paperstreet

Holiday Shopping

I love the smell of consumerism in the morning. (Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the Retail Shopping)

The day after Turkey day is known across the country as THE day to buy stuff. I believe it's called Black Friday by those who work in retail. I can see why. I would not want to be working in a retail shop today for anything.

That being said, I do plan on braving the cool weather (it's Texas, 60 is friggin cold), the traffic, and the throng of shoppers all trying to get the best deals in town.

I have a plan. I will be the zen monk of shopping. This morning I scanned all the ads in the local paper and found exactly what I wanted. A 1GB USB Jumpdrive. One DVD television collection (either 24, Sienfeld, or Arrested Development). A wireless internet router. And one splurge item of an unditirmed origin.

I should be able to get all of this for about one hundred bucks.

My only problem is that I am stuck at work until 3pm. I have decided that I will go to Fry's Electronics. Whatever I can get there I will by. That is it. I will not drive all over town with only a hope that the things I want will be at another store.

Hopefully I will be able to give myself a very merry (early) Christmas.

body art

Got a new addition to my arm yesterday. Its always fun to get a new tattoo, but not as fun as figuring out how/when to tell your family.

This Season on The O.C.

Yes I watch it, yes I love it, and no I am not ashamed (although maybe I should be).

We're now three episodes into the season and so far I'm loving it. A return to normal as it were.

Gone are the WAY over the top plotlines with psycho duggy bad guys and milf loving teen drowning in a sea of Bob Seager on the side of the road. Gone (if only for the moment) is the girl next door losing a battle with pills and booze. No more pregnent chino chicks dragging the show to a halt.

Replaced by more normal teen angst. Dating drama, and a math study partner problem. This may seem less interesting to some, but I am loving it. Leaves more room for the witty banter I love so much, and the heavier drama where it belongs. With the parents.

Again, I am an unashamed fan of the show, and can't wait for next weeks fix.

By the end of the season I expect to see Marissa's big breakdown, a catfight between Julie Cooper and Kirsten, and a new girl for....Seth.

Episode III

I will be just about the last person on the internet to comment on the new Episode III trailer.

I really hate that the new trailer has part's of A New Hope it. It only serves to remind me of how misserably the past two films have failed at living up to the Star Wars mythos.

There is no doubt that I will see this movie. There is almost no doubt, however, that I will moan and whine about it the moment the lights come up in the theater. It seems like the Star Wars movies have become a form of torture for me. Every two years I shlup my way to the nearest Alamo Drafthouse and pay good money to see a movie I only kind of want to see.

Will we every learn how to not see a Star Wars movie...yeah, just as soon as he's done making them.

Football Hurts

Today I watched about half a football game. You see, on a day like today it's hard to be a football fan.

My problem, you see, is that I like the Houston Texans. The newest team in the NFL, they have only had an alright season. Currently at 4 wins and 5 loses. The Texans have played well against average teams. But somehow seem to forget how to play in the face of a better than average football team. I guess I should learn to live with the fact that they are an average team right now.

Today Peyton Manning threw five touchdown passes and the Colts' defense matched Houston's scoring output in a 49-14 win against quarterback David Carr and his teammates.

I came in at the second quarter and only managed to make it to about the third quarter before giving up and turning to my dvd collection for solace.

I guess when your team stinks you can always find comfort in Mr. Show's forth season.

sigh...

high school tunes

So I had a long solo drive from Austin to Amarillo last weekend. While in the car I ended up listening to a lot of music that I havent listened to since high school, one example being Velocity Girl's album Simpatico. And I still have it playing in my car a week later. The question I pose, is this truly a good album, or am I just nostalgic?

new poster

Hello everyone, this is Zack, and I will be a new "face" around here. Im a friend of Rod's and look forward to helping make this a lively site.

916-Call-Tur(k)

I love the television show Scrubs. I have since the very first episode. Well Bill Lawrence, the creator of the show, knows how to thank his fans.

This weeks episode featured Turk (Donald Faison) getting a new cell phone number. Within moments of the phone number being spoken, people online were saying you could call the number and get a recorded message about the show changing time slots.

That's pretty cool.

Then all hell broke loose. I get a private message from a bullitian board buddy of mine, that members of the cast and crew are answering the phone.

I jumped to the cell phone and starting making calls. After about ten minutes I got through to the shows creator Bill Lawrence. He was very cool and said he was sorry to tell me that all the actors had gone home for the night. Then he asked if I would like to talk to this weeks director.

"Sure."

He came on shortly, "Hey man where you calling from?"

"Austin. Is this...is this Matthew Perry?"

"Yeah man, how are you doing?"

So that was cool. I called back the next day and have since spoke to a few of the cast and crew.

The Todd (Robert Maschio)
Doug the Nervous Guy (Johnny Kastle)
Chandler Bing [Friends] (Matthew Perry)
Bill Lawrence (show Creator)
Frank (Assistant Director)
Sue (Production Assistant)
and two of the shows writers.

And JD (Zach Braff) who I fawned all over like a highschool girl. I went on and on about how incredible Garden State was.

Needless to say this has been very cool, and I will continue to call in the vain attempt to reach as many of the cast as I can. Scrubs is on NBC Tuesday nights at 8:30 central time, and is shifting to 8:00pm central time shortly. Always funny, always well written and acted, and my favorite show on tv right now.