Last month on the 11th of September, I posted a hilarious commercial entitled, "Dokken vs. Chicken" in my entry, "Don.". Along with that commercial I wrote a bit about the rebirth of a celebration in January called "Dokken Day". I was confident that this festival of 80's Metal would rise from the dead like fiery, flaming phoenix carrying a double-necked Gibson Flying-V guitar in it's talons.
Well, my friends...it has.
Dokken Day 2010 is in the works. There is a place. There is a time. There is a drink menu. There are activities. And there is music.
Listen up. Dokken Day is officially held on January 27-the same day that Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley gave the 80's Metal band the key to the city back in 1988. Unfortunately, that falls on a Wednesday, so we're going to have it the Saturday before (pending). Location: Foster's house, Springbilly, MO.
There'll be full kegs of cheap beer, Jack Daniels, Boone's Farm, an array of wine coolers including Bartles & Jaymes and Seagram's, Amaretto Sour's...all being consumed while playing Speed Quarters, Indian, Asshole, Chandeleir's, and Do It.
Activities will include drinking, rocking out, hot tubbing, RockBand/Guitar Hero, and lots of high-fives.
Nothing but 80's Metal will be played. And everyone will dress up like an 80's Metal Rocker.
My wife and I are flying all the way from Denver to Springfield to attend this Celebration of Rock. I plan on vomiting, dislocating my knee due to excessive heavy metal kicks, losing my voice, planning to start up a metal band with my buddies while in a drunken stuper, hitting my head on something hard while demonstrating the proper way to "bang your head", pulling my groin, losing conciousness during a keg stand, spitting beer on someone inside Foster's house, my body completely rejecting a SoCo shot, and spraying beer out my nose in the middle of a beer bong.
It will be phenomenal.
If you are lucky enough to attend this party, I assure you, it will be the 2nd best time you'll have all year, maybe the first. Could it overtake St. Pat's???
If you're cool, I'll see you there.
.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Warm and Fuzzy
There aren't too many things that give me warm fuzzies.
You know, warm fuzzies. When a smell, a sound, an image, a feeling, a taste, or a memory gives your body that short, but satisfying shutter. Sometimes your closed eyes kind of role up into your head, there is usually a deep breath that accompanies it, and there is always a smile included. Yea, I guess it is somewhat orgasmic.
For me, it normally happens when something triggers a memory. A good memory. I don't get warm fuzzies when I remember shitty times. When I recall the tsunami disaster, I don't get all happy and reminiscent. I get warm fuzzies when I hear the first three notes of "Highway To Hell", like I did just a second ago. Not because it's good song (which it most certainly is), but because it takes me back to driving to the lake cabin in Vinnie's 64, The Tank O' Love.
The reason that's a special memory is, well...it was the place we could go and do whatever the fuck we wanted to do. It was like having your own place, but you were 17. We drank whatever we could get...we drank it all and we drank it fast. We smoked marijuana on the porch (for medical reasons only) and listened to AC/DC, debating over who was better, Bon or Brian.
And The Tank was our means of transportation when visiting the cabin. She was an original, red, 4-door 1964 Chevy Impala. She was beautiful. And she and the cabin both represented freedom to us.
Looking back on that time, I guess "Highway to Hell" was our unofficial anthem. It too, screamed freedom.
The cool thing about the warm fuzzy is, that when you get one, for a split second it takes you back to that exact moment. It's hard to absorb it because it happens so fast. But for one nanosecond, you are experiencing the same passion, elation, love, or excitement that particular memory triggered.
.
You know, warm fuzzies. When a smell, a sound, an image, a feeling, a taste, or a memory gives your body that short, but satisfying shutter. Sometimes your closed eyes kind of role up into your head, there is usually a deep breath that accompanies it, and there is always a smile included. Yea, I guess it is somewhat orgasmic.
For me, it normally happens when something triggers a memory. A good memory. I don't get warm fuzzies when I remember shitty times. When I recall the tsunami disaster, I don't get all happy and reminiscent. I get warm fuzzies when I hear the first three notes of "Highway To Hell", like I did just a second ago. Not because it's good song (which it most certainly is), but because it takes me back to driving to the lake cabin in Vinnie's 64, The Tank O' Love.
The reason that's a special memory is, well...it was the place we could go and do whatever the fuck we wanted to do. It was like having your own place, but you were 17. We drank whatever we could get...we drank it all and we drank it fast. We smoked marijuana on the porch (for medical reasons only) and listened to AC/DC, debating over who was better, Bon or Brian.
And The Tank was our means of transportation when visiting the cabin. She was an original, red, 4-door 1964 Chevy Impala. She was beautiful. And she and the cabin both represented freedom to us.
Looking back on that time, I guess "Highway to Hell" was our unofficial anthem. It too, screamed freedom.
The cool thing about the warm fuzzy is, that when you get one, for a split second it takes you back to that exact moment. It's hard to absorb it because it happens so fast. But for one nanosecond, you are experiencing the same passion, elation, love, or excitement that particular memory triggered.
.
Monday, October 19, 2009
jump.
My brain has been going a million miles an hour lately. A million.
I've got so many things going on in my head, it's hard to sort them all out and get them taken care of.
I think what's triggering the coagulation of thoughts...what the nucleus is...is the thought of making not only a good living, but an exciting living.
Yes, my fun career choice of being in the outdoor industry is starting to lose its luster. Having to handle different types of personalities from different types of people on a constant basis is chipping away at my brain and at my soul.
In some way, shape or form, for the last 16 years I have had to deal with people in a sales or service format...with the exception of working in a steel factory for two years, blue collar style. When you are in sales, or in my case, retail, anyone can walk through those doors. It's a public place. Crazy people, pretentious people, hateful people, socially inept people, and brainless people. But also delightful people, friendly people, courteous people, and likable people. It's the former batch that chips away at me. It's the people who have no business going out in public at all. The people with no common sense, no tact, no manners, and no reason to like them or want to assist them. Not a day goes by that I don't run into at least one of these worthless beings. Except for when I have a day off.
And I've heard the pep talks, the "it's not as bad as you're letting it be, Matt" talks. I've definitely looked into this rather deeply, thinking that it might be me...that I might be letting little things get to me. But it's not me, it's them.
Back when I started sales, I was young and didn't care about assholes or morons. They made me laugh and were easy to shrug off. But part of it was because I really didn't take my job that seriously either. I was young, people were idiots, and I said what I wanted to them or laughed at them and that was it. But I'm much older now. I take offense to people that have no idea how to act in public or don't know how to treat another person. It no longer is easy to laugh at on a regular basis...because it happens so often. And also, it is no longer my job to put up with douche bags, it's my career choice. That chips away at me as well.
So, what to do? What to do?
I think when you get to a point like this in your life, you have to do some soul searching. You have to ask yourself a lot of very important questions. And if those answers do not relate to where you are currently in your life, you have to then make a very important decision. You may have to jump. Not "suicide" jump, "Van Halen" jump. If you think it's time for a change, you are going to have to plan things out the best you can...and then jump. It's scary as hell. I've done it a couple times. But the older you get, the more difficult it gets. So, with each jump, each consisting of different degrees of difficulty within themselves, they still become progressively harder. Mainly because over the years, you accumulate things like stability, family, roots, and each one of these "grown up" things is affected by bold moves.
It can be tricky, too. Because the older you get, the more value you have...to a point. Sure, at age 40 you probably have a hell of a resume. Lots of experience. But to a potential employer, you are going to cost them more money than a fresh out-of-school applicant with unlimited potential and service. It's like a baseball player's career lifeline. And also, if you are going to do a 180 in the real world, there's a good chance you are going to have to educate yourself. Going back to school at age 30 or 40 can't be a picnic. And then finding a job afterwards? Kudos to those that can pull it off.
Then there's starting your own business. That appeals to me. My beef with my current situation has to do with corporate guidelines, and being "on" constantly...whether it be with the customer or my corporate superiors. With your own gig, some of that can be eliminated depending on what the new gig is. But starting your own business is no cake walk either. Once again, you really have to educate yourself. But I've got more drive to go that direction than to start completely over with school, followed by fresh job hunting.
I'm extremely entrepreneurial minded. I am constantly thinking of ways that I can make that aforementioned exciting living. Sometimes they're realistic ways, other times not. And I have no doubt that I could form a successful business, as long as I had someone to help out with the whole money part of it.
So, with all the above said, that's kind of where I'm at right now. I may stay right where I'm at, or I may decide to jump one of these days. I'm just trying to answer those important questions right now. I'm weighing certain things, thinking about opportunity and consequence, and including "grown up" things in those thoughts.
I'm glad I wrote this down, because I think that it would be a lot healthier, and more fun to shrug people off a little more. That's what they deserve, and I don't deserve high blood pressure just because they don't know how to act. So if you plan on coming into my store, don't be stupid, because you're gonna get laughed at and made fun of from now on. You deserve it.
.
.
I've got so many things going on in my head, it's hard to sort them all out and get them taken care of.
I think what's triggering the coagulation of thoughts...what the nucleus is...is the thought of making not only a good living, but an exciting living.
Yes, my fun career choice of being in the outdoor industry is starting to lose its luster. Having to handle different types of personalities from different types of people on a constant basis is chipping away at my brain and at my soul.
In some way, shape or form, for the last 16 years I have had to deal with people in a sales or service format...with the exception of working in a steel factory for two years, blue collar style. When you are in sales, or in my case, retail, anyone can walk through those doors. It's a public place. Crazy people, pretentious people, hateful people, socially inept people, and brainless people. But also delightful people, friendly people, courteous people, and likable people. It's the former batch that chips away at me. It's the people who have no business going out in public at all. The people with no common sense, no tact, no manners, and no reason to like them or want to assist them. Not a day goes by that I don't run into at least one of these worthless beings. Except for when I have a day off.
And I've heard the pep talks, the "it's not as bad as you're letting it be, Matt" talks. I've definitely looked into this rather deeply, thinking that it might be me...that I might be letting little things get to me. But it's not me, it's them.
Back when I started sales, I was young and didn't care about assholes or morons. They made me laugh and were easy to shrug off. But part of it was because I really didn't take my job that seriously either. I was young, people were idiots, and I said what I wanted to them or laughed at them and that was it. But I'm much older now. I take offense to people that have no idea how to act in public or don't know how to treat another person. It no longer is easy to laugh at on a regular basis...because it happens so often. And also, it is no longer my job to put up with douche bags, it's my career choice. That chips away at me as well.
So, what to do? What to do?
I think when you get to a point like this in your life, you have to do some soul searching. You have to ask yourself a lot of very important questions. And if those answers do not relate to where you are currently in your life, you have to then make a very important decision. You may have to jump. Not "suicide" jump, "Van Halen" jump. If you think it's time for a change, you are going to have to plan things out the best you can...and then jump. It's scary as hell. I've done it a couple times. But the older you get, the more difficult it gets. So, with each jump, each consisting of different degrees of difficulty within themselves, they still become progressively harder. Mainly because over the years, you accumulate things like stability, family, roots, and each one of these "grown up" things is affected by bold moves.
It can be tricky, too. Because the older you get, the more value you have...to a point. Sure, at age 40 you probably have a hell of a resume. Lots of experience. But to a potential employer, you are going to cost them more money than a fresh out-of-school applicant with unlimited potential and service. It's like a baseball player's career lifeline. And also, if you are going to do a 180 in the real world, there's a good chance you are going to have to educate yourself. Going back to school at age 30 or 40 can't be a picnic. And then finding a job afterwards? Kudos to those that can pull it off.
Then there's starting your own business. That appeals to me. My beef with my current situation has to do with corporate guidelines, and being "on" constantly...whether it be with the customer or my corporate superiors. With your own gig, some of that can be eliminated depending on what the new gig is. But starting your own business is no cake walk either. Once again, you really have to educate yourself. But I've got more drive to go that direction than to start completely over with school, followed by fresh job hunting.
I'm extremely entrepreneurial minded. I am constantly thinking of ways that I can make that aforementioned exciting living. Sometimes they're realistic ways, other times not. And I have no doubt that I could form a successful business, as long as I had someone to help out with the whole money part of it.
So, with all the above said, that's kind of where I'm at right now. I may stay right where I'm at, or I may decide to jump one of these days. I'm just trying to answer those important questions right now. I'm weighing certain things, thinking about opportunity and consequence, and including "grown up" things in those thoughts.
I'm glad I wrote this down, because I think that it would be a lot healthier, and more fun to shrug people off a little more. That's what they deserve, and I don't deserve high blood pressure just because they don't know how to act. So if you plan on coming into my store, don't be stupid, because you're gonna get laughed at and made fun of from now on. You deserve it.
.
.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Buzzes and Takes
On my way home from work today (my commute is when I do most of my thinking) I started thinking about subtle differences in certain things close to my heart.
Buzzes and takes.
I'm not sure why these two things came up in the ole' bean side by side, because they really have nothing to do with each other...at least not for me. They're just things I dig.
Buzzes, that being how drinking alcohol makes you feel after having a bit. And takes, which is how it feels and looks when certain fish bite what you've cast to them.
Buzzes entered my mind because I had several different kinds while my good friend Vincent visited me last week. There were buzzes created by beer, Scotch, vodka, and wine...all being different animals.
The beer buzz is the sloppy buzz. It isn't a particularly comfortable buzz, due to the amount it takes to fill you up. But given a baseball game Bud or Coors, an after-river Micro, or a snowy day Porter, I'll take a beer buzz anytime. The hangovers can be miserable, though. Long, arduous, and flu-like. It's a fair trade off.
Vodka is an "all of a sudden buzz". I can drink seemingly gallons of vodka without feeling so much as a warm fuzzy (probably not a good thing), and then without warning, it all catches up with me at once ("That's called liver failure, Matt.") I choose to mix my vodka with tonic water, so they are very easy for me to drink quickly. This is most likely part of the reason this happens to me. Hangovers are not as "gross" feeling as beer hangovers, but can be just as severe due to the amount that one can drink in such a short time.
Scotch is delicious. But I rarely get into it enough at one sitting to produce a hangover. The buzzes though...sublime. Not saying I haven't had my fair share of over indulgences in the ways of Scotch, though. Just ask Preacher Tom and Jeffrey. If you happen to put a noticeable dent in a nice bottle of Scotch with a good friend, you will both be immobile the next morning.
While wine is not my first beverage of choice generally, I prefer their buzzes to just about anything. They tend to be potent, clean, sharp, and not "gross". There is really no "to excess" feeling and it does not fill you up. The way wine makes me feel is different than any other drink that I can think of. And I like it.
Shortly after my pondering buzzes, I quickly transitioned to takes. I actully think about that quite a bit. It's the best part about fishing (other than the buzz you aquire afterwards).
Each method, each fish, and each body of water produces a different take. Whether it's a visual take or all feeling.
As soon as a bluegill bites my lure, I know it's a bluegill. It "tap, tap, taps", and after he takes it, he swims side to side, gyrating. Yes, gyrating.
A crappie take is a subtle take that is generally one, maybe two blunt pops, and then you feel an inhalation. That's when you set your hook.
The fish that I get the majority of my takes on nowadays is the trout. I fly fish for them, so it's usually a visual take. With the dry fly, the take can be a ridiculously gentle, slow motion sip, or it can be a voracious attack. Sometimes the trout will nose the fly and decide not to take it at all.
While nymphing pocket water, more times than not you will not feel or see any sort of take. You just have a feeling that he's there. And he usually is.
Other notable trout takes generally happen while stripping a streamer. One, two, or three slams and that's when your 4x tippet breaks.
I love fishing. And I love drinking. That's why I appreciate the intricate details of both.
Goodnight fishing. Goodnight drinking.
.
Buzzes and takes.
I'm not sure why these two things came up in the ole' bean side by side, because they really have nothing to do with each other...at least not for me. They're just things I dig.
Buzzes, that being how drinking alcohol makes you feel after having a bit. And takes, which is how it feels and looks when certain fish bite what you've cast to them.
Buzzes entered my mind because I had several different kinds while my good friend Vincent visited me last week. There were buzzes created by beer, Scotch, vodka, and wine...all being different animals.
The beer buzz is the sloppy buzz. It isn't a particularly comfortable buzz, due to the amount it takes to fill you up. But given a baseball game Bud or Coors, an after-river Micro, or a snowy day Porter, I'll take a beer buzz anytime. The hangovers can be miserable, though. Long, arduous, and flu-like. It's a fair trade off.
Vodka is an "all of a sudden buzz". I can drink seemingly gallons of vodka without feeling so much as a warm fuzzy (probably not a good thing), and then without warning, it all catches up with me at once ("That's called liver failure, Matt.") I choose to mix my vodka with tonic water, so they are very easy for me to drink quickly. This is most likely part of the reason this happens to me. Hangovers are not as "gross" feeling as beer hangovers, but can be just as severe due to the amount that one can drink in such a short time.
Scotch is delicious. But I rarely get into it enough at one sitting to produce a hangover. The buzzes though...sublime. Not saying I haven't had my fair share of over indulgences in the ways of Scotch, though. Just ask Preacher Tom and Jeffrey. If you happen to put a noticeable dent in a nice bottle of Scotch with a good friend, you will both be immobile the next morning.
While wine is not my first beverage of choice generally, I prefer their buzzes to just about anything. They tend to be potent, clean, sharp, and not "gross". There is really no "to excess" feeling and it does not fill you up. The way wine makes me feel is different than any other drink that I can think of. And I like it.
Shortly after my pondering buzzes, I quickly transitioned to takes. I actully think about that quite a bit. It's the best part about fishing (other than the buzz you aquire afterwards).
Each method, each fish, and each body of water produces a different take. Whether it's a visual take or all feeling.
As soon as a bluegill bites my lure, I know it's a bluegill. It "tap, tap, taps", and after he takes it, he swims side to side, gyrating. Yes, gyrating.
A crappie take is a subtle take that is generally one, maybe two blunt pops, and then you feel an inhalation. That's when you set your hook.
The fish that I get the majority of my takes on nowadays is the trout. I fly fish for them, so it's usually a visual take. With the dry fly, the take can be a ridiculously gentle, slow motion sip, or it can be a voracious attack. Sometimes the trout will nose the fly and decide not to take it at all.
While nymphing pocket water, more times than not you will not feel or see any sort of take. You just have a feeling that he's there. And he usually is.
Other notable trout takes generally happen while stripping a streamer. One, two, or three slams and that's when your 4x tippet breaks.
I love fishing. And I love drinking. That's why I appreciate the intricate details of both.
Goodnight fishing. Goodnight drinking.
.
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