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Friday, September 14, 2001
MOVED!!!
The hairy years has moved. Please check it out! I apologize for any inconvenience.
posted by michael at 7:56 AM |
Thursday, September 13, 2001
AMEN TO THAT
Cindy(9/13) is so right on.
posted by michael at 2:51 PM |
DUNNO
Rob and I talked over fatburger last night, trying to avoid the obvious subject. We failed, of course.
In general, I get annoyed at comments that tacitly support or condone terrorists who kill thousands of American civilians in such a manner. That being said, I have to readily acknowledge that I don't completely understand what is going on in the middle east.
Information in general is never without its slants or biases, but here are some of the more helpful sites I found during my research. FAQ (scholastic.com)
Conflicting Views (scholastic.com)
Timeline (scholastic.com)
Maps (scholastic.com)
Bin Laden (cnn)
Who is Bin Laden (bbc) This information is simplistic at best. Anyway, make sure to check out the red cross site if you want to help...
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Also, I wanted to apologize to Wendy (9/12). Sorry.
posted by michael at 7:51 AM |
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
PARANOIAFirst of all, we aren't even completely sure who is responsible. Even if the civilian-murdering-bastard-terrorists are Muslim, that gives me no excuse to feel the way I did today.
posted by michael at 1:01 PM |
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
 ANGRY
Thousands of completely innocent civilians were murdered today.
It is terrorism on a scale far greater than anything America has ever seen. Listening to the news this morning, I was sickened to hear a few political analysts make their opportunistic jabs. I was disgusted to hear the occasional expert try to explain away evil with education. I'm not interested in pointing fingers or being high-minded. The way I see it, there are three things for me to do. I am to mourn with those who are suffering, support those who will bring the fuckers down, and get on my knees to pray.
You know, after it is all said and done, I know life will go on for me. I will continue to eat, sleep, go to work, and fall in love. But for so many other Americans, that is no longer the case.
posted by michael at 10:29 PM |
TRAGEDY
We are all being sent home for the day. I can't believe what has just happened.
posted by michael at 9:38 AM |
Monday, September 10, 2001
MORE CONTRASTS
I love fantasy sports. We've just started our football season. I had a horrible week, but the truth is that I know I'll be in the mix when its all said and done. Being reigning champion of football and baseball (one of our two leagues) is a mixed bag. While I love bragging rights, it also sends out a loser image. It's a balance. You want to win but don't want to be known as the guy spending twenties hours a day "researching" (the ultimate loser is the guy who has no life, researches too much, and still comes in 10th place). You know who you are out there!
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So I am a sports radio loving, fantasy sports winning, freak of a fan. I am also an insecure anorexic teenaged girl. Ever since I have returned from Cambodia, I have been obsessed with my weight. I have been 165 for a almost 6 years now, but when I got back from southeast asia, I was a staggering 155! That made it all worth it. I knew I'd get some of it back, but I wanted to keep it under 160. I have been weighing myself every day. Sad to say, I just hit the 160.5 mark yesterday. AAARRGggg. No more late night Pad Thai with Rob.
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I am completely demoralized. Reblogger, Geocities, and Blogger have all been acting up this weekend. It seems we've lost all our comments too. What's a guy to do? Can't really complain because its all free.
Now playing: Ivy ~while we're in love~
posted by michael at 8:52 AM |
Sunday, September 09, 2001
GO BLUE GO!
As a loyal Children's Committee member, I accepted my role as Blue Team Leader in my church's Super Book Olympics. We gathered all the first through sixth graders and formed four teams to duke it out in bible, sports, and overall spirit competitions. The winners got a trip to Chucky Cheese.
My team came in second, but the Blue Team did get the coveted "Spirit Stick" more than any other team. In fact, we would have won if we didn't travel so much. (A lot of the kids, including this kid, took trips out of the country). I don't mind. An In and Out party is better than that scary robot rat anyway.
 The girls wrote a great team cheer: B... L... U... E...
We've got spirit you can see,
We're the BLUE team!
Yay yay yay!
(followed by insane shouting by the team leader) NOTE: reblogger is down for a bit... oh well.
posted by michael at 12:55 AM |
Saturday, September 08, 2001
CONTRAST, NOT CONTRADICTION
In some ways, last night was indicative of my Hairy Years. Some might call it a contradiction, but I say its just a striking contrast.
After work, I went to Koinonia, the young adult christian fellowship I love and hate so much. I was kind of worried about kicking off our new speaker series, but everything went well. I think that good things are on the horizon for our favorite dysfunctional church. I was even able to quote Bono in the end! Damn I love that guy!!!! And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong
Walk on
Walk on
What you got, they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on
Walk on
Stay safe tonight After Koinonia ended, I ran off to meet Robbie in Silverlake. Spaceland was such a great, casual, diversely attended place. The Incredible Moses Leroy rocked (he's the guy in the Gap commercial). I think I am getting a feel for what kind of live shows I like. In general, I prefer the smaller venues. There is more of a connection with the performer. It's also nice to sit alone at the bar, sip my mandarin and tonic, and then have the headliner sit next to me and hit on girls. (more on that in a subsequent blog!)
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The hours of work are piling up. I will need to make up six hours on my 'day off' next week. What the hell, it was worth it.
posted by michael at 1:14 PM |
Friday, September 07, 2001
BAND THEORY
You know, if U2 wanted to be the biggest band in the world, Belle and Sebastian purposefully want to be the smallest niche band in Hoboken. Originally starting out as a college project, the octet are musical purists who don't seem to play rockstar. Still, their good music and obscure vibe equaled popularity in the indie scene. Note to James: They are a perfect example of the Tipping Point.
The concert was much the same (see la times review). Musically, the set was beautiful and low key. They were very humble, with just enough banter to be polite. Band members were not introduced. No encore was given. They did everything they could to keep attention away from themselves. All about inclusion, they had fans come to sing and dance along.
Now conceptually I am really into that. Its about the music right? Make the crowd cheer for the music, but not for you. I'm down. Well, maybe not completely. The Wiltern is beautiful but that type of show (and their type of music) is better suited for a smaller venue. Show a little flair and do the damn encore.
Don't get me wrong. It was another wonderful night. I so love Thursdays. Who could complain about a yummy sushi dinner coupled with a beautifully melodic concert with Sam, Reg, and Cindy?
I wouldn't dare.
posted by michael at 8:53 AM |
Thursday, September 06, 2001
DOOZIE
Got in today and was presented with a doozie of an option. Thing are happening at work, but I'm not at liberty to say anything public. Presenting what may or may not happen as good or bad isn't accurate. The situation is better described as a challenge. Well, I'm game. Deal the damn cards and let's see how it plays out.
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Sammy has extra tickets for Belle and Sebastian tonight! Thanks, you handsome Egyptian loverboy. The Wiltern seems like a good venue for a show. I guess Hedwig and the Angry Inch will have to wait. Wow, it feels like there are a lot of concerts on the horizon for me. Ivy... Travis... life is good. If only I could have gotten Coldplay tickets...
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Not many care about the WNBA, but lets give props to the LA Sparks for their championship. I may not really enjoy womens basketball (as opposed to kick-ass-cat-fight women's tennis) but lets be honest, we all like winners.
Now playing: Belle and Sebastian ~Dirty Dream Number Two~
posted by michael at 9:24 AM |
Wednesday, September 05, 2001
 MORE MORE MORE
In hopes of giving comment conversations the opportunity to be prolonged, I'm going to increase the number of posts on the home page from five to ten. (note: now changed to seven, hehe)
Another new feature is the very vain webcam photo. I'll take a new picture every few days. I originally got this lil thing as a gift, but put it away when its original purpose had gone the way of the dinosaur. But why waste such a nice toy? I have decided to dust it off and put the lousy thing to use. Go webcam!
posted by michael at 12:00 AM |
Tuesday, September 04, 2001
 STILL UP?
The good ones keep me awake all night. I really shouldn't be messing with my sleeping cycle, but everything was building to the climax and I was loath to put it down. I know when I am getting too excited about a book when my eyes start to move faster than I can read. Its like I am trying to force myself to find out what happens sooner than is physically possible. Of course, I am eventually forced to reread entire passages when I realize that I have no clue what's going on anymore.
Miyuki Miyabi has done well to represent contemporary Japanese fiction. I'm excited to read more. In addition to being an excellent detective novel on its own, the book also was interesting in its critique of Japan's consumer dominated culture. Other than that, I have nothing else to add to its accurate jacket propaganda. "Enormously compelling... combining expert pacing and psychological nuance to ultimately haunting effect."
-Publishers Weekly Next on the shelf is A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers.
posted by michael at 3:17 AM |
Monday, September 03, 2001
PLATE FRAMES
While I did satisfy my burrito fix, I didn't get to display my school pride and buy UCSD license plate frames. The damn bookstore was closed for the weekend. Now I'm back in LA and my interest in making this purchase is fading fast. Instead of frames, why don't I just save up to fix the dent in my poor car?
Almost done with reading All she was worth, by Miyuki Miyabe.
Now playing: David Gray ~Babylon~
posted by michael at 4:49 PM |
Sunday, September 02, 2001
SAN DIEGO
Brief visits here are good for the soul. Ok, maybe just my soul. UCSD is so beautiful. The many clean cut looking joggers all over campus are a nice shift from the too-cool hipsters in LA. Taking care of jr. higschool boys have been surprisingly enjoyable too!
My weekend has been ironically similar to much of my undergrad routine. Lots of napping, eating, and lounging... with a few lectures thrown in for good measure. I even got a chance to play basketball with old roomies Mack (who got himself a blue Golf), Low-dawg, and Marcus. Why didn't I come back to catch up with them sooner?
I'm glad this church camp experience is so different from the ol' youth group days. Are we a bit more grown up about everything? Watching the alternatingly innocent and cruel youth brings me back. I am somehow reminded of Winnie's frank description of the southern california chinese church camp scene.
posted by michael at 3:51 PM |
Saturday, September 01, 2001
HAIRY IMPRESSIONS
I am running late but wanted to make a drive by post before my trek to San Diego. I am looking forward to going back and revisiting my college days. Maybe I can sneak out and go visit old friends. Drop by the batting cage. Buy myself a UCSD license plate frame. Scarf a fish burrito. Drive down to TJ?? Hehe.
Anyway, I got an interesting comment regarding The Hairy Years. Mind you, she is one of my best friends in the entire universe. "I have been able to disassociate The Hairy Years from the person. I realized that if I only knew you from your website, I don’t think I would want to be such close friends with you.” So, what is the difference between online-Mike and virtua-Mike? I am not sure. The mediums are so different. There are so many ways to examine this one, I dunno where to begin. ~shrugs~ This whole conversation does remind me of a meal we had on Richard’s Dish though.
Now Playing: Pizzicado Five ~Sweet Thursday~
posted by michael at 7:26 AM |
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