800 in line, 790 disappointed*

The PlayStation 3 will be released upon us poor Americans in about 30 minutes. A couple of folks got in line in San Francisco to get their system. $500 or $600 (no game included) later for the first few and the rest will go home without the prize.

Is it worth it? The system I’m getting is $250, with a game, and they made enough of the things that I don’t have to wait in line for more than an hour (and that hour will be mostly meet and greet/nerd observation time and buying an extra controller). Is that worth it?

Back to the Average Day

I’m back and am looking forward to posting more often once again.  However, I think it’s odd that the most hit post in the last week is about elephant sex (as viewed by George Bush, no less).  Are there just sick people in the world?

I’m not sure what to expect today as I return to the daily routine of my life.  Most folks seem to have reacted to my grandma dying as though I’m struggling in much the same way they did when their grandmother (or similar family member) died.  I don’t fault anyone for this, projection is a natural tendency.  I do it all the time, in fact.

But it makes for awkward times and a bit of guilt to battle down.  One the one hand, I find myself helping the other person with their lingering grief more often than dealing with whatever exists of my own.  On the other hand, I feel a slight pang of guilt for not feeling as they do about the situation.

The guilt is entirely irrational and easily handled at this stage in my life.  I’ve learned enough about myself to know how to manage my emotions a bit better and in a constructive fashion.  The weirdness of consoling others, though, is tougher to handle.  It’s been just over a week since she left us.  I don’t think I’ve had much of a chance to reflect on what that means to me.

I did a little last night.  We buried my grandmother yesterday morning.  Before that, I had opportunity to see her in the casket (the graveside service was closed casket).  I took the opportunity and vary between regret and gladness for doing so.  I spent a lot of time last night talking to no one and everyone as I fell asleep about my thoughts from those brief moments that had etched themselves below the surface of my mind.  About the duality of peace on her face and the lack of peace.  The mysterious, silent, unmoving sleep.  The way she was made to look alive, yet not.

It’s a funny thing.  I know she wasn’t there.  But so much effort was put into making it seem like she was there, the line between the two views has blurred.  She was there, because we were there.  At the same time, she wasn’t there because she is somewhere else now.

Reunion

My ten year high school reunion is coming up in a couple of weeks.  I’ve been trolling MySpace to find classmates and do a little reconnecting before the party.  I figure I can go in cold or I can go in having talked to some folks.  I’m going with talking to folks, if I can.  I forgot one thing, though.

I go by Robert now.  But before I went to college, I was known as Robbie.  Folks I went to high school with only know me as Robbie.  I don’t think of myself as a Robbie and most of my friends probably don’t either.  It just doesn’t fit my personality.  But I’ll be going to a place where I’m likely to be called nothing but Robbie for a few hours.

That’ll be weird.

Laundry Sympathy

Sabrina has posted something that every person who thinks that playing in the mud is a good idea should read.
Remember the people who clean your clothes (which may very well be yourself)!

The Thing I Never Thought I’d Do

For the last two nights, my neighbors have been playing music late at night and rather loudly. Loudly enough that my knocking on their door or on the shared wall is unheard (or ignored).

Last night, they went until at least 3:00 a.m. with me sleeping only a few minutes until then.

Today, I stopped by the apartment manager to let them know about it. They’ll be doing whatever they do, probably anonymously.

While I’m fairly confident this will work, at least for a while, I’m saddened and see it as a defeat. I don’t know details, but I think my neighbors are having a hard time in life right now. The only reasons I didn’t call the police were because I wanted to go through the management first and I wouldn’t have wished a visit from a police office on anyone who is having a hard time in life to begin (even more so when it could be resolved without the police).

That said, it’s also a victory. I gave my neighbors their due diligence in trying to get them to quiet down last night. It didn’t work. The simplest next step is the one I took and it should have a positive effect on the situation, though perhaps not a positive effect on neighbor relations.

I’m looking forward to the vastly increased potential of a good night’s sleep tonight. We’ll see what happens next, though.

April Baby

I just got this in an email forward about what kind of person you should be based on the month you were born. Not something I usually do, but some of this should make the folks who know me well laugh. It would also be fun to know how many people think this is true or not.

April
Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous. Stubborn. Very talkative. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal. Does work well with others. Very confidant. Sensitive. Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Able to cheer everyone up and/or make them laugh. Able to motivate oneself and others. Understanding. Fun to be around. Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality. Secretive. Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure and traveling. Systematic. Hot but has brains.

Fear Mongering Commentary

Rex Hammond has some good words about the fear mongering going on today with the terrorism and security threats going on.

Who needs terrorists causing terror when we have the evening news?

Found via Scripting News.

Redlands Growth

This are moving a little too fast for my taste in the development of Redlands.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the new shops and places to eat. But I wonder what will happen to State Street now if such places arrived. The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe is a jewel. State Street Deli offers a better sandwich than any place I know. The Frugal Frigate has always been able to get the books I want (though I admit to ordering on Amazon as well). Caprice Cafe, Betty’s Burgers, The Farm, all of these are run by our friends and families. Some aren’t the quality of atmosphere of a PF Chang’s, but that’s why I like to go there. It’s local and feels like home without being pretentious and has their own style of high class and upper crust without needing a brand name to make it happen.

I’ll welcome new places to shop and get goods. The different restaurants will also add some options for dining and I won’t deny that they’ll bring business our way. But I’ll think them not worth the cost if the local, family-owned places we have now are forced to close thanks to their presence. If we could take this a bit slower, but not so slow as to do nothing, and make sure the local business won’t suffer more of a hit than can be expected, I’ll be happier about new places opening.

Men’s Bathroom Politics

If you’ve ever been a man, there are some unspoken social rules when it comes to being in a public restroom.  I, for one, think it’s a poor place to have a pickup meeting (I’m kind of busy, you know?) while others seem to think the men’s restroom is the best place to discuss the big project.  Most men seem to agree that there is a degree of uncomfortableness being in the restroom together by chance or otherwise.

jonsonblog has a great write up that is apparently true of the social structure of the men’s restroom running amok. I’ve never gone to such great lengths myself, but can easily see where any man could.

And…

…Wham!

Side note: I have no problems with Macs. In fact, I’ve considered purchasing a Mac at several points. But these commercials, as funny as they may be, are simply too smug and self-righteous for their own good.