1.27.10 - 2.9.10 & 2.10.10

Wow. How quickly fourteen days can go by. It's actually rather scary how I've thought about this blog multiple times every single day for fourteen days, without one real solid effort to actually post something. It makes me think about so many things that I tend to simply think about, but never actually do, and the next thing I know, BAM, fifteen days has passed and I'm trying to play catch up. Well there really isn't a point in playing catch up for this blog in particular, so I'll leave days 27 through 40 blank, and refer to them as a "Dead Motivation Period" as I'm sure I'll encounter it again at some point. Sad.

What actually happened that kept me from writing for FOURTEEN STRAIGHT DAYS? Absolutely nothing. I wasn't in jail. I wasn't paralyzed. There has been no emergencies. No hookers and/or blow. Nothing. Why didn't I do it then, if there was nothing preventing it from happening? Hmmm. A question that I think I need to remember! Scratch that. A question I KNOW I need to remember AND ask myself on a daily basis. I'm going to BOLD it!

WHY DIDN'T I DO IT? (And, should there still be time, why aren't I doing it now?)

We'll see how well I remember this. Meh. Who am I kidding? I know I'll remember it. The real issue is what I do when I don't have an answer to it and to not create an excuse. Gosh. Excuses seem to rule such a high percentage of life. And I'm not just talking about me. I think we're all guilty. A TV show. Dinner with a friend. I made dinner and watched a movie and just simply lost track of time. Sure some things may actually keep me from doing things, but not for fourteen straight days. Stop putting such simple things off, Kyle. Gosh I hate that guy!

Sigh. Seems like today's blog will be brought to you by the word: Random. And the number: 14.

Just to share, here is some of the stuff I remember (at the moment) from the last two weeks:
o Fundraiser for my friend Tina for LLS @ The House of Blues where Steel Panther performed (4 separate links there - two songs and you definitely need to listen to the lyrics! haha)
o Snowboarding at Bear mountain with Jim
o Golfing with my club for the first time in about six months (and losing my match on the 17th hole) aka first Saturday off since Thanksgiving.
o I didn't stick to my $10/day budget AT ALL!
o I got an early birthday present of Carrie Underwood tickets!! Thanks Marissa!
o I created a new budget tracking sheet for February to stay on top of my finances on a daily basis and see how and where I'm wasting my money
o I didn't get any further on my grad school decision
o Jim and I decided we're going to repaint the living room, cover the couches, and go in on a flat screen so the living room looks nice. (don't you dare bring up the budget. Flat screens are priorities! And so is coming home to a nice home.)
o I only went to Cowboy Country twice.
o I drank too much.
o I ate lots of leftovers
o My body seems to have... lost it's love for milk, and I'm still trying to work on that. I don't think I needed to share that. Just wanted to throw in a little "disgust" to go with the "humor" and the "sad" and the "happy."

That pretty much sums everything up for today and the past two weeks. I apologize to all my "loyal followers" (haha) for making you wait two weeks. Until tomorrow, there's day 41 of 365.

Maybe I'll start taking a picture of myself every day, too. Same pose and place and see how I change! HA!

1.26.10

Today was meh! Woke up for my "Monday" at work. What's worse is that I had to sit at the IRS office for another hour, just to hand the Asian lady my paper and hear her chastise me for owing money, with just cause, even though I couldn't understand a word she was saying and I didn't have the time.

The only real excitement was the fact that I bought my STAGECOACH FESTIVAL tickets!!! So excited for it. Also bought a camping spot. Anyone else that is going, hit me up! We got 300 square feet and we can cram as many people as possible into that spot! It's a good party, and anyone that knows me knows what an "epic" night I had last year! No repeats will be had this year, but good times will occur!

After work, I headed home to make dinner for my dad and me, which was nice. I attempted Dijon and Parmesean crusted chicken breast, with corn and creamed spinach. It wasn't bad. Pictures on facebook of my cooking. We also watch Valkyrie. How did I not know of this attempted assassination of Hitler? Must have been asleep.

After the movie, my dad left for work at The Happiest Place on Earth! and I watched American Idol and House! This was pretty much it today. Zzzz. Time for bed now. Until tomorrow, there's day 26 of 365!

(are there actually 365 days this year?)

1.25.10

While I woke up super excited today, I was still moving pretty slowly. Even though I was going snowboarding, there's only two things that get me up from bed quickly and one of those things is golf. Don't worry about the other ;). After getting all my things loaded up, I headed to Mt. Baldy, skipping the stop at the bank to put some money in.

Last night, a friend of mine said she and two of her friends were going to be at Baldy today too, so I figured I'd meet up with them at some point on the mountain. While nice to have some company, I was going to be snowboarding regardless of whether or not I was alone. After all, it's been three years since I last strapped in and this was one of the biggest snow dumps SoCal has seen in years. I wasn't going to miss it!

After driving up to the parking lot twice - once not knowing I needed a special pass since my puny two-wheel drive wasn't allowed into the parking lot, which required me to drive back down ten minutes, then back up - I got to the lift ticket line, $10 off coupon in hand. This was probably my only real complaint of the day; the line for tickets took FOR-EV-ER!

Ticket attached, I headed straight to the top, wondering if I'd remember how to do this and how many times I'd look like an idiot. Fortunately, after a few cuts, things started to come back and I got back into it in no time. It was a perfect day! Sunny, warm and not very crowded. I was glad I wore a T-shirt and light windbreaker, because I was getting hot! In fact, there was a "dude" wearing shorts and a tank top skiing around! I got a few runs in, then decided to look around for my friends. As I was looking around I heard, "Hi Kyle!" from the chair lift up from the ticket line. What timing!

The three girls, Kacie, Breanne and Laura, got off the chair lift as I took pictures of them falling. The four of us took a couple runs then stopped at the bar for some beer and food! This is where the fun began!

After drinking a few beers, we decided to get back out and do a few more runs before it got too cold and started closing. By now, the clouds were creeping in. Kacie and I were standing outside waiting for the other two girls, when she started complaining that her brand new DC boots were already missing a decal. This is when she told me something along the lines of, "That little logo missing is like fate. I have something to tell you, but I'll wait till the end of the day. But you're going to adore me forever." After a few minutes of me pestering her to just tell me now and that they'd probably leave or get separated so she should just save the drama and tell me, I gave up and we all started off down the hill.

After the first run, Breanne and I decided to go up, while Kacie and Laura decided to call it quits. Coming down the very first run, Breanne and I got separated, so I did about four more runs on my own.

It was getting cold and looking like rain, so I headed down to my car. Upon arrival of my car, I noticed I was missing something. My wallet. I F-R-E-A-K-E-D! I immediately grabbed my board, went up to the ticket office and asked them to call up to the bar and see if they found it. They didn't. :( I nearly cried. I had my entire paycheck in there! As I was filling out my information, in case it was turned in, the "dude" with the shorts and tank top, who was standing there listening, said, "Hey. What'd you lose?" I explained and this was the next few exchanges:

"Where's the blonde that was next to you?"
"We got separated, why?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what? WAIT! She told me that she had something to tell me, but she was going to make me wait, and that I'd adore her forever. Does she have my wallet?"
"She really didn't tell you? What a bitch!"
(Nodding in agreeance) "Seriously!? That would make sense!"
"I saw her pick it up, and asked her how much was inside so we could split it. She said it was her ex-boyfriends and that she had to give it to him. So how much was in there anyway?"
"Well over $1,000!"
"WHAT?!!? She screwed ME too!"
(awkward laugh by me) I thanked him for telling me, so I didn't have to cry the entire way home.

I headed back to my car, both relieved and thinking about how I'd act when I saw Kacie next. While changing, Laura came up to me asking where Breanne was. I thought she was joking at first, and was really coming to give me my wallet, but she wasn't. I headed up to their car to get my wallet, and found Kacie sleeping. So I pounded on the window to startle her, then gave her a little sign language. I think I wished her a merry christmas, I could be wrong. ;) She laughed.

It turns out that when she noticed that her logo was missing on the boot, she went back in to try and find it and while looking around the floor, found my wallet that fell out because I didn't zip my pocket. I told her the story from the "dude" and asked her if she looked in the wallet. She said nope, so I opened it for her, showing her the cash that I decided NOT to deposit on the way up. Laura and her both yelled in unison, "Why do you have that much cash on you! Who does that?" I'll tell you who. This guy! The guy that thinks, "What are the chances of me actually losing my wallet?" Well, now I know! A very, VERY, valuable lesson! Funny to them, not so much to me!

Kacie being Kacie, told me that I owe her! I couldn't deny it. She saved me big time. Losing that much money around the first of the month is the worst thing that could happen to me, financially. Laura voiced her opinion, that I should take BOTH of them to sushi, to which I nodded sure, but I'll wait to see what Kacie demands, as she is the one that saved me.

Breanne finally came down to the car and we parted ways. While walking back to my car, in sandals no less, I was trying to be careful to not step in puddles and completely soak myself. My cautiousness backfired as I flailed around for a solid five seconds (that I wish I had on tape) and BAM! down I went. And what do you do when you fall? Put your hand down to brace yourself. Well my hand was holding my iPhone, and the two went straight into a puddle. Although it's working OK now, it was freaking out on the drive home with random vibrations, the ipod coming on and off and other little issues. I did get a few sympathy claps from two guys getting in their car though. I needed to get home and go to bed to avoid any more disasters! That is, if I could make it down this slippery road!

I made it home intact, unpacked my car, popped a beer, and watched some TV. Overall, a great day with some great luck thrown in. And boy am I glad the three stooges came! Otherwise the "dude" would have a whole new wardrobe of tank tops and shorts to ski in! Until tomorrow, there's a very interesting, up and down day 25 of 365.

1.24.10

Crap. It seems that when I have the most time to actually write my blog here, are the times I don't. Oh well.

Woke up early to golf today. Shocking right? I ended up playing like crap today, but still enjoyed it and was lucky to have the other two guys play equally as crappy, thus saving me what could have been a really expensive day!

After golf I headed home to watch me some NFL playoffs. I really wanted to watch them outside somewhere though, because it was SO beautiful out. Seriously. The rain washed all the stink away, and it was perfect weather. BUT, I was alone and decided to just go home and watch it with a nice cold beer! :) I was in a very good mood.

After the game I took a shower and got ready to go out to dinner with two great friends, Ryan and Ralph. The three of us used to go out a lot more, but schedules and living situations have made it more difficult. It was nice how easily this dinner was set up, though, and I was excited to see them. Both of these guys have always been there for me. They give me advice, call me out when I'm making excuses, and are both hilarious and good people. Plus, we were going to one of my favorite restaurants, Z'tejas!

The dinner, the company and the conversation was great, as expected. I was particularly interested to hear Ralph's views on my whole "late twenties crisis." He reminded me that it doesn't matter what other people are doing, what I think about where they're at in their lives and how "made" it seems everyone else is, because I don't know the particulars of their lives and their feelings. For all I know, they could be thinking that I have everything figured out and they're the ones that are lost. So simple, yet so hard to keep in mind. I need to figure out what I want to do with my life FOR ME, not because of what everyone else is doing. Unfortunate part is I haven't really got a clue! I need a little luck and/or someone to help me find that golden egg haha!

After dinner, I headed home and simply hung out with Jim watching TV. I smiled looking back at a fun day doing the things I love and with good people on an amazingly beautiful day. Until tomorrow, there's day 24 of 365.

1.23.10

I woke up late today, shocking, and made it to work in time to realize that the day was going to be long and boring. And that it was. Until around 3:00 when customers actually started to come in. Sold a few things and felt good about my time there today, but couldn't wait for the FUN part of the day to start.

I came home, saved $0.17/gallon on gas -it's the little things, right?- and got ready for the rest of the night. I drove up to Studio City for some nice (free) dinner, some great wine and company, some tax signatures, and then headed to a show I purchased tickets for.

The show, "A Big, Gay, North Hollywood Wedding" was absolutely hilarious, entertaining, and well, gay. haha But anyone that knows me knows I love the gays and they love me. Wait... I guess I mean, I'm open to gays. No! Not that either. I love gay people and think they're treated terrible and unfairly. I support them and their rights 110%. And this show was hilarious and I'd recommend it to the biggest homophobes and even bet them $100 that there would be no way they wouldn't laugh their ass off! So yes, I'm promoting their show (go to goldstar.com and get tickets for like $16) and you should ALL go see it.

After the show, I started driving home and debated going to cowboy country. It was the "official PBR afterparty" and from what I had heard, last year was wall-to-wall people. I'm not a fan of this, so I was 75-25 headed home. I got a text from a friend though saying it was busy, but not PACKED, so I decided to go. When I got there, I learned my friend was a liar. ha! Regardless of the overcrowded place, I headed straight for the dance floor and got about three two-steps in within ten minutes. Worth it already. From here on, the night just kept getting better.

After a few more two-steps and a couple line dances, I took some time to get ignored at the bar, and make some conversation with some people that hadn't been there for a few weeks. I was having a great time having some awesome awkward, hard-to-hear, sarcastic conversations with a new friend and even dancing with some new people. Glad I came.

Then I walked back to my "area" to be greeted with a, "Don't freak out with what I'm about to tell you." I immediately thought my nice leather jacket was stolen, with my car keys inside. Turns out someone just yacked all over it, covering it with what looked like a little vodka-cran, some salsa and chips, and maybe a little Del Taco. Much better than being stolen, right? Win!

Not happy, I tried to get a paper towel and wipe some of the party mixture off, when I realized that this shit had some hardening components added in. Too much detail for you? Feeling nauseous? Yeah, well try having to carry it around with that smell an wondering if your hand is in a safe place. So I shoved it in a plastic trash bag and put it out of mouth's reach and continued having a good time.

I ended up having a brief, but interesting conversation with a super cool chick, who thought I looked angelic and religious at first (ha! fooled!), and she helped me remember what I couldn't remember that I wanted to say yesterday, I think. It was that I felt that while writing this blog I should be working more on entertaining you, whomever you are that's reading, as these posts have been rather boring lately. I feel like these posts are explaining my day, but not ME and the details of each thought and how it affects me. I feel like it's almost lacking personality. It's missing that Kyle touch, that would allow you to better understand me. But at the same time, I also feel like this is a part of me that most people don't know. Like the title of my blog, Beyond the funny, the forehead and the frivolity.

This "cool chick" said that it was like I was a few different people. The in-person Kyle, the facebook Kyle (aka bored as hell Kyle), and the blog Kyle. Meh. Maybe that's where my whole confusion of what to do with life lies. I don't really know who I am yet and which variety and combination works best to merge all my schizophrenic personalities ;). Blech. Sounds like a damn Dear Abby letter. I don't even know if any of this makes sense right now, and I'm not going to go back to reread it. I'm tired. It's 2:39am and I have to be up in about four hours for golf. I'll read this again tomorrow and make any necessary edits! Until then, there's day 23 of 365!

1.22.10

PAY DAY! The only real reason not to call into work sick! Work was work today, no need to get into details. Nothing exciting happened except for one of my bosses telling me to pick up the other boss, who as stranded at the Jack in the Box directly behind our store, because it was raining and he didn't have an umbrella. I'll be damned if I was going to get all wet from it, so I drove there only to find that he decided to walk back umbrellaless. This is the point where I would stare directly into the camera with a look of annoyance, a la Jim from The Office, if I had my own show. But I do not.

There was something I wanted to write about while I was driving home from work, but I don't remember what it was. Phew. So glad I wrote that! :-/ Good story huh?

I got home and ate some leftovers and got ready to go dance at Cowboy Country, shocker, but missed getting there before the cover started! Boooo to $5 cover. Learned another new dance and spent another solid five hours dancing and socializing. It was one of the regular's birthday, and another regular made the MOST amazing blueberry cheesecake. I had two pieces, and I wanted a third. Seriously. Amazing. He does his own little bakery thing on the side, and if you ever need some amazing bakery items, let me know! He has also made some damn good Red Velvet Cupcakes! He should get a website!

I think I danced too hard though, because in the middle of my time there I had to take some Vitamin I for my feet! I guess I was stomping too hard. Oh well. Worth it.

I'm home now, and it's time for bed. Until tomorrow, there's day 22 of 365.

1.21.10

Waking up to rain is SO much more difficult than waking up to sunlight. It makes me want to just stay in bed. But alas, I got up and headed to work. I had to take an alternate route, cause this crazy huge storm that SoCal is getting is making everyone retarded on the freeway. Got to work about ten minutes late and headed straight for the coffee. Mmmmm! Nothing special happened beyond getting a free soup for lunch at work.

After work, I headed to the grocery store to pickup a bunch of stuff to start cooking again. Ralph's ended up having a sale and I wound up leaving with $100 worth of food, with a few spices and supplies. It should last me at least a week. So I hope to save some money, compared to what I've been spending anyway. (Oh yeah, and I bought some cinnamon toast crunch. Ralphs brand, but whatever. Parents didn't used to buy that "sugary crap." It's nice being on my own haha)

Once I got home I cleaned up the kitchen and attempted a baked mac 'n cheese, with cream corn and ham. The mac ended up being a little lackluster, but it was still cheap and decent, and I got a ton of leftovers. Op! Hold on, time to put the laundry in the dryer. Must be a Thursday night.

That's about it for the day. I'm going to go grab a book now and see if it interests me. You can read why and what it is below. I wrote the following earlier today:

An update on my grad school decision. I'm 70-30 in favor of going to grad school.

Looking back at college, I wish I had a better idea of what exactly I wanted to do when I graduated. I also wish I would have taken it more seriously. I had a lot of fun, that's for sure, but amazing grades and the retention I should have had would sure make my decision to go back to grad school a WHOLE LOT EASIER! I feel like I should practice studying something now, just to get in the habit of studying! But at the same time, I feel like I should WANT to study something because I enjoy it, not because I have to! I've just never been a fan of SCHOOL. I'm more of a fan of DOING something to learn it. I guess grad school, for what I want to do, is MORE doing than any other schooling I've done, but it's still going to be a ton of school. GRRR. I think I'll get some old anatomy/physiology books out and study them tonight and see if it still interests me.

Until tomorrow, there's day 21 of 365.