Lots of rants, less raves and a few retro themes

(click on the title of this post for its theme song)

I'm angry.

The weather is less-than-jake and I've got my new school schedule running at almost full-steam, meaning Fridays off after 11:50. So, I'm sitting on my couch bored as a homemade freshman initiation paddle at a frat house (though, to be fair, I am less confused about my sexuality and fetishes than the burly upperclassman who use the said paddle each and every year). Options for the afternoon ranged from a bike ride to disc golf and even a trip to World of Fish (they have some Nannocara sp. cichlids in that are pretty badass).

If we can supposedly put a man on the moon (note: I am not sure I believe we ever have) and can create amazing buildings, bridges and plastic-surgery success stories I don't think it is too much to ask for May 2nd of each and every year to be sunny and carefree. Sorry if my American Dream includes less Doritos + Mountain Dew and more exercise + shenanigans.

Some things that piss me off to no end:
1. Junk mail. Seriously, it has become a nuisance. After getting my new house and upon moving in, I've been receiving all kinds of crap from churches (they send the most stuff by far), dentists (everyone knows that I am an anti-dentite bastard and love that about myself), auto shops (I drive a Camry, come on! Those things don't break, shake or hyperventilate), and a lot of crappy businesses I'll never go to. Not to mention credit card offers... good thing these people exist, I guess, otherwise the USPS would be running at even more of a deficit.

2. Driving. If a recent article I read online is accurate, some countries have gas prices as high as $18 a gallon while others have it as low at 19 cents a gallon. Either way, I am sick of paying any fee. I wish I could walk or take reliable and non-sketch public transportation. Sure, my moped will get me around 100 MPG but I'm also at risk for a Freudenthal-esqe accident where muscles in my shoulder tear away from the bone and atrophy starts to kick in before I get an appointment scheduled to get healed for the reasonable sum of $15K.

3. Ich. It is actually known as Ichthyophthirius in the scientific community (recall that ichthyology is the study of fish) but regardless is present in my tank and means I have to go buy a cannister of non-iodized salt, bump up the temperature to around 82F and let nature take it's course. Still.

In other news, I am happy to say that my new laptop is going to be transformed into a music playing machine with lots of rare tracks and converted vinyl records. Of note are the following:

1. Three days of live shows from Less Than Jake circa 2002. During the Minneapolis show that was played at the Quest Club, I can hear myself yelling for them to play "Just Like Frank."

2. Modest Mouse Live at the Crystal Ballroom. Very solid bootleg/venue recording, great chill music.

3. Reel Big Fish live at the House of Blues in Hollywood (I think).

I don't have much else to say so i'll close with some original lines I jotted down:

"84th And Penn"

I keep a suitcase in my closet just for days like this
Every second feels like forever when the sight of a city makes you sick
The buildings blend together and the street lights stay on red
It always gets this bad when the ill will lives inside your head

And I'll drive (drive, drive, drive)
Until the horizon turns to black
Focusing each and every mile
On never looking back
And I'll try (try, try, try)
To make it to the end
Of the Earth or something like it
Where I can start again

This reads cold, I know
But maybe it's not so
A fresh start always
Fixes a heavy heart