8 ft. Tall and made of Stone

This past weekend, Bri and I were planning on going to Ottawa Pride. However, finances - Or lack thereof - determined that we couldn't afford it. So, we stayed in Kingston.

We spent most of the weekend playing our new Villains in City of Villains. We're both playing dual Electrical Melee/Stone Armor Brutes. Bri has an awesome concept and I have an okay one. I've always liked the look of Elec Melee and wanted a Stone Brute (Because they can take massive amounts of damage). With XP smoothing, Beginner's Luck and some awesome PUGs we've managed to hit 24 in four days. We should be laughing at 32 by Friday at least! Hello Lightning Rod! If all this lingo means nothing to you, then, yes, we're geeks.

We took a break on Saturday to go to Panda Garden for some Chinese food. I love Chinese! So good!

My Fortune Cookie was "Every truly great accomplishment is at first impossible (in bed)." So true!


This weeks goals: Haircut, hit 32, hang with Brian, survive another week of work.

Green Grass

The 21st century is a surreal time for privacy and social interaction. What do I mean? Well, in a society in which all someone needs to find out your address is to get your home phone number or simply look at your Facebook Profile - People go to great lengths to protect their privacy in the offline realm. Yet, online, information rarely divulged is common knowledge: Address, house number, cell phone number, MSN contact, shoe size, pant size and even penis size is easily accessible. The possibilities for identity theft and exploitation are limitless. But most of these same people trust their fellow man (or woman) to preserve some semblance of privacy. Perhaps you saw your boss in the Toronto room of Gay.com or maybe you stumbled across a profile of someone you know on an online hook-up site? Those people assume you won't tell others and give you the same courtesy.

Comparatively, people seem hesitant to divulge their personal, innermost thoughts in the public sphere and yet some people maintain a universally accessible online journal or blog. Here, they may describe intimate, and sometimes compromising, facts, observations or opinions about everything from life to love to co-workers to employers...Regardless of whether those selfsame tidbits of information are private or public knowledge

Conversely, more conservative-minded people give just enough information to keep readers returning for more, without giving away the ending. Usually, these people don't belittle themselves by confessing controversial information for the purpose of maintaining a strong readership. These are the bloggers that are worth reading. Individuals who possess such a powerful and unique outlook on life that they cannot help but articulate life lessons to the planet...Not for some base desire to entertain - But simply to be heard. To help others be better people.

Sometimes, these people can seem larger-than-life. Reaching a sort of celebrity status, their seemingly glamorous life can lay a shadow over our own, make our lives seem drab and mundane.

Recently, I started to experience this situation. I began reading a daily blog and started to feel as if my life were boring compared to the blogger's. However, in stumbling across an example of base, instinctual need...I realize that celebrity can seem grandiose and expansive. Someone else's life may appear more exciting - Perhaps it is - But, we often forget that the celebrity is a person, too. Celebrities eat, they sleep, they love and they lose. Just like everyone else (but maybe differently).

Just because the grass looks greener on the other side...Doesn't usually mean it is...

(Unless it's my neighbour's lawn! How does a lawn turn brown with all this rain?!)

Cottage Sunday

Taking a page from Davey Wavey's Book of Life: I'm completely content with my life right now. Work is rough...But who's job isn't?

Personally, I'm happy with where I am socially. Happy with how I spend my free time, whether playing PC, with Kody the Cat or with Mr. Northmore.

He and I went to the cottage yesterday (much to Dad's boundless happiness). although we didn't swim - Bri doesn't swim anywhere there are fish! - We had a pretty good day. Coming home to Kody was great, too.

And, I have a new word: Bandomology courtesy of Alan Cross.

The Perfect Drug

Another NiN song that's been stuck in my head of late (although I keep forgetting to listen to the .mp3 on my PC) is "The Perfect Drug." Brian says Trent doesn't like this song, especially the music video. I think the video is great, but Bri says Reznor feels it is "convoluted."

I very much consider Trent Reznor a true artist, like David Bowie. He's in it for the expression not the money. That makes him great, in my eyes.

The Perfect Drug
I got my head but my head is unraveling
cant keep control can't keep track of where it's traveling
I got my heart but my heart's no good
you're the only one that's understood

I come along but I don't know where you're taking me
I shouldn't go but you're wrenching dragging shaking me
turn off the sun pull the stars from the sky
the more I give to you the more I die

and I want you

you are the perfect drug
the perfect drug
the perfect drug
the perfect drug

you make me hard when i'm all soft inside
I see the truth when i'm all stupid-eyed
the arrow goes straight through my heart
without you everything just falls apart

my blood just wants to say hello to you
my fear is warm to get inside of you
my soul is so afraid to realize
how every little bit is left of me

take me with you
without you everything just falls apart
it's not as much fun to pick up the piece


And, for your viewing pleasure, the music video.

Closer to God

For some reason, every time I've laid down to go to sleep since NiN, "Closer" has been stuck in my head. I'm posting the lyrics here, mostly for my own reference.

You let me violate you
You let me desecrate you
You let me penetrate you
You let me complicate you

I broke apart my insides
I've got no soul to sell
The only thing that works for me
Help me get away

I wanna fuck you
I wanna taste you
I wanna feel you
I wanna be you
Just like an animal

You can have my isolation
You can have the hate that it brings
You can have absence of faith
You can have my everything

You tear down all my reason
You see through what I hide
You make me perfect
Help me get inside
I wanna fuck you
I wanna taste you
I wanna feel you
I wanna be you


I think the song is stuck in there (my head) because, when Trent sang the song, everyone at the ACC started singing with him. Its one of his more popular songs and it seems to resonate with a lot of people.

Two-word descriptions

Where is your cell phone? My pocket.
Your significant other? Rocks me.
Your hair? Pleasantly mussed.
Your mother? The Devil.
Your father? Pretty cool.
Your favorite thing? PC, Brian
Your dream last night? Mostly sex.
Your favorite drink? Diet Coke.
Your dream/goal? Live happily.
The room you're in? Work office.
Your ex? Are numerous.
Your fear? Financial insecurity.
Where do you want to be in 6 years? More secure.
Where were you last night? At home.
What you're not? Ummm, straight?
Muffins? Yes, please.
One of your wish-list items? New desk.
Where you grew up? Small town.
The last thing you did? Office work.
What are you wearing? Casual dress.
Your TV? Isn't connected.
Your pets? Kody Cat.
Your computer? Needs graphics.
Your life? Pretty good.
Your mood? Frustrated, tired.
Missing someone? Yes, always.
Your car? Jeep Liberty.
Something you're not wearing? A watch.
Favorite Store? Doesn't matter.
Your summer? Is awesome.
Like someone? Love someone.
Your favorite color? Red works.
Last time you laughed? This morning.
Last time you cried? Too long.
Last time you danced? See above.

Thanks to Jason for this!

Toronto

Brian and I went to Nine Inch Nails in Toronto yesterday. This was my first live concert ever. It was quite the experience.

I worked half a day and we hit the 401 at about 2 PM. The trip there was uneventful and we moved a steady pace. Once we got to Toronto, following my MapQuest-ed and CAA directions, we circumvented the Air Canada Centre (ACC). We were just off the Don Valley Parkway, we could see the ACC, we just couldn't get near it. Extremely annoying. Especially for me, the driver. I abhor traffic and not knowing where I'm going - T-dot streets are less than intuitive.

When we finally got parked, after running across the street to use a bank machine because the Parking Attendant would only accept bills; it started to pour. And it rained almost the entire time we were there. Like a newb, I forgot to put my umbrella back in my Jeep the last time it rained.

Traffic and weather aside, the trip itself was quite the adventure. originally, we had intended to get our ears pierced (I've wanted my right ear pierced since Pride 2008) but the rain sort of put the kibosh on that plan. We ended up walking up to the Eaton Centre, hitting a LoneStar for supper and just exploring the Train Station and the ACC.

The concert itself was pretty amazing. Trent Reznor more than just sings when he's on stage...His concerts are a performance. About an hour into the show, the band plays a jazzy, acoustic set taken mostly from Ghosts I - IV. The show itself also features mesh LED curtains that project various visuals, ranging from falling rain to static and make the band appear to be playing on "a stage that appeared to be constructed entirely out of lights."

It's a pretty amazing experience. Although, Bri and I weren't really in the right position to fully experience the light show. Our seats were off the right-hand side of the stage so we were looking at the mesh LEDs from the side. at that angle, many of the pictures that the three screens made were lost on us. Still, it was pretty amazing.

The tickets were great, bought by Brian back in February. VIP entrance, no lines, about six rows back from the rink and stage. I'm definitely happy Brian was able to get them and grateful he was there during the drive and in Toronto. Brian is my comfort zone and when I would momentarily lose him, like in the mall - Well, Brian said it was a cute look.

The trip back was very similar to the stress of Toronto, except mixed with tiredness, rain and night driving. I'm glad I live in small-town Kingston.