There goes the neighborhood

Foster The People - Don't Stop

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:38:00 +0000

Yes I know it is strange to see me posting, but after watching this video, I just had to. Watch and see the cinematic wonder involved on so many different levels....

I'm still here... somewhat

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:14:00 +0000

I know I have been somewhat vague in my "disappearance" from my blog. Number 1, I've been so busy I hardy have time to chew dinner before falling asleep. Number 2, I don't want to give anything away just yet, though really it is a done deal, but I won't take any chances. Number 3, I'm not really sure if I will keep up with this blog since I will have so many more things and people to keep up with.

But... I miss writing, it is sort of a way to catalog my time. I got away from that, and I;m sure there were some funny stories in there somewhere. But anyway. I'm not really sure when/if I'll start posting regularly again, but I sure miss it. Perhaps after all the holidays. Maybe then...

The Foo Fighters Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:48:00 +0000

Well, this has been months in the making, and we couldn't miss it (I glad we didn't have to). The show was phenomenal. Pretty much 3 hours of Dave Grohl "Screaming his balls off". He is the ever-present cheerleader and works the crowd flawlessly. Of course it helps if you have had a few, but even if you didn't (we didn't) the show was awesome. Here is a clip just so you know what I'm talking about. The other bands were mediocre at best, but the main event more than makes up for it. If you like rock and roll, these guys (especially Grohl) are working hard for your money, go see them live, it is an incredible show.

Musical Monday ELO - Telephone Line, with Spanish Subtitles

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:14:00 +0000

Well I was just pittering around on the internet and I found this:

It was a gift, too special to not share. I don't know why I find this so funny, maybe it is because I can't wrap my head around ELO needing Spanish subtitles, especially when half of them are not really words. But anyway here it is and you are welcome. It is my Halloween gift to everyone.

Musical Monday - Sublime With Rome - Panic

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:15:00 +0000

Ok I had to post this... Mainly because I dig Sublime, and yes I know Bradley Nowell has been gone 15 years. But it still sounds like Sublime. I also know I said that I wouldn't be post as much... and I am holding that line. It is because I'm so busy... I don't even have time to do much of anything. But enjoy the video regardless.

A New, New Me

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:10:00 +0000

Well it is time to hang up some of my things do... mainly this blog. Why? Basically because I have a new and improved job. And while the old job was great, (really, really great) I was topped out at that job and it was only a 3-4 day account per week, but it paid me for 5 days. This current account is a multi-man work your ass off kind of account. And I simply have no energy or time to update this blog regularly. My weeks are slammed and I wonder if I was crazy in taking this new position. Still I have to ride it out. See where it leads. To do that requires me leaving this blog behind.

I won't say... at least not yet that I'm going to completely quit posting, but I'm not going to be posting as much or as regularly. It is bad, I no longer worry over piddly shit, hell I don't have time to worry over things I might should worry about. But anyway, is this the new normal? Or is this a matter of getting everything settled and then I will be able to do more recreation? Time will tell...

Musical Monday - LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:15:00 +0000

I think LMFAO may be my new band of choice. Now I don't think a whole lot of the actual music, but the videos are very funny. If you can't laugh, what can you do? Check it out.

Butterflies

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:17:00 +0000

So fall is here. A little Gulf Fritillary landed on my porch (as they often do im the fall)... and let me get up close.

I took some pictures and let him/her go... (though it didn't really leave... it might have been damaged, though I could not see anything wrong, or simply his or her time to die. Still it let me take pictures, so in its own way leaving a legacy off sorts.

Payoff?

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:37:00 +0000

Work is a bitch lately. Yeah, yeah... I'm sure you've heard it all before. Basically I started a new job, not really the job I want but with time and some hard licks, eventually yes, I can see it. The job will pretty much come to me, but now that I'm here... I don't know if I want it. Isn't that just the way life is? But now that I have said it, I feel like I got to see it through. I know many people would think that is crazy, but I'm not one to back down.

So I plan on doubling up on my bet, going for broke, so that maybe I can see the promise-land, or at least a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope that I didn't jump too quick... that I can't hang on to what I got. There is little probability of this happening, but still I like to cover my bases.

Which brings me to another issue. I guess I finally found an anal retentive, attention to detail job, but damn if I want it. As always, we'll see. I also find it very important that I say, "I could have opted out." That is... nobody made me do it. And that is just it. Nobody forced this on me and if everything happens the way we think it will happen, I should be sitting pretty. That is the payoff.

So eyes on the prize, keep my nose to the grind and in 2 to 3 months, my hard work will pay off. That is the plan anyway. We will see. The greatest things won involve risk, the bigger the risk, the better the reward. Now it is time to realize that reward... in a few months.

Musical Monday - Nirvana Nevermind, 20th Anniversary Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:11:00 +0000

I can't believe it has been 20 years. I also can't believe every song was a hit. I mean it has been awhile since I listened to the album in its entirety. But I can't find a bum song on the list. That in and of itself is something. The 20th Anniversary edition has even more songs. While not each one is a hit they stand up to the test of time (plus it helps if you like Nirvana). Curmudgeon is one of those songs... it almost drives you crazy enough to turn it off, but then it relaxes into a funky groove only to go back to insanity again. It is a masterpiece.

Soccer Saturday (part 3 or 4) on Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 09:41:00 +0000

I can't remember and for one, the Songbird, things are zooming right along, wins, goals, stopping the ball when she plays defense or goalie. For the other... it is not so good. Losses, missed games, no goals... it is not doing so good. It is just the nature of the beast. When you are younger there are so many opportunities to do things. When you are older... it sort of evaporates. So anyway, we missed my teenager's game because we went running in a 5K at my wife and Songbird's school.

As usual that was an experience. Not really a good one, but not so bad after all. I was clocked at 51 minutes... which is never going to come close to the 15 minutes that real runners are doing. But I pretty much walked the whole thing, and I didn't feel bad at the end, I will call that a victory. That and I was pushing a stroller with an ornery kid in it. Not to mention the Songbird had no shoes (she ran the whole way in her Mary Jane's) and she really was not dressed for it (it was 57 when we started) so there were melt down times for both children. But we pulled through it. And then later that day Songbird scored a goal at her soccer game. I was impressed.

Not so Classic Film Friday - The Troll Hunter

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:54:00 +0000

I'm a sucker for a good scary flick, and while this movie isn't exactly a fright festival... it has just enough to make you wonder... Do trolls really exist? Well, if you are wondering, see this movie and perhaps it will change your mind. This film is a lot like Blair Witch or Cloverfield. At least that is how it is filmed. So if you like those movies, this one won't disappoint. Although, it is in Norwegian, so you have to read subtitles. Not very classic, at least not yet, but still...

SOS

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:03:00 +0000

As if the whole new job thing wasn't enough drama, I am forced to deal with teen aged drama, which in my opinion is the absolute worst kind of drama there is. Because wherever that drama lies, more drama is bound to follow. This time (most times come to think of it) it is my wife's turn. Not that it is my wife's fault, because I hold her 100% harmless in this whole thing but she was the focus of my teenager's angst.

Why? Because she can get away with it more so than if she were to give it to me, because I will hurt her. It hasn't gotten to that point in years, and why is that? Because it does not feel very good. It hurts her physically. It hurts me psychologically. It hurts everyone. I don't want to do it, hell I try to avoid it at all costs... But I love my wife and I won't let stupid shit come between me and her.

Sometimes kids are just wrong. And when they are wrong, we as parents need to be there, show them how they are wrong, what they need to do to be right, and positively reinforce them to help so they don't screw-up again. Well most kids would do fine with that... but not all. Not mine. She suffers from SOS (stuck on stupid) and continues to make the same mistakes over and over and over. There is something pathological about it. And I don't have the cure. I don't think anyone does... Just wait, sit and wait.

Crooked Toe Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:03:00 +0000

It Is Always Hard to Say Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:28:00 +0000

Saying goodbye is never easy. How I wish it was. I'm just saying... as I write this when I have already left one place, the place I have known for 7 years, compared to that of the new place, that I don't know and all the trepidation involved with the unknown. It is rough. I can't really understand why, but it is. I hope that all this worrying is for naught and that I will grow into the new place as I did the old place. I can hope anyway. I want to do a good job just like anyone, and I put so much pressure to do well on myself... that it is likely completely unnecessary. But it is what it is.

My new job is not quite like my old one... eventually maybe it will be, but for now it is something completely new. So new I'm sort of the pilot program and if I do well, then it will be taken across the country. Yeah no pressure there right?

Musical Monday - AWOLNATION: Sail

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:47:00 +0000

This is my first post I'm making from a different position at my job. It has absolutely no bearing on my work whatsoever. But it is worth noting. I might very well be sitting in traffic right next to you... if you happen to be going on the island. Anyway that has nothing to do with this song, but it is what it is. Come "sail" away with me...

Classic Film Friday - The Incredible Shrinking Man

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:03:00 +0000

This 1957 classic asks, "what would you do if a nuclear radiation cloud were to make you smaller and smaller by the day?" or at least shows you how one man deals with it. We were in the middle of the Cold War, and we really didn't know what radiation could (or couldn't) do. Watch as a 6 foot man struggles with becoming a 3 foot munchkin and then beyond that when something like a cat or a spider become a struggle for life. It is a nuclear scare movie but it is a pretty good for its time.

New Me, Same as The Old Me

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:28:00 +0000

Well it is hard to believe, but my job is going to end, sort of. Basically I'm moving on to greener pastures, but I'm staying in the same house and keeping the same employer. Actually if I want my old job back, I could probably have it, but it is supposed to be all about moving up, not just staying static. So that is what I'm doing. Movement. But it is scary, any time someone has to move and start off somewhere new... it's scary.

I'm hoping that I will win the news people over and the new place will be just as nice as the old. But you just never know... until it is too late. But that is why we do what we do. So it is time, time to put on a happy face, smile a whole lot, be helpful and in general be nice. That is pretty much how I always am, so it shouldn't be all that hard. But I am entering a difficult situation. Just keep on smiling and helping, and eventually it will all be worth it.

I Wonder...

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:41:00 +0000

Line Up Adjustment

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:05:00 +0000

So much has happened in the last year. Like for one everybody got a year older. For the littlest of my clan, she went from being 1 to 2, basically she will have doubled her time in the business. Not bad if you ask me. I have been fiddling with my blog somewhat. I’m thinking about moving my as of yet unnamed music day to Monday, for obvious reasons. So Daily Affirmations will be on Wednesday, Classic Film Friday will remain, and Soccer Saturday will all stay where they are and Music Monday will round out the week. That leaves me with three days to talk about whatever.

That seems pretty good. I have given up on the BlogJam. Well I won’t say given up, but its status is comatose so unless someone wakes it up, I guess it will stay that way. I really wanted for the BlogJam to work, but heck who has time to go a make a blog and then keep it updated with regular content? On the list, I’d say no more than 4-5 people (at most) really it is more like 2-3. It is what it is. I will hold out in hopes that more people (with the BT going away, or at least looking like they are going away) perhaps creating an outlet.

Your comments are always welcome here. Honestly I only delete SPAM that I can remember anyway. But that is the cool thing about having your own blog you can let everyone comment or nobody comment or something in-between. You can be as right or left as you want and you can also be as correct or incorrect… because it is yours. I like that. Now I will say that if you want to be taken seriously, you have to at least base something on fact, you can’t claim crazy things… or you could, if you want to be laughed at.

No doubt, I am the source of someone’s entertainment, maybe many people. That is ok, I try to be funny (sometimes). Because in the end if you can’t laugh at yourself and the silly things you’ve done… what can you do?

The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:47:00 +0000

This is the Red Hot Chili Peppers latest offering. The song is pretty good, but even more interesting is Anthony Kiedis's mustache. I haven't seen a hairier upper lip since Lionel Richie's 1983's 'All Night Long'. Just saying, people will compare... I can feel it.

Soccer Saturday (part 2) on Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:41:00 +0000

Well my teenager had a game on Monday, it wasn't pretty, and she still lost, but it wasn't as bad as the first game, so for that I am happy. There was a complete lack of passing or pretty much anything else. It was really just a bunch of girls kicking the ball, and it just happened to go in our goal once, so the other team won. Yeah, not so good, but we learned from it. Or at least I think we did.

Practice was the next day and the coach drove home the fact that nobody passed the ball. Ball control, it is all about ball control. Which takes me over to the 5-year-old. She had a practice, and she was on defense the rest of the team was on offense at 2 at a time drill (they were supposed to pass the ball and get around the one defensive player). Songbird wouldn't let anyone by her, she was again a superstar.

Now I don't mean to brag, and really I'm not. Songbird doesn't do anything but the instructions given to her. So many kids get it in their head to do whatever they want and not what parents/coaches are telling them to do. She hears the command and carries out the orders given and that is pretty much that.

I was planning on giving the scores of the games... but I got snared by a stomach bug. The teenager and my wife also git the bug, it was not so good. My wife did go with Songbird and she scored twice, and won the game handily.

A Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:13:00 +0000

I got a present, just because... Basically I woke up (last, because... just because) and I got ready, be-bop down stairs and see this along with a note... "I love you XO Mrs. Mad-Hatter"

What did she get me? Old School Hip Hop. A mix tape of sorts. All kinds of memories flashed before my eyes. The break-dancing thing where my older brother got together with friends, gathered some cardboard boxes and tried to become a star.... Nobody made it, thank God. Lots of sexual innuendos, some more apparent than others. Some songs that are just funny, because some goofy white guy would imitate them.

Anyway, for $5 my wife bought me an incredible gift. That is why I love her so much. Yes I know this was on the clearance rack, I know the songs are pushing 20-30 years old, but in my mind, it is the perfect gift. something I might buy for myself, but she found it on sale. And it is funny, which I'm all about. Who wouldn't spend 5 bux to laugh a little? Thanks must go out to my wife, she knows me better than I know myself.

Classic Film Friday - Yellowbeard

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:36:00 +0000

I know with all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, you might think they invented a pirate movie, but you would be wrong if you thought that. This 1983 flick is of course a comedy, but it has so many famous actors in it... well it must be seen. Captain Yellowbeard (Graham Chapman) has a treasure that after 20 years of his imprisonment everyone wants. So who will get it? Hmmmm....

Quiet Hounds

noreply@blogger.com (Mad Hatter) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:44:00 +0000

I heard these guys on the internet, I thought it was some kind of spam, but it looks like they are looking for a foot hold. So I'll feature them, they have a nice sound to them and apparently it is free, I like me some free and I thought you might as well...

Quiet Hounds by Quiet hounds