i was noticing

Holy Crap.

2011-01-06T18:47:00.001-06:00

Well, the last post is from 2008... time to get going again? I think so. And I have a few ideas how to recreate this blog. Stay tuned, no one!

28 is GREAT.

2009-03-23T17:31:00.003-05:00

I turned 28 yesterday. It was a great day: lunch and Mass with Tonya and Mama and Daddy, followed by Tonya presenting me with the most beautiful basketball shoes of all time. HYPERDUNKS. Yes, it must be written in all caps. HYPERDUNKS. They are the lightest, most comfortable basketball shoes EVER. HYPERDUNKS. Say it. HYPERDUNKS. Of course, these will automatically make me awesome on the court. HYPERDUNKS.

I also got many phone calls, every one of which made me happy. That glow has radiated over into today, lending Monday an excellent quality is usually lacks. Rock. On.

And music, and money, all of which point to the general fact that I am obscenely blessed with family and friends. So thanks, everybody. It was a great day.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

Crap.

2009-03-15T23:08:00.004-05:00

Five takes is the name of a show on the Travel Channel. I have committed cryptomnesia, inadvertent plagiarism based on a breakdown of source memory, or the ability to know from where we heard something. The insidious part is that the familiarity bias, where things we encounter more often seem more positive, made the name seem really good. But it wasn't my idea. And being a psychologist allows me to give a name to my sorrow.

Suggestions for another snappy name for the book?

I hope everyone is well.

Peace, Joe

I can post from my iPhone

2009-03-15T19:27:00.002-05:00

Woo-hoo!!! I have been looking for an application to post from my iPhone, and then finally had the "bduh" moment of remembering the phone has a fully functional browser. So I'm doing this normally, just with my iPhone.

Woo-hoo!

Joe

OR A PODCAST

2009-03-15T17:34:00.001-05:00

OR we could have a Five Takes Podcast.

Or both the Podcast AND the book.

w00t!!!1

Five Takes, Take One

2009-03-15T16:43:00.002-05:00

A few months ago, while thinking about where Tonya and I would be this summer, I wrote down a list of potential jobs that had nothing to do with the skill set I have been working on for the last 6 years (aka, the PhD). It looked something like this:

Dream List

1. Write book make millions.

2. Do other things make millions.

3 Be professor make millions?

So number three put me back where I am now, facing the fact that a doctorate can't even save you in this job market. And even if it does, you will still probably find yourself squarely in the middle of a yearly pay grade that many people with normal undergraduate college degrees spend on one car. Number two is valiant, but vague. Number one works, except for the "make millions" part. Unless we're talking millions of keystrokes, but even that would be pushing it.

So I refined number until it finally became the idea of writing a book with my siblings called "Five Takes." In it, we would each have a go at recounting our own version of a particular set of stories we tell whenever we get together. These stories usually center around something stupid and hilarious we did as kids. At least, that was the initial idea. There are plenty of other types of stories to tell. But I though we could start with the funny ones.

One story that comes to mind for me (because I am the central character) is the time that I erased the TV. Yep. Erased. The. T.V. So I thought I'd take a stab at the beginning of what I envision for the book... This particular chapter would consist of our five takes on the day I erased the T.V., perhaps with a preface from our parents. This is an initial shot, no editing or anything. So here goes, for my part.

Five Takes Chapter 1, Take 1.
The Day the T.V. Died
by Joe

I am a scientist.

Today, that statement is somewhat substantiated by training, and degrees, and the fact that someone pays me for it. When I was nine, that statement flowed from my inability to not experiment with things. I could say my compulsion to experiment, or my hobby of experimentation, but that would not do it justice. The only way to capture how I approached things when I was a kid is to state it as a double negative. You will soon see why.

I kept all of my experiment notes in a Transformers Trapper Keeper on wide-ruled note book paper. The formula for recording an experiment was always the same. First, I would write a question at the top of the page. Second, I would write down the tools I needed to answer the question. Third, I would record the time, date, and procedural details of each attempt to answer the question. For example:

Question: how do squirrels climb the oak tree so fast?

Tools: binoculars, net.

May 3rd, 1989, 2:47 PM.

I just watched the squirrels climb the tree chasing each other. One is missing a lot of its tail. They are fast, one is faster that the other. The one with a lot of its tail missing is faster.

May 4th, 1989, 3:20 PM.

I just tried to catch the squirrel with a lot of its tail missing. The net I have is not good enough.

May 8th, 1989, 10:18 AM.

I am going to ask Grandpa today why squirrels are so fast when they climb the oak tree.

And that is how many of my experiments ended. I would ask Grandpa. He usually knew the answer, or knew a better way for me to get at the answer. He was my scientific guru.

Every once in awhile I would get graphing paper from Grandpa, if I thought the experiment in question deserved extra attention and more flexible note-keeping space. One day, Grandpa gave me a stack of graphing paper and two beautiful electromagnets. He proceeded to shave the side of a screw with a metal file and then pick up the shavings with the magnet from what appeared to be a bazillion feet away. I was in awe. He told me to ask before I used them for anything, especially if it involved sharp metal, like nails or screws. And he told me not to use them on the cars. I nodded my head, barely hearing his words, lost in my next set of experiments.

I left Grandpa's garage and set about seeing which rocks would stick to the magnets...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

So I'm going to have to add to this later, but you get the point. I honestly want to get this thing off of the ground in the next year. And of course that means getting everyone together for a brain storming session. At the beach. It is a necessity.

By the way, I just saw a squirrel run up the magnolia tree in my front yard. They really are freakin' fast.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

Rollin' With my Kitties

2009-03-14T19:33:00.002-05:00

Consider:

Spring Break + Chest Cold = Saturday at home

Saturday at home + foiled plans due to chest cold = multiple TBS movies

Multiple TBS Movies + cold medicine = long naps on recliner

Long naps on recliner + awesome blanket = kitty magnet.

Today, I have been rollin' with my kitties.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

Quote.

2008-12-16T20:57:00.003-06:00

"So. The caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon... as a shark. With a gun for a mouth."

That is how my day went today.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

Eight is Great

2008-12-10T17:41:00.002-06:00

This is the 8th post of 2008.

::Balloons fall. Noise makers make noise. Peasants rejoice. OR maybe I just did a dance while sitting on my couch. Take your pick::

That equals last years total, but doesn't really touch past years. I just spent a bit of time looking over old posts of mine and old posts from family and friends. This, I think, is part of the point of blogging. It was really grand. I seemed to have an affinity for saying that in college. Grand, I mean. Its a good word, but I fear I used it too much. Just busting it out sounds good, though. Grand.

I was looking because, as recently as a few years ago, the posts from this time period were filled with things like, "took X final today. Brain oozing out my earz." (Yes, with a Z). THe "Finals" posts were closely followed by blissful accounts of Christmas break and eating too much. This year I am not taking any courses (I haven't in almost two years), I'm not teaching any courses (I'm on a research assistantship), so the "end-of-the-semester" demarcation doesn't mean much this go-round. I work until the 19th, but it won't really stop then, as I'll be collecting data for my dissertation as much as possible until my golden ticket gets punched.

And that is the thing... finishing up these last few months of school has taken on the feel of constructing a golden ticket to leave. I haven't really felt like a student in awhile. I feel most comfortable when I teach (professionally speaking. I feel most comfortable overall when I am having a glass of whiskey on the couch with my wife). I'm not sure when the switch happened, but it has happened. I'm ready to have a profession. My interview @ Spring HIll is January 12th and 13th. I want them to give me that chance at a profession. Because, honestly, I don't feel like a student anymore.

Yes, yes, I know. "The more you know" and all that. I'm going to be a college professor, and keep learning. But there is a difference between how I feel now (and have felt for about a year), and the ability to wear a t-shirt that says "I is a college student" and complain about eating too many noodles. See?

In music news, I just bought "Vampire Weekend." Its a cool sound... like Spoon and Cake had a baby who was born with a tube-amp keyboard. You should take a listen.

And if you are a visual learner, as I am, here is a picture that sums up my post:

Head on Fire.

I hope everyone is well!

Peace,
Joe

Short Goals List, Part 2

2008-12-02T17:48:00.003-06:00

Something that I didn't specify, but is awesome anyway:

-Alabama is 12-0. We stomped Auburn last Saturday 36-0. I was there. Ah yes. Roll Tide.

An update to a central tenet of the original list:

-I just found out I have a face-to-face interview @ Spring Hill in early January. One step closer to "Get a job." And an awesome step it is... it fits everything I want to accomplish professionally, like the job was made for me. Keep your fingers crossed! That's right... for an entire month and a half!

And in the spirit of keeping up with this blog:

-I've started a Twitter account for quick, mobile updates. Its on the right of this page. We'll see if I can keep it up.

I hope everyone is well, and that the leftover Turkey and or pie you are eating is still tasty.

Peace,
Joe

Winter Walk

2008-11-26T08:14:00.002-06:00

brittle morning cold
breaks, refreezes with each step
frost on my front yard

------------------------

neglected pumpkins
sunken in in the sunshine
Christmas lights blinking

------------------------

what does winnie the
pooh have to do with Christmas?
strangest flag i've seen.

------------------------

Put it back.

2008-11-11T17:00:00.002-06:00

I found out today that someone has stolen my debit card number. Again.

I don't know anything about them except that they love GAP.com and Amazon.com.

They love those sites a lot. Or as much as my limited bank account allowed them.

My credit union is closed today, so I haven't gotten to do anything about it except:

1. Be mad
2. Cancel the card on an emergency number
3. Be super mad

To the person out there pretending to be me:

1. I don't have much money
2. You're an $@%$#&%^$!
3. Put it back

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Sunday Ride

2008-11-09T16:33:00.003-06:00

During my blogging hiatus I've taken up cycling. Nick gave me his old mountain bike (thanks dude), and I've spent the last few months fixing it up for a commuter / mid-length riding application. I've been mixing running with cycling, and getting better distance in each than I ever have before. So, using Jamie as an example (thanks Jamie), I'm going to occasionally post good runs /rides. I do use this mountain bike mostly for road riding, which I understand is not ideal, but it was a free bike and I really enjoy it. I have no idea what good cycling benchmarks are, so these stats might be slightly embarrassing... but it is something good to write about, so here we go:

Date: Sunday, 2008.11.09

Start Time: 3:00 PM
End Time: 3:45 PM

Type: Mix of road and grass track

Length: 10 miles

This is my "regular ride." I've spent a good bit of my time in this pursuit trying to figure out a bike-friendly route around town. Campus has some good commuter lanes now, and the River Walk has a bike path as well. The problem is first getting to campus, then getting to the river, then connecting the two portions of the river walk. Folks in Tuscaloosa aren't used to cyclists actually riding in the road (or wearing a helmet for that matter, but thats another post), so I often get funny looks in the transition areas... especially when I get on Jack Warner Parkway for about a half mile in between the two sections of the River Walk path. One day they will be connected, but for now I have to get off on a grass track for about a half mile, then weave my way onto Jack Warner Parkway for another half. This is not as stupid as it sounds, I promise. It is not a busy section of the parkway, and I make sure to go biking during slow times traffic-wise, like early in the morning or on Saturday or Sunday afternoons.

Anyway, today was a great ride. The temp was perfect (about 60 degrees), there was little wind, and the roads were all but deserted. The river looked amazing, too: no clouds in the sky, so the turning leaves reflected crisp and clear in the water. In fact, it was so nice I nearly ran into a tree. But that was my only close call, and considering how long I've been doing this (about 3 months now), thats not too bad for me.

Now its off to the grocery store, Mass, and then thank you notes from the wedding. A thoroughly quiet and enjoyable day.

I hope everyone is well!

Peace,
Joe

Short Goals List

2008-11-08T13:05:00.002-06:00

In November of last year I wrote myself a short goals list to be completed by November of this year:

1) Marry Tonya

2) Help elect Barack Obama

3) Get job*

*Tenure-track position at small liberal arts college preferable.

So here we are in November of 2008, and I've hit 2 out of 3. I have an awesome wife and our nation now has an awesome President-elect. I cried in both instances, and am proud of that fact.

Number three is still up in the air. The job market is, to put it lightly, total crap right now. I have one promising prospect, and that is Spring Hill College in Mobile, Al. In all honesty, it is a dream position for me. Small, jesuit, liberal arts college in a cool town with an amazing educational tradition. I would get to continue my training blend of social psychology and gerontology, and the college is right across the street from a retirement community where I could continue my research and intervention work. Finally, they have a nursing program with a certificate in gero, so I could fulfill my dream of being on the ground floor of educating medical professionals who dominate patient contact time with older adults.

For points 1 and 2 on the list, I had a 90 / 10 mix of confidence to nervousness. Confidence of the sort that tells you "this is right, this is true, this is awesome." Confidence of the sort that speaks to you from your core, like it has been sleeping there for your whole life and just woke up. The 10% nervousness should be familiar to anyone who has ever wanted something so great. That tiny voice asks, "Can this actually happen to me? Do I deserve this?" And then it happens, and you cry. Partially for the confirmation of the 90%, and partially for the death of that 10%.

I am struggling to find the mix for point #3, my dream job. This time the nervous component is higher, I think. But that has a lot to do with the aspirational aspect of it compared to marriage and a new president: it is a mandate on the last 5 and a half years of work; it is the test by which spending my 20s still in school can be proven worthwhile.

I dreamt of my perfect partner, and I got her. I hoped for a transformational president, and we got him. I want a job where I can help others learn to think critically, live in a community where service is king, and use my energy to improve the lives of older adults. We'll find out about that one soon.

Also, if it helps, you can imagine a little slow strings music to go along with this post, since I just wrote something that could have been the "on screen journal" section of a TV melodrama. You know, whatever facilitates the mood :)

I hope everyone is well!

Peace,
Joe

Sabbatical

2008-10-30T21:13:00.002-05:00

Facebook. Dissertation. Job Applications. Marriage. Apathy. What do all of these have in common?

They can all be categorized under "reasons why Joe's blog is more stale than gas-station Krispy Kremes."

Some are happy (marriage), some are obvious (facebook, apathy) and some really shouldn't be excuses, but sources of post material (job applications).

The meta-reason for lack of posting, however, sits squarely in the middle of my latest dilemma: information overload.

Not overlord, overload.

I've been looking closely at my own productivity lately, as is hip among academics these days, and have found myself, er. Hmm.
Not sure how to end that. I suppose I haven't. Found myself, that is. Because it is difficult to see yourself when covered in emails, Facebook applications, iPhone apps, website updates, visual voicemails, and the like. Earlier this week I had a day where I spent 9 hours at work and got nothing done. Wait. Strike that. I didn't produce anything. I consumed many things, mostly digital things. And a sandwich. And too much coffee. Anyway, when I got home, exhausted from, something, I decided to make a list of reasons why I didn't get anything done.

Aha, you say. But lists are time-wasters, too. Well, yes, they are. But a list of your lists and things that produce lists can be quite helpful. Point-in-fact:

I estimated that about 3 hours of my day is spend haphazardly absorbing information. Easy information. Like emails, and online news, and facebook pages. These things used to be filler at some point, I think. Now they are sort of the bread and the filler. Schedule a meeting and prioritize the goals therein? Sure! Execute said meeting? Well, I'm not sure I'll have time. Let me check my email.

I never really had to worry about this phenomenon in the past, sort of like my weight or staying in shape. But now, just like staying thin and in relative shape, I find I have to work at it. To further the analogy, it appears as though I need to more carefully control my information diet. In college I ate what I wanted, exercised when I wanted to, and blogged prolifically. But now, for deeper reasons to be covered in another post, I must be more disciplined on all these fronts. Thus the attempted re-start of this blog. Its like whole wheat crust on a pizza, or running on very cold mornings. Its something that I enjoy in its most basic sense, and something that, occasionally, I need to force myself to take part in. As part of my info diet, I am setting aside time for this blog. I'll probably take it from unstructured Facebook time. Because writing is better than e-stalking, I think.

So have a light beer in celebration, and jump for joy three times a week for 30 minutes. Mr. T. Loves Buddha has returned.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

Directions toward goals for things and hard working kids like me Mr. President.

2008-01-28T21:44:00.000-06:00

So I admit it.

I DID watch old Bushy boy's final state of the union.

But worse than that, I watched the democratic (oops! I mean American!) response.

I think the good Gov. of Kansas might have completed a salient thought. Perhaps. But I did not catch it.

So instead, I give you the greatest series of videos on the interweb. Thanks to Josh for enlightening me!

I hope everyone is well. Also, Happy 2008!

Peace,
Joe

SHREDS.

2007-11-14T12:47:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine showed me this today. It is hilarious in all caps. Like this: HILARIOUS! A very creative guy has taken famous guitar players and overdubbed live performances with his own considerably less talented (but no less awesome) performances. This one is my favorite so far. If you want to see more, just search "shreds" on YouTube.

I particularly like the clapping.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Motivation Mud

2007-11-12T17:29:00.001-06:00

This weekend I had the great pleasure of seeing family and friends that I don't get to see often. Work faded into the backdrop, cowering in the face of football with toddlers, Trivial Pursuit saturated by inside-joke style hints, and the simple happiness of sitting next to loved ones you don't often get to sit next to.

But now that I am back in my office, back to the windowless concrete box that houses almost five years of graduate school effort, the work has revived its bravery. It is demanding my attention in a way that does not match my motivation to do it. You see, even though I have showered twice today, I am covered in motivation mud. Strangely enough, this viscous substance does not imbue you with with motivation (as the name might imply); rather it slows your motivation-turned-action into a stilted, spiritless crawl. No soap for it. You just have to keep moving until it dries out, cakes, cracks, and finally falls off.

I do not hate my job. I just really love my family and friends. One day I'll figure out how to avoid the post-trip let down. But for now I have to get back to walking the mud off.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

A few Haiku

2007-11-05T11:45:00.000-06:00

I won't discuss the game against LSU. It hurts. Instead, here are a few haiku about the game:

1) 2 hours before kick-off:

Sea of Crimson red
Early fans who sit for hours
Waiting on the Tide

2) Then as the seats filled up:

Silver rows of seats
Slowly filling with fans and
Uncomfortable

3) Then right after the final whistle:

How much did you pay?
Referees can now retire
Blown calls, blown calls. Damn.

That is all.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Something new

2007-10-23T00:47:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me know that I like to write a poem now and then. Those of you who know me also know that most of my poems happened in high school, meaning they read like the liner notes to an unsigned emo album. But I have kept up with it since then, and I thought I'd post of few of my latest attempts here on the old bloggity blog.
For the past few weeks I've been training for a half-marathon timed for about when Nick gets back in country next year, so we can run together. It has been hard, and has revealed to me what an "ex-athlete" I have become... I can still do athletic stuff (like play basketball), but not in a prolonged fashion. Case-in-point: keeping dedicated to the running has been tough early on due to, among other things, what I like to call my grad-school baby (known in other circumstances as an emerging gut.) So I wrote out some self-encouragement the other day, (semi) beat-style:

"Run"

I'll not be a slave to the master switch
Gotta get outside to scratch my itch
Feet to pavement, shoes to grass
Until these empty feelings pass
Until these devils shut their mouths
Get up, get out, move around
Gotta eat for strength and not for joy
Save that for your work now, boy
Breathe twice deep, and sweat, and smile
Give yourself to the world so wild
Thank your arms for the work they've done
Stretch your legs in the rising sun
Run now boy, run
Run now boy, run.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Not a bird, but just as fun.

2007-10-14T22:54:00.000-05:00

Tonya and I have a cat named Toby.

Saying he is an energetic kitty is like saying Conan O'Brien is a little tall.

Both of these are only halfway true. Some days Toby could power a small city. And Conan does not stand up from his chair so much as he unfolds from it.

Unfortunately for things that are not molded of one solid piece of metal, Toby's exuberance often gets away from him and settles into something fragile. Often that something fragile is our other cat, Oscar.

So we decided we needed to entertain Toby better (thinking that we might drain some of his energy for him, before he drained it on, say, my head while taking a nap.) We got him numerous toys to chase and bite and thrash. Most of these ended up under the couch or lost to the eternity that is the underneath of our cabinetry. But one has remained. It is a collection of unnaturally colored feathers on the end of string. This string is in turn on the end of a very flexible stick. When you move the stick, the collection of feathers flits about in a very convincing bird impression. This impression is especially award-worthy to Toby, a life-long house cat.

But for the Tobes, this is no impression. It is life and death. It is the hunt. It is the pride of bringing home the bacon. Or collection of neon-infused feathers.

This toy is so precious to him I have to keep it in the one place in the house where cats aren't allowed, my room (I have a lot of instruments which are apparently marked with some invisible cat message saying, "knock me over. Then sleep on me.") So whenever Toby starts getting a little enthusiastic about the DVDs, I break out the bird. Toby locks on, and for as long as he isn't wheezing, we play. I try to make it as bird like as possible, throwing it around like the poor things you see trapped in Wal-Mart. Toby pursues with what can only be called reckless abandon. Except for when it is called insane intensity. Have you ever seen a cat do a triple back flip? I have. All the while with teeth bared, making a growling noise that sounds like it is coming from the basement. Once he catches it, he tries to get away from me to enjoy the kill. But I have to follow him to prevent that act (Oscar actually ate one of the feathers the other day. Later, the cat-box was AWESOME). So he marches around the house, breathing heavily, while I trail behind him with the rest of the apparatus in my hand. Every once in awhile he'll look back at me, growl, and pick up the pace. Finally the bird part will break away from the rest, and he'll loose interest. Then I pick it up, and the game starts all over again. We do this until:

1) he can't chase it anymore as evidenced by the old man sound coming from my cat
2) I can't make it go anymore as evidenced by the old man sound coming from my chest
3) Oscar attempts to enter the fray and ends up under the coffee table
4) Toby flies across the room in an apparent attempt to crash through the wall like a cartoon. Seriously. Cat-shaped hole.

I then put the not-bird back in my room, wedged between my sitar and dulcimer. Toby then staggers to the nearest thing he is not supposed to sleep on, and crashes. Right now he is sleeping on my computer bag.

Having cats is not boring. Sneezy, yes. But not boring.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Books are Nice.

2007-10-11T16:55:00.000-05:00

Hey! Ho! It is a post from Joe!

Yeah, so falling down on the blog didn't do much to motivate the blogger in me. I wonder sometimes why I don't keep up with it the way I used to. But I write about that almost every transient post I make here now. So lets just say I was kidnapped. By monkeys who don't believe in the interweb. Case closed.

Lately I have found a way to weave pleasure reading into my daily habits, along with the many pounds of reading I do for professional type things. I just finished re-reading The Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac, The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran, and am in the midst of Naked, by David Sedaris. This triumvirate of awesomeness led me to the title of this post. To give everyone a taste, here are my favorite quotes. Some are picked for their serious contribution to my personal growth, others because, well. Here you go:

The Dharma Bums:
"Aw I don't wanta go to no such thing, I just wanta drink in alleys."

The Prophet:
"You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts; And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime."

Naked:
"The Greeks will be here tomorrow afternoon, and we need to hide the booze."

Ah, the power of words without context. I promise, each of these is better with what surrounds it. Except maybe the first one. That one is great on its own.

If you haven't read these, pick one and give it a try. Dharma Bums and The Prophet are both very short, and Naked is turning out to be one of those books you want to put down and never read again while finding that you have lost the ability to let go of the cover in each hand, and so keep reading. All three have been, to beat the poor poor horse, a little life changing. These books are nice.

The monkeys are coming! I have to hide my iBook.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Falling down on the Blog

2007-06-25T18:19:00.000-05:00

Look! Look! Look!

It is my second post this year. This. Year. Yeesh. That is not a good blogging record.

Awhile ago I was thinking I'd do this super update / fresh start deal where I started blogging on my .Mac website (yet to be posted), but then I didn't. I think that Facebook has a good deal to do with this, as it is my main info page these days. But it does not have a blog function, so it must be something else. Hmmm.

It could be that my life is now too boring for words. But no, I think it is still the same as it has been, probably much more awesome then it ever has been, actually. So that leaves:

I have stopped noticing stuff besides my work and potentially sleep. That must be it. So now, here, at the dining room table, I will begin to notice things again, and tell you all about them. Here goes.

Right now, Toby (the cat) is looking at me like I smell peculiar. This is possible since I just got back from the gym. Now he is walking away: further suggestion that a shower should be in my near future.

Also, I am typing in the dark. I have a nasty habit of doing that. In fact, I do not turn the light on in my CMHA office very often, as it has a window. The window doesn't provide much light, but I prefer the small amount of real light to a large amount of fake light.

There is a bird out back that is whistling what sounds like "Freee Beeeeer." I am sure that is not what he is singing, but he is saying it so determinedly that I almost want to go out there and check.

Speaking of beer, Tonya and I were at the Whole Foods in Birmingham (ROCKS. SO. MUCH.) yesterday when we saw a beer that is both locally brewed and supports local humance societies. Awesome! But I don't know what it tastes like yet, because we didn't buy any. We both said, "sweet!" and then walked on to purchase 4lbs of chicken. We like chicken.

To further follow the beer thought: The other day Tonya and I were out with Shane and Michelle for Pizza. I aksed the nice waitress lady for a beer recommendation, and she pointed out a dark lager "from the makers of Budweiser" that was apparently a "step up from Guinness." I really wanted to stay and eat, so I did not scream, nor did I laugh. I drank the beer, and it was a step up from Guinness if by step up you mean weak approximation and by Guinness you mean crap. But I thanked her all the same, feeling sorry for her since she felt telling me that it was "from the makers of Budweiser" was a good thing.

Toby is back. He is biting at my toes and somewhat violently ramming his head into my elbow, which means it is probably time to give him dinner... time to go. Perhaps someone will read my second post of the year... who knows? After all, I have fallen down on the blog.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Lazy Flies are Hovering Above

2007-01-19T18:25:00.000-06:00

Hi.

This is a long overdue post, and I am choosing to do it after a day of technical academic writing.

You see today I finished my PhD prelim document. It is a behemoth that has haunted me for three years. Now, after minor revisions, all I will have left standing between me and three rediculous letters after my name is my actual dissertation. I am done with taking classes, and the next year will be filled with more writing and lots of teaching, just like my eventual real job. So hooray. I would be more energetic if my brain was not a nice grey and white puree right now.

There is so much I want to catch up on that I don't know where to begin. With that in mind, I think I'll be making a fresh blogging start soon. Hopefully there will be a link on T Loves Buddha to my new iWeb blog sometime in the next week or two. That blog will be directly connected to my redesigned website, which lies in wait on my Mac as I type.

I have to write more tonight, but first I am going to eat some Chinese food and stare at the book I am currently attempting to read for pleasure, The Dharma Bums. It is an awesome book, but every time I get to it I am in a semi-zombie state from making all the science words. But I really do love my job. I promise.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

You clip like several demure traffic cones.

2006-12-11T09:43:00.000-06:00

Mr. Alligator doesn't make much sense this morning. But hey, it is Monday.
I am writing to apologize to my giganic (by gigantic, I mean family and a few friends) readership. This is the longest pause in posting I have had in a long time. I would like to say that it is because I have been weaving together a magical new website which is now ready to go, and that this is the grand reveal for said website, but I can't. I have been putting together a new site, but it is not ready and when I put it up I will not be calling it a "reveal."
Not much news here. This is finals week, but I have no finals and am giving no finals. So it is sort of just "finishing up a bunch of manuscripts week." A week from today Daddy and I pick up Nick from the 2nd phase of Ranger school. I can't wait. This last weekend Tonya and I chopped down and decorated the Christmas tree with Mama and Daddy in Anniston, and that was awesome. My parent's fireplace is fixed, so we had fire, beer, Mata's, and a fresh Christmas tree. Best way to charge up for the final week of the semester. Ever.
This weekend I will see Carl and Drew in the midst of end-of-semester celebrations... I haven't seen either in a while, so ROCK ON. I want to eat at Surin West to celebrate. Mmmmm. Thai food.

So that is all from the T-town for now. One of my new year resolutions is to put up the new website and begin really posting again. We will see.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

I love Plutonium

2006-10-23T16:22:00.000-05:00

So says Mr. Aligator in his return to my posts. I hope he doesn't have any plans for it. We might have to go BACK TO THE FUTURE!!!
So, a few things to mention. First, my jump to my new and fancy website is taking a bit longer than I originally thought. Such is the way of things. I've love to take a whole afternoon to get it up and running, but that would require being ahead on all of my other work. And that is a funny thought.
Well, not so much funny as awesome, and not funny in a haha way so much as funny in a "like that is going to happen way." Yes.
Also, Fiddler's has come an gone again. But there are a few things of note to mention this year, out of the ordinary from other years.
First, the given things:
1) It was awesome, relaxing, and recharging.
2) The weather was amazing.
3) My fingers hurt like holy crap for the week following it from all the jamming. What a lovely pain to have.

And now, the out-of-the-ordinary:
1) Will, Meghan, Liam, and Liz all made it from various places around the country this year. The older I get, the more seeing family is my favorite part of Fiddler's. Still, Peeg, Stacy, and Nick were all missed.
2) The judges apparently drank a lot before Old Time Singing, because I won fourth place. Will backed me up with some fancy finger pickin', and the train rumbled through as I sang "Railroad Bill." As a Chandler, I had to say something about the fact that the railroad was rumbling by while I sang about it. I think that this "cheek" is what got me a place. Still, I got $25, a blue ribbon, and an awesome surprise.
3) I passed on the Harmonica to a new generation of Chandlers. Actually, to a Chandler. Liam got one of my old Honer's. Since then he has played for me on the phone. He is already better than me. Hooray!

Ok, so my post is being cut short by a service call. I must away!

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

72 Degrees!

2006-09-25T17:58:00.000-05:00

Nope, this is not the name of a new boy band.

Nor is it the low for this evening.

As I type, the temperature outside is 72 degrees. Not. Kidding. Fall is coming, and boy howdy I am ready for it. You see, for me, fall means a lot of wonderful things:
1) Mornings that feel like mornings. I have never felt like it was morning when you get to your car @ 7am and it is already in the 80s. Morning should have a nice chill in the air; perhaps enough to wear your favorite sweatshirt. Fall provides that.
2) Football. This one is three fold: 1. Alabama football (yes, I have become a rabid fan during grad school), 2. Dallas Cowboy football (yes, I pretend that T.O. is not T.O. but someone else, like perhpas Drew Pearson of old), and 3. playing football... on the quad, with my dad, with my brothers... oh man.
3) Working outside. You see, grad students work all of the time. At least during the fall you can sit at a nice picnic table with your laptop instead of the closet I sit in that is my "office."
4) Hiking. I can't during spring or summer because of the ants. But when it gets cold enough they retreat underground!
5) FIDDLERS. The fiddler's convention is on par with every other major holiday for me (at least in secular terms). Its in two weeks and I can't wait!
6) Family. We're talking Fiddler's, Peeg's birthday, Thanksgiving, and lately, the birth of children. Liam, Maddox, and soon... John Patrick.

I love fall. And it has put me in one of those mushy moods where you forget about the 4,000 pounds of work you have to do and sit outside in a giant captain's camping chair and grill Hebrew National hot dogs. Specific, I know, but I am a man who knows what he likes.

I hope everyone is enjoying this as much as I am (if not more).

Peace,
Joe

PS... Mr. Alligator will return next post.
PPS... I am considering moving my blog to my main website (which is currently under a brand new make-over thingie... you'll see). I'd like to know if my readers (i.e. my family and a few friends) like the current theme or think it is time for a change. If you think that I should re-work stuff, let me know. And if so, please suggest a theme. You know, like, "Tubby eats a Pound of..." or the like. Yes, and thanks.

Michael Jackson sweetly embraces around Sam.

2006-09-21T18:39:00.000-05:00

Look, Mr. Alligator said it, not me.

Sometimes he can be downright prophetic. Also from Mr. Alligator today:

"You should have been wavering your divine aliens."

Well, you should have. No excuses!

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Benjamin Franklin infuriates fantastical boogers.

2006-09-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

Apparently, Ben Franklin and snot do not get along. So says Mr. Alligator today.
Rainy day, and starting to get a little cooler. The highs are no longer in the upper 90s / triple digits (although it is still hot). Rain no longer equals super steamy days where you walk outside and then get into your car (approximately 100 feet away) soaking wet. Today it is just a cool drizzle. Enough to make my walk over to the student center for lunch a bit wet. But nothing too bad.
In fact, I am about to walk over for an early lunch. I thought about going into the 5 year anniversay of 9/11, or talking about my abysmal research talk from friday. But I think that both of those deserve more time than I have to give them right now, so I'll wait. I know that usually means that I never get to talking about them full-fledged, but I'll try. Don't look at me that way! I really will try.
Well, its off to the cafeteria to see what I can scrounge up.
I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Every raspy cucumber wailed Monica Lewinsky.

2006-09-07T13:10:00.000-05:00

Mr. Alligator came up with an awesome today, I tell you. The only question is: was Monica Lewinsky wailing "Every raspy cucumber?" OR were all of the raspy cucumbers wailing "Monica Lewinsky!"? The world may never know.
This past weekend Tonya and I took a trip up to Chicago to celebrate her birthday and about the 1 year mark for us dating. It was an awesome time. We went to all the museums we possibly could, saw the traveling King Tut exhibit, ate dinner at the Signature Room ( http://www.signatureroom.com/ ) on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building, and ended by gorging on deep dish pizza the night before we left. There are several regular trip stories I could share, but since the readership of this blog is mostly family and very close friends, I'll share one in particular that you all will sympathize with.
I love public transit. When I go to big cities I like to take the buses and trains, etc, and read a book and feel like "big city Joe." But the El in Chicago makes me a bit nervous at the same time. I am always scared that I'll get off at the wrong stop and be hopelessly lost forever. So, last Saturday, we took the El from Midway to the Loop to get to our hotel. I had printed out exactly what stop we should take and how many miles it would be to the hotel and an alternate bus route to take if it was raining. I was prepared. Oh yes. But then, the stops announced didn't match the one on the website. I started to get nervous, standing up every so often and almost falling on Tonya each time we took a curve around the tracks. Eventually we started to loop back toward the airport. My worst fears were confirmed. We got off at the wrong stop!
Tonya wasn't worried, but I was in high gear, imagining all the different ways we could never make it to the hotel. So we got off and walked to the corner. There stood a police officer. We asked how to get to the hotel and she told us. Simple enough, right? Wrong. We now had the option of walking 10 blocks or taking a bus, neither of which had I previously planned or mapped out. Tonya mentioned that we might look for a map. Then it happened. I said it. "What would you want one of those for? We are lost!" It left my mouth and traveled by slowly. I watched it float through the air, perfectly rediculous, until it hit Tonya's ears. She said "to know where we are going." I said, "oh."
Eventually we just walked and it was quite enjoyable. The rest of the trip we collected several maps. Lots and lots of maps. With the aid of those maps, we mastered the transit system, and all was Ok.

Ok, just one more.
Mr Alligator: "Bouncing and polkafying is fun."

It certainly is, Mr. Alligator.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Can I Get Wretched Sheep?

2006-08-30T21:37:00.000-05:00

So asks Mr. Alligator, the newest addition to my collection of dashboard widgets. You click Mr. Alligator in the face and he comes up with a random sentence pulled from a set of syntax and vocabulary archives. I hope that using Mr. Alligator to kick off some blogs will help me write more. And look! It already has!
Its not like I don't have many things I would like to write about. For instance:
1) I have a plan to turn the Chandler compound into a reality. Seriously. I have researched some stuff, and this merits a very long entry soon.
2) On Sunday I became the proud Godfather of Maddox, Danni's rockin' son. This has given rise to some entries based on:
3) An examination of my own faith as a Catholic. I thought I might start by writing out my reponses during the Mass, seeing if I could call it all from memory. Then I thought I'd try to interpret what each call and response really meant. And along that same thought:
4) I'd like to write out prayers I commonly recite (like the Our Father) and see what I can make of them when I am not using a long established neural pathway in familiar surroundings to say them.
5) I have also recently started a year long fellowship, meaning that I am essentially my own research boss for awhile. That should provide a good bit of interesting stuff.

So there's a little preview, my friends. I know I have been a bad blogger lately. But with a little help from Mr. Alligator, I should get back on track.

And that leaves us with one question: CAN Mr. Alligator get wretched sheep?

That remains to be seen.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

IT HAS BEGUN!

2006-07-11T16:21:00.000-05:00

Well, I am back in the saddle.

Today I started teaching Social Psychology for the Summer II term here at UA. I am pumped and a bit nervous. You see, I love teaching. But this is teaching 5 days a week for 2 hours a day for the next four weeks. I am supposed to smash the whole of social psych into that alloted time. This is daunting. I can't imagine properly covering all of social psych in a normal semester, let alone in a month. But it will happen.

My class seems to be a good bunch. We got to know eachother today and set out some semester goals. Everyone seemed laid back. It was good. An unfortunate result of having dissertation hours @ 8am closely followed by office hours, then teaching, then my hours at CMHA is that I am now done with this post, as my brain is offically mush. Perhaps after I work out in a bit it will unmush. If so, I will write more then.

Suffice to say, I am busy as hell and loving it.

Yeah, I am my father's son.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

I'm Getting Older, Too

2006-06-05T17:25:00.000-05:00

This past saturday my little brother Nick moved to Ft. Benning, GA, to begin his career as an active duty Army officer.
Just for reference, this is the same guy who once geared up to defend himself from his older brothers using a Wiffle Ball Bat and Milwakee Brewers baseball cap, making for the best baby picture ever. He was like 4.
Now he is a second Lieutenant, training to be an infantry officer and eventual Army Ranger. I could write a long post about all the things that this means to him, to his family, and especially to me (as this is my blog and consequently my perspective). But I'll just say that I am both scared and proud.
That combination of emotions has been pretty common with my friends and family as of late. Liz and Josh are moving from the good old Birmingham to Washington, D.C. Peeg and Stacy live in Japan! Will and Meghan have a beautiful son. My dad is back to his globe-hopping ways. All of these things make me immensely happy and intensely aware of getting older. Not older as in sign me up for the early bird special, just older. I am 25 now with a real job (I teach college!), and all of my siblings are moving on up in the adult world, too. Danni is a reporter and has a baby for goodness sake (Maddox isn't too bad, either :). Sometimes I wish we could all go back to the days of Tennis Racket Wars in the rain and football games at Sacred Heart and Goofy movies with Pizza and Chocolate Milk on friday nights. But then I think about the awesome things we are all doing now and can't imagine it any other way.
I helped Nick move on friday; in two weeks I'm helping Liz and Josh move. Three weeks after that I am moving. The times, they are a changin'. But it seems that its always for the good.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Mighty Forgetful

2006-05-31T17:00:00.000-05:00

The word "belated" is a funny one. But at times, it is necessary to use it in a very serious way.

Today I wish a belated happy Anniversary to Will and Meghan. They were married my Junior year of high school. I am now a PhD student and my car insurance just got a lot lower due to my age.

They have been married a good long while now, and that is a good thing.

So congratualtions, Will and Meghan. I know this is way late, but at least it is still the month of May :)

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Memorial Day of AWESOMENESS

2006-05-29T10:42:00.000-05:00

Why hello.
It is Memorial day and I am at work.
"Why?" you might be saying to yourself.
Well, UA does not recognize Memorial Day as a holiday, thats why.
Now look, as all of you know, I am not a man with strong opinions. Ummm, yeah.
But this is one holiday which should be recognized and respected. I am very thankful to have a job here @ UA, a job that I thoroughly enjoy (I am now working at the Center for Mental Health and Aging while continuing work on my PhD), but I do not feel right being at work today. I called my dad this morning to just talk for a little while and thank him. I prayed for Grandpa, and thought about all those Tigers he wrestled in India :) I thought about all the vets I've ever known, both related and otherwise. As soon as I gt my lunch break I'm going to call Nick (who thank God is not a vet, and Heaven forbid that he ever becomes one) to thank him for taking on such an awesome responsibility during a time of active war... for accepting a commission as an Army officer. I know that you can say to yourself: "what am I really doing by taking the day off of work, grilling, and drinking beer?" It can seem silly, actually. But after knowing Nick's friends for the last three years (not to mention Nick), I have discovered something. All the clichés and Lee Greenwood songs have their base in something both noble and admirable by nature: the propensity to allow others to act freely. We can take today off because, in an abstract and ideal manner, the individuals we honor today wanted us to be able to do so. The details and political motivations of war are debatable and often less than pure, but the ideas harbored by those who actually fight those wars are, more often than not, truly heroic. So, as much as it sounds like a made-for-TV special, I say thank you to all those who have risked and / or lost their lives defending my right to live the way I do. Nick once told me that he does what he does so I can do what I do. He's right. And the tradition of people doing just that in my family generation after generation makes me genuinely proud to be both of member of an amazing clan and a citizen of the United States. For all of the apathy, deceit, power-driven motivation, stereotyping, greed, unnecessary nationalism and thanklessness, there is an equal portion of basic good in people like my brother.
I hope everyone enjoys whatever they are doing today. If you are a member of one of the armed forces, past or present, and you are reading this, thank you for what you believe in.
I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Back FROM THE DEAD!!!

2006-05-18T17:02:00.000-05:00

Well, not really. But I do believe this is a new record for not having posted. I am sorry. I ran out of gas, I didnt have enough money for cab fare, my tux didn't come back from the cleaners, an old friend came in from out of town, there was an earthquake, a terrible flood, LOCUSTS! look it wasent my fault I swear to Goooooooddddd!!!"

So much has happened that I can't really talk about it all. Nick, Josh, and I all graduated, and Nick is now a 2nd Lietenant in the Army. My whole family and various friends were over for the celebration, and it was cool beyond words. Yesterday Nick got an award from the Governor, too. Wow. I have pictures and some detailed stories, but I am going to go home now. I'll post more later. Really! Stop looking at tme like that. I really will. Geeesh.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

So Confused...

2006-04-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure about this: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/apr/05bootcamp.html

It feels sort of like the T.O. trade to Dallas. You know he is a good receiver, but he's just so EVIL.

Urrrrgh.

Peace,
Joe

I am a ROCK STAR IN THE MAKING!

2006-03-29T11:07:00.000-06:00

Hi all. Long time, no post.

I have no excuses.

I guess I could make one up. Here goes... Ummm, for the past month I have been the sole prisoner of an evil scientist monkey, whose evil experiment it was to prevent me from posting on my website. Also he was building a "laser."

There.

Anyway, pertaining to the titel of this post: My siblings got me the best birthday present ever. With a generous gift cetificate, I purchased the Moblie Pre USB audio interface for my iBook, essentially making me a ROCK STAR IN THE MAKING. It came with a free super microphone, so I have all the tools needed to work with Will and complete our album. ROCK. OUT.

Also on that birthday, I turned A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OLD!!! AHHHHH!!!! Yes, I am 25. It again happened over spring break, which was both awesome and relaxing. My lovely lady showed me a good time filled with food, guinness, MASH DVDs, and some beautiful road-trippin'. We drove highway 78 all the way to Athens, GA to see Carl, David, Vic, and Drew, and I'm never taking I-20 again. Yep.

Ok, so I have to go do real work now. Thanks to everyone who made my birthday and Spring Break so wonderful... presents, food, hanging out, etc. Now, on to the exciting world of GRADING PAPERS!!!

PAPER!!!

S.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

They Run And Hide Their Heads...

2006-02-22T23:52:00.000-06:00

Its raining outside, and that is a nice thing.

I have been in this house now for almost three years, and one of my favorite sounds is the rain falling on the heating / cooling unit right outside my window. At first I didn't like it... it was too metallic. But now I know that the fact that its metal makes even light rain very audible, which I like very much. Its good for sleeping. Combine that with the chill in the house (thanks, Alagasco... do you guys take frozen tears as payment?) and you have some prime sleeping weather. The fact that Julie and Torrie and not both up tearing around the house is evidence enough for that. And Nick is wearing not only an old sweater, but also a hoodie over the sweater. We are exciting kids, I tell you.

In an unrelated note, I am sick again. Count this a number two for the season, not bad for me. And I'm actually feeling much better after some long sleep and A-1 care.

WAIT. Do you ever become oddly self-aware when you're doing something everyday? Right now, I became aware of myself sitting in my bedroom, typing on the iBook with only my desk light on. If this were a movie, softly soft guitar picking would be playing in the background, and what I am typing now would be an audible internal monologue. But it would be a very boring movie, and most people would change the chanel. Except for me, because look! I am in a movie!

Happy birthday to Liz, way late (It was the 16th). Nick and I got her a decorative Monkey box and Monkey hanger, along with some refridgerator magnets that say "Welcome to you vacation" with the eyes of the 1950s-ish folks on it blacked out. I know, I know. We are geniuses. On Sunday we had cake and Jim N' Nicks. It was grand. I never really want to leave when I get to hang out with my family. This sunday we'll do it again, only this time for Grandma's birthday.

Time for some reading and bed. I am finishing up my yearly reading of 1984, and man is that a scary book. If I were Winston, I'd have probably gone 'prole right off the bat. I mean, c'mon.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Better Late than Never

2006-02-08T11:38:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to my brother Will! (On Monday). Sorry this is late, Will. But the siblings have an awesome present in store. Oh yes. You'll see.
So I realized today that I look into the windows of parked cars when I walk to my office in the mornings. I have started parking in the bigger-than-Cleavland parking deck so as to avoid parking headaches, and this affords me looks at a whole bunch of cars on the way. Why do I do this? I think its:
a) I like cars, so I look at them. But this is no explanation for why I look in them, so
b) I like to know what music people are listening to, so I look for CDs. Also,
c) Its fun to see what kind of junk folks have piled in the back of their cars. Is it clean? Are there clothes? Any old food? The other day I saw the most spotless interior in an mid-90s Mustang. The only visible object other than original car parts was a bottle a Febreeze. Now thats clean living.
Also, Spring and Winter appear to be having some sort of epic death match. One day its 75 degrees, and the next there is a winter weather advisory. I ask only this: please, would one of you let the other win? I am tired of wearing my very warm socks and then having to be all uncomfortable by mid-day what with the warm feet and all. Seriously. This is cramping my style.
I think Spring may win, though, because I am seeing much more of Pepe, Nick and my guard squirrel. He runs from under the back strairs whenever you come home, thoroughly freaking out all who enter. Pepe almost knocked me over the other day, so he's obviously gearing up for the warm weather.
I gave my first college test today, so its an exciting night of grading ahead. The students were greeted with this picture when at the top of the test as encouragement:

Beside it was the phrase: "don't think too hard, or you may end up like him. Good luck."

It got some laughs. Hooray!

Anyway, its time for Noon Mass. You'd be amazed how much resetting in the middle of the day can help your afternoon productivity.

Also napping. That helps, too.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Hot for Teacher (ing)

2006-01-25T16:37:00.000-06:00

Hi!

See? I am posting again. And not too far from when I said I would! Not too bad, eh?

And here is why I am posting. I love teaching. But first...

I have multiple stories from the break, but I am afraid there is not enough memory in my head nor room on this page to recount them all. So in lieu of such long-windedness, I will give summary shout-outs. These are, as I am well aware, pale ghost-like approximations of full accounts. But I have a lot to say, so shou-outs it is.

1) My nephew Liam is still aweseome. He has more hair than I have, has a vocabulary centered around the word CAT (like most Chandlers) and now shows empathy for other children. Ask my brother Will about this. Its a cool story.

2) My brother Peeg and sister-in-law Stacy still live in far-away Japan. But my sister Liz got to visit them recently, and I vicariously enjoyed it quite a bit. For coverage, see their blogs.

3) Tonya and I went camping. I love camping. In fact, you might say it is a close friend of mine. As soon as I can get them, I'll post pictures. That will be story enough.

4) My parents gave me perhaps the coolest watch EVER for Christmas. Check it out:
http://post-dispatch.readervalues.com/?sectionpath=1&pageid=336

5) Various family and friends were seen, and much fun was had. It was a great break.

Now, back to the teaching.

Today it occurred to me that I am a third generation college instructor. My grandpa taught engineering at Auburn, and daddy teaches communication at Jacksonville State. My brother Will and sister-in-law Meghan are also teachers. My brother Peeg is training to be a teacher, and mama has taught numerous classes in church, especially at RCIA. In fact, most of my family has at one point or another expressed interest in teaching. And let me tell you why... getting paid to talk to other people about cool stuff is perhaps the most awesome job in the whole f-ing world besides perhaps playing two-guard for the Celtics or being a rock star. It really shows you the pieces of your own profession that are easy to forget... the stuff that got you hooked in the first place. And watching others get excited about it for the first time keeps it fresh. I know I have been wavering on what I want to do now for almost a year, very heavily in the last few months. But I can say this: whatever I end up doing, its going to involve teaching. And also rocking out, if possible.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
joe

Its Been a Long Time Been a Long Time Been A Long Lonely Lonely Lonely Lonely Time

2006-01-18T13:41:00.000-06:00

Well, not really.

But it has been too long since I last updated. This post is to say a few things:
1) Christmas break was a much needed, relaxing time
2) I am now teaching my first PY101 class on my own, which is a blast
3) I am about to be late for another meeting. Yeesh.

Lots to say, and I will. Soon. Don't look at me that way. I really will. C'mon.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Imagine

2005-12-08T22:16:00.000-06:00

25 years ago today, John Lennon was mudered outside of his apartment building in New York. He was holding a set of tapes from a recording session he had earlier that night. The tapes became part of his eventual final album, Double Fantasy. Sometimes I get mad at Mark David Chapman for his senselessness. Sometimes I wish that I could have seen a 60-year-old Lennon in concert like I did Paul a few years back. But then I think about the global impact that his death had for peace, a lot like JFK. I stay mad, but at least it makes you think. I hate using generic phrases like that. It makes you think. But it does. And that legacy is stronger today than it might have been if he had lived. So tonight I will raise a glass to John Lennon, and open up the box set I have of his in iTunes. It will be coffee because I have a paper, but a glass will be raised nonetheless.

PS. I am quite tired, and I'd like to put that forward as a reason for the lack of style and grace that this post embodies. Or I could just be a sucky writer. Either one. But mostly with the tired. Yes.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Ain't This Place a Geographical Oddity: Two Weeks from Everywhere!

2005-11-30T12:40:00.000-06:00

Hi all.

As my brother Peeg once said, "Its go time. Its now or never. A penny saved is a penny earned, and well, I'll be damned if I'm gonna loose a penny!"

These are the last two weeks of the semester, a veritable boiling furnace of work in which little sleep is had an much coffee imbibed. But you know what? I'm actually ready. I want to be done with all of this for awhile (i.e., Christmas break) and so I embrace the furnce, grimacing somewhat from the burn, but ready to hold on nonetheless.

The fact that I got to see so much family and eat so much food has helped. Over thanksgiving I saw family and friends, including Mr. Liam during his first birthday party, and it was very refreshing. Over the break Will hurt his ankle saving several children from a burning orphanage**, and I hope he is feeling better. That was bad, but the resulting trip to the drugstore produced several small transformers. I got Optimus Prime. He is, after all, the protector of all universal freedom.

So I really appreciate everyone's encouragement after the last post. I have felt like a bit of a whiner lately, and would like to say, "hey thanks" for everyone for listening. I know that I've had doubts about this over the last few years, as all graduate students do, but its time to do something about it. I've felt strongly about this since Grandpa's death in March, and no I can take the break to really make some plans. Thanks for allowing me my whine and cheese.

In other news, my new car ROX. She is not yet named, though Glove is in the front running (the character from yellow submarine). I hope to post pictures soon so everyone can offer suggestions, but for now just know that she's a dark blue 2006 Corolla 4-door stick. All input is most welcome.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

When this happens to a light bulb, you just replace it.

2005-11-14T19:40:00.000-06:00

Burnt. Out.

How do you know when you are really burnt out? With a light bulb, you can just shake it to see if the filament is broken.

With me, I just see how long it takes me to read a single page of one of my more dry articles. The other day it took me nearly an hour to read 2 pages.

Crakle, crakle. Thats the sound of my motivation being burnt away.

You see, this semester I have defended my thesis, am working on my PhD comps, am a member of three labs (all with active research projects), am taking a full complement of classes, and am again dealing with stupid car problems.

Oh wait. Did I mention that? Yeah, well I bought a new car the other day. Its a 2006 Corolla. Lets just say I will never drive a Saturn again. If you'd like more details, please let me know. I think I may have exhausted that discussion topic last year, the last time a Saturn I owned basically blew up.

Anyway, I am doing all of these things, and the worst part is that I almost don't care about any of it right now. Whine Whine Whine. Should I have some cheese with my whine? Perhaps. Here we go:

The second worst part is that I feel extremely unappreciated in my own department. The third is that I am afraid this may not be the career for me. I have run into so much of the ugly underbelly of academia this semester it has me thinking I am not fit to be an academic. This may or may not be a good thing. But I'll tell you this: I'm tired of pouring my heart and mind out over issues that won't affect anyone for at least 10 years. I miss using my hands to fix things, and I still have that insatiable medical itch that I've had since I was small. I know I'm burnt out right now, but I've said these things before. So here's a question to those of you who know me: do you see me as an academic, doing esoteric research for the rest of my life in some very small office where I never cut my hair? Because that is starting to scare me. I want to help people. And I don't think I'm patient enough to do it where I'm so removed from, well, actual people. I want to get back into shape, too. I want to help people, be in shape, and do something that has a direct impact on the world.

So I've started gathering inforamtion in UAB's doctorate in physical therapy, with a specialization in stroke rehabilitation. Since its a doctorate, I'd still get to teach and do research, but mostly I'd help people. Hands on. And you don't get much more hands on than P.T. And that profession requires me to be in shape (lifting people and the like). So please tell me what you think.

I am now done with my whine. And cheese.

If you read all of this, thanks. And I'm sorry, too. This was not the most slap-happy installment of this blog. But to liven it up, here's a joke:

There are two hot dogs in a frying pan.
The first hot dog turns to the second and says, "Whew! It sure is hot in here."
The second looks at the first and screams, "Oh my god! Its a talking hot dog!"

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Spam This

2005-10-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Dear HOT TEEN FINANCE SHOW,
I'd just like to say that what you do is not nice. Even when you offer NEW LOW LOW RATES on your SUPER DEALS that include ZERO PERCENT FINANCING BUT ONLY NOW KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK I'LL BE BOOKMARKING YOU I am not interested. So, at Blogger's advice, I am turning on a verification process on comments.
You see, you are not a REAL HUMAN. You are some COMPUTER somewhere whose sole purpose it is to VIOLATE MY COMMENTS PAGE thus making me excited that someone has commented, only to end up attempting to fight my iBook in fury. Well, lets see if you can verify these words WITHOUT A SOUL. Because you have to read them. And that takes eyes. No amount of FREE LIMITED TIME ONLY CAKE can help you with that.
So to all those who actually wish to comment, you'll have to verify some word when you do. But keep in mind that this is to help save me from HOT TEEN FINANCE SHOW.

I hope everyone is well. Except the spammers, who I hope jam their toe just about now.

Peace,
Joe

Happy Birnfday To Da Peeg

2005-10-21T19:23:00.000-05:00

I would like to take this opportunity in the halls of the interweb to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER DA PEEG!!! These words will float across the ocean via the magic of "computers" and "cables" to get to Da Peeg in Japan, where he will read them IN THE FUTURE!!! Its crazy like that.
So happy birthday my brother, enjoy your time IN THE FUTURE!!!

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

D-Fence! D-Fence!

2005-10-19T14:35:00.000-05:00

Howdy all.

This morning I defended my master's thesis. I passed 5-0. And I didn't even use a sword.

Sadly, its time for another meeting. I will now go there confident in the extra letters after my name. Or something like that.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Mountains, Gandalf, Mountains...

2005-10-11T22:20:00.000-05:00

Happy day after your Anniversary to Da Peeg and Stacy, who got married on a mountain top in New Zealand two years ago (I hope). Every time I think of that wedding, I inevitably think of LOTR, and sometimes even put Gandalf in as the minister, even though I know it was a singing priestess lady. I have much to write about... I put my thesis on the table yesterday... I defend my thesis next wednesday... this past weekend was Fiddler's... but I have to go work now. That's right. Now that my thesis is done I can concentrate on my PhD comps. Oh happy yea.

I bet you can feel the excitment.

Feel it.

Anyway, I'll post about Fiddler's in more depth later. For now let me say congratulations to Dave and Donna, who got engaged :)

Now, I will excitedly go back to my comp document. Again, Oh Happy Yea.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Thesis, Shmesis... Its Time for Giant Corn Dog on a Stick

2005-09-28T14:23:00.000-05:00

Why hello.
Have you ever realized that paper can be used to create a time bomb?

Well I have.

Right now my thesis is ticking away on two seperate hard drives, a virtual drive, and my flash drive. I turn it in next friday, at which point it will either explode or continue to be paper. Either one. But the potential is there!

And how have I been preparing for this deadline, you may ask? Well originally I was supposed to spend the weekend in South Carolina with Will, Meghan, Liam and Liz. But Ha Liz came down with a cold and we didn't want to pass it on, so we didn't go. A great opportunity to work, right? Why Yes! So I promptly went to Big Spring Jam in Huntsville and saw the Black Crows.

Let me explain how this was work: it wasn't.

Let me explain how this was fun: in every way.

On friday I drove with Tonya up to Athens and we hung out, watched family guy, and generally did not work. Saturday we lounged around and watched the football game (ROOOLLLLLL TIIIIIDEEE!!! 4-0), then met up with Shane and Michelle to see some rockin' bands. I must say that the Black Crows continuously rocked, and that they were well complimented by some giant corn dogs on a stick eaten on the side of the road. Classy. After the show Shane and I had a classic Shane and Joe moment. What was it, you ask? Come hang out with one of us (or both of us) and the story will inevitably come up.

Anyway, Sunday we made it to Mass and dinner at O'Chaley's, where I had the most mediocre ceaser salad EVER. At O'Chaley's. Not Mass. Ummm. Yeah. On the way over, Tonya said she wanted some soup... the loaded potato soup they have. When we got there, there was no soup. Tonya was sad. And rightfully so. Instead, they had a broccoli and cheese deal, which I ordered with my salad. After an inordinately long time, the waiter came back and explained that they were out of the other soups, too. Why? Well, here you go:

WAITER: "When we ran out of potato soup they just dumped everything else out, too."

Perfect. Sense.

ALL SOUP OR NO SOUP!!! ALL SOUP OR NO SOUP!!! I didn't know that O'Chaley's was communist. It sounds Irish to me. But there you have it. Equal opportunity soup dumping.

Then they brought me my salad, and it had no croutons. I know this sounds picky, but in the description it said, "nice, crispy croutons." I wanted some crisp in my otherwise mushy salad, ok? So the nice waiter brought me a small bowl of croutons. They were stale.

The beginning of the week has been spent making up for this good time by pouinding out 12 to 14 hour days. But good news! I finished collecting MY FINAL DATA and I'll analyze it tonight, have a semi-final draft by saturday and then turn it in after Jamie's corrections next friday. The minute that last copy hits the desk I am off to Fiddler's. I can't wait. It'll be the sweetest Fiddler's ever, as I will be thesis free (at least until the formal defense on the 19th). I think I'm singing "Long Black Veil" again, since I've had no time to learn anything new.

Tick... tick... tick...

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

I'm A Modern Classic

2005-09-19T17:22:00.000-05:00

Two pretty funny things today. The other day a friend and fellow grad student, Henry, pointed me toward a movie test that he actually wrote online. It is quite thorough and a lot of fun (although I didn't know what many the references were to). This is how my test turned out:

New and Improved
You scored 41 Golden Classic, 60 Awesome Remake, 33 Needs No Change, and 11 Infomercial!

Wow, what a pleasant surprise. You are a remake of an incredible classic. Yet, not only do you not suck, you have really brought some new and exciting elements to the film. We are going to buy you as soon as you come out on DVD, as a matter of fact, we are going to buy the double disc set. And then should the criterion collection company release a special edition of you, we will also buy that DVD, and give the original one away to someone who we dont really care that much about, otherwise we would have bought them the new one.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on Golden Classic
You scored higher than 99% on Awesome Remake
You scored higher than 99% on Needs No Change
You scored higher than 0% on Infomercial

Link: The Gold Classic or Glitzy Remake Test written by diamondslacker on Ok Cupid

Geez, I hope that worked. Anyway, you should try it too. Look at me, I'm James Earl Jones!

Secondly, another friend and fellow grad student, Chris, sent me the following article about shaving. You don't think that would be that funny or exciting, right? No you should read this. Seriously.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930

So otherwise things are pretty busy. Thesis gets turned in in three weeks!!! AHHHHH!!!!

Let me say that again. AHHHHHH!!!!!

Despite this, I am relatively unstressed. Who can say how this works? Not me. Well maybe I can, but thats for later.

Time to grade some papers.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Better Tennis for Boys and Girls

2005-09-12T22:01:00.000-05:00

I realized just now that I had not yet given an official "shout out" to the newest addition to the family, a mister Maddox. You can read more about his wonderful cuteness and how he came about on my cousin Danni's site (see the links to the right). I would like to amerliorate the no shout out situation. Here we go. Wait for it... SHOUT! OUT! MADDOX! I think thats the way thats done. Hmmm. Maybe I should just say "welcome to the family, Maddox" and "I'm very glad that you and Danni are happy and healthy" and "it was a true joy to hold you." So I will, and there you go. AND the shout out.

(and now, an abrupt transition)

So I seem to have turned into a vampire. Over the course of the last few weekends I have stayed up until 6 or 7 in the morning on 3 seperate occasions, the last two on two nights in a row. I have not grown funny teeth, been imbued with a great sense of fashion, or taken on a liking for the blood, so its not that serious, I think. But still. Vampire. Yeah. It could be that, or it could be that each time I was up hanging out with some very awesome folks. Or maybe one folk. Or maybe I just wanted to say up late enough to watch lots of infomercials. Wait, whats the singular form of folks? Anyway, its probably the hanging out thing. But the vampire explanation is cooler, and Occam's Razor ( http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/OCCAMRAZ.html ) does not apply to my website. The principle of Cool Stories does, though.

Yesterday I ended one such all nighter (at Shane's; yes, there was some hot tub involved. And maybe some drinking. Don't be alarmed!) by sleeping for a few hours and then going to mass at the Cathedral with my parents and Liz and Josh. A partner in my all night escapades, Tonya (see the reference to maybe one folk), also came to mass and got to stay for lunch, too. The Cathedral is giving away a bunch of old stuff from the school in preparation for some renovations, and Liz, Tonya, and I all went to check out the treasures. There were old shelves, records, and the like, but the real catches were found in the old books. We found such literary classics as "Lets Go to the Middle East!" (found by Liz), "How to Build Robots" (found by Tonya) and even "Gale Sayers, All-Star Runingback." (found by me and given to my dad). I also found "Better Tennis for Boys and Girls", one in a series of sports guides. My favorite though was an instructional book on how to shoot a set shot in basketball, something that hasn't been taught since before I was born. It included such instructions as "your body must be under control" and "you shouldn't even try shooting until the second half of your seventh grade year, as you will not have developed sufficient strength or coordination to shoot the ball into the goal." It is, I must say, TOTALLY AWESOME!!! The Robot book was a close second, talking quite a bit about how robots were fast becoming common in the home (like "microcomputers"), and that if it seemed like too much of a bother to build your own robot you could always just buy one. You know, at your local robot store. It was a great weekend capped by an equally great day.

And to set things up for the week, the other day Nick bought Milo's sweet tea, Little Debbie Jelly Rolls, and a Pony Keg of Grolsch. You have to prepared for the studying, you know, and Nick seems to have found a combination of stuff for all the possibilites of studying:
1) Milo's for fuel (still too hot for coffee)
2) Little Debbie for the inevitable snacking that accompanies hours of reading
3) 5 liters of good beer for when you give up and play LOTR Return of the King (tm).
He's a right smart young man, I tell you.

Well, its time to go back to an annotated bibilography on aging and working memory. A glass of Milo's awaits.

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-08T14:13:00.000-05:00

In light of recent events down here in the South, I haven't found words to post here. I can say the the hurricane touched as far north and east as T-town, and that Nick and I were without power for about 5 days. During those five days we actually hosted a fwe friends from the New Orleans area. But thank God for no power, compared to the surreal destruction that increases exponentially the closer you get to New Orleans. There are almost 600 refugees in the Recreation Center here in town, and another couple hundred in various shelters. Its a juxtaposition thats almost indescribable to see UA students working out on weights just a few yards from someone's 2 by 8 feet of Red Cross provided home on the basketball court. I worked at the shelter the other night, and did a couple of head counts during the early morning hours when everyone was still asleep. A few people stirred and smiled... more than I think I could muster in their position.
I'll post again soon.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

You're Getting Sleepy...

2005-08-19T23:28:00.000-05:00

Well I'm not.

I seem to have forgotten how to sleep.

This has been going on for about two weeks now, and I have tried many things: working out, hot tea, hot milk, hot sauce...

Well, maybe the hot sauce was not to sleep. But you should have tasted the last cheesy tortilla I made. Sweet sassy Mo-lassy.

And so, dear reader, I beseech thee to let me in on some sleeping secrets. Most of you are family, and so I think have probably experienced similar times. It is like a very stroing type of apathy at the end of the day where I can turn my brain off but at the same time can't push myself up out of the muck to practice my normal bedtime routine. The result? Lots of delicious cheesy tortillas and not too many good restful nights. Like right now its 11:30pm and I am not tired. I have to get up in the morning. I have work. Sleep helps at work. I know. But still, the cruel mistress, she eludes me.

And I know I am a psychology student, and I know all about the importance of routine and calming my mind and not focusing too much on the next day and all that. I know. But just as doctors make the worst patients, I am loathe to take my own good advice.

And you know what? I like to sleep. Really. Waking up in a warm bed on a cold morning with the promise of NPR (yes, I said it, and yes, I know: GO GO GO) and a hot cup of coffee is always great. And I love to sit on my porch in the morning with said coffee and said news and ease into the day.

So as you can see, I have answered my own questions logically. But this restlessness is far from the warm womb of logic. So someone please do one of the following:
a) tell me how to sleep
b) give me a million bazillion dollars.

You CAN pick both, as they are not mutally exclusive.

Maybe the sandman is mad at me. I do lock all of my doors at night, and Julie might have licked him the last time he was here. Being a mythical creature in charge of human mental restoration, I imagine he doesn't like being licked by strange cats.

Hmmm.

I that was odd. I know. Sorry. Maybe I should TRY AND GO GET SOME SLEEP!!!

Its like a greased pig. A greased Uber-Pig that is fast and mischevious. I'm talking about sleep. And how it is hard to catch.

As my brother Will has said, "I am lugubrious."

I hope everyone is well, and rested.
Peace,
Joe

Controversial Topic!!!

2005-08-16T09:43:00.000-05:00

Hmmm...

It seems that blogger has opened up its titles to search engines that then open up avenues for the spamming. IN THE COMMENTS (see my last posts comments)! I have a mind to go back to my old comments script and see what happens. As you can see, I've "baited the hook" with a hot issue in this post's title.

We'll see...

Peace,
joe

Once you go Mac, You Never Go Back

2005-08-09T21:26:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you something.

No, seriously, you should prepare. Have a seat. Get a cup of tea.

My new computer is incredible.

Wait, not incredible. Its like Magic. Some brand of magic I always suspected should come with such expensive technology as a computer, but never saw until I became a Mac user last week.

Thats right, a Mac user. I know it sounds like I now use drugs or something, or that I am part of a cult. But let me tell you something. Um, again. I now completely understand why Macs are so cultish and why their faithful are well, so faithful.

Last week I purchased a new iBook G4, 1.33 GHz with 1 Gb RAM and a 60 Gb Hard drive. Not too fancy considering todays computing standards, but a huge and bounding leap from my old PC. ("Stan" had been with me since early college, and I had maxed out his RAM @ 256 MB. Yes, I said maxed out). My new iBook is so pretty and so fast and so EASY TO USE (yep, I busted that out early) that I can't believe its a computer. Like I said, it is some sort of magic. And believe me, its not just the update in tech that makes this so amazing. The OS is so simple, and beautiful, and quiet, and fast. The computer itself is small, perfectly proportioned, and well, nice to look at. Yeah, I admit it. "The design isn't that important" I once said. But now it is. Carrying this thing around makes me look and feel like a Stealth Ninja Polar Bear. You heard me.

Anyway, as the title indicates, I will never again venture into the land of the PC. I was afraid that my comfort with the aforementioned Windows Boxes might make this transition hard. Ummm, no. It just makes me sad I didn't do this earlier.

No, I am not going to make out with my iBook. So stop thinking that. STOP IT.

Oh, one more thing. I have finished my project of building a new computer desk for my new computer using the doors of Grandma and Grandpa's old kitchen cabinets. It turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself. I'll have pictures up soon.

RANT RANT RANT.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

I am a Ninja, goo goo ga joob.

2005-08-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

Hmmm... I haven't posted in awhile, and a good bit has happened. First, congratualtions to Matt and Deidre, who got married last week and are now somewhere cruising toward Jamaica on a large boat. The wedding was beautiful and the bachelor party was awesome. Think about it this way: at one point one of the attendees (at the bachelor party) thought that the clear liquid they were drinking was water. It was in fact gin. Good gin at that. Now I see what happened to all those flappers. I had the honor of being an usher at the wedding itself, and that was much more fun than you might initially think. I got to sweep one of the doors open when Deidre appeared at the back of the church, and that was mighty special. I also escorted several good looking ladies up the aisle to their seats, which wasn't so bad either.

Before the wedding I got the chance to take an actual vacation up to Athens and Anderson. My friends Carl and David generally figured out all the mysteries of the world along with me over some good drinks, and I bought some very nice used books. This is, you see, exciting stuff for me. I spent the last half of the week with my brother and sister-in-law and nephew. There I relaxed, defeated the forces of darkness, displayed my considerably mad street ball skillz (I brought the PS2 and Will and I played it. Alot.), and got to hang out with the coolest baby ever. Liam and I played a game called jump, which he learned from his jumping chair:

I love getting to spend time up there with Will and Meghan and Liam. Hopefully I will be going back before too long.

Also a congratualtions is in order to my friend Drew, who now has a fancy job and fancy apartment in Birmingham. We've spent some good times there already:

Don't worry, I am highly trained at looking like a ninja.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

HAPPY ^&%$&^ing BIRTHDAY!

2005-07-30T13:49:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my boy Shane, who today turns sweet sixteen. Or older. Who can say? The point is its the man's birthday, and its time to go celebrate.

I hope everyone is well
(And Shane I hope you're ready for your party)
Peace,
Joe

bold new look, same great product!

2005-07-08T08:09:00.000-05:00

Hi.

ITS REDESIGN MADNESS HERE AT JOE'S OFFICE!!!

As you can see, I've changed Mr. T. Loves Buddha. Note the address has not changed, and that Mr. T. does indeed still love Buddha. I thought it was time to "shake things up."

::SHAKE. SHAKE::

I have also changed my home page design (take a look), and hope to soon match this up with its general theme. I am playing around with this new title, too. Please, do tell me what you think.

Thanks are in order to Da Peeg and Stacy. They have me AN OPTIMUS PRIME THAT TURNS INTO A FREAKING LION!!! HE WILL EAT YOUR FACE FOR JUSTICE!!! As you can tell, it has made me happy. Between that and the PS2 I bought the other day, things are looking quite nerdy, er, I mean up.

I'd also like to thanks everyone who commmented on my last post. I am compiling a list right now. Soon I will be the SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH. Or at least will have a healthly dose of insomnia coupled with eye strain. Whichever.

So, question of the day: Redesigns are good or bad? I plan on customizing this site when I have more time (tehe. I made a joke. Time? Get it?)

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-06-28T19:53:00.000-05:00

I am on a quest.

As most everyone knows these days, I have been, well, a bit disgruntled you might say. Restless. And just a few weeks ago my life sort of switched gears a little (see previous post). And by a little I mean alot.

And by restless I mean anxious. And by anxious I mean ready for something. What? I'm not sure. I nice ice cream cone perhaps. A walk. The new Nickel Creek Album. More likely though, I am ready for a change.

You see, I fear change. I dare say most people in my family aren't too keen on it, and I am a wonderful example of that lack of keenness. In fact, I might have the opposite of keenness for it. I'm not sure quite what that is, but I think I have it. A type of anti-keenness born of a whole bunch of change thrown at me like a wet blanket when I wasn't looking.

Change #1: I am considering a break from school. At least, my current program. Not a permanent thing, mind you, and not until this time next year, but a change. I have been in school for 19 straight years now. What's next, you might ask? Not sure. I'll be applying for the Rhodes (again) and a Fulbright fellowship. Maybe I can be a roadie on the next Nickel Creek tour. Maybe I'll go to more school, just for something else. Like Medical School. Why, Joe? You might ask. Well, this is because of change #2: Grandpa's death. I went to Grad School to help people with strokes. Through an unfortunate and unforseeable sequence of events, I haven't done that for the last two years. And it looks like where I am now is not the best place for it. And my sudden enthusiasm for personal challenge sprouts partly from change #3: Jenn's breaking up with me. To be completely honest, I was forming the next few years around being able to be with her, and being able to follow her. Since this no longer applies (see previous post), I am more gung-ho about getting out there and doing something else. "Out there" could be many places. "Something else" could be alot of things.

But anyway, back to the quest: All of this has inspired in me a sort of want-to-be smarty-pants-ness such as I haven't had since attending my dear old Alma Mater. There I began a classic, liberal arts education. The problem is, I don't think I finshed it. So my quest is to at least continue it by reading. I am (no joke) currently working my way through Einstein's Relativity and need more once I finish. I am thinking things like Cicero, Augustine, Virgil, general histories of things (like presidents) and the like. You know, things I probably have no business reading. Any suggestions are most welcome, about any of this. Let old Joe know.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-06-15T15:14:00.000-05:00

Its very odd what things can bring consolation in bad times. The other night Nick and I went to Buffet City, a resturant of epic portions. You see, my brother Peeg was the Mayor of Buffet City when he was here in T-town; naturally Nick and I had to go and attempt to make at least councliman. I think we succeeded. And during the process I felt ok about things for a few minutes, other than the growing lump of delicious fullness developing in my stomach.
Felt ok about what? you may be asking. Well, I have posted some pretty personal things here, as my readership is mostly if not all family and friends. So if you are neither, than you might find the following neither amusing nor particularly happy. I'd find another blog to read.
On saturday after my cousin Danni's baby shower, Jenn called from Colorado and broke up with me. Yep. I wish I had more to write about it, but I'm still, well, I don't know. Thats just the point. For a person who loves to talk and can usually comment on anything, I can't find words for this. I am, well... these are bad times.
I've kept up with work, though not too effectively. If anyone has any sage advice for me, I welcome it. Take note that there was no animosity between us, that she is one of the best friends I have ever had, and that my feelings for her have not changed. Her feelings for me changed, though. And this is the result.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-06-07T14:15:00.000-05:00

My very good friend David came to visit last week. We did many fun things, including my first viewing of Napoleon Dynamite, and my introduction to one of the most rediculously entertaining flash cartoons ever. Be warned: you may never get this out of your head.

Ever.

That said, Go Here.

We had an excellent time. As a reference to the above link, David would intermittently pet Julie (a cat) while softly singing, "Its peanut butter kitty time" to himself.

A good time.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-05-27T15:21:00.000-05:00

There is so much to say in this post that I feel I should prepare a lecture, with charts and graphs and a bulleted outline, so that each point may be covered in a full and fair manner.

But I won't.

Instead, I'll ramble. Those of you who know me well understand that this is a gift of mine, the rambling. And, usually, this leads to some great conclusion that invloves many of the fractious parts leading up to it. This, then, is in what I consider to be come vague correlate of temporal progression. Onward, I say.

1) Peeg and Stacy came to visit. For more complete accounts of what happened, see their blogs (linked on the right of this page). All I have to say is that the day they were in T-Town we had the perfect eating day: City Cafe for Lunch, Dreamland for Dinner, and Krispy Kreme for dessert. Oh my yes.

2) I finished my second year of graduate school. I pulled a 4.0 this semester, and my thesis will be done by the end of the summer. I have my comprehensive exam paper underway, and a dissertation idea is a-brewin'. AND I am still alive.

3) I saw Will get his Master's degree. Let me tell you something: my brother is an amazing person. In one year (thats the number 1) he has quit his old job, had a son with Meghan, gotten his Master's degree, and gotten a new job. AND he's still alive, too. Also LIAM IS THE BEST NEPHEW AND CUTEST BABY EVER. No contest. Seriously. Cutest. Ever.

4) Jenn and I celebrated 2 years together. I am a lucky, lucky man. She has yet to get tired of me, and the fact that we live four hours from eachother (She's at Vanderbilt Divinity School) hasn't stopped us either. And yes, you can enter the audience "awwww" track here. Mushy mushy.

5) Jenn and I went to Colorado for a week! We had an unbelievable time. I learned a few things from the trip, too. First, Kansas is flat. And long. Second, I can wear sandals above the fire ant line! Third, I want to teach at CU. Fourth, I love to hike and camp. I never really had the chance to find that out until I got to a place where I wasn't staring at the ground the whole time, looking for ants. And there's a lot to see besides the ground where we went. Like Lost Lake and Lily Mountain. We also stayed in a little Mountain Town called Nederland. Everyone there drives some sort of Subaru. No lie. On the day we left the town I counted 15 just on our way out. The whole reason for the trip was to drop Jenn of in Rocky Mountain National Park, where she's a Ranger in the Back Country Permit office. I hate that she'll be gone for three months, but I love that she's living out a dream of hers. It would be like someone paying me to play basketball or to be in a band with Will. She's been there now a week, and the last time I talked with her she said "I'm happy" in about the happiest voice imaginable. And I don't blame her. You should see the view from her cabin. We took many pictures, and I'll post some as soon as she can get them to me. She's looks purty nice in that uniform, I tells ya. Even if the pants are from 1983.

6) For number six I will put the many things I have inevitably left out. Fell free to fill in the blank here with adventures of your choice. But not too many. I have alot to do this summer.

And a few belated things for my relatives: Happy Birthday to Aunt Gayna, and Happy Anniversary to Will and Megahn.

Hmmmm... what else. Just now I ate some "Tabasco Hot and Spicy Cheez-its" as my afternoon snack in the office. They are good.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-05-09T17:45:00.000-05:00

One of the things I study in grad school is our ability to manipulate the perception of time. In general, people feel closer to acheivements and farther away from failures, regardless of actual temporal distance (to a certain point). What I don't yet understand is, how does the clock on my computer go so fast sometimes and so slow others?

You know what I'm talking about. Like on the cartoons when the kid is waiting for the school clock to hit 3pm, and the minute hand keeps inching slower and slower as the time approaches. Well, the opposite can also happen, like when you are hopelessly procrastinating. Like I am now. I came to my office to get a good amount of work done and then BAM!!! Its almost 6pm. What.

I am dumbfounded. I am dumblosted. I know that I need to get this document done so that I can pack for my awesome trips coming up. I know that. But that is just the thing. When I start thinking about my motivation, I get distracted. Case in point: I just spent five minutes looking at the soles of my new hiking boots, trying to figure out how my weight is distributed across them when I take a step.

If anyone has a cure, please let me know. I might start analyzing the composition of my socks next.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-04-25T17:54:00.000-05:00

Niether Sleet Nor Snow Nor Dark of Night...
Jenn and I went to an Earth Day celebration this weekend in Nashville, and old Ma Nature was in a bit of a drisly (is that a real word?) mood. But did we get discouraged? No! We wrapped up against the rain and ate funnel cake, hot corn on the cob, and learned about houses you can make out of staw and mud. On top of all that, we saw Mindy Smith for the second time in as many years, but this time she was only like 15 feet away. The rain chased most folks off, so we laid a blanet down (it was water-proof) right in front of the stage, and watched her and her band stick it out in the cold and wet to put on an awesome show. And we didn't even know she was going to play when we decided to go.
The next day (Sunday) I went to see Jenn's choir sing Mozart's Requiem at her church. Sakes alive, that little man sure could write the music. And sakes alive, my baby sure can sing. It was beautiful. Especially the Lacrimosa.
On another note, as many of you know (and if you didn't before, you do now) I am thinkning about getting into end-of-life care in my current studies. So, against my better psychometric judgement, I took an online personality test to see what I should be. Here are the results:

Outgoing (E) 72.22% Withdrawn (I) 27.78%
Imaginative (N) 60% Realistic (S) 40%
Emotional (F) 57.89% Intellectual (T) 42.11%
Organized (J) 58.82% Improvised (P) 41.18%

Your type is: ENFJ

You are a Persuader, possible professions include - entertainer, recruiter, artist, newscaster, writer/journalist, recreation director, librarian, facilitator, politician, psychologist, housing director, career counselor, sales trainer, travel agent, program designer, corporate/team trainer, child welfare worker, social worker (elderly services), interpreter/translator, occupational therapist, executive

Take Free Career Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

So, all you friends and loved ones out there... does this seem to fit me? Or should I chase my lifelong dream of becoming Mr. T? (umm, yeah.)

Suggestions and comments are most welcome.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-04-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

White Smoke today.

I'm not sure what to think, either. God Bless the new pope. I know that his election came from a great amount of thinking, praying, and consideration of the church's direction in the future from a great many holy people.

But I point your attention to a paragraph from the above - linked article. It reads:

"In the Vatican, he (the new pope) has been the driving force behind crackdowns on liberation theology, religious pluralism, challenges to traditional moral teachings on issues such as homosexuality, and dissent on such issues as women's ordination."

Not exactly progressive. Hmmm.

His predecessor in name was influential in WWI. Here's a short description.

Being a young, western Catholic in the modern world can be a confusing thing. I wonder what will come of this new time in leadership.

Off to read...

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-04-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

After many moons of waiting, I got an email today from the National Science Foundation. In december I asked them for a whole bunch of money. Today they told me, ummm, no.

It seems that my application may have been disqualified on a technicality. I hope that they dismissed me on the lack of personal merit, not on whether I put my name in the right place. I have placed an inqiry. I guess I'll post when I find out.

This is all to say that I'll have to go back to selling Lemonade and picking up cans off the side of the road in order to fund graduate school. I'm not bitter. But the Lemonade might be.

Stupid academic world of jockying for money. At least with a 9 to 5 job I'd know how much I was making at the end of the day.

::sigh::

::audience laugh track lets out a big "awwwww"::

I hope everyone is well, and not at the monetary mercy of a large government agency.

Peace,
Joe

2005-04-06T18:28:00.000-05:00

Imagine, if you will, a small animal that looks a little like a dog.

Its wearing a shirt that says "Work."

Now imagine that the small dog-like animal would not leave you alone no matter what you did. No treat or amount of coaxing will lead it astray. Yelling in frustration makes it get closer.

I am in that situation right now, and have been now for many weeks. Please, if you know how to get rid of this, let me know.

Outside of this unfortunate stalking, I have some thanks to hand out:
1) Thanks to Jenn for my super stylin' clothes for my birthday. I now own more stylish shirts than I think should be assigned to me, and can look more like I belong next to my beautiful girlfriend.

2) Thanks to my siblings, who got me an iPod Shuffle for my birthday. It, in one word, ROCKS. Along with my new clothes, I exert an overall style that could have many people fooled as to my actual incredible nerdiness.

3) Thanks to my Aunt Gayna, who got me a Mandolin (I have the sunburst finish) for my birthday. I have learned two songs, three chords, and one full scale. I hope to have a song or two ready for fiddler's this year so I can go on stage and pretend that I am Chris Thile.

Also, congratulations to Jenn for getting a summer job at Rocky Mountain National Park at the back-country permits office. Those are some lucky hikers, I tell you.

AND Happy Birthday to:
David
Drew
Carl

and many more to come...

Remember, if you know how to get the small dog-like creature to even let me sleep, I'll pay you like a bazillion dollars to let me know. Or a few of my canadian pennies. Whichever.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-03-22T13:00:00.000-06:00

They say its my birthday...

Howdy, all. 24-year-old Joe here. I wanted to post and say thanks to the many people who have already made my birthday supa keen. I had a party on Sunday (thanks Mama and Daddy and Father and Lonelle and Nick and Liz and Josh!) where I received some great books. Jenn sent me The Whites Stripes Elephant along with a CD or bluegrass renditions of many White Stripes songs (awesome!) so I would have something to open on my birthday... smart, gorgeous, AND thoughtful; whadda gurl! Then in Perception today the folks in my program had a card and cupcakes for me... they were easter cupcakes with Bunny rings, and yes, I am wearing some right now.

Good times. Peeg called me from Tomorrow this morning, too! My siblings say they have a big thing waiting for me at home this weekend for easter. Will didn't want to give it up, so it should be great!

Material things aside, the phone calls, cards, etc. have been the best. Its always a great thing to be reminded of your huge family and great friends (insert audience sigh here).

In other news, I saw a SUV with a disturbing bumper sticker yesterday. It read:

"My SUV can beat up your Prius."

I don't have time to rant right now, because its my birthday. So I encourage everyone to do so for me in the Comments section below.

Thanks again to everybody, and I hope I didn't miss anything. If I did, I'll give you a bunny cupcake.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-03-15T16:04:00.000-06:00

Last Wednesday morning at 6:28am, Grandpa went home.

In an amazing week I saw all of my immediate family in one place at one time, and watched one of my heroes go on to greater reward. We were there with him each moment, right up until the last. I have never seen someone pass away so beautifully; not just this last week of illness but for the last few years.

Grandpa taught me more than I can recall now; how to fish, work on cars, pray without talking, tell the truth... so many things. Lastly he taught me (and everyone else) what it was to have dignity when society assigns you none. His bravery, spirit, warmth, and quiet determination to suffer with grace were beyond inspiring. His dedication to family and God was the stuff of memoirs and books about fictional characters. But Grandpa was real. Every bit of him.

This week reminded me with alternating joy and pain that I am a part of an incredible family. I don't have words for how much I love and respect each member of it. From Grandpa on down to Liam, I still learn from and am in awe of each of my kin.

To my family: thanks for the last week. I don't think any of us would have gotten through it alone.

To my other loved ones: thanks for demonstrating that some family doesn't have the presupposition of the relation of blood.

To Grandpa: Enjoy your rest. I love you.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-03-01T16:54:00.000-06:00

The fever's gone. The fever's goooone away.

Thats right, I'm back from the land of the ill. In fact, I came back much faster than usual for me. You see, I have taken up what I call the "Nick Method" of getting well. At the first real sign of an illness, you go to sleep. For a day. A whole day. I'm not saying to sleep in. I'm saying sleep for like 24 hours. Well in this case I slept for two days, and was pretty much over the flu in two days. That and the nurse gave me a giant shot in my boo-honkus. Ouch, but yay! I felt even better then. That was Wednesday. My weekend adventure started the next day.

On thursday I put in a whole day of work and the normal stuff. Then I drove to Nashville. Jenn and I went out for a while and had a good ol' time with some close friends. The next day we drove to Memphis to see her sister play in her last college game ever. Before getting to the gym, we stopped @ Subway. Pretty normal. On the way out of the parking lot, however, I pulled a Joe. I backed up EVER SO SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY (I am notoriously "granny" when I drive). Well, I backed carefully right up into another car. Um, yeah. So after alarming poor Jenn, I got out and attempted to find the owner of the parked car. It was very old and dirty, and had out-of-date plates. After going into every store in that little strip mall and making an idiot out myself ("Hey! Is anybody the owner of this car? Because I ran into it."), I couldn't find the owner. So I took down the plate number, left a note to the effect of, "I ran into your car very slowly. Sorry. Here's my info" and we went to the game. Even though Jillian's team lost, it was fun. She's a great basketball player. More on that later. In the meantime, during half time, I called the Memphis PD to tell them about the car. They ran the plates and they were WAY OUT OF DATE. We're talking years, here. Anyway, that means one of a few things:
1) I ran into an abandonded car
2) I ran into a stolen car
3) I ran into the car, but the owners don't want it to be known that the plates are so out of date, so they didn't report it.

Anyway, they haven't called me yet.

Back to the weekend...
After the game and taking Jillian to pick up her stuff from the hotel, Jenn and I took a walk around the Rhodes campus and then headed to the campsite where we'd stay. We stopped at this little greasy spoon place that was both a gas station AND a diner. That was the second such place that day. Earlier, on the way to Memphis, we stopped at a Gas Station / Diner/ MARINA. Yup.
Anyway, we ate a wonderful dinner, then set up camp down the road. Her parents came later and set up their RV. The next morning we got up and had a famous Compton Family "westy" breakfast (Westy is what they call their RV.) We then went into town and had AWESOME Bar-B-Q @ a place called Rezendevous BBQ. We walked around Beale street for awhile, which we need to go back to when we have more time. Oh, and we also saw the famous Peabody Ducks. I will let the link explain. It was cool, in that "Why?" sort of way.

Then back to Nashville. There we worked, worked, and worked. Then Jenn surprised me with Sushi before I drove home in the Wind, Rain, and Fog. I took these three things as a sign I shouldn't have left Nashville. But alas, there's work to be done.

Wow. BABBLE BABBLE BABBLE!!! But I had somehting to write about other than school. So there you go.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-02-22T13:46:00.000-06:00

Today, I will tell you some useful facts about fevers.

1) When you have a fever, you should not trust your sense about what time of day it is. Currently it is 1:48pm, and I feel as if it is somehow last night.

2) When you have a fever, you should not trust your sense of where dreams stop and reality starts. Evidence: right before this post I was talking to Julie, the cat. And she was talking back. Normal, right? She was wearing a suit and speaking English with a heavy Spanish accent. Hmmmm...

3) Fevers make you hungry. Yet somehow, eating in your fever dreams satisfies that hunger. Evidence: I just ate a bunch of pancakes that we don't have. While talking to Julie.

4) When you have a fever, you apparently forget what a bed is. Evidence: After talking to Julie and eating Pancakes, I woke up on the floor.

5) Fevers over 102 degrees are bad. Like mine, which is 103 today.

6) AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-02-17T18:38:00.000-06:00

oh yes, and

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER HA LIZ!!!!

Yesterday, that is.

Peace,
Joe

2005-02-17T18:28:00.000-06:00

Last night, as I squeezed the last of the toothpaste from the tube, I wondered,

"How much toothpaste is thrown away each year?"

Think about it. How many people out there really take the time to squash down the used portion of the tube until it is razor-flat just to get the very most toothpaste possible for your shopping dollar?

I know I do. But then again, I am odd in oh so many ways.
So that got me thinking about wasted toothpaste.

I bet there is someone somewhere that knows how much paste is wasted each year. Some statistician, not unlike myself, who takes pleasure in knowing such things. I bet further that this person works for some company or group that crusades against such waste. There are crusades for everything, so why not toothpaste wastage?

Maybe their name is something like People Against the Wasting of Toothpaste, or PAWT. Even better, maybe they are the Association Against the Wasting of Toothpaste, or AAWT. Say it with me, now: AAWT.

AAAAWWWTTTT.

Others obviously think like I do about these things. Just ask Stephani W.

Or those plucky folks who MAKE IT THEMSELVES.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

2005-02-11T12:05:00.000-06:00

Do you ever find yourself bargaining with inanimate objects?

Well I do.

This morning I was taking a shower (so fresh and so clean, clean) when the water started to get colder. A common event in the winter, but today I wanted to end on a warm note. So, (outloud, mind you), I said

"Hey! I need more hot water. C'mon, you know we both want this to end well."

Shocked at myself for talking with the shower I follwed up this brilliant comment with,

"Holy crap. I just talked to the shower." (Again, outloud).

At this point, two facts occured to me:

1) The shower cannot hear me. Even if it could, it probably would not speak English, more likely some sort of appliance language, whatever that may be.

2) There was no point in lamenting my attempt at communication with a shower outloud at all, since no one was there but me.

So that is the way my day started. How was yours?

I hope everyone is well,
Peace,
Joe

2005-02-07T14:19:00.000-06:00

What a weekend.

Imagine the following as a headline in your local newspaper:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANDLER DOES MORE IN TWO DAYS THAN IN THE PREVIOUS SEVEN
February 7th

Joe Chandler had a busy weekend. Starting friday night he saw his girlfriend, worked a full day @ Mercedes, drove 6 hours to South Carolina, celebrated his oldest brothers birthday and Nephew's baptism, slept (a little) and drove back home in time for a full slate of meetings and class today.

"I'm pretty tired." he said today when caught face down at his office desk.

He denied having been sleeping in his office, claiming that the long string of "aaaaaa" on the computer screen was a grant proposal, not the result of his large head laying on the keyboard.

This is the first documented case where Mr. Chandler has gotten more done in two days than in the previous seven.

When asked how he did it, Mr. Chandler responded by mumbling something that sounded like, "mmmm, ham. No, no. Just five more minutes."

It remains to be seen if he can equal that produtivity in the coming days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All true, I tells ya. And it is a grant proposal, damnit.

I had an incredible time this weekend. Jenn and I relaxed and cooked the Matar Panir ( an Indian dish that changes each time we cook it) on Friday night. D. LISH. The next day Nick and I worked a full day at Mercedes. Yep. Now Nick is in on it, too. Sunday we drove to Anderson for a combination Will Birthday / Liam Baptism. It was a wonderful time. Great food (as always), good churchin'. Peeg and Stacy were missed, but they called that night. They went to some crazy amusment park INSIDE in Japan. I hope they post about it. Liam was awesome during the actual Baptism, and I got to stand in as Godfather proxy (Fr. Donoho couldn't make it). Its always great to see so many loved ones in one weekend. Good times.

I think I'm going to get back to my "grant" now ("aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa")

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-01-25T16:25:00.000-06:00

To think that its been 15 days since I last posted is a little crazy. These first few weeks of the semester have been just a little busy, and by that I mean I have barely found time to put on my pants in the morning.

Don't worry, I found time.

Due to my finely honed scientific mind (sharp as silly putty, I tells ya), I have picked out a pattern in school. Each semester gets harder. At the end of the semester sitting in my recliner @ home, I think: "That sure was tough. It can't get much tougher, I guess." Then the next semester starts and a small man in a green three piece suit (he is reality, you see) walks up and hands me a telegram that reads:

Dear Mr. Chandler,
This semester is going to be harder than the last.
Love,
Learning.

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. Just pointing out the fact that things don't get easier, you just get better at doing things. It is AN ILLUSION OF THE MIND! And I have figured it out. Now if I could just get the second part down (that is, getting better)...

In other news, George Bush is still president. Among other things, this has caused me to hate the Sesame Street Episode that is brought to you by the letter "W."

U2 is going on tour soon and Jenn and I are laying down the moola to go see them in Chicago. I am, as they say, "pumped." It will allow me to cross off yet another concert from my "Joe's Super Dream Concert List." I have already seen Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan. Now U2. Who reamins, you ask? REM, among others. You here that, Stipe? Gets to touring.

Speaking of cool bands, my friend Matt introduced me to one called Blue Merle this past week. He described them as a "mix between Nickel Creek and Coldplay." Aptly said. Check them out @ www.bluemerle.net

Speaking further about music I like, The Shins and The Postal Service have both become regulars in my driving rotation. Its difficult for me to like new bands (consider the Super Dream Concert List mentioned above), but lately I have been introduced to a few by friends. I like the Shins so much at this point that I officially rocked out to them in the car the other day. An Official Rocking Out Session involves being caught by another person @ a stop light (or sign, if you like) while rocking out (in-car boogie dancing, singing in an unnecessarily loud manner, acting as if you are a member of the band). I was doing just that when I looked to my left and a family of four was watching me. You know what the best part was? The song rocked too much to stop. Oh. Yeah.

It is time now to go and help give a workshop on how to use Microsoft Excel for general science research. Notice that this was not included in the letter from Learning above.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2005-01-10T17:45:00.000-06:00

Hey. Look at this.

2005-01-02T17:41:00.000-06:00

Ano Novo Feliz Todos!

Yep. Its 2005. And yes, that is Portuguese. I thought it might add some flavor to the post. Tasty Portuguese flavor. Enjoy.

So it has been quite awhile since I have posted. Since I always post about school, I will just say that the semester is over. And that is a good thing, considering I survived it.

Semester: "Do you like that $#!^&*-Kicking I gave you, Joe?"
Joe: "Why yes, Mr. Semester, may I have another"

Except I don't want another. So I have a plan this time. It involves ferrets, two fine Italian folks named Vinny, and lots of Whiskey. You'll see. Suffice to say, it will all turn out smoothly.

Now, on to vacation. Christmas and New Years were both a blast. Nick and I got a PBR lamp with a man whose nose lights up, I got outfitted by the Compton Family Outdoors Store (more on that later) and we got to spend some time with Will, Meghan, and Liam in South Carolina. I read for pleasure, slept and ate more than I should have, hiked, played guitar, and generally did all of the things not allowed during school.

Well I must now cut this short. Its time to take my mom home after Vespers. Stay tuned for ADVENTURES AT THE WALLS OF JERICO, JOE READS A BOOK, and JOE AND JENN GO CAMPING.

All riveting, I assure you.

PS... my long post about Nick turning 21 did not show up for some odd reason. It was fun, and responsible. It is possible, you know.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-12-11T17:07:00.000-06:00

Little Belle died today. She lived almost twice as long as normal for a lab rat, survived cancer twice, and could put screws into a bucket. She's the one on top. Ratagast, the one on the bottom, died this summer. They were both awesome rats, and will be missed.

2004-12-04T13:49:00.000-06:00

The time has arrived to have pictures on the blog. Thanks to Will and Liam, I now know the joy of free picture hosting. Its called "Hello." You should check it out. You can clearly see it has made me more noble, even with an Aerobie on my head.

2004-12-02T19:26:00.000-06:00

***In order to read this post to its fullest effect you must first imagine Joe standing outside next to a tree with his mouth wide open and a look of utter amazement on his face. His hair is a bit rumpled, and perhaps he has put his pants on Backwards or inside out. Got it? Good. Go on with the reading, then.***

Life has a way of waking you up sometimes. You see, its very easy to get bogged down in the monotony of work, sleep, work, sleep, and to sometimes loose sight of the inconceivable joys and astounding sorrows which can occur in the world. Especially poingiant is the sequence when you are presented with Joy, then Sorrow, then Joy, then Sorrow, then Joy all within the space of a week. It can belittle your own self to such an enormous degree that you are faced with the George Harrison fact of existence:

"When you've seen beyond yourself then you will find piece of mind is waiting there. And the time will come when you see we're all one and life flows on within you and without you."

The past week has been such a week.

Such a wonderful week.

It all started when I found out my new car (now named "Sam Wise"), the one I have been fighting for for three months, would be ready right before Thanksgiving. In fact, I could pick it up, pick my mom up in Anniston, and along with Nick drive to South Carolina for Thanksgiving with Will, Megahn, and unborn Liam, Daddy, and the Hobbs. Every time I thought about this I was very happy. I then thought of Peeg and Stacy in Japan and Liz and Josh who had to work and was sad they could not be there, too. They were indeed missed.
That day, right after confirming that my new car was ready, I got a phone call from Mama saying the Beam's Vet Clinic had been badly damaged in a Tornado. The Beams are family friends. Sadness. Then I found out everyone was ok. Great joy and relief. And, oddly enough, the initial joy of my new car was much smaller, now in perspective.
We got to SC and had a wonderful time. Great food, family time, the annual football game where everyone had a least two great plays, and more food. Joy, joy joy.
Nick and I then left and stayed in Anniston for a night, sharing a Sonic feast with my grandparents. They amaze me. The dedication to eachother is amazing. More Joy.
The next morning, very early, Will called to say Meghan was in labor. Joy to the point of jitteriness. Nick and I drove up and got there right after William Arthur Leudders Chandler ("Liam") was born. I held him and he didn't cry. He is healthy, Megahn is healthy. Nick and I hung around to take care of some stuff for Will and Meghan so they could sleep a bit. Indescribable joy. No words, just a warmth and perspective that makes everything else, quite literally, ok. Nick and I headed back to T-town with tons of leftovers in a new car after meeting our new Nephew after having a wonderful thanksgiving in which countless lives (animal and human) were spared in a Tornado. Cloud Nine.
The day after we got back I got a call from my dad. My Great Uncle Arthur had died just a few days short of being 97. Sadness. Sadness for Grandma, his sister, and for the world at the loss of a wonderful man.
Recall, however, Liam's full name. It includes Arthur Leudders... Great Uncle Arthur's name. Liam was named for him. I was told that Uncle Arthur new of the birth before he passed away. Indescribable joy and awe.

Life flows on within you and without you.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-11-17T20:13:00.000-06:00

Its a good feeling (when you are training to be a research scientist) to get some research up and going after a bunch of prep time. In the last week or so this has happened twice to me. I have run the data on my thesis pre-test and started a dialog with some folks in the field on how to improve my measures, and have started testing a scale that has been in development for a year or so. Good times. You would think that this means I have gotten much work done. You would be mistaken.
Imagine, if you will, a peaceful stream. Maybe there are some birds there, and you are sitting beside it on a warm day with a slight breeze. Perhaps you even have some Guinness in a cooler nearby. Now imagine if that stream were to become A GIGANTIC RIVER OF MOLTEN ROCK THAT CONTINUOUSLY POUNDS YOU washing away your blanket, all the birds, and making it very hard to drink the beer. In this story, the RIVER OF MOLTEN ROCK is my workload from here to the end of the semester. It seems never to end, it is very hard to get away from, and at times it burns (like when you are so tired from no sleep that you spill coffee on your face).
So I am busy, what else is new? Please do not take that story to be complaining. If my work were truly a RIVER OF MOLTEN ROCK, I would be a person who loves molten rock. But even molten-rock lovers can only take so much or it at once, you know? Geesh.
Outside of school, U2 releases its new album soon. All I can say is HOLY CRAP HOORAY! I am pumped, though not as pumped as my super-U2-loving-girlfriend Jenn, who gets so excited at the mere mention of the new album that at times I have to bring her a nice glass of water before she can really breathe again. I love her for that. And many other things.
Also, I PICK UP MY CAR NEXT WEDNESDAY THE 24th of NOVEMBER 2004!!! All I have to do is put my purty signature on the paper, put my old plates back on, and I'm good to go. The very first trip? Straight to South Carolina for Thanksgiving. SUPER GOOD TIMES WILL BE HAD BY ALL, and I will get there in my brand new ride. I wish Peeg and Stacy could be there, but they are sort of in another country. Speaking of Peeg and Stacy, they sent us all of this awesome stuff from Japan the other day. The treasures are too great to post all at once, but I will say there is a candy included called "Cream Colon" that is made by a company called "DevilRobots." Laughed. So. Hard. Then. Ate.
So Peeg and Stacy, thanks for the A cool Number One toys and candy. You will be missed at the Thanksgiving. And Peeg, you will be missed at the Chandler Family Football Game, though it doesn't matter since Nick and I would've totally won anyway. Totally.
Time to dive back in to the RIVER OF MOLTEN LAVA (insert scary music here)
I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-11-03T13:26:00.000-06:00

CRAP.

I'm moving to Ireland.

Crap.

Peace (ha!),
Joe

2004-11-02T15:46:00.000-06:00

The saga is nearly at its end.

Saturn is replacing my car.

Yep, you heard me.

And here she is. She will be born this coming Monday the 8th in Spring Hill, custom built for little old me. I will take posession of her soon after. Suggestions of names are most welcome.

So after two months of, ummm, lets just say frustration, I will soon be driving a car of my own again. If you want details, give me a call. One thing I have learned from this is that information is powerful. For the good and the bad.

We'll just say it turned out very well in the end.

I can say no more.

In other news, Winter is finally coming! I am genuinely excited about wearing coats again. Also, the semester is at the point where everything you thought was a long way off suddenly isn't. So soon I will be driving back and forth to my office on no sleep again.

At least it will be in my own car.

And to end on the "lighter side" (what does that really mean?), today Jamie brought an array of Little Debbie snacks to the department. I was not aware of this until a friend pointed it out, at which point I literally jumped out of my chair and ran to the lounge, where I promptly ate a lunch of sugary goodness. Besides that, I had coffee for lunch. HEALTHY IS MY MIDDLE NAME OK. I am now paying for the goodness with wonky belly supreme and the sugar / caffine shakes. The goodness, she hurts so bad.

Also, you have to look at this.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-10-21T16:58:00.000-05:00

As we say in the States: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THA PEEG!!!"

Today, my brother Da Peeg turns older than he was last year. I will leave it up to him to let you all know how close he is now to the big TRIPLE X!

Also, as Peeg is reading this, he is IN THE FUTURE!!! Its already tomorrow in Japan, I think.

That is all for now. Back to work.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-10-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

It appears that blogger has decided to arbitrarily delete my last post. It amounted to the fact that I miss Peeg and Stacy, and that this was made apparent to me the other day when I couldn't even simply pick up the phone to call them. Now I must have a fancy pants phone card and wait until 2am. I did, however, find the TOTALLY AWESOME cd that Peeg made me for Molly when she was new called "Where Tha Cheese At?" and have been listening to it quite a bit these last few days. Yes.
Speaking of Molly, saga continues. After I got the car back with a "confident" repair of the problem and a sweet resolution package that included a new 75,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty on top of my existing factory warranty, she broke down. Again. On the interstate. Again. The same damn problem, and this time I was on the way to work. Lost a day's wages, lost a whole lot of patience, and nearly lost my life in an accident (again). At the moment the paper work is being reviewed for replacement or repurchase. In the meantime I am in my third loner car in the last four and a half weeks. This time it is a 2004 Pontiac GranPrix Widetrack. After naming the Chevy Silvarado I drove for a week "Brutus" and the 1999 Saturn SL2 I drove for two weeks "Silver" (she was silver), Nick and I are deciding between "Fatty Fatty Boom Ballaty" (the car is f-in huge.) OR "Gordon Palmer" (the name of the building where I work, and the same initials as Grand Prix). Please let me know your vote, or any other suggestions for that matter.
Other than the seemingly constant interruption that these car problems have provided, my life is nice and busy with school. In fact, I must go there now and go to class. But before I go, I would like to say that my brother Peeg, who sold me Molly, ROX JAPAN'S FACE OFF, and is no way connected to or responsible for any of the problems it has caused my lately. Every once in awhile there is a Lemon in any bunch or cars, and I happened to get one. So to the Peeg way off in Japan, YOU ROCK. And I am still very glad I got to buy a car from you. Yes.
I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-10-11T15:14:00.000-05:00

Superman died today.

His contributions to the area of recovery from catastrophic neurological injury were tremendous, and his death will leave a big hole in an important area of research, more for his star power than anything else, but the impact will be felt just the same.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-10-07T01:14:00.000-05:00

I would like to take this opportunity to say that I miss Peeg and Stacy. It wasn't like I saw them all the time before, but now it is difficult even to talk to them on the phone. This hit me the other day when I was getting out of my office late at night. It was dark, and I looked up to see a crazy squirrel frozen in the streetlamp light. The situation would have made sense had it been in headlights, but apparently this squirrel couldn't tell the difference. When I said "hey Mr. Squirrel, its ok. Its not a car. You can move now", it didn't move. So the infrequent occurance happened where the spirit of the Peeg took me. I ran at the squirrel all wonkey and yelled "SQUIRREL GAME SQUIRREL GAME" in my best Peeg voice. This got the animal to move. I then opened my cell phone to call Peeg and Stacy to tell them, but then I realized they now live on another continent and such.
Also, it looks like my Mr. T action figure is breakdancing right now, but really he just fell behind my computer monitor and landed in a funk-a-licious way. Funky, funky.
I hope everyone is well (including the mister squirrel).

Peace,
Joe "Japan is pretty f-ing far away" Chandler

2004-10-06T23:52:00.000-05:00

SO MUCH TO SAY.

So little coherence.

First, I will let you all know about the fate of my car, Molly. I will spare you the long version and just say that she has spent much more time with the people at Saturn of Birmingham lately than with me. Muchly much much more time. In fact, the longest I have driven my car since the start of the school year has been five days. The rest of the time she has been either sitting and waiting to go to the shop, or has indeed been in the shop. Twice she has inexplicably shut down on me in precarious situations, and that is the main reason for all of this. There was also a bad clutch repair gone wrong in there, but that is, seemingly, in the past. At this poin they have identified part of the probelm. I have a loner car right now, and have also been in contact with Saturn Coporate to talk about possible replacement of the car if they cannot nail down the problem. That is how all that is going. The loner car is nice, but is not my Molly. It has no CD player and has a considerable lack of "pizazz" and "zip" both of which I have grown accustomed to.

Second, FIDDLER'S WAS A BLAST, as always. But this year there were two things missing, in my mind at least: Will and Meghan, and Jenn. All had reasons no to be there, but all were missed. There were many people there, however, and we had a good time. I saw Jamie, Allie, David and his lady, Joey (ageless with inexplicably teenage Catlin and Adam pictures), and got to meet David's birth mother. I also saw David's parents, my parents, and Nick and Ashley. I had a nice cold that allowed me to sing like rumbly Johnny Cash Joe, and Mama sang beautifully as always. I also played dulcimer, which went as well as my current skill level will allow. Joey backed Mama and I up on everything, and a great time was had. At the traditional "Behind the White House Jam" the next day I lost my voice to the cold but gained the knowledge of how to play many Simon and Garfunkel songs thanks to Jamie. Before I left I bought Jenn a surprise, which I cannot reveal yet because she hasn't gotten it. I already miss evrybody I got to see and I look forward to next year when Will and Meghan will be back with a jammin' baby Liam and Jenn can again experience the grandness of ho apple cider and funnel cakes.

Third, I need your help in deciding if I am crazy. I am currently writing a grant with the idea of dually enrolling in a physical therapy program staring next summer while continuing to complete my PhD in conitive psych. If you think this is a bit crazy, please do let me know.

Fourth, if anyone knows a good cassarole recipe that includes chicken and cheese I would love to have it. A) I love cassarole, and B) the weather is starting to get cool enough to appriciate one coming out of the oven.

Fifth, I have a word for you: HOMOSCEDASTICITY. See, statistics can be fun.

Sixth, Julie chased her tail the other day for what must have been 15 minutes. She apparently did it once before in front of Nick and I didn't see it and so couldn't fully appreciate it. But I saw it today, and man, it was probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Even better than when a dog does it. The best is that she never caught it. She just got visibly tired and had to stop, scowling at her own tail while panting, obviously plotting her next move in eradicating her own appendage.

Seventh, THE END.

I hope everyone is well (to Peeg and Stacy: moshi moshi).
Peace,
Joe

2004-09-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

My Ma has another Blog! After the first messed up some how, she re-established as the Liturgy Mouse 2. I have changed the link to the side accordingly. Go and read the many adventures of my Ma.

Do it.... faster!

In other news I am so tired. Film @ 11. Or not.

I hope everyone is well,
peace,
Joe

2004-09-20T17:52:00.000-05:00

It is an uncomfortable thing when strangers wink at you.

Ok, don't say to yourself "no, it isn't Joe." Because it is. You know of what I speak.
I'm not talking about some nice old lady or corduroy-clad old man winking at you about the fact that they just gave you a nice piece of bubble gum (they have that right, you know). No, I am talking about one person winking at another person knowingly because they are both driving trucks.

You heard me.

While my car was being fixed, I was driving a full-sized Chevy Silverodo. Let me tell you, things are different up there, in the land of gas-guzzling-no-I-cannot-park-there SUVS. First off, you must master the art of not hitting others in a vehicle obviously designed to be driven on roads proportioned for some long-dead race of giants. Secondly, people in other trucks nod, wave, and yes, wink at you as if you were a member of the Masonic Order of Truck Owners. At first you think folks are just being friendly, but after awhile the pattern emerges too boldly to be ignored.

For example: I was driving said rental truck the last day I had it, when I came to a four way stop. A guy about my age was at the other stop. I motioned him on. He motioned me on. I motioned him again. He accepted. As he drove by, the guy clearly winked at me. I did not do what to do, so, with the windows down, I said "hey, thanks" to him. He winked again. This time I did not have time to respond, though I waved to no one in particular, not wanting to be rude.

Question to truck owners: does this happen to you too, or am I just a purty young man in the South? Please do tell.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-09-13T15:05:00.000-05:00

Hi.
In lieu of a long and witty post, I will summarize the last few weeks with a numbered outline with explanatory asterisks:

1) School started (newly decorated office!*)
2) I ate some food (mmmm, food**)
3) I saw Will (busy***) and Meghan (pregnant****)
4) I saw Peeg (moving*****) and Stacy (moving as well*****)
5) I saw Liz (Ha******) and Josh (comp "party" usa*******)
5) I started 3,789,456 research projects here at school (!)
6) Nick set some Corn on fire********
7) My car broke*********
8) I got my car back*********
9) It broke again*********
10) I visited Jenn (beautiful and busy**********)
11) I got a rental car (Chevy Silvarodo!*********)
12) I made this post.

*The Jennifer Compton Honorary Office (she gave me the stuff)
**How do you do your Dale's?
***Never EVER throw away your paper
****LIAM!
*****JAPAN. (sweet baby jesus)
******Where did this nickname come from?
*******Party on, Josh
(!) No, really
********We still ate it
*********How I miss her (Molly The Saturn)
**********How I miss her more (Jenn my girlfriend)

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-08-22T18:49:00.000-05:00

My Ma has a blog! Congrats on jumping aboard the "Train of Technology."

Now my Dad is the only one left, and soon we will have him on the dark side...

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,
Joe

2004-08-11T18:10:00.000-05:00

First off, HAPPY 34th ANNIVERSAY TO MY MOM AND DAD. See the last part of this post for more congratulations and mushy things.
Now, on to the post...

Ok, ok. Fine. I might be a little obsessed.
For the last few weeks I have been helping Jenn decide what type of new computer she should buy. She wanted (and purchased) a Mac, so I did a little research so I could be helpful in any resulting conversations. Now she has her brand-spankin' new Power Book, and I am hooked.

Hooked I say.

I have had my faithful PC, Stan, for a bit over 4 years now. He has done his time. All my college papers, archives of thousands of poems, song ideas, pictures, ALL (yes, all) of my CDs backed up and countless more MP3s. He shows his burden. These days he doesn't even like to start up. When he does, he is grumpy and slow. But I have stuck with him.

Until now.

I have been saving for a new computer out of necessity for a few months now, and I have all along intended to buy a supa keen one, as Stan was basic, even in his day. Until now I have had my heart set on a Sony VAIO, but no more. Now that Mac has virtually no problems communicating with the PC world AND I can get Microsoft Office for it, I have no choice. Here is why: Macs do everything I have ever wanted to do with a computer in an easy fashion. All these things come pre-installed. Examples: iTunes for music listening, iMovie for Chandler Sibling Joints, iDVD for archiving lots of stuff, and most of all GarageBand, the most beautiful home recording software ever. EVER. Now Will and Jamie and I will be able to swap music files from across the nation. And my stuff won't sound super crappy (well, at least the recording quality aspect of it). Also don't forget AirPort, FireWire, and, yes precious, the iPOD.

I was almost there in terms of money for a nice new computer. Now that I have decided on a Mac I am a third of the way there. But that is the price of beauty, I suppose. One day soon I will be posting from my new beauty, even if it means more Ramen noodles than before.

Also, Peeg and Stacy are moving to Japan. Here's what I have to say about that:

::joe stands up, runs around the psych department screaming, does a little jig and then returns to the computer::

Congratulations, and have fun. I think its one of the most awesome things in the world.

Not to ramble (RAMBLE RAMBLE RAMBLE) but the last two weeks many other things have happened. Jenn and I moved her into her new place in Nashville despite rain, a Cow Ant bite and the repetition of three brutal flights of stairs (hooray!), David came to visit (HOOGE!) and Carl and Joe came to visit (BACK FROM PERU AND OFF TO GRAD SCHOOL!) I have had a busy and wonderful time.

::WARNING I AM ABOUT TO GET MUSHY TO THE MAX::

These happenings (excluding the Mac thing) along with the facts that Nick gets back from training soon, my parents celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary yesterday, my cousin Danni graduated from college, and Will and Meghan are having a baby have brought me to this conclusion: I am tremendously blessed. I have unbelievable friends, an incredible girlfriend (she's included in the friend category as well) and a wonderful family who are all doing great things. I will say, to put a stop to my rambling that I am simply overwhelmed and can't put it all into words. Thanks to everyone for their love and friendship, and I hope we all continue to be blessed by eachothers' presence.

::END OF MUSHY SECTION::

Geez, that was a long post.

I hope everyone is well.

Peace,

Joe

2004-07-28T17:22:00.000-05:00

I feel compelled to point the three or so people who read this site to my friends' site.

On it you will find their position on the Amendment to ban gay marriage.
I must say that I agree with both positions and that they put it in a way that reminds me why they are friends that I hold in such high esteem.

Also Joe John's description of his new hockey equipment is pretty cool too.

Look at the posts from Friday, July 16th and Wednesday, July 21st.

And any others if you like.

Peace,
Joe

2004-07-28T17:02:00.000-05:00

I am indeed a travelin' fool.

THE EVIDENCE:

Exhibit A: I often use driving as a way to calm down, listening to good music and rocking out, even at stoplights.

Exhibit B: I once considered buying some driving gloves. No, really.

Exhibit C: I have owned my 2003 SATURN ION (Molly to her friends) for just over a year now and she has over 26,000 miles on her.

This leads me to the next part of the post, which is that I am driving to Nashville this weekend to help Jenn move into her new place. Molly will not be making the trip. Aquinas (my mom's truck) will be there in Molly's stead, as she can carry big things and Molly can only zip past big things in third gear.
Many Chandlers are travelin' lately, which leads me to the next part of my post which is about Nick.
My younger brother (who I can still remember ducking for cover and screaming at the sight of Da Peeg with a pillow) will be going to Ft. Bragg this weekend for a two week stint with the Special Forces. He'll be in the field trying to stay away from SF members. This fact makes me:

A) Proud
B) Scared
C) Man, I love Peanut Butter!
D) Pray that the f-ing war will end before Nick is commissioned.
E) All of the above.

The answer is E.

Also, Peeg and Stacy are flirting with Japan. Or moving there, maybe (!!!). See their websites for details.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe "Ramblin' Man" Chandler

2004-07-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Congratulations are in order on several fronts.

1) Happy Birthday to my Dad! Congrats on turning 35.
2) Happy Knowing the Gender of Your Baby to Will and Meghan! Congrats on picking an awesome name.
3) Happy Finding of a Place to Live to my girlfriend! Congrats on not letting the process get to you.
4) Happy Not Being 100 Degrees for Like Two Days to the Weather! Congrats on not making making my skin melt off my face like last week.
5) Happy Almost 200 Posts on the Blog to Myself! Congrats on keeping up with telling others of the mundane happenings that make up your everyday life (except that fake shooting. That was exciting.)

That is all. If I have missed any congratulations, please let me know. I will most certainly add them soon.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

2004-07-12T15:35:00.000-05:00

Not much to say right now, I just felt a post was needed. But that does raise a good point... is is the quantity of posts or the quality?
So here I am posting, but my brain is a little empty and fried from the day (which is far from over) so the post will not be my best. So should I have posted in the first place? Well, I suppose that doing this does show some sort of "dedication" to my blog. But do you think that my blog would get its feelings hurt if I had waited another day or so and had something interesting (or not) to say? I don't know. I tend to anthropomorphize things anyway. You should see my family and pets. Or instruments. Or cars. Ok, everything.
I give human voices and personalities to everything. So I guess if I put forth the effort to give my blog a voice it might be saying, "Stop it, Joe. This post has really not gone anywhere or said much of anything. But I still like you, because you are the one who gives me a voice and can basically decide what it is I say."
I realize that the fact that I just scolded myself through my blog by making it talk could be interpreted as mentally unstable. Don't think of it that way. I prefer for you to think of it as "healthy" and "creative."
Man I need to take a nap.

I hope everyone is well,
Peace,
Joe

2004-06-29T11:07:00.000-05:00

And now...
THE ADVENTURES OF JOE AT TARGET AND THE THRIFT STORE.

Part One: Target.
So I got off work the other day and remembered that I had a few things I needed from the grocery store. I didn't have a list (VERY unlike me) but I thought that I could probably remember it once I got there.
How wrong I was. The overwhelming enormity of STUFF at Target is enough to drive any work-weary individual to the very depths of distraction. Or enough to make them forget most of their list. Anyway, I figured that if I couldn't remember it, it wasn't all that important. That left me with the two things I could remember: beer and fabric softener.
There are two things that I find most irksome: clothes that are clean but not soft, and a refridgerator without beer at the end of a long day. So I picked my farbic softener refill (I use the same bottle and recycle the rest!) and then headed to the beer aisle. There I was presented with quite a dilemma. Lately I have been buying very cheap beer. I mean VERY cheap. Like PBR and Old Milwaukee, the kind you can get a 12-pack for $5.50. The kind that tastes like the taste you have in your mouth the morning after having too much of any beer. I am a graduate student supporting myself for all intents and purposes, so cheap beer has been the way to go. But not this time. I broke down and got the Sam Adams Summer Ale. How I love a true, full lager. I didn't go so far as Guinness, but there was a definite break down in the cheap beer buying system.
ANYWAY, when I got up to the checkout, I pulled out my ID, as per normal. I am used to being ID'd and it does not bother me. Well the cash register lady took one look at what I was buying, then took a look at the fact that I was holding my ID, and said, laughing, "I don't need your ID, hon. Only people over 21 would buy just fabric softener and beer." She chuckled a bit more, and I left, realizing that she was probably right.

PART TWO: The Thrift Store
So last night I went to the thrift store to purchase women's clothing that would suffice to pass itself off as being from the 1930s. The reason will com soon. First, the shooting.
So I was outside of the thrift store talking to Jenn when I noticed a car slow down parallel to a few men sitting on some benches outside the store. The men in the car started yelling at the men on the bench, and I was pretty sure that a fight was about to ensue. Just then a man in the car held his arm out the window, there was a loud BANG, and a man near the bench (who was now standing) fell over. The car, after jolting for a moment, sped off. I thought to myself that the man had been shot, so I ran over there.
I found the man clutching his chest and screaming DIOS MIO!!! over and over. I asked if he was Ok and started to try to evaluate the scene. He stopped screaming and just looked at me. Then I noticed that his shirt was quite devoid of any blood and he was definitely not shot. I asked again if he was ok, and he turned and muttered something to his friends in Spanish too fast for me to catch. They then continued staring at me. Thinking back on the situation, I realized that the car had backfired at a most inopportune time, and that the screaming Spanish man had simply been shaken up. That was my cue to leave. I said "Adios" under my breath and called Jenn back to talk more about 1930s women's clothes.
You see, Jenn is going to a wedding this weekend in Arizona, and she has to find a costume for the rehearsal dinner where they are playing out a murder mystery from the 30s. She looked unsuccessfully in Birmingham for some clothes that would work. Since she was strapped for time I volunteered to look at the thrift store in T-town.
When I got there I knew what I was looking for (I had talked to costume expert Liz) so I went to the skirts and blouses. Now looking back I suppose it was a very odd sight to see a skinny white man holding long wool skirts up to himself while trying to hold a blouse up as well. At one point it became too much for one of the workers, and she let out a huge guffaw while saying, "he be tryin on a skirt! Ooooo! Look at 'im in them blouses!" Not wanting to come out on the bottom of this situation, I turned around to her and winked. She stopped laughing and looked very confused.
I found some clothes, purchased them, and left. When I got home I had a Sam Adams Summer Ale, folded some nice soft clothes from the dryer, changed the cat box, and went to sleep.
Adventures.
So if you have gotten this far, I commend you. I don't think I have ever written a post this long with so little actual content.

I hope everyone is well,
Peace,
Joe