August 2003 Archives
Services are this Saturday at 1pm...Green Forest Baptist Church - Decatur...3250 Rainbow Dr. Right by South Dekalb Mall...map directions here
Brian passed at about 6 P.M. Tuesday night. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers...
Those of you who know me, or know my website know that in recent years my faith has faltered and that I am not the most devout when it comes to belief in God. But every now and again something happens that shakes me a lil and I have to turn somewhere - and just out of some faint glimmer I turn to the Almighty. Usually I find myself praying for others - as was the case when my Aunt was diagnosed with cancer a few years back - and the doctors said it was a miracle she pulled through...
Well - tonight I drove down to Stockbridge, GA with Coleman, Kristen and Devan to the Henry Medical Center. One of my friends and co-workers - Brian - or as you may know him from comments he has left on this website or from the above photo which has been posted here for over a year in the photo section -- B-Lo - is in critical condition.
Brian was born with his heart on the wrong side of his chest. At that time - doctors gave him a life expectancy of 16 years...Medical science improving how it has - it is a miracle he has lived this long...Doctors are now saying it will take "Divine Intervention" for the miracle to continue. Those of you who have not lost your faith - please excercise it however you can. Brian was hospitalized last week with a bleeding ulcer treated and released with a prescription that was not honored by Medicaid. He has now contracted an infection, has returned to the hospital and is hooked up to a respirator, fighting for his life. I am still shaken - as I was not quite ready for what I saw in that hospital room.
Let me tell you what I know...B-Lo is a standup guy. He has a young son named Rakim. He has a great sense of humor, and a flashing smile that is unsheathed several times a day - with a familiar laugh. If there is a party - B-lo will be there - no matter if some sucka be throwing it or whateva. You can count on him. B-lo hates making pancakes after a certain hour in the day. I think all cooks at the deli do...it can be a pain. B-lo is kind, and patient - having trained both myself and the G.M. at the restaurant many years ago. He has watched many new employees come and go -- and never unloaded on any of them. He is dependable - if on occasion tardy -- he never misses his shifts. Right now - he's very scared. As am I. As are all of us...
I met B-lo's family tonight. They seem to be holding together astonishingly well. They also revealed that B-Lo's name isn't really Brian, but Brent -- but they call him BC. It is a story I hope I can hear the origin from Brian in the near future...We brought them a few sandwich trays from the deli, some breakfast muffins and lots of coffee...we also brought gum for the little ones...who love gum.
I don't know what the ethics of blogging say about making a post like this...I just know that there is very little else I can do right now. There is little that can make me feel good about this - and there are very few people I can talk to face to face about it...It's much easier to get it out like this...I hope he doesn't mind. Cause it'll suck when he comes around and reads this and tells me he ain't no centerfold. Actually - I think he'd love the attention. I only wish it was in brighter hues...
Be strong B. We love ya.
Back about 10-12 years ago - in the waning days of my life in Canton, Michigan -- and the first turbulent months in my new home of Snellville, Georgia - I was a little curb grinder. I'd snap that tail down and kick out a fat ollie - though I never could get more than a foot - and to tell the truth -- probably topped out at about 6 - 8 inches - unless I had some forward momentum and an object to carry.
In Michigan we'd had a 4 foot ramp we'd set up out in the street in front of the house -- and a railroad tie would round out our street course. I believe the brother has some photos somewheres of me as a sk8ter boi -- bustin moves on either of these surfaces while jammin out to GBH, social distortion, the Misfits and other appropriately toned music...In the one competition I entered, the Northville competition - I placed 10th outta 20. Average. But I got to meet Bill Danforth and present him with a white t-shirt emblazoned with grinning blue skulls...I was a little intimidated - he seemed a giant of a man - and with a shaved head - I was prepared to get my head kicked in...But I clearly remember him being very receptive and kind --- and watching him skate through his demo with the shirt flapping like a tail behind him was quite a thrill...
When we got down to Georgia - it wasn't long before some of the neighborhood kids and I had constructed a 5 1/2 foot half pipe on the side of our house. Endless hours...endless hours...We'd tape ourselves skating - hook up our stereos to the vcr and implement a soundtrack --- called ourselves Team Skate Twerps or something stupid like that...
When we weren't skating we were reading about skating, fingerboarding, or watching skating -- and the Yezbick family had put together quite a collection of skate movies -- several of which I have in my posession now. By far my favorites were the Bones Brigade movies --- the original, Future Primitive, and The Search for Animal Chin - all having been put out while I was still heavy into the scene...But we also had films from events at Mt. Trashmore, Del Mar, and other competitions...which is how I watched in awe the awesome power of the Hosoi's, Hawks, Cabellero's and personal favorite - Mountain's (Lance Mountain was my first board) of the sport...
Amongst these was also listed Mark "Gator" Rogowski, skating with the Vision team...Gator was prominent in many of the videos we had -- and was heavily marketed in the day -- his board being one of the most highly sought and rode on the streets...It came as a surprise to me yesterday while listening to NPR (fresh air link here) to hear that this same Gator is now imprisoned for 31 years to life for the rape and murder of Jessica Bergsten...It's the subject of a new documentary by Helen Stickler, Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator that opens today in New York...As this review clearly lays out - the film will be much darker than Dogtown and Z-Boys, which completely blew me away - but as soon as it rolls around to the A-town - I'll be at the ticket window...hopefully a good portion of the proceeds will be going to a good cause.
Oh...and you can bet your arse I'll be listening to Fresh Airtoday when Maggie Gyllenhaal looks to be interviewed...yowsa...
Singular living is drawing to a close...The roommate's return has drawn nigh...
I guess I could've picked up a little better...But he'll probably want something to do to occupy himself and stave off that hunger for authentic mexican veggies...
Just the type of site I needed to help in my continual quest to put together the grandest of mixes as a faux dj on the crossfader burn yo...the-breaks.com...Identifying the samples and the songs to push you along...
That should've been scored a passed ball. No way was that a wild pitch. Ray King is a bum. He should've thrown that ball at Bonds' head. Baseball. Amen.
Lots of interesting stuff today...well - it seems that way at least because I haven't had anything much of interest here lately - and I have been going the minimalist route with this site...
It will also seem that way if you are a computer nerd. Which - I manage to probably pass the cusp over and onto the lower-middle range in nerdlinger status.
To start -- seriously - Salaam talks about the UN Bombing today in Baghdad.
My sister's wedding really turned out great...Save for the brief downpour almost immediately following the ceremony (which really didn't matter cause everybody was already under the tent) - everything was really quite smooth with just a few bumps here and there for texture...not like this young lady's -- via metafilter
And the nerdlinger stuff...one of these days I'm going to work in the coding for a redirect using this link so that I can stop all those 404s that can't find what they're looking for. It's just a matter of sitting down and grinding it out - and maybe I'll do it tonight. Or maybe I'll just play with my nofriendo until my eyes bleed...
Actually - I'm going bowling with the Murphys.
Other nerdlinger news...those of you with RSS aggregators -- don't all jump up at once -- (actually - I hope Amber uses one - she should) and those of you with aggregators who have a certain favorite band might like to know that RollingStone.com has an RSS feed for your favorite artist...via shiftedlibrarian from two others...
Neil Young and Crazy Horse - new album Greendale released today - apparently a concept album...first mentioned by E-rock last night...
I'm sorry. Mike Gordon isn't a pedophile...so don't believe the hype. I probably shouldn't even link to it -- as the girl's father says - it's simply "muckraking."
And to close out today with a nod to my lebanese heritage - a New York times piece on Steve Perry
- lead singer of Journey here- via fimoculous.
Pen a deliberately misleading entry about winning the lottery...come on - when was the last time I got lucky?
Win $50,000 on a whim by buying a scratch-off ticket. It works. You don't.
Man. I'm late on this one. (slapping forehead with open palm) Stupid! Stupid!
Britney's cover story came out in the Nashville Scene on Wednesday. I'm beside myself with emotion I'm so proud of her.
Or jealous. One of the two.
I don't understand. How do those New York Bloggers keep going?
I will now return to my life slinging eggs.
Well -- I bought a playstation 2. and a memory card. and a game.
I am now nerdlinger equipped.
I'm a little guilt ridden.
Job.
Weird stuff.
I wonder if Detroit is on fire yet. No power.
I wonder how many babies are being made.
I wonder how many relationships are being broken.
It's odd. I had a dream I was in New York last night. The ex-whatever was there with her new fiance. A good portion of my friends were there too - and much of the conversation was directed away from the polar regions we two had created at the house...
From there it was onto some weird stairwell scene where I was walking with Gene Wilder down a staircase -- but whenever we were about to round the
corner - I would find myself at the foot of the stairs for that floor...staring up at Gene - who had somehow managed to manifest himself in Woody Allen garb - but with that crazy giveaway Wilder hair and face revealing himself. At the next turn he was John, with an odd Yoko -- and so on -- though I can't recall some of the other famous new yorkers he morphed himself into...
It takes a blackout to stop Kottke, Anil and other A-listers. (apparently it doesn't either) I haven't read Bazima in a while though, so it's still fresh to me...
Congrats to Frankie Lyman - probably the funnest trivia session in a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnng time.
I spent about two hours last night searching for a pic of one of those lever operated railcars so that I could post something for Star -- who has become obsessed with me. Well...my website... I couldn't find one...I'll have to go to the library - which is okay because I wanted to go get some rock list books and do some searches for some obscure music...
All this after I mow the lawn...because the roommate is still in Mexico and he usually handles the yardwork never.
Oh...and I should probably call my see-store today...cause it's her birthday. And she's old.
I'll stand sentry at your door - deep into the night.
I'll watch the moon blaze across the sky, all I've got is time.
Cars keep passing, flashes cross the walls.
I've got no place for going to, I'm just waiting on the call.
I'm going to start taking better care of myself.
Tomorrow.
My original entry about this subject was laced with expletives. My permanant entry is this: If you vote for Ahnold - you should be terminated. (yes it's cheesy...but meep you.) "I will go to Sacramento, and I will clean house," Schwarzenegger said. Say that in your best Schwarzenegger voice - and then recognize. Nick Moga - that goes for you too...
Welcome to loserville...who needs nofriendo, when you can play parklife all day...via fimoculous
Three posts in two hours is unusual for me. Perhaps because the alcohol from last night is still oozing out my pores -- whatever the case -- I just found this link about freelancing to be entertaining...via britney
Thank god. Oliver has come around to the Dean movement...Edwards has finally left the building...the man will be the next president...
owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. owwwwwwwwwwwww. please see Saturday's post for further analysis. I hope all three of you girls are happy. Lord knows I feel like I was last night. I expect all of you to check in with me on occasion - or just for the heck of it.
Nessa - don't think I won't take you up on the couch offer. Although - my sources say it would look better if you gave me a bed.
Patti - Nermel loves you - but don't tell Risha - she'll just get jealous. When I come up to stay with Nessa -- Nermel wants to hang. I think he said he thinks Patti has a thing for him -- so if Patti does have a thing for him - tell her to hang on to it and he'll pick it up in a coupla weeks.
Jen...Jen...hmmmm...you are such a lush slut. (I think I remember touching your boobie...hee hee...I said boobie. -- oh and then you knocked my glasses off.) You broke curfew.
Oh - and my roommate is gone for 3 weeks...So one of you - if not all of you - should call me and come visit...We could have a sleepover.
More thoughts keep coming back as the clouds part - like - remember when Patti put the Red Hot Sauce in Toolkit's beer? HAR HAR...
nothing makes sense. everything is all about distance. i love lips.
August 02, 2003 at 10:19:35 AM This is what I expected. or should I say - expectorated? Butt that wouldn't make sense...cause that's oral...hmmm...How does one link to a particular entry at the duplex...hmmmm....I gotta work a double tomorrow...I need to go lay down.
Forgive my childish humor. Illegal dumps in the forest. Not what I expected.
Last night - while at the bar - I was recognized by a former classmate - from high school. The second time in a week that that has happened. I was surprised she recognized me - cause I was only somewhat sure it was her. In the short conversation that followed - with my peanut gallery giving me the thumbs up behind her back - I was told that she would be moving to Kansas to go to med school - and that her boyfriend of eleven years said he would break up with her if she didn't stop drinking. Eleven years? Could I have heard that right? Isn't that, like, a huge waste of time? Anyways - B.F. was one of those popular girls - one of the really babe-o-licious types - and I felt pretty weird having a longer conversation in a bar nearly ten years after high school than I ever did while in school. (She stole a liquor glass from Locos last night, btw)
It was a much more pleasant conversation than the exchange I had with C.H. - who was dining at my place of income. That was more like, hi, hey did you go to, yes, and please stop talking to me. I was later told by my co-workers that I was rude - and treated C.H. like an underling - one of those lower people types. I didn't talk to C.H. in high school either - didn't even know who her friends were. At least I knew something about B.F. And it didn't hurt that she was still babe-o-licious.
I also got a kick outta the comments of what a cute couple Nessa and I are. And the free drinks from the big guy who was trying to hit on B.F. earlier in the evening - and then crept up on my peanut gallery when he failed miserably. And making it past last call again. And spending too much money - and realizing how things just keep repeating themselves...
Returning home and staring cross eyed at my feeds, I decided to send an email to jason., or should I say mr. kottke...he bashed on the restaurant I sprang to its defense - even though I didn't see the last episode. It seems to me that if you've worked in a restaurant - you can empathize easer...but screw reality television anyhoo...at least I didn't call anybody...
Enough about my boring life.
Go read the august issue of theplug.
And Screw You For Lacking The Artistic Merits of Appreciation!!!!
