an empty place v3.5

Today marks another milestone in my life, it is my 10-Year Anniversary being owned by shackled to married to M. We were just a couple of dumb kids bumping into life and each other trying to figure out who we were when we tied the knot. And look at us, now we're just a couple of dumb adults doing the same thing.

We'd planned a long time ago that if we made it to 10 years (our biological parents didn't) we would renew our vows in numerous locations (it was different place every time we discussed it). And there were talks of cruises, trips around the world, and last year we landed on going to Mexico and that was final. Then our plans fell through a few months ago and we decided we'd take a cruise. Then that fell apart. The day before yesterday we planned to go to Orlando for the weekend and that ended poorly. And then today, I dropped by her office to surprise her with flowers and to take her out to lunch but she'd already left with her crew.

Tonight she's going out with her sisters and undoubtedly I am working all weekend, and neither of us are really broken up about it. Seems like there should be something more though. Something to celebrate that two kids from broken homes crash in to each other as teens and decide to take a stab at being a family. Maybe a cookie, or a badge (as M commented this morning), something that says "Hey, I can still tollerate the ass I married ten years ago!"

I just got the new Angles And Airwaves album We Don't Need To Whisper and, and at first blush (I listened to it in the car on the way in to work this morning), like Tool's 10,000 Days, it is very reminiscent of earlier work (in this case, Blink 182's latest untitled album). And as for DeLonge's claims of this being "the best music made in decades", I don't think so. I am going to spend more time with it however and see what else I can make of it, but the anticipated "emotional power" just isn't there. More later.

I was just browsing through the Yahoo Widget Gallery when I happened upon this movie hub widget for the new live action Transformers movie due out summer '07. I had no idea there was a new Transformers movie coming out much less that it would be live action. Yeah, LIVE ACTION as in with real people and undoubtedly CGI'ed all to hell. First off, its the Transformers, they just can't be live anything. They're freakin robots! And here's something that bothers me (and I was astounded when Thing One brought this up), why don't they just fly?! The Autobots can fly in robot mode but not in car mode. Yet, when the Earth opens up beneath them they fall? The same thing happens in Dragon Ball Z. Well, looking at the rummored cast it looks like it aught to be interesting at least.

I've been listening to the new Tool album (W) 10,000 Days and while I think it is very good, it is very reminiscent of their earlier works. It rocks pretty hard but doesn't seem to take the chances the band is known for. 10,000 days does not feel nearly as progressive as previous albums but I suspect it will be spinning in my player for quite some time.

M and I bought an elliptical this weekend. It's a neat thing right there, easily assembled in about an hour or two (with distraction) and looks easy enough to use. I watched last night as M gave it its inaugural spin; forward and back she moved with grace and poise. Each step flowed into the next as she trotted her way toward leandom. Then it was my turn. The first dozen or so steps were disjointed, forced, and sloppy but I got the hang of it. Eventually I decided to try slipping into reverse as M had done so gracefully. I slowed the machine down and attempted to step in the most unnatural way possible - backwards. The machine learched forward then back and hopped to the side as I tried one after the next in reverse. After nearly flipping the death machine I decided my father's advice was best heeded "forward never straight, never look back". The next thing I knew five minutes had passed, my legs were like jelly and I was fumbling my way off The Stepper From Hell. I'll stick with flailing about on the treadmill for now.

Besides being Easter Eve and Tax day, this past Saturday was the anniversary of the Titanic's fateful day. 94 years ago, April 15, the RMS Titanic sank on its way to New York. How did you celebrate this tragic anniversary? We performed the cerimonial rending, torching and sinking of a miniature cruise liner in the bath tub; filled with ice of course. Thing Two thought it pertinent to point out how silly it was for the men (here represented by green army men) to give up their seats to the women and children (represented by brown indians and jelly beans with smilies on them respectively) because of the equality they now have. I reminded him that this reinactment was not only from a different era but one with family values and morals. Not like now. He understood and moved on with his rendition of "The Cries of The Damned."

I feel it is important to teach The Things that just because it was so in the past, does not make it right in the present. African-Americans are no longer enslaved, women are no longer subserviant in the household, and men are no longer held to the ideals of chivalry or even gentlemanly behavior. This is truely an amazing time for us. We are no longer required to hold the door, pull out the chair, or even use polite language in the presense of or for a woman. They hate that stuff now. They want to be treated as equals so by God (sorry, we don't have to have God anymore either) King and Country, if some bitch pisses you off, pop her in the mouth just like you would if she had balls. After all, she might.

Two weeks ago I talked about how much weight I've gained and how hell bent I am on getting it off. Well, being that that was two weeks ago and this is two weeks later, I can say that I haven't been trying as hard. Sure, I dropped five pounds that first week. I gained six that weekend. Then I lost seven during the week and gained seven on the weekend. I see a pattern, and that pattern points directly to the stretching seems in my britches.

I like to eat, eating is fun. Its like a carnival in my mouth. I like to eat take-out a lot too. I love all kinds of food from the illustrious Bacon Egg and Cheese McGriddle's at Mc Donald's to the Passport Breakfasts (mmm, lingen berry crepes) at IHOP; from the Jr. Bacon Cheese Burgers at Wendy's to Chalupas and Gorditas from Taco Bell; General T'sao's Chicken from China Star and Shanghi Express and holy hell, anything else that will entertain my taste buds like the Chesse Cake Delight at The Cold Stone Creamery.

So I've come to terms with all that and have decided to stop eating for entertainment all the damn time and start eating for fuel. And this week I've done really well, I've been flailing about on the treadmill as much as possible and expect to lift weights on Saturday. I am down to about 205 (25% bf) now from 214.8(27% bf) Monday morning and will not be gorging this weekend. Man, this is tough to do especially when it seems everyone around you is eating crap (chips, cake, cookies, brownies, and candies of all kinds) but I will manage. Here's to it.