The Griffin

My roommates took me to an awesome bar last night. The place? The Griffin in Atwater Village. On the outside, it may not seem like much other than holy crap they have a giant GRIFFIN!

The inside looks like Harry Potter's retirement party. On a Friday night, the place is full of 20-somethings and the room is only lit by candlelight. The middle of the room has a fireplace and the inside looks medieval as it is all stone and arches. The drinks are great and so are the people. Highly recommened!

Habits, Halloween & Hunter

So, I don't know why, but I just seem more organized since I've moved out here. My room is neat. My desk isn't cluttered. I don't have cups of water everywhere. My laundry pile isn't huge. I go to the gym regularly. I read and play guitar more. I write again.

Maybe because I have so little free time, I just utilize my time better and I have less time to be disorganized and messy.

Right now I'm just figuring out what I want to dress up as for Halloween as I do have a party coming up.

For some reason Ichabod Crane came to my head today. I'm thinking of going with a more classical Halloween theme. I like costumes that are simple and I especially like costumes that do not require face paint or props. I don't like masks or things that cover my face either. Basically, I like something I can be comfortable in all night. I'll figure it out, I'm sure.

Currently, I'm reading Fear and Loathing in America by Hunter S. Thompson. It's his second volume of letters and essays. Man, I wish journalism was still like that. All those wild and crazy adventures on someone else's dime. I want to travel all over and write crazy things. You'd probably have to figure out a source of income as you travel, though. I read the other day about a guy who is trying 50 jobs in 50 weeks. I don't remember all the details.

If you were confined to just the United States, though...

Cheap Motel ( I dunno $50/day?): 50x365 = $18,250
Gas (Considering the crazy travel per week): 150x52=$7,800
Food: 100*52= $5,200
Entertainment: 60*52= $3,120

Total money to freeload and travel for a whole year (excluding taxes and emergency funds): $34,370.

So probably you need more like $45K-60K to "comfortably" do a Hunter S. Thompson for a whole year. Unless you save up and do not plan to work as you travel, then you don't need to worry about taxes. I think? Otherwise, plan like crazy.

Beware of the Goonch

Just in time for Halloween, a man-eating catfish.

Speaking of fishy things, I have a message for a certain hookah waitress: I am a generous tipper. I frequently tip 20% or more and I am almost always polite and patient since I know how busy it can get in a restaurant.

However, if you practically yell at my table for only ordering hookah and no drinks, then, after I ask for the check, take 30 minutes to bring it and upon your arrival, slam it on the table and say, "Oh, do you want your check?" then take another 20 minutes to pick it up and charge us, thus making me unable to attend my friend's performance downtown, I will not be happy.

For the first time in my life, I told my friend who picked up the tab this time to put "zero" on the tip line...

and he did.

Next time, be a little nicer to your hookah patrons. Otherwise, the hard-earned cash you seek--




could go up in smoke.

Economicexpialidocius

I do not have any control over the economy other than when I act like a good American and buy gas or Apple products. So, I don't really worry about it and, no, this is not another great depression. According to the analysts that I have had to watch all day on CNN, we are in the same place we were in 2003. I don't remember a Black Friday then, but of course, I was in high school then and did dumb stuff like sing in a progressive metal band called Panda Mona. So, maybe I missed it.

Requiem for a Dinosaur

Dear Denver the Last Dinosaur,

You're supposedly my friend and a whole lot more...









but sometimes I wonder.

What's the Frequency, Kenneth?

You know, some days you start the morning in just the right way and it can totally make you forget that it's Monday and you have to go to work.

Today was one of those days. I woke up on time. I took my time. I didn't rush. Then, when I turned on the car, REM's "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" came on. I felt awesome.

At work, I finished all the things I needed to do as well as the things I wanted to do. I flew the coop early while the sun was out, made time for a hair cut and then fixed some chicken and mashed potatoes. Afterward, I caught up with the latest episode of "Dexter."

It's only 8:30 pm and I have time to read, play guitar and even write a short story on my patio.

So, I think I'll go do that. :-)