Current Mood: Ahhh, 2005. It's been a very interesting year to say the very least, but all in all, I have to say that I rather enjoyed it. I'm definitely starting this year off on a much brighter note, as I was sick, injured, and recently de-nadded by way of the infamous breakup at this time last year. My New Year's plans include a wedding, and knowing most of the guys in this party, much drunken revelry afterwards. We'll be partying like a bunch of Romans, though without the togas or the rampant homosexuality.

So do I have any resolutions? I made the joke some years ago that my resolution would be to not make any more resolutions, but I've been giving this some thought. I've been pretty good about my food choices, so I'll keep up with that. Also, I need to get back into some sort of workout plan- sure, I'm already a sexy beast, but what's a little extra help? I'm making it a point to look how I feel, and if I'm starting this new year off right, then dammit, I want to look and feel the part.

And before anyone asks, no, this isn't because of a woman!

You in the back, stop laughing. Yes, you, Neil.

Personal Soundtrack For 2005: If I had to choose a soundtrack to summarize the year, what would it be? Wow... well, let's try and narrow this down. 

Broken Promise from Toonami: Deep Space Bass
This ended up being one of those songs that you just meditate and relax to... instrumentals are good for that. TC is actually making a DVD featuring all of us at some point, and I had selected this as my particular theme. I think that it's very fitting. Very mellow, but definitely with a bit of an ominous edge to it.

Thought Process by Goodie Mob
The song of introspection. There's been many a day where this one's been in my head- rent's due after having paid other bills, stressed out, and just generally in a shitty mood. This really helps me keep things in perspective. ("It would be nice to have more, but I kinda like being poor, at least I know what my friends' here for... I want to lie to you sometimes, but I can't, I want to tell you that it's all good, but it ain't..."). This is the song that kept me grounded.

Prototype by Outkast
I actually had to think hard about whether or not I would put this on here. While it is my favorite song on The Love Below, I had such an association with this song and Heather that it made it really difficult to listen to earlier this year. Thankfully I've gotten past that point, because not only is it a great song, but I love the message in it. It summarizes my current dating philosophy nicely- hit or miss with whoever I end up with, but I'm certain that they will possess certain qualities that I will look for in my future relationship(s). Sooner or later, I'll get this right.

Be Encouraged by William Becton
This will always have a spot on my personal soundtrack, as we all need that extra bit of encouragement from time to time. This is always just that friendly little reminder that while we all will have our low times, the key is to never lose hope. After we've been to that breaking point and refuse to be broken, we can only come out stronger.

Go to Sleep by Eminem feat. DMX and Obie Trice
Sometimes you just feel the need to whup a man or eight's ass. This serves well to address that anger. Seriously, this is for that damn-near foaming-at-the-mouth rage, the type in which you SERIOUSLY feel the need to try and remove someone from the gene pool. Stupid people, circumstances and working retail will do that to you.

Keep Hope Alive by The Crystal Method
I believe the name speaks for itself here. Over that, it's a very cool song =)

Random Quote: "I will cut your head off, slice through the Space-Time Continuum, reach through and punch yo' momma in the face WHILE she's giving birth to you!" -- This is what happens when geeks get belligerent. This came from a random bout of joking over here on Christmas evening as Manny, Keith, Snead and Caine were talking about something, and there was a reference to the Space-Time Continuum getting sliced through. Don't ask. This was my response, which I swear damn near killed everybody, and made Manny DEMAND that I write it down. So here 'ya go!

Bedroom Trauma: I need a sturdier bed.

Alright, minds out of the gutter. There's a story here.

A couple of weeks ago, Snead and I were playing Soul Calibur 3. Both of us were sitting on the bed, which is fairly common when people are gaming in my room. I'm not sure how it happened, but since I've moved the bed to the new apartment, it hasn't been as sturdy as its been in the past. Too much weight on it at the wrong angle, and the mattress collapses on that sucker. The bed had actually been fairly stable for the past few weeks, so I wasn't too terribly concerned about it. Dave also happened to be over that day as well, and as to be expected, there was some friendly trash-talking going on between he and Snead. Well, Snead goes and says something rather smart-assed to Dave, who laughs, and simply takes a few steps back.

The next thing I know, he's leaping through the air like Riddick coming down on the Lord Marshall with an elbow drop that would make Randy Savage jealous. Reality goes into slow-motion at this point as a simple equation from Physics pops into my head.

Mass [Me + Dave + Mr. "Hey! 400 Pound  Black Man Over Here!"] x Acceleration [I swear Dave's head nearly scraped the ceiling when he leapt] = Force [OMFG]

B O O Y A K A A A H ! ! ! 

If there was a monster living under my bed, that son of a bitch was NOT happy. 

The bed DID survive the ordeal, mind you, but I do think that I need to upgrade that sucker, because, well, a collapsing bed under the wrong circumstances can be a little embarrassing. Or exciting, depending. Nonetheless, I'll make it a point to not date any women that weigh more than Dave and Snead combined.

Which, I can assure you, will NOT be a problem. 

Random Quote: 

"I've been staring at this damn thing for the past 20 minutes... must... look... away..." 

[10 seconds later]

"DAMMIT!!"

-- Fear the old school. Galen got his hands on one of the 40-in-1 Atari systems over the holidays, and playing that sucker has gotten... addictive. I was actually trying to work on this update while Galen was playing 'Asteroids', and I swear that I had this glazed over look in my eyes like a deer caught at a rave. By the way, that bastard Galen's score got so high that it freaking RESET. Ph4ar the l33tn3ss!

Tom Yum Goong: Those of you that have gone out and seen Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior witnessed first hand the ungodly types of kickboxing insanity Tony Jaa is capable of. If you loved Ong Bak, then I BESEECH you to find a copy of Tom Yum Goong (I recommend these guys here), as the stuff he pulls off in this movie will make Jackie Chan shout "Holy $#@&, that mutha@#*$a's crazy!" Seriously, that dude's the most talented martial artist out there making movies today. Much love to Jet Li, but holy crap... Tony Jaa is INSANE.

Need another selling point? How about a Capoeira vs. Thai Kickboxing fight? You know you want to see it.

I shall never tire of seeing little Asian men pummeling one another with fists, feet, knees, elbows, and whatever happens to be in the area, including an elephant femur. HIGHLY recommended. 

The Nature of Cuteness: What defines cuteness?

This actually ended up becoming a very interesting discussion over here a few weeks ago. What defines an individual as being cute, rather than the traditional pretty? We started out with defining pretty as it relates to this. Pretty, in my opinion, describes woman that falls more into what society defines as being beautiful. More towards what you see in magazines and on TV. Cute, on the other hand, refers to someone that may not exactly fall into that societal norm, but still manages to be intriguing. Cuteness is as much about personality as looks, perhaps even more so. There tends to be a certain quirkiness about cute girls, something that just draws you in for whatever reason. Tyra Banks and Angelina Jolie are pretty. Natalie Portman and Drew Barrymore are cute. One category isn't inherently better than the other, but it's an interesting dynamic to observe.

Let the discussion begin. I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on this.

Personal Gallery: If my artwork never ends up in a gallery, I'll won't be upset thanks to one little incident over Thanksgiving. I was over at my parents' house, and decided to take a quick look at my old room, just to see what they had done with it since I've been gone. I turned on the lights and was greeted by a very interesting sight. Well for starters, the room was a lot cleaner than I had ever left it, but that wasn't what caught my eye. As soon as I stepped inside, I saw hanging on the wall a picture that I had painted for my mom a few years ago. I kind of smirked, but the smile got a lot broader when I glanced over to the left.

Hanging on the walls were two other pictures that I had done in the past. One was a full-scale piece that I was actually planning on giving to my sister at one point, and the other was a quick little sketch that I had more or less dismissed. All three pieces were done in shades of blue, which tied in nicely with the decor of the room. It just really surprised me to see them hanging around the house, as, in all modesty, I really didn't think they were all that good.

If nothing else, though, it's nice knowing that my parents do like my stuff. =)

Random Quote: "What is it that a cow has four of, and a woman only has two?" "Stomachs! Oh wait, damn!" -- And people wonder why I prefer to think for a moment before answering questions. Galen had gotten one of those emails where they ask you questions to see just how perverted you are. He was reading them out loud, and this was my hastily blurt-out answer. No ladies, I do not believe you have two stomachs, though I do question that on some. And for the record, the answer is 'legs'... get your minds out of the gutter!

Current Mood: Well... it's been a bit busy over here as of late. Working, the occasional Spanish composition, etc, etc... all is well, but I've just been sorely lacking in free time as of late.

Q: That's cool. Say, I heard that Soul Calibur 3 is out. Did that have anything to do with the lack of updates?

A: . . .

In a totally unrelated sidenote, yes, Soul Calibur 3 is out. And yes, it kicks as much ass as I would come to expect. And yes, the Create-A-Character mode is more addictive than crack.

[And yes, Snead, I -so- owe you a beatdown...]

For the record, don't let anyone tell you that the created characters are inferior to the actual cast from the game. Sure, they may have less moves, but they are still more than capable of handing out copious amounts of 'Dat Ass (TM).

However, the boys over at IGN were right... Setsuka IS death-in-flip-flops. That girl is NASTY. I'm in love =)

I will say one thing, though... I'm going to be unlocking stuff until I freaking die. We've been doing pretty good as far as unlocking characters (Li Long, muhfuggahs!), but I've mainly been focusing on buying parts for created characters. I still need to snag an ass-load of weapons, and surprisingly, I haven't focused too much on unlocking the art galleries. All in due time. I just need to focus on a task at a time, otherwise, that game's going to drive me insane. Sure, I'll still be happy playing it, but I'll still be insane. Well, more so.

I might actually post up a few of our created characters for the next update. We'll see.

Personal Soundtrack: Older by George Michael, Temperature by Sean Paul, Beautiful by Snoop Dogg/Pharrell, and various bits of drum and bass. A lot of my stuff's been on a big international slant as of late, since I, er, kinda owe a compilation to my friend Anu (previously referred to as 'Sword Girl' in earlier updates). Don't worry, it's coming!

Also, I made an interesting discovery a few weeks back, thanks to the random function on my CD player. It's really simple, but I've learned that it is physically impossible (at least for me) to not suddenly gain The Cocky Pimp Strut (TM) while walking through downtown Atlanta after having just heard Closet Freak by Cee-lo, followed immediately with Sexy MF by Prince. Had the theme from Shaft followed, that bit of cockiness would have gotten downright barbaric.

Never underestimate the power of what music can do to a person's mindset!

Wedding Bells: While I've known about this for a while, I haven't had a chance to comment on it until now. On December 31st, my friend Josh will be getting married.

The irony is, this is the guy that gave Neil complete hell when he found out that HE was getting married. While I've been very vocal about my disdain for that fickle beyotch known as Fate, her little sister Irony has always been cool with me. "You're forsaking your brothers!", he lamented. "You're dead to me, man!"

And look at who's tying the knot now. HA!

But, for as much hell as I'm giving the boy, I couldn't be happier for him. Seriously, Josh was the most antisocial bastard on the planet- he's one of Neil's protégés, for the love of humanity- up until he got together with a young lady he's been chasing since high school. Sure, he's still a bastard (we can never take that away from him), but he's a happier bastard.

Also, as fate would have it, my friend Jason (he of AWA2K vodka-smiting fame) is getting married the weekend RIGHT afterwards! Holy crap, that's a lot of weddings. Jason's cool peeps though, so I'm glad to see that things are working out with him. 

If nothing else though, I've got plans for New Year's now, because I'm sure that Josh and his crew are going to be celebrating into 2006. I've gotten the invitation for Damani Zayas and Date, so I'm working on that second part. We'll see how that goes.

Congrats, you bastards! It couldn't happen to two nicer guys!

Well, except for maybe Josh. That guy's an asshole =D

More Internet Crack: Taking tests on OK Cupid is addictive. Go there, now. As if you all needed another way to waste time on the internet. While it's also set up as a network to meet people, I actually didn't go there hunting for nyann-nyann. I really did join for the quizzes...

You in the back, stop laughing. Yes, I'm looking at you, TC.

Nonetheless, go check it out. It's fun, and hellified addicting.

Q: Cool! Say Mani, what's your nickname over there?

A: Good question! If you really want to know that badly, just email me.

Wrestling News: Rest in Peace, Eddie Guerrero. You will be sorely missed.

Random Quote: "Oh, that's one of them corn-fed white boys... I bet his ancestors started wars and shit!" -- Snead's been on a roll around here as of late, as was the case with this quote here. This was in reference to one of those nasty hulking mounds of animosity and spite that make up the roster in 'Blitz: The League'. I swear, that game is the epitome of sports-related violence, which of course means that it's hellified entertaining to watch. Very few things inspire a round of 'DAAAAAAAYUUUUM!' like seeing a man getting his helmet snatched off of his head and beaten with it. Good stuff!

Q: What's up with the new server, yo?
A: A long story, that. The gist of it is that the AnimationHQ server is going through some major changes at the end of the month, and there was a very strong chance of Club Ninja getting nuked in the process. So, rather than deal with that, I decided to move things on over to the Lazer-Ent. server.

Q: How long will things be set up like this?
A: Gooood question... I'm not sure how long it'll take for things to get squared away over at AHQ, but worst case scenario, we can make our camp here. Hell, I'm not entirely opposed to getting a new server entirely for Club Ninja. It just depends on, well, how much swag I've got coming in. The only downside to this is that I've got to trim down on how much space I'm taking up here, so we'll be temporarily taking down The Gallery, which is by far the most space-intensive spot on the site.

Q: Well, that's cool. So, how was AWA?
A: I know that I say this every year, but I really did have more fun this time than I have any other. You really can't beat time hanging out with your friends, making new ones, flirting shamelessly with geek-loving young ladies, and taunting fanboys. Man, I never tire of that. Granted, Mission: Get Mani Some Nyann-Nyann was a bit of a failure, but that didn't mean that I didn't enjoy myself.

Q: "Nyann-Nyann"?
A: You know, Nyann-Nyann? Some Kit-Kat? Some Meow-Meow? Some... oh, never mind. =)

Q: Er, right. So, do you have any advice for your fans out there?
A: Absolutely. If you are a guy, you should never wear hip-huggers. ESPECIALLY if you're hairy. I saw a dude at the mall squatting down to pick something up, and I swear to goodness, the back of his pants looked like a Sarlac Pit that had choked on about a dozen Wookies.

Q: . . .
A: Well, it's true!

Q: Er, can we talk about AWA some more?
A: Sure! Let me tell you about The Leaning Tower of 'HOLY CRAP!'!

Q: The... wha?
A: A few weeks back, I said that the scariest people on the planet were bored wrestling fans. Well, I take that back. The only thing scarier than that are DRUNK wrestling fans. Try and keep up with the madness here- first off, Manny comes running at me with a spear...

Q: Ok, so far so good...
A: ... and in order to counter, I snag him in a headlock. Well, it's at that point TC runs up behind him and launches him into a German Suplex. And while a normal person would have let go of his target, Manny decides to hold on to ME! TC is a LOT stronger than I thought he was, because at that point, both me AND Manny go flying through the air and crash into the bed, complete with a chorus of 'HOLY CRAP!' from the entire room.

Q: Wow... I don't think I've got any more questions...
A: Are you sure? I've got a bunch more, complete with about a dozen pics of us flipping birds at the camera! Hey, where are you going...?

Current Mood: OK, so it's been a while since the last update. I realize this =)

And before anyone asks why I have a can of Bitch-Be-Gone to the side, no, I'm not mad at anybody! Manny had the pic and I thought it was funny as hell, so I decided to throw it up here for the update. Besides, who can't use a can of this stuff from time to time?

It's still a little surreal, but I've completed my final art class for my degree now, so all that remains is my language requirement. Spanish is fun, but I've noticed two things that might cause me a problem. First, I've noticed that, despite the fact that I speak about three words of the language, I mystically gain an accent and the ability to string together words like a native with little-to-no effort. While that in its own right makes me pleading my case of not speaking the language a bit difficult, how about the fact that me and one of the authors of the textbook share the same last name? Crikey...

What's new, what's new? Well, we've got a web cam over here now (free gift from Comcast!), which I'm trying desperately to figure out ways to utilize it for evil and financial gains. I'll keep you posted on that one.

Also, seeing as it's been a while since the last update, I've got a series of Random Quotes dispersed throughout. Enjoy!

Personal Soundtrack: Diary of a Madman by The Gravediggaz, Shame by The Wu-Tang Clan (covered by System of a Down), and various bits of Mindless Self Indulgence. Angry and slightly psychotic mix, true, but it's not like I've been in a bad mood. I've just been a bit random. MSI is interesting stuff, as it really does just come across as a bunch of little snippets of songs. Catchy enough to get stuck in your head, but not long enough to get annoying. Put that sucker on random, and you're good to go! Respect the Little Girls!

Random Quote: "Man... I bet I've got relatives in New York digging a grave JUST to roll around in..." -- Me in front of MJQ a few weeks back as an group of OBNOXIOUS New Yorkers acted a fool some distance behind us in line. If nothing else, they served as entertainment as we waited to get into the club that night.

AWA 2K5 - Prelude to Desecration: OK, so we're not going to be THAT bad, but there damn sure will be some mayhem at this year's Anime Weekend Atlanta. For starters, we've got an absolutely MASSIVE group going with us this year. Also, and worthy of note is that TC is actually flying back into town from San Diego to be part of the festivities. I'm pretty sure that no one's going to get arrested, but I am an optimist...

Also, it seems that I'll be designing a Club Ninja badge for everyone in the crew. I was originally going to go with just one design, but I figured hell, why limit myself? Hence, everyone's getting a custom job with their nickname, an appropriate pic, and some sort of random quote that we spout out from time to time. For example, here's the prototype for mine...

[Who's the young lady, you ask? She's an Assassin Cross, borrowed from Ragnarok Online.]

Now, of course Club Ninja has to written on it. It kinda defeats the purpose of having a Club Ninja badge without the name. Right below that we have my typical moniker, that being Ninja Mani- I may just shorten it to Mani, but we shall see. And below that we have my quote, that being one "Break yo'self!"

"Break yo'self?"

Absolutely. Anyone that's gamed with me for any period of time will hear that one come out every once in a while. Think of it as a taunting war cry, if you will. I could have used any of my other random phrases, but I didn't quite have the space for "HAAAAAAAAAAH, BEYOTCH!" *crotch thrust, crotch thrust, crotch thrust*

And for those of you attending AWA this year and would like a badge, just send me a request! I'll throw one together for you, no problem. All I ask in payment is a hug from the ladies, and from the guys... well, maybe a dollar or something. OK, fine, I'll take a hug from them too, but it better be a manly one, with lots of backslapping and all of that good stuff. Make it look like we're fighting or something.

Now, don't think that AWA will be all fun and games this year. Oh no, there is business that must be attended to. I, Mani, Alpha-Geek Extraordinaire, have a mission to undertake. Read on.

AWA 2K5 - The Mission:  A while back I was having a discussion with my buddy Allen in regards to the type of women one is likely to run into at anime conventions. Sure, there's some really nice young ladies out there, but most are neurotic or underage, or even worse, neurotic AND underage. And as we were discussing a few female associates of ours ("Cute but crazy", quoth Allen), we noticed a disturbing trend amongst the lot.

Why are there so many women into yaoi?

Now, if you come to this site, then there's a good chance that you've got at least a casual understanding of anime, and perhaps know what yaoi is. If not, I advise you to do a web search at your own risk, and prepare for the worst. Guy on guy art/movies/etc. is probably the easiest way to describe it. But I swear to goodness, if you're looking for the women at an anime convention, just look for the nearest yaoi panel. I PROMISE you it will be crawling with them. Many questions have been raised, and many theories have been put forth, but masculine geek-kind as a whole have yet to understand the mindset. This is where I come in, for I have decided to undertake the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of a Club Ninja exclusive...

I'm going into the Yaoi Room on Friday night.

You're WHAT?!: You heard me, dammit! I'm going in there to find out exactly what the hell is going on in there, and to speak with the (hopefully) nubile populous and gain some insight. Allen's offered to come along (if nothing else for alcohol support, because heaven knows I'll need it), and TC has offered the services of his video camera for the ordeal. I'm serious about this... this is a mystery that must be solved. I've received the blessing of the Brotherhood to undertake this mission, and you'd better believe that I'm going to at least try. And before anyone asks, no, I'm not solely doing this to meet freaky-nasty women. This is research, dammit!

A month and counting! Bring it on!

R. Kelly- A Musical Observation: First, there was Down Low. Then, there was Contagious. And most recently, there was Trapped in the Closet. Is it just me, but does R. Kelly make a lot of songs about getting caught humping other people's women? And you know, it never ends well for him (Down Low, anyone?). In fact, not only does it not end well, but it ends up jacked to hell in such a dramatic fashion that comic book villains probably look on and say "Damn... that was pretty f*cked up..." (Closet, anyone?) Let us learn from our brother Kelly, and not hump another man's girlfriend/wife under any circumstances, or else something very bad will happen to you.

Random Quote: "Come with me so that I can beat you into submission." -- Antoinette at work this week. She was escorting a customer to the dressing room, but she only said that last part loud enough for me to hear. I had to duck into the back and start laughing at that one. And she just sounded so damned cheerful when she said it, too!

Fly For Fun: Sure, it's an odd name for an online RPG, but dammit if it isn't fun. First off, it's got some nice graphics and cool character designs, but here's the kicker.

That bitch is free.

Design-wise, it reminds me very much of True Fantasy Online (whose cancellation STILL irks me). Granted the game was originally done in Korean, which means that the English translation is VERY spotty from time to time, but it's not extreme enough to hinder your enjoyment. It may take a while, but once you get started, it's kinda fun. What's not to like about cutesy fantasy characters flying around on brooms and hover boards? By the way, here's my character...

[Where did the name 'Abigail Summers' come from, you ask? She's one of the NPC's I'm running in Glenshire Abbey currently.]

Isn't she adorable? =) If any of you happen to pop on, feel free to say hi!

Severe Asswhuppin's - Here's a sign that you're involved in a major brawl of epic proportions. A few weeks back, we had a houseful of friends here- gaming going in two separate rooms, as well as a game of Spades being played at the table. My room was hosting competition of the PS2 variety, and at this particular moment in time, Virtua Fighter 4 was our particular brand of poison. Now, I'm quite brutal with Lei-Fei (he reminds me of the monk I'm playing in Snead's RPG currently), but opted to get back to my ninja roots and use Kage to hand out a couple of asses. I'm playing against my buddy Larry (using Lei-Fei), who absolutely BLASTS me with a punch that sends my boy Kage into the side of the arena. I kid you not when I say that at that EXACT moment, my speaker comes flying off of the top of the TV, as if from the impact! It was beautiful timing, and that chorus of "AW DAYUM!" that erupted from my room was one of the funniest things that I heard that entire night. It wasn't the absolute funniest (that honor goes to the caliber of trash-talking that was going on at the Spades game with Galen, Manny, Dave, and Snead), but it was up there. We definitely need to have an evening like that again sometime!

Lesson Learned From The New Apartment #316: The most dangerous people in the world are bored wrestling fans. I'm not kidding here. Within the span of a week, I was hit with a Rolling Thunder, the Walls of Jericho, and numerous Ankle Locks by Manny- having the computer on the floor is definitely a bad idea. The kicker came when I actually got caught with an Ankle Lock AND a Crippler Crossface at the same time! Blame both of the roomies for that one. I will say one thing, though- vengeance is a mother...

Random Quote: "Wow. That the gayest thing I've done in quite some time." -- Me, after vengeance was doled out most viciously upon Manny a few nights ago. A bunch of us were over last Sunday for our gaming session, and as we were taking a break, Manny goes over to check his email. At that point, Snead gets him in a bearhug, Galen slaps on the Crossface, while Keith and I assault each of his legs with stereo Ankle Locks. With all of the masculine limbs and grunting flesh in that heap, I couldn't help but make that comment afterwards. =)

Current Mood:  It's all good on this end. Sure, I could complain about school kicking my ass, but hell, it's a drawing course- I'm used to the suffering at this point. I've pretty much settled into life at the new apartment, which is always a plus. And here you all were thinking that I'd be wearing animal pelts by now. Lots to talk about this time, so let's get this show on the road!

Personal Soundtrack: Jook Gal by Elephant Man, Uisge-Beatha (Whiskey) by Pork Pie Tribe, Trapped In The Closet (Parts 1-5) by R. Kelly, and the soundtrack to Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. An eclectic blend as always, but there's a story with each of those. Basically, once I started listening to the first part of Closet, I found myself immediately drawn into the whole story- R. Kelly crafts a pretty interesting tale, and I swear that you'll never trust anyone again after listening to it. We borrowed Dave's copy of Tenchu a while back, since my original copy of the soundtrack died some time ago- I swear I got goose bumps after hearing that opening theme again after so long. Uisge-Beatha is pretty much an ode to whiskey, and after flipping through a magazine at work that talked a bit about Scotland's 'water of life', that song was stuck in my head again. As for Jook Gal? Well, there's a bit more of a story with that one... 

Out and About the City: Some of you may recall me mentioning the young lady from my Photography class last semester (AKA 'Sword Girl'), and the fact that she would be heading out of the country in the near future. A few weeks ago, I get a text message from her, basically inviting me and a few of my friends to have dinner with her and some of her crew before she headed out that weekend. I, of course, accepted, and brought along the roomies to meet and hang out with her. The evening kicked all kinds of ass, as she's got a group of friends that's about as eclectic as my own- there were quite a few of us, as we pretty much had to commandeer a large portion of the restaurant to seat us all. And for desert? Only the most decadent cake ever witnessed by mortal eyes! That sucker was 15 FREAKING LAYERS of chocolate goodness within a massive slab of a tray that I swear was longer than my damned arm. You know that a cake is on point when you take two bites and your head starts swimming... wow.

And yes, she loved the sword, and in fact had me smuggle it into the restaurant so that she could show it off. =)

Just when we thought that the evening is coming to an end, she informs me that several members of the group would be moving the party to MJQ, a local club that Chia took me to years ago that was the absolute bomb. I actually had a moment where I was thinking about wussing out (seeing as I did have to work the next day), but I swear to goodness, Sword Girl gave me this look that pretty much demanded my presence. Hey, who am I to argue with the piercing gaze of a beautiful woman, much less one with a weapon? It really took no effort to convince Galen and Manny to check this place out.

The thing that I've always dug about MJQ is the fact that it is, literally, an underground club. From the street it looks like nothing more than a shack, but once you step inside, that sucker starts descending. The next thing you know, you're in a locale that looks like it could have been an arena in Def Jam Vendetta. I think the major thing that caught our collective attentions was the fact that, unlike 99% of the clubs in Atlanta, this place was playing legit hip-hop. None of that watered-down 'Look-at-my-Benz-and-Bling' crap that you hear on the radio 24-7. The dance floor was packed all night, but when the DJ started playing the reggae... holy crap, people lost their damned minds. I swear that people must have teleported onto that dance floor at that point. It was beautiful!

There was one moment of ignorance, though, where some jackmule genius tries to start a fight on the dance floor. Normally something like that would have caused a small scale riot.  But luckily, the security.... and the DJ for that matter, had things well taken care of. First off, once the first punch was thrown, the crowd around him INSTANTLY backed away, which made it very easy for security to nab the jackass. And my goodness, that's when the DJ started the taunting. ("Somebody put that bird back in it's cage!!") The offending jackass was pretty much taunted/escorted/sang out of the club, and the party resumed like nothing had even taken place. That rocked.

Oh, and as for why Jook Gal has been stuck in my head? That happened to be the song that was playing when the near-fight broke out. This sucked for two reasons- first, I rather like the song, and of course the DJ had to cut the music at that moment. And second, there was a rather cute young lady on the dance floor that, judging by her trajectory while dancing, would have been within my sphere of influence in a matter of minutes. Of course the incident pretty much disrupted everything, so I ended up losing track of her. My streak of luck with the ladies as of late has been questionable, to say the least.

Anywho, we had a great time, and once Sword Girl returns from India, I'm sure that there'll be some sort of celebration. Bring it on! =D

Lessons Learned From Getting an Apartment: 

    - Dave apparently is a 'Rusted Root' fan, and was quite upset that I didn't have Send Me On My Way on my system. As if he's too good for Ecstasy. 

    - Pranking never gets old, especially ones that involve used teabags.

    - Living with two other videogamers will hone your trash-talking skills to Dan-like levels of disrespect. Bomberman and Street Fighter 3 has never been this full of verbal disdain.

    - If not for Galen's cooking, Manny and I probably would have killed and eaten each other with a side of ramen noodles by now.  (note from G: "YA DAMN RIGHT!!!!)

    - On a similar note, ramen noodles go well with anything. Seriously.

    - Very few things are funnier than a large black man dancing around your apartment to Ho Sit Down at 1am. Thank you, Snead. 

[Only a big-time jackass would have taken a picture of this... so here you go!]

    - Actually, EVERYTHING is funnier at 1am, especially when you've got an 8am class you should be sleeping for.

Militant Waterfowl: I'm starting to believe that the ducks in my neighborhood are testing me.

A little back story is in order first. As the name of the new apartments suggest (Lake Ridge), there is indeed a large body of water located within our complex. Living within this body of water is a rather large family of ducks. Sure, they throw you off-guard with their cuteness from the beginning- the first time I saw them, they were escorting a large entourage of baby ducklings across the parking lot- but things take a turn for the sinister after that.

I've got an 8am class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which means that I've got to be up and out of the house nice and early on those days. Being on public transit, I made it a point to find all of the little shortcuts and whatnot around the complex, to ensure the most expedient route to the nearest bus stop. The main path that I take brings me right past the lake in question, and at that early morning hour, it tends to be quite duck-infested.

Now, most of the ducks are of a non-malicious green-headed mallard variety. Within that group, however, is a rather large white duck, whom I've dubbed as Aflac. On this particular day, I passed by a large group of the green guys without a single problem whatsoever. Thinking nothing of it, I continue on my path, right past Aflac, who proceeds to freaking HISS at me.

Until that moment, I had no indication that a duck could hiss.

Of course I stop (mainly out of confusion), but after a moment's pause, I decide to continue. Aflac proceeds to hiss at me AGAIN. Alright, duck. If you want a piece of me, you're gonna be taking some hell with you. There's a bit of a standoff, but I manage to make it on past, still very much confused about the whole ordeal. Nonetheless, I've been very wary every time I pass through that little stretch. Those ducks tend to roll pretty deep, and if Aflac were to convince the green ducks to gang up on me... well, it wouldn't be pretty for either side.

I'm watching you, duck. Don't start something that you're not willing to finish. I know cooks, and you WILL end up on a plate somewhere.

Vocal Expectations: I had no idea that I had built up a reputation with fellow Savvi employees over the phone these past few years. We had a meeting at one of the stores one Saturday morning, which saw each location sending a few reps to attend. At one point we go through the introductions (since most of our contact was strictly over the phone), and I swear to goodness that I hear murmurs of wonder when I introduce myself. I've got a pretty distinctive and polite phone voice (I've been confused with a recording), so when I go through my introduction, some of the people turned, smiled, and remarked "Oh, THIS is Damani!" One young lady in particular looked a teensy bit disappointed, however. "With that voice," she commented, "I thought that you were like, 6'4 and dark-skinned..."

Well damn.

I suppose that I can take pride in knowing that I sound like a large, polite black man on the phone, but I still can't help but laugh at the hint of disappointment in her voice. Still, it sucks to have ruined someone's mental picture of myself. I might only be a 5'8 Afro-Rican, but I've still got the voice, ladies!

?whatis sad: The saddest thing you'll ever witness is a guy trying to impress a female friend of yours with his assortment of ring tones on his cell phone. We just sort of collectively shook our heads in shame over the whole spectacle. Wow. 

WORST FORTUNE EVER: Behind an able man, there are always other able men... in bed. Galen certainly got the short end of the fortune stick tonight.

Random Quote:  "You really do need a bigger bed... actually, no you don't. A bed that small is a good form of birth control." -- Sometimes I just want to drop-kick my sister, but dammit if that girl's not quick-witted. This comment came from our pre-4th-of-July cookout, as I was breaking down my bed at our parent's house to get ready for the trip to the new apartment. And for the record, I happen to -like- my bed... sure it's a double, but it's not like I'm linebacker-sized or anything. Besides, a bed that small means that anyone sharing it has got no place to hide! HA!

Current Mood: Tales of my death have been greatly exaggerated. =)

Still, I've got plenty to talk about this update, as all manner of madness has been taking place. Where to begin, where to begin? We've got weddings, we've got big changes, we've got elf girlies, and we've even got men in tights! And even better, we've got some pictures! Curious? You know you are!

Wedding Bliss: We'll start things off with my sister's wedding, which took place on last weekend in Albany, GA. It was even nicer than we were expecting it to be, and the best part about it is that nobody screwed up during the ceremony! I also managed to catch up with all kinds of family members, folks that I haven't seen in YEARS. It's hard to believe that a cousin that I remember being in pampers is now 18... it really makes a man feel old, y' know? Here's a quick shot of most of the family, as well as some of the extended as well. There's too many folks here for me to try and list, so I'll just say that there's aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws mixed in there. Enjoy!

[Incidentally, my cousin Veronica (front row, black dress), despite her broken finger, was actually kicking my ass at bowling at one point Saturday night. I ended up beating her, so I managed to reclaim some semblance of my dignity.]

This section of the Club Ninja Update is brought to you by the makers of Ritalin. Ritalin: For People Too Busy To Be Bothered With Parenting.

There now. My smart-assed side is now satiated. =)

Of Swords, Jesters, and Elven Maidens: Days spent at the Georgia Renaissance Festival are always entertaining to say the very least. A few weekends ago we took a bit of an entourage to attend the festivities, consisting of me, Aaron, Kristine, Shelly, and her brother Justin, and before the day was done, we were ALL in garb. My transformation was slowly-but-surely, and at some point it seemed that Justin and I became dueling jesters-in-training. One of the more humorous highlights came when Justin spied a young lady dressed as an elf, which caused him to enthusiastically call out "Good day to thee, fair elf maiden!" She smiled, nodded, approached, walked around BOTH of us, and according to Aaron and Shelly, was very blatantly checking us out.

And before anyone can ask, the answer is no. She was about 16!

Anywho, as the day progressed, I ended up getting more and more bits and pieces for my own outfit. Combined with some of the chain mail jewelry that  I was wearing (made by Aaron and Shelly), I have to say that I was looking pretty sharp. And yes, I er... I ended up getting a pair of tights...

We're making this sucker public domain! No one shall blackmail me! HA!

As much as I'd hate to admit it, those things are actually pretty comfy. And they helped to reinforce something I've known for years now.

Mani: "Damn... I've got some pretty nice legs!"

Also, as promised, I DID snag a bladed object for the young lady from my Photography class. I have yet to deliver it to her, and I might have to hold off a bit. She's actually supposed to be heading out to India for a month in the near future, so I might just have to wait until she's back in the country. Nonetheless, if she's around, she IS getting invited to the housewarming.

. . .

Oooh, I forgot to mention that...

Moving On Up/Out: The biggest news for me personally is that I've recently moved into a new apartment with a couple of buddies of mine, none other than Galen and Manny. It's a nice little setup, and here's a quick shot of my own little corner of hell. 

You'll be quick to note that while I still don't have a bed, that stereo system is in 100% working order. Damn right my priorities are in order.

It's amazing all of the little things that you don't think about as you're moving, but they make you that much wiser, I believe. For example, I've learned that Dial hand soap makes a fine alternative to shaving cream, and that a large, cotton shirt does well as a towel in a pinch. It's been an interesting adjustment thus far, but I have to say that I'm enjoying the newfound sense of freedom here. Still, I'm in a perpetual state of unpacking, and I'm hoping to have everything in its place before the year is done.

Yes, I'm kidding. I'm aiming for the end of July, actually. =)

One of the big perks is that we've now got a cable modem hooked up here, and are working on getting the network set up for all of the computers and both Manny and Galen's X-Box's. I sense many late nights of gaming in my future, but that may be tempered by me going back to class next week. I'm looking at another 8am-noon schedule (for ONE class!), which sucks, but is still doable. If nothing else, it's another step closer to graduation- one more semester after this, and I'm a free man! WHOOOO!

Danger Woman- More Sightings: My goodness, it continues.

It seems that a few weeks ago, Manny ran into a woman on MARTA that fit the exact description of Atlanta's resident binary-reading superhero. Thankfully, he wasn't wearing anything that betrayed his geek heritage at the time, or else things REALLY would have gotten strange. I swear to goodness, I'm never wearing anything anime-related on the train again. Sure, I expect to run into this sort of thing AT a convention, but having it happen outside of that sort of setting can be a little.. weird. 

More Weddings!: Congratulations to my dear friend Chia, who has just gotten engaged! They're planning on having the wedding here in Atlanta next summer, and I'm really looking forward to it. If nothing else, Chia's got some cute (and perhaps even single!) friends that I'm sure will be attending...

. . .

What?! I'm a single guy, dammit! Screw you for judging meeeeeeee!

Ahem...

This section of the Club Ninja Update is brought to you by Cam'Ron's Pink T-Shirts^(tm). Guys In Pink T-Shirts: The Perfect Complement to Gentlemen in the Sexual Gray Area.

OK, that was the last smart-assed comment, I promise... at least for this update =)

Random Quote:  "Damn! You ol' Gorilla-Donkey looking mother..." -- After scoring the apartment a few weeks ago, our trio of terror decided to pop by Kroger and snag some sushi and sake to celebrate the occasion, and on the way, Manny observed a gentlemen in a nearby vehicle that was just so damned ugly and strange looking as to garner the above phrase. Trust me, that was a very accurate assessment. That was wrong enough to begin with, but damn, it got worse. While going through the parking lot, Galen decided to do the cry of what we assume a Gorilla-Donkey would sound like (which cracked me up), and once we get inside, Manny starts loping around like a large simian before mule-kicking in the middle of a store isle. That damn near killed me. The Gorilla-Donkey is a terrible beast to behold. "It's a Goronkey!", as Galen had dubbed the abomination.

Current Mood: Days off from work rock, especially ones when I don't have to worry about school either.

As I'm sure that you, my fans (yes, both of you) have figured out, these past few weeks have been quite hectic and insane. To complicate things at work, our manager got sick right before the busiest weekend we've had, oh, all year, which more or less left me in charge. I'm pleased to say that the store didn't burn to the ground, and thanks to the crackheaded about of overtime I procured that week, I was gifted with the largest paycheck I've had since being with Gingiss/Savvi. Rock.

Other than that, life's been life, but in a good way. I actually got a random phone call from a friend of mine from Photography (the young lady that borrowed a sword for her project), inviting me to her graduation party. I couldn't make it, but the timing was pretty ironic, for -I- was about to give -her- a call. I'm supposed to be going to the Georgia Renaissance Festival next weekend, and was planning on getting her an inexpensive-but-nice-looking sword as a gift..

Q: Why are you getting a sword for some girl from your Photography class?
A: Because she's cool peeps. She digs hip-hop, the martial arts, and actually took Capoeira last semester. That, and she's FINE. Not that it has anything to do with it.

Really. Stop staring at me like that.

. . .

Oh, you guys suck.

Personal Soundtrack: Aerials by System of a Down, Whatever (Chris Benoit's Theme) by Our Lady Peace, and the soundtrack to Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I've been a big music whore these past few weeks and snagged Toxicity (which I've been meaning to get for a while now) and Fellowship (which I've been meaning to snag for even longer). Hell, I haven't bought any new CD's in a LONG time, so I could justify it! Having given Toxicity multiple listens by this point has confirmed something that I've suspected for quite some time now. It's simply that I'd be deathly afraid of even trying to have a simple conversation with the lead singer, as that dude is QUITE loud. It'd probably go something like this...

Mani: Hey Serj, how's it going?
Serj: HI MANI I'M DOING FINE HOW 'BOUT YOU HOW BOUT YOU?!!!!!
Mani: Whoa dude! Is everything ok?!
Serj: DOING GREAT DOING GREAT YEAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!
Mani: @#$#%! *starts running as Serj gives chase, accompanied by Turkish-inspired music* 

Don't tell me that it couldn't happen like that!

West Coast Pop: As of a few weeks ago, TC has officially left the ATL, and is now residing with the family in San Diego. Of course we had to have the big send-off, as his departure also coincided with Dave's birthday. Basically, things just degenerated into a reason for us to drink and act like fools. Nonetheless, we wish Brother TC the best out in Cali, with much sanity and leering at hot Asian women from a safe distance of the wife. There's talk of us dropping in for a visit during a certain large-scale comic book convention that you all might be familiar with, so we'll see how that develops. The furthest I've been out west was Vegas, so I'm curious to actually become bi-coastal and check things out that way. Represent for the Dirty South, yo!

Contrary to popular belief, yes, I AM somewhat Black. =)

Danger in Atlanta: I haven't been in the house for five minutes, but after a little incident on the train earlier today, I felt strongly compelled to sit down and get this typed up. Now, I'm a pretty open-minded sort of guy, definitely one of the most patient bastards you're apt to meet. I've ridden on MARTA for years now, and have seen many things. I've also been an anime fan for many years now, and have seen many things. What just happened to me less than an hour ago has forced me to not only reevaluate my patience, but has single-handedly forced me to recalibrate my Weird Shit-O-Meter. Here we go.

It was a day not unlike any other that found me on campus turning in my final paper for Art History, and after spending some time grabbing lunch at Alley Cat (metal/punk bar) at Underground Atlanta, I decided to head on in. I take the short walk to Five Points station, don my headphones, and take a seat in order to wait for the next train.

Before I go any further, let me explain what I was wearing, as this has tremendous significance with what transpired next. About a year ago, Heather was visiting Tennessee and brought me back a black tee-shirt from one of the local anime clubs, the aptly named Anime Tennessee. While I'm not a member of said club, I do find myself wearing the shirt from time to time, as not only do I dig the design on it, but it is also quite comfy. Anywho, I'm sitting down waiting for the next train, and I see a heavyset thirty-ish woman in glasses is approaching. We make eye contact, and I, being the decent human being that I am, smile in acknowledgement.

Big mistake.

She seemed very interested in my shirt, and the first words out of her mouth when she saw it was "ANIME!" Granted, that WAS the only part visible at the time, as my book bag was covering the Tennessee portion of the logo. Knowing full well that a lot of my convention-attending brothers and sisters are not fully versed in the techniques of social interaction, I move the book bag aside so she can see the whole logo. She first mentions Anime Weekend Atlanta, and we talk about that for a brief moment, and she follows up with a mention of an upcoming convention in Tennessee. "You might want to check it out," she suggested. "I hear that Danger Woman is supposed to be there. The internet's been buzzing about it!"

At that point a small alarm goes off in my head. Nothing too loud, but there was a ringing nonetheless. Memories started to come back to me, as I recalled hearing about a woman that frequents Dragon*Con and other local conventions, claiming to be a superhero. Not a problem, I think. This woman's obviously a fan and is just trying to make conversation with someone that she feels is a kindred spirit. I can respect that. I continue with the idle banter and mention that yes, I had indeed heard about Danger Woman.

Big mistake #2.

At this point, this woman gets INTO the story. She's telling me about Danger Woman's arch-nemesis and why she's after her, the fact that she's an orphan ("Hey, most of the great heroes are orphans!" I remark with a smile), and then starts getting into her pets. "And the best part about it," she informed me. "Is that no one knows who she really is! She's got a secret identity!"

At that point, the alarm in my head starts blazing. I'm starting to remember more and more about this Danger Woman character, and the fact that an individual fitting the description of the lass before me is the main one behind the stories. A realization suddenly dawned on me that I was indeed speaking with the woman herself. And heaven help us all, she's a little bit less than sane. The train pulls up and we board. I'm quietly thinking that the amount of people on the car would end up being a deterrent for us to continue this conversation. She finds a seat, and enthusiastically calls me over, informing me that she saved one for me. I decide why not, and plop down next to her.

Big mistake #3.

Now, it's a little bit after six at this point, which meant that the train was pretty crowded. This did not stop her, as she continues to tell me about Danger Woman's pets, and QUITE LOUDLY to boot. The doors close, and the realization dawned on me that, if this woman was going to the same stop as me, I'd be listening to her for the next half hour or so. Hell, with my luck, they'd be single-tracking down the line, which could easily up that to 45 minutes. I smile and nod while throwing in the random tidbit from time to time, but my mind is racing on finding an escape route. Suddenly, I hear a voice over the intercom.

"The next stop is Georgia State, Georgia State Station..."

I grab my book bag and smile. "Well, this looks like my stop... it was nice talking to you!"

Never mind the fact that my true destination was actually eight stops later down the line. I'd be content to wait for the next train. I had made a quick tally of my mental state, and there was no way in hell that I could have kept up with that conversation. She waves as I duck off. "Don't forget to tell your friends about Danger Woman!" she calls after me.

Oh trust me, I think as I wave back. Everyone's going to hear about this one.

Danger Woman - The Saga Continues: After the incident on the train, I decided to do a little bit of research in regards to Danger Woman. I suddenly felt like a mega-maniacal villain of some sort trying to determine weakness of his own arch-nemesis. I started out with a little online recon work, and determined that Danger Woman is apparently a bit of a local celebrity. She shows up at all sorts of random events around town, Dragon*Con especially. Hell, she even has a web ring dedicated to her. After that, I decided to beat the bushes a bit with my friends familiar with the seedy underworld of convention life. I knew that out of any of them, the ones that probably could tell me the most about her would be Aaron and Shelly. As to be expected, they BOTH had stories about her. I learned a few things that evening.

1) Danger Woman's secret weakness is cigarette smoke. Aaron told be a story about when he was working in the Green Room at Dragon*Con some years ago, when word came that Danger Woman was on her way. One of the other guys in there had apparently planned for it, and when the news came, he quickly began passing out cigarettes to everyone in the room. None of these guys smoked, but when Danger Woman arrived and saw them conversing and looking like they were about to light up, she stared in shocked-terror before 'flying' away down the hallway.

2) Apparently, she's autistic. This made me feel a little bad about my earlier assessment of her sanity. But the following bit of news scared the ever-loving crap out of me...

3) This woman can read binary.

Now, for those of you that didn't spit your drink of choice at the monitor, let me give you a quick lesson in Computer Science so that you might join the rest of us that did. Computers are very simple creatures once you get down to it. In their world, there is no such thing as 'maybe'- either a situation is a 'yes' or a 'no'. That being said, once a program is written, in order for a computer to understand it, it has to be translated into terms that it can process. That is where binary comes from, where a situation is either a yes (represented by '1') or a no (represented by '0'). Thus, a simple statement could end up like-

01100100111111000101101110100111001110101110101011101010.

[And for the record, I have no idea what I just typed. If I insulted anyone's mother, I do apologize]

And if the stories are to believed, this woman can read binary like you and I read the newspaper. Now, proceed with your spit-takes.

Only on public transit in Atlanta could I meet an autistic superhero with pets and a weakness to cigarette smoke, capable of reading binary. Is this not the greatest city on earth?

Classics Reclaimed: Used DVD's rock.

I was browsing the movie section at the local Electronics Boutique a few weeks back and stumbled across the Special Edition of the original Vampire Hunter D. I, of course snatched it up with enough speed to make, well, a speedy snatcher proud. Sure, I've got VHD: Bloodlust, but I've been meaning to add to original to my collection for quite some time now. Keep in mind that I single-handedly blame that movie for getting me into anime back in high school, so we're looking at some history here! I finally got a chance to watch the movie subtitled, and though the differences are minor, they make the movie so much better. They took out a lot of the annoying incidental music that we have to deal with in the dub, and the fact that Count Magnus Lee didn't talk as much made him that much more ominous. We won't even get into how much better the conversation flowed when D is fighting the urge to take a bite out of Doris...

Also, earlier this week, I found a copy of Only The Strong! I was most pleased, as this is the movie that introduced me (and most of the US, actually) to Caopeira. Paranue, suckers! I'm reliving my formative years!

Ass-Kickings Galore: That same day, I snagged a copy of Vampire Effect, a martial arts flick where the good guys go up against, well, vampires. I enjoyed the story, but the fight scenes really took the cake. When the two ladies team up to go up against the dark denizens of the underworld, I don't think there was an ass in a twenty-mile radius that didn't get kicked. As a bonus, there's a cameo by Jackie Chan, which is as funny as expected.

Also, I've seen Kung Fu Hustle! Or rather, 90% of it. See, a friend of mine had a bootleg of the movie, and it was fine up until the VERY LAST FIGHT SCENE. Nonetheless, I rather enjoyed it, and am going to make it a point to grab a legit copy down the line. Also, thanks to one of the fight scenes, I had to make an addition to the list of People You Do Not Pick A Fight With In A Martial Arts Flick. Recommended for all of you martial arts junkies out there.

Love Triangles in the Workplace: Before anyone flips out, I'm not talking about Love Triangles in MY workplace. I'm actually referring to something that's been on a bit more of a public forum, at least if you're a fan of the sports-entertainment industry. I actually wanted to talk about this some on the last update, but seeing as I had my huge Alpha Male rant last time, I didn't want it to seem like I was on some anti-relationship crusade. With that being said, let's talk a bit about the Lita/Matt Hardy/Edge situation.

For those of you that aren't familiar, let me get you up to speed. Even if you're not a fan of the industry, it's pretty easy to grasp what's going on. In a nutshell-

Lita + Matt Hardy = 5+ Year Relationship
Matt Hardy + Edge = Good Friends
Edge = Married
Matt Hardy = Out Rehabbing Injury
Lita + Edge = Start Doing the Horizontal Mambo

And to complicate things, Matt Hardy ends up getting FIRED by the WWE to keep things from becoming an issue down the line. I guess if you're going to start boinking your bud's girlfriend, ensure your job security by making sure that you're in a high-profile feud at the moment, as is the case with Edge. This whole thing struck a nerve with me, and probably not for the reasons that you all are thinking. Sure, I could sympathize with Matt because of my own recent de-balling at the hands of a young lady (but I've gotten them back!), though I couldn't imagine having to deal with that if it were one of my best friends she was seeing. The main reason I'm focusing on this is because these are three of my favorite wrestlers here, especially Edge. And hell yeah I'm siding with Matt on this one. I've read his interviews responding to the situation, and it seems like the dude got totally dicked. If you're going to cheat on your long-term boyfriend, at least have the decency to break up with him first before seeking the new wang.

And now let's talk about Edge.

Up until I heard the news, I could honestly say that he was one of my favorite wrestlers. Now, however, I find it rather difficult to respect him as a human being. First and foremost, the dude was married, and he broke that most sacred of vows in order to tag his buddy's girlfriend. That's not cool. And, if the tales are to believed, he was leaving Lita little cutesy messages on her cel while she was still with Matt, saying how he couldn't be without her and all of that good stuff. There are some things you just don't say to someone involved in a relationship, especially a long-term one like that, and definitely not with the girlfriend of one of your best friends. 

Sometimes it sucks knowing a lot about what goes on behind-the-scenes. It sort of ruins the mystique, y'know?

Ah well. At least I didn't buy Edge's autobiography.

Reason #213 Why We Can't Carry Weapons to Work: Let me start this off by saying that I really don't have a problem dealing with prom season, working at a tuxedo shop and all. Actually, I rather enjoy interacting with all of the students that come in there. Sure, the hours and the nonstop deluge of humanity can get a little annoying, but I can deal with that as a whole. Every once in a while, though, you'll get that rocket-scientist-caliber genius that you pray was born sterile, for if he were allowed to breed the gene pool would become irrevocably pissed-in. Such was the case a few weeks ago, as we were winding down from a pretty hectic day. A coworker was out front dealing with a customer, and I was in the back getting stuff prepared for us to close down. I hear the buzzer go off, which indicates that someone new had walked into the store. I finish what I'm doing before stepping out to the front to help out. There's three high school guys there, and one is finishing off a joke that he apparently began earlier. He finishes it before I get out there, so I've got no idea what he said. But apparently it must have been the funniest thing ever, as one of the guys just starts laughing like he had lost his damned mind.

You know the type of laughter I'm talking about. The damn-dude-it's-not-that-funny laughter. This hyena-spawn was cackling in almost orgasmic glee, and proceeds to back up HARD into one of the mannequins in the store. It's not like the mannequin was hiding in the corner, just waiting to assault somebody- it was in a pretty obvious spot, and this oblivious jackal-jackass just keeps laughing like nothing happened, and starts backing up AGAIN.

Before I know it, I'm on the other side of the counter, standing directly in this kid's face, and growling "Can I help you?" Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT the most intimidating guy in the world. Granted I was wearing a turtleneck and had recently shaved my head, so I did look a teensy bit like one of the Basham Brothers, but I'm still not scary by a long shot. One the the kids just up and bolts at that point, while hyena-lad tries to stutter out an apology, full of 'sirs' and the like. The third kid seemed to be the brightest one of the trio, and after he finishes shaking his head in shame/disgust, he tells his friend to leave. He then apologizes for the genius, and proceeds to start asking me standard tuxedo questions. It seemed that he was the one that needed to rent something, and the other two guys were just tagging along. At one point, we see his brain-damaged friend trying to approach again. Before I can even say anything, the kid just looks up at his mental friend and points outside, telling him to not even come in. I was still a little annoyed at the time, but I could help but laugh at the whole exchange after the fact.

Still, I can only pray that this kid considers the virtues of a life of celibacy at some point.

Random Quote:  

"I bet your porn has gay people in it."

"Yeah. Women."

-- Excerpt from a random conversation with two associates of mine at the local videogame store. What cracked me up the most was the quick and nonchalant way the response came, with an almost practiced amount of dryness. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that my buddy was British.

Current Mood: So, what do you think of the new look? It's nothing too dramatic, but I felt like doing some tweaking. We'll get the rest of the site to follow suit. Also, the pic you see off to the left came about from my most recent purchase, an art book focusing on the Hip-Hop culture in Japan. It sort of inspired me to do a quick sketch of myself in one of my favorite outfits, and throw some color on it in Photoshop. I really need to get Photoshop on the new comp, as the color levels on the old computer are jacked to high hell. You have no idea how much tweaking I had to do on those pants...

Things are pretty OK in this neck of the woods. Between getting done with Photography, plotting out the revamp of the page, getting harassed by the damn rent-a-cops at Dave's apartments, dealing with prom season at work, and working on papers for Art History, it's been an interesting few weeks. The last Photography project was an interesting experience, as it was a slight continuation of my self-portrait project, and at one point saw me, ahem, dressed up as a female.

Oh relax. It was just from the neck-up. Granted that DID mean that I had to wear some makeup, and I will say this- I have a newfound respect for those that cross-dress well. Even after shaving every bit of hair on my face and applying a whorish amount of foundation, you could still see stubble. If nothing else, I've determined that indeed I was born the correct gender, as I make quite an ugly woman.

Now that I've set off each and every one of your Gaydars with that one, I will say that I got some positive feedback from the project. There was another shot of me looking all stoic and monk-like that I really dug, and a classmate made an interesting observation on how I had set everything up. "It's like, he really wants people to know who he is, but at the same time, it's like people are afraid to get to know him." I'm not saying that I agree with it, but it's an interesting interpretation.

Unfortunately the pictures are all mounted, which makes scanning them a total bitch and a half. Maybe I'll just arrange them and just take a shot with the digital and set that up on here.

Or maybe not. No one needs to see me looking like a woman.

Personal Soundtrack: Crazy by Seal, the soundtrack to Unreal Tournament 2K4, and the soundtrack to the live-action Street Fighter movie. And yes I know the live-action Street Fighter sucked a dozen asses, but I did like both the score and soundtrack. Also, the urban ass-kicking vibe is proving helpful as I lay out the groundwork on a future project. I've been on a binge of late of ripping the soundtracks of various games, as I've so far snagged UT2K4 and Wu Tang: Shaolin Style. Neverwinter Nights, you're next. I've always dug the soundtrack to UT2K4 if for no other reason that some of the tracks sound like something out of The Matrix. Besides, that's good music to listen to when embarking about your business in downtown Atlanta.

A Random Tale of Woe: I'm not exactly sure how, but this little tale from my past came up in conversation a few days ago. In retrospect, it's actually pretty funny, but not so much at the time. A number of my friends have heard this, and there were actually a couple there to witness it at the time.

This took place back in Senior year of high school. There was a young lady that I was good friends with that would occasionally have issues at home, and consequently would run away from time to time. Of course lots of people knew that we were friends, so whenever something like that happened, teachers and the like would pull me to the side and ask if I knew anything about her whereabouts. Nine times out of ten I didn't, but I'd always promise to let them know if I heard anything. Well one fine day, she up and vanished, but unlike times in the past, I had an inkling of where she might had been.

Flashback: A few days prior in homeroom, I overheard one of my classmates plotting a skip-day, and during the course of his expounding upon his plans in a fashion similar to that of most super villains, he happens to mention my friend's name. When she ended up disappearing, I thought that it was too much of a coincidence that he too wasn't in school. Opting to cut out the middle man, I decided to go and mention my suspicions to our illustrious principal before she sent someone to me asking questions.

Now before I go on, there's a few things that I should mention about this gentleman that I suspected my friend to be out with. First off, he was rather large and muscular fellow- a football player to be precise. Not only that, but he was rather unstable at that. Word had it that he was involved with some gang activity as well, so as I'm sure you can imagine, I was a little less than enthused about the concept of pissing this guy off. I decide to err on the side of caution and go talk to our principal, and let her know what was going on in my head. Neil decided to come along as well, and the two of us go on and let her know what had been overheard. Knowing that my missing friend could be rather emotional and irrational at times, I make a plea with our principal. "I would be very appreciative," I began, "If my name wasn't mentioned with any of this." The principal gave me a wink and a thumbs up, seemingly understanding my mindset.

To this day, I don't trust anyone that winks and gives me a thumbs up for any reason. Ever.

The very next morning, I get off of the bus and head over to my locker, like I'd do on any other day. As I'm gathering my books, I hear the voice of the rather large and scary guy that I had assumed my friend to be out with. Not only that, but the following is coming from his mouth-

"WHO THE F*CK IS DAMANI?!!"

So much for my name not being mentioned in all of this.

I don't say a word, but I put my combination into my locker at such velocity to make a master thief proud. As I'm gathering my books for my first class, I take a look down the corridor, and see Mr. Antisocial ranting and raving, pretty much screaming for my blood. He seems to be talking to an associate of mine, a guy that I'd known since about the sixth grade. Obviously someone that knew exactly who the f*ck Damani was. I stop breathing as the raving madman asks him if he knew who I was. My friend turned down the hallway, saw the look on my face, turned back to Mr. Congeniality, and shrugged. "Nah, man. Don't know."

I would have hugged him right then and there if I wasn't fearing for my life.

Let's not sugar-coat things here. This is a guy that supposedly spent some time in jail, had done all sorts of terrible things to random folks over the years, and probably truly needed some sort of medication. Hell yeah, I was afraid.

The situation did eventually blow over (mainly because of the fact that he, to be blunt, must have had the attention span of a fruit fly), but there was a point where he did find out who I was and threatened to beat the ever-loving crap out of me. Of course I and my high school 120-pound-with-bricks-in-my-pockets ass had to talk a good game, showing that I wasn't afraid of the guy. After the fact, though, Neil pulled me to the side. "Look dude... I know that you've got to flex and not be intimidated. But you and I both know what would happen in that fight." 

I looked at him, smirked, and said "You're damn right."

Hey, it pays to not to be intimidated. And truth be told, after that incident, there really was very little that I was afraid of. But then again, I'm also no fool. I wanted no piece of that brawl if it came down to it. Discretion and valor, good people. Discretion and valor.

Oh, and I'm STILL pissed at my principal for that one. Pray that we never meet again, old woman.

Metro vs. Medieval: I got an interesting email forwarded to me a few days ago by Neil in regards to this whole Metrosexual thing. Now, I'm all for a guy taking care of himself, but I've been pretty open about my general disdain for the ones that take it to the extreme. If you spend more time in the mirror than your girlfriend/wife, then I'm talking about you. Anywho, the email talked about a recent survey that stated that most women are getting sick and tired of dealing with the "high-maintenance dandies" that have become the norm. It seems that they long for the resurgence of what has been called the Medieval Gentleman. There was a book mentioned in there (The Compleat Gentleman: The Modern Man's Guide to Chivalry) that described the three aspects of the Medieval Gentleman, that being the Warrior, the Lover, and the Monk. According to the survey, it would seem that some women long for the return of the man that respects himself and is willing to fight for a just cause (The Warrior), respects his significant other (The Lover), and respects knowledge (The Monk). It was rather interesting, and I'm making it a point to track that book down so I can check it out for myself. Those are virtues that I've always respected over the years, and I'm glad to see that there are others out there that can appreciate the mindset.

Head's up, ladies... I'm coming back into style, dammit!

Wedding Rants: It's nice how some things tie in together, as that whole masculinity rant serves as a nice bridge for this next one. This one's been building up for some years now, so I'm glad to finally get this one out there. Time to let the Alpha-Male out to play for a bit. 

Being a part of the wedding industry, I've noticed things over the years, things that become very obvious when flipping through bridal magazines from time to time (shut up, it's part of my job). The main thing that I've noticed over the years is that the vast majority of those magazines view us men folk as clueless, slobbering Neanderthals in dire need of help in order to live up to a woman's standards. One such ad discussed the proper way to get rid of his old bachelor-pad decor, while one particular article really got under my skin due to a book that a lowly groom had stumbled across while searching for wedding information. The title? A Groom's Guide on How to NOT Screw Up The Most Important Day of Her Life.

Now hold up there for just a sec.

Now one thing I can admit is that if you ask most guys about how they envision their wedding day, most of the time you'll get a blank look, and maybe some talk of who the best man will be. That's usually it. Ask a woman, however, and nine times out of ten you're going to get their version of the ideal wedding, from flower color to time of year to the type of shoe the bridesmaids will wear, all of which has been solidified in her mind since she was 12. This doesn't mean that a guy doesn't care about the wedding, or that he's some sort of slobbering beast of burden in dire need of you to domesticate them. When a guy says "Just tell me where to be and when, and I'll be there", he usually means it. The bottom line is this- details be damned, but most guys are just happy that they found that one person that actually wants to spend the rest of their life with him, for better or for worse. Sure, they'll be a wedding, but the details are just that- details. They won't make or break the affair, it's just all part of the atmosphere.

And onto my second point, why do some women assume that they know what's best for their guy? There's nothing wrong with having his best interests in mind, but when it gets to the point where she's trying to dictate who you become, that's not cool. First, it's your old bachelor pad decorations. Next, it's your clothes. Then, it's your friends and your job. I'm not saying that this is something that happens in every relationship, but I've seen it enough to warrant some concern. Some of the best advice I've received in recent times is to love someone for who they are, not for what you want them to become. It's a simple statement, but it's still a pretty profound one.

And to show that Mani's Inner Alpha-Male is not a total man-beast, I'm going to share a tidbit of advice for the ladies out there. This is one of those secrets of manhood so potent that there's a good chance that I'm going to get kicked out of the guild for even sharing it. Ladies- do you want to know the best way to make a man do something?

Convince him that it was his idea.

It's simple. No one likes being told what to do, bottom line. And no one sure as hell enjoys being nagged. Speaking from experience, I've been known to do the exact opposite of what I was told to do, just to prove that I still possess some semblance of free thought. Sure, it'd usually come back to bite me in the ass, but details, details. The bottom line is this, though- if you can somehow convince a guy that something that you want him to do was HIS idea, then more than likely he's going to do it. Call it a Malfunction of the Ego, if you will. I've said it many times before, but a woman's greatest strength is to make a man believe that an idea was his own. I stand by that.

Well, this should generate some interesting email. Let the deluge of hate mail begin!

Technology's Bitch: Want to give me a heart attack? Here's a quick and easy way. About a week ago I was doing the final layout for Glenshire Abbey, and go to export it as a PDF so that I could show it to a few people before the official release. It was at that moment that my Flash Drive decided to stop responding. I eject it, reboot, and try again, only to have it not respond again.

If you had held a microphone to my thought process at that moment, it would have turned your hair white.

Let's be honest here. That was a hell of a lot of work that I could have lost, and right at the VERY FREAKING END of the whole process? Oh yeah, blood would have been spilled. The good news is that I went to another computer and had it recognized, so I know that everything is still there. Nonetheless, the moment I got home that evening, I IMMEDIATELY made a back-up. That's a caliber of scare that I'd like to avoid in the future.

Technology, I am your bitch. I willingly acknowledge this.

Ass-Whuppin's Regained: After using every utility known to man to try and remove the scratches from my old copy, I opted to just repurchase Def Jam Vendetta: Fight for New York a few days ago. And once again, I am a full-fledged addict. Even though he had a perfect record at the time, I decided to erase-then-recreate Cain Harlocke (Fighting Style: Kickboxing) so I could get back up to speed. I've just put an old-school beating on everyone in the Terror Dome with only one loss under my belt (from a stank-nasty brawl with Ice-T), where I continue to smite heathens with the fury of 1,000 lesser ass-kickers. I've just added Wrestling to his repertoire, which has made him quite a bit nastier. The team tournament is coming up, so I'm kinda anxious to test his mettle in that. Still not looking forward to facing the team of Banner and Bonecrusher, though...

Question for the Masses: Here's a query for you all that I'm sure will spill over to the Message Board. This stemmed from a conversation that we were having at work a few weeks back, and one that comes up from time to time. Back on the subject of Super Heroes and whatnot, and in the spirit of the X-Men, if you could have one mutant power, what would it be and why? Contemplate this upon the Tree of Woe (TM). 

And Speaking of the Message Board... : Holy crap, my friends are insane. That being said, there are some interesting things going on over there. We've already had three Super Hero Showdown discussions, the beginnings of an EWR wrestling league, discussed the proper way to handle a bastard that steals the identity of one close to you, and have already started plotting mayhem for Anime Weekend Atlanta this year. Come, be a part of the madness!

Never! : I have a favor to ask of all of you. If ever in my life I wake up one morning and decide that shorts, dress socks pulled up past my knees and sandals are an acceptable look for going out in public, I want somebody- it doesn't matter who- to grab a cinder block, and utilize it in some creative way to end my misery. Sure, it's always the old guys you see like that, but I live in abject fear that I'm going to wake up some day and think that it's not a bad look. Who started that crap? No entiendo... no entiendo... ("I Don't Understand")

Vehicular Dilemma: Here's a quick question for the masses. I recently had an uncle of mine move into the neighborhood, and on days where I have to catch the bus, I'll often times run into him working on any number of cars in his yard. I knew that he had some skills with dealing with cars, but I had no clue what all he was capable of. We end up talking on some days, and he's mentioned that he'll often times get cars from the local auctions (hellified cheap, mind you), fix them up, and sell them. He's invited me to attend some with him, and I'm sure that he could fix up whatever kinks we find. My dilemma is this- do I take a risk on an Point-A-to-Point-B auction vehicle and not have to worry about a car payment, or do I end up snagging a new-but-low-end car like a Kia Rio, which, having done the research, is looking like a good choice for me (10 Year/10,000 Miles Warranty? Kick ass!)? I'm curious to get some opinions on this one, as there are pros and cons on each.

Random Quote: "Let me put this in a language that you can understand, Brother..." *dramatic pause, followed immediately by a high-pitched, tongue-wagging, smite-the-infidel bandit shriek* -- We'll start this off by saying that Galen does a damn good impression of Hulk Hogan. We were of course watching Wrestlemania 21 a few weeks back, and this is what Galen thought the Hulkster should have said to Mohammed Hassan before the beat-down. There was a pause from all present, followed immediately by a loud round of laughter. That's just one of those things that's just too wrong to just ignore. And, since it's been a while since we've updated...

...And One to Grow On... : 

Keith: "She's blue, and she's got TITS!" 
TC: "Well damn, Captain Kirk..." 

-- Random bout of conversation between Keith and TC during a game of Yu-Gi-Oh some weeks ago, as they were attempting to determine the gender of one of the creatures pictured on the card. Of course the 'Captain Kirk' crack came from the fact that in Star Trek, ol' Kirk didn't have a problem bumping uglies with any woman in the universe regardless of if she were blue, green, or pastel purple, as long as she was cute. You've got to respect the man for that, at the very least.

Current Mood: No es malo. ("It's not bad.")

Hey, I've been working on my Spanish a bit. Bear with me =)

Final critique in Photography's in a few hours, and I'm about as ready as I'm going to be. I did OK on the last project, but I was pleased with the A- I got on my last Art History paper. I've still got a few weeks before that class ends, and as it stands, we've still got two papers to write for that one. Fun times, I tell you. As it stands now, it looks like I'll be taking a Drawing and Painting course this summer, which will focus on rendering urban landscapes. That should definitely be fun. I'm looking to sneak at least one more class in there too, so that when my final semester comes, I'll just be able to focus on that foreign language requirement. I've been doing some work with picking up the odd Spanish phrase or two, as I'm hoping to get up to speed so that I'll be ready when I get tossed into that 1002 level class.

Easter and The Little Ones: There's just something about Easter and small children, I tell you. At work this past Saturday, we had an aunt and her niece pop by and wonder if they could use our dressing room to change so that Hannah (the niece) could go and take pictures with the Easter Bunny downstairs. I've got a bit of a soft spot for children, and so when this adorable little blonde child came out in a pink dress, hat, and scarf, twirled, and asked how did she look, I couldn't help but smile. Hell, it was so cute, I'm sure my buddy Snead would have smiled, and he's a bouncer. I was conversing with the aunt when they came back to change, and got a kick out of the fact that she was referring to the young lady as 'Princess Hannah'. "Every princess needs that trusted handmaiden," I remarked with a smile.

She laughed. "Any daughters?" to which I said no. "Any 'fair maidens'?" Thankfully my Witty Smartass meter was broken that day, or else I'd have made a joke about the fair maiden recently running off with the Dark Knight, opting to just smirk and say no.

I also got a chance to help baby sit my nephew Aidan this past weekend, and let me tell you- no matter how lacking you think your skills are as a parental unit, when someone craps on your arm, you know it. Some things just come as instinct.

Personal Soundtrack: Various Santana songs (Jin-Go-Lo-Ba in particular) and various Earth, Wind, and Fire songs (Sun Goddess in particular). I ransacked the hell out of Dad's music collection a few days ago, and made it a point to rip a few dozen tracks onto the computer. I'll make my own Best Of collections, dammit! Also, I've determined that my Happy Song is none other than Chilly Down from the Labyrinth soundtrack, as I absolutely cannot listen to it and not crack a smile. Closet Freak by Cee-Lo remains a close second, however.

Musical Sidenote: I stopped past the Electronic Boutique at the mall a few days ago, where they were blasting the soundtrack to FIFA Street. While I hear that the game is so-so, the soundtrack is actually very well done. Well, as fate would have it, one of the songs is a Fatboy Slim remix of, of all things, Jin-Go-Lo-Ba! How's that for coming full circle? Well, we've got another tie-in as well...

More Musical Sidenotes: The last update brought a about a revelation from Neil that I was unaware of. He was surprised that I had Stabbing Westward listed up here as being part of my personal soundtrack for the week, as a young lady that I remembered him dating some years ago actually dated the lead singer at one point! And, if the rumors are to believed, there is a song on one of the CD's- we're not sure which one- that was actually written about her. Seeing as most of their stuff is pretty damn pissy and full of angst, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it wasn't a nice breakup.

What's Cool/What Sucks: What's Cool: Popping up on campus, and finding out your first class has been canceled. What Sucks: Sticking around for the second class several hours later, and finding out that IT got canceled. That flu's been making some serious rounds as of late, but still... I could have stayed home that day!

New Aliases: I've had people come up and tell me that I've reminded them of random celebrities for several years now, and it seems that I've gotten a new, more old-school moniker. Of course it's never anyone cool ("Say, you remind me of Vin Diesel!" would be a nice change of pace), as I apparently remind folks of every random goober you see on TV. The first one was Braxton from The Jamie Foxx Show, and some years ago, a very cute young lady said that I reminded her of freaking CARLTON from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire! Though honestly, what freaked me out the most about that one was the fact that she actually thought Carlton was sexy.

Whoa.

The most recent came some weeks ago, as a buddy of mine came by the store to order a tuxedo for prom, and his mom made the observation that she thought that I favored Ron from A Different World. Whoa. But what killed me was the fact that for the rest of the time they were there, she would call me Ron! Nametag be damned, my new name was Ron.

Screw this. I'm hitting the gym, bulking up, keeping my head shaved bald, and calling myself 'Riddick', dammit!

Your Fortune: Passionate New Romance Appears in Your Life Unexpectedly... In Bed. I walked in and out of my bedroom about 12 times, and it has yet to appear. I AM keeping my eyes open, though.

Anime Sidenotes: Ikkitousen has been released domestically! I had no clue that sucker was out until I spotted a copy of Volume Two a few days ago. I also happened to spot a copy of Dragon Half for 20 bucks, which I've been meaning to add to the collection for quite some time now. I swear, that is one of the most hilarious bits of randomness out there- very few shows hold a candle to that. I'd have loved it if they had released more, but we'll just be happy with the episodes we've got.

"~I saw someone's goodies!~"

Good stuff, good stuff!

Supporting the Habit: Now is not a good time to be me, as I'm fighting against every gaming fiber of my being to keep from dropping several hundred bucks on videogame goodness. First off, God of War is out, and that sucker's gotten the highest scores I've seen on a game since the original Halo. I still owe Neil a Christmas present, which means that I have to snag The Punisher for him before I even think about getting something for myself. And to complicate things further, the PSP came out a few days ago. I really had no desire to get one, but I ran into my friend James and his brother Jeremy, both of whom had just picked one up. Jeremy (who had just picked up Ridge Racers) let me try his out...

Holy crap. No handheld system should look this nice.

And as fate would have it, my buddy Manny was supposed to be stopping by work later that day to pay me a nice sum of money for setting up some travel arrangements for his sister recently. I didn't need that much cash on me while I had my gaming-jones going. Thankfully I managed to keep my priorities in order, and opted not to enter gaming nirvana just yet. However, with Photography being done this week, it might be time to indulge a bit. Heck, I haven't played anything new in a while, so why not? Besides, God of War takes places in ancient Greece- it's got art historical relevance!

OK, so I'm stretching it a bit. But dammit if that isn't the slickest looking game I've seen in quite some time. 

End of an Era: This really threw me for a loop, but several weeks ago, the local Software, Etc. closed its doors. Talking to a buddy of mine that used to work over that way, it seems that store hadn't turned a profit in about three years now. This sucks most heinously, as that store had been one of the cornerstones of the mall for several years now. There are a lot of memories that go with that place- visiting friends that worked there, being employed there myself for a while, and it being one of the local hangout spots as far back as when I was in 6th grade. Farewell, Software, Etc. You will be missed.

Super Hero Showdowns: I stopped by a sandwich shop near campus a few days ago to snag lunch, and happened to overhear part of a conversation between a few patrons. Basically, there was a heated debate going on between this particular group, trying to figure out who would win in a fight between Superman, Spiderman, and Batman. Giving it some thought, I personally have to go with Batman. Sure, Spiderman has his nifty webbing and wall-crawling, and Superman is, well, Superman, but I think that the Batman would pull it out in the end. My rationale is as follows- being on the low-end of the spectrum as far as powers go, Batman has to outsmart his opponents. There's no way he can go toe-to-toe with these guys, forcing him to think things through VERY carefully. This immediately puts Batman in his own element, as I'm sure he'd come up with a way to out think both Spiderman and Superman. And we know that he's capable of doing something like that- this IS the guy that kept detailed files on how to take out every member of the Justice League, just in case. Of course the irony of the situation was the fact that I was actually wearing a Spiderman shirt at the time...

Hey, don't laugh. I've gotten complements on that shirt on three separate occasions, and all of them have been from women. This includes one from our Italian teaching assistant in Photography, and she's better looking than all you bastards.

I'm sure this debate is far from over. We'll continue this on the Message Board.

. . .

Ooooh, I forgot to mention that...

Enter At Your Own Risk: Due to last week's random question and popular demand, Club Ninja now has a Message Board. Feel free to enter to discuss whatever. Enter at your own risk, however. My friends are all quite insane.

The Art of Seduction: Am I crazy for wanting to host a masquerade ball? Or, am I crazy because I've done some preliminary research and think that it's entirely feasible? It's strange how an idea pops into your head and stays there, because I've been giving this some thought for quite some time now. Years even, but it's only been recently that the desire has been this strong. I've bounced the idea off of a couple associates of mine, and for the most part they love it. On the other hand, a lot of people simply ask the question of why. I say, why not? You really don't hear about too many events like that taking place (outside of Mardi Gras of course), and I think that it would truly be a unique experience. From what I've gathered, the interest is definitely there, too. A night of music and dancing, under the seductive backdrop of cloak, garb, and mask. I'm very much intrigued by this now. We'll see what develops from this.

Random Quote: "Y'all back off! Quit claustrophobiaing me!" -- Yes, Spell Check pretty much gave me the finger when I typed 'claustrophobiaing' in. This came from a wonderful young woman what came by the store a few days ago, who uttered this lovely phrase when some of the people she came in with apparently got too close to her. Somewhere in the world, an English teacher is digging a grave to roll around in.

Current Mood:  So, who wants to see me looking like a psychopath?

I thought you might, so here you go-

Terrible scan, true, but I still rather like this one. This was one of the prints that I didn't use for the last photography project, that being the self portraits. This one was part of The Repressed Psychotic series, which was how I think my closest of friends view me. Let me explain- pretty much anyone that's known me for an extended period of time knows that I have a tendency to internalize things from time to time, rather than just have an immediate outburst. Combine that with the fact that I'm 'the quiet one' and an artist, I've come to the conclusion that most of my friends are expecting me to snap and go crazy in a spectacular fashion any day now. If you think this one's insane, just wait until you see the one that I turned in!

I had a lot of fun with this project, but it did get a little strange on occasion. This part in particular saw me taking lots of shots of myself looking angry, slightly insane, and full of angst- I swear it felt like I was posing for goth porn.

[Hmm... I wonder if the inclusion of the phrase Goth Porn will up my hits any this week.]

There were some nice shots in the class for this project. A friend of mine borrowed one of my swords to use for hers, where she dressed up like a ninja and looked like she was legitimately prepared to stealth-kill the hell out of somebody. It was very cool, and, er, kinda sexy too...

Ahem.

Anywho, it's Spring Break, and while I won't be experiencing any hot beaches, I am prepared to not only kick back a bit, but to make the most of this free time. I'm planning on getting hellified work done on Glenshire, and thanks to a postponement, finishing up that paper for Art History. It will be an interesting week!

Personal Soundtrack: Salva Nos from the Noir soundtrack, Why by Stabbing Westward, How Many Wanna Die by The Murderers, and er, a disco remix of the Wonder Woman theme song. I guess I should explain on that last one. A few days ago in Art History, we were going over some video art from the 70's, and one of them (Technology/Transformation: Wonderwoman by Dara Birnbaum) featured clips from the old Wonder Woman TV series. That was random in its own right, but at the very end, they start playing the disco remix of the theme song. And like a good disco song, it proceeded to get stuck in my head in a hurry. Now I've got to try and find that sucker. The upside to all of this is that I was reminded of how fine Linda Carter was back in the day =)

New Man(i)?: It never seems to fail, but whenever New Years or my birthday passes, I contemplate ways to change my look. Last year saw me being slightly dressier than in the past, but I seem to have slowly gravitated towards my more urbanite/artist look of jeans, tee shirts, and Chuck Taylor's. I actually thought about a tattoo for a while, but that's a little bit on the clichéd side of things, I think. Everyone and their mother has one, and I've never really been a trend-whore. Something with meaning I can understand, but I see too many people getting them just because. Besides, I still can't think of something that I'm so buck-wild for that I want to have it on myself for all eternity, and have to explain it to kids and stuff down the line. Nothing says leading by example like beginning a story with "Well, Daddy was really drunk one night..." We'll just refine that urbanite vibe of mine for the time being and leave it at that.

99 Problems: Just got the word about my brother's court appearance with his ex-wife. First off, I was unaware of the fact that I was one of the only other people that knew about this, as Mom and Dad both were caught off guard when they heard about it today. Nonetheless, from what I gathered, Kim showed up and gave lessons on how to NOT to act in the courtroom, as she apparently acted a fool and earned the title of The World's Craziest Woman. She through some pretty wild accusations at my brother (claiming that he hadn't paid child support in five years), who, in the ultimate F-U moment, produced all manner of receipts proving quite the contrary. I'd have paid money to have been there to see that one. Bottom line is this, though- my brother now has expanded visitation rights with his son, and, because she's lied about so many things, the child support that Kim's been getting got cut in HALF. My brother has been one of my biggest supporters since my own breakup, as he's been down that road before as well. We've both come to the same conclusion- better a breakup now than a divorce down the line, as this has proven how really complicated things could get. It's still not over, though, as Kim's still trying to convince my brother to give up his rights to Isaiah so that her new husband can adopt him, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Enjoy the beginning of payback for years of screwing over my brother and my nephew, Kim. Now if you'll excuse me, but I've suddenly gotten the urge to dance around the room while blasting Move, Bitch.

Mani! Be Nice! : Hell no, I won't be nice! Up until about seven years ago, I had a hard time believing that human beings as a whole were capable of truly being evil. Sure, I know some borderline cases here and there, but by and large even those guys aren't truly malicious. Kim, on the other hand, is truly the closest I've ever come to seeing true evil in action on this mortal plane. For those of you that want me to be nice, I'll leave you with a quote from everyone's favorite realmwalking ninja Mani.

"Never will I ever repent for what I have done today. If it means me burning in hell for eternity, then so be it."

OK, that may be a little extreme, but you get the general idea. =)

And On The Subject of Realmwalking Ninjas: A few days ago I felt compelled to go back and reread a few of the chapters I had written for the NuRPG. To this day, my favorite body of work remains the whole Alhazalria affair, in particular the events in Mani 12  - Broken. A bit of inspiration came from going back through this, and I threw a couple of sketches together. It's strange, but it's rare that I actually try and illustrate a sequence from a story I've written, which really would make a lot of sense if I sat back and thought about it. Anywho, I felt a strong urge to try and illustrate the creature that Lily became once Alhazalria took over her body, which is no small feat, mind you. It was a pretty vile description of how Lily had been transformed by the demon, and of course, no one wants to draw a beloved character looking like complete and utter hell. Nonetheless, this sketch came about from a slow day at work, and I think that I finally did it justice. I've tried in the past, but she's pretty difficult to nail down. The full scan is actually much larger than this (as it's a full-body shot of her sitting on a rooftop), but I opted to just focus in on a close-up of the creature. Done totally in pen during a fit of boredom... if there's enough interest, I might throw the full sketch up here on the next update.

What's In a Name? : I got a nice email out of the blue a few weeks back from a young lady enquiring about the history of a particular character of mine, that being Ms. Tara Blackwell. This was mainly due to the fact that her own name, as fate would have it, was ALSO Tara Blackwell! She just had to make sure that we hadn't met in the past, but she did think it was cool that she's got an (anti) hero named after her. 

Of Delays and Weddings: Seems that my sister's wedding has been pushed back from next month until May, and is now back in Albany, GA. It'd be nice to be told these things ahead of time, especially seeing as I'm IN the wedding! Nonetheless, I'm sure that it will all work out in the end, and I think keeping it in Albany might not be a bad thing either. Of course Albany's one of those places that I don't mind visiting, but living there would take some heavy-duty adjusting. Hell, my sister told me herself that one of the prime hangout spots is Walmart (or Club Walmart, as she's dubbed it), as EVERYBODY seems to be there on the weekends! As much as I tease, though, I'm sure that there's a nice time to be had, with friends, family, and hitting on bridesmaids... I hope my sister has some cute friends.

My buddy Bart's wedding is also sometime in May, which may cause a bit of a conflict. This is quickly shaping up to be like 2002, the infamous year where I ended up attending six different weddings. Fun times, fun times!

Stream of Consciousness Ramblings: I've noticed that if I happen to have a free moment before classes start, I'll scribble down a few random thoughts about whatever may be going on in my life at the time. Going back through there, I've noticed that I quite a bit more unhinged that I am here on Club Ninja from time to time. For example, do you all remember my infamous Fractured Fairytales rant [check the heading for January 13th if you missed it] from earlier this year?

When that slow burn first hit me, the resulting rant was MUCH worse than that.

I won't be putting that one up here, because to be blunt, I dropped more F's than a clumsy stagehand on the set of Sesame Street. There was a recent entry, however, that I thought was pretty funny, and is a true testament of how random my thought process gets from time to time. Sidenote- try not to take this too seriously, folks. And yes, this has been edited just slightly for content =)

So, where can Mani go to meet quality women?

- The Club: Yeah, right. Most of my friends are antisocial bastards, and I'll be good and damned if I'm going solo. Still, not above flirting my ass off.

- Classes: Being a straight guy in the Art program isn't without its benefits. Two semesters and counting!

- Online: Iffy. Heard good, heard bad. Definitely not doing the long distance thing again. It kinda sucks being on your best behavior for someone that you barely get to see. "Three-and-a-half years is not the same thing as commitment" my ass.

- Conventions: Very iffy. Have done enough ranting in regards to some of the types of women you run into at these things. Not all, mind you, but we've come across some REALLY strange ones over the years.

Oh, relax, people! I was bored and having fun with all of this!

The Future and Savvi: I actually got to talk to Thomas, our General Manager, a few days ago in regards to my future plans. Thomas has always been one cool mofo, but we hadn't talked about school and the like for a while now. He rightly assumed that I'm nearing the end of my time spent with the company, as he's quite aware of the fact that I've been keeping my eyes opened for field-related ventures. Of course he's going to hate to see me go (because, with all due modesty, I AM one of the baddest mothers in the company), but he does understand. Nonetheless, he more or less made me a Certified Formalwear Consultant (which is a HUGE deal in the industry) on the spot, and mentioned that he'll be also be getting me my new business cards in the near future. Also mentioned is that I'm due for a review, which of course entails a raise in pay as well. I'm curious as to how that turns out, because, without disclosing too many details, I was under the impression that I was already at the upper-tier as far as what most Associates make. Don't get me wrong, I AM still actively hunting, but I'm curious to see what sort of love Savvi is going to show me. Most of the Graphic Design-related openings I've come across are looking for fulltime, and being so close to graduation, I'll be good and damned if I'm going to screw around with school. Starting a new job while trying to balance school AND putting the finishing touches on a book? That's one nervous breakdown I'd like to try and avoid. Two semesters and counting, dammit...

Quick Question to the Masses: Do we need a message board over here at Club Ninja? I've been giving it some thought, and wondered what you all thought about it. I'd probably have to moderate the hell out of it knowing the lot of you, but it could be a handy communication tool and home of some secondary rants as the inspiration hits. Thoughts?

Random Quote: "Since when did you become the testing ground for new viruses? <Rick James Voice> Damani Zayas! I'm the Common Cold, and YOU BE MY BITCH!" -- Neil, sympathizing with my latest bout of sickness. It's pretty accurate though, as I've been sick off and on since New Years it seems. One symptom takes off long enough for another one to show up. Here's to hoping that Spring Break gives me some time to recover.

Current Mood: Not too shabby all in all! B+ on my first paper in Art History, and I ended up with some pretty interesting shots for my second Photography project as well. And no matter how many art classes you take over the years, nothing prepares you for the sight of seeing one of your classmates naked!

Well, I guess I should explain. One of the young ladies in class (who is quite cute, but alas, is a smoker) just went through a breakup, and to convey the sense of loneliness and isolation she's been feeling, decided to take nudes of herself for this latest project. Now don't get me wrong here- it was very relevant to her subject matter, and her prints were beautiful. But nonetheless, a naked classmate is a naked classmate

Valentine's Day was pretty much just a regular Monday around these parts. No pissing and moaning from me or any of my other single friends and classmates... things just seemed really lackluster, probably due to the rain. Nonetheless, I did make it a point to wear solid black, complete with the black hooded sweatshirt. 

Hey, I may be in recovery, but I will always be a smart ass!

Aw, don't give me that look! It's not like I was running around like that with a trench coat and a shotgun, shouting out "I'm the Anti-Cupid! Happy Artificial Holiday, Mutha@#%*ers!!"

Lighten up, people! =)

Personal Soundtrack: Smile by Scarface, Closet Freak by Ceelo, and the Desperado soundtrack. Last week's rant was full of Desperado references, so I guess it would only be natural that I'd whip out the soundtrack again. What cracks me up the most about that CD is that they stuck in a few of the more memorable quotes from the movie between songs, which is always worth a laugh or two ("I am simply looking for a man that calls himself 'Bucho'... that's all. And you had to do that the hard way..."). Also on the subject of music, thanks to a classmate, I've had Baby Got Back by Sir-Mix-A-Lot stuck in my head as well. Before our latest critique in Photography, several of us were in the lab finishing up our display boards, and for some ungodly reason, this came up as a topic of discussion. I blame the general lack of sleep of everyone in there, but the bottom line is that it had been stuck in my head for a few days. That was until...

Random CD's (Or, "TC, you Rat Bastard!") : After the rant last week, I was given a burned CD from my buddy TC out of the blue. I had no idea what was on it, and was left a little cautious due to what he had entitled it ("'The 'Bring Damani 2 Da Edge of Insanity and Back' Disk"). Having regained my balls in spades over these past few weeks, I popped it in, ready for whatever was on it. As soon as the very first riff of the very first song hit, my mouth suddenly dropped.

Just a Friend by Biz Markie.

I paused for a minute with my mouth wide open, and a second later, I burst out into the loudest fit of laughter I'd experienced in quite some time.

[For those of you not familiar with the song, it details the chronicles of a young man that meets a young lady, who ends up getting bit  in the ass (not literally) by a guy that was 'just a friend' of hers. Parallels _can_ be drawn to my own bout of circumstances.]

What followed then was the most random concoction of ever put to disk, covering just about every emotion across the board. What's there not to love about hearing Linkin Park/Jay Z at one moment, followed by the sheer defiance of the Degeneration X theme, followed by the Camel Toe song? Zombie by The Cranberries? A Great Day to Whip Somebody's Ass? Needless to say, that got Baby Got Back out of my head in a hurry.

Thanks, TC! I owe you, you rat bastard! =D

Special Thanks: Special thanks go out to Dena for hosting a massive multi-birthday-party get-together at her new place this past weekend! For the uninformed, we had three birthdays hit around the same time, that being myself (5th), Shelly (8th), and little Kristina (Valentine's Day!). It was a great time to be had, with lots of food, laughing, and card games being played (Kris pretty much owned all of our asses at 'Go Fish'... we need to teach her Blackjack and take her to Vegas...). 

New Types? : I've actually been asked this question quite a bit since the break-up, but folks seem to wonder if the type of woman I like has changed. No, I haven't sworn off redheads or Celts. Or even hippies for that matter. Just as before, everyone gets a fair shake if they possess The Qualities (TM). A nurturing nature, a sense of humor similar to my own (ie, 'warped'), charisma, and of course, cute feet =) Hell, go reread my interview with Natalie if you're that curious!

More Labyrinth Randomness: My goodness, it continues. This past Sunday, I was riding around with Aaron, Kristina, and Shelly's younger brother Justin, and Let's Dance by David Bowie comes on the radio. It would only be a matter of time before the conversation turned to Labyrinth. The next thing I know, Aaron, Kristina, and myself have broken into song, giving a nice rendition of Dance Magic (~The power of voodoo!~ ~Who do?~ ~You do!~). Justin, on the other hand, proceeds to look on in shock, and perhaps a degree of horror as well. This will be out of my system soon, I hope...

Epic Beat Downs, Greek Style: I got my hands on the demo to God of War a few days ago.

Holy crap.

It was described to me as Devil May Cry meets Prince of Persia meets Clash of the Titans, and if that wasn't the most accurate assessment of the game, I don't know what is. I played the hell out of that demo, unleashing a criminal amount of Spartan punishment to the masses, sending ungodly waves of the undead back to Hades, and smacking that Hydra around with enough gusto to make Prodigy proud. I really wasn't looking forward to the game until I played that demo, and I can definitely say that I will be adding that to the collection whenever it comes out. Great, so now we've got both that and Devil May Cry 3 coming out in the near future... of course I'm not getting anything new until I beat Metal Gear Solid 3, so I've got some time to get the finances in order.

On The Subject of Gaming: I finally got my copy of Def Jam Vendetta: Fight for New York back from my brother last week. I hadn't played it in a while, and I was getting quite anxious to start handing out urban ass-whuppings like it was Christmastime in Hell. So imagine my surprise when I popped the disc in, and find out that my PS2 had stopped recognizing it! I took a look at the bottom of the disc...

Holy crap. It looked like someone had been dancing on that sucker.

For the life of me, I cannot understand how the hell someone can let a disc get that scratched. Is it really so difficult to put it back into the case once you're done? I need to find some really good scratch remover, because I'll be good and damned if I'll be deprived of my violence!

Man, that just sucked.

You Might Be a Jackass If... : You might be a jackass if you're seen walking around in public wearing a white wife-beater underneath a black one. Let's analyze what's wrong with this. First off, if you're going to be wearing a wife-beater in public, you'd better have some sort of substantial build to you. This gentleman, alas, was about as skinny as myself, and perhaps with less cut on his arms. And second, let us not forget that this is Atlanta, and the middle of February to boot. I don't care how built you are, but unless your name is Dave Batista, no man should be wearing a wife-beater out in public, especially in the midst of winter. Much less two of them.

Girl Watch: Found out that the cute girl at the bookstore I've been eyeballing has a boyfriend. Curses!

Random Quote:  

Me: That's fine! The men will ride together! And we'll talk about MANLY things!
[*pause*]
Aaron: *excitedly* So, did you see those doilies?
Me: *gasp* Oh, they were to DIE for!

-- A little excerpt from a conversation this past Sunday morning. As most of us had crashed at Dena's the night before, we were preparing to head out and grab some breakfast before I made a quick trek down to campus to work on my Photography project, and we were trying to decide how to split everyone up amongst vehicles. It ended up being split among gender lines, which led to us making manly jokes before the conversation turned to doilies. Who says manly-men can't speak of doilies?

Current Mood: Ladies and gentlemen, Heather is now engaged.

WHAT?! : Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction too. Now, before you all grab your pitchforks and whatnot (you in the back... put that torch down...), know this- she and I have spoken about this, and it's all good. Dare I say it, I'm almost cool with this. That isn't to say that my initial reaction wasn't a bit on the wild side, but I've since calmed down to the point where I can actually make fun of my own thought process during all of this. In fact, let's do that right now...

Though I'll warn you now, what may be funny to me may not exactly be your cup of tea. And if I offend anybody, well, you shouldn't be so sensitive about such things. I'm taking a light-hearted look at some pretty f*cked-up circumstances, so bear with me.

Club Ninja Presents: 
The Insanity of Mani
(A Comedy)

This all went down Tuesday night, when I was spending the evening putting the finishing touches on a research paper due in class Wednesday afternoon. Now, I didn't wait until the last minute for all of this, but there was a good portion of it that still needed to be taken care of. I get my caffeine set up, I put on some drum and bass, and I go to work. After a few hours I decide to take a break, which meant me jumping online for a bit and checking my mail.

While sorting through my mail (delete, delete, reply to Dena about this weekend, delete, delete), Galen pops online for a bit. We converse, and during this time I do something rather stupid. Justin has a diary set up online, and ever since Heather broke it off with me, I found myself checking it rather religiously. Sad, but true, I guess I was just looking into any sort of insight as to what was going on in Heather's life from time to time. We don't talk as much as we used to, and I just found myself being curious. This was a bad idea simply because I had gotten a bombshell the last time I was there, that being that he and Heather had begun dating again. After that, I made it a point to try and avoid the page, if nothing else to try and convince myself that I wasn't obsessing over this whole thing. It had been a while since I'd been there, and I had a free moment... why not take a peek?

Big mistake.

He talked about the weekend that they had spent together, and how wonderful it had been. That was to be expected, because Heather told me about that one. And yes, that was what inspired that Ego rant from the last update. Anywho, I keep reading and come across the news that he had made good on an earlier promise to her, and had proposed. And, as I'm sure you've figured out, she said yes.

I really don't know how to accurately describe the sound that came from my mouth at that point, but I believe "dying camel" would probably be the closest. I let out the gasp to end all gasps, which was immediately followed by a hideous string of obscenities directed at no one in particular in a language that sounded remotely like English. Or Syrian Aramaic. I can't really be certain, as most of it sounded like growls and guttural grunts, as I had grabbed a nearby shirt and sank my teeth into it, firing off enough obscenities to make Quentin Tarentino blush. I still can't recall everything I said, but I'm sure that there's an Orc somewhere in the world crying about what I called his mother.

I whip out the cel phone and give Neil a quick call, and ask if he's got a minute. He does, and I give him the news.

Neil: *sounds of clicking as he's typing the web address* Let's see... *reading* Uh huh... uh huh... uh HUH...

 He's a tad bit busy at the time, but we talk for a good bit about things. He puts me on speaker phone at one point so he can get some more stuff taken care of, and I think my ranting and raving might have scared Laura in the next room. If nothing else, though, Neil says that I would probably have a successful career as an auctioneer, as I was going rapid-fire at that point. I jump back over to the computer, and a realization dawns on me. I had to say something to Heather right now, or I was going to lose what remained of my sanity. This wasn't about my Ego, and it sure as hell wasn't about jealousy or any of that good stuff at this point. I was just shocked about how quickly things had taken place, and to be quite honest, I wanted to know exactly what the hell had happened. We've only been broken up for just over a month now, so as I'm sure you could imagine, my thought process wasn't at its most logical. I fire off a quick message to Galen, and the conversation goes something like this...

I shoot him over the link, and before he can respond, I've set up my away message (Msg: MUST... RANT... NOW...), and I'm hammering out an email to Heather. In retrospect I probably should have waited until I was calm (ok, calmer), but I probably wouldn't have said everything that I wanted to say. That being the case, though, I'm sure that I said some things that I shouldn't have too. At that point, though, I really didn't give much of a crap. I was raw and emotional, and I had to get something out there, consequences be damned.

A few minutes later, I take off the away message. And let me tell you, if I had been given a psych exam at that point, I'd have been sharing a cell with someone at Arkham Asylum. I was not well. I glanced over at my buddy list, and happen to see Justin's name on it. An evil gleam lights up in my eye, and I have to fight every freaking urge in my body to send him some horrible, smart-assed, sarcasm-filled tirade of utter disdain. I swear to goodness, it was like I had about eighteen different voices in my head egging me on. I saw the faces of several of my friends, and I swear that they were all dressed like Vikings and screaming "DO IT, YA PANSY!" Needless to say, I was not well. You'll have to keep in mind that I had pretty much vilified Justin by this point as some evil mastermind behind my own misery, which in retrospect, was not very cool of me. Nonetheless, at that particular moment, he was the equivalent of Count Magnus Lee in my eyes.

[And if you caught that reference, bravo. If not, ask an old-school anime fan.]

I'm broken from my thoughts of malice by a message from Galen.

In retrospect, I don't know what the hell I was thinking. But of course at that moment, I really couldn't be bothered with such mundane concepts like sanity and logic. Thinking about it a day later, though, I wondered what exactly the hell that would have accomplished. What was I going to do, walk into Justin's Starbucks like freaking El Mariachi, and tear the place up? First off, I don't own a guitar case, and even between all of my friends, there was no way I was getting that kind of firepower. Unfortunately real life isn't like wrestling either, so it's not like this could have been settled with a nice, civil, steel cage match. Besides, I know that Justin's got hernia surgery coming up, and I can tell you from first-hand experience that's nothing nice to deal with. No one needs the pressure of dealing with a steel cage match AND having a scalpel near their wang.

Also, I'm thankful that we don't live in feudal Japan. There either would have been a sword battle by now, or I'd have probably gutted myself Hiri-kiri style for my perceived disgrace. Lucky for me, we live in simpler times.

And one more sidenote... I was just on a break from working on this paper. I still had a conclusion to write.

I glance over at the buddy list again. He's still there, probably happy and smiling, but probably beginning to detect a strong sense of malice coming from the East coast. My eyes widen again, but miraculously, I fight off the urge to send him a message. Let me talk to Heather first, and I'll let that determine if I'll send them a foaming yak as a wedding gift.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep well that night. About two-and-a-half hours worth, actually. Though surprisingly enough, I'm not very tired when I do get up. Never assume that the insane ever need to sleep. I do make a concentrated effort to try and calm down, though. I had apparently been listening to my angry mix CD on my last trip to campus, not for any particular reason other than just being in the mood for it. Today, however, I determined that this was not the time to be listening to this CD. Really in truly, was I in the mindset to be listening to anything that looked like this? Definitely not.

[And for the record, this mix has been in my collection for about six months now, and was not the result of any of the recent events. As I've reasoned, everyone can benefit from having an Angry CD]

My sanity actually didn't begin coming back until I got a response from my earlier email to Heather. She was surprisingly calm and compassionate about everything (if not a little miffed at some of my accusations), and pretty much laid out everything to me. She explained how it had happened, her own thought process about everything, and in the process made me understand that this wasn't some elaborate plot. As she put it, "Justin's not dancing around with a pointy stick saying 'I got Damani's woman!'" She really helped settle my mind about things, as I had begun to doubt the meaning behind the last three-plus years of our lives. This was the first time that I had really gotten her perspective on recent events, and the fact that both of them hated that I'd pretty much been walloped with The Staff of Infinite Screwing by this whole ordeal.

If nothing else, it also made me realize that I had been wrong about Justin too. I kinda felt like a dick for wanting to unleash Def Jam Vendetta-styled brutality against him, even if just verbally.

[Though my guilt didn't stop me from doing this first. I'm sorry, but that visual just cracked me up.]

Heather and I have made it a point to actually sit back and talk about this, and Justin's even made himself available if I have any questions for him. And while that gesture is appreciated, I'm going to hold off on that for now. Let me work out any sort of issues with Heather first, then we'll see.

So that was my descent and return from madness this past week. We'll keep you posted on any other lapses in sanity that I may experience in the near future.

Oh, and for those of you that are curious, October 2006 is the target date.

Now! We return you to our regularly scheduled update! =D

Personal Soundtrack: In the End by Linkin Park, Send Me An Angel [DJ Liquid Remix], Stateside Sessions: Drum and Bass Vol. 2 mixed by Empress, and the soundtrack to Conan the Barbarian. Conan's been getting a lot of play as of late, as I've always been a huge fan of the movie. And what's there not to like about hearing an epic orchestral swell the moment you step outside after class and take in the nighttime air? It truly is a feeling like no other, and serves as a reminder of what it truly good in life.

And Just In Case You've Forgotten What Is Good in Life... : "To crush the enemy! To see him driven before you! And to hear the lamentations of the women!"

More Labyrinth Randomness: After the last update referencing the soundtrack to Labyrinth, it seems that I cannot escape that movie's influence. I was in one of the computer labs last week getting some work done on Glenshire when I overhear two of the lab techs having a rather random conversation. One is wearing a David Bowie shirt, which has inspired a lively discussion over his music, and eventually spills over to, of course, Labyrinth. The two are trying to remember a few of the plot points from the movie, as it had apparently been a while since either of them had seen it. I politely entered the conversation, and managed to break down THE ENTIRE FREAKING MOVIE to them. Labyrinth, I cannot escape your influence. I really do need to host a masquerade ball at some point. Maybe once we get Glenshire going, eh? It'd make a hell of a launch party...

Strange, Strange Dreams: Now, I've been known to have some pretty odd  thoughts dancing through my head at various points, but this one was... interesting. It was also one of the most vivid dreams I've had in quite some time, as I can actually recall things like colors and little details that I would probably miss in most. When I went to bed on my birthday, I was treated to this little scenario.

[This, btw, was written up Pre-Insanity]

The location was some sort of resort type of town, and there seemed to be a massive vacation going one with a group of my friends, and a group of Heather's friends. As fate would have it, though, Heather and I ended up having the same room. Now, keep in mind that we had separate beds and all of that good stuff, so there was none of that stuff going on. She was dating Justin in the dream, of course, but for some odd reason, he was nowhere on this trip. Well, during our time in the cabin, we did a lot of talking about things, catching up, life in general, etc, etc. During the course of this conversation, though, Heather lights up a cigarette! Now, if you know the girl, you would know that's totally out of character for her. Of course I ask her about it, when she nonchalantly shrugs and says "It's a habit that I picked up from Justin." Now, as near as I can gather from what I've heard over the years, J's a social smoker at most. Of course I start pleading with her, asking her why and giving her all kinds of reasons why this is bad for her, to which she finally responds with an adamant "DAMANI, NO." I relent and back off at that point.

Apparently the smoke catches the attention of some of the staff, who then pop by the room to check and see if everything's ok. We tell them yes, and they ask if they could do a quick check of the room. I say sure, and one of the members jokes "Well, we just need to make sure you two aren't doing drugs or anything in here!" I laugh it off, and cast a quick glance over to Heather who, if this is even possible, was about three shades paler. I raise my eyebrow in curiosity, and she casually points to a strange lump in her back pocket. 

Holy crap. This girl's got some narcotics on her.

We casually exit the room during the inspection and go our separate ways for the time being. She tells me that she's got something that she needs to tell me later, so we agree to meet up at another time. She goes off to where ever, and I end up at the gym, where I'm told that this is also the place where the Atlanta Falcons work out. I get a good workout in, and eventually I see Heather walk past, looking around for me. I call out and meet back up with her, but instead of returning to the cabin, we take a detour to visit one of her female friends on the trip, who apparently isn't feeling too good. After checking on her sick friend, Heather gets in the mirror and starts donning makeup like she's about to go out somewhere (another fact that, if you know her, is something that she rarely does). I'm talking heavy-duty out-to-the-club makeup here, not just her usual simple routine. I ask her what's going on, and she informs me that since she hasn't seen her friend in a while, she's going to spend the night down there with her. Right. I ask her about what she needed to tell me, and she says "You didn't see the letter?" I say no, and we go back up to the room, where she shows me a folded letter sitting on the bed.

And guess who wakes up at that very moment?

This was beyond random, beyond strange, and certainly beyond confusing. It was totally out of character for Heather as well. What the hell is up with that?

Happy Birthday to Me: This past Saturday was my birthday, and, while somewhat more laid back that we had originally planned ("Bring on the 5'2 dancers with high heels and her 36DD friends!" was Sneed's thoughts, as I recall), it was still a good time to be had. I spent the early part of the day on campus getting a hell of a lot more done on the book layout (I just need to wrap up that sample adventure, and we're gold), and spent the rest of the day hanging out with a few of the boys, destroying an ungodly amount of wings, and drinking copious amounts of Sake. And I have to say, I'm rather digging Sake. This was the first time I really had some (heated, of course!), and I can see me becoming a connoisseur of sorts. We're plotting more evil for another weekend, but it was really nice to just kick back with a few of the boys and just trip out. Thanks, guys =)

Random Quote: "You rabid zombie-licking BASTARD!" -- Blame Keith. This was one of the random insults hurled in TC's general direction the night of my birthday, and I opted to spend the time to try and analyze it. Is he suggested that TC is rabid over the concept of licking zombies, or does he solely lick the rabid undead? I do believe that more research is in order.

Current Mood: Frozen! Atlanta got hit with an ice storm this past weekend, which effectively shut down the entire city. This was cool because it meant that I didn't have to go into work on Saturday, but it sucked because I could get down to campus and use the photo lab. I used the day to work on random Glenshire stuff, including the groundwork for a nice representation of the city in Neverwinter Nights. No matter how well you describe it in a campaign or in a book, there's just something about seeing your creation as an actual place where characters can walk around and interact is simply one of the most gratifying experiences as a gamer. Once I get the city looking somewhat more respectable, you better believe I'll be posting a copy up here. I think a Glenshire Abbey community in NWN would be very cool!

Personal Soundtrack: Fast Love by George Michael, Thought Process by Goodie Mob, and Chilly Down from the Labyrinth soundtrack. And it's pretty interesting how that last one made the list. During my artistic frenzy a few days ago, I found myself listening to all kinds of random music when I was working on the module for NWN. I guess Chilly Down just hit me at a good time- try if you will to get a visual of me typing while bouncing around at the computer screen and hitting the high note to the line ~I get out of my diiiir-ty pants!~ Needless to say, that's been stuck in my head for the past few days, and I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

And Speaking Of Music... : It just dawned on me a few days ago that I've now recovered what I term as my Musical Trifecta. Essentially, these are the three most influential CD's I've owned, those rare gems that I can listen to from beginning to end, and who always have something relevant to say in regards to what's going on in life. I owned all three back in high school and early college, but they've since vanished for whatever reasons. Nonetheless, they're all back in my collection now, and they continue to be of personal relevance. So, what are they? That would be Definition of a Band by Mint Condition, Seal by Seal (the one with Prayer for the Dying and Kiss From a Rose), and Urban Hang Suite by Maxwell. All three are in rotation currently, which means that life is good =)

Those That Slip Through the Cracks: Over the years, I've come across a few people with true, God-given talent. There are those artists that have never had any formal training, but can draw things like they've been training for their entire lives. Musicians that have just picked up their craft and learned it out of love. And it really hurts me to see them not being able to use that talent. Fate can deal you a harsh hand from time to time, which I totally understand, but it really is heartbreaking to see. My friend Raphael is perhaps one of the most naturally gifted artists I know, and I did everything in my power to try and see him get exposure, especially with me putting out Glenshire Abbey in the near future. He was my first choice for the artist, and has always remained so. All manner of circumstances kept that from being a reality, alas, and it really is disappointing. I ran into another friend of mine a few days ago, who also happens to be a gifted artist. I didn't get a chance to talk to him long, but he now has a child to take care of, which I'm sure is affecting what he can do nowadays. I guess that's one of the things that's always driven me, my desire to not be one of those guys years down the line that sit back and say that I should've done this, or I wish I had done that. Life is too short for regrets... either you seize the day, or you let opportunities pass you by.

Almost Over: My brother's got his final court date coming up with his ex-wife, and we're hoping that he can finally put all of this madness behind him. I swear to goodness, I honestly did not believe people as a whole had the capacity of true evil until I met this woman. Divorces are never pretty, especially when there is a child involved. Here's to hoping that the days of her using him as a bargaining edge are coming to an end. While I am taking a bit of a financial ass-whupping at this time, I've vowed that I would help my brother out with whatever expenses he needed help with during all of this. Something's got to give, and we all believe that time is coming very shortly. I'll keep you all posted.

More Wedding Congrats: It seems that my lovely harpist friend Kelly tied the knot last weekend! Congratulations, as it could not have happened to a nicer young woman!

Happiness Is... : Happiness is getting a random hug from a customer for being so nice. I swear to goodness, out of all of the time I've been in retail, this was the very first time I've ever gotten a hug from a customer. She was a very nice and matronly older woman that I had helped out the night before locate some items she needed for later on in the week, and who had to come back to have some of them altered. Not many people know this, but I'm actually somewhat trained in the arts of formalwear alterations, so I was able to take care of that in little to no time for her. She was so thrilled that she gave me a hug worthy of my own grandmother! Needless to say, little things like that brighten my day immensely.

WWE - Random Thoughts : Batista wins the Royal Rumble! So it looks like we'll be getting HHH vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania next month. It'll be the KNEE OF DOOM vs. THE MURDEROUS CLOTHESLINE OF DECAPITATION! I'm very anxious to check that one out. All signs also seem to be pointing at John Cena taking on JBL for the title as well, which could actually be pretty entertaining. JBL has gotten the role down, I'll give him that- by being the most hated (and longest retaining) champ in a loooooong time, it's going to be huge whenever someone takes the strap off of him. Let's see how all of this develops in the coming weeks.

Muay Thai Ass-Whuppings: A while back, I gave my endorsement to a movie by the name of Ong Bak, which featured a guy using his mad kickboxing skills to kick the ever-loving crap out of anything that needed to be kicked. Well, imagine my surprise when Galen informs me that it's actually getting a theatrical release! Not only that, but I actually caught a commercial for it a few days ago... you better believe I'm going to go see that when it comes out again. Now everyone can witness the nasty power of the infamous "SHUT UP!" Kick!

And Speaking of Commercials... : Am I the only one that breaks out into a fit of laughter every time I see the Starburst commercial where the kid builds a portrait bust of the girl out of the candy? I think the fact that they're playing Hello by Lionel Richie in the background is really what kills me. If anyone's seen the video, then you can make the immediate connection as to what they were going for. I swear to goodness, I break out laughing every time I see that sucker. Somebody in Starburst's advertising agency has a pretty twisted sense of humor, and definitely deserves a raise!

You Might Be A Geek If... : You might be a geek if you see some ice cream with Spiderman's face on it, and immediately think that it's Strong Bad. I truly have fallen off of the deep end.

And Some Random Thoughts: Let's talk about the Ego for a moment. It's one of those things that we all have, despite some of us trying to keep it in check in order to appear at least somewhat more civilized in the eyes of society. But nonetheless, it's something that is always there, especially with us men-folk. I suppose it's in our nature, but there are a lot of things that we see as being challenges to our manhood. Whether or not that really is the case, it's just one of those things that makes us men. We take a little abuse here and there, and the Ego can be bruised. At that point we'll shy away somewhat and attempt to make some sort of recovery, as we've just been dealt a direct hit to our manhood. Not literally mind you (well, not usually), but it's typically enough to make us begin questioning yourself, if even for a moment. The Ego is directly related to the love one has for one's self, and a good, strong shot to it can make us reel back somewhat, and in some cases, make an individual begin to hate oneself because of this perceived weakness. No matter how strong we think we are, everything in the long run must defer to the Ego. And if the Ego can be bruised by a situation, could it possibly even be broken? Self-loathing accomplishes nothing, but we've all seen it happen- that individual that for whatever reason has seemed to lose all will to even go on with life.

What are you saying, Damani? No, this isn't some massive suicide letter, but I just got called on my own Ego card a while back. You think that you can be happy with the joy of others, and you try to. But that wounded Ego is still there, making you question your very manhood. Clichés can be nice ("It's not you, it's me..."), but as a man, I'm inclined to blame myself and my own weaknesses. Sometimes we tend to overestimate our own strength, thinking that we can handle more than we're truly capable of. And when it doesn't work out, we turn inwardly and blame ourselves for our perceived weaknesses. No one likes getting kicked in the balls, but it sucks even more to be reminded of it, no matter how noble the intentions. The Ego truly is a fickle beast.

Just a little food for thought from your friends @ Club Ninja. 

Current Mood: Quite busy! Just how busy, you ask? Here's a gauge...

On New Year's Eve, I was given a copy of Metal Gear Solid 3 from Neil, which has been heralded by just about every magazine I've read to be the Game of the Year. Described as a technical tour-de-force and all of that good stuff, the widespread sentiment is that this is truly one of the greatest games ever made.

And since then, I've only been able to play it for about a good two hours.

Yegads, Man! What the Hell Have You Been Doing?! : School, school, and more school! And work too, dammit! The time that I have between classes has been dedicated to getting work done on the book, which is still progressing rather nicely. I'm rather enjoying doing the layout, but we'll see if I still have that ambition when I try and integrate the artwork. Nonetheless, it's actually starting to look like a book now! The main task as of late has been finishing up the map, which I must say that I'm quite proud of. It's still being cleaned up a bit, but as soon as that sucker's done, I'm posting it up here. There's a definite Middle Earth influence behind it, and rather than doing that sucker by computer, I finally decided to do it by hand. It really does make a difference, and makes it all seem that much more, authentic I suppose. I'm still holding true to my Get-Everything-The-Hell-Done deadline for the end of the month!

The Art of Photography: First, once you get past the horrendous price tag on taking the class, Photography really is a lot of fun. And, get this, I actually seem to be GOOD at it! I'm having minor issues with some of the technical issues (if I screw up the border on another print...), but I have to say that I'm rather enjoying it. I don't know how, but I think due to me answering a fairly technical question in class (by luck, mind you- really, it was just simple math), I've suddenly become the class go-to guy for processing issues. Granted now I actually AM the only guy in there, but why am I suddenly the expert? I haven't had a photography class since high school, and back then I exposed half of a box of photosensitive paper by opening it up in the middle of class! Nonetheless, I can see me keeping up with this down the line. If any prints actually come out halfway decent, I'll make it a point to put some up here.

Train Wreck Curiosity - American Idol: I've never been a huge fan of AI, but I admit that I do enjoy watching the first few episodes of a season just to watch the masses and realize that my own singing voice could be a LOT worse. That being said, a few nights ago found me in the kitchen getting something to drink, when I suddenly feel my ears being assaulted by what sounded to be a cat with both balls trapped by a huge, pointy object. I make my way downstairs to see the source of this auditory offense against mankind, unconvinced that someone could sound so bad.

And that was when I met Mary. And it just went downhill from there.

It's rare to meet someone of this magnitude, but I learned a lesson watching her. Watching her try and defend her singing, and trying my damnedest (and failing!) to keep a straight face when she offered to sing in one of her 'other voices'. Just listening to her rant and rave put the visual of some poor guy at an asylum somewhere, who just realized that one of the cells was missing an inmate. This became a reminder that no matter how sheltered we think we are in society, there are truly some crazy-assed people out there. And not only that, but apparently, THEY WALK AMONG US!

That is your moment of Zen, brought to you by Club Ninja.

Income Taxes - Making the Swag Work For You: While I haven't gotten my W2's yet from work, I'm going ahead and trying to decide how I can make my tax return (or lack thereof) benefit me the most. A few years back, it helped me cover a chunk of my school expenses (not having to take out a loan is definitely a good thing). Last year's was most helpful, as it ended up taking care of  a major portion of the licensing fee for Glenshire Abbey. I believe this year's aim will be more vehicular-minded, as I've been scoping a few low-end cars as of late. I've got respectable credit, so a little something to help out with a down payment would be nice. We shall see.

Random Dares in the Workplace: It really is dangerous to get random mall employees together during a slow time. A few weeks back me, a coworker, and one of our neighbors from across the hall ended up issuing a number of random dares to each other. Some were pretty tame, but there were a few that were questionable. I, for example, not only still need to breakdance in the middle of the store for a good 15 seconds, but I also owe a hug to a random stranger. I'm just picking my moments, that's all =) 

Coming Soon: Somebody's got a birthday coming up, and that somebody is me. Whoohooo! I've tended to keep it a quiet affair in years past, but I'm feeling the urge to actually get out and do something this year. Nothing to get anyone arrested (hopefully), but the boys and I have been kicking around a few ideas. I haven't been club-hopping in a while, so that's a possibility. We'll keep you posted on that one.

You Might Be a Role Playing Gamer If... : This happened a few weeks back, and it is truly proof that I may have finally gone over the edge of geekdom. The shop next to us at work has a gumball machine set up in front of it, which of course attracts the attention of various children passing through. On this particular day, a child must have missed the catch after putting his 25 cents in, and the next thing I see is a little round red object bouncing past the front of our store. I say this with 100% honesty, but why in the hell was my first thought "Hmm, it looks like somebody dropped a D20..."? Alpha-Geek indeed.

Random Quote: "...looking like some damn Walmart gypsy!" -- This is one of the many reasons why we've determined that if George was a judge on 'American Idol', there would have to be a suicide watch squad lining the hallways. Between him and Simon tearing folks a new one, you'd probably end up with a nice pile of bodies of people that have killed themselves out of shame. I missed the young lady he was referring to, but George had that to say about one of the competitors last week.

Current Mood: You know that little voice in your head that most people have? For me, he's been the guy that's always kept me in check, keeping control of my aggressive tendencies, constantly reminding me to be calm, and to happily deal with whatever comes my way. He's been a constant presence in my life for about as long as I can remember, that filter that tempers your word and your thoughts, and at least suggests you be PC about a situation. You know that guy, right?

He just went on vacation.

The floodgates have been opened, and I have got some ranting that I want, no, NEED to catch up on. It's going to be raw. It might get brutal. I'm sure they'll be at least five swear words in all of this. But my God, if I don't say something now, this is going to eat me alive. This has been building up for too long now. I've barely been able to eat, sleep, or much less function. There has to be a resolution, and my goodness, this is my first step. You're about to come across a rant the likes of which mortal eyes have never seen, definitely the most unleashed I've ever been on this site. It's not all me pissing and moaning about the loss of Heather, as there's some rather positive stuff in here as well. But at the same time, I'm not going to sugar-coat this and say that it's going to be all fun and games.

This is your last chance to flee.

. . .

Alright. I'd like to start this off with a story.

Fractured Fairy Tales: Boy meets Girl. Boy and Girl fall deeply and madly in love with one another. Circumstances beyond either of their controls pull Boy and Girl apart, but they manage to maintain contact with one another. Boy and Girl go about their lives, living, loving, but nonetheless never forgetting each other. Girl meets Boy #2. Girl and Boy #2 fall deeply and madly in love with one another. Circumstances prevent them from being together all of the time, but Girl and Boy #2 try their best to make it work. In the long run, however, it becomes too much, which causes Girl to suggest to Boy #2 that they just remain friends. Shortly thereafter, Girl speaks with Boy, and realizes that there is still love between the two of them. After years of being apart, years spent maturing and living their lives, Girl and Boy are finally brought back together to pursue the love that had been left behind. Nice and poetic, is it not?

But what happens to Boy #2?

I'll spare you all of the details, but Heather has gotten back together with the love that she left behind in Vegas when her family moved out to Georgia so many years ago. I've been assured that he wasn't the reason why we broke up, and for what it's worth, I believe her. But I'm convinced that he certainly was a factor. Hindsight is always 20/20, I've been told. And in retrospect, I suppose that the signs were all there. Now don't get me wrong here- I've always believed in the concept of true love, that in the long run, if we're persistent enough, God will put us together with the one that is right for us. And when you love somebody, you just want to see them happy, regardless. In that regard, I really and truly am happy for them. They've got quite the history together, and I know that this will make a wonderful story to share years down the line. With that, a large part of me is pleased that things have finally worked out for them.

But I'm only human. And let's be real about this, people. 

How in the hell does a man prepare to deal with something like this? Yes, I'm happy that this worked out for them, but holy crap... that's a tough pill to swallow. Can I really be content with my 'Best Supporting Actor' role in this award-winning drama? I promised myself that I wouldn't be a whiny little bitch about this (Hell, I've caught myself looking at my own reflection and specifically saying "Damani, don't be a whiny little bitch about this..."), so if I pass by that threshold, I do apologize. But I had to get this out of my system before I did something drastic and/or stupid. But do you really want to know what makes this even more difficult?

I've met the guy. And he's a really nice person. He's someone that I know will treat her right. It would have been so much easier to be pissed off if he were a jerk, as I could have been content to kick back and just verbally tear him a new one, all while giving Heather my reasons for thinking that he's wrong for her. But those two are just so damned compatible that I'd absolutely be in the wrong for doing that. He is, in essence, everything that she needs in a relationship, everything that I could not give her. When I met him, I really did feel like I was the off-brand version of him- Chek to his Coke, if you will. I knew from day one, the first time she told me about him, that he would forever be a factor in our relationship, for better or for worse. But for what it's worth, they really do deserve to be together.

I'm moving on. But dammit all to hell if this isn't going to be difficult. With that being said, I'm formally extending an olive branch to the two of them. I don't know how specifically I'm going to deal with this, but if either of you want to talk about it, you know how to get in contact with me. Once everything's said and done, I just want us all to have peace of mind. Happiness is the goal, after all.

We're not even two weeks into the new year, and already I'm more stressed out than I was for all of 2004 combined. This will be an interesting year.

Ruthless Aggression: All things considered, I've noticed that I've had a rather unhealthy sense of aggression about myself for these past two weeks. It's like when that little voice in my head went on vacation, he was replaced by that Alpha Male gene that's been sitting on the sidelines for all of this time. Nonetheless, I've managed to not destroy any property, but working in a customer service-oriented environment makes that VERY difficult. Maybe it's a good thing that I'm actually looking for something new, as I fear that more time spent at Savvi Formalwear will probably become a detriment to my sanity. On the other hand, I really do need to find something to do with all of this excess energy and aggression. Sure, I've been writing my ass off these past few weeks, but that only seems to anger the inner Alpha Male. Snead's told us about some of the kickboxing tournaments that go on at one of the clubs he's worked at, but thankfully Alpha Male does get trumped by Sanity on occasion. Nonetheless, I hear payouts can be quite hefty... with that being said, though, I do realize that I'm too pretty to really get into something that potentially brutal. Still an intriguing concept, though. 

Musical Balance: I've always been a huge music-head, so this has been a huge key to dealing with everything. Now, I'm no psychiatrist by a long shot, but I'll share what's been working for me. You have to go with a balance, as too much of anything at this point is probably a very bad idea. For example, too many sentimental love songs will make you second-guess, well, everything, and too much of the heavy stuff will make you want to kick everyone you see in the chest. It can't all be DMX and Drowning Pool. Also, it helps to stay away from a lot of the self-loathing faire, which is why I've been watching my intake of Linkin Park VERY carefully. The last thing you want to do is listen to some angry soul ranting about his own bout of circumstances, and try to relate them to your own- not all songs are about your situation. You've got enough reasons to deal with in a breakup, and the last thing you need is to start making up more. And, accept the fact that some songs might have to be retired for a while. While I do love Prototype by Outkast, for example, that's one that I'm going to have to leave be for a bit. My music has fluctuated with the mood of the moment, so one minute could see me listening to Be Encouraged by William Becton, followed shortly by One Last Cry by Brian McKnight. Other times have seen me being VERY selective of random Maxwell tunes, while there have been moments that have demanded the fury of ULTRA by KMFDM, or Who We Be by DMX. My advice is to change things up from time to time, or else you risk getting bitter and/or depressed in a hurry. Direct advice from my brother, from when he was dealing with his divorce- "Stay away from R. Kelly's stuff, really... it'll turn you into a crying alcoholic, I swear..." Duly noted!

Back in Class: I really did think that Photography was going to break me, but things have seemed to fallen into place in my favor. For example, I have a friend that took the class a few semesters back, and she's offered me the use of all of her goodies and supplies from then. This saves me about a good 300 or so bucks, mind you. But wait, there's more! Last class (and unsolicited, I might add), one of the young ladies in class offered me the use of her camera for the semester, seeing as she had another one that she'd be using! It seems now that all that I'm really going to have to worry about will be film, paper, and maybe a few other tidbits, which is totally doable. Life is good! The Contemporary Art History and Criticism course should be interesting, but the fact that there are no tests (but four papers!) concerns me somewhat. Nonetheless, the class seems to be heavily discussion-based, and it has proven to be quite interesting so far. Two semesters and counting...

Club Ninja @ The Movies - Warriors of Virtue: Sure, it's a bit silly, and a trifle bit clichéd... ok, it's VERY clichéd... but it wasn't bad. Really though, I swear that they must have whipped out the book of Generic Movie Making for this one. You've got your plucky lad lacking confidence, his wise-cracking (and token black guy) best friend, parents that are too busy for to spend time with him, and the jackass jocks that torment him. Of course throwing in the part where he gets transported to a Pseudo-Mystic-Asian realm with martial artist kangaroos sort of changes things up, but it's not long before it falls into routine again. Warrior loses will to fight, kid helps him regain his way (entirely too easily, I might add), and everyone must work together to defeat the big bad guy, the Liberace-esque villain by the name of Komodo. If nothing else, though, seeing Angus MacFayden (he of Father's Voice fame in Equilibrium) hamming it up as the evil Komodo was beyond hilarious. I swear to goodness, if they ever made a movie based on Final Fantasy VI, there's your Kefka right there. While falling short to Jareth from Labyrinth in the school of well-dressed-and-slightly-effeminate-villainy, he still does manage to make a respectable showing. But do you want to know what I thought was one of the coolest parts of the movie? You had to be paying attention, but Komodo used one of my favorite movie quotes, coming right out of The Warriors! That alone gained the movie mad props in my eyes.

Wedding Bells: I just got an email, and it seems that my buddy Bart of NuRPG/Espercon fame is getting married this May! Looks like I might be making a trip up north in the near future. It should be fun, and from what I understand, a whole bunch of the other writers I've come in contact with over the years have been invited as well. I'm definitely going to make it a point to try and attend this little shindig. Congrats, Bart. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! =) 

Random Quote: "Wheeeeeeee!" -- There's a bit of a story on this one, and it doesn't involve a squirrel spouting off about gonads and strife (at least not this time). A few weeks back, Galen, TC, Keith, and I were talking about all manner of random crap, and Galen brings up this episode of 'Walker, Texas Ranger' he saw once. In it, a kid was bullied, and was threatening to leap off of the top of the school because of it. Of course Galen was expecting the happy family-special ending, but when the kid actually jumped... first off, adding the 'Wheeeeeee!' to the story when describing his actions was wrong beyond words, but hearing Galen's reaction to the whole ordeal ("Oh, DAYUM! TV, I'm sorry! I'll never doubt you again!") about damn near killed me. Laughter is therapeutic, but it can be dangerous as well. 

Current Mood: At peace. There's a lot that's been going on as of late over here, and I'm hoping to use it all to shape this year for the better. The big news, though, is the fact that Heather and I have decided to part ways as a couple. I really and truly wish her the best, and I'm not just saying that because I know that she's a Club Ninja regular. We are still friends, after all =) Nonetheless, I've been in a state of heavy contemplation for quite some time now, which really doesn't do well as far as getting updates done. So in lieu of the usual bout of random silliness, I present you with what 2004 has taught me. And no, this all didn't stem from the breakup, as I've been meaning to get this up for quite some time now. Really!

What 2004 Has Taught Me

Take nothing and no one for granted.

Stop and smell the roses, but don't get too comfortable.

Pursue Happiness.

Laziness is a disease.

Good intentions will only carry you so far.

Be an observer. You can learn so much just from watching others.

The past should teach, not bind.

Mediocrity is no place to remain.

Set goals, but be prepared to deviate.

Be proud of your smile lines. It means that you've had things to be thankful for.

Life is too short to be stuck in a routine. Change is not only good, but it's healthy.

No regrets. Every choice has shaped you into the person that you are today.

If you're having trouble seeing the path, carve your own.

Laughter is very therapeutic. So is crying.

Take the high road. It's less traveled.

Faith without works is dead.

The only thing that we have in common is that we are all different.

Screw Maxim, and screw Cosmo. Screw lists in general. Trust your own instincts, and your own situations.

Never underestimate the power of a kind word or a hug.

No matter how bad things get, be thankful that they are not worse. There are others in the world who would gladly trade their suffering for yours.

Never forsake that which you believe.