152 insights into my soul

Long time no post! So after missing HH last year because of the pandemic, went this year. But it was just me, isabel79, her mom, and Tita N. As such, it was weird in that I did the cooking. And because of the whole parking situation, E did all the driving around. It was a good time, though only got to go to the pool twice because of the Elsa weather- Monday and Friday. The rest of the time was rainy, and we even lost power late Wednesday night for a few hours.

But yeah, I say I cooked, but really just scrambling eggs and cooking bacon for breakfast, did burgers, hot dogs, tacos, and spaghetti, not like something fancy. We hit the Crab Shack for my moms b-day (even though she was all the way in NY), I was a little worried we'd be too late and end up having to wait because there was crazy traffic on the way there (it took us an hour to go more than a mile!). But we got there before the rush.

We did also hit One Hot Mama's, which apparently TC had never been to? I mean, I know she doesn't go anymore, but I swear she was there once. Anyways, she made E pick up an order Friday to throw in the cooler when they swung by DC on the way back to NY.

All in all, it was a good trip.

TV commentary:

So new seasons are out for "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime" and "My Next Life as a Villainess" on Crunchyroll, but only subbed so far. But I'm too into both to wait for the dub. I mean, obviously I'll watch the dub when it comes out, but yeah, I don't have the patience to sit on these until then. It sounds like there will be a new season of "The Saga of Tanya the Evil", hopefully dubbed. But they still hadn't dubbed the movie. Though maybe with a new season coming, they will finally front over the cash to do a dub of the movie and the new stuff.

Fear Street- I had heard Netflix was doing this and didn't think anything of it until I saw some posts on tumblr saying the main coupling were lesbians. And this has done its job in fulfilling the void left by Scream getting cancelled before getting my Emma/Audrey final girls endgame.

Never Have I Ever- New season, I binged it in a day! ( spoilers )

So, the ex-roomie had mentioned the Ben Affleck movie Paycheck and how he doesn't think he saw it in the theaters. Which is weird because I definitely saw it in the theaters, and back then it would be very likely he would be there for that. But I scoured the LJ archives around the time it came out (Christmas 2003, apparently), and the movie was possibly so boring I didn't post about it.

Which is doubly weird, because I mention seeing Torque mid January with K. So I would've thunk Paycheck would've gotten some mention. Anyways, looking through that time period, that was the same year Scotto came up to visit NYC and we saw Mamma Mia and Rent. So I prolly would not have had time for a movie (and if I did see a movie with the fam, it would most likely be RotK, not Paycheck)

But yeah, I didn't realize the day long LotR trilogy marathon, Scotto in NY, me developing cataracts and the trip to the Philippines with the parents and Tita J were within a few months of each other. I guess that's one thing bad about having not posted here in a long time, there's whole swaths of my life unrecorded. Not that I do anything exciting, particularly as of late. Its just go to work, play games/photograph transformers/surf the web/watch TV, repeat. But that also means there's whole seasons of shows uncommented on!

Heh, like apparently that time period was 1st season of the OC. And one of the posts that month was commenting on how Hailey was hot. Which, I know I definitely found her hot as Van Pelt on the Mentalist, but I don't recall feeling that strongly about her on the OC. I guess it might be since she was Kirsten's sister, she was more involved in the parents storyline. That and she was on the show for such a short time, comparatively. So I suppose she wouldn't have been memorable to me as Summer, Taylor, Lindsay, or Kaitlyn.

TV commentary:

Hannibal- ( spoiler cut )

Wow, its been a while since I've posted. Work has been keeping me busy, plus all the TV and video games and Transformers collecting. I haven't even posted about going up to New York for the holidays. Though it was pretty uneventful. Didn't go into the city or see a show for some reason. Pops was sick so didn't get to see any movies either. Between that and 7500centfish not even being around for NYE, ended up having New Year's at the Parentals. Delicious variety of food though.

Everyone was around for Christmas, usually one of the cousins has a shift or something. And durlxnemesis's gf was visiting from Italy, so the fam got to finally meet her.

But yeah, after getting back to the ATL, just been crazy busy at work- having to interview and hire a couple of new people for my team, writing a proposal, plus with the Servicenow onboarding and Rich move out looming, have a bunch of stuff to do for that.

TV commentary:

CAOS- The weirdest thing about this season of Sabrina was all the musical numbers. Not that I have a problem with that, it just seemed out of nowhere. Definitely interesting to see where they're going with this. ( spoiler cut )

Doctor Who- Definitely curious what's going on this season! ( spoiler cut )

Stumptown- Nice! ( spoiler cut )

Criminal Minds- Heh, nice way to end things for that character. ( spoiler cut )

Legacies- Awesome ep last night. ( spoiler cut )

Back in the ATL! Went to NYC for Thanksgiving last Tuesday. Wednesday went into Manhattan with the rents to see the Vessel and do some food and shopping at Hudson Yards. Interesting place!

Thanksgiving was great, packed house! I'm trying to think if this was the first time in a while we were able to get all the sisters and their kids at once. Usually someone has work. But yeah, the usual folks, my parents, the aunts, isabel79, 7500centfish, durlxnemesis and sparkyboy. Cousin G and his family. Tito C and his family were also there since A was home from Cornell, and this was closer and cheaper than Chicago. Heh, I think D was the only one not there! cliffv('What's up with that?!') So he like just stayed home by himself?!

But like I said, it was fun to have everyone there. Friday went to LI for some Black Friday shopping. Well, normal shopping, just couldn't go Saturday since we had W's dad's 80th birthday party. Its easier to get my stuff up there and leave it rather than buying some stuff down here and having to lug it up to NY.

Saturday was cool. The birthday was at a buffet, so filled myself with beef and sushi. And I got to use the lighter I always carry around to light some candles!

Sunday, the lector at mass was mad cute. I wonder is she noticed me checking her out since she waved my direction during the sign of peace?

The plane ride home was okay, albeit having to wait an hour a half between boarding the plane and actual lift off. Not an exaggeration- I was able to watch and finish Anna and the Apocalypse before we even left. Noticed Teen Spirit was also amongst the movie choices, so finally got to see that! Great movie!

( spoiler cut )

Whoops, haven't posted on here since flying up to NYC. Anyways, got here the Sat before Christmas, and Sunday was our usual Manhattan excursion since isabel79 didn't think she was going to take any other days off that week originally, so we got theater tickets for then.

So yeah, isabel79, TC, D and I hit the Red Rooster in Harlem for brunch. It was pretty nice, albeit a bit heavy. The menu was considered "Southern Food". After, just killed time at Bryant Park before seeing Mean Girls on Broadway. I enjoyed it a lot. Didn't get the usual performers for Cady and Regina, Cady was being played by Tee and Regina by ADLR. Which was fine, since "Regina George-Lopez" makes for a more diverse set of plastics since Gretchen is played by Ashley Park. Actually stage door-ed and got Tee's autograph, she was super nice. I was considering staying for more, but I didn't want to keep E and D waiting. (TC had stayed with me, having a conversation with the guard about the Red Rooster)

Had dinner at another Southern place, which was kinda weird and unintentional.

Christmas was the same old, same old. durlxnemesis was my secret santa, and he gave me a bunch of different things, including a dice set, some gundam models, and a gift card for itunes (which I used up getting the soundtrack for "The Prom") and Toy Dojo, which I applied to a pre-order of Double Evil. Hopefully their Fan Hobby shipment doesn't get caught up in customs again!

Actual Christmas, went to NJ as usual. R+J's twins are amusing enough, N was hyper while M was laid back, though J said it switches on any given day. Heh, J mentioned they said they were gonna marry each other when they grow up and live next door to each other. Silly kids! Actually also visited K+L's new house since they invited people over. Cool place, lots of potential, will be pretty cool once they're done with renovations.

Thursday, went to Mystic, CT with T, E, and D. It was a fun time. Had lunch at the Grass and Bone, then hit the Seaport museum. Apparently they had an exhibit on "The Terror", which is why E wanted to visit. Very informative. Also, people back then were really short.

TV commentary:

Lucifer- Finally, the 3rd season is out on Netflix, so I can catch up on it!

The Orville- I'm calling it now. ( spoiler cut )

Counterpart- Hmm, some interesting reveals. ( spoiler cut )

Went up to Chatanooga Friday for my cousin Zack's wedding to his fiancee Summer. It was a fun time, the whole family stayed at a house 7500centfish rented. It was a nice place, it was just a little bit harrowing driving up and down the mountain. Well, the bigger pain was the steep driveway and the tight parking at the top. My dad was saying it really was a good thing they didn't end up renting the big van, because that thing would have been impossible to maneuver there.

Anyways, it was good catching up with everyone. Tito C wanted to do a bunch of stuff as usual, so some of the group did rafting and rock climbing and what have you. Heh, luckily I could use my healing scapula fracture as an excuse. Like I obviously could not go rock climbing, and it prolly wouldn't be wise to be going on a raft with the limited motion on my left arm, given some of the others fell of the boat and had to grab on to stuff. But yeah, its not something I would be interested in even if I was in top health.

Like today, before brunch, some of the fam wanted to see Ruby Falls. Which I had no interest in, but I did like hitting some of the stores in Chatanooga. Alas, since we were waiting on brunch, I could not try a frito pie from the moon pie store.

There was a cute brunette Leighton Meester chick at the reception (whom some other people were thinking was blonde), but of course I didn't try to talk to her anything. But A told me later she was married so its just as well.

But back in Atlanta now, I guess I had the quickest/easiest trip out of everyone.

Annual HH vaycay! So since Georgia just passed a law making it illegal to even touch your phone while driving, got a hands free mount for the car just in case mother called or something. But since I had my phone mounted, decided to use the GPS even though its a trip I've taken for decades.

Which, in the past I've guess-timated how long it would take me to get there, but somehow having the exact number of miles/expected time of arrival made the trip feel... easier? Like before I could see how many miles I have of interstate travel I have to go, and then guess how many hours I have left depending on my current speed. which as time and distance went on, felt disheartening when it didn't seem like I was making any headway. But knowing exactly when I should get to my destination was more motivating.

Also, saved myself half an hour when the GPS routed me some weird way to avoid some traffic on I-95, taking me through the Savannah wildlife preserve. That was interesting, though the area smelled like a fish market.

Treated my mom and durlxnemesis to a shared birthday dinner Sunday night, though my aunt paid for the tip in cash. But since the waitress never came back to check on the check, I've been paranoid that someone might have taken the tip and so all she got was a signed receipt with nothing written in for the tip and thinking I like ripped her off or something.

Here at work, even though campus is closed, because I am designated personnel. I get comp time for being here, but what the hell am I supposed to do with that, I already have 9 weeks of vacation and 4 weeks of sick stored up.

TV commentary:

Bojack Horseman- This season was heavier than last. Not that it didn't still bring the funny. I am slow on the jokes sometimes. ( spoiler cut )

Teen Wolf- Some interesting stuff this ep. ( spoiler cut )

So I posted this on FB, just crossposting it here for posterity:

I saw Scott Watkins do this, and since people say all I do is rant or post about food, here's my chance to do something different. (though I guess there is ranting involved in some of the answers). So here you go:

1. Do you make your own bed?
I'm mostly a neat guy, but I actually don't see the point. I'm just going to mess it up again when I go to sleep that night. Though actually, way before then, because if I'm in my room, I'm most likely sitting on the bed on my laptop.

2. The first car that was officially yours?
The Intimidator! The Red Ford Contour I bought after I graduated college named so because of the Dale Earnhardt sticker the previous owners had slapped on the back window. I've named all my cars, the Sentra I had after the Intimidator was missing the "T" on the trunk, so it said "Sen Ra". So I named it Star, after Sun Ra's "Starship". And my Versa is "Hiro", because Hiro from Heroes kept babbling about how great the Versa was in the first season.

3.Three grocery items you don't run out of?
I can only think of two, toilet paper and paper towels, which I always make sure I have stocked because the former would be awkward to run out of, and if I didn't have the latter, how would I dry my hands after washing them or clean up messes?

4. When did you start doing your own laundry?
College, obviously. Being a thousand miles from home, you kinda have to do such things yourself.

5. If you could, would you go to high school again?
Most likely yes? Well, if I knew what I knew now. I would hope I'd be a little less awkward. Plus I'd prioritize things better. Like academics! Honestly, my grades should've been way better than they were, particularly in the earlier years. But I was lazy. Imagine if I actually put in the effort! Heh, socially, I don't need to know if I could have gone out with this girl or that, because I've actually managed to check with every girl I had a crush on or I thought I might have had a chance with since then and the answer is a resounding no across the board.

Actually, I would also to like to go for some club that involves singing.

6. Can you parallel park in under three moves?
Only on the right side of the street.

7. A job you had which people would be shocked to know?
Nothing, I've always been a fairly normal, straight edge kinda guy. Well, that and I've worked at the same place for almost two decades now.

8. Do you think aliens are real?
I'm not going to discount it.

9. Can you drive a stick shift?
Nope. Its prolly a good skill to have though.

10. Guilty TV ?
During the regular season, I watch 40+ hours of TV shows a week. It would be quicker to list the number of shows I DON'T watch, so its prolly all guilty TV. But if you count movies on TV, then of course romance movies on the Hallmark channel.

Also, I've seen Armageddon, The Peacemaker (yes, that George Clooney/Nicole Kidman movie where they're hunting nukes), and Independence Day about a hundred times whenever they come on TV. Oh, and I have to catch the scene from "My Best Friend's Wedding" where they start singing "I Say a Little Prayer" in the middle of the restaurant. Fun fact, I've done this so many times that whenever I see the movie is on in the channel guide, I know exactly what time I need to switch to it to catch that scene.

11. Would you rather be too hot or too cold?
I wanna say too hot, because I can't stand the cold. Like I know you can always put on more layers, and you can't do anything for the heat, but the cold just sucks.

12. If the world ends do you want to be one of the survivors?
Yes, because I can't stand the idea of a story going on without me. Even if I consider myself an uninteresting side character.

13. Sweet or Salty?
They both have their moments.

14. Do you enjoy soaking in a nice bath?
Ew, no.

15. Do you consider yourself confident?
Ha, I think the answer is pretty obvious. Well, except when it comes to singing. I have no qualms about singing in front of a crowd, even though I'm not the best singer in the world. Particularly after that one time I had laryngitis and was unable to talk for more than a month. Ever since then I can't hit certain notes.

16. Something people do that drives you crazy?
I could go on for days! People who are overly familiar. People who order "their way, right away" at fast food places. People who chat it up with cashiers. People who don't know how to stand in line. People who button mash in fighting games (learn how to play!). People who think they're so great! Oh, and general incompetence.

17. Something you do, physically, that you are sure drives people insane?
Apparently chewing with my mouth open.

18. Do you have any birth marks?
Yes, I have a mole above the right side of my mouth and I hate it. It makes my face unsymmetrical. Also, sorry ladies, but that feature has always been a turn-off for me. Like I've never been into Cindy Crawford or Marilyn Monroe.

19. Favorite childhood game?
Does Contra for the NES count?

20. Do you talk to yourself?
I dunno, sort of? I mean, shouting, "What are you, some kinda moron?" in the car is technically talking to another driver, even though they can't hear me. But statements like, "I didn't know it was stupid idiot day today!" is talking to myself?

21. Do you like doing jig-saw puzzles?
Nope.

22. Would you go on a reality show?
Certainly not!

23. Tea or coffee?
Tea, of course! Coffee somehow puts me to sleep.

24. First thing you remember wanting to be when you grew up?
Prolly a jet fighter pilot or commando. Apparently, it came as quite a surprise to some people I didn't go into the police or military

25. No matter how much money you have or don't have, what are you an absolute snob about?

Small towns. Like even though its not like I took advantage of what NYC had to offer growing up, I thank my lucky stars I grew up there. Its like, I get these people living in podunk wanting to move to the big city, because how do you not go nuts living in dumpwater, Alabama or whatever!? I'll take being a dorky weirdo from the big city over being some kinda rube.

So, since Tito C and his daughter were flying back to Chi-town Friday, had lunch with the fam at HinoMaru on Ditmars. It was pretty good, had crunchy spicy tuna rolls and the spicy miso soup, very filling. The only thing that weirded me out about the soup though is that it had corn, and I didn't think corn existed in Japanese cuisine.

Heh, Tito C brought a cake from the outside, and talked the staff into giving us some plates and forks for it. But he did so by claiming it was Aaliyah's b-day, since they couldn't say no to a little girl. Heh since takyttik82 and her daughter came last minute, I wonder what he was going to do if she wasn't there?

In any case, since they had a while to go before their flight, they came back to the house. And its a good thing, because they got to meet R's daughters, Aurora and Alana! Cute kids, and they can talk, weird! But heh, I wonder if all the kids are required to have A-names or something. Just a few more girls and they can be like that one Little Mermaid song!

Anyhoo, Tito C's A was telling me about the Mandela Effect, and one of the ones pointed out was in Back to the Future. So, I thought it would be telling me I was wrong and the Libyans weren't driving a VW bus. However, my memory is correct, and its a bunch of other people thought it was a Toyota van, like the kinda ones G1 Ironhide and Ratchet turn into. Like, who are these people who thought that?!

Also, one thing that always got me about the Mandela Effect is that its named for Mandela because a bunch of people thought he died in the 80s. But who thought he died in the 80s? Like A asked me when I thought he died, and I correctly guessed 2013 (which was a total shot in the dark, but I knew it was recent) Maybe its because I grew up in the 80s/90s, but I knew he couldn't have died in the 80s because I remember what a big deal it was when he finally got out of prison.