theDeLoach's Xanga

Lent

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:35:59 GMT

Happy fat Tuesday xanga. Sorry its been a while, I've been really busy with work stuff. Since we last talked I got a new job, ran a half marathon, turned 30, and helped build a vegetable garden.

Today, I decide what I'm giving up for Lent. My brainstorming session is as follows:

black shirts (some places I go require a shirt)
red shoes (one must have a little color)
talking about cars (like Rhett not talking Simpsons)
messy hair (not sure it will do anything else after 10 years)
Rozie (divorce is frowned upon more than not observing Lent)
church (ah ha, tricked you Pope! But, no)
xanga (probably won't do that anyway)
Taco Bell (that hurts, we'll leave that in)
cheese (bonus religious points since I live in the TexMex capital of the world)

Let a neutral party choose my fate, and the winner is.....

CHEESE

Goodbye pizza, so long turkey melt, see you soon enchilada, catch you later pastrami ruben. For Easter lunch I will drive up Hebron stopping to eat all of you. Or is it the day after Easter? Someone check on that.

The Warmest Argument

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:39:30 GMT

In the spirit of the season, I'd like to say a few words about advertising.

Most of it is crap done by crappy people that don't care about you or the product they sell. At its core, advertising is an argument being made to you on behalf of a product. "This is why you should buy this thing." It's often an argument mad with dirty tactics. They appeal to your brain, your heart, your funny bone... even you unmentionables.

But from time to time, an argument is made in good faith. These ads don't confuse you, they help you understand. Even if you don't' buy what they are selling, you respect people who do. And you have respect for the company that makes the product. Not because they make great things, but because they have respected you first.

Lovely Day

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:18:14 GMT

I've had this song stuck in my head all day:

Run Pretty

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:47:10 GMT

A few months back I posted a rant on how ugly good running shoes are. Sure the fancy Nike Lunar Runners are way cool, but all the run snobs will scoff at you overpaying for marketing hype over substance. I'm my own man, but I still fear scoffing.

Today I discovered a compromise. A little company called Newton Running makes a shoe run-geeks love... and it actually looks really good. Now, to be fair, the shoe typically comes in a color scheme that involves 3 different neon colors (how could I make that up), but there is a version that is plain-jane red and grey. It comes in an eco-friendly recycled box as well.

There is one draw back .... 175 drawbacks, honestly. So you can have a great pair of running shoes that feel great, look great, hug the earth, and will win acceptance with the running aristocracy. It just costs twice as much.

The Countdown Begins

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:36:47 GMT

In 60 hours, I'll be 30 years old.

The vast majority of breakthroughs in math and science are made by people in their 20s. a 30 year old professional athlete has a tough time getting a long term contract. Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Biggy Smalls, Jimmi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, James Dean... all produced greatness and were dead before their 30th birthday.

Statistically speaking, I'll live well past 30. And in all that time, I'll probably never do anything your grandchildren will have heard of. It wasn't particularly a goal of mine, I'd just like to have the option.

On the plus side, I think I've found the perfect pair of shoes to compliment my dress casual wardrobe.

Don't worry, I'm not going to go all fight club on you or anything. I'm just pissed right now.

New Years Eve with the Flaming Lips

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:25:19 GMT

For Oklahoma kids that are into bands and being weird, The Flaming Lips are a dream come true. Despite international success, these lovable psychedelic rockers have been together for 20 years always staying true to their state and hometown fans.

For the past 2 years, the Oklahoma City Arts Council has hosted a new years eve party downtown headlined by their local heroes. My buddy Blake grew up in OKC and got us floor tickets to the party. The show is way more like a celebration than a concert.

They played songs, but most of them drone on for 10 minutes or so while band members showered the crowd with confetti guns and giant balloons. every fith person in the bouncing crowd in in some sort of costume that look crazy blanketed in fog, laser beams, strobe lights and an endless rain of orange ticker tape. At the New Year countdown, they dropped so many three-foot-wide balloons on the crowd, we were covered for 15 minutes unable to see the stage.

One thing from the photos has to be pointed out. The big round thing above the stage is a UFO covered in lights. To start the show, it drops down and the lead guy comes out of the top in a huge inflated plastic ball. he gets on all fours and rolls out into the crowd... and eventually right over my head. At the end of the show while we are covered in balloons, the UFO comes back down to pick up the band for their exit. What a show.

Full of Joy and Phlegm

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:43:21 GMT

My parents showed up a week ago for a 2 day visit bringing gifts, warm family moments, feelings of teenage rebellion, and a wicked respiratory infection. The 'rents were just getting better when they arrived and by the time they left I was in full teeth-numbing, sinus-infected hell. In spite of it all, the holiday visits were some of the best in a long time ... and I don't think it was just because I was loaded on Musinex, DayQuil and Vitamin C cocktails.

This morning I'm working from home to slow the outbreak. I'd say I'm breathing at about 80% capacity and my creepy wheezing has quieted to an occasional whisper. Another few days of TLC and I'll be ready to face 2009 at full strength.

A guy shot random people on the highway!!!

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:39:28 GMT

During rush hour yesterday, some guy pulled out a gun a shot at 4 random drivers on the highway 5 miles from my house. He killed 2 of the drivers and shattered the windows of the others. One guy was on his way to DFW Airport flying home to see his family for Christmas.

My stances on guns has officially changed from annoyed and uneasy, to hatred.

Yen and Yang Weather

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:38:00 GMT

So after a week of big coats, school closings and dragging plants indoors... I'm back to wearing T-shirts.

A lot of people with nothing to talk about will say things like "can you believe this weather?" They'll often be negative too. Well, I'm not one of those folks. I LOVE the swings our weather takes. I like a spooky, icy, foggy days. But I don't like 3 months of that. And frankly, I couldn't handle more than a week straight of sunny crisp perfect weather. When things change so quickly and so drastically, it really sharpens your attention. You know that great feeling when its icy cold outside and you come home, dry off, and wrap up in a blanket you just took out of the dryer?

That's what today is.

Sub Zero

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:00:36 GMT

The batteries on our thermostat control died. On a night like last night, that means by morning, the fridge was basically keeping the food warm! Lucky for us, we have a big warm dog that loves laying under the covers and keeping feet warm. We put new batteries in but it hasn't come back on yet. Any suggestions on a make shift fireplace?