The List

I'm going to start compiling a list here (and updating every so often) of really annoying pop songs. Songs that make me want to kill myself. Mostly, songs I hear over and over again over the loudspeaker at work. But they're just so darn catchy I can't stop singing them! Aaaaahhhhh! I think I'm going crazy! Anyway, here we go, in no particular order:

Every day - Hilary McRae
These Days - Bardot
Summer Sunshine - The Corrs
Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn, and John
Talk to Me - Stevie Nicks
Say What You Need to Say - John Mayer
Just Dance - Lady Gaga
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Sorry - Buckcherry
Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.
Shine On - Ryan Cabrera
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Chasing Pavements - Adele
The Show - Lenka
Realize - Colbie Caillat
Thing Called Love - Bonnie Raitt
Come Undone - Duran Duran
We Are All Made of Stars - Moby
Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley

Fickle

Fickle:
 /ˈfɪkəl/ [fik-uhl]
–adjective
1.
likely to change, esp. due to caprice, irresolution, or instability; casually changeable: fickle weather.
2.
not constant or loyal in affections: a fickle lover.

(P.S. That was from Dictionary.com)

A word (or two) about me being fickle. Yes, I am a fickle person in many regards, I always have been. It's one item on my laundry list of character flaws. In this post, I'd like to address my fickle nature in regard to cars. In one of my previous posts I blogged about how I was going to lose a bunch of weight and then buy my dream car, a Mustang. Well, as I've always known (but never cared much to change) and Wanda has become painfully aware, I'm always changing what my dream car is. Really, it's a car, and it's kind of dumb to dream and lust about them, anyway, but I do. When I was searching for a new car a few years ago, I decided that a Pontiac Grand Prix GT was the car for me and it was so wonderful so I was going to stop at nothing to make that my next car. And so I bought one. And it's been a very nice car for me, very reliable, comfortable, and attractive transportation. Don't get me wrong, it has it's flaws, but overall it has been a very fine car, solid transportation to get me from Point A to Point B. But, about a month after I bought it (and financed it), I decided I didn't like it anymore and was lamenting that to Wanda and saying that I should have bought something else. And on and on from one car to another while still being unhappily chained to my ol' Grand Prix. Wanda is such a good woman to put up with all of my bullshit (not just about cars, but everything).

Anyway, I eventually progressed down the line: Monte Carlo, Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Eclipse/Eagle Talon/Plymouth Laser, Nissan 350Z, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Altima, and most recently, a Nissan Murano. Again, knowing that in the end a car is just transportation, I've come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with my car and I can be just fine and dandy with the one I have. Besides, Wanda has had her car for much longer than I've had mine and she's had her eye on a newer Nissan Altima for quite a while. It's her turn to get a car, and it's probably not healthy to be indulging in my flavor-of-the-month fancies for different cars and going to hell-in-a-hand-basket trying to sell my old car, finance new car, sell new car, finance newer car, etc. etc. It's an opportunity for me grow, to appreciate the things I have, and to learn some patience. So, Wanda, let's find a kick-ass Altima for you to drive and the ol' Grand Prix will be there to cheer it on!

Flash; Thunder

There's nothing quite like the tickle of anticipation and slight unease in the pit of your stomach as you await the arrival of an impending summer thunderstorm. It's almost as if the hairs on the back of your neck are standing up and you've been kicked in the gut. Standing out on someones porch or talking nervously in a parking lot while you feel the charge of all the particles in the air and a filmy haze seems to descend upon you and your surroundings. The coming storm, ready to unleash a violent and yet gentle lashing upon the earth. Scouring the soil of all its troubles and your mind of all its heartache and pain, if not for just a little while. Again, there's nothing quite like it. The crazed yet silent calm of a blizzard is close, but still no match for the thunderstorm. It's mesmerizing and therapeutic to sit at a window and watch, or to stand out amidst the deluge.

I hear there are some storms that are supposed to come to Lincoln tomorrow. It may only be March, but I hope we get something that's at least close to a summer storm. I could use some good weather therapy.

My Goal, My Dream

Ah, the Mustang. A car that elicits hatred from my wife and drooling from me. Yet, tonight, my wife uttered those magic words: "You can get a Mustang." I know she hates them and views them as trashy ("Arkansas," in her words) and impractical. I don't necessarily agree with the trashy, though I won't argue against the fact that owning a Mustang is probably the pinnacle of many a good ol' boy's life. I also see that it's an impractical car, but come on! It's a Mustang and it's also mostly a guy thing. Oh well. Anyway, my point is that Wanda gave me the go-ahead to get one of these if I wanted to; she will no longer (verbally) judge me for wanting to have one.

Under one condition:

That I drop about fifty-five pounds from my fluffy frame and get down to 180 pounds. And I also have to stay at that weight. As far as how long I need to remain at that weight is concerned, we've decided on six months for now. I suppose we'll have to see how well I do in my weight loss program and how much I've actually changed my diet and exercise practices. I mean, I'm not going to crash-diet and lose half of the weight by next week! No, this is something that's going to take me a while and that's okay. Weight has become a problem of mine in the past few years and I think something solid like this is a good goal for me to have. Nevermind that the thought of having a heart attack in ten years and dying at thirty-five doesn't seem to motivate me to watch what I eat and exercise. No, it takes the thought of owning a car that gets me ready to jump back on the moderation train with gusto. Oh well, I suppose it's progress.

Passwords and World of Warcraft

I realize I haven't updated this in a while so I'm here to remedy that. When I tried to log in, though, I found that I couldn't remember my password. I did finally remember it, but that was slightly scary.

In other news, I decided to try the free ten-day trial of World of Warcraft and I really liked it. I can see how people become addicted to it and end up losing their social lives and any shred of a close relationship to it. Well, aside from the relationships you may form with others who have opted to spend more of their time in the game world instead of reality. I'm probably being a little harsh, I'm sure there's plenty of players who are able to still live healthy and happy lives along with playing a bit of WoW every now and then. My point is that I can see just how easy it would be to spend all of your waking hours clicking away to oblivion (if you've ever played another famous Blizzard game, Diablo II, you already know what I'm talking about).

Now, I'm struggling with the decision to actually start paying for this game. It's a tough one, because it isn't cheap. That's how the game maker sucks you, gives it to you for free for ten days, hooks you, and then expects you to pay for it! But, that's for another blog. We'll see.

Turkey Day

Yes, it's Turkey Day. The holiday where you can eat more desserts because your bake-savvy relatives didn't spend all their money on presents! The holiday that all department stores and Walgreens seem to not care about anymore. Seriously, right after Halloween, all the stores put up their Christmas crap and totally forget about Thanksgiving. I think that's extremely disrespectful! About the only stores that care about Thanksgiving are grocery stores because (since no one is buying presents, if you follow my previous line of reasoning) everyone is spending their extra cash on ingredients for desserts! In essence, Thanksgiving is now a ploy by the food industry to make us fat, just as Christmas is a ploy to turn us all into materialistic goons. I suppose this would mean that grocery stores disrespect Christmas . . . Actually, they don't. Because Christmas is also about driving people into debt. The grocery stores know that people are spending most of their money on presents, but they also know that these people still want to buy tons of food, too! Therefore, grocery stores facilitate and encourage deficit spending by offering so many different products at a reduced price that helpless Americans can't resist buying more than is needed! I'm sure the average American has put most of their ridiculous Christmas presents on credit cards and will also put the grocery bill on a credit card so they can save the meager amount of cash that is available for utilities or a car payment. Really, holidays are about fostering unhealthy habits, be they spending money or eating too much. Happy Thanksgiving!

Grand Achievement!

Hooray! I finished the main storyline in Grand Theft Auto IV tonight! I'm still only about 75% done with the game, with plenty of side-achievements and sundry remaining. This is a rare occurence for me, though. I usually don't finish most of the games that I start. So there you go.