. I was red powdered chest up. I guess this really isn't such a big deal but I never had a seasoning treat me so rudely. What trespass did I do to offend the paprika gods? After that excitement lunch was good but that hot pepper thing kicked my ass, I can't remember the last time I ate something so freakin hot, I couldn't even finish it.

If I were a work of art, I would be Piet Mondrian's Composition A. I am rigidly organised and regimented, although my cold and unapproachable exterior hides a clever way of thinking and a rebellious and innovative nature. A lot of people don't understand me, but I can still affect them on an emotional level. Which work of art would you be? The Art Test

I'm not so sure about the organised and cold part, but I could live with being this piece of art..

Really too nice for December 5th here, temp probably in the mid 70's all day long. No need for jackets just wear the t-shirts. Last year at this time I think we were freezing to death. This won't last long, and boy we will pay come Jan/Feb. Burr..I can feel it already.

Today a co-worker took me aside and said he wanted to talk in private about something before noon. It sounded somewhat ominous so I broke away as soon as I got a chance to see what was up. No one else around he walks to the back room and brings back a Tupperware container full of Kluski(Polish noodles). His mother had made the noodles for him this morning and he knew that I would react very favorable to getting some. I sneaked him some Golabki(Cabbage rolls) about a month ago, also mom made. Why the secrecy? We are probably the only ones who like this stuff and there isn't enough to go around anyway. So for now its a clandestine eastern European lunch club. That's right, the CEELC is closed to us cabbage kids or anyone else who can at least bring some kielbasa or Mrs T's Pierogies to the table.

You send the boy to college and he first wants to study engineering, fine, thats great. Two years later he switches to the theology dept instead, I don't care, I talked to the wife and whatever makes him happy. We don't see him for a semester and then we start getting crazy postcards from Pakistan. Next thing you know we see our boy on CNN fighting for the Taliban, kids these days, I don't understand he was such a nice quite boy----just my take on the 20 year old American fighting for the Taliban as seen on CNN. It just gets stranger and stranger.

The old lady grabbed tight to my jacket sleeve telling me she needed my help to cross because of her bad eyesight. She seemed to come out of nowhere. I told to hold on and we'll cross when it's safe. Being a busy street at noon downtown it took awhile, she turned to me and said, "your real patient..I wish I could be that patient". I just laughed real hard and she started to laugh too. Walking away I admired the Christmas circus theme windows of the large department store trying hard for good holiday sales.

Today is worlds AIDS awareness day think and link and I'm not really sure if anyone is really listening. The world has had so many problems it seems that most are forgotten about in the winds of time. I have no personal stories to tell but I know that each day thousands of people are lost to this condition. The resources available to mankind are formidable but the wisdom to use them are scarce. So many bright lights are lost to our sight, may peace be with them.

On a suggestion from a friend I spent tonight watching Junkyard Wars on the Learning Channel. Tonight happened to be the two hour Mega World Championship pitting three national teams in semi-serious mechanical competition. Team Raptor from the US was comprised of a group of Lockheed/Martin combat aircraft engineers from their sorta secret Skunk works. Team Bulldog was made up some British army engineers and team Bear seemed to be manned by some mechanically inclined Russians plus a rouge German. Each team had free reign to pick from a huge junkyard and 16 hours to create a vehicle that would win a straight up sand flats race, a rocky rough terrain race, and mile long water race. The Americans were able to pull off a solid victory with little drama( they had to paddle through much of the water race). The show was fairly amusing and I'd probably watch it again.

I really think the big headed blue alien Walkman commercials are brilliant and very funny.

It took two days but I think I've recovered from the Saturday night house warming party. Well attended by punk and metal boyz and grrlls and the rest of us less exciting folk. Furious billiards and pinball in the metal basement as much license was taken in the games of 8-ball. Hip hop first floor meant serious booze and food while dodging the darts masters. I continue my eating rampage that started last Thursday, there is no turning back. The allure of the T-angle bar battleship hoagie at 1:30 a.m. is undeniable. All through the night I watched the pocket Etch A Sketch make its rounds on both floors as the official toy of the evening. At about 2:30 I'm cornered by the man of the house for a few shots of JD, he's really gone. I don't drink but I go through with it for male bonding sake and at least it good whiskey. The carpool leaves at around 4:00 as we drag Dom from his Nintendo baseball game.

Tough going getting up after last nights thang...sleep friendly cool rainy weather doesn't help either..zombie lurch to the HOT sprinkly water chamber...feeling good. Grande Kenyan and cran muf to go as I rapidly advance to work. I think this will be a good day.