Hicks is Great - What the Shit is this Dancing Crap?

Although Taylor Hicks did not perform tonight, I still think that he is the best. Maybe he has ticks, maybe he is trying to be like that Wayans guy being like that Ray Charles guy...or maybe they all took the lead from him...hmm... I think that I will continue to watch AI until he is removed or wins.

I was really sad when Stevie was kicked off. Although I think she did not have the best of performances, I think that she was far better than some of the others. Plus, I think that she has a heck of a lot more potential than some of the other girls - like Brenna or Buckey, wait, I guess he is a guy.


Then after AI, there was some crazy show on with people dancing. I remember seeing this at some point, but thought for sure that I had found my way onto one of those 4 Spanish channels that I get for free. Little did I know, Jerry Rice was on this show. You must be kidding! I thought that he was still on the Suckos...but again I was wrong. I actually liked that one woman with too much cow fat in her lips - I guess her lips must have exploded. But good to know that an over the hill athlete can still find something to do with his life - how far he has come!

When is it Okay to Give Up?

For quite a few years I have been involved in a program that has given me a lot of good times and great friends. I have often wondered to what extent I would have met these people had I not joined this organization. However, the question remains that at what point do you pack up and walk away?

For sometime there have been things that I am not happy with, directions that should not be taken, disorganized that can only lead to chaos, but I have always thought that I was somehow in control. I think it is a slap into reality that first time that something gets screwed up and you were not even in the loop. How can you really be in an organization at a leadership level when there is the potential for screw up and although your ass is on the line you really have no control?

For the many friends, I am in debt. For the many headaches, I have acid reflux. But for the many potential future problems that I can no longer control - no thanks. The question still stands...At what point do you feel that you have given back to a program enough that you can walk away?

Record Snowfall and God, I feel like *hit

What a crazy last few weeks. We had warmth, cold, and even snow. 26.9 Inches! Now that is a lot of snow!

To top it all off, I have been sick. Was running a 102 fever for a few days last week. The problem with working in a small firm that is that when you are not there, the work does not get done. With all of the deadlines and more work coming in, it can get overwhelming. Needless to say I went to work a few of the days that I should not have and was yelled at by the boss-man...why? Because he didn't want to get sick of course.

US PORTS TO COME UNDER CONTROL OF TERRORIST NATION
I am not sure to what extent this is getting coverage in the news where you are, but this is pretty big news here - and should be pretty big news all over the place. CNN presents an interesting "slant" to the topic.

I am not too sure about this issue. There must be something else going on here. Why would the Bush administration allow such a thing to occur? Surely they are worried about terrorism as much as the rest of us...surely they are worried about being reelecte....wait, they probably just dont give a damn at this point!

My Cousin and The Grammys

Audio Adrenaline Wins Another Grammy

I was just reminded that my cousin, Jay Joyce in Nashville, TN, was nominated last night for a Grammy. He produced the album Until My Heart Caves In, by Audio Adrenaline. It won last night! Pretty cool. It is funny because I grew up with Jay. He is older than I am, but I always remember him as being the one at the reunions who would bring his guitar. My uncle would find a piano, Jay would play the guitar and the rest would sing and do whatever - granted, I think they were all doing a lot of drugs at that time...who would have known. Nevertheless, congrats to Audio Adrenaline and Jay Joyce!

Interestingly enough, although they have been up for Grammys in the past, critics say that alot of there most recent success is because of Jay: "Much of that sonic leap towards elevated intensity stems from a pairing with acclaimed producer/guitarist Jay Joyce (The Wallflowers, Iggy Pop, Patty Griffin, Macy Gray). His expansive mainstream experiences, coupled with a cutting edge approach behind the boards, stretched the foursome."

"He was really the first producer who really 'got' what it was that we wanted to do and encouraged us to bring out our passions to the greatest extent possible," McGinniss confirms. "We had no idea what to expect at first, but God really directed our relationship with him and the end result brought all of our performances up to the next level. Jay is a rocker and a rockstar who simply wanted to capture the here and now and vibe of a certain moment, rather than making It perfect or polished." (http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/audioadrenaline.html).

More information on my Cousin: http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/appears/0,,450851,00.html

Strangely enough he also was credited for the Faith Hill song: Fireflys. I heard from my mom that he co-wrote it with Faith and my brother says he is on one of her concert CDs. He has came out on the stage and helped sing...pretty cool.

40 Year Old Virgin and Passports

The 40-Year Old Virgin

I am a member of Blockbuster.com. I therefore put movies in my "queue" and wait for them to be delivered one 3 at a time. It usually takes 2 days, so when I move a movie around in my queue it is so I can get it sooner.

Last week my brother, Jason, told me that the 40 year olf virgin was a great and funny movie. Jason and I have similar tastes, so I decided to move the movie up on my list. I received the movie a few days ago but did not watch it right away.

Yesterday was an okay day at work, but I was looking for something funny to watch. Remembering that I had this movie, I popped it into the dvd player and started watching. It started off okay, but then the introductory credits ended. The movie was filled with pretty much nothing. I laughed 2 times during the entire 2 hours of "entertainment." I find it hard to believe that I would dislike this movie so much, then it occurred to me that I have seen Steve in "The Office" and I absolutely hate his character. In this movie he plays a humble man, whereas in The Office he plays an ass. I could not separate myself from his newer character. However, with that being said, I still find myself laughing more at Gilmore Girls than during the 40 Year Old Virgin

Passports = Federal Government Welfare

Went to the passport office today to get my passport. I found that I could go to the Post Office and get the passport just as easily. So I went there yesterday, after ordering a copy of my birth certificate from Willoughby online, and stood in line. I read in really small letters that they will only accept checks or money orders. I would have gotten a money order, but I had not been paid yet and there was no money to put in such an order. Then under that it says that they will accept credit cards for a $30 processing fee...thats weird! I decided to forget it, went home and got some checks, got paid and did it all over again today.

To pay nearly $100 for a parchment of paper with a picture that I provided (and paid for) just to go to another country seems a little crazy! Come on. I am going to the UK. If anything, they should pay ME to go to the UK, not the other way around. After paying $150 for a flight and another $200 in taxes and other fees just to fly, one would think that the passport comes free. On top of it all I had to give my birth certificate and hope that it is mailed back to me with my passport in 6 weeks. How fun!

And THAT'S Why I Don't Own An SUV!

While I slept last night...there was crime. Not just ordinary crime, but the type of crime that makes your back sweat and your brow frown. It was the type of crime that you are afraid to tell your mother about; and it happened 2 blocks from my home!

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=3873170

Pictures of the aftermath...the morning after, while I walk to the subway station only a block away.
















Ahh...come on...the guy probably deserved it! At least the traffic stopped and I could cross the street this morning without having to wait for the light!

Just one more use for Dogs

For all those dog lovers out there, let me start by saying that I LOVE DOGS...but this story is messed up!

N.Y. - Bound Puppies Used As Drug Couriers - http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1571517

Kind of makes you wonder what other things Puppies can be used for. Maybe Bush can use them to "curb our reliance on oil." Maybe the indians can get one to play right field in place of Coco Crisp since we traded him away.

Who knows...maybe someday in the future there will be a dog in the whitehouse - wait there already is.