In college, my freshman year roommate (Mike) had a best friend (also Mike). My best friend (yes, also Mike, seriously) lived down the hall from our high school buddy (I am not making this up, also Mike). The Mikes soon had new names. Best friend Mike was changed to Benji (because his last name is Franklin ... think about it). High school buddy Mike was changed to Bjerkness (his last name). Roommate Mike had his own nickname. It was Cannonball and he insisted we call him that. Cannonball's best friend went by Boom Boom, or "Booms" for short. The interesting thing is, neither of them had explanations for their nicknames, but demanded we call them that. So we did. And always have.

For the last 2 years, Booms has been angry at Benji for no well-stated reason. Benji is the kinda guy that is tremendously bothered when someone dislikes him for seemingly irrational reasons. So for these past 2 years, he's been trying to make amends with no success. Oh, and Booms now demands that no one call him Booms any longer -- his self-appointed nickname. Benji's random acts of kindness were about to reach new heights by sending Boom..er... Mike a wedding gift for his nuptials scheduled in 2 weeks. Plus, he's sent emails recently trying to get together with the guy. He got this response today:

( The Email )

Looks like Benji's persistence has paid off.

This is for say-ruh

Bourbon Street is destroyed. So where are girls going to go wild now? SE Minneapolis, I hope.

Joking aside, could this have happened to a worse city? Perhaps the most corrupt police and government in our country is now faced with lawlessness and desperation. Frankly, if looting to get some bread was a matter of survival, I'd be right there, too. What's stupid is good 'ol boys down there think they have the right to shoot you dead for doing what it takes to survive -- or hell, taking a VCR. Granted, I don't think it's okay to take advantage of the situation by stealing everything within arm's reach, but those damn hicks think they can be judge, jury, and executioner. And are proud of it!

Silly southerners.

Date:	2005-08-10 15:59
Subject:	LJ meets Google Maps
Security:	Public
Mood:	impressed

okay ... this frickin' thing is too awesome.

Well, I wanted to apply for Survivor again this year, but I misssed the deadline. But I really want to be on a reality TV show. Survivor would definitely be my first choice, but I'll have to wait at least another year. Anyone recommend another reality show?

Another reason I'll be leaving this company soon is that I just overheard my two closest coworkers have a full and open conversation about the reasons they'd never live next to a gay couple. And, it should be noted that I wasn't eavesdropping. This conversation was held literally at the "doorstep" of cubicle. Conversation high....er lowlights:

Conversant #1: I used to live next to two gay guys and they weren't the "flaming" or "flamboyant" kinds, but that's when I learned that there is a place for a man and a woman in raising a family.

Oh really dipshit? Does this mean you "oppose" people who "chose" to be single parents, also?

Conversant #2: I'm sorry, but that's just wrong. I'd especially never live near them if they had kids!

Yeah, you gotta be careful. Their kids could come over and spread gay all over the house. And disinfectant for that shit ain't cheap!

Conversant #2: I just don't get where they think they should get kids.

Um ... Home Depot?

Wow. What a weekend. First, the bad.

This summer has been a trying one for me, even moreso than last. See, if you read my "bad things I've done" list, you know that I'm serving a suspension from the Ultimate Players Assocation for cheating. What followed, was a falling out with the competitive club teams in the area. So last year, I had to resort to starting my own club team with the leftover players. This summer, my suspension ends and teams should be less likely to turn me away.

( Or so I thought )

i went to the session with ze. he's pretty funny in person, but not nearly as funny as he is in his work [http://www.zefrank.com/]. there's a definite touch of computer-nerd/social-awkwardness about him.

i spoke with him for about 10 minutes after his presentation. he's not a computer scientist in the academic sense. he's really a more organic type of [in his own words] traffic junkie. it's funny that he dropped the word junkie there, tho, since i strongly sensed he was coked up.

worth the money? not sure, perhaps time will tell, but it was kind of neat seeing an internet celebrity come to life.

awesome. ze frank is speaking at a conference in town and i just negotiated my way into his session this afternoon. in case you don't already know: http://www.zefrank.com/

I'm very confused.

Don't you think if you were "gruntled," that would be a bad thing? But, um, if you become no longer "gruntled" (i.e. "DISgruntled"), that's a really bad thing?

yesterday @ home depot, there was a tall column of smoke filling the sky above the target parking lot, from which i had just left 30 seconds beforehand. i could see the flames, occasionally, and i figured it to be a car. what amazed me was that the fire truck was already on scene and there had been no fire when i had left the parking lot, yes, 30 second beforehand.

my first real thought was that i was glad my car wasn't parked next to the car on fire. my second thought was "man, that insurance money would be sweet!" but then i remembered how awesome my car is.

after getting tomato plants @ home depot, brother and i went to investigate -- as i'm sure the fire department was just about to ask us to do. well, our findings included results that suggest some beat ass car's battery had gone dead, and some kind soul had pulled their spankin' new Pathfinder up to give them a jump when something went terribly awry. not sure how it started, but the beat ass car (circa 1992, oldsmobile or buick) was torched all to hell and the pathfinder was about 30% burnt like yo mammy's biscuits. i'm sure the contacts touched, created a big spark and ignited something in the engine. well, that, or someone rubbed sticks together dangerously fast.

lesson: don't park next to or help jump old beat ass cars in the target parking lot -- or rub sticks together dangerously fast.

Congratulations Carrie! I want you to know that I think you're a terrific American Idol. I mean that with all my heart. Since the beginning, I was confident you would win. "Bo knows?" Yeah ... Bo knows defeat!

But as you know, as a loyal reader to my journal, you are not my favorite AI. Kelly is my first love. So, before you get any ideas, you should know that she and I are a thing. That said, I feel you should know that you are first on the waiting list. Yes, that's right! First! You're first again! You are a winner. Don't forget it.

And don't forget that if things don't work about between me and Kelly, you'll be the FIRST to know. First again. Wow. You are the best.

Oh, and hey, don't be such a lurker. I know you read my journal, reply once in a while.

I just received a "foot consultation" from a chiropractor.

( That's quacktastic! )

back in the days when the internet had just started to spread its ubiquitous wings (like 1998-99), i put up a personal ad. when i told my friend i did that, he couldn't believe it. our convo:

benji: don't you know that there's nothing but fat, ugly, desperate losers on sites like that?
louie: well, I'M on there
benji: exactly!

so yeah, i opened myself up for that last part, but the truth was, there WERE lots of hopeless, anti-social uglies on the site, but there were also a lot of people like me: curious.

what was also great was that whenever i found someone reasonably attractive, the girl was automatically a fake -- which similarly was frequently true, but not always.

anyway, <lj user="samantha2448"> just reminded me of all this and i laughed because my friend benji now does the majority of his dating through match.com.

also, back when i met stal in florida, i told everyone that i was staying with that i was meeting my internet friend. they wouldn't believe. not for anything. i didn't bother fighting them. i find it so funny that so many people in the world have no idea just how actively people are making friends through the internet. obvlivious!

btw ... happy birthday sarahahahahaaa ... (sorry didn't say it yesterday ... my new job doesn't let me LJ like i used to).

If I were the Virgin Mary and I had the supernatural ability to reveal my spiritual existence wherever I wanted, I would undoubtedly choose a nasty ass stain on an urban underpass.

The Virgin Mary revealed.

i've been looking to fill the last room in my house and i got this email from an address and name i don't recognize ...

I said:
"You sound like a total party animal dude, and with ur brother it's gonna be mardi gras everyday in the house, I like that I also love the lan that's phat, and the rent is sweet, but the location kinda sucks! Hey I might come take a look at the house maybe if the bedroom's nice I'll take it! N u guys can serve me some tequilla! Let me know when someone will be around i wanna check it out.
Mona"

Date:	2005-03-31 12:26
Subject:	anybody thinking what i'm thinking?
Security:	Public
Mood:	mischievous

Vegetarian Potluck

why is it so damn tempting to want to swing by there and drop off something with a bunch of secretly included bacon?

( mmmmm )

damn. i don't know if you any of you watch wheel (of fortune), but if you do, you know that the bonus round is over at like 6:51 CST. the last segment of the show is always stupid pat/vanna talk-to-the-audience time. well, last night after wheel was over (i.e. the bonus round), i fell asleep.

( sleep is a penalty )

new icon ... inspired by a recent post: