Should be the Norm

A year ago this time, I was creaking around the apartment in pain from running 13.1 miles of the Chicago Marathon. This year I slept long enough to wake up to a Sunday sports overload. I had to break up the overload with a first-time full viewing of "How High." That movie seems a lot worse now knowing that that the sitcom project failed.

I skipped catching any of the marathon this year. I recall a few miles last year being pretty boring. Watching myself run by with a disinterested look on my face doesn't qualify as entertainment. Seeing the loonies as you ran the course was a little more fun. Perhaps next year.

That Arcade Fire album is merely so-so. After the first two tracks the album falls flat. They set you up for what appears to be a great album, then they suddenly retreat. On the plus side, the person who gave me this CD dropped a sweet Cee-Lo green song at the end. Awesome finish notwithstanding, I guess not all Canadian bands can put out the winners.

On the other hand, the Futureheads album is pretty decent. Go Indie-Prog.

Wanted: Somebody to show me how to press a button-down shirt.

I found myself in Hanover Park, IL last night at a classic Filipino gathering of relatives on my mother's side of the family. Plates of food were eaten, greetings were exchanged, and I took home a plate of leftovers and a lot of freshly rolled egg-rolls (for me to fry at my discretion). As an added bonus, parents and relatives started bugging me about being single so that cousins of my mom could suggest I hook up with an immigrant filipina nurse. Somewhere in there, an uncle tossed out a 'white girl' comment and my dad widened his preferred candidate scope to Mestizas. After that conversation, I deemed the party to be classic broken record action. It's nice to see that some things never change.

To the lady whom almost drove head-first into me on the bike path. That was a sweet "Whoo!" you let out when you decided to pay attention to where you were going. You sounded like you were at a rock concert.

The bikeride means I did my 20 miles/week plan for the first time since June. Six by the jog, fourteen by the pedal. I bet I can do this every week. Wait. It's almost winter.

Why do I always feel compelled to clean my apartment when I actually spend time at home on a weekend? Why do I always feel compelled to do that cleaning five minutes before I go out?

The Nu-metal cover of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" is being used during Fox baseball telecasts. The band made the song worse. Nu-metal is the new Michael McDonald.

Also wanted: A 2005 adventure in Manila...or London. I should probably pass my balanced budged act before my personal deadline.

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .