the single creepiest thing i have ever seen

the time: roughly 9:15pm, halloween night 2005

the place: the gazebo in beverly common. beverly, massachusetts

the spectacle: two people, one of a medium adult age and indeterminate gender, dressed as a pumpkin; the other, a child-sized person also of indeterminate gender, (costume unintelligible), slow dancing with no music, fully illuminated by the gazebo's orange lights.

and...scene.

boys of summer

i guess i should say congrats to the *gulp* chicago white sox for winning their first world series in 278 years, or how ever long it's been. so congrats.

here are two things i will take from this victory, one good. one bad:

1) former royal jermaine dye drove in the decisive win in last night's 1-0 win. it is so good to see him back in top form and playing as well as he did before being traded from KC to oakland. he was loved as a royal, and i am happy for him.

2) frank thomas gets a championship ring. he played what, 30 games this year? in april? yeah he has every right to gloat about that. great, you "won." now retire.

ch-ch-ch-changes

finally.

the place of mystery and wonder that will be known as vagabond records, is starting to take shape. or rather, it's at least taking a different shape than it had.

so, until the "after" pictures are ready to be taken, here are the intermediate "during" pics:



note: the "burnt pepto-bismal" colored primer for my red wall is lovely, no? i'm thinking about keeping it this way. yeah...no i'm not.

also visible, the ONE finished and 6 unfinished cd racks.



note: here we have a view from behind the newly assembled counter complete with stereo rack and brand-spankin'-new turntable



note: soon these racks will look a lot like their older brother (foreground)



note: another look at the counter taking shape. notice also the white half-wall that used to look an awful lot like a sandwich counter.



note: the "behind the counter" rec pit. under the blue and white blanket is a vinly recliner with matching ottoman. the best purchase, by far, and the center piece to one heck of a day on thursday with mr. pope.

the once-functioning coke refrigerator has been craftily re-engineered to be a rack for holding merchandise, most likely lots and lots of hand made t-shirts. (mrs. simkins, feel free to throw your mad iron-on skills into your carry-on when you come out. i might just use them.)

that's all for now. expect MAJOR differences in the very near future.

mr. brightside

this post is blamed, in its entirety, on amy grant.

sometimes i wish i could be on a lame tv show.

sometimes i wish my 20's were more productive.

i wish that my 30's will be.

sometimes i wish that i were more creative.

sometimes i wish that i didn't waste so much time.

sometimes i wish i would just lose that stupid 20 pounds.

sometimes i wish i was a house cat. that would pretty much rule.

sometimes i wish that i could be really, really good at one thing, instead of just kinda good at a lot of things.

i wish someone would pay me to see the world.

i wish i didn't have such an uncontrollable desire to see the world.

i wish i enjoyed the journey more than the destination.

i wish i understood God's timing.

sometimes i wish i could eat pizza for every meal.

i wish i was a rock star.

i wish money was the kind of thing i could choose not to worry about.

i wish i could choose not to worry about more things.

i wish i didn't worry so much.

i wish i could always live up to my nonchalant attitude.

i wish autumn could hang around for a while. winter can bite my ass.

i wish i didn't get annoyed at small things as easily as i do.


but, even as all of these wishes go unanswered, i know my life is good and i believe that i am happier now than i have been in a very long time. and that's pretty cool. so take that, amy.

(every girl's crazy 'bout a) sharp dressed man

Saddam Lawyer to Seek 3-Month Adjournment



in a related story: look for saddam's full layout in this winter's j-crew catalogue.

it just never stops

i just got home from 12 days away and you all know what that means...

it's fun with cade in airports: share the wealth edition!

tonight's special guest stars (in order of appearance): kellie gentry, jamie simkins, unintelligible cab driver, and brian "b" simkins.

i won't bore you with the details other than to say that due to boston logan's little "snafu" with their radar system yesterday, i got to spend more time than expected in the hallowed halls of chicago's ever-fascinating o'hare international. in fact, i loved it so much that i decided to spend the night there.

after some phone calls and some shrewd finagling for a free ticket and a free hotel room, i found out that kellie (travelling to boston from dallas) was also going to be stranded in the windy city. she had already made plans to crash with los simkins, so i decided to crash the party. i called jamie and we were in business.

regretting the already painful fact that i was travelling with the heaviest carry-on bag in the history of modern flight, i trudged my way across the 27.3 miles* that separate the united terminal from the american terminal to wait for the unsuspecting mrs. gentry at gate H13.

she emerged and we were on our way to the CTA's blue line to meet our gracious host and a chance to stop travelling for the first time all day.

under a lovely overpass, jamie met us and we jumped in a cab. i have to say that kellie's first cab ride ever was a memorable one. it's the first one i have been in that kept mementos (business cards, ticket stubs, stickers, etc.) stuck to the ceiling. not to mention the array of hats and trinkets strewn all about the various surfaces of the car.

it was fun.

cut to the chase. back at the simkins lovely apartment, we watched episodes of "the airline" and pitches in the yankees/angels game. then a few short hours later, after brian got home from work, he drove us back to the airport to try again.

i forfeited my first class ticket on the 9 am (actual time of departure: well after 12 pm) flight for the opportunity to sit between two jittery workaholics in coach on the 6:35 am (actual time of departure: 9:30 am) flight.

all things said and done, i'm finally home and now i have people who can share, firsthand, the unforgettable experience of travelling "cade-style."

sorry kellie.

*= distance may be exagerated slightly for dramatic effect.

cade factor: article 17 paragraph 3

this is a little known section of the countless volumes that make up the dreaded "cade factor." it is filed under the "slight annoyance" category and is typically not given much thought when compared to more critical categories like "general aviation hell" and "rental car absurdities." but it is, nonetheless, part of the code of conduct and i feel that today it is applicable.

article 17
when lodging in a hotel or motel with fewer than 5 stories, often cited as an accor-class lodging facility (ie. a holiday inn express, a comfort inn or, to a lesser extent, a ramada inn,) cade shall, as often as possible and where applicable, be placed in a room designated for handicapable citizens. amenities expected in this clause are to include as many of the following as possible:
-walk-in shower with adjustable/removable shower head
-waist-high closet facilities that CANNOT exceed 3 ft in height
-some sort of emergency "alarm button" in case of a fall
-no fewer than 6 (six) handrails in and around the restroom area
-a safety stool to be used for bathing and/or general relaxation

these requirements are not meant to be exclusive to low-rise accor-class lodging facilities and can most certainly be provided in even the fanciest of 4-star, high-rise type facilities, or westin-class lodging facilities. these requirements should be met whenever and where ever possible.

that's basically it. and you'll be happy to know that, here in norfolk, nebraska, for the 3rd year in a row, i have received such accomodations.

...and a note about game 2

so help me God if ANYONE uses tony graffanino as a scapegoat in my presence. i cannot and will not be held responsible for my actions.

if he didn't do it. someone else would have.

4 1/2 notes from a road trip

1) if you are ever in the st. louis area and have children or want to act like children, you simply MUST visit the city museum. it's a great place to play and, if i do say so myself, not a bad place to take a date.

2) there are at least 6 former royals in the play-offs this year. it's the little things that keep me going.

3) i'm trying to set a world record for how many varying illnesses a single human can sustain at one time. the count so far: 3.

4) yesterday, i bought the soundtracks from "herbie: fully loaded" AND "ice princess." i feel dirty.

1/2) kansas city still feels a little bit like home...and i think that scares me.