"It's so absurd, you wanna laugh."

That's what Chris thought this blog was called. And it was so absurd that Jordan and I laughed. :) One day he will be properly introduced to "Spring Awakening".

Well, I may have a new hobby for 2009: going to the shooting range! I went out there for the first time last night. Trent and Brittany graciously offered to take me, as he has a healthy supply of different guns and they go on a regular basis. I thought it'd be a fun new thing to do. The place was just like I thought it'd be - which is like the indoor shooting ranges you see on TV. I'd never held a real gun before (only the BB gun my cousin used to have), and I was shaky. When Trent said to "lean into it", I leaned forward and moved my head forward... which isn't what he meant. And I was not prepared for the recoil for some of those guns (like the old Russian rifle... or whatever it's called)... but it was awesome, I had a blast. Tried out three pistols and three not-pistols (rifles? shotguns? I don't know)... but I loved the one with the scope on it! I tried to play tic-tac-toe by shooting the squares on the target. Heh. Also there is some video footage of this excursion too - because I look very shocked with every shot and jump back a little bit. 

Trent also taught me about bullets (because I know squat about any of this stuff and I was curious) while he tried to open a Russian ammo box that was supremely sealed. Good times. He also let me borrow some gun magazines (as in reading magazines... not the type that has bullets, because apparently some guns have magazines) so I'll be perusing those later... 

Twas a good day. :) Thursday, I mean. Friday was just work and now relaxing at home. I need to finish my book of the month, then maybe workout. 

As for tomorrow - Ikea day! It's about 20 days until *fingers crossed* escrow closes on the condo. 

It's the [beep] of living...

[beep]. Just the [beep].

Tracks 4 and 15 on the "Spring Awakening" soundtrack, y'all. 4 and 15. (Thanks Jordan.)

I thought everything was on track for me to move out this Saturday. We gave the deposit, got furniture plans ready/ordered, I was so amped about it... looking forward to moving day... and making plans for being back outta the parent's nest again: plans to have TV Thursdays officially reinstated, being able to DVR our TV shows again, Rock Band / game nights, and hitting up McGregors after work and the gym on the weekends... 

Well, just when you think things are going to work out a certain way, something else happens. Not necessarily something bad or something wrong. Just something happens that throws a wrench into plans. 

And that wrench is... the bank taking the offer on the condo. The condo that I thought was not going to happen and had given up on, which led to deciding on the apartment. 

We'll see what happens. The condo is the smart move, and it's in a nice location, has a great view of Cowles Mountain, and has everything we need (more than the apartment, but minus the cool neighbors and the bar down the hill). So we'll see that it completely goes through, and if it does then we can move out in mid-February. 

Which isn't as good as moving out this Saturday. But fingers crossed that this all works out quickly...

You wanna laugh, it's too absurd...

Seven for Saturday

Seven random comments (idea cribbed off Jordan's blog):

1. I'm moving! Finally. In one week, I'll be relocating to an apartment in Serra Mesa. It may not be the condo I'd been hoping for since I moved back home in July (although the condo could still happen later in the year), but I'm excited. Andy will be my roommate, we'll be in the same complex as my good friend Kasey, and friends can finally come over to hang, watch TV, have dinner, or play Rock Band/Halo/Wii... Oh, how I've missed having my own place. 

2. I'm ready and waiting for Phase 2. What is this "Phase 2"? There's a possible job promotion at work, and Phase 1 (interview with the hiring manager) went pretty well. I was told Phase 2 is forthcoming, and I already received a call from the HR Recruiter regarding their need to prep a salary offer... still, nothing is guaranteed and I feel like thinking about the position too much will cause it all to backfire... but I really want the job. 

3. I do not think Hilary Swank is hot. Attractive? Yes. Hot? No. Although it kinda pains me that I am not on the same side as Jim and Pam... heh. 

4. Lea Michele (from the original Broadway cast of "Spring Awakening")? Hot.

5. "3hree 6ixty 5ive" Resolution #2 for 2009 - Act in another production / go on an actual audition. I miss theatre, I miss performing, and even if I don't actually get cast in something, I still want to say that I went on a legitimate theatrical audition. Been doing some research, should get in touch with my old HS drama teacher and see if she has any tips as well... 

6. The Beach Boys' song "Kokomo" has been given a brand new life (in my mind), all thanks to "How I Met Your Mother" and Neil Patrick Harris's dancing eyebrows.

7. If you've never tried it, peppermint schnapps mixed with Bailey's is like Christmas in your mouth.

Give me a girl whose got hair down to her ass...

...someone who never leaves a glass of wine unfinished.

That's a line from my current guilty pleasure. Which I will not reveal here because I feel quite guilty for liking it as much as I do. But I do agree with the sentiment of the particular line. I like longer hair on a girl, and since I don't like drinking alone, she's gotta be able to hang. ;) 

So quick update on Resolution #1: I'm more than half-way done reading my first book for the year. I stuck with "The Automatic Millionaire" (I still may try to fit in "The Alchemist" this month too), and it's been very motivating so far. It's not about striking it rich now (like the title may indicate), but about taking easy steps to invest in your future, and making those steps automatic so you don't even have to think about it. When I get to work this week, I'm going to look into setting up a 401(k). I've resisted, thinking "oh, I don't need to worry about that, I'm young, I've got time"... but as I've learned, if you want to be able to retire comfortably (and perhaps even earlier than age 65), you've gotta start "paying yourself first" now. The earlier the better, and it's not that difficult to start. My company helps make it automatic with payroll deductions, and I figure if I axe going out for lunch all the time, I help out both my wallet and my body (since we always tend to get fast food). Anyway, it's a very easy read - highly recommended.

Time to get ready for lunch with Chris and Sarah before heading to the IMAX theatre and Ruben H. Fleet Science Center at Balboa Park. Haven't been to a movie there since... 4th grade. Which is also the day I got the chicken pox. Good times. 

Also - I think this is awesome and now that I know about it, I intend to take full advantage. And also, Wicked is returning to San Diego this summer!!! (But my heart still belongs to Spring Awakening.) 

Read more books...

...that is Resolution #1 for 2009. 

I'm sitting here over at Cutter's Point with my iced frappe drink (because it's been hot in January - thanks, Santa Ana!) as part of the "3hree 6ixty 5ive" project with Chris. I'm blogging (as that was my thing for the year) and he's taking notes in his book. And I thought why not share a bit more of what I'm putting in this nifty book he designed.

So when I got to the Resolutions/Goals section, the first one I wanted to accomplish was easy to think of... I just need to read more. At first I thought I didn't read a single book in 2008, which really made me disappointed in myself. (I later remembered that I read at least one book, "Messy Spirituality", which I did enjoy.) And when I remembered how much I used to enjoy reading as a kid*, I thought I should start expanding my literary horizons once more. So, a book a month is the current plan. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

* - Side tangent: I was at a book store recently, and went to the kid's section, and saw those "Encyclopedia Brown" books... I loved those back in the day. Never did solve a case though. But seeing those books brought me back. 

Book #1 was going to be "The Alchemist". But that's been boxed up apparently since I moved back home (and soon to move out?). And now Chris just proposed that I read "The Automatic Millionaire", because (a) I borrowed it from him and I still have it and know exactly where it is, (b) it's a short enough read, and (c) it's practical knowledge. So I'll try to start it this week... and let's see what I learn.

Or I could just try to win the lotto. That'd work too. 

First blog

So after being somewhat of a lurker blog reader for a few months, I decided to cave in and make an official blog of my own. And what better place to be typing this out than at Jordan's, who kinda got me started on this whole endeavor to begin with. Everyone is currently playing The Office board game, and I'm playing too while also typing this out on my new MacBook Pro (which is so amazing, but that would have been a story for a previous blog, since I got it earlier this week). I was already thinking about starting a real blog anyway... My buddy Chris had designed this awesome book ("3hree 6ix 5ive") for us to start tracking our goals/resolutions for the year and keep each other accountable with them. And one of the challenges was to become more proactive with documenting the year, whether that be with photography, video, scrapbooking, or something... But blogging is cheaper. Although a nice digital SLR camera might be in my future. We'll see. 

Anyways - I could go on, but I really just wanted to start this out, so... until next time.