Another Monday, another list of things to do. I’m still not exactly back on top of my game just yet, but rest assured, I’m working on it. I’m still officially on the M.I.A. side of life, but give me a few more days and I’ll be back and maybe even better than ever.
Just a few updates:
I think I did better last week with my overall monthly quota.
I’m considering talking to someone at the office to write for their new newsletter… but what would I write about? Hmmm…
I’ve grown to be more in love with Tina Fey now that I have 30 Rock season 2 on DVD.
I also have Myrna Loy & William Powell movie collection on DVD with a bunch of movies I’ve never heard of, but are pretty good. (It took almost 2 full weeks for Amazon to deliver this and the above disc set to arrive… new longest wait record for me.)
I now know what I need to get a computer I’m rebuilding to a great condition, or at least something that can really benefit me, maybe the Indoob, or 3S:FX. We’ll call this “Operation: Fixputer.”
There’s a freak snow storm keeping me from leaving the house today. We’ll call this “Snowed in.”
And I’m seriously hating these stupid viruses/malware in my dad’s computer.
I started my second session of Spanish classes and I’ve already forgotten half of the first session.
Oh yeah, and I’m no longer behind in loan payments and stuck in debt which means I can go back to Middlesex this fall and maybe get approved for some credit cards I’ll never use to help build a better credit score! Yay!
In the meantime, I have less than $50 to my name until Friday around 2am, which I plan to be in a movie theater watching Watchmen with my Midnight Premiere Crew. More on that later…
March 2, 2009
m.i.a. continues
February 27, 2009
fripodding and succeeding: bobby womack – across 110th street
As I stated earlier this week, I’ve been rather busy attempting to get back on top of my numbers at work. Ya know, my “A Game.” Last week was my D game. This week might’ve been a B+ game. Even though I had several meetings I could write off to subtract from my numberly goal, I still wanted to surpass my own expectations. But hey, I did what I had to do.
But enough about that. Let’s get on to today’s iPick for the friPod.
Once again I thought I’d pick something relevant to Black History month… but again I lied. It’s not that I couldn’t pick such a song, but usually it’s what iSaac and I are feeling at the moment when the pick is chosen. Today, we picked Bobby Womack’s Across 110th Street.
Thanks to Quentin Tarantino, my ears have been opened to this gritty, real-life account to the hardships of the ghetto. Not that I haven’t heard songs like that before (specifically from the 70′s) because I can name a few artists that would tell you like it is: Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Curtis Mayfield to name a few. But it’s just something about this song. Maybe it’s how he chant “Across 110th street” as the instruments flare up. I think it’s the instruments that have a lot to do with it, really. But I also just like the lyrics as well.
And movie buffs may have heard this song in other movies too. I was just informed this song is also featured on such a movie called Across 110th Street. Imagine that. Actually the song, and several others, was sung by Womack himself. That’s how Black cinema was done back then. Again, check Curtis Mayfield and Super Fly. Another movie this song is featured in is American Gangster. But there’s another song from that movie I liked a lot I’ll save for another day. But let’s take a look at the scene from QT’s Jackie Brown that sent me to iTunes in the first place.
The scene itself isn’t all that thrilling, but it’s nicely done. Tarantino has a thing for long one shots. He also likes to pay homages to heroes, like blaxploitation movies, such as this one and using that era’s sex symbol Pam Grier. The movie itself was pretty good. Classic Tarantino, even though it’s not truly his since he didn’t write it. But I’ll forgive him. But extra kudos to him for picking this song to start the movie. It’s also a great song to drive to… or wait in traffic… or walking down 109th Street.
February 24, 2009
m.i.a. = missing indoobian actions
This particular M.I.A. does not stand for “missing in action” or refer to the lady singer famous for the song Paper Planes which I don’t particularly care for, but was surprised to see performing at the Grammys a few weeks ago. That’s another story entirely.
Some may have noticed decreased activity of my presence in the blogospshere. Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on who is stalking me I suppose. Or who I’ve been stalking. I haven’t really been reading most of my favorite blogs recently. Much less comments. I haven’t even responded to comments here, yet! But no worries. I’ll be back, sooner or later. I’ve just been really busy. And this week is no exception.
Especially this week, actually. I have about 2-3 meetings this week, some of which are on the same day! Not only that, but my weekly 55 file quota I had to add an extra 20 to make up for lost files last week. That’s my own fault. All that slacking had caught up with me. So consider this doing time for the crime. I progressed in my digression (from work). I slacked early and often a little too much, then crammed as much work as I could in the last 2, sometimes 3 days. Which meant I had to work on a Friday!
[Gasps are heard world-wide, shock and awe on their faces. Even dogs look up confused. Birds stop chirping. Planes are grounded. Construction halted. Even the Sun (which no one knew had a mouth) has mouth agape.]
Yes, indeed, the master slacker had to practically work an extra full day to try to catch up. I can use the word “try” because I gave it my best attempt, but didn’t make my 55. I failed.
[Everyone has sighs of sadness.]
But never fear, I’m on a mission! I’ve changed my ways! Yesterday, a good start for a Monday, I was up 20, which makes up for last week (since in reality, they count the files for an entire month) and today I already spent an hour and a half letting my computer update/upgrade security measures (which counts towards off-production, and would’ve taken up my time some time this week whether I manually started it or not). Plus the meetings will also count and maybe save me a whole 5 files or more! Who knows? What I do know is that I will strive to achieve my 55, or even 65 and shine through with dazzling but humble colors that I expect myself to do. I have a reputation to keep. It’s okay to slack as long as I have the work to back it up first. And now it’s time to back that thing up. I’m sorry, bad joke. This isn’t 1999 anymore. Forgive me.
Speaking of music, friDay may be the next time you’ll hear from me on here. I want to give 1000 apologies for missing last weeks and not doing anything Black-History-Month-related like I might’ve said I would sometime this months… which is almost over. But as I always believed, Black history should be celebrated all the time. So maybe I’ll purposefully do what I was going to do in March. Or April. Or August. Nothing ever happens in August. We’ll see. But as for now, back to basics. It’s time to attack! I’ve got iSaac here, fully charged and ready to go. I had my eggs (no bacon today, maybe tomorrow) and a pretty good cup of coffee. Not feeling the caffeine yet… Oh wait… HA HA! ….yeah, there it is! Okay now… attack! [Takes a short nap.]
February 4, 2009
a [pot] lucky day
Today is crunch day, like most Wednesdays, once again. The difference between this Wednesday and the Wednesdays of the past few weeks is this: I’m in (mostly) full health [coughs], my day is just starting (I woke up at 8:45 instead of 5:45), I have a full water bottle (I don’t mind tap and recycling is good for Earth), and iSaac is fully charged and ready to keep me entertained whilst I break down the system (and thanks to my past friPod countdowns, you have an idea of what I’m jamming out to).
Today in particular is a big meeting day at the office. The company would like everyone to be there, by everyone, they mean those who work at home, like me. Will I be there? No. I’m saving on gas and my personal loss of body heat. Which reminds me, I need to make some phone calls to see how much it’ll cost Sam to get some heat in his system even though I’m pretending winter will be over next week.
Anyway, there’s a meeting I won’t be attending–not in person anyway. I’ll listen over the phone and eventually get back to work attacking my files while everyone at the office enjoys what’s called a pot luck. I’m fully aware of the joys a pot luck lunch brings, I just wish it had a different name. It makes me think of leprechauns with black pots of gold. Not that a name like that will keep me from eating. Hmm… now I want me Lucky Charms. But does it seem odd I’m passing up free food? Maybe to some. But the catch is we are supposed to bring food with us, so the others will be like “I’m sure lucky I came” or “They are lucky they got here to get some of my three-alarm rice!” My mother is grudgingly bringing meatballs. I’d like to go a little crazy on them if I made them, slathering them in BBQ sauce or something. Had I done that, none of my co-workers would get one. Tough luck, no pot luck.
The other great thing about today, I know exactly how many more files I need so I could “slack off” tomorrow. That is, I need to destroy as many files as I can today: at least 20 to make my 55 quota. And hey! If I do more I can count it as overtime! And Lord knows I need some OT pay. Sammy needs a new heating system… among other things.
January 14, 2009
secret office secrets to successful office success
So my higher-ups told me I’m doing really well, and I’m in for a bit of a raise due to some impressive yearly reviews. I figured, why not share a few of my secrets of success. (That sorta goes out to Friar whom I’ve told I will only give out my secrets for a fee, or in a book… or something.) But these are my secrets at how to do an office job like mine and be successful. They don’t work for everyone, and at the same time, some of these secrets contradict or conflict with others. So if any of these can apply to your job, go for it. But there’s no money back guarantee, since it’s free, so if you get fired, I can’t help you whatsoever.
*When there is a quota per day/week, or some kind of tracking of work per time ratio involved.
- Eat a great but non-filling but delicious breakfast. (Doesn’t have to be healthy, you just don’t want to feel sleepy when you’re done.)
- Work like you owe somebody money.
- Caffeine pills sometimes work better than coffee. But take it before noon unless you work really late.
- Slack off early until you get bored of slacking, this motivates someone to work harder later to make up for any lost time.*
- Work like there’s a chance you might be fired tomorrow.
- Pee often or not at all.
- Do as much work as you can Monday thru Wednesday, so Thursday (or Friday if you work the 5 day week) you can window shop on the online shops.*
- Lollipops.
- Set slack off times (aka “break time”) every hour or so… whenever really.
- Work at home.
- Make hotel reservations for a weekend getaway a month from now, make sure mini golf is involved, work hard towards this date.
- Make sure you have access to at least 1,000 songs that you like.
- Set a reward in place to help motivate you until quittin’ time, i.e. order pizza @ 6.
- If you have no more drive in your stride, call it quits as long as it’s not Thursday (or Friday if you are a loser).*
- Do your stretches and spin in your chair… it helps to get blood flowing and feeling like you are doing something physical.
- Recline whenever possible. It’s like stretching.
- When the computer is on, you are getting paid. And just because you’re at your desk, doesn’t mean you have to be actually working.
- Time yourself and know how long the average time is for you to do your tasks, then plan a crunch time where you work double time non-stop, immediately followed with a break, or calling it quits.*
- Start a blog.
January 5, 2009
December 19, 2008
how i can’t wait to not leave the house
iTunes and I aren’t getting along this week. Fortunately it’s not stopping iSaac from giving me my awesome tunes, but I can’t burn any CDs and I’m a quest–no… a mission to fix this problem so I can share in my musical joy with others who’d like a copy of one of a kind mixes apparently only I know how to mix. But let that not stop me from continuing my trek of trailers I adore. Even though it’s the holiday season, you’d think I’d do something festive for my friPod iPick. HA! I probably would, but no.
I’d also lament about my job’s recent layoffs and I’d like to thank God for sparing my job when a few people I know were let go. Yeah, this bad economy is hitting close to home for everyone. It also gave me yet another boost, or a push, or an increase of motivation to complete a script or two ASAP. With that, I began the script for “The Writing Retreat” (working title until I find the symbols I’m looking for). So you can believe I do count, appreciate and cherish each and every blessing I have in my life. The holiday season has nothing to do with it, I’ve always been like that.
How about an honorable mention? Fall Out Boy’s newest album is indeed pretty enjoyable. I also recently acquired The Roots latest effort but I haven’t listened to it. It takes about 48 hours for me to move on from something new that I like. Sometimes longer. Speaking of newness, I now have Seinfeld season 5. Yes yes y’all! Oh, and to accompany it, Scene It: Seinfeld Edition. I don’t want to play it yet because I only have 4 seasons of supreme knowledge. I also don’t have many people to play with me. 
( Nevertheless, it’d be a game well enjoyed soon enough.
Lastly, New England is finally getting REAL snow. A good ole’ fashioned snow storm. It just started as I type. I’ll brush up on my photography skills and post a few “Christmassy” photos later. And by later I mean hopefully by or before Monday.
But so far, my vacation has been everything I dreamed. Falling asleep in the living room at 10pm and waking up to this a few hours later…
To help put you in the frame of mind I was in, I woke up around 2:30-2:45 and remained severely puzzled for the next minute as I recovered from groggy confusion and waked-upness. Really, it was a massive “what… the… stank!?” moment for me and I was a little too nervous about going back to sleep at that point. But I eventually came to my senses and changed the channel to something familiar, then went to bed… only I couldn’t fall asleep so I watched a movie while I ate a bowl of Cocoa Pepples, ground beef and a bag popcorn (not all together… but yes, those were consumed in the span of 3 hours).
And today I ventured to the Mart and my local DVD rental chain and encountered disgustingly long lines everywhere. I do not like it. These lines were preparations for a deadly last minute Christmas gifts, Christmas dinner and looks-like-we’ll-be-snowed-in food and movies. I think it’s a New England thing, but I could be wrong.
Well, I’m off to work on other written works, and eventually take a long winter’s nap until I’m called to shovel out the driveway like we’re about to go somewhere (we aren’t). We go in shifts just to keep up with the snow. It’s better to shovel less snow by shovelling more frequently, no? I better charge up iSaac.
December 16, 2008
in my mind, i’m already gone
My vacation begins officially December 19th. I don’t have plans on going anywhere except the deep recesses of my mind in Dreamland which involves sleeping past 9 AM without worry of missing phone calls from my office phone. Actually, the ringer on my phone is already off (sometimes, especially on Mondays, I leave the ringer off and wait for the red lights to tell me when my phone is ringing). And whenever I leave my desk for the day, I’m rarely concerned about missing calls.
But not only do I get an extend stay in Dreamland, but I can actually write when I feel like writing. This is why I chose December to focus on my screenplays, because I knew I’d have these 2 weeks to devote some “anytime” time to them. Whereas when I’m at work, I can’t run upstairs to type out a scene or wake up in the middle of the night to type out a conversation when I know I need to remain asleep so I can work the next day. I always get those strong urges to write at the wrong times. It’s a terrible cycle.
With that, I’ll just say I didn’t get much script work done this weekend. It’s not like I didn’t try. I just wasn’t feeling it. So instead of forcing myself, I just watched movies, talked with friends, relaxed, listened to new music and had some delicious Jamaican food! And when I say I watched movies… I watched about 5 in a 24 hours span. Not that that’s new for me, I just haven’t done it in a while. I haven’t written reviews for these movies (which included The Visitor, His Girl Friday, The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008), Horton Hears a Who and This Christmas) yet, but they will be on my MySpace shortly.
Also, I think what I will do from now on is post reviews for movies I’ve seen in theaters on this blog as well as on MySpace. So look for The Day The Earth Stood Still in the very near future. Wow, that almost sounds like an actual threat.
On a sad note, I lost a dear friend and semi-prized possession over the weekend. Friday I was having lunch with my friend, and I shared that the belt I was wearing was tearing and how I thought I’d have another month left with it. I was off by a month and an hour when is snapped while I was shopping at the Mart. Fortunately no one noticed, except for me and anyone looking at my face with my sudden look of fear and embarrassment. Fortunately my jeans are not that loose that they would immediately fall because then I would’ve been in a lot more trouble. 
But besides stopping dead in my tracks and looking like I lost my wallet or my keys, I was in the clear. I checked out and moved to my car as quickly as possible making sure my pants kept up with me. When I got to the car I checked the damage, cried a little bit, then went home. Ah, good times. As for happier news, guess who’s first in getting all their wrapped gifts under the tree? And yes, I’ll admit, I cheated and had practically all my gifts shipped already wrapped. So call me lazy.
November 21, 2008
fripodding and dining
I had my first staff meeting at an off-site location on Wednesday. Just to break it down a bit further, “off-site” means not in or around the office. With most of my team being work-at-home, it seems like a really good idea to do. And I will agree that it was a good idea! We had our luncheon at one of my semi-favorite place’s to eat: Chili’s. It’s “semi” now due to the ever changing menu and me not going as often as I once did. It’s still a great place. And there’s a picture of some of my fun times on this blog back a few months ago. Anyway, the meeting wasn’t really business related. With everyone being at their home all the time, we forget what each other look like or what they’re doing. I personally don’t mind turning invisible. The only times that’s impossible for me is at church and when I was at Purchase in certain areas.
Later today, more like an hour from now, I’ll be dining at one of my top favorite pizza joints. The one and only Pizza Hut. Oh Pizza Hut, how I love thee. Shall I count the ways? No, not right now. It is sad these places are disappearing. Sometimes you’ll get the Pizza Hut Express which everyone tells me is crap and not worth it, but c’mon! It’s the closest to Pizza Hut pizza until I make it to an official hut! At least we are getting an IHOP built closer to us. Oh IHOP, how I love thee…
Today’s friPod iPick is an actual band. I’ve been iPodding this band all week since I heard a little diddy called This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race. Actually, what I was listening to was a Kanye West remix, then I finally dove into the band’s catalogue, something I was supposed to do a year or so ago since they were on my list of artists to check out.
I’m talking about Fall Out Boy. A band that has been labelled “emo” to “alternative rock” and a whole bunch of other things I may or may not understand or agree with. Actually, I’ve heard many people complain that these boys aren’t “rock” at all, but how can one define such a genre? At one point, Chuck Berry was considered rock. How would I define it? Well if you can rock out, then it’s a rock band. I can rock out to The Temptations, John Legend, Panic at the Disco, Daft Punk, Justice… The list can go on.
But F.O.B. is our topic today. I’ve been particularly infatuated with their last album, Infinity on High. Their new album Folie a Deux. There’s no doubt I’ll pick up that album either via iTunes or Wal-Mart, whoever has more tracks. Some of you know what I’m talking about. Having heard parts of their first two albums and all of Infinity and having seen most of their music videos, this is a band I really enjoy all day long.
I will say that they have elements of screamo is some of their songs… basically just screaming lyrics and I needed to fins the lyrics to translate. I could do without all that screaming, but hey… I guess it works for them. As for their lyrics, Pete Wentz is responsible for most of them. And if you read them, they are rather cryptic. At least they are to me. Some I can figure out, but that might be due to having already been told what the theme of the song is about. I also wanted to know the lyrics because the music is so good, I wanted to sing along but couldn’t figure out the words. The Carpal Tunnel of Love is a good example. I’d link it to the music video, but I’m not a fan of the video. Just my opinion, find it on your own. Just shield the eyes of your children. Most of their songs have interesting titles too, some with their own back stories. Another well liked song, Thnks Fr Th Mmrs. A bit hit of theirs actually. Funny video too. By the way, they are friends with the other bands on their record label including Panic at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes, so don’t be surprised to see them in their videos.
I will link you to a cover of Michael Jackson’s Beat It which I really like, and one of their newer singles I Don’t Care with the band being a crazy band. I enjoy driving to this song, but I amazing don’t have road rage. Imagine that. Ooo! Pizza Hut time!
October 31, 2008
i am not a halloweenie
There were also Halloween celebrations going about. Some dressed in their costumes. Some passed out candy. There was also a farewell party, non-Halloween related (see ya later Todd, you taught me well).
I do not celebrate Halloween. You can call it religion if you want to. Knowing where the holiday came from kinda made me not want to give in to the idea of it. Sure it’s not as demonic as it once was back in the day. Well, not in the mainstream. Perhaps in dark alleyways or in the woods… but in the office and on prime time TV, it’s pretty safe and kid friendly. But knowing it started with occults and stuff makes me not so interested.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take any excuse/reason to party and have a good time. I like candy. I like the sweets. I, on occasion, enjoy terrifying small children. I’m just not going out of my way to do anything special on the 31st. I’ll hang a sign on my door that says “tricks only”. But then I’d get whores looking for money (*Arrested Development reference… calm down). Whether I give out tricks or illusions, the kiddies won’t get candy from me. Maybe I’d tie candy on strings, drop them in their bags, and as they walk out, pull the candies back out of their bags again and laugh. Ah… good times.
Since I’m not promoting Halloween, I changed my mind on tomorrows friPod iPick… which was going to be the soundtrack to Little Shop of Horrors. Hilarious movie. Good music. Totally not my pick for tomorrow to coincide with Halloween.
However, I will be DJing tomorrow night at the soup kitchen in Middletown tomorrow night with my church. It’s my only annual gig for our annual Harvest Festival. I sometimes forget being a DJ is on my list of “things to be when I grow up.” Bring the kiddies! I wish I could be wearing either of these shirts:
Anyone wanna donate to my “Buy DJ Sterling Silver an Awesome T-Shirt Fund”? There are many items that need a home.*
Totally unrelated notes: this, and many other posts, totally make me a hypocrit–I like reading shorter blog entries so why do I write such long ones? And I totally found a catalogue for geeky guys like myself: TigerDirect.com. They send me a nice magazine every so often, and I drool in it, thus makes me a true geek. But I want it nonetheless. *Yes yes y’all!
