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Thursday, September 30, 2004This Guy? Or That Guy?
In more of my pretending to be a big kid phase, I'm having people over for the first presidential debate tonight. Seeing as it isn't a stirring debate between two upstanding "men of the people", but instead a mind-numbing press conference between two craptastic candidates, I'm thinking we need to drown out our sorrow as we watch.
Only problem is I can't find any good sets of instructions. Any suggestions for rules?
Here are some of the good ones I've found so far:
- If Kerry exceeds the time limit for any response, take a drink.
- Every time President Bush says the word "safer," take a drink. If he uses the word "democracy" in the same sentence, make it a double!
- Any previously recorded Bushism, like "misunderestimate" or "subliminable," used by the president during the debate requires one drink.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Sorry, I Was Too Busy Being Lazy
Seeing as I spend most weekend nights pretending I'm much younger than I actually am, it only seemed fitting to spend my morning yesterday pretending I'm a senior citizen.
I strolled in to Austin Diner (my favorite brunch in town) a little before 11a, ordered without needing to see the menu, stepped out to buy a paper with the two quarters I set aside before leaving home, and lazily read the paper.
'twas glorious.
A found a couple interesting articles as I peered over the bifocals resting on my nose...
Gymnast Hamm fights to keep all-around gold medal
The nightmare continues for Paul Hamm. He spent 11½ hours in court Monday fighting to keep his gold medal. I'm sure that has got to be more fun than being on a Wheaties box.
Travis County voters registering in record numbers (free subscription required)
Man, this gets me juiced. Seems like every day, there's another poll coming out saying that Bush is ahead in the polls. I don't personally know a single person out there that is voting for Bush. Kinda like people who prefer Leno to Letterman and Conan. I know those people are out there, but who the heck are you? What is wrong with you people? But there is good news in Travis County:
With five weeks to go before the presidential election, Travis County residents are registering to vote in record numbers.
Since Sept. 1, the county tax office has received 29,865 voter registration applications, a 64 percent jump from the 18,207 received during the same period in September 2000."
...
But Dolores Lopez, director of voter registration for the Travis County tax office, suspects younger people are behind the pumped-up registration numbers.
"I suspect it's them, just from the people coming into our office," she said. "A lot of our volunteer deputy registrars who are out registering at events are young people."
Many young adults might have studied the controversial 2000 election and decided to get involved this year, Lopez said.
"I'm not used to seeing so many young people in our office," Lopez said.
There might be some hope yet...
Monday, September 27, 2004
Day 1
mornin' peoples. happy monday.
i was planning on going in to work today to drop off my laptop, fill out forms and whatnot, but instead i went to brunch with birthday girl katie, and now i think i'm gonna lie on my couch. big news of last night? we went to the semifinals of texas rollergirls last night (i'm pulling for the hustlers in the championship), and we met the next big star of the league: our very own bre. ssshhh, she doesn't know it yet...
Friday, September 24, 2004
From: Mark Phillip/Trilogy
To: goodbye@trilogy.com
Date: 09/24/2004 01:02 AM
Subject: FS: High-Back Mesh Executive Chair $30
After four and one-fourth years, and 30+ projects, it's time for me to ease on down, ease on down the road. If you're ever in the Waikiki area, you should drop me a line. Hoping for the very best for all of you.
Ski Shores Friday.
11:30a in the Lobby.
markphillip@alum.
512.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Goodb...
Well the goodbyes have begun. It's definitely been a lot more emotional then I thought it would be—I'd be remiss if I didn't admit that I got a little teary after a meeting I had today with a higher-up. I still need to write my Goodbye email (it's a rite of passage here), clean up my stuff, sign HR docs, and whatnot. I'm not really sure what it is that has made me so emotional all of a sudden. I've had this date set as the last one for so long, but it still seems like it's sneaking up on me. It's been 4 and a half years, trips ranging from Wisconsin to Las Vegas, met with lowly IT-folk and CFOs. I have my exit interview in an hour, and now I'm actually worried that I might start bawling. There are tons of reasons why I'm leaving, and that's not a question, but I really did love working for this company.
Going Through The Motions
Well I'm definitely not mailing it in. I'll be unemployed in less than 36 hours, and nobody can say I didn't put in a solid showing my last week.
I think I might have started to annoy Bre last night yapping about leaving Trilogy and heading to Hawaii, because I was definitely starting to annoy myself. It's hard to get it off the mind because I can say with great certainty, that in 20 years I'll be looking back at this time as the major inflection point in my life. Pretty wild.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Feeling Romantic?
JCPenney is selling a Picnic Set Backpack for $7.99 (use code SEPWEL4 for free shipping). Get one. Get romantic. Get some.
Monday, September 20, 2004
Lasts?
So long ACL. I can't say that I will miss you. Nay, I am quite glad you are gone. Yes, there are oodles and oodles of bands, and I'm sure it's a boon for the Austin economy, but what have you done for me lately? Only one band (read: The Roots) that I'd be interested in, and tying up traffic everywhere. Peace out.
Today is supposed to be my last "Monday". Of course, new developments at work today. We'll see...
Friday, September 17, 2004
Lasts.
Took my customary red-eye this morning (sleep was an easy choice over Stepford Wives) after what will probably be my last business trip in a long time. So hard to believe that I only have 6 more days of work. 6 people!
I actually had a pretty awesome week out in Seattle for work. We had some really good meetings with Boeing, hung out at the zoo (which is a totally different experience when you're with someone who works there), took a couple ferries, got some tasty grub with Adam, and even saw a Mariners game last night. Good times.
So what are we doing tonight? :)
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Glorious.
It's about 7:30, the sun is just barely up, I'm staring at a new day being created on the back drop of the Hood Canal, and I find myself once again listening to Chutes Too Narrow.
I've been leaning so heavily on the thought that the magnitude of joy one can experience is limited by the magnitude of sorrow they have endured—as my irises get their first work of the morning as the sun does it's first work of the morning, I'm finally getting to put some theory into practice. Never was much into theory anyways...
The MPBW was a blast, culminating with the supa-fun closing ceremonies. And then as an extra bonus the post-closing ceremonies at an Austin City Limits (the TV show, not the festibal) taping of The Shins with Katie. Glorious. Thanks much to all the volunteers (paid and non-paid) who helped make it one for the ages.
Thursday, September 9, 2004
reflexes
Why do we lie about taking naps? How many times have you been called (or called someone) and someone obviously wakes you up, but you protest when they apologize for waking you. "No, no, I was ... ur ... I was just relaxing..." Turning down the radio when you're lost, sitting down when you get bad news, buying five computers if you find a good deal (is that just me?).
I'm walking to my car and punch up voicemail to find out whose call I missed. I had a little bounce in my step, and I was in a hurry, but I slowed as soon as I heard his voice. Like trudging through deepening mud there was suddenly growing resistence to my moving limbs, and I found myself stopped. My body was completely still, save my right index finger rapid-fire clicking the plus button like some old Nintendo game, to make sure I could hear everything my Dad had to say.
Leave me your phone number!
I yelled as if he could hear me. Thankfully he could, and he left his number at the end of the message. I haven't returned one of his calls in years. I know I should continue with the "Garden State"-induced relationship spring cleaning of the last couple weeks, but ttime since I talked to him >> tsince my mom passed.Wednesday, September 8, 2004
All Good Things...
The annexing of Bre's blog in the name of the mpbw was quite fun, but all good things must come to an end. We've maxed out the number of comments her blog will accept. Consider the keg tapped.
Home stretch kids—time to suck it up.
Tonight: Shaolin Soccer at my place
Tomorrow: Dinner Party at my place
Friday: Closing Ceremonies w/ Happy Hour at Saba
Saturday: Begin Coma
Tuesday, September 7, 2004
Like A Rockstar
Oh my. Yes, having a birthday week is utter genius, but man, is it hard.
Friday: Rudy's and a bottle of Shiner Light for lunch. I've said it before, but having a lone beer at lunch is seriously underrated. Texas Hold-em' for two hours, and burgers at Casino el Camino late-night.
Saturday: A few big beers and a few big shots at Buffalo. Hung out with Laura, Laura's boyfriend, Laura's boyfriend's father, Laura's boyfriend's father's best friend, Laura's boyfriend's father's best friend's son, Laura's boyfriend's father's best friend's son's friend, and ... Adam. Closed the night with a few hours of dancing upstairs at Orbit lounge.
Sunday: BBQ at Kennedy's with the tastiest burgers I've ever had, and then drinks & dancing at Oslo.
Monday: Pong (not Beirut! There's a difference!) at KVM's fancy place yesterday.
Tally: 3 trips to Chipotle, 2 trips to Zen, 1 Librarian Action Figure (with real shushing action!), more introductions to people named "KATIE", countless beers, a successfully hijacked blog, two(!) comments by Kelly Tsai (which puts me only 2 degrees away from Mos Def, bitches!), and two great night's sleeps in a row. Schedule for the rest of the week, including the closing ceremonies at Saba this Friday, to be announced this afternoon.
Friday, September 3, 2004
The Only President I'd Be Sad About Losing
Bill Clinton to undergo bypass surgery
Free House!
Hey bitches, I've made my first (of many) acquisitions in the name of Mark Phillip's Birthday Week: Bre's Blog.
That's right, she's awol for the weekend, so I'm taking over a portion of her blog. Please stop by, make yourself comfortable, and leave a comment.
My Birthday Week
After much rumor and innuendo, I want to confirm what has been whispered about for so long.
Yes, this is the start of Mark Phillip's Birthday Week.
Yeah, my birthday is on Saturday, but I'm claiming the next 7 days as my birthday week. Got a problem with that? I thought not bitches.
Today? Rudy's for lunch.
Tonight? Drinks at my place at 8. Then down to Tamboleo for a tasty slice of djmel.
Thursday, September 2, 2004
School Pride?
At the game on Monday, I was met with incredulity when I mentioned that MIT had a Fight Song. I was met with laughter when I mentioned that I thought I remembered "3.14159" somehow being involved. I couldn't (embarassingly) remember it, but a couple Google searches later, I now provide it for your...um...pleasure. And yes—this is our actual fight song.
"You're a beaver. I'm a beaver. We are beavers all!
And when we get together, we do the beaver call!
E to the u du dx, E to the x, dx!
Cosine, secant, tangent, sine, 3.14159!
Integral, radical, mu, dv,
Slipstick, sliderule, MIT!
Go Tech!"
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
You're My Hero Brooks Conrad Brooks
Man, I love minor league baseball. The Dell Diamond really is a gorgeous park—I've got to go more often. Unfortunately I realized this weekend that this week is the end of the regular season, so Bre, Jon, "Crazy" Adam, and I went up to Round Rock to check out a game last night.
Man, I love minor league baseball. The weather was perfect, they had Shiner Light on tap (half price during the 7th inning!), we got seats in the second row, we saw a couple dingers, the umpires wore shiny belts (bling!), and we even got some good chatter going.
Man, I love minor league baseball. Granted our bullpen blew a 2 run lead in the top of the 9th, but still a good time was had by all. There really is nothing better than chowing down on ballpark food, having a couple beers, and watching baseball with some good peoples. I'm definitely buying playoff tickets.