Memezapalooza Part Two

TMI Tuesday was just that... a bit TOO much information.... So instead here's the second installment of the Memezapalooza so I look like the cool kids!

1. What was I doing ten years ago?

Funny that this question came now. This past Friday was my eight year anniversary of moving to Chicago! I've been so used to answering the 10 years ago question with an answer involving health care. Now that I think back to it, ten years ago I was back in school at Clemson changing careers and getting a completely unrelated degree from health care. By 98 I was halfway through the PRTM (Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management) program. I think I was writing part time for The Tiger and working on campus in the College of Engineering & Science in College Relations. I was a non-trad student at 32 surrounded by the 18-21 year olds. It wasn't bad until two things happened. At Clemson we had our birth dates on our IDs. One day in the library the young'un behind the counter giggled and said "They made a mistake on your ID!" As I scanned it trying to see what they misspelled, she pointed and said "It has that you were born in SIXTY-six, oh my god! that would make you...." and she stopped, realization FINALLY dawning on her.

Another age faux pas was when one of my coworkers at a local pub found out my age, she didn't believe me. She asked to see my ID and as it was clicking in her mind that I was that age, she says... "But... you write for the Tiger..." (Like there's an age limit....) Ahhh youth.....

2. What are five things on my list to do today?

1. Finalize details for conference starting next week

2. Details for California Conference

3. work work work work work

4. Cook dinner/lunch

5. play with the dogs that I'm sitting for.

3. Snacks I enjoy?

Del Monte Fruit Naturals

Potato chips... but I won't buy them. Opening a bag equates with it being completed within 24 hours.

4. Things I Would Do If I Were A Billionaire?
Wow... Billionaire... I've never played that high before. But....

Give some $$ to family and friends with the provision that they can only give up to 30% of it to charity. I know that sounds callous, but my sister, God love her, would give it all away and continue living how she lives now. Sandy, honey, you have a bejeweled seat waiting for you in heaven already for what you've done for God's creatures already! Even Jeebus thinks you need to spend on yourself a little.

Keep working (honestly) until I was replaced and the replacement was properly trained. I'd also find new offices for the association I work for and set them up with a paid 20 year lease. I'd also set up a protected fund that would generate income to augment their salaries and benefits.

I've had a couple of ideas for businesses that I want more to be a part of than be the one who runs it so I'd partner with someone (or pay them handsomely since I'm a billionaire now) and have them help me set them up. I couldn't ever not work at something at all. I'd be too bored. So I want something that I can come in and out of at my leisure.

I have a couple of charities I'd toss some money to. One, however, would have to do some SERIOUS ass kissing to get it and then get the money on the proviso that I get to fire two people point blank.

I've never been the big house or power car type person. Since I'm a billionaire, I would buy a modest place in my favorite cities but have bigger places in Chicago, Southern California and Sullivan's Island, SC.

Travel a lot having friends and family join me a various points.

5. Three of my bad habits?
1. Saying "I know, right?!?"

2. Letting my first impression of someone be a lasting impression

3. Procrastinating

6. Five places I have lived?

1. Charleston, SC

2. Atlanta, GA

3. Costa Mesa, CA

4. Ann Arbor, MI

5. Chicago, IL

7. Five jobs I’ve had?

1. McDonald's/Burger King (it's all the same)

2. Delivered Seneca (Seneker) Journal to stores in the 'vette!

3. Electrician's assistant (go figure...)

4. Health care (Lab to ER)

5. Convention & Event Manager

8. How did you name your blog?

A completely unrelated idea popped up when I was thinking of a blog name. The purpose of this blog was to help me move myself from the doldrums I was in the end of 2007 and improve my life in 2008 through various ways. I was becoming my own project. One of my favorite young comedic authors Dennis Hensley (who I've corresponded with) had a birthday party for himself and based it on Project Runway and called it Project Hensley. I thought that was such a fun idea I had hoped to do it as well and call it Project Christopher. The birthday 2007 idea was a bust (much like most of 2007) but it seemed like a good title for this little blog. The "As Seen From Up Here..." is a reference to my height. Too easy eh?

TMI Tuesday

TMI Tuesday......

Memezapalooza!

The first thing I do on my computer each day is run through the blogs of the usual suspects. Seems like everybody is getting tagged for one of several memes... except me! I was on Bunny's site and decided I needed to look like one of the cool kids so I borrowed a couple. One today, and one tomorrow or Wednesday.

Alphabet Meme
A is for your age: 42, and I truly don't see it as old. I think it's because I don't feel old. Honestly, I don't feel as old as I feel that some of the twenty-somethings are just stupid. (yeah, reverse ageism ain't fun is it sonny?)

B is for your burger of choice: Bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions

C is for the car that you drive: C is also for CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Don't own a car.
D is for dog's name: Don't have a dog of my own either. If/when I get one the next dog name on my list is Bariel

E is for an essential item you use each day: Glasses. I'm not terribly blind, but it's funny how sometimes I'll forget to put them on while running around getting ready in the morning and I don't realize it until I walk out the front door and it's the first time anything is far enough away from me to realize I can't see it.

F is for your favorite television show: Heroes.... DAMN when does Fall get here?

G is for favorite game: Cranium! The best of all worlds!

H is for hometown: Seneca, South Carolina (or for some of the locals... Seneker)

I is for instruments played: Learning new instruments has been a passing hobby of mine. Not to say I play them well, but in order of learning: sax, cymbals (yes, there is learning to that) clarinet, flute, trombone, marimba, Irish fiddle, tin whistle, didgeridoo

J is for favorite juice: Orange Juice. (Drink Your Juice Shelby!)

K is for what you'd like to kick: I'm assuming we're talking habit here... I can name tons of those WHO I'd like to kick. Giving in to food I think would be the biggest thing to kick.

L is for last restaurant you dined at: Zia's Trattoria in Edison Park (suburb of Chicago) I had never been to Edison Park before, but happen to be taking a new way home and BAM, there it was. VERY good place and huge portions. I had a full lunch the next day too.

M is for your favorite Muppet: Cookie Monster. He made gorging on Oreos and Chips Ahoy sexy!

N is for number of piercings you have: Absolutely ZERO! And that's not a stand against them... I'm just a big chicken $hit.

O is for overnight hospital stays: How long do you have while I count up? I essentially grew up in a croup tent. I can remember 3 separate times (I think) when my dad was alive. then broke my arm, then had eye surgery, then had wisdom teeth out. I think that's it. Since then everything has been outpatient.

P is for people you were with today: Coworkers (in order of my seeing them) Ann, Katie, Wendy, Verlanda, Pat, Kim

Q is for what you do in quiet times: Sleep if I can. Read books that don't require thinking or see movies that don't require thinking. I use my brain all day... he needs a rest sometimes.

R is for regrets: Not being able to be with my mom more in the last year of her life.

S is for status: Poor White Trash... is that a status?

T is for time you woke up today: I'm dog sitting for a dog with kennel cough... I woke up at 1:30, 2:45, 3:10 (scary one, more on that another time) and 4:30

U is for what you consider unique: People who exude hospitality not because they have to but because it's just their nature and upbringing. Sadly, it is more unique than you know.

V is for favorite vegetable: Lima beans with corn (succotash baby!) Although I'm beginning to like vegetables I never wanted before, beets, asparagus, artichoke hearts.

W is for your worst habit: I'll save you and not describe my WORST habit having to do with my teeth. A close second is my saying "I know, right?!?"

X is for x-rays you have had: Oh Lord, Dental through the years, elbow 5 or so times pre/post surgery, hand 5 or so times pre/post surgery, sinuses pre/post surgery, 3 or 4 chest xrays for work. And while not direct XRays, I'm sure I've been exposed enough to count 2 or 3 more given my time in health care.

Y is for yummy food you ate today: I made turkey spaghetti sauce last night with some fresh basil and a few other goodies I found. I'm quite pleased with myself!

Z is for zodiac sign: I'm on the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces so it depends on what book you're reading as to which I really am. I usually take whichever one has a better horoscope that day. I think it's kind of cool that I cusp two that go together (fish and water)

Over/Underrated Friday

I'm sorry, don't hate me, don't take away my geek card.... but this weeks Overrated is....

{sigh...}

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I do love Indiana Jones and I was as jazzed as anyone else when the first mutterings of a 4th movie came out. And don't get me wrong, it was a good movie! It's just... I don't know....

When the first movie came out I was entranced. I remember my mom kicking me out of the house one Saturday while she did the BIG clean. That was when you could go into a movie theater and stay. I sat through Raiders of the Lost Ark from the 11am show until the 7pm show finished watching it over and over; each time being just as mesmerized as the last time.

When Temple of Doom came out.... well, we won't even talk about that. Everyone has their Jar Jar Binks to contend with.

Then Last Crusade came. The subliminal title could have been "Indiana Jones and the Grand Apology for Temple of Doom" Because it not only made up for the 2nd movie, but established a fantastic relationship between Indy and his father and Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. THAT movie had adventure and the height of comedic dialogue without cracking wise.

Enter the Crystal Skull. It's light years beyond Temple so it's a good movie, but I felt... disappointed. Indy can't live forever fighting the Nazis. They've been out of vogue for so long they've made it to the Vega star system and back. Bringing him forward a few years to battle the Soviets was a good idea. I adore Cate Blanchett and she did a good job with the role she was given, but.... again, I don't know.

Stephen Rader and I were talking on the phone before I saw Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Stephen is BIG movie geek so was very excited about the movie. He was ragging on a friend of his who, after seeing Crystal Skull, said "I don't buy it". I was agreeing with Stephen that it is fantasy film and that she should have responded with "Don't worry, it wasn't for sale!" But now I think I understand what his friend meant. All of Indiana Jones' world is fantasy and such, but this one just seemed far too stretched. Don't worry, though, Stephen, I buy it.

I guess what it boils down to is. It was a good movie, but I was around first hand for the original. I liked all 6 of the Star Wars movies, but when Episode I came out and I left the theater, I had the feeling of being let down. I've had nearly 20 years to wait for this movie and I'm left with a feeling of loss. I miss the original, but I still like the current....

I also miss the 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back having to see Shia LaBeouf with that STUPID hair.... but I digress

Yay Murderer!... (huh?)

Showtime has a history of series with characters or themes off the beaten path. One of their series is Dexter. Played by Michael C. Hall (also of the great Six Feet Under), Dexter lives in Miami and is a serial killer with a purpose. He witnessed his mother being murdered with a chainsaw when he was 3. His adoptive father (a policeman who found him in the shipping cargo container in inches of his mom's blood.. do you see the serial killer foreshadowing?) recognized the demon inside Dexter and spent Dexter's formative years helping Dexter recognize the demons and how to take care of them. Dexter now kills people who, honestly, deserve it. Drug dealers, murderers who were not convicted, etc.

I've not watched this series in prime time, but decided to give it a go when I found it on iTunes and I could watch video on my iPod (thanks brother man for the fab gift!) Now I'm about two-thirds the way through the second season...

OK, if you're watching the second season and are not as far as me, be careful, I'm not going to give away much, but it might be a spoiler here. Proceed forewarned.

...and they're right on the verge of finding out that Dexter is doing what he's doing. So you're wondering why I'm bringing this up? I'm worried that they're going to catch him!

Bravo to the writers of this show because you've actually made me pull for a murderer. Yes, he's getting rid of society's filth and doing the job regular justice can't do. I still don't condone murder. But I find myself liking him to the point of thinking he'd be a good friend, if he had them.

If you haven't watched this, check it out. It is very interesting writing and there are great side stories, without getting too deep into the side stories. Besides, any writing that can have me pulling for a serial murderer has to be pretty creative eh?

This Man's Best Friend

In my recent posts I've doted on my mom, sister, brother and sister-in-law. I feel I've been remiss in overlooking some very valued parts of my family. The dogs. To date none of my siblings nor I have had any human children, but I am still "Uncle Chris" to an ongoing brood of animals. At present (correct me if I'm wrong sibs) I am currently Uncle Chris to 3 dogs, 10 cats (counting my extended family) and one squirrel. All of these belong to the sibs as I do not have pets of my own because my work has me travel far too often for a pet to be properly cared for. I firmly believe that a pet is family, and not an accessory.

I do want to do an extended, immediate family "ode to my dogs" but that will require pic scanning and proper story telling so don't think that you won't get to meet them. But right now, I'm talking about one dog. The dog that was my best friend growing up. He came into my life when I was 10 and passed away not long after I turned 24 or 25. (can't remember, but he was quite old) Roller had lived the life of Reilly and knew, more than anything I'm sure, that he was loved. He was a pure-bred boxer (his mother, Tink was my family's first boxer) and exuded all the best traits of the breed (and some of the worst..boy was he a fart blossom!) He was my last dog and the desire to have another boxer has never left me.

You'll meet Roller soon, but for now, in honor of Roller, I wanted to share a site that I ran across yesterday. Boxer Rescue LA.

Rescue shelters of all types are to be commended for the work they do. Watch this video that BRLA put together that tells about what they do, but more importantly, where their dogs come from. http://presentdaypictures.com/brla

What I guess I'm getting at for the rescue is, if you're thinking of getting a dog (or cat, or horse, or bird, etc) check out the pounds or if you're one of those who prefers a pure bred dog, Google these rescue centers with your preferred breed. They're out there and there are plenty of dogs, mutts and pure, that are great dogs and need good homes.

Now if you have a dog (or cat, or horse, or bird, etc) of your own, go find him/her and give them a big ole sloppy smoochie for me! (well, just wave at the cats for me, I'm allergic)

PS. The picture at the top of this post is a sweetie named Breezy. She is currently up for adoption at BRLA. I wanted to put a picture at the top of the blog post and the look on her face caught my eye immediately!

I am alive

wow, it's been nearly two weeks since my last blog. Life has been pretty hectic and my creativity (aka, bitchy musings) have been in a lull. All is well, though and I'll be coming back online soon. Hopefully TMI Tuesday will be a good one to kick off the reboot.

Hope you're all enjoying June! (where the hell did the first half of the year go?)