I have returned to school in order to get my Bachelor of Education (After) degree, so it may cut down on my posting to this site.
I have been busy getting all of my paperwork in order, meeting profs and fellow students, looking for a place to stay, and on and on. It has been an exciting but at the same time stressful time.
Stay tuned.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Reasons Why
I was reading Eve's post about the 'Boycott American Women' website. There were some good comments made about it, and even I had something to say. I said that the reason I boycott women is because I am painfully shy. I am an introvert. I've always been an introvert, but the way I lived my life made it a stronger part of my character than perhaps it should have been.
My folks moved around a lot. In the 90's, I bought one of those books where you fill in your family history, and the pages that described where we lived were completely filled in. This was before I went to Korea. I need another book for those.
I had a couple of good friends in elementary school, when we were living in Deadmonton. After I had finished grade 6, we moved back to Calgary, where we moved a coupla more times. In junior high and high school, I was the new kid. A new kid who's shy is not going to be part of a crowd. I had a few friends (never at the same time), but they sort of petered out, and by the time I graduated, I was close to no-one.
And girls?
Forget about it!
In junior high, I was interested, but could not bring myself to let them know it. I was too scared of what might happen. I learned to build a wall around my feelings and bury them deep.
That's been the pattern throughout my life. I can talk to women upon occasion, but any attempt on my part to take it beyond a certain point causes a complete brain freeze and I turn into an incoherently babbling idiot.
I mean, more than usual.
So I've come to a point in my life where I know that it's just not going to happen for me. I'm learning to be comfortable with myself, because I know that that's all I will have.
A posting on Facebook alerted me to a book about the subject, called The Introvert Advantage by Marti Laney, PsyD. It's a pretty good description of what I'm like.
I don't talk until I have something to say.
I need a reason to talk.
I've given up on trying to find something to say, just to be part of the conversation. It has to come naturally.
I like having few friends, because most people aren't worth my time. I'd rather have one Flint as a friend than a hundred of them.
I'm happy in my Batmancave, because mooks can't figure out the entry code.
I can think clearer without their noise.
I'm not interested in what is popular, or hearing about it from other people. I've got my own shit to think about.
Like Popeye says, 'I am what I am.'
My mom is driven to despair sometimes, because I don't perform well (for her) when she introduces me to her friends. She thinks I'm rude. I tried to tell her about this book, and explain why I do the things I do, but she still doesn't get it. Most people won't, but I don't worry about them anymore.
Flint's post about how Korea prepared him goes for me, too. Learning to deal with the stress of living and working in the Land of Morning Calm (and Afternoon Confusion) makes that as easy as pie.
My folks moved around a lot. In the 90's, I bought one of those books where you fill in your family history, and the pages that described where we lived were completely filled in. This was before I went to Korea. I need another book for those.
I had a couple of good friends in elementary school, when we were living in Deadmonton. After I had finished grade 6, we moved back to Calgary, where we moved a coupla more times. In junior high and high school, I was the new kid. A new kid who's shy is not going to be part of a crowd. I had a few friends (never at the same time), but they sort of petered out, and by the time I graduated, I was close to no-one.
And girls?
Forget about it!
In junior high, I was interested, but could not bring myself to let them know it. I was too scared of what might happen. I learned to build a wall around my feelings and bury them deep.
That's been the pattern throughout my life. I can talk to women upon occasion, but any attempt on my part to take it beyond a certain point causes a complete brain freeze and I turn into an incoherently babbling idiot.
I mean, more than usual.
So I've come to a point in my life where I know that it's just not going to happen for me. I'm learning to be comfortable with myself, because I know that that's all I will have.
A posting on Facebook alerted me to a book about the subject, called The Introvert Advantage by Marti Laney, PsyD. It's a pretty good description of what I'm like.
I don't talk until I have something to say.
I need a reason to talk.
I've given up on trying to find something to say, just to be part of the conversation. It has to come naturally.
I like having few friends, because most people aren't worth my time. I'd rather have one Flint as a friend than a hundred of them.
I'm happy in my Batmancave, because mooks can't figure out the entry code.
I can think clearer without their noise.
I'm not interested in what is popular, or hearing about it from other people. I've got my own shit to think about.
Like Popeye says, 'I am what I am.'
My mom is driven to despair sometimes, because I don't perform well (for her) when she introduces me to her friends. She thinks I'm rude. I tried to tell her about this book, and explain why I do the things I do, but she still doesn't get it. Most people won't, but I don't worry about them anymore.
Flint's post about how Korea prepared him goes for me, too. Learning to deal with the stress of living and working in the Land of Morning Calm (and Afternoon Confusion) makes that as easy as pie.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Hillbilly Handfishing
I was watching David Letterman the other day when he introduced the topic of Hillbilly Handfishing, a new show on the Animal Planet channel. This show would be right up my brother's alley. If you've never seen it, check out this clip. Be prepared to scream "HOLY SHIT!' when the mook pulls up the fish. I know I did.
Since my brother arrived from Texas, a lot of the shows that are watched on the TV have changed. Where I like shows on HBO or Showtime like Boardwalk Empire, Game Of Thrones, and The Wire, my brother likes watching shows on Animal Planet and Discovery like Billy The Exterminator, Mighty Ships, or The Deadliest Catch.
Boardwalk Empire takes place during the Prohibition Era, and highlights the rise of criminals in Chicago (Al Capone) and New York (Arnold Rothstein, 'Lucky' Luciano), as well as Atlantic City, where most of the action takes place. Steve Buscemi stars as 'Nucky' Thompson, the boss of A.C., and shows how the various criminal organizations sometimes co-operate with each other but mostly try to come out on top of the vast illegal marketing of alcohol.
Game Of Thrones is a medieval fantasy based on a series of books by George R.R. Martin. Most of the story takes place on a continent/island loosely based on England. The various lords of the land struggle with each other for power in a scenario that reminds me of the Wars Of The Roses, which took place in England during the 15th Century. Sean Bean stars as Ned Stark, who is kind of like (to me, anyway) Richard, the Duke of York, as he suffers the same grisly end.
I'm very much looking forward to the continuations of these stories, as well as The Walking Dead (coming soon) and The Wire (which is over, but I'm only on the first series).
I like shows with a good storyline and acting. I'm not into too many reality shows, except Survivor and Hell's Kitchen.
My brother loves reality programming, and when he isn't working, will sit and watch these shows endlessly.
Billy The Exterminator features a mook driving around and taking care of various critters infesting people's homes and backyards. Some of the animals are interesting, but the most fascinating part of the show is Billy's hairstyle, which I can only describe as a spiky sort of mullet, coloured sometimes black, sometimes yellow, and sometimes both. Arguably the worst haircut on TV.
Shows like Mighty Ships and The Deadliest Catch are interesting enough on their own, but what distracts me from enjoying them is the narration, especially on Mighty Ships. The voiceover is done by a female with the most unctuous tone imaginable. Every situation described on the show is taken to the worst case scenario. Every little chore that the crew has to undertake, from docking to making the beds is described as having earth-shaking consequences if it isn't concluded successfully. The crew members always perform their tasks well, and disaster is always averted.
Not only is it BORING! but it gets exasperating after a while to hear this voice constantly going on and on about dire circumstances that never, ever come to pass.
Well, I know how to PVR/download the shows I want to watch, so there's never any of the kind of conflict like those that occured when we were younger. Back then, there was no such thing as VCRs or computers, and you had to watch one channel at a time. It was a constant argument about whose turn it was. I remember once my bro got so mad at me that he picked up this toy rifle we had and swung it as hard as he could. If I hadn't rolled out of the way, I'm sure he would have debrained me.
Ah, memories...
I like to joke with my family that I'm the only one who should have the remote. But it's true. No-one in my family knows how to watch TV. My folks don't even mute the commercials, which drives me fucking crazy sometimes.
But the worst is how they watch movies. One of their favourites is Patch Adams, with Robin Williams. It's been on commercial TV twice in the past month or so, and my folks watched it both times. It seemed to me that the network showing it would air five minutes of the movie, and then ten minutes of commercials.
It wouldn't be so bad, I guess, but MY FOLKS HAVE THE DVD. They can watch it anytime they want, and they don't have to sit through endless commercial breaks. But they'll find it on commercial TV, and watch it that way. This is why I say I'm the only one in the household who should be allowed to have the remote.
October 1, 2012 Update
My mom was watching TV yesterday, and recording a coupla programs at the same time: "The Mentalist" and "The Good Wife." Now, if you're recording two programs at the same time on the PVR, you can't watch anything else. My mom was looking at the guide to see what else was on (and why wouldn't you?), and she found an airing of "Notting Hill." This is a film that is on practically every other day, but my mom felt she had to watch it THAT VERY SECOND. She called me in to figure out how to watch the film while recording two other programs.
I went to her DVD collection, pulled out her copy of Notting Hill," and said she should try that for a change.
She didn't want to do that. She wanted to watch the one that was on the TV. She refused to allow me to put the DVD in.
Pastafazoola!
I am the ONLY ONE who should have the remote!
Since my brother arrived from Texas, a lot of the shows that are watched on the TV have changed. Where I like shows on HBO or Showtime like Boardwalk Empire, Game Of Thrones, and The Wire, my brother likes watching shows on Animal Planet and Discovery like Billy The Exterminator, Mighty Ships, or The Deadliest Catch.
Boardwalk Empire takes place during the Prohibition Era, and highlights the rise of criminals in Chicago (Al Capone) and New York (Arnold Rothstein, 'Lucky' Luciano), as well as Atlantic City, where most of the action takes place. Steve Buscemi stars as 'Nucky' Thompson, the boss of A.C., and shows how the various criminal organizations sometimes co-operate with each other but mostly try to come out on top of the vast illegal marketing of alcohol.
Game Of Thrones is a medieval fantasy based on a series of books by George R.R. Martin. Most of the story takes place on a continent/island loosely based on England. The various lords of the land struggle with each other for power in a scenario that reminds me of the Wars Of The Roses, which took place in England during the 15th Century. Sean Bean stars as Ned Stark, who is kind of like (to me, anyway) Richard, the Duke of York, as he suffers the same grisly end.
I'm very much looking forward to the continuations of these stories, as well as The Walking Dead (coming soon) and The Wire (which is over, but I'm only on the first series).
I like shows with a good storyline and acting. I'm not into too many reality shows, except Survivor and Hell's Kitchen.
My brother loves reality programming, and when he isn't working, will sit and watch these shows endlessly.
Billy The Exterminator features a mook driving around and taking care of various critters infesting people's homes and backyards. Some of the animals are interesting, but the most fascinating part of the show is Billy's hairstyle, which I can only describe as a spiky sort of mullet, coloured sometimes black, sometimes yellow, and sometimes both. Arguably the worst haircut on TV.
Shows like Mighty Ships and The Deadliest Catch are interesting enough on their own, but what distracts me from enjoying them is the narration, especially on Mighty Ships. The voiceover is done by a female with the most unctuous tone imaginable. Every situation described on the show is taken to the worst case scenario. Every little chore that the crew has to undertake, from docking to making the beds is described as having earth-shaking consequences if it isn't concluded successfully. The crew members always perform their tasks well, and disaster is always averted.
Not only is it BORING! but it gets exasperating after a while to hear this voice constantly going on and on about dire circumstances that never, ever come to pass.
Well, I know how to PVR/download the shows I want to watch, so there's never any of the kind of conflict like those that occured when we were younger. Back then, there was no such thing as VCRs or computers, and you had to watch one channel at a time. It was a constant argument about whose turn it was. I remember once my bro got so mad at me that he picked up this toy rifle we had and swung it as hard as he could. If I hadn't rolled out of the way, I'm sure he would have debrained me.
Ah, memories...
I like to joke with my family that I'm the only one who should have the remote. But it's true. No-one in my family knows how to watch TV. My folks don't even mute the commercials, which drives me fucking crazy sometimes.
But the worst is how they watch movies. One of their favourites is Patch Adams, with Robin Williams. It's been on commercial TV twice in the past month or so, and my folks watched it both times. It seemed to me that the network showing it would air five minutes of the movie, and then ten minutes of commercials.
It wouldn't be so bad, I guess, but MY FOLKS HAVE THE DVD. They can watch it anytime they want, and they don't have to sit through endless commercial breaks. But they'll find it on commercial TV, and watch it that way. This is why I say I'm the only one in the household who should be allowed to have the remote.
October 1, 2012 Update
My mom was watching TV yesterday, and recording a coupla programs at the same time: "The Mentalist" and "The Good Wife." Now, if you're recording two programs at the same time on the PVR, you can't watch anything else. My mom was looking at the guide to see what else was on (and why wouldn't you?), and she found an airing of "Notting Hill." This is a film that is on practically every other day, but my mom felt she had to watch it THAT VERY SECOND. She called me in to figure out how to watch the film while recording two other programs.
I went to her DVD collection, pulled out her copy of Notting Hill," and said she should try that for a change.
She didn't want to do that. She wanted to watch the one that was on the TV. She refused to allow me to put the DVD in.
Pastafazoola!
I am the ONLY ONE who should have the remote!
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