11.17.2008

things i've done of late

At one point in her college career my wife had a professor who was odd in a variety of ways. He was the kind of guy who would, and did, ask students who they were and then, upon receiving a response giving their name, major, political affiliation, or whatever, respond by saying, "no, who are you." Good sir, I believe you confuse ambiguity for profundity.

I guess I write that because I'm about to list things I've done in the last week or so and I can hear his voice in the back of my mind, saying, "I'm not asking what you've done, I'm asking who you are." Well darn it, man, sometimes they're one and the same. Or at least closely related.

*****

Bought adult furniture.
I snicker a little as I type that, which I suppose means I'm not yet fully an adult. I should have perhaps said I bought the kind of furniture that adults would buy, but that seemed too cumbersome. We bought it at Pier 1 but picked it up in my Dad's baby blue 1970's Datsun pickup, which temporarily broke down in the parking lot. I figure the two cancel each other out in some fashion.

Forced my wife to listen to country music.
This was in the Datsun pickup. Because what else are you going to listen to in a pickup that has a mountain scene plastered onto the rear window? It's been years since I've listened to country music for longer than 15 minutes, so I imagine my wife was very impressed when I was able to point out that Randy Travis was on. I could see the awe in her eyes.

Unsuccessfully started a letter to J.D. Salinger.
I don't have very many memories of my mom's dad, whom I became conscious of for the first time when watching the 1989 World Series on tv. That's when the San Francisco earthquake struck and my mom called her revelation/dad, who lived in the bay area, to see if he was OK. He was a good writer, a poor father, and a Salinger fan. I haven't been able to figure my grandfather out through reading Salinger, so I thought I'd try writing Salinger. I don't think this will work, but the process is a good one.

Ran.
I've been running four or so times a week in order to get my fat arse in shape before commissioned officer training. I know some of you enjoy running, but I really just don't get it. It sucks so bad. Tips on why this is fun would be welcome. I have noticed a definite difference in my endurance, however, which I guess is the point.

11.09.2008

who it out my what?

You may remember my earlier post wherein I mentioned a choice phrase or two I was tongue-in-cheekily hoping to work into future court of appeals opinions. Well, I would like to simultaneously add a phrase and check it off the list: "Blow it out your ass."

Oh yes, you read that right. Here's to hoping the case gets cited in later opinions.

11.01.2008

on halloween and such

Not a single kiddie stopped by last night.

Apparently they don't think the loot's going to be so good in the apartment complexes and instead go to mooch off the richies. Kommie Kids.* And I was so excited to frighten the parents with my John Mark Karr costume.

*****

And now a question. Obama recently received an endorsement from a former Reagan chief of staff, in addition to earlier endorsements by Colin Powell, Scott McClellan, and other lesser known conservatives. He has also received support from Bill Ayers and Michael Moore,** two people who, well, come from a different end of the spectrum. Why?

I read an article in Time talking about Obama's ability to effectively articulate both sides of an argument, which I can certainly believe after having watched his race speech. The article quoted a law school professor of Obama's who referred to a time in class where Obama articulated both sides of an argument so well that everyone in the class left thinking Obama supported their own view. Does that have anything to do with it? Or are people simply so tired of the present state of things that they are willing to give up some things in order to have a president with other qualities and beliefs that they believe are more important? Or has Obama been broad enough in public speeches/interviews/debates that people don't think they're really compromising that much at all? Smart people on both sides are endorsing him, so I find that third answer a little hard to believe. What do ya think?



* Yes, that would be a good clothing line for hipster children, and no, you can't take the idea.

** I'm not implying Michael Moore has ever engaged in domestic terrorism--I'm just saying he and Bill Ayers are much closer on the political spectrum than the others I listed. I'm also not necessarily saying Bill Ayers's bombings constituted terrorism, since I think the word terrorism is used much too loosely by both sides and should only be applied to attacks primarily targeting civilians and having the intent to affect governmental policies through pressure from a "terrorized" populace. I don't know enough about Ayers' actions, so I'm not going to say whether his bombings were technically terrorism. Any way, you shouldn't be reading this footnote--the point of the post is in the main body above. Go. Leave!