Idoru.us

Is that why all these strangers like talking to me?

So its been a hell of a long time since I have even really given idoru much thought. Not sure whether thats due to being busy or whether its some sort of ennui or something, who knows really. So whats been going on in the last 2 months? Quite a bit actually.

Lets start with work stuff, just cause its right near the front of everybody’s lives most of the time. Work has continued to be work, and in fact has become even more work lately. New boss that I am breaking in, departure of my closest coworker and only backup, and stuff being busier earlier then normal but thats a part of life. That said, I also have an interview on Tuesday for a new position. If I am offered it I will certainly take it since I think the position would be more fulfilling as well as more money and, most importantly, a new challenge for me to grow into and thats something I have been missing lately. That said, I am going into the interview with no expectations other then that I have an interview. Regardless of whether or not something comes of it its a great feeling to be having interviews again and feel like change is possible.

Friends stuff, well that has been going fantastic lately. I had Trevnor visiting me about a month ago for a few days which was a lot of fun. I have been playing a decent amount of video games online with people whenever I can. Been seeing people really more nights then not which is, in some ways, slightly exhausting, but hey, I have been making new friends doing my own thing and just loving that aspect of my life. I get the feeling thats going to continue which is a good sign for my continued social life. its always pleasant to have friends who want to do things rather then just sit and do nothing int eh same room. That said, today has been a much needed quiet day. Hell, I haven’t even left home today.

In more personal news, I have started seeing somebody in a semi-serious manner. No idea whats going to come of it although I have my suspicions. Either way I am keeping my mind open and just enjoying where things are right now. I think thats probably enough for the moment.

I spent part of today planning my next international adventure. Looks like Buenos Aires might be happening sometime after the new year. It seems as though you can stay for about a week on around $700 and thats including more or less everything other then flight, in other words, completely doable. So in the next few months I need to remember to send my passport in for a renewal so I can be prepared to go. Still have some slight concerns over the RFID chip in passports but its not as though I can go without the RFID and I really don’t intend to stay in one country for the rest of my life so it is what it is. After Buenos Aires the next major destination is probably a long weekend in Iceland over next summer, just because.

Speaking of traveling, I have been doing a much reduced amount of biking this year compared with previous years. I am probably around 2,500 miles for the year (thats actually probably a little high) but it is what it is. I got out yesterday on the bike and had a great time going over to Willmar MN, then heading north some before I came home. What a great reminder of why I ride and why I don’t need a destination when I ride. In other words, what a fantastic ride. Of course, I need to take a little time tomorrow and fix up an item or two on the bike and then things should be fantastic to go.

Hrm, what else in my life? I have been listening to some new, to me, music lately. Right now the Cee-Lo mix tape “Stray Bullets” is getting a lot of play on my iPod. Its a fantastic mixtape and something very different that I could see just about anybody getting into in the right mood. Go ahead and google it, I believe its free to download. Also, been considering getting an iPhone and trading up from my iPod. Not sure whether I will or not yet but its something that I am giving a great deal of thought to if for no other reason then to cut down on the number of devices I am carrying around on a daily basis. That said I always have some general concerns over the growing “Evil Empire” that apple seems to be turning into in many ways. I might go ahead and bite the bullet, I might not. We will see, but I certainly regret not buying the AT&T version of the nexus one when it was available.

Also been buying some new watches lately, I still have my fairly standard daily wear fossil, but I have picked up an Invicta and a Triumph watch within the last few months. Who knows how many other watches I will end up buying… god knows I seem to want more for some reason or another.

The weather here has started to get chillier already. Loving it for sleeping and such but its certainly a reminder that winter is coming. Where has this year gone?

Well, thats certainly enough rambling for the evening I think. Time to go and read some but first, I would like to say Fuck You. Because, lets be honest here, its catchy.

With a fistful of your girlfriend’s hair

So its been, what, 2 months now since I have posted anything to Idoru? I really am pretty terrible at updating this most of the time. But lets go ahead and hit some highlights from the past two months.

May was relatively uneventful, until near the end of it. I went out to Colorado to visit a very good friend and some other people as well. Went up Pikes Peak, finally. Went to Rocky Mountain National Park which is an awesome place. Went shooting and that was a ton of fun. Re-inspired me to consider getting a gun or two. Not a sure thing but it is a possibility. Played some video games and had just an overall awesome time hanging out with my friends. Reminds me why I miss seeing them in person.

Been continuing to play a lot of BFBC2, right now my goal is to gold star every weapon and there are very few weapons left to go. Really just two sniper rifles which I have started running with a red dot. Other then that I haven’t really been playing many video games. Been more interested in doing things out in the real world. Been out riding, meeting people for drinks, coffee whatever. Its actually been a really good thing for me to do. So I guess expect more of that in the future.

Otherwise there isn’t much news to print. Its a short update. Sue me. Have a happy 4th and enjoy the holiday. And remember, its for your sorrows.

And we could blaze it up on your block if you want to

So as Trevnor pointed out I should update this sucker. Its actually been something on my to do list for a few days now, just had life keep popping up to keep me busy and not updating it. Yes Super Street Fighter IV counts as life. Plus, since my readership has diminished significantly (not that it was ever huge) I have less urge to update it as I am trying to figure out the best thing to do with it. Yes the two are related. However for now it will continue being random updates.

Been listening to some newer music lately, so I figure I can start there. There are a few Wu Tang mix tapes out there, Wu Tang vs The Beatles, and the Wu Massacre – Avenging Eagles that are both fairly solid. Picked up the Jaydiohead albums, as well as the Beastie Boys – Double Check your Head and the Mos Dub mashups as well. All of them are pretty solid, you can google them and find them fairly easily. Best part is that they are free. If you dig the artists in the name, check em out.

Skipping directly to work, I applied for a new job a week or two ago. Who knows whether or not I will actually get it but it feels good take some proactive steps towards getting out of my department. Speaking of my department, I will shortly be up to my 8th or 9th supervisor (if you count the times I didn’t have a supervisor at all) in the 4 years I have been an official FTE. Yeah, talk about smooooooth. All of that without me actually changing my job. Not a pain in the ass at all I swear! But enough about work, I am sick of it anyway.

Two nights ago I red ringed my 360. So I went out last night and bought a new 360. Sure I am a bit of an addict, obviously. On the other hand, the new arcade system I picked up does in fact come with Viva Pinata so I can … I don’t even know what that game is about. But it has achievements so I will certainly play it some. Why not after all. Otherwise been playing a lot of BFBC2 and SSF4. Beat Mirrors Edge a few weeks back as well, it was interesting. The controls didn’t feel as tight on 360 as they did on the PS3 when I played in Korea and the combat continued to be atrocious but whatever right? Need to set some time aside to play through Dead Space, which has been started but I am too addicted to certain other games (see BFBC2) right now to want to take the time. Its just too much goddamn fun to run around with my AKS-74U and kill bitches. Or to snipe people from approximately 30 miles away with the M95. But enough about games for the moment I think.

Other stuff going on…. hrm, been sick for the past week. Getting better slowly but surely I can tell that much but its not going to be a super quick recovery I can tell. Mostly because its been almost a week already. But I am on the road to recovery. Mother’s Day is this weekend so remember to call your mom and wish her a happy one (or in my case go out to brunch with her). I have to fast on Sunday evening anyway for an unrelated medical thing so I suppose brunch works out best for me anyway.

Starting to gear up for a trip out to Colorado towards the end of this month. Looking forward to seeing some friends and also looking forward to meeting a few guys I play with on XBL. Plus, a vacation will always be fun. Starting to think about a trip somewhere this fall as well. Possibly going to Greece or Boston or somewhere else. Who knows, its tempting but its also entirely possible that I will end up going nowhere at this point. Its one of those “time will tell” things.

Installed a new OS on my main computer. Ubuntu 10.04. Its interesting. I like some of the changes and dislike others, as with any new distro release. Its fairly solid but far from perfect, still I have no illusions that any distro will be perfect unless I build it myself and I am too lazy to do that. Part of the reason I did that was some hardware updates to my main computer though. Now I have a video card that only ~2 years out of date instead of 4! And a nice shiny new HDD as well.

Other then that, not a ton of anything going on right now which is kinda cool. Had a hilariously bad first date last weekend but thats kind of a neither here nor there thing, so no point in putting the details out there really. In fact its kinda nice that it went badly since I love having downtime. So here is something for you to chill out too just a bit, as we enter the weekend.

I debated writing about two different news stories, the George Rekers scandal and another news story right now about a woman who lost her job due to technology… But I think I will save that until later this week so that my ideas can be a bit more cogent. Although I have a strong suspiscion that people who know me can already guess my reaction to Mr. Rekers.