Ohh Baby, It's A Big Ol' Goofy World

So as I do occasionally...I've been doing some thinking today. The reason I'm thinking is because tonight Lautaro will officially move in and be my roommate. Mostly, I'm just thinking what a terrible mistake I have made. Just kidding, it'll be great to have him around. The real reason I'm so deep in thought is because it's just funny how quickly some people can become large parts of your life.

For instance my girlfriend Taylor and I met about 4 months before we started dating. I actually was invited to a party at Taylor's by another girl, I showed up and met Taylor...exchanged pleasantries...and moved on. Now, it would be a lie if I told you I didn't think she was a pretty good lookin' lady...but it would be another lie if I told you from that day forward she was all I could think about and I knew she was the one right then. To be honest, I never once in my wildest dreams thought, "Hey, I bet in about four months I'll be dating that girl and then four years after that we'll still be dating!" Looking back on my relationship with Taylor...it really is great how it all came about...just kinda out of the blue...she was in Danville, I was in Louisville...an inadvertent phone call here, a drunk claim that, "Taylor thinks you're hot!" and boomshakalaka...four years later still dating, happy as can be. One day when we have more time, I'll share the whole Brian and Taylor saga with you guys...it could probably be made into a Disney movie...Beauty and the Beast part 2 or something.

Now let's take my good pal Will. Will was my roommate for my three years at Centre and the two of us are very good friends. You wanna know when I first met Will? I was visiting my brother at Centre my freshman year of college and I went over to the freshman dorm to visit a guy I knew from high school. As I sat in this fella's dorm room drinking a beer, this kinda tall, kind of awkward, argyle wearing, goofy as hell kid walks in a plops himself down on the futon. I was introduced and we just kinda hung out for 15...20 mins maybe. I left the freshman dorm then and headed back to my brother's room...not ever once thinking about the goofy kid on the futon (who would later be nicknamed futon by one of our friends...weird). However, a few months later I was dating Taylor and Will was dating Lauren...one of Taylor's best friends from high school. The four of us began to hang out almost every weekend and soon Will and I were friends...knowing that even if Will and Lauren broke up (they did), Will and I would still be friends...and roommates for three years....crazy.

Now for my current roommate. I knew who Lautaro was freshman year of college, I had never met him...but he was good friends with Will and Taylor. I did meet him sophomore year, he lived down the hall...and came down to hang out one time and made a comment about my My Morning Jacket t-shirt and navy blue pinstriped pants. He left our room a little while later and I would see him from time to time the rest of that year and even Junior year he would come by and play Wii in our room. However, I really hardly knew him until last year..but we've been good friends ever since.

It's just so weird how people you meet can seem so insignificant at first...and then turn out to be really important people.

Did I think the girl hosting the party I went to the summer between High School and College would be my girlfriend of four years now??? No way.

Did I think the argyle wearin' fool on the futon would soon by my roommate and we'd be best of friends? Hell no.

Did I think the lazy Argentine from down the hall...who commented on the troubles of matching shirts with navy blue pinstriped pants would be the person I would share my first apartment with after college? Not a chance.

The point is, Not only am I glad things turned out the way they did in all three of these scenarios. (I'm sure I have stories for each of my other friends as well...I mean who would ever believe themselves to be friends with Mitch after first meeting him? Not me.) But also, I'm glad I was at least somewhat nice to these people upon meeting them for the first time...I'm sure that the way I act might turn people off sometimes...but I'm glad that I was able to create and sustain relationships with all of these people...even though the times when I met then seemed fairly insignificant at the time.

Also, for the record...I think I was a huge douchebag to my friend Leigh when I first met her, I don't even remember the whole story (what a conceded jackass!)...so she'll have to tell you how much she thought I sucked...but hey it was nice of her to give me another chance.

Oh well, be nice to everyone...not just those you THINK will be important...that's what I was trying to express through this long rambling message. Taylor, I love you. Will, college wouldn't have been the same without you. Lautaro, welcome to Sherwood Forrest! Everyone else in my life that has continued to at least act like they enjoy my company, thanks for sticking around and not hating my guts...I appreciate each of you for different reasons...and I feel privileged to call myself your friend.

Enjoy your Thursdays....The Office is on at 9 tonight!

Song of the Day: The Beatles - Fixing a Hole
Beer of the Day: New Holland - Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

We've Got a Rocker Down & Life of Brian Backlash!

So apparently Jim James, frontman for Life of Brian's favorite band My Morning Jacket, took a spill last night and had to go to the hospital. It seems as though he got a little too excited during a nasty version of "Off the Record" and fell off the stage between two amps. It was dark, he was feeling it...it happened. He hit his head and apparently landed awkwardly in a splits kinda position. He was taken to the hospital and has since been released. He's apparently in lots of pain, and several shows have had to be rescheduled or cancelled.

I realize this seems like no big deal, and he is supposed to make a full recovery in 3 weeks, but what was most surprising to me is how I felt after hearing this news.

I don't know Jim James, he is from my hometown and attended the same school as me...but if he saw me...he'd have no clue. But, he is very important to me. His music has made my life better over the past 5 or 6 years that I have been listening to him. I enjoy listening to the songs, seeing the concerts, reading the articles and overall supporting the band...it's part of who I am. So, when I heard the Jim had fallen...hit his head...and was rushed to the hospital...I was really truly sad.

In an age when people pay far too much attention to celebrities and the clothes they wear, places they eat and so on...it was weird to realize that I too cared for someone who I don't really even know.

I've always said that the day Paul McCartney passes away...it will be a very sad day in the Life of Brian. I'll stop whatever I'm doing that day and I'll devote that entire day to Sir Paul and all that he did. I know that sounds extreme...but to be honest, Paul and his other three mop headed bandmates have impacted my life in a large amount...so why wouldn't I care that he was gone?

I've always thought that the Beatles and UofL Basketball were the two most important things to me in terms of entertainment and such. Is it healthy to obsess over something you can't control, someone you don't know, etc? Probably not. But, after hearing about Jim James today I really realized that we probably all have people or things in our lives that mean a lot to us. Of course we all care about Family, Friends, etc....but I bet everyone has their own Beatles, MMJ and UofL sports.

I may tend to be a bit extreme when I discuss my things...but do you mean to tell me that if something happened to Santa Claus...Roy Lee wouldn't have to take some time off of whatever he was doing? See...everyone's got their crutch...something that means something more to them than it does to other people....I just realized today that MMJ has joined the elite crew in my book. Get well soon Jim!


Also, as far as this whole commenting on the site thing goes. There was a mixup with something on the site and I got flooded with a lot of weird comments from weird named people that didn't even really relate to anything on my blog....people named Patchwork 6869, clowneyes9923, etc. I really am not scared or anything...but it just made me realize my blog is maybe a little too personal to be so unsecured. I started this blog as a way to keep in touch with friends and family as they moved away or as I lost touch with certain ones. I'm not trying to do anything with the blog...it's just a way for people to see what's up with me...then they can make comments about something and I can see what's up with them. I don't want to stop the blog, or even change it much...because it really has helped keep in touch with folks I care about...but something must be done to secure it.

Comments will now be administered by me...and I've set up a program to see when, where and who(to an extent) the people are that visit my blog. The blogger site sent me the program, and since I can't really block anyone from seeing it...without blocking a lot of others too...I'll just keep an eye on the people looking. If you know me and you like what you're reading...than by all means post a comment and continue to read, if I don't know you personally...I'm not trying to be rude...but your comments will be scrutinized a bit more closely. I appreciate all of you who read my blog and I hope you continue to do so...these are just a few measures the blog site suggested I take to make sure my blog is more secure. The internet is a wonderful thing...but it's open to everyone...so I just gotta be careful.

I appreciate your understanding...hopefully all of this will be for nothing...and we can just go back to the way it was...when we were just trying to get 50 fans to read the blog.

Enjoy your Wednesdays!

Song of the Day: Beck - Lost Cause
Beer of the Day: Magic Hat - Jinx

Tuesday Tidbits

Hit 'em with the Tidbits....BOOMSHAKALAKA!

* The CrapBags lost again this week...I don't know what is wrong, but we won't stand for this. In hopes of inspiring the rest of the bags, I claimed Tom Brady on injured reserve so he could now be part of the Bags. He is the face of this franchise and hopefully he's got enough Gusto on one leg to lend some to the rest of the Bags. In Tom the Bags trust!

* Big news out of Charleston...Taylor will be serving as a T.A. for a class next semester...a class all about Harry Potter. I can't say I've ever read one of the books or seen any of the movies, apparently I'm only one of the 8 or 9 people on the planet who hasn't, but she's super stoked and as a result that makes me excited as well.

* So this past Sunday was spent cleaning my apartment...not just kinda cleaning it, REALLY cleaning it. Mom, Ben, Chris and I spent most of the day scrubbing, dusting, vacuuming and moving things. It kinda sucked...but the apartment in ol' Sherwood Forrest is looking as nice as it ever has. Lautaro moved some of his stuff in last night and I would say he'll be fully moved in by Friday! Once it's all up and running I'll post some pictures and then we'll throw a crazy-awesome party....and have to clean again.

* Everybody's hero and former Cardinal, David Padgett, made a helluva debut with the Miami Heat in the team's first preseason game. Big Dave scored 11 points on 4-5 shooting and grabbed 6 boards in just 17 mins of action...He does look good with some red on that jersey doesn't he?
There will still be a few more cuts before the opening of the NBA season, but I think you'll agree it's a difficult task to find anyone in the world more deserving of a spot in the NBA than Dave.

* It's down to 4 in the MLB playoffs and I'm gonna go ahead and give my full support to the Rays and Phillies. That would be a rather odd World Series...but I don't want the Red Sox to win it again, and as much as I love Manny...the Dodgers aren't really that sweet in my book. So Phils...Rays...let's go!

* I'll be at O'Shea's tonight from 6-10, starting my second week of bar life. The first week at Brendan's was pretty cool, I worked as a host...which kinda sucked, but the people watching was great.
Highlights included:
- A 15 minute makeout session between two of the ugliest 45 year olds in the world.
- Lady drinking entirely to much...dropping her phone and beefing it when trying to pick it up.
- Me realizing that most people don't understand sarcasm - A few times I tried to crack jokes with customers who looked like they would laugh, they didn't. One twentysomething couple came in and I asked if the guy needed a kid's menu? Blank stares from both of them. Then, an elderly couple came in...I asked if the old man (who was obviously still in good health) needed a high chair. His response, "No we'd like a booth, thank you very much!" Well excuuuuuuse me for trying to add a little humor to their day. (For the record, I think the old lady really wanted to laugh, but didn't in hopes of not hurting her husband's feelings)

* Alright, that's all today...but before I leave you I want to share this awesome YouTube video with you. It's of a streaker getting laid out by a football player. The camera work is terrible, but it's so funny to see the streaker's sad exit from the field after he has been totally defeated. Enjoy:

Yowza!

Have a great Tuesday kids!

Song of the Day: My Morning Jacket - It Beats 4 U
Beer of the Day: Buffalo Bill's - Pumpkin Ale

Vote or Die!

There are no words to express how much I hate P. Diddy!

Anyway, I was going to tell you about my weekend today, but then I realized that I suddenly had a bigger issue to deal with...the fact that I have been nominated for President of the United States of America. I know it seems like a far fetched idea...and I don't know who started it, but clearly the blog is beginning to sweep the nation.

Now, I don't like to talk politics because it's usually a no win situation for everyone involved. But, since I have accepted the nomination...I must give you a little bit of what I believe in.

So here is my short...but important platform.

1.) The DH rule is out of baseball forever!

2.) Every Thursday from now until the end of my term shall be. "Chili and Beer Thursday" You can eat it with a spoon, on a hot dog, on french fries...whatever you wish...but YOU MUST EAT CHILI EVERY THURSDAY! You must also wash the Chili down with a delicious brew of your choice. I know that some people aren't old enough to drink...and some people don't like chili...well tough, I'm the President and I do what I want!

3.) My first day of office will be celebrated by having a "kick the no-talent ass clown in the face" party on the front lawn of the White House...everyone is invited and a few of the guests scheduled to appear include, Paris Hilton, P. Diddy, Matthew McConaughey, NickelBack, Oxi Clean guy and the host of "Cheaters"

4.) I'm still not sure who my VP candidate will be...but here is a list of my top 5 in no particular order:
* Rick Pitino
* Tom Brady
* E-Trade Baby
* Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park guys)
* Dwight Kurt Schrutte

5.) Ok now for the REAL issues:

* Gas Prices - Two words...Flintstones cars!

* The economy - I think if we all just trust our money in the hands of the e-trade baby...we'll be ok. I mean I've seen him buy and trade stock on TV before and he's got enough extra money to buy a clown...plus he's only like a year old!

* Foreign Affairs - Every country is good for something (maybe not Finland)...so let's figure out what we want from each country and then bully them until we get it...then whenever they want something from us...lets use the trick where we act like we're reaching in our pocket to get something for them...but then just pull out a big middle finger and shove it in their face! What can I say? America's the best...suck on it!

* Religion, Abortion - Not touching this one.

Alright, that's really all I've thought out so far...I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that I've been nominated for president.

To find out more about my surprise rise to Presidential awesomeness....click the link and check out this story that was on the news a few nights ago....

Vote For Brian!


Ok gang, I think I would do great things for this country...I've got great ideas, but more than anything...I'm a really fun guy who likes to take it easy and have a good time. Also, I'll bring youth and excitement to our great nation! So, if you want change....real change...like Chili and Beer Thursday change....vote for Brian!

Song of the Day: CCR - Fortunate Son
Beer of the Day: Pabst Blue Ribbon

The worst Friday ever!

That is how I feel today!

Friday is usually a great day...usually. It's the start of the weekend, everyone's feeling energized...no work for the next two days...basically just chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool and such. Today is not one of those days....for me. It does however appear to be an awesome Friday for everyone else around me.

I was supposed to go to Alabama with a bunch of college friends to hang out at Will's this weekend. Well, I have to work...I may have been able to get out of it, but it's my first week at the bar and I didn't want to ask off already. It sucks because this is not a decision that I would have ever made up until this exact point in my life. Because, it's a grown up responsible, decision. For the first 22 and 1/2 years of my life...If you offered me a chance to hang out with my friends...or work towards a career...guess which one I would have picked? So that sucks...I miss out on a great time AND I have to work 12 hours today.

To make things worse...the city where I reside is buzzing right now! The St. James Art Fair is this weekend...which might be the coolest thing that happens in Louisville not involving the Derby. Also, tonight is the St.X vs. Trinity football game. Not only did I go to St. X...but this happens to be the biggest high school football game in the nation. I don't get too wrapped up in the rivalry...but it is fun to go to the game.

On top of that, the weather is glorious right now...and most schools are on Fall break. Basically, no one is working today...they're drinking and having fun with their loved ones!

I usually have trouble focusing from about 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays because I'm so giddy to get out and enjoy my weekend...this Friday I'm giddier than ever...but it's all for nothing.

This may in fact be the saddest day of my life...I never miss out on exciting and fun opportunities...but today I'm missing out on like 8 of them...and it SUCKS!!!

Luckily, Taylor has a ridiculous paper to do this weekend so she's not having any fun either...so I can call her and talk to her about how much our lives are insanely lamer than those around us....and hopefully we will be able to make each other feel a little better.

Sigh, it could be much much worse. I could have to work Friday and Saturday, I could have to work past 10 or 11 tonight, I could not have a nice mixed 6 pack of assorted Pumpkin/Harvest beers waiting for me at my apartment....I could also be a Cubs fan! (Sorry Lautaro) Yup, all of those things would make my day worse.

Oh well, enjoy your awesome Fridays everyone! I'll just sit here and take comfort in the fact that it could be worse.

Song of the Weekend: Josh Ritter - To The Dogs or Whoever
Beer of the Weekend: Magic Hat - Jinx

Let's bring it back....

Alright, I got nothing today. I mean absolutely nothing. Usually within 2 hours of waking up I know what I'm gonna talk about...but, not today. It's Thursday, so we could talk about how I have guitar lessons on Thursday, or how awesome the TV show "Friends" was/is and how it used to make my Thursdays. Or I could tell you a mildly funny, totally humiliating story of my past....but I'll save those.

What I want to do today is bring back some old catch phrases that I used back in the day. I've got two in mind. I attempted to bring these back over spring break last year...but it didn't really catch on. But now that there are over 50 people that read this blog...we might be able to give them new life.

Alright here we go:

1.) "Boom-shaka-laka!"

This saying originated with the Nintendo game NBA Jam! Basically it was a cartoonish basketball game and whenever someone threw down a big nasty dunk the announcers would yell, "BOOMSHAKALAKA!"
Soon, this was not just used in relation for basketball, but for things in everyday life.

Examples:
Your teacher hands you back a test and you got an A.....BOOMSHAKALAKA!

You successfully eat 5 chili dogs in one sitting....BOOMSHAKALAKA!

You make a bet with someone on the name of a song and then find proof that you are correct....BOOMSHAKALAKA!

You pull a quarter out from behind your little cousin's ear....BOOMSHAKALAKA!

Growing up I used this phrase at least once a day. However, as I've gotten older I find myself feeling less and less likely to drop a BOOMSHAKALAKA! on somebody. It seems as though "Boo-yah" has taken over a lot of Boomshakalaka's playing time So, I challenge you to use it at least once before the end of the day...trust me if you try you can use it on anything. Even checking out at the store: "Sir, that'll be $11.56"...."BOOMSHAKALAKA!" (as you hand over a twenty)

Alright, now on to the second phrase:

2.) "That was so funny I forgot to laugh!"

Everybody knows those people who just tell awful jokes and boring stories...it use to be that when this occurred you wouldn't just give them a charity laugh and roll your eyes....oh no, you hit them with the, "oh man, that was so funny I forgot to laugh!" Ouch, that's cold.

The funniest part about this one is that I was trying to think of an example and couldn't think of a good one...so I googled it and found a hilariously stupid example on urbandictionary.com:

Chad: "Okay, okay. A Care Bear and a ninja got in a fight. Who won?"

Me: "The ninja."

Chad: "No, the Care Bear. You see, it had just eaten an eighteen inch burrito and it farted. The stank smell killed the ninja! HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAA!!!" * more annoying laughter continues*

Me: "Wow Chad, that was so funny I forgot to laugh."


Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up...I mean why is it an 18inch burrito?

Really, the more I think about it...that might be the best scenario for the, "so funny I forgot to laugh" joke ever.

So yeah, next time the annoying guy in your class or at work tells you a terribly awful joke...don't cut him any slack and give him a sympathy laugh....give him the ultimate burn by telling him his joke was in fact so funny...you forgot to laugh!!!

Ahhhhh shit...then it's gonna be on!

Ok, so we are all familiar with both of these sayings, but we just never use them any more. However, if any of you use one of these in my presence in the near future...you'll receive one "Life of Brian" point...which is worth slightly more than a Schrute Buck, but far less than a Stanley nickel.

Help me bring 'em back people!

Song of the Day: Ben Folds - You Don't Know Me
Beer of the Day: New Holland - Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

Happy October!

Wooohooo! Today's the first day of October! This is the day that I always consider to be the first day of Autumn and the good Lord has blessed my hometown with one helluva day! The air is crisp and you can tell that in a few short weeks it's gonna be sweater time for realzies! I mean, you could easily wear one today in the 'Ville, but it's gonna be 80 next week...so we can't get too jacked up about the sweaters.

So as it has been well documented on the blog I love Fall...here is a list of reasons why:

* Homecoming - This October is super exciting because it contains my first homecoming at ol' Centre College. This year I'll get to see everyone back at campus for the first time in a while. Most notably, I'll get to see Taylor again and I'm sure Taylor is going to love tradin' the palmettos of S.C. for the bluegrass of Kentucky for a weekend. It'll be great to have her home for a change!

* Chili - Fall is chili time, chili suppers, chili cook offs! Chili can be had the rest of the year, but Fall is when it's in its prime! And as far as I'm concerned...in all aspects of life...the more chili the better!

* Baseball playoffs, Football heats up, Start of Basketball: This is a great time for sports, which makes it a great time for me. The baseball playoffs are always fun to watch (Go Cubs this year!), Football games when wearing sweatshirts and being kinda cold are the best, and UofL starts B-ball practice in two weeks!

* Camping - I love to camp. I don't love the outdoors...but drinking and listening to music around a campfire is one of my favorite things in the world.

* Camp Fires - The smell of it, the peacefulness, the warmth...it's all good.
* Drinking Dark Beer - I've had so many wheat, pale ales, light lagers, etc. I want a stout, I want a porter, I want a brown, I want an Oktoberfest, I want a pumpkin beer...I want them now!

* Shorter Days - I know some people don't like it...but I love when it gets dark early...not like 5:00 early, but when it gets dark by 7:00....I really like it. I especially LOVE the Fall around Dusk. It's cool, it's pretty, it's peaceful.

* The smell - campfire, pumpkin, harvest, apple cider, burning leaves, etc...it all smells good.

* The colors - The radiant bright colors of spring and summer are replaced by darker warmer colors that are very comforting to me.

* Wearing Jeans and sweaters comfortably - I love to wear a sweater/sweatshirt and jeans....I love it even more when I can do it without sweating....which is not often.

* The scenery - It's just gorgeous, it's relaxing, it's comforting, it's beautiful. The trees turning colors, the leaves crunching under your feet. It's just awesome:
* Fall starts the most exciting time of year - Fall leads you into Halloween (an underrated holiday), which takes you to Thanksgiving. which leads right into Christmas. From now until the end of the year...there is excitement of all kinds!

* Fall is comfortable - That old college sweatshirt, those beat up wrangler jeans, laying in the leaves, sitting by the fire. Those things are all comfortable. But also with fall breaks in school, homecomings, thanksgiving, etc. It gives everyone a chance or two to be with those they love that aren't always around. Fall is about family, friends and loved ones of all kinds and it's about falling back on things that are comforting and familiar in your life.

I probably left some out...you guys can help out by commenting with your favorite things about the Fall!

I LOVE IT and it's HERE!

Song of the Day: Neil Young - Harvest Moon
Beer of the Day: Blue Moon - Harvest Moon