Left, right whatever

There is a fine distinction between driving around aimlessly for fun and driving around aimlessly because you are lost beyond all get-out.
There's also a fine line between clever and stupid, but that is neither here nor there.
I decided to take a little drive tonight, and had I bothered to read the local papers or listen to the local news, I would have known that the river was at an exceedingly high level, with threats of flood everywhere, meaning that roads along the Delaware would be closed.(Granted, I could have gathered this myself, with the huge amount of rain we've had these last few days.)
Of course I didn't know, so that's where I went. First, the road was closed leading into New Hope from the south on the PA side. I took a left, and then another left, thinking I'd eventually circle back.
Not quite. I think I ended up in one of the Makefields (either upper or lower). I don't know what road I was on, but I did eventually find signs for 95. Phew. A total of 75 miles round trip later...
You know, all I really wanted was ice cream, and I could have done that just as well in Princeton. Damn the temptation that is Dilly's!

Jeff Buckley movie?

This would be cool, if they do it right:
Jun hits the right notes for Buckley biopic
Who would they get to play Jeff Buckley?

I can't decide on a title

I seem to have down with a rather heavy bout of indecisiveness recently. I wanted to trade in my car for a used Mini Cooper S, but that idea seems to have stopped in its tracks...I just can't seem to make up my mind on it, and I definitely don't look forward to all the paperwork that's involved.
Thus, since I have for this moment decided against buying the Mini (I may change my mind on that tomorrow), I decided that I would at least buy a roof rack for my car. However, they aren't necessarily cheap, and I can't decided between the Thule or the Yakima system.
My brother and I are kinda car nuts, so I guess I got his hopes up when I brought up buying a sporty little Mini, and then promptly dashed them with my indecisiveness.
He's not indecisive. He sets his mind on what he wants and then goes after it. He might ask for a second opinion, but he doesn't ask or need a third or fourth. I think my father is the same way, yet he mixes his decisiveness with a dash of impulsiveness.
It would be kinda nice to be like that sometimes....just so I don't have to be at the Gap with a shirt in my hands for 10 minutes deciding whether I want to buy it or not.
Now, that's frustrating.

This Web was made for you and me

If you are curious as to what this whole "net neutrality" thing is, check out Save the Internet's Frequently Asked Questions.

I found this particularly interesting:

And when the network owners start abusing their control of the pipes, there's nowhere else for consumers to turn. The cable and telephone companies already dominate 98 percent of the broadband market. Only 53 percent of Americans have a choice between cable and DSL at home. Everyone else has only one choice or no broadband options at all. That's not what a truly free market looks like.

Where I live, it's either Comcast or nothing, which sucks.

One person's trash...

is another person's trash, too.

There is an art gallery next door to my house, and as I walked past last evening, I noticed an old aluminum trash can filled with trash just inside its entrance. I couldn't decide whether it was an art display, or just actual trash. I may have to inquire, because I have quite a bit of trash at home, too. Maybe they can come over and appraise it.

Also, I was thinking about green traffic lights this morning on my way to work. I guess they organize what would otherwise be chaos. However, what about if I don't want to go when I get the light? Who's gonna make me? Is some traffic angel gonna come down and smite me for not driving when it tells me to? I think at the next green light, I'll decide not to play around with traffic and just sit there and see what happens. That's thinking outside the box. (Or thinking inside a crumpled car after you get hit by someone.)

I hear it's going to rain all weekend...I also intend on going into the office to hit up some overtime. Good times.

Paperback reader

I seem to be stuck on page 22 of the latest book I've been reading, Love in the Time of Cholera, so I decided to put that one on hold and buy myself a new book. On the advice of my friend Dava, I picked up Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
I was kinda hesitant, as the lead character's dad gets killed in 9/11. I don't want to read or watch anything dealing with that event, as it just makes me angry and sad and want to kick some ass. As a pacifist, those are feelings I'd rather not feel all the time. However, I've been told that it's been handled very well and is not the main part of the story. So, I'll take a chance on it.

Biking to stand still

I went to the car show in Somerville on Friday evening, and there was a rather big turnout: 250 cars, all parked along the main street of Somerville and in some of the parking lots right off it. Nice!
I headed home, and apparently, Hopewell had it's own little car show going on. Couple of Ferrari's here and there, several tiny original Minis, and loads of people (by Hopewell standards) walking about...
Saturday, I spent at my brother's, helping him work on the back deck. Thankfully, we finished before the sun had a chance to really bake us...of course, it did bake use when we went fruit picking that afternoon. 27lbs of strawberries and blueberries.
Fairly eventful weekend, and it's always nice getting something accomplished. Also, ended up buying a bike trainer contraption that lets me turn my old bike into a stationary bike. Granted, I just bought a new bike, but this new thing will let me get some exercise at home, too. Great to start off the morning with some good exercise to get the blood flowing. I must be on some sort of health kick or something.

Shifting the furniture

Every now and again, for reasons I don't quite understand, I find that I need to move the furniture around in my surroundings. Could it be because I moved around so much as a kid that I need to occassionally change things around? Maybe, but that doesn't quite seem to hit the nail on the head.
Sometimes when I move around the physical things around me, it allows me to view issues from another perspective. You know the saying "When one door closes, a window opens somewhere else"? I don't think I'm getting the saying right, but oh well...it serves my purposes here.
I think that shifting the furniture helps me find that window; gives me a new perspective. Sometimes it helps me solve problems I didn't even know I had or couldn't pin down; just that nagging feeling that something was off balance.
All I know is that I have been feeling unmotivated, and frankly, kinda drifting and distractable, watching the weeks pass by. Maybe now I can get some answer or clue...
At the very least, I like how I've changed my room, yet I feel I want to do more.

A time-killler survey

1. Do you like chinese food?
Yessir! Can't go wrong with General Tso Chicken

2. How big is your bed?
Full

3. Is your room clean?
It's organized chaos

4. Laptop or Desktop computer?
laptop

5. Favorite comedian?
I've always liked Robin Williams. Mitch Hedberg was great.

6. Do you smoke?
No

7. Does anyone like you?
Yeah, I'm likable.

8. Whats the sexiest thing about Condoleeza Rice?
She's very well educated. Not particularly sexy, but I wanted to say something nice.

10. Sleep with or without clothes on?
with

11. Who sleeps with you every night?
One of the two cats usually hangs out on the bed.

12. Do long distance relationships work?
I suppose they can.

13. How many times have you been pulled over by the police?
Three times, I think. Nothing major

14. Pancakes or French Toast?
Pancakes

15. Do you like coffee?
with milk and sugar. And then more milk.

16. How do you like your eggs?
scrambled

17. Do you believe in astrology?
I don't have any reason to dismiss it outright. It can be interesting.

18. Last person you talked to on the phone?
My brother

19. Last person on your missed call list?
Greg

20. What was the last text message you received?
"Ice cream at the pond."

21. McDonalds or Burger King?
McDonald's, for their fries.

22. Number of pillows?
2

23. Last thing you ate?
leftover pizza

24. Last thing you bought?
My last big purchase was my bike.

25. What are you hearing right now?
Susan Tedeschi doing a Bob Dylan song, "Don't think twice." Crickets, and some cars passing.

26. Pick a lyric?
There was a time when you let me know what's really going on below, but now you never show that to me do ya?
Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley, originally by Leonard Cohen

27. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
raspberry

28. Can you play pool?
I can, but not especially well. If I have one or two drinks, then I'm better. More than that, then I am much, much worse.

29. Do you know how to swim?
Yes

30. Favorite ice cream?
Rocky road. It's got marshmallow bits!

31. Do you like maps?
Yeah. They help me get unlost.

32. Tell me a random fact:
The Brothers McMullen cost about 25k to make.

33. Ever had a hard on at work?
Odd. Every question before this was normal. This is one of those you just say "no" to automatically.

34. Ever attend a theme party?
don't think so. Besides, I don't really do themes.

35. Ever do a keg stand?
nope

36. Craziest place you've slept after a night of drinking?
A train. I woke up as I passed the station I had to get out at. Spent the next hour at the TRenton train station.

37. What is your favorite season?
Spring and fall

38. What is the first music video you ever saw?
I don't even remember. It was in 82 or 83, I think.

39. Pick a movie quote:
You're so money and you don't even know it!

40. Favorite quote:
I don't know, I don't care, and it doesn't make a difference - Jack Keruoac. Depressing and cynical, but it was the first one I thought of.

41. What is your favorite hangout?
Generally speaking, relaxing and casual places. I like Small World in Princeton.

42. Best friend's name?
Greg and Javier

43. How long have you known them?
16 years, give or take

44. Last time you laughed at something stupid?
I just saw "The Girl Next Door" as I was flipping channels, and I think I might have laughed at something.

45. What time did you wake up this morning?
640

46. Wake up next to anyone?
no

47. Best thing about winter?
The first time it snows. Other than that, winter is blah for me.

48. Name a couple of favorite colors:
blue, red

49. How old are you?
31

50. What month is your birthday in?
September

51. Do you think pirates are cool or overrated?
Overrated.

52. Favorite Dave Matthews Band song (if you have one?)
Ants marching

53. What are you doing this weekend?
staining a deck, and possibly painting garage doors.

54. Who will take this survey?
Don't know.

Of bike racks

I think I have found something else that frustrates me nearly as much as computer problems: setting up the bike rack and the time I waste doing so. ERG!
I have a bike rack that I attach to the trunk, with all sorts of tie-downs that are secured by knots and bike-rack voodoo, and while it works ok once it's set up, the process takes like 10 minutes.
I guess that could be considered whining, but on my old car, I had this nice Yakima rack system attached to the top of the car, and all I had to do was put the bike up...no time whatsoever.
I was going to head over to the river this evening, but light was running out, so I biked around here and explored Hopewell. I have the bike and rack all set up on my car so I don't have to worry about that tomorrow morning, and I'll be able to go right after work.
Watch it rain!

The days are just packed.

I don't think one could have asked for better weather this weekend. OK, one could have, I'm sure, but I thought it was two perfect summer days here in beautiful central Jersey.
Saturday, Hopewell had a huge citywide yard sale. People brought their junk out to the curb with the hope that someone might consider it treasure. I didn't find any treasure, although there was some slightly used exercise equipment that I could have gotten. Eh. That's why I have a new bike, at any rate.
On Sunday, I had to make an emergency errand run to the poconos to go pick up some things for my parents. Amazing. They're in Europe, yet they still manage to have errands to run here in the states!
Not that big a deal though, as it was a beautiful, lazy day, and my brother let me use the Merc convertible to take the trip. Hehe. That was fun! Even though the Merc is 20 years old, it still gets looks, and I'm not at all used to that kind of attention, considering the econobox I drive. In fairness to the Mazda, though, it's a sporty little econobox, and fun to drive.
My sister in law later told me that my brother was expecting me to say no like I always do when he asked if i wanted to borrow the car. He kinda wanted to drive it himself and had cleaned it just this morning. Shows you how cool my brother is that he asked and let me take it!
My brother's kids had a rocket launching day with their scout troop yesterday afternoon, and I'd never seen that before. Made me want to try it too! Kids get to do the coolest things!
I highly recommend checking out A Prairie Home Companion, the Robert Altman movie based on the Garrison Keillor radio show. Saw it Friday and really dug it!

Wonder Years

I love youtube. I've been able to see some old episodes of my favorite TV show, The Wonder Years.
COOL!
I just watched an episode that I remember seeing the first time, which was like 15 or so years ago. It was when the Kevin and Winnie, et al, went on a field trip to the Natural Science museum. At the episode, Winnie breaks up with Kevin, as she's found someone else. All this while "God Only Knows" from the Beach Boys starts playing. They get on separate buses. Her, with her new guy behind her, and him, by himself, looking like a wounded puppy. He finds the ring he gave her on the bus seat they shared on the way to the museum.
Painful and heartbreaking to watch. Then, to hit you over the head with symbolism...the buses drive off together and then split up. Man.
On a completely unrelated note, I just heard some cover of "All you need is love" used in a credit card commercial. Sheesh.

A French movie vs. The Beatles. Hmmm.

I've had the movie Amelie waiting for me since I've gotten back, but I haven't yet been inclined to drop it in the DVD player. The Netflix folks must dig me, as it takes me so damn long to watch the movies I get from them!
However, I have a feeling this movie might not be one I can just throw in the player and watch. It might actually require me to think. Heh.
So, I put in the Beatles Anthology, specifically to catch the performances of Revolution and Hey Jude. It still brings a smile to my face that I was able to see Paul play Hey Jude live last September. I think it was at that point that it hit me totally what I was watching, and I was surprised how emotionally invested I was in the music, so I just soaked it all in.
On another note, how is it that this week is flying by? I haven't gotten back into the swing of things.
I want to get my liberal on and go check out Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Heard it's quite good.

Pictures and stuff

I took a whole bunch of pictures of my trip. Check them out here!
I hardly took any pictures before I got my hands on a digital camera a few years ago. Now, I try to take it with me wherever I go so that I can capture moments. Basically, huge swaths of my life are now only moments of time captured in my unreliable memory, and once that is gone, so are the memories. Bummer. Thus, I take pictures so I have something physical as a remembrance.
My old college roommate, Greg, and I drove down to Richmond after the first weekend in DC so that we could spend some time with Michelle, a friend of his who had recently relocated from Orlando. With her, we explored the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond, headed west to the Luray Caverns, and then east to Colonial Williamsburg.
What we missed in whitewater, we made up for with a tour of American history. To dumb down and shorten a really, really long story, Virginia had an important part to play in America's revolutionary and civil wars. How's that for the blindingly obvious statement of the day?
One thing I'm curious about: In Colonial Williamsburg, they hire people to play "people of the day." They wear period dress and speak as we imagine people from Olde Tyme Williamsburg would speak; that is, in a not-quite British accent. My question: how long do they have to stay in character? Is it determined by how close they are to paying customers or something. I was about 5 feet from two such actresses, and they kept up the act, even though I was the only one within hearing distance. Was that all for my benefit, then?
If you are curious, the first picture is of the wishing pool in Luray Caverns. I threw a quarter in there, so let's see if my wish comes true.

Back in one piece

I left Jersey really early Saturday morning, and after I arrived in DC and chilled for a few moments in Brian's apartment, we plopped ourselves down in Michelle's car and headed off to the Shenandoah River, close to the town of Harpers Ferry, for a rafting trip. Apparently, it hadn't rained much lately, and here's the thing about that: they leave river levels awfully low. It seemed as though we got stuck on every rock, almost like we were aiming for them. Not the guide's fault, getting stuck on the rocks, but an extra 8 inches of water would have made a world of difference.
However, getting stuck on every rock was worth it because at the end of the rafting trip, I was the "chosen one" (Ed.: when you least expect it, Greg. Payback.) on our raft to get dunked in the water. I was expecting it, so I wasn't completely surprised, and I was a good sport about it. At least the water was refreshing.
We walked around the town of Harpers Ferry for a while, and it's always an enlightening experience when you can put something physical to the places and names you read about in history books. I remember reading about the abolitionistJohn Brown's raid on the arsenal of Harpers Ferry...I never thought I'd go to the actual town when I read the book as a young dude in Florida, but nonetheless, there I was. Never know where the road takes you, but it's a good idea to read some books first.

Back home

I am back home from my trip, and while it wasn't as adventure packed or bruise inducing as I thought it might be, it was quite fun and very relaxing. I didn't get to go kayaking, but I did buy a Life is Good hat that has a dude carrying a kayak on it, which is nearly as good.
Interesting how this works: I dropped off Greg at the airport in DC, and he got home in Orlando the same time I got home in NJ...
I'll put up a few posts with pictures over the next couple of days. As for now, I'm sleepy.