My Crusade

I am terribly afraid of revolution. I think we all fear revolution, in our own way, regardless of our stance on the particular revolution. I am a bit of a liberal, and my wife is a certified hippie. I know, because I’ve seen her Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez vinyl collection as well as all of her clothes that are older than she is. Needless to say, our house is NOT a Bush House. We weren’t even all that much of a Kerry House, truth be told, but then like most (yes, I know what the “final election count” was, thanks) people that voted, we wanted the giant douche to win.

We’re many months older and wiser, and now our country is in distress. I want to revolt more than ever, but I am paranoid that “The Man” will put me on “The List.” So I have decided to carry on my revolution my own way. Bumper stickers. I appreciate a sticker that will make people stop you in a parking lot to ask you what it means. The fact of the matter is that I have also been having a problem with this new wave of faux patriotism. These car flags in the windows make me want to vomit.

I am an Eagle Scout. I was an employee of the Boy Scouts of America. Twice. I have been on dozens of training teams in Scouting. While I don’t agree with all of their politics, I do have a deeper understanding and reverence for the United States flag. I do believe that burning it in protest should be allowed, however I would hope that the people doing it show the level of respect it deserves while doing so. You are burning an effigy, and a powerful one at that. When people in other countries burn our flag, they get it. They burn it in utter anger and disgust, which are feelings that are on par with the significance of the effigy. But I digress…

People have forgotten flag etiquette.

You don’t write on the flag either, George.

The fact of the matter is that our country is in distress, as I said before, and there is a way to convey this to everyone. Fly your flag upside down. At this particular moment flags are at half mast around the country for the New Orleans folks, and that is understandable. This crisis, however, will be surpassed like 9/11 was. The constant is that our country has been in distress, and will continue to be, while Bush is in office. So, if your flags aren’t at half mast, fly them puppies upside down.

You should be warned that you are going to be asked questions. As long as you know your flag etiquette (which I have just let you in on), and you understand why our country is in distress, this person should recieve an earful. I find that an intimate conversation with someone can often be more productive than shouting your opinion at them from a TV/billboard/radio/etc., and this is an effective way to make such a conversation take place.

Now, you could fly a flag in front of your house upside down, but then the only people that are likely to come up to you are neighbors. While I encourage you to do this, I would further encourage you to get a sticker of the American flag and put it on your car upside down. Most modern day “patriots” will try to correct you on this, and I hope that you can set them straight.

BURN THE MAN!

So I’m back from another year at Burning Man, and I am happy to say that I had a blast. This trip went well, as most of the people I was camping with were much more prepared that I was. For example, those that had tickets remembered to bring them. I, however, totally forgot mine in my underwear drawer. I know what you’re thinking, “But Chris, you don’t wear underwear.” Let’s just move on, shall we?

Then there’s the small detail of my bike, which I did remember to bring. I even remembered to remove the front wheel lock it to the frame so that it would be easy to pack. I didn’t remember to bring the key to that lock, however, so I had an unusable bike, which got playa-fied, sitting behind our camp.

I bought a cot before leaving for the playa, as I don’t believe in air matresses, but I wasn’t all that keen about sleeping on the floor. The dimensions looked like it would fit in the cot, and all things being equal I was right. What I didn’t take in to consideration was whether I could get the cot in the tent to begin with. Well, I couldn’t, so for the first couple nights I slept in my bag on the floor. After a couple days I figured, what the hell, and put the cot in the tent with the foot of the cot sticking out the door. I zipped up the door as high as it would go, and used a towel as a faux curtain to block out light and dust. This worked perfectly. I was able to sleep on the cot, be protected from the elements, and it also made keeping my tent organized much easier, as I now had a cot to put things under rather than a bag that takes up most of the floor space.

Those were the only real hangups, with the exception of Max slicing his finger and getting 5 stitches, and other random small mishaps. The art out there was awesome, and if I ever get the chance to scan/upload them I’ll be sure to share them. Just don’t cry when you see me in a loin cloth.

BURN THE MAN!

In 3’s

A couple weeks ago I found out that someone I knew from Scouting and work had died. He was a really big guy, so when I heard I asked, “Heart attack?” as if I had known the answer already, and as it turns out I was right. He was a great man who cared for the youth of the world. He will be missed.

A week or so ago I found out that someone I had met once at a social gathering had died in a motorcycle accident. He had been seeing a friend of mine, and though they weren’t working out as an item, per se, they had been able to maintain their friendship. She’s pretty broken up about it, and rightfully so. He will be missed.

I just read on myspace that a girl from PCC that I had met on several occassions, through this same friend, died in a car accident driving to San Francisco. She was in that Summer Sitcom deal that I had just been in, and she was a really good person. She will be missed.

I thought after the first one, “Shit, here come the other two.” I didn’t think I’d be right. Just goes to show you, I suppose.

Routine

Everyone has a routine of sorts that they stick to. Here’s mine.

6:30am – My alarm goes off. The clock is actually 15 minutes fast, so it reads 6:45. I hit snooze.

6:39am – The alarm goes off again. I hit snooze again.

6:48am – The alarm goes off again. I hit snooze again.

6:57am – The alarm goes off again. I hit snooze again.

7:06am – The alarm goes off again. I hit snooze again.

7:15am – I actually get up, do my hair, wash my face, kiss my wife goodbye and wish her a good day. She’s likely still asleep at this point, but is awake enough to mutter some acknowledgement. I typically reset the alarm for her, as well. I drive to work. On the ride to work I listen to Mark & Brian, Kevin & Bean, and Howard Stern.

7:40am – I arrive at work, log in to all my stuff, check email, check vagueidea, and start taking calls.

11:15am – Take my first break

2:00pm – Take my lunch break. I don’t always eat on my lunch. Most times I will visit Milca at work, or go outside and read.

4:30pm – Take my second break.

6:15pm – Go home, listening to Tom Leykis.

Once at home, it’s relaxing, TV, dinner, feeding the dogs, and sleep.

A day in the life of The Loop, minus all the lifesaving, heroics, and general superheroing that would likely bore you all.

Fish don’t fry in the kitchen…

I really love my job. Granted, I have those moments of “UGH!” but who doesn’t? At any rate, I am very interested in moving up in this company. Specifically, I want to go in to training. I have always been good with people, and likewise I have always been good at teaching skills or concepts to others. I expressed this interest to some of the people in the training team, and they seemed responsive to me. Today I had a meeting with my supervisor about what I want to do with the company, and it’s looking like she will go to bat for me when the time comes. It all started when I asked her if I could take on any extra tasks. We then had a sitdown where I told her what I was looking for, and what I’d be willing to do to get there (which was anything, really). I gave some ideas of things I’d like to do (a company newsletter, for starters), and she pointed out that there may be an opportunity to help out with the intranet that is being developed. Just the thought makes me all giddy.

It’s not every employer that will let you know you’re doing a good job. Mine does constantly. Of course, I am doing a great job, but hearing it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I haven’t gotten the promotion yet, but I’m extremely confident that I will be moving on up here at some point, maybe pretty soon.

Old Friends

Old friends, old friends,
Sat on their parkbench like bookends
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
of the high shoes of the old friends

Old friends, winter companions, the old men
Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settles like dust on the shoulders of the old friends

Can you imagine us years from today,
Sharing a parkbench quietly
How terribly strange to be seventy

Old friends, memory brushes the same years,
Silently sharing the same fears

It has been some time since I’ve seen a good number of people. In feel that in the past 5 years I have changed quite a bit, and the road that brought me to where I am has brought many people across my path. I have parted ways with a good many of these people. Sometimes we drift apart, sometimes it is a bit more severe. If there is something that i have learned during this metamorphosis, it is that you can always make amends. At some point, the angst, anger, bitterness, pettiness, shame, grief, and stubborness will subside, and you’ll realize that you stopped talking in the first place for some silly reason that doesn’t matter.

Talk to an old friend.
Give them a hug.