I don’t miss God, but I sure miss Santa Claus

above lyric from "Gutless" by Hole

Well well well, Christmas time has come and gone. This was a pretty uneventful X-mas. I didn't make any money this Christmas, but got some nifty stuff, like an MP3 player, a cool Busch Stadium commemorative book, some neato clothes, and bling. Bling is always good, especially when it's a half-karat and when the other bling is an actual topaz. I have an Italian family that loves the bling, let me tell you.

I still haven't exchanged gifts with any friends yet, so more shit will be coming.

Having car difficulties, as usual. My blower decided to go out. For those of you thinking pervertedly or having no clue as to what I'm talking about, a blower is basically the ac and heater. In layman's terms, I have no heat in my car. Getting it fixed tomorrow, hopefully. If not, I'll need a ride to trivia.

Wow, I really thought I had more to say.

That's all.

ANDREA

Music -- clickety clickety clicky click.
Link -- Windows Mix (this is awesome!!!)

All the kids so sick of books, they like the punk and the metal band

above lyrics from "Walk Like an Egyptian" by the Bangles

Just woke up from falling asleep on the couch. Between being sick and trying to get stuff done, I've been sort of tired lately. Oh well, my bed looks comfortable. I will be there in a second.

Went online to check my grades and I did well, again. As usual.

Developmental Psychology - A
History of the English Language - B minus (linguistics class, really really hard).

Wasn't worried, expected about that. Next semester is gonna be a killer though, but it should be fun because I'm really getting into more content-based study. And I have a teacher I've had twice before that I absolutely adore. Oh well, enough talk of school for a while.

New Years 2005 will be held at a swamp down in Dagobah. Not really, but that's just another way to say Yoda's house. All details will be forthcoming in the next couple days.

I am just about done with my X-Mas shopping. Only a few more items to pick up. Nothing extravagant. If it were up to me, it would be a Very Dollar Store X-Mas for everyone. Not because they deserve it, which they don't, but because everything is so frickin' expensive. My apartment is beginning to look a lot more X-mas-sy. I put up this little door hangy thing on my door and put more ornaments on my little tree (it has ornaments on there, but I wanted more. I also wanted something to draw attention away from the pre-placed, permanent cardinal bird ornaments. I think this used to be an old person's tree). I've also recieved several X-mas cards from people, which are on display for all to see. Just gotta hang up a little ornament chain thingy that my mom gave me, and that should be just about it for Christmas fun at Andrea's.

Looking forward to doing stuff with the fam for X-Mas. I always do, usually because it's loads of fun and no one really gives me a lot of crap about anything. I really don't have a lot of crap that needs to be recieved though. I'm sure I'll get asked about school, which is no problem Work, which is no problem. I'm sure my great aunt will ask me why I don't have a boyfriend or if I'm going to church every Sunday like a good Catholic (which I'm not. I attend church services at the St. Joseph and Angel Church on Tesson Ferry every Sunday. However, I am not attending Catholic services). It's usually a riot with the Gioia side of the family. The other side is a tad more subdued. Maybe a lot of tads more subdued. The Gioia side is a raucous, loud affair. It's nuts!

I think that's it. Now for something to brighten your day. This WILL ruin a Christmas song for you, so please don't click it (actually do. It's hilarious) if you like "Carol of the Bells". That's my favorite X-Mas carol, and now, everytime I hear it, I smile because of this.

It's a Burger King Holiday (Ding! Fries are Done)

Thank you, drive through.
ANDREA

What I Hear -- "Oi to the World" - The Vandals
Where I'm At -- Recursive Story

Give the finger to the rock-n-roll singer, as he's dancing upon your paycheck

above lyric from "Pay No Mind" by Beck.

Found this on Ross's journal, who found it on Courtney's. You can find their journals on my LiveJournal 'friends' page. I'm just too lazy to put the link up. You guys should all do this, it's pretty fun.

Open iTunes/iPod or Windows Media Player to answer the following:

Go to your library.
Answer, no matter how embarrasing it is.

One thing I noticed was that despite how metal heavy my playlist is, the 20+ songs that came up in the shuffle were on the other end of the spectrum. How absolutely tragic.

At any rate, here you go.

How many songs? 5168

Sort by artist
First artist: ...And Oceans
Last artist: ZZ Top

Sort by song title
First Song: 03-Opeth
Last Song: "Zurich is Stained" - Pavement

Sort by time:
Shortest Song: "We Like Meat" - Bloodhound Gang- 00:03
Longest Song: "Four Seasons" - Vivaldi - 38:42

First Album: "1" - Led Zeppelin
Last Album: "Zoso" - Led Zeppelin

First song that comes up on Shuffle (I'm currently listening to the shuffle): "Innervision" System of a Down

How many songs come up when you search for "sex"? 22

How many songs come up when you search for "death"?
20

How many songs come up when you search for "love"?
102

How many songs come up when you search for "you"?
300

How many songs come up when you search for "why"?
18

Put the next 20 songs that come up on shuffle:
1. "Right Turn Klyde" - The Bloodhound Gang
2. S.B.S.R." - Belphegor
3. "Burning Bridges" - Pink Floyd
4. "Suicide" - Bobby Gaylor
5. "Just Like You Imagined" - NIN
6. "The Beat Goes On" - Sonny & Cher
7. "A Lap Dance is So Much Better When the Stripper is Crying" - The Bloodhound Gang
8. "Money for Nothing" - Dire Straits
9. "Just a Test" - Beastie Boys
10. "Cats in the Kettle" - Weird Al
11. "Karma Police" - Radiohead
12. "This Cat's on a Hot Tin Roof" - Brian Stezer Orchestra
13. "The Ballad of John & Yoko" - The Beatles
14. "Always on My Mind" - Pet Shop Boys
15. "Shoot to Thrill" - AC/DC
16. "Star Me Kitten" - R.E.M.
17. "L.A. Woman" - The Doors
18. "Stage" - Live
19. "Push Downstairs" - Underworld
20. "Boys" - The Beatles

Oh what the hell, this is fun. Here's 5 more for you, as a bonus.

21. "Heart of Glass" - Blondie
22. "Depths You've Fallen" - Cryptopsy
23. "Big Guns" - AC/DC
24. "Finger Paintings of the Insane" - Acid Bath
25. "Man's Best Friend" - Lords of Acid


Funny that both my first and last albums are both Zep albums. I have every Zep album on my computer, cause they're my favorite band of all time.


And now, for the news

I am no longer manager of Scarlet Whore. It was a mutual decision, not made by me, but made by the 7 people that make up my band. It's okay. I was gonna quit at the first of the year anyway. It was becoming less fun and more of a chore. I'm retired, officially, from music at 24. Time to focus on the tasks that are more pertinent than music. I'm content with being just a fan.

I'm in the throes of finals week. I'm really confident about one final, and semi-confident about another. My Developmental Psych class is no problem whatsoever. Shit, I don't even have to try on that one. It's multiple choice and easy.

The new System of a Down album is fan-fucking-tastic. Not that any of you are an uber-fan of SOAD, but I am, goddammit. They're one of the only newer metal bands that I care for lately, besides Shadows Fall and Meshuggah. I highly recommend that you add it to your collection.

Speaking of music, I'm looking for the perfect X-Mas album to put me in the Christmas spirit. The only one I own is the South Park Christmas Album. If anyone is at all familiar with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, let me know if their Christmas albums are worth my download time.

I think that's it. Wow, sorry it took me so long to write an entry. Yay, procrastination.

ANDREA

Music - "Gaia" by Tiamat
Linkage - google-fight.com

Your empty eyes seem to pass me by and leave me dancing with myself

above lyric from "Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol.

Don't ask what the titular reference is to. Let's just say that rejection sorta sucks. Oh well, more fish in the sea.

Stuff's going good, oh friends in blogworld.

Here's a quick recap before I head off to class.

--My apartment is BEAUTIFUL! Thanks to my mom for coming over and shampooing my carpets for me. The place looks so nice and smells great.

--I'm adding 3 new posters to my wall, next to my Therion, Pink Floyd "The Wall", and Moulin Rouge posters. Two "Walk the Line" posters. One with Mr. Joaquin Phonenix and the other is the movie poster, only a smaller version of it. The other is a Zathura poster. It's great having a friend who works at a movie theatre, even if that friend has a girlfriend :(

Other than that, nothing new to really report. Things have been leaning in a very positive, very clear direction lately. Things are looking up.

Saw the strangest thing last night on my way home for work. Now, take in mind some background. It was 5:30 pm and it was dark. I pulled up behind a hearse. It's not unusual. I come upon hearses frequently. Anyway, here I am, at the light, in the dark, and I notice that inside the hearse, there is a casket and a full floral spray (the flower topper thing that goes on top of the casket). I'm like "Hmmmm...weird." I continue behind the hearse up Forder and notice that it pulls into a subdivision on Forder -- with the casket and the flowers. I thought about following but decided not to give into my morbid curiosity. And to top it off, when I pulled up behind the hearse, I had about a minute left of Tool's "Eulogy". Weird creepy weird weird weird.

brought me to a very interesting conclusion. I want a night funeral when I die. I think that would be neat. I also want to get married at night. I think that would be neat too.

@everyone -- if you would all be so kind as to send me your addresses or addresses of others that you may have so that I can begin sending out X-Mas cards. Please send to vulgardisplay1981@yahoo.com Very much appreciated.

I love you all.

Peace,
Andrea

Weep not for the memories

above lyric from "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan

Before I post this, I DID NOT copy off Steve. I thought this was cute when my friend Danimal (linked to the right) had this in his blog weeks ago. Just now got around to putting it up.

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want--good or bad. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you.

Okay, people, get to typing. I want more than 1 person to do this.

ANDREA

If you wanna find hell with me, I can show you what it's like

above lyric from "Mother" by Danzig

Hey, everyone. I have a HUGE secret about someone in the group? You've got to hear this, it's the juicest gossip of the century!!!!

Ready?

Hizzy doesn't give a shit what anyone says about her.

Yep, that's right, a new leaf has been turned over. I will no longer care what is uttered about me. Call me a bigmouth, call me a bitch, I don't care.

This all started a mere 10 minutes ago, when I logged onto the forum to see who, if anyone, had made a contribution to my totally awesome story on Mega Story Time. Alas, it was no one.

However, I found that I cannot keep my mouth shut and that I blabbed to everyone in the free world about allegations regarding someone's father. Well, if I remember correctly, I didn't. It's too sensitive of a subject. Someone needed a scapegoat, and who better than the person who can't keep her mouth shut about anything.

That's okay though. If I'm not getting blamed for blabbing something, then I'm getting guilt tripped for missing someone's birthday party because I had to go to a wedding and then having it rubbed in my face the next day (thanks, Erich, appreciate it man).

So just keep rubbing my face in the dirt a few more times. Eventually, I'm gonna snap. I'm not a violent person, so I'm not saying I'm gonna hit anyone, because I'd get killed. Just watch your step.

Yeah, it`s Halloween...tonight

above lyrics from "Halloween" by Helloween

HAPPY PUMPKIN DAY!

Let me entertain you with a song:

The 12 Days of Halloween

On the first day of Halloween my good friend gave to mea vulture in a dead tree.

On the second day of Halloween,my good friend gave to metwo hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the third day of Halloween,my good friend gave to methree fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the fourth day of Halloween,my good friend gave to mefour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the fifth day of Halloween,my good friend gave to mefive cooked wormsfour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the sixth day of Halloween,my good friend gave to mesix owls a-screeching,five cooked wormsfour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the seventh day of Halloween,my good friend gave to meseven spiders creeping,six owls a-screeching,five cooked wormsfour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the eighth day of Halloween,my good friend gave to meeight brooms a-flying,seven spiders creeping,six owls a-screeching,five cooked wormsfour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the ninth day of Halloween,my good friend gave to menine wizards whizzing,eight brooms a-flying,seven spiders creeping,six owls a-screeching,five cooked wormsfour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the tenth day of Halloween,my good friend gave to meten goblins gobbling,nine wizards whizzing,eight brooms a-flying,seven spiders creeping,six owls a-screeching,five cooked wormsfour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the eleventh day of Halloween,my good friend gave to meeleven bats a-swooping,ten goblins gobbling,nine wizards whizzing,eight brooms a-flying,seven spiders creeping,six owls a-screeching,five cooked wormsfour giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.

On the twelfth day of Halloween,my good friend gave to metwelve cauldrons bubbling,eleven bats a-swooping,ten goblins gobbling,nine wizards whizzing,eight brooms a-flying,seven spiders creeping,six owls a-screeching,five cooked worms, four giggling ghosts three fat toads,two hissing cats,and a vulture in a dead tree.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, aren't you glad that's over? Me too.

Anyway, I'm gonna blog really quick here before class.

@Scott -- Cool party. If I wasn't broke, I'd go buy Apples to Apples
@Angel and Joe -- really sorry to hear about Angel's g-ma. If there's anything I can do, please let me know. You know my number and I'm always here.

Couple things.
1. I heard on the news today that there was a woman who died when her car got hit by a train. She went around the barricade. Now, I'm sorry, but the last time I checked, those barricades are up for a reason --SO THE TRAIN DOESN'T HIT YOU. Oh well, at least she's out of the gene pool. I know I'm gonna get a lot of shit for this, but she went around the goddamned barricade. I'm not saying she deserved it, but there's one less idiot out there now.

2.StumbleUpon is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's really hard for me to explain what StumbleUpon is. Basically, you need Mozilla Firefox (only the greatest browser ever). You install a tiny program that is totally free, safe, and legal. You select sites you are interested in, like topics, like metal or something. Then you click, Stumble Upon and it will give you tons of random sites that have something remotely to do with your interest. It is amazing. I didn't do it justice. It does not work with IE, so if you're a loser that still has IE, sorry. You can come over and play with it at my house. I must have bookmarked at least 75 sites last night. You never know when I'll want to play with my virtual autopsy page (you can do an autopsy on an animated body) or when I'll want to play with vectors, or my new virtual drumkit. It's amazing.
I'm not home right now, but I'll be throwing these sites up in my featured sites link, so give them a looksee. You might like them.

Anyway, it's time for class. Hope you all eat tons of candy tonight.

ANDREA

Music -- clickety clickety clicky click goes the keyboard
Link --http://http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/76E7C96D023A8F11862570AB001F6559?OpenDocument -- The train idiot lady.

For a small piece of paper it carries alot of weight. Call it lean, mean, mean green

above lyric from "For the Love of Money" by the O'Jays.

I'm switching banks (mainly because I'm really tired of not having but 2 atms in this fucking city that I can go to without getting a surcharge). If anyone has any banking suggestions for me, please let me know. Right now, my top 2 choices are Commerce and Bank of America, with US Bank running a very close third. Tell me why your bank works for you, or if it doesn't.

There's a possible problem looming on the horizon and I need to be monetarily prepared should I have to leave my place. Don't worry, I'm not getting evicted and I'm not in any sort of health mess. I just don't want to bring it up right now. Before rumors get started, I'm not sick, dying, nearly homeless, pregnant, or anything like that. This involves a possible conflict between school and work that may result in me having to quit my job for a period of 4-5 months and move back home. I want to avoid that, so if I can save enough money, I can put a down payment on a condo or a house (a very cheap house). Welcome to my pipe dream, everyone. I wish I would have won Powerball. But, don't worry about me. I always figure out a solution. I'm not totally stressing over this, just keeping it in the back of my mind. I don't need advice or any help at this moment.

And now it's time for the 2nd installment of "Things I realized recently". These are in no particular order, just general observations I've made about the world around me.

--It went from warm to cold in just a little under 24 hours. It's like we skipped autumn and went straight to winter. That's st. louis weather for you.

--Everyone at my apartment complex must own 3 cars a piece and park them all after 9 pm. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get a good spot after 9 pm. I had to walk in the cold about a quarter of a mile, carrying laundry in the freezing ass cold, because I couldn't get a good spot.

--There is an obesity epidemic in this country. I saw a lady yesterday sitting on her front porch eating an Imos pizza straight out of the box. She was like 300 lbs. I felt bad for her. But, at the same time, I wanted to go buy her some fruit.

--Dear Mother Nature, are you done fucking with us yet? Quit it with the hurricanes.

That's all of my observations this week. I'm thinking of doing a weekly segment about things I've learned. I'm also going to start carrying a notepad around with me, to note things of interest. You never know what gems I'll come up with.

Until then, keep on keeping on.
ANDREA

Music - "Poem" by Taproot

Memories, how they linger in the twilight and in the wee small hours sometimes just before dawn

above lyric from "Memories" by Van Morrison

Yep, back to the black. Not because I want to, because baseball season is over. Tonight was really bittersweet. I'm not going to dwell on it. I just think it's sad that we got this far and it's over. Soon, the old house will be gone, and the new house will rise from the rubble. I'm gonna miss that old house. It's gonna be different next year.

Len said all this stuff a lot better, go check out his blog. Look over there ----->
on the sidebar for the link.

I remember several key memories of the old house. I remember growing up hearing stories of legends -- Stan the Man, Yogi Berra, and countless others. I grew up watching legends of my own play in that old house -- Ozzie, Willie, Tommy Herr, Vince Coleman, Mark McGwire, and now Albert, Jimmy, Eck, and Matty Mo. I remember going to games every year. The majority were nosebleed seats, but it didn't matter. I was watching the ballgame.

I remember being a little girl and going on vacation with my grandparents down to our cabin. We didn't have TV down there. My parents and grandparents would stay up and listen to the ballgame on the radio. I was supposed to be asleep, but I'd creep out of bed and crack the door slightly, just so I could hear the game being called.

The lights went off in Busch Stadium for the last time tonight. The last hot dogs were sold, the last pictures were taken, the last family outings to the old ballpark were gone on, the final ball, the final catch, the final game.

Memories are what we make of them. Life is what we make of it. It's weird to get so sentimental over a building, but it shapes who I am, how I grew up, and what I've experienced. Future generations are going to look down 630 feet from the Arch, looking to the west, and won't see the old house, the so called bottlecap, the landmark of the downtown skyline. They'll see the new house.

Just like when a relative passes away, or we move away from friends and loved ones, we have memories to share. Memories are a part of growing up and reliving beautiful things that have occurred in our lives. The legends that passed through the old house in the past 40 years will live on in memories and stories, just like names like Dizzy, Red, Stan the Man, and others have been passed down in stories to all of us. We'll talk of the old ballpark, the clydesdales marching around the warning track on opening day, the only homerun ever hit out of busch stadium, Jack Buck, the post-9/11 ceremonies, The Beatles in concert. We'll talk about times we've had at the old house with friends, nights that seemed to go on forever. We'll talk about birthdays, fun, drinking entirely too much and heckling the opposing team, players, coaches, everything. We'll remember looking at the DK 37 sign and knowing what it means and remembering the towering pitcher who left us all too soon. We'll remember the Plaza of Champions, the long walk up to the upper deck, sitting in the bleachers and baking in 100 degree heat. But we did it and we will remember it. We did it, for the love of the game, the love of a team, and the love of a sport that captivates our thoughts and our eyes, rules our conversations and makes us feel a sense of pride, a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves, and having something that we can call our own.

I'll miss the old house. With life comes change. It's time for a change.

It's been a glorious season. See you next year, boys, at the new house.

I'd like to leave you with a poem, written by ESPN magazine contributor Jim Hall, entitled Baseball Is

Baseball is grass, chalk, and dirt displayed the same yet differently
In every park that has ever heard the words play ball.
Baseball is a passion that bonds and divides all those who know it.
Baseball is a pair of hands stained with newsprint,
A set of eyes squinting to read a boxscore,
A brow creased in an attempt to recreate a three-hour game
From an inch square block of type.
Baseball is the hat I wear to mow the lawn.
Baseball is a simple game of catch
and the never-ending search for the perfect knuckleball.
Baseball is Willie vs Mickey, Gibson vs Koufax, and Buddy Biancalana vs the odds.
Baseball links Kansan and Missourian, American and Japanese,
But most of all father and son.
Baseball is the scent of spring,
The unmistakable sound of a double down the line,
And the face of a 10-year-old emerging from a pile of bodies
With a worthless yet priceless foul ball.
Baseball is a language of very simple words that tell unbelievably magic tales.
Baseball is three brothers in the same uniform on the same team for one brief summer
Captured forever in a black and white photo on a table by the couch.
Baseball is a glove on a shelf, oiled and tightly wrapped,
Slumbering through the stark winter months.
Baseball is a breast pocket bulging with a transistor radio.
Baseball is the reason there are transistor radios.
Baseball is a voice in a box describing men you've never met,
In a place you've never been,
Doing things you'll never have the chance to do.
Baseball is a dream that you never really give up on.
Baseball is precious.
Baseball is timeless.
Baseball is forever

ANDREA

Get up, get back on your feet, you're the one they can't beat, and you know it.

above lyrics from "Fooling Yourself" by Styx.

BELIEVE!!!!


Wow. If you didn't see it, you missed out on the Monday Night Miracle.

Read the sports section.

FUCK YES! GO CARDS!

Andrea

Music - Eminem "Lose Yourself"

I'm only hanging on to watch you go down.

above lyric from "So Cruel" by U2.

Well, the Cardinals are thisclose to being eliminated. One more loss and no World Series for us. Like many die hard Cards fans, I'm being very cautiously optimistic that we're going to win tomorrow. The Astros have nothing to lose, we do. The ump needs to get off his fucking knees and stop blowing calls. He blew 2 big ones tonight and I think ultimately, those cost us the game.

Okay, I don't think you out there in blog land care about baseball enough to listen to a rant about it, so I'm gonna shut up.

@Steve -- congrats on your new job

Saw NIN on Friday. I have never been more enthralled by a concert in all my life. NIN was dead on perfect, QOTSA (Queens of the Stone Age) were pretty rockin', and Autolux, while I didn't like them one iota, I respect them as musicians and appreciate them for going out on stage each and every night.

Other highlights of the weekend
-Saw an old, old friend at NIN named Leroy. It was nice to see him and Joe chat too.
-Had a good talk with Angel at NIN. She really is a great, cool chick.
-Toni's birthday was a delight.
-Downed 2 martinis in a total of 5 minutes at the bar. Too bad it was last call, cause I could have stayed there all night long.
-Went to the Mega Target by my work. This thing has a - get ready - CART ESCALATOR! Unfortunately, I didn't have a cart to test it out, as my purchases did not necessitate the use of a cart. Next time, I will get a cart and see how this cart escalator works. It was still fascinating.
-Lava lamp works once again. Thank you Nix for the lightbulb. I'll hit ya back with a new one soon. The orange glow has returned to my living room once again.
-Bought a powerball ticket. I won't win, but it's fun to try.

I went to my old high school today for homecoming, and I realized one thing. I'm getting old. The freshmen this year are class of 2009. Yikes! That's 10 years younger than me. The seniors are 6 years younger than me. They were born in 1987. They were barely 11 or 12 when I was a senior. Frightening.

In the spirit of that, I have found this online. It's by Paul Harris, host of the Paul Harris show on KMOX. I hope this makes you all think about how things were in the good old days, and what kids today have missed out on. I have bolded things that I remember. Some of the things on here apply to my parents' generation, but some are still thought worthy. I've also added my thoughts in parenthesis when applicable.

"When my daughter grows up, her life won't include..."
This Just Plain Harris column appeared on the Op-Ed page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch June 9, 2005:

It begins with this simple opening: "When my daughter grows up, her life won't include..."

Recently, my brother was in the car with my two nephews, and when they reached their destination, he told them to "crank the windows up." The two boys had never heard that expression, and my brother realized it's because they've never been in a car without electric windows. Sure, they exist, but not in the world of these six- and four-year-olds.

With my daughter's eleventh birthday last week, I started making a list of all the things from my own life that will never be part of hers. When I mentioned it to my wife, friends, and KMOX listeners -- all Baby Boomers -- they chimed in with suggestions, and the list grew to include:

Movies on videotape. Double features. Drive-in theaters. (Andrea's note : I remember the old '66 drive-in, where the Best Buy in Crestwood now stands) Theater marquees proclaiming: "Held over for 30th week!" Signs under the marquee advertising "It's Air Conditioned Inside" in letters that look like dripping ice.

Rabbit ears. Using pliers to change the channel because the knob's broken. Getting up to change channels. Wired remote controls. Waiting for the TV to warm up. Having to watch a show when it airs or missing it forever.

Cassette, 8-track, and reel-to-reel tapes. A Walkman that plays cassettes. Cassingles. CD singles. Records and turntables. Adapters for 45s. "You sound like a broken record."

Cameras with thumbwheels to advance the film. Cameras with film. Flash bulbs, flash cubes, flip flash.

Ultra-bright home movie lights. Home movie screens. Home movie projectors. Slide projectors. Editing small reels of Super-8 film onto bigger reels.

Film strips at school with a next-frame beep that every kid could imitate and drive the a/v guy crazy.

Phones with dials. Phones with cords. Changing your phone number when you move. Pay phones. Busy signals. Really expensive long distance calls. Party lines. Answering machines.

Smoking on airplanes. Smoking in movie theaters. Smoking at work. Ash trays on restaurant tables.

Bank tellers. Writing checks. Buying tickets for games, concerts, and movies at the box office.

Going to the library to use an encyclopedia. Copying something out of the World Book for a school assignment. "The Reader's Guide to Periodicals."

Gas stations with the rubber hose that dings when you drive over it. Gas for under a buck a gallon. Free drinking glasses with a fill-up. (I think my mom still has some)

Rear car windows that open all the way. A foot switch to activate bright headlights. Cars with wing window vents in front. Cars with bench front seats.

Scoring your own bowling game. Women wearing swim caps at the pool. Only boys playing sports at school. Lawn darts.

Soda in glass bottles. Soda made with cane sugar. Church keys for cans without pop tops. Cans without pop tops. Pop tops that come off when you pull them.

TV weather reports without Doppler radar. TV weather forecasters who use stick-on pictures of sun and clouds. TV news that's on on in the evening. TV stations that sign off in the middle of the night. (Anyone remember test patterns, the Indian, or the Star Spangled Banner with a flag graphic)

Floppy disks. Computers that fill a room. Dot matrix printers. Green-and-white computer paper with tractor feed perforations.

Typewriters. Carbon paper. Correctype. Wite-Out. Thermal fax paper. Mimeograph machines. The smell of mimeograph machines and paper in the school office.

Prices on food items at the supermarket. Jiffy Pop you shake on the stove. Coffee cans with keys. Coffee percolators on the stove.

Metal ice cube trays. Defrosting the freezer with a turkey baster and a yardstick. Yardsticks with furniture store names and logos. Yardsticks.

Susan B. Anthony dollars. Sacagawea dollars. $2 bills.

Writing letters. Postage stamps you lick. Envelopes you lick. S&H green stamps.

Cotton diapers. Rectal thermometers. Bar soap. Portable bubble hair dryers with the carrying strap. Wearing curlers to bed.

Metal keys for hotel rooms. Winding a wrist watch. Tonka trucks made of steel. Styrofoam boxes at McDonald's. Rubbers -- the ones that go over your shoes.
-----
Copyright 2005, Paul Harris
-----
Some more that were not included in the print version of this column:

K-Tel collections of "the original hits by the original artists!"
Car radios with an analog tuner dial.
Mailboxes in the neighborhood.

Finally, three that aren't generational, but are indicative of the post-9/11 world we all live in: Going to the airport gate to meet someone. Going to the top of the Statue Of Liberty. Going to the World Trade Center.

Also, one more that is interesting
We are the children of the Eighties. We are not the first "lost generation" nor today's lost generation; in fact, we think we know just where we stand - or are discovering it as we speak.

We are the ones who played with Lego Building Blocks when they were just building blocks and gave Malibu Barbie crewcuts with safety scissors that never really cut. We collected Garbage Pail Kids and Cabbage Patch Kids and My Little Ponies and Hot Wheels and He-Man action figures and thought She-Ra looked just a little bit like I would when I was a woman. Big Wheels and bicycles with streamers were the way to go, and sidewalk chalk was all you needed to build a city. Imagination was the key. It made the Ewok Treehouse big enough for you to play in. With your pink portable tape player, Debbie Gibson sang back up to you and everyone wanted a skirt like the Material Girl and a glove like Michael Jackson's. Today, we are the ones who sing along with Bruce Springsteen and the Bangles perfectly and have no idea why. We recite lines with the Ghostbusters and still look to the Goonies for a great adventure.

We flip through T.V. stations and stop at the A-Team and Punky Brewster and "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?" We hold strong affections for The Muppets and The Gummy Bears and why did they take the Smurfs off the air? After school specials were only about cigarettes and step-families, the Pokka Dot Door was nothing like Barney, and aren't the Power Rangers just Voltron reincarnated?

We are the ones who still read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, the Bobbsey Twins, Beverly Clearly and Judy Blume, Richard Scarry and the Electric Company. Friendship bracelets were ties you couldn't break and friendship pins went on shoes - preferably hightopVelcro Reeboks - and pegged jeans were in, as were Units belts and layered socks and jean jackets and jams and charm bracelets and side pony tails and just tails. Rave was a girl's best friend; braces with colored rubberbands made you cool. The backdoor was always open and Mom served only red Kool-Aid to the neighborhood kids - never drank New Coke.

Entertainment was cheap and lasted for hours. All you needed to be was a princess with high heels and an apron; Sit 'n' Spin always made you dizzy but never made you stop; Pogoballs were dangerous weapons and Chinese Jump Ropes never failed to trip someone. In your Underoos, you were Wonder Woman or Spiderman or R2D2 and in your treehouse you were king.

In the Eighties, nothing was wrong. Did you know the president was shot? Star Wars was not a movie. Did you ever play in a bomb shelter? Did you see the Challenger explode or feed the homeless man down the street? We forgot Vietnam and watched Tiananman's Square on CNN and bought pieces of the Berlin wall at the store. AIDS was not the number one killer in the United States. We didn't start the fire, Billy Joel. In the Eighties, we re-definied the American Dream, and those years re-defined us. We are the generation inbetween strife and facing strife and not burning our backs. The eighties may have made us idealistic, but it is not idealism that will push us to be passed on to our children - the first children of the twenty-first century. Never forget we are the children of the Eighties!!"

Goodnight.
ANDREA

Put the right letters together and make a better day

above lyrics from "Alphabet Street" by Prince

Where to begin? The beginning sounds like a nice place.

--We blew ass last night at trivia. I should have trusted beaver on one question, but I reasoned it out differently, as did everyone else. Sorry Beav. You got the one question wrong, and I got this one wrong. We're even. That's what happens when our secret weapon, Joe, isn't there.

--We celebrated Toni's birthday yesterday. The cake was totally yum. Saturday we're going to Pueblo Solis, a movie, and Absolutli Goosed (a martini bar). Should be fun.

--Game 1 of the NLCS tonight. Don't call me. I won't answer.

--I'm totally fukkin' stoked about NIN. It's going to be great.

--We have a new 2nd guitar player in the Whore. He's awesome, from what I hear. I have yet to meet him.

--I'm expanding my Budweiser "Real Men of Genius/Real American Heroes" collection. If anyone has any mp3s of these, give me a list.

I really thought I had more to say. Oh well, at least I updated.

AMF,
Andrea

Pretty sounds --> John Fogarty - "Center Field"

I'm from the Lou and what I do is a Lou thing

Above lyrics from "Midwest Swing" by Nelly

I'm on a local kick lately. I was looking online and found these facts about our hometown. St. Louis may not be as stupid and unimpressive as some of you may think.

• The cocktails, Planter's Punch and Tom Collins, were invented at a St. Louis hotel, the Planter's House
• The custom of placing chocolates on hotel pillows begins here when the actor Cary Grant stayed at the Mayfair and used chocolate to woo a woman friend
• The first Jewish congregation west of the Mississippi was founded here as was the first library west of the Mississippi
• The Missouri Botanical Garden is among the top three botanical gardens in the world
• The first ironclad boat was built by James Buchanan Eads in the Port of St. Louis. Eads also invented the diving bell to salvage steamboat wrecks from the Mississippi River and built the first bridge using steel truss construction - the 1874 Eads Bridge
• St. Louis offers more free, major visitor attractions than anyplace outside of the nation's capital, including the Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Zoo, Cahokia Mounds, Museum of Westward Expansion, St. Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Grant's Farm and more
• The first kindergarten in the U.S. was founded in St. Louis by Susan Blow
• Peanut Butter was invented here
• St. Louis was the first American city to host the Olympic Games (1904)
• The Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space capsules were built in St. Louis by McDonnell Douglas - now Boeing
• The world's first skyscaper - Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building - was built in St. Louis
• Charles Lindbergh flew mail routes into St. Louis and named his plane "Spirit of St. Louis" to thank the businessmen who provided financial backing for his solo Atlantic flight in 1927
• The nation's first interstate highway was constructed here
• The Gateway Arch - at 630 feet - is the nation's tallest man-made monument
• The Mississippi River runs 2,350 miles from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The word "Mississippi" comes from the Anishinabe people (Ojibwe Indians). They called the river "Messipi" which means "Big River"
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains a navigation channel nine feet deep in the center of the river
• St. Louis was the site of the demonic possession incident that inspired the book, and later the movie, "The Exorcist"
• The ice cream cone and iced tea were both invented at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis
• St. Louis was once the largest shoe-manufacturing center in the world -- home of Buster Brown and other famous brands
• The largest collection of mosaic art in the world graces the walls and ceilings at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in the Central West End neighborhood
• St. Louis is home to the oldest institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River - Saint Louis University
• Hawken Rifles and Murphy wagons, used by the western pioneers, were made in St. Louis
• The soft drink Dr Pepper was introduced at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis and 7-Up also was invented in St. Louis
• The first lung cancer operation was performed in St. Louis
• St. Louisans consume more barbecue sauce per capita than any other city in America
• Delmar Boulevard was named after the states Delaware and Maryland
• Berlin Avenue was changed to Pershing Avenue during World War I due to anti-german sentinent

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!

Congrats to the St. Louis Cardinals for winning the NLDS. They now go to the NLCS to face either Atlanta (fingers crossed) or Houston (boooo! hiss!!!). I congratulate them, knowing full well that they don't read my blog, but who cares.

The bonfire last night was really quite a good time!

HAUNTED HOUSE NEWS:

Date : Monday, October 17, 2005
Place to Meet : My Place (2833 Innsbruck) Call for directions!
Time : We are leaving at 8 pm. Please be here by 7:30 or 7:45. If you need us to wait, let me know
What Haunted Houses : Silo-X, The Crematory, and the Creature (all for 20 dollars)

EVERYONE IS WELCOME! I'm gonna need drivers though, as I can't fit everyone in my car.
Contact me if you'd like to drive. If no one volunteers, we're SOL.

I think that's about it. I now return you to your regularly scheduled life, already in progress.

MUSIC --> Moby "Flower"

And if the cloud bursts,thunder in your ear.You shout and no one seems to hear.And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes

I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

You know, sometimes people have to get a reality check to see the big picture. Never in my life have I felt more stifled. Never in my life have I been forced to censor myself and my thoughts and words in order to please the masses. Never in my life have I felt more alone in a group of people. It's like I'm screaming and everyone is just sitting there, not caring about what I have to say.

Well, I'm tired. Tired of having to second guess myself. Tired of having to live my life in the way that others see fit. And I'm not just talking about blogworld. I'm talking about in general. I've had to bite my tongue on numerous occasions, in order to keep the peace. I've had to swallow a lot of what I wanted to say and no one should be subjected to that, ever.

What I wrote yesterday is now gone into the internet trashcan where all the bad things go. But was it really a bad thing? Well, yes, according to certain censors and critics. I don't see that I did anything wrong, but oft times, I guess I do and I'm just too stubborn to see it. Maybe I need a break.

I do need a break from Bugjuice. I need some time to evaulate things from afar. I am not leaving the group. I repeat, I am not leaving the group. I am not abandoning anyone. I'm certainly not being a bad friend (and the next person to accuse me of that is going to get me very angry). I will still maintain a presence on the forum and in the blogs. However, I will not be hanging out at small gatherings. The haunted house stuff (which people need to get back to me on. I need a headcount) and NIN are exceptions. Other than that, don't expect to see me around very much throughout the rest of the month. I need some time to be myself.

I love and respect each and every one of you. This trial separation is going to be hard. However, if it makes your lives better, than I am willing to step away for a bit, to give you guys the peace that you so desire. And it will be beneficial for me, for I will be able to really sit back and watch, as a silent observer. I will also be able to not be afraid to be myself, at least for a little while. Enjoy the silence while you can. I'll be back November 1. Hopefully this separation can change us all a little bit, for the better.

I leave you with one final thought. All of us really need to ponder this one. It comes from one of my favourite Rolling Stones songs.

"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you may find, you get what you need."

I love you all and hope this separation proves positive.

HIZZY

Music - "Narayan" by the Prodigy

I'm talkin' baseball, baseball in St. Lou

above lyrics from Terry Cashman's "Talkin' Baseball (St. Louis version).

Yep, it's red and it shall remain that way until the postseason is over. And in the Cardinals' case, that is probably going to be game 7 of the World Series, when we win it all. I'm not making any apologies, I love my Cardinals.

Game 1 vs. San Diego - STL 9 SD 5
Game 2 vs. San Diego - STL 6 SD 2

This year I will be hosting several watch parties should the Cardinals make it to the World Series. If you don't like baseball, don't bother coming, because we aren't changing the channel. You can come after the game.

Hmmm...what else?

The Bugjuice Trivia Team has made fantastic strides at Tuesday Night Trivia. Our team ranges from 5-10 people every week. People have really been showing up and participating. On Tuesday, we had our best finish ever -- we won 3 gift certificates! I am one proud team captain. And everyone is getting along at trivia, the vibe and cohesiveness is really exceptional. We have some of the smartest trivia minds ever assembled in one place. People get pissed off when we win, and we're finally starting to be seen as a threat by some of the other teams. And we rock at thinking up creative team names. So good job to everyone! *clap clap*

For those of you who don't visit the forum, there's a bonfire @ Yoda's on Saturday. It's going to be a tremendously good time. If you'd like to go, let me know and I'll get clearance from Yoda. All the cool kids are gonna be there. Don't know why I'm invited, if that's the case.

I have one teeny thing to complain about -- goddamn you fuckers like to eat. I had people over on Sunday and y'all ate me out of house and home. It's okay though. I'd rather feed them than see them starve. I'd hate to see my boys wither away to skin and bones.

I'd like to address something that went down in my presence at my apartment this past Sunday evening. If you weren't there, this doesn't concern you. If I say something is okay at my house, then it is okay. It is not grounds to leave, especially since you've never had a problem with it in the past. Let me break it down for you -- there was some marijuana use going on in my bedroom by two people on Sunday night. Now, the Adult Swimmers and I have a deal. If I don't feel like smelling pot while I'm watching TV, then they are to go in the bedroom, close the door, open the window, and burn incense. If I say it's okay, they can smoke in the living room. However, they didn't even ask. THey went straight into the bedroom and shut the door, out of respect for everyone else there who dind't want to be exposed to it. I commend them for this. Someone got wind that there were people smoking pot in my room and left, without so much as talking to me about it or voicing their concerns. If it were heroin or coke or anything else, I wouldn't allow it in my home at all. Pot is a natural plant that grows in the fucking dirt. I don't do it, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna tell anyone else what they can/can't do. There have been times when I've said, "I'd rather you didn't smoke here at all" and my request was heeded and respected. I just really wish, person who left in a huff, that you would have discussed it with me before you left. And think next time, cigarettes and alcohol are worse than pot. No one has ever died from smoking pot, getting diseases I mean. So don't pull this with me. I invited you to be nice and to give you a fun time, and you fucking leave. I was highly offended and a bit upset that you didn't even come talk to me about it. If you just would have talked to me, I could have put a stop to it on your behalf. I do have control over my home in that way. And my friends respect me enough to understand.

Wow, this turned into a very hostile blog entry. Don't know how that happened. Oh well.

Go cardinals! Let's bring the World Series banner over to the new house and have a celebration in '06.

ANDREA

Music --> Keep Their Heads Ringin' by Dr. Dre

Let's go slow. let's go fast. Like a licorice twist gonna whip your ass

above lyric from Love Rollercoaster by the Ohio Players and Red Hot Chili Peppers

I have just returned from a very long day.

Work, then Six Flags, then TGI Fridays, then a movie.

I shall talk about the second one.

First, thanks to everyone for waiting to go until I got off work.

Here are a couple of observations I made while at Six Flags

1. When I was little, the drive to Six Flags seemed to take all day. I equate this to either my parents driving at or under the speed limit, or the anticipation of going to six flags. In all actuality, it's probably a combination of the previous 2 and the fact that I go between 70 and 75 on I-44.

2. The More Things Change--A lot of the shit I remember from the last time I was at Six Flags is either gone, renamed, or modified. An example of this is the Log Flume. While it will always be known as the Log Flume, it is now called The Splash. Though I still think they're using the same little boats that they've used since that ride opened.

3. The More They Stay the Same -- It was weird, almost surreal in a way. I walked into Six Flags and all these memories of excursions past came flooding back.

4. I'm Getting Way Too Old -- This was the main conclusion that I came to when I was at Six Flags. I am getting way too old for this. Not so much Six Flags itself, but moreso the rides. I don't mean like kiddie rides or anything. I got tossed around like a ragdoll on several of the roller coasters, which I normally love. They hurt. When I was a kid, it didn't bother me. Now that I'm old (24), I have to sit down. I never got tired hiking from one end of the park to the other. By the end of the day, I was ready to die. Water rides used to be the greatest thing in the world -- now, the thought of walking around all day with wet underwear and other clothing drew me away from Thunder River, though I joked that if I did go on the ride, I'd have an excuse to go commando. But then again, who needs an excuse to do that. I also dreaded the thought of my cell phone getting wet and ruined and me having to drop coin on yet another new phone. When I was a wee lass, I used to beg my parents for a season pass to Six Flags. Now, I don't think it'd be a necessity for me, because I don't want to end up in traction.

5. Near loss and a gain -- I almost lost my glasses on the Screaming Eagle. They're loose on me as it is. I spent the entire ride with my hand covering my face, trying to hold my glasses on. I rode Batman barefoot, which was pretty cool. Had to take off the toe ring, for fear of losing it. At the end of the excursion, I picked up some silk Wonder Woman boxorz that were on sale at one of the shops. They're quite comfortable.

6. No more complaining -- Overall though, I will say that I had fun. Maybe it was the people I was with, maybe it was Beaver oooooing on every single ride we went on, all the way through the ride, maybe it was making barf jokes about Excalibur, or Toni's near wardrobe malfunctions on a couple rides. There was no one at the park hardly, and the lines, with the exception of one or two, were very short. There was no line for the Boss or any of the roller coasters. I did not hear that stupid Vengaboys song that's on the commercial or see that fucking evil little dancing man once. I wish more people could have gone, especially Yoda. It's always good times with Yoda. I can think of the countless amounts of things he's done at Six Flags excursions in the past that have resulted in us almost getting kicked out of the park -- namely, not wearing shoes EVER, unlatching the door on the Colossus when we're like 200 feet in the air, rocking the cage on the same ferris wheel, and getting out of the restraints on the Ninja while it's moving and looping and speeding along. Dude's got a death wish, but he's cool as hell. However, the people that were there were great. There was no fighting, which is rare in Six Flags excursions. Usually, in the past, someone has come close to smacking another person, or there's a big fit thrown by someone over why such and so got to sit next to this person on this ride, or what ride we're gonna go on next. It was a good time and I can't wait to go again -- in a few years, if that's okay.

In other news, mark your goddamned calendars. November 1, 2K5. Office Space Special Edition...with Flair is being released. I'd like this to perhaps be an early XMas present if anyone feels up to it. I will love you forever and you will become my super best friend

Tired. Very fucking tired.

Goodnight.

ANDREA

What's my drug of choice? Well, what have you got?

above lyric from "Junkhead" by Alice in Chains

Steve has me addicted to the Liquid Generation Quizzes (see below)

I am also addicted to a new show on Showtime called "Weeds".

So yeah, I'm addicted to "liquid" and "weeds".

Anyway, on with the quizzes. Gentlemen, the envelope please!

I am...











That's all for now.

A bit disconcerting, some of the answers.

More when I feel like it.

ANDREA

Music -- Maynard's Dick by Tool

Catch the wind, see us spin, sail away, leave today, way up high in the sky.

above lyric by Led Zeppelin from What Is and What Should Never Be

The subject of this blog is relevant to nothing. I just like that part of the song, a lot.

LOOK! IMPROVEMENTS!!! ------------------------------------>

Finally got to sleep in today. I never thought when I was younger that 10:00 would be sleeping in, but now, anything past 7 am is sleeping in. I used to sleep until noon, back in the day.

Today is the 4th anniversary of September 11th. I guess everyone remembers where they were. I was at 1013 W. Ash. It was just before 8:30pm, and I was in the shower, getting ready to for class. I heard a knock on the door. It was Sparkamus (for those of you that don't know, I lived with him, Yoda, and a tweeker named Neil). I told him that he had a bathroom downstairs and I was in the shower. He said "a plane just hit some building in New York". I threw on my clothes and went and watched the first tower smoking. Half an hour later, I saw another plane come into the frame and I cringed. I guess I sort of hoped it wouldn't hit, that it was just passing through, but it wasn't.

I'd like to draw a parallel between that and the hurricane. We weren't prepared for the terrorist attack. It was a suprise to everyone (government officials aside). However, the National Guard, the rescue crews, and everyone else important were dispatched immediately. Giuliani used all of the resources available to him. Now, look at the recent hurricane. It was a disaster. No response for a few days, and this was known that it was going to happen. I shudder at the thought of another terrorist attack and our lack of preparedness. And that's all I'm gonna say.

Want to get tripped out without drugs? Lay in your room in pitch darkness and listen to the Beatles "Revolution 9". It's frightening. I can barely listen to it with the lights on. I think it should be on a horror movie soundtrack.

Tonight is Adult Swim @ the Sparkamus and Angel Bone residence. Should prove to be a good time.


Nihilist Bear


Which Dysfunctional Care Bear Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla


The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say,
ANDREA

Where I'm At -- Virtual Stapler
What I'm Hearing -- Alterbridge : Open Your Eyes

Another quick one

NOt changing blog addys.

I'm indecisive.

Hotmail still deleted

That's all.

ANDREA \nn/

Quick one

My blog address is changing

It will still be my blog. Just a new address. This change will take effect on Saturday, so plan accordingly.

I am also getting rid of my hotmail account, so direct all correspondence to

vulgardisplay1981@yahoo.com

my new blog adress is mistressofmetal.blogspot.com


ANDREA

If you come down to the river, betcha gonna find some people who live

above lyrics from Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Rollin, rollin', rollin' down the Huzzah.

Well, we ended up floating after all.

Wait, lemme backtrack. I woke up Saturday morning under the assumption that we were not going camping. We ended up going camping.

The next day, we floated. It was a long and arduous journey, but tons of fun. Yoda slid down a mud hill and swung from a tree swing into water. Chiko was the hit of the float trip, in his little doggy lifejacket. There were drunks in every direction. Think Party Cove or Spring Break, but on a much more spread out scale. We were beat to shit after the float trip. I'm mildly sunburned, not lobsteriffic like I thought I would be. I usually end up like a lobster after 5+ hours in the sun, but SPF 15 really helps to alleviate that.

The Huzzah river is really nice, very uncontaminated, and refreshing. I included a link to where we went camping, for futher reference. Be warned though, if you plan on staying up late, get in the late night section. If you like quiet, go to the family section. Also watch out for the owner, or as I like to call him, Mr. Oak Tree up the Ass. He needed to stop being so uptight. Everytime I saw him, he was yelling at an employee. Oh well, can't really criticize the guy for wanting to make his place nice. And nice it is, there's not a lot of trash or debris strewn about and it's landscaped rather well. The stuff in the little store there is rather expensive, but that's business. Also, be warned that you will NOT have cell phone access at ALL. Our phones were all dead about 5 miles from where we stayed. However, if you have a calling card, you can use it there.

Aside from the usual mishaps -- I was sick and crabby the last night we were there, Chuck's girlfriend bitched a lot, and pot was readily available, it seemed to be a really good trip. Everyone had a blast and I'd do it again, just not right now. I got back to St. Louis early this afternoon and couldn't wait for TV, computer, my comfortable couch, and a shower. THere were showers down there and they were quite decent, but there's something to be said about one's own water pressure at home. If I were tired, I'd be sleeping in my bed right now -- something I missed. THere's something really soothing about sleeping under the stars (and there were billions of them). I can't see many from my apartment, but once you get out into God's country, it really becomes a sight to admire.

I shared a tent with Yoda because I didn't have any. I slept well but it was quite cold. On top of that, I've developed a nasty cold, so that made me quite chilly as well. Someone stole our hamburgers and marshmallows and graham crackers from the site while we were on the float trip. They must have been really hungry, because we had more expensive stuff sitting right out in the open -- cooking implements, alcohol, etc. I hope they enjoyed them. Assholes.

On a scale of 1-10 (worst-best), I'd give this camping trip an 8. I was turned off by the zero cell phone access -- but then again, that's why they call it 'roughing it'. I had an ebay auction I needed to keep tabs on. However, the place was beautiful and the float was fun and magnificent.

And yes, I'm glad to be home.

ANDREA

Link - see above
Music - peace and quiet

Within the Dark Mind

above song by Immortal

I've changed things up a bit here.

Is it the weekend yet? Good god this has been a loooooooooooong week. Sunday seemed like two weeks ago. That's okay. Starting tomorrow at 4, I begin a long awaited 3 day weekend. I just have this sneaking suspicion that it's gonna fly by.

I guess I have to comment about the hurricane, since news sites/blogs/even MTV are commenting. Not that I care what MTV has to say about shit other than Headbanger's Ball. Anyway, here are my thoughts.

1. I remember going to New Orleans and falling in love with it -- the decadence, the darkness, the overall mystery and beauty of it all. And now, most of that is gone.

2. If the people on the news told me that a giant tornado was gonna hit my apartment complex in 2 days, you've got to be crazy if you think I could/would ride that fucker out. I'd gather as much shit as I could and be out of here faster than you could say 'it's a twista, it's a twista". It is because of this that I do not feel as sorry for the people who chose to ride this thing out. I feel sorry for the people who lost their lives and lost their homes and belongings, but you've got to be freaking nuts to even CONSIDER riding out a Category 5 hurricane.

3. When people lose everything, they really become very much like animals. It's eye-opening, how people are fighting to survive, trying to shoot at the people who are helping them, doing everything to survive.

I think that's really all I have on that right now. Maybe as things progress more down there in the south, I'll figure more out.

I really thought I had a lot more to say on here, but I guess I don't. I figure gracing you all with my presence is enough.

What's in my head: Nevermore - Narcosynthesis
What's in front of my eyes : Metal Britney Spears -- this is a MUST SEE!

It's my birthday and I'll do what I want to. Fuck you, it's my birthday

above lyrics by the Vandals

Okay, so my birthday was yesterday. Better late than never. I'm getting old, so my memory is failing me.

Thanks to everyone who came out to HBC 05 (Hizzy's Birthday Celebration 2005). It was tons of fun. Those of you who couldn't make it, thank you for wishing me well on my day.

I got tons of cool presents, but I was just happy to be with friends.

And now, to take a page from Quill's blog (it was too fun to NOT do)

ON AUGUST 21, THIS STUFF HAPPENED

959 - Erachus becomes bishop of Luik
1321 - 160 Jews of Chincon France, burned at stake
1560 - Tycho Brahe becomes interested in astronomy
1598 - Deed of Transfers proclaims Netherlands independence
1673 - Sea battle at Kijkduin: De Ruyter defeats English and French fleet
1680 - Pueblo Indians takes possession of Santa Fe‚ from Spanish
1703 - Turkish army removes sultan Mustafa II
1718 - Emperor Karel VI, Turkey and Venice sign peace treaty
1831 - Nat Turner slave revolt kills 55 (Southampton County, Virginia)
1841 - John Hampton patents venetian blind
1858 - 1st Lincoln-Douglas debate (Illinois)
1863 - Raid at Lawrence KS by William Quantrill
1864 - Battle at Globe Tavern, Virginia, ends after 2500 casualties
1864 - Battle of Grubbs Crossroads, KY
1864 - Battle of Summit Point, VA
1864 - Gen-major Nathan B Forrests assault on Memphis, Tennessee
1878 - American Bar Association organizes at Sarasota, NY
1878 - Edward Pooley completes record 8 stumpings in a cricket match
1883 - Providence shuts out Phillies 28-0
1887 - Mighty (Dan) Casey struck-out in a game with NY Giants!
1888 - William Seward Burroughs patents adding machine
1891 - Dutch Mackay govt resigns
1897 - Oldsmobile begins operation as a General Motors Corp division
1901 - 21st US Mens Tennis: William Larned beats Beals C Wright (62 68 64 64)
1901 - Joe McGinnity, suspended from NL for punching and spitting on an ump
1912 - Mr Carter-Cotton chosen 1st chancellor of Univ of British Columbia
1914 - 20th US Golf Open: Walter Hagen shoots a 290 at Midlothian CC Ill
1914 - Belgium: German troops occupy Tamines
1914 - French offensive in the Ardennen/Sambre
1920 - 3rd PGA Championship: Jock Hutchison at Flossmoor CC Flossmoor Ill
1922 - Curly Lambeau and Green Bay Football Club granted NFL franchise
1926 - Uprising against Greek president/dictator Pangalos
1926 - White Sox Ted Lyons no hits Red Sox 6-0 in just 67 minutes at Fenway
1927 - 4th Pan-African Congress meets (NYC)
1929 - Chicago Cardinals become 1st pro football team to train out of town
1930 - Prohibition of Wieringermeer finished
1931 - Babe Ruth hits his 600th HR, off George Blaeholder of Browns
1932 - Wes Ferrell is 1st to win 20 games in each of his 1st 4 seasons
1933 - Ruth's homer leads AL to a 4-2 win in 1st All Star Game
1936 - Red Sox Wes Ferrell, walks off mound when he feels he did not get good fielding, Sox suspend him
1938 - Italy bars all Jewish teachers in Public and High School
1942 - Alpine hunters plant German flag on Elbroezgebergte, Kaukasus
1942 - Transport nr 22 departs with French Jews to nazi-Germany
1943 - Gromyko named USSR-ambassador in Washington
1943 - Japan leaves Aleutian Islands
1944 - Germans storm up Hill 262 (Mont Ormel) Normandy
1944 - Grieg/Work/Forest's musical "Song of Norway," premieres in NYC
1944 - Raid on Jewish childrens house in Secr‚tan/St-Mand‚
1944 - US 12nd Army corp occupies Sens
1945 - Pres Truman ends Lend-Lease program
1947 - 1st Little League World Series Maynard Midgets of Williamsport PA win
1948 - Indians 47-inning scoreless streak broken by White Sox Aaron Robinson
1949 - Phila fans cause A's to forfeit game when they riot over a trapped line drive by Rich Ashburn, Giants leading 4-2 in 9th declared winners
1953 - Baseball player reps Ralph Kiner (NL) and Allie Reynolds (AL) hire John Norman Lewis at $15,000 to give legal advice to players in negotiation
1953 - Marion Carl in Douglas Skyrocket reaches record 25,370 m
1953 - Sultan Sidi Mohammed Am Joessoef V of Morocco deposed
1956 - WTVW TV channel 7 in Evansville, IN (ABC) begins broadcasting
1957 - 1st launching in Baikonur, Kazachstan (R7 "Semiorka"-rocket)
1958 - KUT-FM in Austin Texas begins radio transmissions
1959 - Hawaii becomes 50th US state
1961 - Jomo Kenyatta freed in Kenya
1962 - Verne Gagne beats Mister M (doctor X) in Minn, to become NWA champ
1963 - Jerry Lynch's record 15th pinch-hit HR gives Pirates a 7-6 win
1963 - Martial law declared in S Vietnam, following raids on Buddhist pagodas
1965 - Gemini 5 launched into Earth orbit (2 astronauts)
1965 - Romania adopts constitution
1965 - The Crusher beats Mad Dog Vachon in St Paul, to become NWA champ
1966 - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Women's Western Golf Open
1967 - China reports downing of 2 US bombers
1967 - Ken Harrelson becomes baseball's 1st free agent
1967 - Liquid gas tanker explodes in Martelange Belgium, 22 killed
1967 - Mikis Theodorakis arrested in Greece
1968 - After 5 years Russia once again jams Voice of America radio
1968 - Democratic Convention opens in Chicago
1968 - Marine James Anderson Jr is 1st black Medal of Honor winner
1968 - Radio Prague (Czech) at 12:50 AM announces a soviet led invasion
1968 - Warsaw Pact forces enter Czechoslovakia to end reform movement
1968 - William Dana reaches 80 km (last high-altitude X-15 flight)
1969 - Fire in Al-Aksa-mosque in Jerusalem
1972 - 1st hot air balloon flight over Alps
1972 - British harbor strike ends
1972 - Grace Slick maced by police when a band official called cops, pigs
1972 - Republican convention opens in Miami Beach
1972 - US orbiting astronomy observatory Copernicus launched
1975 - 3 truck pile up kills 10, injures 26 on French highway
1975 - Rick and Paul Reuschel become 1st brothers to pitch a combined shut out
1975 - US lightens trade embargo against Cuba
1976 - Al Bumbry hits 17th inside-the-park HR in Oriole history
1976 - Battle East Sussex: Mary Langdon becomes 1st British firewoman
1977 - Debbie Austin wins LPGA Wheeling Golf Classic
1977 - Donna Patterson Brice sets high speed water skiing rec (111.11 mph)
1978 - 1st gay theme telefilm - Matlovich vs US Air Force
1979 - Mets win a protested game against Astros, 5-0
1980 - Linda Ronstadt opens in "Pirates of Penzance" on Broadway
1982 - Palestinian terrorists are dispersed from Beirut
1982 - Rollie Fingers (Brewers) becomes 1st pitcher to get save #300
1983 - "La Cage aux Folles" opens at Palace Theater NYC for 1761 performances
1983 - 110øF (43øC) at Fayetteville, North Carolina (state record)
1983 - Joanne Carner wins LPGA Chevrolet World Championship of Women's Golf
1985 - Mary Decker Slaney runs mile in world record 4:16.71
1985 - NY Lotto pays $41 million to three winners (#s are 14-17-22-23-30-47)
1986 - "Rags" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 4 performances
1986 - Ian Botham takes world-record 356th Test Cricket wkt (v NZ, The Oval)
1986 - Lake Nios Volcano in Cameroon kills 1,746
1986 - Red Sox Spike Owens scores 6 runs in a 24-5 rout of Cleve Indians
1986 - Surinames Ronnie Brunswijks Jungle commandos kill 2 govt officials
1986 - Volcanic eruption in Cameroon releases poison gas, killing 2,000
1986 - With 2 outs in 6th inning, Red Sox score 11 runs
1987 - "Mack Lobell" set harness racing's trotting mil (1:52)
1987 - Clayton Lonetree, 1st marine court-martialed for spying, convicted
1987 - Silke H”rneer swims female world record 100m breaststroke (1:07.91)
1988 - Cease fire between Iran and Iraq takes effect after 8 years of war
1988 - Juli Inkster wins LPGA Atlantic City Golf Classic
1988 - Yordanka Donkova runs world record 100 m hurdles (12.21)
1989 - Voyager 2 begins a flyby of planet Neptune
1991 - Communist coup is crushed in USSR in 2 days
1991 - Latvia declares it's independence from USSR
1993 - Lyricist Bernie Taupin weds Strephanie Haymes
1993 - NASA loses contact with Mars Observer
1994 - Typhoon Fred ravages Chinese county Zhejiang, 700+ killed
1994 - Ernesto Zedillo wins Mexican presidential election
1994 - Jane Geddes wins LPGA Chicago Golf Challenge
1994 - Royal Air Maroc ATR-42 crash down at Agadir, 44 killed
1995 - US marshals move in on Randy Weaver's cabin in Idaho
1996 - "Hughie," opens at Circle in Sq Theater NYC
1996 - Christie Lee Woods, 18, of Texas, crowned 14th Miss Teen USA
1996 - Netscape Browser 3.0 is released
1997 - Typhoon Winnie kills 140, injures 3,000 in East China
1997 - US govt forces closure of Hudson Foods due to E Coli break out

and in the future:
2017 - Next total solar eclipse visible from North America

These people were born

1165 - Philip II Augustus, 1st great Capetian king of France (1179-1223)
1567 - Francois de Sales, French bishop of Geneva/writer/saint
1579 - Henri II, Duke de Rohan-Gi‚, French Huguenot leader
1642 - Johann Friedrich Treiber, composer
1643 - Afonso VI, king of Portugal (1656-67) (mentally ill)
1660 - Hubert Gautier, engineer, wrote 1st book on bridge building
1689 - Jose Pradas Gallen, composer
1721 - Lucretia W van Winter-van Merken, Dutch poet
1725 - Jean-Baptiste Greuze, French painter
1751 - Johann Georg Witthauer, composer
1765 - William IV, king of England (1830-37)
1780 - Jernej Kopitar, Slovenian censor (Slovenian Grammar)
1789 - Augustin-Louis, Baron Cauchy, French mathematician
1798 - Jules Michelet, French historian (History of France, L'Amour)
1801 - Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer, WW II Dutch statesman/historian
1806 - Johannes Frederick Frohlich, composer
1809 - Francesco Schira, composer
1810 - Thomas Jefferson McKean, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
1821 - William Barksdale, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1863
1824 - John Sanford Mason, Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1897
1825 - Kate Fanny Loder, composer
1829 - Otto Goldschmidt, composer
1847 - Arthur T Verhaegen, Belgian worker's union leader
1852 - Benedetto Junck, composer
1871 - Leonid N Andrejev, Russian journalist/writer (Red Laugh)
1872 - Aubrey Beardsley, England, artist (Salome)
1874 - Herman A van Karnebeek, Dutch minister of Foreign affairs (1918-27)
1875 - Maurice Lippens, Belgian earl/minister/governor of Congo
1879 - Henry Ainley, Leeds England, actor (As You Like It)
1880 - Johan H Westerveld, Dutch WW II resistance fighter/leader (OD)
1890 - Bill Henry, SF Calif, newscaster (Who Said That?)
1892 - Charles Vanel, Rennes France, actor (Wages of Fear)
1893 - Juliette Marie Olga Lili Boulanger, composer
1896 - Blossom Rock, actress, (Grandmamma-Addams Family)
1896 - Raymond Herreman, Flemish writer (Rose of Jericho)
1896 - Roark Bradford, writer/humorist (Ol' Man Adan an' His Chillun)
1900 - Eileen Percy, Belfast Ireland, silent film actress (Let's Go)
1902 - Renato Fasano, composer
1903 - Yannis Constantinidis, composer
1904 - [William] Count Basie, Red Bank NJ, jazz musician (Blazing Saddles)
1905 - Isadore I Friz Freleng, KC MO, animator (Warner Bros cartoons)
1906 - Joachim Homs, composer
1906 - Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, advertising magnate
1907 - Miguel Torga, [Adolfo Correia da Rocha], Portuguese author
1907 - Roy K Marshall, Glen Carbon Ill, TV scientist (Nature of Things)
1908 - David Farrar, Forest Gate England, actor (Beat Girl, I Accuse)
1909 - C Dillon Douglas, Geneva Switz, US Secretary of Treasury (1961-65)
1909 - Jon William Jr Haussermann, composer
1912 - Bruce Trent, singer
1913 - Cornelius Johnson, LA Calif, high jumper (Olympic-gold-1936)
1913 - Diana Churchill, actress (Spider, Sally Bishop, Housemaster)
1913 - Victor Rosow, writer
1914 - Dallas Pratt, collector
1915 - Jack Weston, [Morris Weinstein], Cleveland, actor (4 Seasons, Rad)
1916 - William John Raff Hooper, cartoonist
1920 - Christopher R Milne, son of Alan A Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
1923 - Chris Schenkel, Biuppus Ind, sportscaster (Monday Night Fights)
1924 - Gerald D Lascelles, son of English princess Mary
1926 - Ben-Zion Orgad, composer
1927 - Wilhelm Jr Killmayer, composer
1928 - Gillian Sheen, England, foils (Olympic-gold-1956)
1928 - Zdenek Lukas, composer
1929 - Ahmed "Kathy" Kathrada, leader of S Afr Communist Party
1930 - Frank Perry, film director
1930 - Margaret Rose, princess of Engl (Sister of Queen Elizabeth)
1931 - Gregg Smith, composer
1931 - Nancy Hadley, LA Calif, actress (Love That Jill, Joey Bishop Show)
1932 - Melvin Van Peebles, Chicago IL, actor/director (Sophisticated Gent)
1933 - Janet Baker, York England, mezzo-soprano (Owen Wingrave)
1936 - Mart Crowley, playwright (Boys in the Band)
1936 - Wilt Chamberlain, NBA great center (LA Laker, 5 time MVP)
1937 - Robert Stone, US writer (Who'll Stop the Rain, WUSA)
1938 - Kenny Rogers, singer (Through the Years)/actor (Coward of the County)
1939 - Clarence Williams III, NYC, actor (Mod Squad, 52 Pick Up, Purple Rain)
1939 - Harold W Reid, Augusta County Va, singer (Statler Bros-Class of '57)
1940 - Ana Isabel Anderson-Imbert, physician, rheumatologist
1944 - Jackie DeShannon, Hazel Kentucky, singer (What the World Needs Now)
1944 - Peter Weir, Sydney Aust, director/writer (Witness, Dead Poets Society)
1945 - Patty McCormack, Bkln NY, actress (Mama, Peck's Bad Girl, Ropers)
1946 - Lev Alburt, USSR, International Chess Master (1976)
1947 - Carl Giammarese, Chicago Ill, rock guitarist (Buckinghams)
1948 - Taurean Blacque, actor (Hill Street Blues)
1951 - Bernhard Germeshausen, German DR, bobsled (Olympic-gold-1976, 80)
1951 - Harry Smith, Hammond Ind, TV co-anchor (CBS Morning Show)
1953 - Joe Strummer, vocals/guitarist (Clash-Rock the Casbah)
1954 - Archie Griffin, NFL runningback (won 2 Heisman Trophies, Ohio State)
1954 - Steve Smith, LA Calif, rock drummer (Journey)
1956 - Carol Charbonnier, LPGA golfer
1956 - Kim Cattrall, Liverpool England, actress (Mannequin, Star Trek VI)
1957 - Budgie, rock drummer (Slits, Siouxsie and the Banshees-Wild Thing)
1957 - Janice Thomas, WBL guard (NY Stars)
1957 - Kim Sledge, Phila, vocalist (Sister Sledge-We are Family)
1959 - Anne Hobbs, England, tennis star
1959 - Bud Schultz, Meriden Conn, tennis star
1959 - Jim McMahon, NFL QB (Chicago Bears, SD Chargers, Phila Eagles)
1959 - Richard Zokol, Kitimat BC, Canadian Tour golfer (1982 BC Open)
1961 - Danny Sheaffer, Jacksonville FL, catcher (St Louis Cardinals)
1961 - Lance Earl Deal, Riverton Wyoming, hammer thrower (Olympics-silver-96)
1963 - Melvin Douglas, Topeka KS, 198 lbs/90 kg freestyle wrestler (Oly-96)
1965 - Jim Bullinger, New Orleans LA, pitcher (Chic Cubs)
1966 - John Wetteland, San Mateo CA, pitcher (NY Yanks, Rangers, Expos)
1967 - Michael Bendetti, actor (Officer Tony McCann-21 Jump Street)
1967 - Tuineau Alipate, NLF/WLAF linebacker (Frankfurt Galaxy, Minn Vikings)
1968 - Barbara Ann Moore, Spokane WA, playmate (Dec, 1992)
1968 - Shinichi Iwasaki, hockey goaltender (Team Japan 1998)
1969 - Andujar Cedeno, La Romana Dom Rep, infielder (Detroit Tigers)
1969 - Josee Chouinard, Rosemont Quebec, figure skater (Olymp-9th-1994)
1970 - Bill Roth, Yonkers NY, gymnast (Pan Am-gold-1995, Olympics-96)
1970 - Paulo Barrancos Guerra, Portugal, 10k runner
1970 - Steve Everitt, NFL center (Cleve Browns, Phila Eagles)
1973 - Ismael Valdes, Ciudad Victoria Mexico, pitcher (LA Dodgers)
1974 - Amy Fisher, Long Island NY, shot Mary Jo Buttafucco
1974 - Pietra Gay, WNBA guard/forward (Houston Comets)
1976 - Alicia Witt, actress (Cybill)
1979 - Ashley Whitney, Nashville TN, 800m freestyle relay (Olympics-96)
1989 - Hayden Panettiere, actress (One Life to Live)

And finally, these people left us

1131 - Boudouin II van Bourg, king of Jerusalem, dies
1190 - Godfried III, duke of Brabant (Grimbergse war), dies
1245 - Alexander van Hales, English scholar, dies
1516 - John III van Egmont, [Manke John], viceroy of Holland, dies at 78
1627 - Jacques Mauduit, composer, dies at 69
1629 - Camillo Procaccini, Italian painter/etcher, dies
1673 - Isaac Sweers, Dutch fleet admiral/Civil rights activist, dies at 51
1673 - John de Love I, vice-admiral, dies in sea battle at about 54
1723 - Dimitrie Cantemir, philosopher/monarch of Moldova 1710-11, dies at 49
1772 - Alessandro Felici, composer, dies at 29
1772 - Johann Andreas Joseph Giulini, composer, dies at 48
1785 - Jean B Pigalle, French sculptor (Child with Pigeon), dies
1798 - Corneille F de Nelis, Flemish scholar/bishop of Antwerp, dies at 62
1812 - Silverius Muller, composer, dies at 67
1824 - John Taylor, philosopher (Jeffersonian Democracy), dies at 70
1824 - Santiago Ferrer, composer, dies at 62
1838 - A v Chamisso, writer, dies at 57
1856 - Peter Joseph von Lindpaintner, composer, dies at 64
1864 - John Calhoun Sanders, Confederate brig-general, dies in battle at 24
1888 - Simon Vissering, Dutch minister of Finance (1879-81), dies at 70
1898 - Nicola van Westerhout, composer, dies at 40
1905 - Jules Oppert, German Assyriologist (decodes characters), dies at 80
1932 - Frederick Corder, composer, dies at 80
1935 - Josef Cyril Sychra, composer, dies at 76
1940 - Leon Trotsky, Russian revolutionary, icepicked by Frank Jackson at 62
1940 - Paul Juon, Russian/Swiss violinist/composer, dies at 68
1942 - Kiyoano Ichiki, Japanese colonel (WW II), dies
943 - Henrik Pontoppidan, writer (Peter Gelukkige, Nobel 1917), dies at 86
1947 - Ettore Bugatti, Italian/French car manufacturer, dies
1949 - Gerhard von Keussler, composer, dies at 75
1951 - (Leonard) Constant Lambert, English composer (Rio Grande), dies at 45
1952 - Isaac Sadeh, leader of Jewish commando forces, dies
1958 - Stevan Hristic, composer, dies at 73
1958 - Walter Schumann, choral director (Ford Show), dies at 44
1964 - Palmiro Togliatti, founder (Communist Italian Party)/min of Just, dies
1968 - Vladimir Boudnik, Czech sculptor, commits suicide at about 45
1970 - Timothy Mather Spelman, composer, dies at 79
1971 - George Jackson, US prisoner, shot to death at 29
1974 - Mascha Kalko, writer, dies at 48
1977 - Octavus L "Octave" van Aerschot, actor (Scandal in Paris), dies at 87
1978 - Charles Eames, US chair manufacturer, dies at 71
1981 - Hermann Schey, German/Neth singer, dies at 85
1982 - Sobhuza II, king of Swaziland/Ngwane (1921-82), dies
1983 - Benigno S Aquino Jr, Philippines opposition leader, killed at 50
1987 - Karl Bruck, entertainer, dies
1988 - Hans Gnther Adler, German writer, dies at 78
1990 - George Adamson, British conservationist (Born Free), murdered in Kenya
1991 - Oswald von Nell-Breuning, German theologist/philosopher, dies at 101
1991 - Richard Wilson, producer/writer/actor (Pay or Die), dies at 75
1991 - Wolfgang Hildesheimer, German/Swiss architect, dies
1992 - Lucille Brown, actress (Farina-Our Gang), dies after illness at 74
1992 - Theo van Tijn, Marxist/social-historian, dies at 65
1994 - Danitra Vance, comedienne (SNL), dies of breast cancer at 35
1994 - Hein Fentener van Vlissingen, eccentric millionaire, dies at 73
1995 - Anatole Fistoulari, conductor, dies at 88
1995 - Hilda Beatritz Guevara, daughter of Che Guevara, dies at 39
1995 - James Truitte, dancer, dies at 72
1995 - Len Martin, sports broadcaster, dies at 76
1995 - Manfred Donike, chemist Drug Test pioneer, dies at 61
1995 - Nanni Loy, film Director, dies at 69
1995 - Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, physicist (Nobel-1983), dies at 84
1996 - Rosa Joyce Plesters Brommelie, conservation scientist, dies at 69
1996 - Sidney George Gray, company secretary, dies at 82
1997 - Misael Pastrana Borrero, Pres of Colombia (1970-74), dies

And there ya go!
HIZZY

They say it's your birthday, we're gonna have a good time

above lyric from 'Happy Birthday' by the Beatles

I would like to wish Happy Birthday to Dimebag Darrell and Steve. Sorry, Steve, if you were a deceased guitar god, you'd get top billing, but it's cool enough that you and Dime have the same birthday. So happy birthday. I drink to you both.

I have a hate on for a new organization. The DM fucking V. I had to go get my license renewed. Easy enough task, had all the necessary documents. I waited for my number to be called for an hour and fifteen fucking minutes. They are so slow there. I'm glad I wasn't in a hurry. If you know anyone who's really fucking slow doing stuff, tell them to go work at the Telegraph license office. THey'll fit in perfectly. It helps if they are middle aged and female.

I am compiling Hizzy's Birthday Mix 2005 Volumes 1-3 for tonight's festivities. I have two parties to attend and hope that this adds to the musical ambience already present.

I guess that's it.

Oh, and Steve, you also share a birthday with Fred Durst. Yay! A total wuss!

HIZZ

Music --> Grateful Dead - Truckin'
Link -->none

But it’s been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise. I consider it a challenge before the whole human race and I ain't gonna lose

above from 'We Are the Champions' by Queen

We didn't win a single game at O'Learys trivia night tonight.

No bitches, we won 2!!!!!

The first round, Greatest Guitar Solos, was run completely by me. People contributed, but as I was writing. My team, well in this case, I went 15/15. Not only was it a win, but it was a flawless victory.

There were several peple who could not make it out tonight. So I called in the reserves. That's right. I called in my clutch players -- Toni and Erich. And let me tell you one thing, we wouldn't have done nearly as well on the final round if they hadn't been there. Erich helped out in some really clutch moments, and we just about took the 2nd round with the help of Toni. We lost that round by 1 question. They were both a huge asset to the team. Erich has joined the team and will be participating next week. Toni is unable to attend next week due to work. However, it should prove mighty interesting these next few weeks, with new players.

Tons of fun was had by all.

Your Name Here was the most unstoppable team there. If it hadn't been for the other shitty categories, we would have probably gone 5 for 5. Rather, we won the first and last rounds. Toni and Erich hold the prize for the last round, since the both of them really assisted me in a huge way.

Beaver, Nate, and Scuba were excellent teammates as well, all contributing, even though we didn't win on the rounds they made the most contributions.

@Beaver -- good call with the Pantera verification. I thought it was, but it was one of their more obscure songs, so thanks for that one. You too are an asset to the team.

To everyone that taunted me and made fun of me for not winning and making me feel dumb, you can't do it anymore, because no matter what, I accomplished what I set out to do, and that was to be among the best at that bar, and now, my team, well, our team can proudly say that we've chalked up 2 solid wins. I feel like a general who marched her troops into combat and came out with an absolute slaughter of the enemy. Now, to keep the momentum going.

I am on top of the world. Nothing can stop me. Nothing can drag me down. 15/15...I still can't fucking believe it. And a wonderful team to boot.

Next week, the saga continues.

No time for losers, cause we are the champions...
ANDREA

MUSIC --> Pantera - The Art of Shredding
Link --> none

Warden threw a party in the county jail...

above lyric from Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

Today is the 28th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. Just thought you'd all like to know that.

Today was a really weird day. It didn't start getting weird until about an hour before I was supposed to leave work. We had a new patient come into work. I don't know her name. She was African-American, about late 20s. She was wearing combat boots and a long t-shirt. By all accounts, I don't think she was wearing any pants (or underwear for that matter). She bent over to tie her shoes and the secretary swore she saw asscheek.

Why do all the psychos come into my office? Why, god, why?

Tonight is trivia. All of you not wanting a run for your money, stay away. Yeah, I know I'm gonna get teased for this trash talk later when my team is defeated, but you know what, fuck you all.

I guess that's it.

Thought I'd something more to say,
HIZZY

Pretty Noise -- "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen
Cool Places -- mapsexoffenders.com (Find out if there's a sex offender in your neighborhood)

We're Going Through Changes

(title song by Black Sabbath)

Yes, my dears, the changes to my blog have begun. First, let me plug a really amazing site.

bloggerforum.com

You can download code for different blog backgrounds. There are over 10000 different ones to choose from. While the interface is a little messy, it's still a good site.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know a lot of you are having problems viewing this page, but I can't really change the little reaper guy. Please set your screen resolution to 1024 x 768. If you don't know how to do this, I will be happy to walk you through it.

That's it for me. Just here to announce changes. More tomorrow.

ANDREA

Link -- see above
Music -- 45 by Shinedown

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you

AKA HIZZ'S QUIZZES

1. WHICH NAPOLEON DYNAMITE CHARACTER ARE YOU?

You are Napoleon Dynamite and a buttload of gangs
are trying to recruit you.


Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I think this is a good thing, I guess.

Okay, I thought I was gonna find more cool quizzes, but the Napoleon one is the only one I found.

Onward!

For all of you who are wondering, my dad is fine. He's back home. He only had 5% blockage in his heart, according to the cardiac catheter reading (a cardiac catheter is not a pretty thing, believe me) which is next to nothing. There was no heart damage and his enzymes were good. I think this might have been brought on by stress. Think of who he has to put up with and tell me the man doesn't lead a very stressful life.

Yesterday was damn stressful for me. First, I dropped about 160 bucks on books for school. That's okay though. They're undergrad courses that I need, so they shant be too hard. And I want to go back to school like NOW. Yes, I'm a nerd.

Then, there was a bad storm and my power went off. Sucks to be me. I went over to Joe's because I was bored without lights. God bless Ameren UE! I called on my cell phone to report the outage and they called me back with an automated message saying that my power has been restored. Next time you see the meter man, go hug him, because Ameren UE are good people.

Saturday, you all need to journey out to Wentzville to see us and Misanthropic, a really kickass bunch of dudes (with a drum machine!). Who needs a drummer when you've got crazy dude behind the drum machine. Should be an excellent time and I want everyone of you to come out.

I need to clean again and finish vacuuming. Soon, this place will be so nice.

Got invited to a bachelorette party on the 27th. It's one of my bestest friends from college, the lovely Miss Manda. She's getting married to Marty in November, I believe. Should be an excellent time.

That's all.

LINK : The Brick Testament -- the Old Testament, told through Lego pictures.
MUSIC : Feel Good Inc by the Gorillaz