Trek, Tricks, & Torrential Rain

Once again I’m reminded of the strangeness of life in Los Angeles (at least from a Minnesotan’s point-of-view). I’ve taken to watching the evening news again. It helps me feel a bit more civilized, I think. Tonight, while watching the oh-so-adorable Michael Brownlee on FOX 11’s ten-o-clock news, I was intrigued. Apparently a minor rainstorm here is big news. Granted, where I come from thunderstorms and precipitation are an every-third-day occurence in the spring and summer, and the ground is better able to soak up the precip. Judging from the several traffic accidents on the news tonight, it seems that a ridicoulosly large number of drivers here have no idea how to slow down when the roads get slick and oily from the rain. For those of you in that category, the brake pedal is the one just to the left of the accelerator. Learn to use it.

For the uber-observant ones out there, you’ll notice a new link in the right-hand column of my blog. Its for the new web-based Star Trek miniseries. Considering the budget has to be (relatively speaking) nearly miniscule, the preview shows a level of quality that I’ve never before witnessed in fan-created content. Its worth checking out, especially for any TOS fans out there. And speaking of TOS, I’m loving the newly remastered episodes that air every Sunday night. Anyone with me on that? The digitally-added effects seem, to my eyes, to be very subtle and definitely true to the spirit and design of the original series.

Last night, to totally change the topic, I went to RAGE. Now Friday night at RAGE is called Gameboi, and usually the music is very danceable and usually I walk out with ringing ears. Last night, the music was so loud I still don’t think I’ve got full use of my ears back. At any rate I and two friends, Demytria and Johnny, were invited to an after-party in the hills at a house on Cherokee Lane. After getting a bit lost and taking Doheny Drive when we should have taken Doheny Road, we arrive at the specified address. Upon locating the intercom we buzzed for our hostess, and were informed by her that she would be at the gate momentarily. A Land Rover chock-full of glitter and blasting the Dreamgirls soundtrack pulls up and out hops a cute Latino who promptly introduces himself buzzes the intercom again. We are crossly informed that our hostess is on her way down and, yet again, we are told she will open the gate momentarily. After what seemed like an eternity but was most likely only ten minutes of flirting with my new Latino acquaintance, we decided that our rude and inconsiderate hostess had no intention of showing up, and we left. After trampling her rose bushes and stealing her mailbox. (Just kidding… I’d never steal a mailbox, its a federal crime!)

So to sum up, lessons learned in the last 24 hours:

1. Beware of mudslides
2. Star Trek: The Original Series is still cool
3. Not everyone you meet at the bar is really your friend

Newly single… yet again.

I was curious this afternoon as to why Nick was so cagey with me lately. I sensed something coming. There was a certain hesitation and distancing in his behaviour of late. That’s probably why I wasn’t completely caught unaware when he said that we needed to talk. To sum up the talk: him and me dating is over. Nonetheless, I love him. He’s very sweet, adorable, and caring to a fault. So instead of growing beyond friendship, I guess ours will be a love that remains on that level. Its definitely with some regret that I say goodbye to anything more than that with him. But, life goes on.

I hate to sound bitter and cynical, but with how easy I seem to be taking this, I have to wonder if I’m not becoming jaded by all the let downs and jerks and guys who didn’t work. Oh well. At least we know now that it wasn’t going to work, instead of leading ourselves on for months on end. I like better the idea that I won’t be bickering with him pointlessly. Even though it also means no more romantic evenings cuddled up under the sheets watching a movie.

Jericho

So…  has anyone out there heard of the computer game series called Fallout?  How about the movie titled The Day After?  (Note:  The Day After, Not The Day After Tomorrow.)  Lets try a more recent production then.  Have you seen the TV show 24?  How about Jericho, on CBS?

For those of you who already know what the four aforementioned entertainment productions have in common, give yourselves a cookie.  (Or a carrot, for those of you on a gluten- or wheat-free regimen.  If you’re anorexic, just a pat on the back, I guess.)  If you haven’t figured it out yet though, the common theme between Fallout, The Day After, 24, & Jericho is that each deals (or will deal come Monday, in 24’s case) with the aftermath of a nuclear attack.  I’m quite sure there are more productions that I could mention, especially if the definition was loosened to include disasters like Chernobyl or the Soviet nuclear sub K-19.

While some might shy away from the morbidity and grim subject matter of disaster stories, I seem ineffably attracted to them.  Perhaps it is the fascination with how we manage to cope under dire circumstances.  Maybe I’m a sucker for stories of heroism and compassion during dark times.  Or it could be a dark fascination with catastrophes, natural or otherwise.  Whatever it is, Jericho seems to have sucked me in.  I’ve just watched four episodes, and may skip Battlestar tonight to watch another.

Its been a lazy Sunday otherwise.  I woke up groggy and decided to skip church this morning; I’ve not done much of anything today.  I feel a mite guilty at that, but I’ve shushed my conscience as yesterday I worked out, cleaned, got my hair cut, and went grocery shopping.  Well its time for more Jericho.

Greetings from a blogger.com expatriate!

Greetings folks. I’ve moved my blog from blogger.com due to the overwhelming superiority of WordPress. (Read: WordPress.com doesn’t boot me out and crash so much and seems to be much more compatible with Firefox. This is, however, a completely unprofessional opinion, as I am not to be mistaken for a computer science geek. They’re much cooler than me.)

Look for more updates soon!