Tuesday, June 14, 2011

I Don't Want to be Fat

The men in my family tend to have quote a few medical problems when they are overweight. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, things of that nature.  That is pretty much my motivation for working out and eating anything healthy. I also don't think it's attractive to be fat and I would be disappointed in myself if I were.  As an American I don't want to be a part of that stereotype either. You feel the same? Well you should. Our country needs a reboot in many ways and this is just one of them.

Monday, June 13, 2011

PSA: Keep It Clean, Watch Out for the Seam

I've never experience this before in my life until just recently so I wanted to put out a PSA for the men of the world:

DICK CHAFING IS NOT A JOKE
I am an active guy.  I run, swim, bike, play football, soccer and various other sporting activities.  I've always had a pretty copasetic situation going on down there save for the few times I've had some chafing between the thighs.  Nothing unusual.  Recently I ran out of clean underwear so I decided "I'll just wear some shorts under my pants today".  Well, that turned out to be the entirely wrong thing to do.  After walking around all day in jeans, then running after work and then playing a football game after running, the crotchal region was in a dire situation.  The seam on the inside, front of the shorts spent the entire day irritating me in such a way as to be extremely uncomfortable for the coming week (something which has just recently improved).  "Didn't you feel it happening throughout the day?"  Well you would think, but it actually wasn't all that uncomfortable.  It wasn't until late in the day when I first started feeling discomfort.  The next morning turned out to be the worst.

WHAT DO I DO?
If this does ever happen to you, and I hope it doesn't, I recommend keeping the chafed area clean and using neosporin+pain relief and anti-bacterial band-aids.  This combination will help keep it clean, pain and itch free.  The last thing you need is for you penis to become infected.  That is a situation I hope nobody ever has to deal with.

For all of you who thought the affliction of Dick Chafing was a joke, it most certainly is not.  Keep it clean and watch out for the seams.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

A Weekend for Me, Stupidity, Illogicality, Annoyance, Dislike, Hatred

THE WEEKEND
FINALLY I had a weekend where I got to do what I wanted and not tend to somebody else's functions, events, needs and desires.  I got to hang out with friends, blow off some steam and genuinely enjoy myself on my own terms.  It was excellent.

INNER MONOLOGUE
I'm a bit more introspective than most people which tends to make me a bit more self aware (I like to think).  One thing I've learned about myself over the years is I have very little patience or tolerance for stupidity.  Stupidity and illogicality to be more specific.  I'm not saying everyone has to be a top scientist, mathematician, doctor etc, but the lack of ability to think for one's self and lack of common sense within society is simply staggering.  People who make decisions based on the most insane, illogical, nonsensical criteria irk me at my very core.  This extends into all aspects of life and conversation.  I've always fancied thinking for myself, making my own decisions based on logic and things I believe to be important.  When I meet people who say things like "I'm republican/democrat because my parents are" I can't help but feel sorry for them.  I knew a girl in college who would call her parents for consult with just about every decision in her life.  She was absolutely lost and confused at most times of the day.  And there was this other person . . . .

RESULTING PERCEPTION
BLAH BLAH BLAH you get the point.  These things just get on my nerves to the point where I become annoyed with the persons very presence.  If I'm continued to be subjected to this persons presence I begin to genuinely dislike them which, in certain extreme cases, has become hate in a few situations.

PERCEPTION AS A COPING MECHANISM
I've also notice I begin to dislike someone as a defense mechanism.  This mostly applies to my plight with women.  If I'm really into a young lady who happens to be interested in me but she has a boyfriend or starts going out with someone who is not me, I'm obviously not going to be happy with that.  I still have feelings for them and I feel I've been slighted just a bit.  Still ok, typically we remain friends because if I actually like someone it's because I enjoy their company and conversation.  But then there are still those feelings kicking around which I can't express or explore because the person they're meant for is taken.  This situation gets really frustrating and I become peeved at the person the feelings are directed because they're making me feel this way and causing me issue.  It's ridiculous but it helps me keep my sanity and deal with the situation.  I never lash out at the person, it's more of an internal defense mechanism to keep the feelings I have from taking over.  I suppose I developed it over time to cope with the situation instead of wallowing in pain and self pity.  Much better I think.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Who's Reading This? & Weekend with Family

Just curious, is someone reading this on a regular basis?  If so, what up?

Spent the weekend visiting some family, having a good time, going out with my cousins, celebrating a marriage and a retirement.  This was a family reception for the wedding I was at a couple weeks ago and it was also the last weekend of four in a row in which I was doing things for other people.  I SURVIVED!!  Just barely, I look terrible right now as I didn't get a whole lot of sleep this weekend.  It was fun, but it was also crazy as my family is certifiably insane.  It's a hard thing to describe.  My family members are different types of crazy.  Two of my cousins have several children, the first of which they had while in high school.  I'd like to say it was a youthful indiscretion but both of them had more opportunities than most.  Oh, and they happen to be sisters.  Older sister gets pregnant in high school, ends up having a still birth or miscarriage or something of that sort.  Very sad thing, it can't be easy for a mother to lose her baby.  In fact, losing a child, even and unborn child, has to be extremely difficult.  BUT, she then had a chance to go back to being a normal teenager, do things like finish high school without having to worry about raising a child.  Instead, she got pregnant again within a year.  Nothing wrong with having babies, but it's a lot better when they are planned and the parents are financially stable.  A couple years after this happened, the little sister of the cousin was in the exact same situation.  Pregnancy scare, ended up being miscarried, still got pregnant within a year.  That, inherently, doesn't make them crazy but having kids seems to have enhanced their crazy.  Does that happen with all women or with all parents for that matter?  I imagine it's tough with another being depending on you for their livelihood.  I don't know, but it was a fun weekend none the less.  I feel like everyone should experience a party with my family at some point in their life, it would make them appreciate their family.

I'm not making a whole lot of sense, whatever.  More stuff later.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Hangover Sleuthing

THE NIGHT OUT
When I go out and party with friends, especially friends I haven't seen in a while, there are usually parts of the night which have been omitted from my memory.  Sometimes by choice but usually due to alcohol consumption.  This latest weekend was no exception.  I went out Thursday, started the night off with my brother and a few of his friends.  After several hours of beer, shots and shuffleboard, it was close to midnight and my friends started showing up.  So of course I had to celebrate the arrival with more shots causing my brother's friend to puke underneath a high top table we were standing at in the corner.  Someone nobody noticed and we still served.  I left my brother's company and proceeded to a gentleman's establishment where a friend was tending bar.  I asked for shots of anything (bad decision) so he made me star f*!%ers.  But instead of vodka, he made them with 151 . . . I don't remember anything after that.  I don't even remember looking at the girls, probably because my vision was too blurred to see as far as the stage through all the smoke, black light and shattered dreams.  Apparently I demanded another round of the same shot, which we took, and then my friend bought a round of patron.  This all occurred in a matter of 45 minutes.  Then it was closing time and we hit up a late night establishment for some food and I promptly passed out on my friend's couch when we arrived at his place.

PICKING UP THE PIECES
I spent the next morning eating ibuprofen and digging through my pockets for clues.  Much to my dismay, I found out I spent over $300 that night.  Oh well, I had an awesome time.  But then I found $100 in my breast pocket, so that eased my pain a bit.  I also made a cursory look through my phone.  No crazy outgoing texts, nice.  What's this?  A phone number from some girl?  A few mental images flash through my head, none of them with a face.  All I remember is a skirt and some really nice legs.  After questioning my friends I found out I somehow hit on a pretty girl AND got her phone number.  In words of my friend, "You were so wasted, I was going to step in but then, all of a sudden, you got really focused.  You were speaking coherently and everything for a couple minutes."  This is where the sleuthing really picks up and a whole lot of other nights make sense.  Whenever I have one of these Long Lost Friend Reunion Party Nights I fairly consistently wake up with missing memories and phone numbers or pictures of me and some girl(s).

THE QUESTIONS
1) How do I continue to get served when I'm so drunk?
                I consistently get asked this question by myself and my friends.  I wake up vaguely remembering a cab ride home and thinking I got ripped off by a cabbie because I'm missing $40 more than the cab ride should've cost.  Only after looking through a crumpled receipt or checking my credit card statement do I realize I actually there was a third bar I attended of which I have no recollection.

2) How do I possibly talk to these girls and get their numbers?
                It's not that I'm complaining too much except I'd like to remember SOME details about these girls.  That way I can actually call them and ask them to come hang out at a bar and actually remember something we talked about.  I'm sure I asked what they did for a living and if they were in school and I was probably genuinely interested.  The shit part, and this has happened, is if I invite them or run into them later, I tend to ask the same questions.  I can't help it, those are my go to questions when starting a conversation and getting to know someone.
3) How do you manage to get a cab and give them directions to take you home?

THE ANSWERS
This was a landmark situation.  Usually, when I drink to blackout status, my friends are on the same level because we spend the whole night together.  This time, I spent half the night with one group and then moved on to hanging out with another group who were sober halfway through the night.  Hence, I actually had a witness of many of the shenanigans.
1, 2 & 3) Apparently, the answer to all three questions is related with slight variations.  While drunk, I maintain the ability to focus for very short periods of time to achieve important objectives.  Obviously, getting drinks is extremely important.  There are certain rules I generally follow even when I'm sober and they seem to carry over.  Know what you want when the bartender gets to you, don't act like a jackass when at the bar to order a drink, don't say too much to the bartender especially if they are super busy or seem to be in a bad mood, act as sober as possible if possible, don't rush the bartender they will get to you when they can.  Speaking to girls is also very important for any guy.  I'm a witty guy and many girls find this charming especially when they've had a couple drinks.  I'm also a lot more likely to buy girls drinks when I've been drinking.  This all seems to work in my favor.  Last, but not least, I really like making it to my own house if I can.  A cab is always worth it as a DUI is a brutal and unrelenting burden.  NO THANK YOU.  I pour myself into a cab, often fearlessly pre-negotiating the price, and proceed to give directions.  My drunk self is very good with directions, I am often the one who remembers where we parked when the DD forgets.  I'm that good.  I am friendly so I engage in small talk with the cab driver because it's fun and I need to stay awake.  I make it home, tip the cabbie, get into my place and usually wake up with most of my clothes still on.

THE DREAM
One day, a government agent with show up on my doorstep in an attempt to recruit me because I have "a very special set of skills."  To which I will reply, "I've been waiting my whole life for this."  My drinking abilities + ability to focus on important tasks + morning after sleuthing skills will one day serve our country.  When that day comes, I will be ready.  Until then, I will continue the rigorous training because I'm a patriot.  You're welcome America.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Another Week, Another Wedding

No, I am not a wedding crasher.  I actually know all the people in these weddings and this is the third wedding I have been a groomsman within the last calender year.  Actually, the first wedding I was in happened to be Memorial Day weekend last year in the same city with the reception taking place in the same venue.  It seems I have come full circle in this wedding craziness.  I need a break though.

PLANNING
On the plus side, I had an awesome time.  This was my best friend's wedding and the only wedding of which I 100% approve and 100% wanted to be present.  It was also the only wedding where the wedding party had their shit together.  Everything was well planned, they weren't dropping task list bombs on me the night before the wedding which happened to me at one of the weddings.  There was no confusion as to where we needed to be or when we needed to be there.  The reception hall was less than half a mile from the church.The bridesmaid dresses were pretty and I didn't have to wear an ugly tuxedo, we wore black suits with skinny ties, tie bars and a pocket square which were all picked out and purchased by the groom.  The black suit was an awesome choice because I already owned one.  I don't have a problem with tuxedos except the weddings in which I wore a tux they were non-traditional so the only option was renting.  I would have loved to just buy a tuxedo and own it instead of renting one for $200.



OPEN BAR
OPEN BAR DUDE!!! This is also the only wedding I went to which was full service open bar with four kegs, one of which was Shiner Bock.  Well done.  There were also free cigars which were pretty good as well.  The food was good and there were hors d'oeuvres being served when the guests first arrived so that was extremely nice.  Every other wedding I went to had quite a long wait between arrival and food with no appetizers in between.  Poor planning I say.  One negative mark on the catering company, I specifically asked for what time last call was and I was told 11:45pm.  At 11:30pm, I and my friends made our way to the bar to slam a few beers and shots in the last fifteen minutes of serving.  Much to our dismay, we were informed that cutoff policy for the hall was 11:30pm so we couldn't get anything.  I was so fuckin pissed.  No last call announcement AND the last call time I was quoted was incorrect.  Bullshit.  Related Note: Why is the hottest girl at the wedding always some girl working for the catering company?  She's also usually the dumbest, ask someone else if you have any important questions like "What time is last call?"

MUSIC
Mexican wedding so there were mariachis and a lot of spanish music.  Great fun dancing and a few really fun traditions.  Plus, everyone at a Mexican wedding drinks so that tends to mean a good time.  The mariachis left and then there was a band who played a variety of music but with the massive amount of Mexicans attending, the merengue, cumbia and various other spanish music was the type that got people out of their seats and on the dance floor.

WRAP UP
The end of the reception was the only crappy part.  All the bridesmaids, except for one, bailed about an hour before the reception was over as did most of the groomsmen. I hung around like a good friend because there is not usually a plan for getting all the presents and whatever else out of the reception hall.  The few of us who were left helped load up the vehicles and spent an hour while the decision makers figured out the deal.  It took way longer than it should.  After that was sorted, we finally got to leave and go to a bar with only thirty minutes left to drink by the time we got there.

Overall this was by far the BEST wedding I've ever been to or been a part of, HANDS DOWN.  Everything was better executed and the people were a lot more fun.  I also got to see a lot more friends I haven't seen in quite a while so it was great.  Best wishes to my friends on their marriage.

PS: It never fails, every wedding I go to I get asked "When are you getting married?"  It's a bit annoying since most of the people who ask are really serious.  Amongst friends we always joke about it but the adults, usually aunts, uncles and parents, are always very serious and continually introducing you to their other family members in hopes of marrying off some of the other females in the family.  Just think this is odd, that's all.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Jesus Christ, What a Weekend in New Orleans

Took a trip to New Orleans for a friend's bachelor party.  Had a waaaaaay better time than the last time I was there for the same reason.  Different bachelor, different people who were a lot more fun, wanted to experience the city in all it's local cajun food eating, bourbon street partying, bead throwing, drunken gambling glory.  So much fun.  I also feel a whole lot like garbage today.  Probably to do with the fact I was out partying until 5 or 6 am Friday and Saturday.  Met two very interesting women as well.  Both writers which struck me as interesting.  They were great to hang out with and actually extremely interesting conversationalists.

I wonder if these women are vegetarians?  Confused about that question?  Let me explain.  I was recently thinking about the very short list of women I'm extremely attracted to and would probably consider dating, and I realized they all might be vegetarians/vegans aka veggies (there's one I don't know about yet, but I'm sleuthing).  I thought it was an interesting correlation.  I've been using my powers of reasoning and deduction to figure out why this might be the case.  In my experience, veggies tend to be more health conscious, not just in what they eat but also with exercise and physical activity in general.  I happen to be attracted to women who are fit so this health conscious activity helps.  Veggies also tend to have liberal views which jives with a lot of my own personal thinking so we tend to get a long, at least decently, during worldly and political discussions.  I am not a vegetarian and I don't believe I'd ever be one so as long as a veggie doesn't try and tell me how I should eat we will be fine.  I'm actually a pretty health conscious eater myself, I just happen to eat meat in addition to the vegetables.  I've also been increasingly more attracted to hipster girls and a large percentage I've met have been veggies.  Hmmmm, I'll turn this over in my head for a while and keep you posted.

I've mentioned previously that I want to move out of my current desert home.  I'm not a fan.  It seems a bit telling that every time I got out of town (Houston and New Orleans the last two trips) I meet some interesting and seemingly worth while women.  Maybe the well in the desert is a bit dried up in more ways than one.

Speaking of women, the California girl, who got divorced not so long ago and started dating someone else not so long after that, sent me an interesting e-mail.  It was a message about a few things but she sprinkles in some things about our back and fourth saying she hopes I meet an awesome girl and she's sad that I live out of state (in the context she seems to be eluding that she wants or wanted to date me . . .?) and there was sort of a "oh by the way" moment where she tosses out that she's already moved in with the new beau.  If you've read any posts from me before you know it wasn't too long ago we were very flirty with one another and she really wanted me to come out and visit.  I can't say that I'm very shocked even though I do think the move in is unusually fast for anybody.  I've also mentioned that she seems like a relationship person given the fact that she's already been married twice, hence the reason I wasn't shocked, but I was definitely surprised.