Texas has a sickness for the thickness

I am Batman

saw the movie last night. It seriously is the best movie I have seen in years... amazing
Heath Ledger was awesome in it. And no... not because he died, but because he really was phenominal. Worth every dollar and how incredibly worthlessly tired I am at work right now.

From "what would jesus do?" to bum fights in 30 mins

So last night I learned two major life lessons in an unconventional way:
1. Charity is its own reward
2. Picking up a bumm in your new BMW from a gas station is a bad idea

So while fueling up last night before I headed to a friend's bday party in uptown, I stopped to get some gas. As I spoke to TJ on my cell a man approached waiting to talk to me, so I hung up the phone and as is sadly not that uncommon a small greasy man popped up and approached me with the very typical "hey bro, no disrespect but do you have any change..." He then proceeded to tell me the awful story about being homeless with pregnant girlfriend, blah blah, and needing money for food and a hotel room.
Some background into why I did the next thing is that I have been praying for service opportunities, and really felt like I should help this guy out. so I told him that I wouldnt give him money but would get him food. So I told him to get in and we would go to the jack in the box across the street. Things were going well and he was very thankful and respectful but as soon as he had the $14's worth of food (alot for two people) he started asking for $15 dollars that they were lacking to get a hotel room. I told him no, and he continued to ask. I told him I would drop him off and he said that his wife was down the road in a park. Turns out "down the road" was 5 miles away, and the whole drive over the begging continued and proceeded to get more and more aggressive. By the time I got to the park I completely did not buy his story and had already picked out numerous contradictions in it. I stopped the car and got out to shake his hand and he stayed in the car, still begging angrily, with statements like "you gonna make us sleep on the street for $15?". I responded with "I didn't make you do anything, you're choices got you here." At which he got more and more frantic and proceeded to yell at me about how I wasn't a good christian. I then ask him to get out of my car at which point he got out pissed and slammed my door and took a step foward like he was going to come after me, which, in true christian form, I reacted back with "take another step and I'll break your jaw" and then gave him a 5 second countdown to back away which he luckily did.
I drove off telling him that he was a leach on society and is exactly why people dont help people. At which he acted like he was going to throw his, or should I say my, coke that I bought him at my car. Luckily he didnt and I drove away angry frustrated and confused.
From one of the worst experiences of my life I drove away having learned alot.
1. I need to be more careful (and thankful nothing happened)
2. I need to calm my temper and bite my lip
3. That you cant shape the way people you serve behave or accept your help
4. That charity is its own reward and last night the only reward I walked away with was learning my own weaknesses and naiveness

So there you have it how I went from "what would Jesus do?" to bumm fights in 30 mins.

Buffet Libre

Today during my what began as a quick break to check my email and ended in a 45 minute music download session and then this posting, I ran across this site

Buffetlibre

I am absolutely in love with it! The idea of the site is simple: Tell artists to cover/remix their favorite 80s tunes and then release it all for free.

It is hours of entertainment (or at least 75% of an hours entertainment) and some pretty good covers, most of which are done by synth heavy DJ's and producers looking to make a name for themselves. My favorite was RAC and Kid A remix of A-HA's Take on me.

RAC feat. Karl Kling - Take On Me [mp3]

Unsuccesful revolution attempt

So today I tried to lead a coup-esque movement to demand the changing of the company's radio system from its current modern rock station to... anything other than modern rock. It began when I realized that I was listening to the third Creed song of the day and couldnt take it any more, and rather than popping my ear buds in and disapearing I decided I was going to do something about it... I decided for once and all I would stand up and not sit idly as my audiotory facilities were violated with ass rock.
So I got up and complained to all my cube-mates, who promptly responded "I f@#$ing love this song, whats wrong with you?" and thus ended my movement.
I have determined that much like how New York is a "safe harbor city" for illegal immigration, Houston is a "safe harbor city" for all crappy rock music that the rest of the country ships to us like katrina victims, that will never leave, and ruin my work days.

Things I hate...

Fat stewardesses -
I think that discrimination is wrong in all cases that dont involve a) my sleep and b) my elbows. Sadly fat air wenches win the all of the above prize.
With my long legs I have to sit in the aisle seat so that I can every once in a while stretch my legs also my shoulders are 2.5 inches wider than southwest's seats (Ive measured) and no matter how close I get into the poor middle passenger's seat I still hang over slighty into the aisle. If you cant, as a stewardess, fit down the isle without intimately grinding my elbow with your love handle then I think you should find another profession.

In other news I have been talked into competing in an "adventure race." which is like a triathalon but is trail running, mountain biking, and kayaking.

http://www.terrafirmapromo.com/events/sprint/

I had previously told myself that I would never do anything of this sort, and even made fun of those who had, Reza. I never saw the fun in it. But I guess now that I am a working man, my valuation of what is "fun" has changed. I mainly am excited to have a reason to train for, because normally I hate cardio. But there is still part of my mind that wonders why I am paying someone to allow me to run around alot and cause myself lots of pain.

Stay tuned bc marty is my partner and I am sure that as we train more and more there will be hilarious stories.

What I am listening to....

I found this guy online name Jack Conte who is amazing. He is completely independent and records his stuff in his home studio. He has a new album out that he has each song of on youtube. Each video is actual video loops of him recording it. He sound is very radiohead meets postal service meets thrice.

He covered a radiohead song in a way that blew me away
Jack Conte - Radiohead Chopin Mashup

Here is the original
Radiohead - Exit Music (for a movie)

Another song of his
jack cont -yeah yeah yeah v2

Random

Ahmedinejad's wife = Total Hottie

I like to meet up with 14 year olds at the movies..

Last night I took my first dive into the exciting world of craigslist. I know that makes me far behind the times, I mean I always check for things on it just like ebay, but it was something about the idea of having to deal personally (not over the interweb) or meeting up with someone that creeped me out. But last night as I was taking a magical voyage into one of my excessive hobby binges, I determined that I needed a audio recording unit for my computer, desperately. The need dominated me to the point that through a couple of clicks and a phone call I ended up at first colony movie theaters meeting a 14 year old with 60 dollars in my hand... Luckily Shepard Smith wasnt there.

I also wanted to point out the fact that in my office they play modern rock on the radio system all day. At first it was kinda cool with occasional rage against the machine.. then not cool ex. Alice in Chains... then creepy ex. while I was talking to a client Sublimes "date rape" came on. There is something very disconcerting about trying to have a serious financial conversation with "now he takes it in the behind" in the background. Wierd