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| Designing dungeons | |
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4.06.2008
11:48 AM | Link |
 The web was swamped recently with memorials to Gary Gygax, the creator of role-playing gaming as we know it today, and after reading my pal Barron's excellent post, I was inspired to add my own memories. So. here's my late tribute to childhood fun with Dungeons & Dragons, although for me it was all about an inspiration to create!I don't really remember how I first heard about D&D, but I remember getting the basic set while I was in 7th grade and marveling at how you could play a game with no board or pieces to move around! It finally dawned on me that role playing was just "pretending with rules", and I thought all the crazy math formulas used for battles were cool. Of course, I had a few sets of dice (I remember how you could ink the number using a fine pen or by rubbing them with a crayon), and even though everyone thought the 20-sided die was the coolest, I liked the simplicity of the 4-sided one. I think I started saving my allowance for the hardback Advanced Dungeons & Dragons books before I even played my first game, because they were full of fascinating character types and awesome illustrations! I read through the Monster Manual over and over, enjoying the gross creatures and imagining epic fights. I started collecting the small metal figures, too, and spent lots of afternoons painting them with toothpicks and learning wipe-off antiquing techniques from magazines. My geeky group of school friends became my playing group, since we were all into Lord of the Rings and D&D at the same time - it was just inevitable! My pals Scott, Chad, David, Galen (who had the best medieval-sounding name) and I would meet at the public library, where we could get a little private room to play in. I was almost always the Dungeon Master, since I liked being able to play all of the various non-player characters that my friends would interact with in the game. I was already an acting ham, so I didn't want to limit myself to just one character when I could be several at once! I also liked knowing the secrets that everyone else had yet to discover, and I thought the Dungeon Master's screen was so cool - it had fantasy paintings on one side for the players to look at, and tons of reference tables and formulas on the other side! I remember several really good games, and I also remember being a lenient Dungeon Master, since I didn't want my pals' characters to actually die since they had worked so hard on them. But by far my best D&D time was spent creating my own fantasy world for our games. You could buy tons of game modules that included all of the background material and maps for an adventure, but I wanted to make my own from scratch. So, first I made a few "mini-modules" for quick games, and later embarked on giant stories with hex maps and multi-level dungeons! Back before home computers, I actually owned a typewriter and did all my "serious" work on it, so I spent lots of time getting my modules to look just right, and even adding illustrations to the pages just like the pros. I used to draw a lot (although I barely doodle now), so I really enjoyed sketching castles and coloring maps, even if I had to draw hundreds of little symbols. My drawings also were a part of my own Monster Manual supplement, where I designed my own creatures with their crazy stats, and I tried to incorporate these into my custom modules. Truthfully, I enjoyed all this creative activity far more than playing the actual game, but I'm really glad I had a group of D&D friends to inspire this in me! When I was decluttering my college notes recently, I found most of my Dungeons & Dragons creations, so I scanned a few pages (only maps and parts of modules with drawings) for you to enjoy (and for me to remember forever!). Remember these are from the brain of a 7th grade geek!  View photos: Dungeons & Dragons Memories
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| A long time ago... | |
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5.26.2007
6:42 AM | Link |
 Yesterday was the official 30th anniversary of Star Wars! It's amazing to think that the original movie classic was released on May 25th, 1977, and like countless other 10 year olds (and every other age!), it's been a huge part of my life since then. So, I thought I would take a moment to share the beginnings of my Star Wars fandom.When I was in grade school, Dad used to surprise me often by coming home from work with a few new comic books for me, which I used to take to school and read at recess and share with my friends. One day he gave me the first issue of the classic Marvel Comics adaptation of the film, which came out before I had even seen a trailer in the theater. I didn't even know it was going to be a movie, but I loved the comic! One day at school someone told me it was going to be a movie, and I couldn't believe it! Soon after that, I found the novel adaptation and bought it (probably around April 1977), and read it every day until the movie was out. I think I only got about a third of the way through the book before seeing the movie, but I remember I had a clear idea in my head of how scary Darth Vader would be! I'm not sure of the date that I saw the movie for the first time - it wasn't opening day, but I didn't have to wait too long. My parents took me to see it at this giant domed theater, which made me anxious since the last movie I had seen there was Jaws, which gave me a million sleepless nights! It was a little scary just going to that theater again, but Star Wars overcame that previous traumatic movie experience by filling me with sheer wonder and excitement! I can vividly remember the opening theme and seeing the title blast into the distant star field, but my strongest memory is my first look at the "real" Darth Vader, when he boards the Tantive IV after the Stormtrooper gunfight. I can remember hearing his breathing for the first time, and when he marches towards the camera I remember focusing on the details on his costume and actually thinking to myself, "I'm going to see this over and over again!" Of course, all of my friends became fans around the same time, and we saw it again whenever we could. My pal Mark Kempton's dad would take us to see it practically anytime we asked, so I must have seen it at least 10 more times with him, and still more times with my other pals! I started collecting things right away (I think my first items were a wall calendar and the Kenner board game!), and soon I got The Story of Star Wars, which was a book and record set containing most of the dialogue of the movie (condensed into about an hour). I listened to that so many times that I quickly memorized the entire film, which has become one of my secret talents to this day. I'm so happy to have been a Star Wars kid! I think being the right age at the right time made my childhood even more magical and exciting, and 1977 will always stand out for me as one of the coolest years ever. So, I'll chime in with the millions of other blogs and thank George Lucas for making it all happen! I could go on and on about how my fandom has continued to evolve, but instead I'm going to celebrate today by watching Episode IV: A New Hope and building a LEGO Y-Wing fighter! |
| Remembering Stella | |
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3.06.2007
5:49 PM | Link |
 One of the best things about being a musician in Austin was knowing Stella Boes, and I'm sad to say she passed away today, after a lifetime of making sure everyone around her was having the best time possible. Stella was the "star" of the Carousel Lounge, and I've known her a long time since all of my bands have played at the Carousel: the Day Jobs, Stella (our band that was named for her), and the Greatest American Heroes. She always made a special effort to make sure she was working when our bands would play, and always welcomed us with big hugs and lots of warm conversation. As anyone who's been to the Carousel knows, Stella would always steal the show with her wild dancing, and during the break she would give her usual speech, making sure everyone knew to tip the band, and always ending with "God bless America! God bless Texas! God bless Canada where I'm from!", waving the approprate flags that she always had with her. She absolutely loved everyone and absolutely loved life, and the Carousel just won't be the same without her. Stella has become pretty famous over the years (she's been written about in several magazines, and even had a photo in National Geographic), but she was just being herself - someone who lived a life of music and joy. I'm proud to have known such a magnificent person!Labels: memories |
| My favorite professor | |
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9.09.2006
2:40 PM | Link |
 Besides studying computer science at college, I was also introduced to a whole new world that I had never acknowledged before, and now I couldn't live without. I think every college student has a certain professor that they will always remember, and for me that was Dr. James Yoch - my memories of classes with him are the absolute best of my entire college life.The core classes for freshmen required two semesters of English (Composition and Literature), but because of my high school grades, I was offered an honors English course. I jumped at the chance, because it was a "two for one" offer - by taking one semester of Honors English, you got credit for both non-honors semesters. My professor was Dr. Yoch, so I met him on practically the first day of college. His plans for the class were simple - we were going to write a ton of papers (practically one per week), but his motives were to expose us to arts and culture (one of our required textbooks was Exploration of the Arts, which seemed strange for an English course!). And so, one week he would say, "The symphony is performing Handel's Water Music this week - go see it and write a paper." The next week it would be an art exhibit, and then a play, and then an opera - he even had us go to see the OU polo team play! All of these were entirely new experiences for me, but since I had an assignment, I had to go. All of us in class were gently "forced" to learn about all of these new things, and it definitely changed me forever. After that class, I was yearning for more, and I had definitely developed an admiration for Dr. Yoch. So, I took as many classes as I could with him during my college career. His Shakespeare classes were fantastic (we always read the Penguin Classics editions, and I still have them all), once again because of his innovative teaching style. Besides a midterm and final exam, we only had one other assignment that he called an "invention". Basically we were free to do any project we wanted, about any aspect of Shakespeare that we had studied in class. There were practically no boundaries! Some students performed in class, some wrote traditional papers, and then there were weirdos like me. One semester I created a role-playing game called Romeo's Quest (with maps, cards, and everything) that explored what might have happened if Romeo had realized Juliet wasn't really dead. It was geekdom at it's best, but Dr. Yoch loved it. Another semester I wrote a song for each major character in The Merchant of Venice to explore their personalities through music - I recorded all of these using a synthesizer and my own singing, and it was a big hit, too! I was able to spend a little time with Dr. Yoch outside of class. When I was just beginning to write poetry, I gave him a book of several that I wrote to ask for his comments, and he was harsh but helpful. I visited him a time or two during his office hours, and once went to his house with a group of students to work on a project. I remember he even advised me not to get married (as I did after my sophomore year), and even though I ignored his advice, I really appreciated it. During my final course with Dr. Yoch, several students wrote a modern-day retelling of Euripides' Medea for our invention, complete with music. We all worked on the script, and I worked on the music with another student, which we recorded (we even used a local church organ to record a "scary" piece that I wrote). Dr. Yoch liked it so much that he wanted to publish it as a university project, and he even secured some funding from the university for the printing. I was supposed to get things together, which included creating sheet music - this would be simple now, but at the time this was kind of an advanced computer task that I didn't know how to do. At the same time, I was married, swamped with my Software Engineering project, working at Eckerd's, and even planning moving to Tulsa (since I already knew I was hired by CITGO). I never got the project off the ground, and I felt like I had betrayed my friend Dr. Yoch. I just swept things under the rug, and so my contact with him ended. I've often wondered if he would remember me, but it's really not important now. What is important is that I'm a great lover of opera, classical music, art, poetry, Shakespeare, and many other things, and I owe it all to Dr. Yoch. He was my guide into a world of beauty and humanity, and I never would be the person I am today without his influence. Labels: memories |
| How I became a scientist | |
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9.04.2006
10:10 AM | Link |
 The other day George and I chatted a bit about our past academic days, and it really made me stop and think about the things I studied at college. I have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Oklahoma. I mainly chose OU because I didn't really want to move away from home, and it was an easy commute from my parents' house. At the time, you could get a CS degree in either the School of Engineering or the School of Arts & Sciences, and I went with the Engineering degree because it sounded cooler (even though it had more requirements and core engineering classes, such as Engineering Physics, that I simply hated!).Studying computer science sure was different in 1985! Strangely enough, my first semester was the last semester that OU used punch cards, so I actually had to type out Fortran programs on punch cards and submit them to an operator to be loaded and run, and then wait for those wide green-bar printouts to show me if my program bombed or actually computed compounded interest (or something like that) correctly. I still have a box of those printouts and a deck of punch cards in my garage somewhere! After my first semester though, I was a full-fledged user of the computer lab, so I could slave over a terminal as long as I wanted (or had to). Even though I'm sure the internet existed in some form, no one really had access to any of it at home - the concept of a web page was never even mentioned during my entire course of study for my degree! This meant that all of my homework had to be done in the lab, so I spent lots of time there - I can remember coming home at 3:00 AM many, many times (of course, some of that time was dabbling in MUDs and printing PostScript blueprints of Star Trek ships). Besides core classes and math, most of my classes were just more and more programming languages, although there were things like Compiler Construction and Large Scale Scientific Computing, which was interesting since we were allowed time on the big expensive parallel processing computer (like just about everyone has on their desk now!). I had to write stuff in Fortran, COBOL, Pascal, Lisp, ADA, C, C++, and even Smalltalk. I was supposed to learn Assembly Language, too, but my professor was really innovative. He knew that Assembly was totally dead, so he invented a way for us to learn it without actually writing it. We wrote a C program to emulate the 6502 processor! To test our program, our professor loaded a BASIC interpreter and then ran a BASIC program to compute digits of Pi, so there were kind of three levels going on - it was amazing, and I enjoyed that class more than any other CS course. The grand finale was two semesters of Software Engineering, where groups of four students built a "product" from start to finish, complete with all the documentation and so on. Basically, the professor had everyone build applications that he needed, so our free slave labor resulted in a bibliography generator and reference database program. In the second semester the four of us would meet in someone's dorm room and work almost all night on various deliverables we had to turn in. I can remember sometimes we would take turns sleeping, and someone would go out and buy this cheese bread that was fantastic so late at night. Those were crazy days, since I was married and also working full-time, but I survived! It's fun thinking about all of this now, but my favorite college memories have nothing to do with computer science - I'll write about those another time. Labels: memories |
| Mikey's monkeys | |
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8.03.2006
6:51 PM | Link |
 The other day I read on Animated News that some studio is going to make an animated film featuring Sea Monkeys! This definitely stirred up some fun childhood memories for me. When I was in grade school and reading comic books all the time, it seems like every issue would have a full-page advertisement for Sea Monkeys. They always pictured them as little trident-headed people, with a mom, dad and kids living their lives in their happy undersea kingdom (just like this picture - I can't believe how cheap they were then!). I knew that these characters weren't the real thing, but I was always enamored by them. One day I finally bought a little Sea Monkeys kit! It had a little container with magnifying glasses built into it, and several packets of powder. One packet was the eggs, one packet was something to make the water green and "good for Sea Monkeys", and the last packet was food. I can remember how cool it was to plop these things together and suddenly see things swimming around! When you think about it, powdered life is kind of miraculous! I used to love to feed them and play games using a pen-light (they were drawn to it and would swim to wherever I held it), and watching them grow was cool, too. Eventually, I ran out of food. Of course, you could get more by mail order, but I guess I was too lazy, and soon I had a container of Sea Cannibals. One day there was just one big (about half a centimeter long, I guess) Sea Monkey left! I wonder if the cartoon will feature a Sea Monkey famine? Just kidding! I'm definitely feeling nostalgic now - I think it would be fun to hatch some monkeys again.
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| Scoop on Mego | |
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5.05.2006
6:03 PM | Link |
 Every Friday I always look forward to reading Scoop, a really cool email newsletter about collecting and all the geeky stuff I enjoy. My favorite section includes some amazing auction prices for things that recently sold, and often includes PEZ, comic books, or Star Wars figures. Recently there have been several cool Mego action figures, which makes me so nostalgic! I used to play with Mego figures nearly everyday - I had lots of super-heroes (I used to love the Teen Titans, way back when they were nothing like the Teen Titans show today!), Planet of the Apes figures, and of course, Star Trek figures. I've always loved the original Star Trek, and the toys were so much fun, especially the Enterprise Bridge set with it's awesome Transporter simulator. In today's newsletter, they reported that one of the figures I had, the Mugato (an alien guy), went for over $1,400 bucks! Mine wouldn't have been in the package, but it still would be cool to have it. At least I have some home movies of me playing with them at Christmas!
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| Mikey's Top 10 Movies | |
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6.05.2004
5:45 PM | Link |
 I've never had the guts to actually name my Top 10 movies before, but recently I've found myself thinking about it (especially when I say things like "This movie has got to be in my Top 10!"). So, I decided to give it a shot. This list may be surprising, but then again, this is WEBmikey, so I'm sure you expect a Top 10 list unlike anyone else's, right?
Just a few caveats: First, there's no way for me to put this list in order, since it's tough enough to narrow it down to ten! Second, there are lots of other movies I love that could easily be included here, but my main criteria was "Do I want to watch this movie right away when I think of it?" and "Does this movie completely move me emotionally?" (meaning it makes me laugh, cry, or otherwise feel better about the world after the movie is over). Third, this is a weird mix of "adult" and "kid" films (which are the same thing to me), and although I have a tendency to want to make two lists, I decided to stick to a single Top 10. So, here it goes!
Labels: memories |
| The Day Jobs: Work all day, swing all night | |
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5.16.2004
9:40 AM | Link |
 Most people tend to remember firsts - their first love, their first kiss, their first drink, maybe even their first speeding ticket. Musicians remember firsts, too, and they become memories that are, in time, even better than the actual events themselves. The Day Jobs wasn't my first band, but it was my first "hit" band, and so it will always hold a special place for me as my favorite musical experience. I love to reminisce about good times, so here's the fun I remember.
Soon after I moved to Austin, my pal Tom Fleming introduced me to some new friends - Matt Melton, Ernesto Marquez, and Dae Kim. He knew that they had been playing some old 20s and 30s tunes together, and he knew I was a drummer, so he got us together. I remember the first time we played in Ernesto's bedroom - it was fun for me to play jazz style, and I think the boys liked the way the drums filled out the sound. So, we hit it off pretty quickly! Soon we decided we needed a bass, so we advertised in the Chronicle and had a few responses. One of them was Ann Marie Harrop, who was enthused to be playing stand-up bass, and soon she was in. Suddenly we were a band! We spent lots of evenings rehearsing in Ernesto's bedroom (always stopping for a French press coffee break), and not only did we learn tons of tunes, but we started becoming great friends. Even from the beginning we were adding original songs - Dae and Ernesto were both writing (Dae's Mopac Bounce and Ernesto's Marvin Gardens became some of our most popular tunes!). We learned how to arrange as a group, trying out different intros and endings, seeing what worked and what didn't. We started to develop our style, which I always thought of as "a big band feel with a small combo". Ann Marie, who turned out to be a master booker and manager for the group, got us our first gig at the Manor Road Coffee House. It was a small quirky place with protest posters everywhere, and we played for free pizza (which was excellent), but it was a real gig and we were excited. We told all our friends, and Austin's local swing scene was notified - the Four on the Floor gang showed up to our first gig, so people were dancing! Since we were still a new band, lots of our songs were played at a medium to slow tempo (because that's all we could handle at the time!). However, those tempos turned out to be perfect for Lindy Hop, a style of swing dancing that was all the rage, so the dancers loved it! We were on our way. |
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9:38 AM | Link |
 Soon we started playing Monday nights at the Caucus Club - since Four on the Floor had dance classes that night, it was a good fit to have a swing band play afterwards. Our first show there was such a thrill - we thought we were real stars! We got to see our name on the board in the entryway, we had some comped drinks, and playing on that raised stage was so exciting. Little did we know then that we would end up playing over a year of Monday nights there! The Caucus became our "home", in a way. The bartenders liked us because we were big tippers, and they even invented a drink for us - the "Day Job" was a concoction with scotch (our liquor of choice), and we were proud of it. Those Monday nights were something special, and really helped us develop a following - we had honest to goodness fans!
All of that playing really helped us hone our performance. Ernesto and Dae wrote out excellent crafted solos that I loved to play behind - since I knew what phrases were coming, I could accent and punch in all the right places. I had fun playing with dynamics and "Las Vegas" endings just because I liked to be cheesy, but I also tried to always play jazz style, without the heavy snare on two and four, which I think helped differentiate us from the other swing bands. Ann Marie and I loved to play against each others fills, and we all liked to listen to Matt sing, because he was a whiz with coming up with alternate melodies and lyrics, just like his hero, Mel Torme. I'll never forget that feeling of counting us off and hearing us all come in together - it always felt just right, like putting on a favorite T-shirt. |
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9:37 AM | Link |
 Lots of other gigs started coming our way. We played other clubs in town, several parties and lots of weddings, which were some of my favorite shows, since we had lots of time to goof off and enjoy the food and drink (including some devastating mead at one particular wedding!). We played some big shows at the Union Ballroom on the UT campus - it was a pain to get the sound right, but that huge hall made us feel important. We helped organize a big multi-band Christmas show (where we played a swing version of Frosty the Snowman that was later requested year round), and even played on the Austin Music Network (including a goofy interview), so we have "professional" video of us that I'll cherish forever. The out-of-town gigs came, too - our first was in Houston, and we couldn't believe that we were renting a van, hauling all our stuff to Houston, staying in a hotel for free, and getting paid. We played in Dallas and San Antonio, too, and always played dirty Mad Libs in the van, and had some great Denny's food at 2:00 AM after the shows.
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| Day Jobs days | |
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1.06.2004
9:22 PM | Link |
 Someday I plan on writing a long essay about my days in the swing revival with The Day Jobs, a story of goofy friends who somehow sounded great and hit the Austin "big time". For now, I can at least prove that we had some loyal fans - I received an email yesterday from someone who hired us to play at his wedding reception (he writes "I've been going through Day Jobs withdrawal ever since"), and he's been scouring the web for Day Jobs info! Of course, he found WEBmikey, so now I'm going to send him a nice CD filled to the brim with Day Jobs tunes. I really wish I had the HTML to the old Day Jobs website - Matt did a nice job with the site, and it may have been the only source for the "Day Job" drink recipe, created just for us at the Caucus Club! (Of course, the Caucus Club is now the appalling Le Privilege - everything changes.)
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| Alice from DDR | |
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10.17.2003
6:17 PM | Link |
 I'm not the only one who's in love with Alice, the cutest little dancing bunch of pixels in the whole Dance Dance Revolution world - I found quite a few fan sites on the web looking for this image! Alice is adorable, even though she doesn't wear a short skirt like the other DDR girls. She's cool enough in her T-shirt and jeans, and don't forget those suspenders hanging loose from her waist, because that's her look, dude. Alice seems quiet and reserved with her Mona Lisa smile, but of course, she loves to dance!
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| Dinner Foods | |
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5.17.2003
6:17 PM | Link |
 At Home: I'm getting hooked on Tyson Chicken Tenders, which come in three different batter flavors - nuke them for two minutes and it's chow time! They go great with a salad, which I've been eating a lot of lately. I like the Spring Mix (lots of field greens) in the bag, with Drew's Rosemary Basalmic dressing and a little parmesan!Labels: memories |
| Snack Foods | |
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6:16 PM | Link |
 At Home: I can't get enough Dole Fruit Bowls! I guess that commercial campaign really got to me, but these things are great. I love the mandarin oranges, pineapple, and the tropical mixed, too!Labels: memories |
| Childhood friends in California | |
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3.31.2003
7:18 PM | Link |
 Everywhere I've lived, I've been lucky enough to have a close group of friends to make my life fun, exciting, and wonderful. When I was very young, I lived in several different states and cities while Dad was transferred around in the Air Force, but my real childhood years that I remember best were during grade school in Sacramento, California (I even remember my street address: 4533 Ladera Way!). It's here that I had my first close friends - we did everything together at school and I spent a lot of time with each of them during afternoons and weekends. We even called ourselves the "Fantastic Four" at times (since all of us were comic book geeks, of course).
First there was Tony Favro, who was probably my best friend since he lived in my neighborhood. Tony was an athletic, blond California kid - we used to spend hours playing Frisbee or riding bikes, and he did lots of swimming in their family pool (he even used to dive in from the second story of their house!). Tony's dad was the City Fire Marshall, so he would be on the news sometimes, and he liked to show me their emergency escape route his dad designed. He had two great dogs - a collie named Sally and a Llasa Apso named Maggie. Tony was my best action figures playmate - he had tons of super hero figures like me, and we had some great adventures together. Next was Derek Bowman, who lived a short bike ride away. I liked to visit Derek because he had a huge tree in his front yard with a treehouse. Sometimes we rode to his treehouse quickly after school to watch some of the girls we liked walking below. His dad was a veterinarian, and they had a crazy Doberman with a surgically-removed voice box (what a weird bark!). I spent several nights at Derek's, including my going-away party, which included lots of microwave hot dogs (when a microwave oven was a new amazing thing!) and a long session of toilet-papering houses (completely instigated by Derek's dad!). The last member of the "Fantastic Four" was Russ Nishimoto - he was a wonderful friend, but I remember less about him for some reason. I remember distinctly that he was a great doodle artist and could print in the tiniest, yet legible, letters imaginable. I know I used to visit him at his house - he lived walking distance from a Dairy Queen that we used to visit sometimes. I wish I could remember more about him. I had other non-school friends in my neighborhood, too, but none as close as Mark Kempton. Mark was several years younger than me, so he was kind of like a little brother. His parents were divorced (which seemed like a rarity at the time), so he lived with his dad and had tons of fun toys. He was a huge Star Wars fan - I think his dad took us to see the movie at least ten times! I used to have a wonderful time with Mark when it was just the two of us, sharing that brotherly fun, but when my other pals were around, the gang teased him a lot (I know it's terrible, but it's just what a bunch of kids do - tease the little guy). Once we even convinced him to streak past some girls playing with Barbies in their front yard. When I moved away from California, Mark was the saddest to see me go - I missed him, too. Childhood is amazing, because so many things are overlooked. Believe it or not, Tony was Catholic, Derek was Mormon, Russ was Buddhist, and I was good ol' Protestant - and no one cared. To us, life was playing with action figures, putting rubber bands on our ears to look like Spock, or taking the bus to Sunrise Mall to buy posters. I'll always have wonderful memories of these first friends - I hope they've made happy lives for themselves, and I hope they remember me. Labels: memories |
| Wal-Mart | |
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2.06.2003
6:27 PM | Link |
 I have nothing against saving money, but I am against militant penny-pinching. I'm just not into suffering through an giant, over-crowded, messy store to save a few bucks. I only go there if I need to look for PEZ or something, and I swear that each and every visit is enhanced by the smell of a full diaper wafting through the aisles.Labels: memories |
| Home Depot | |
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6:26 PM | Link |
 I am the anti-handyman and proud of it. Never do anything you don't want to do if you can pay someone else to do it! I goes without saying that I hate hardware stores, and Home Depot is the worst (I like to call it Home Creepo). The parking lot it always full of too-huge trucks and the store is full of sawdust-stinking, flannel-overwearing dudes. I only go there if I absolutely need a special lightbulb or something.Labels: memories |
| Dance Dance Revolution | |
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1.31.2003
9:41 PM | Link |
 Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is an arcade game (also available for Playstation) where the player "dances" by stepping and jumping on arrows, following a pattern displayed on the screen. The experience in the arcade is complete with pumping dance music, flashing stage lights, and an announcer's voice proclaiming "The crowd loves you!" What seems like a simple game is soon revealed to be difficult and exhausting, but also immediately addictive!
I first saw DDR during my visit to Japan (where the game originated). My pals Matt and Barron and I were walking by an arcade where they had a DDR machine pushed out into the sidewalk so everyone could watch the spectacle! The players/dancers were fantastic - very athletic! I was pretty drunk on sake, but I remember thinking what a cool game it was. |
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9:40 PM | Link |
 Many months later, while visiting my parents in Oklahoma City, I saw a DDR machine at the mall arcade - I had to try it. I failed the first song in about 15 seconds, and my first game of DDR was over. I stood there and watched other guys who were pretty good at it, and thought to myself that I could do that, too, if I could only practice.
Back in Austin, I started searching the web, and fell right into the lap of DDR-dom - I had no idea it was such a huge subculture! Tons of otaku like me working up a sweat to dance with cartoon women! I ordered the DDR USA version, plus a RedOctane dance mat, and even bought a Playstation 2 just to try DDR at home. I started out slowly, playing the 1-3 foot songs (the difficulty of a DDR song is measured in 1-9 "feet"). I remember being so happy when I full-comboed Boom Boom Dollar! (A full combo is completing an entire song without missing a single step.) I was also thrilled when I figured out "eighth note" patterns in the steps - I was on my way to becoming a master! |
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9:39 PM | Link |
 I had to have more DDR, which meant buying import versions from Japan. Matt was cool enough to send me a Japanese PSOne, and I started buying up all the Japanese mixes I could afford. At this point I was playing DDR up to two hours straight everyday and passing 7 footers - I couldn't get enough! At lunchtime I would leave work and go play in the arcade, too. I actually lost over 10 pounds during this frenzy!
Eventually I revealed my addiction to my pals, and after a quick demo, I hooked most of them, too! I've never seen anyone play DDR and actually dislike it - not everyone may be good at it, but everyone has fun. My pal Tom even had a DDR party (with myself as coach), and DDR sessions have popped up at all kinds of get-togethers (Thanksgiving, Christmas, you name it!). I still play DDR several times a week at home, both for exercise and for fun. I'm always craving new music, so I buy new releases of DDR games they day they hit the market. Every now and then I can pass a 9-foot song, too! |
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9:38 PM | Link |
 So, why am I a DDR freak? Lots of reasons! I like the goofy pop dance music, full of energy and life. The otaku in me likes that it's a Japanese invention, and the lazy bum in me likes that it gets me off my butt and makes me sweat. But mostly I would say it's the fact that DDR is larger than life - I can jump around and listen to the crowd cheer, and when the announcer says "I can see a dream in your dance! I can see tomorrow in your dance!", sometimes I actually believe it.
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| Bruce Springsteen | |
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1.19.2003
6:25 PM | Link |
 I know, I know - Bruce is some kind of national treasure. I just don't get anything out of someone who celebrates the "glory" of being underprivileged (I guess than means wearing greasy T-shirts is cool). His singing (screaming) is terrible too. I once heard a commedian say "If Bruce is the Boss, then I quit."Labels: memories |
| Rod Stewart | |
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6:24 PM | Link |
 I can't understand it - a big nosed, grungy, old man with goof-ass hair and a sandpaper voice is supposed to be sexy. I especially think it's hilarious that he's recently been singing "smooth" tunes in a Tony Bennet style - kind of like mopping a floor with a jackhammer.Labels: memories |
| Sandra Bullock | |
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6:24 PM | Link |
 I have no idea why people like Sandra Bullock, unless they're also tomboy, depressingly plain people who need someone to identify with. Sandra has zero style, in my opinion - I'm just amazed that people think she's beautiful. Having her as part of the "Austin scene" is such a tragedy.Labels: memories |
| Julia Roberts | |
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6:23 PM | Link |
 I guess I have a problem with Julia Roberts because the public likes her too much. Just because she has a long neck doesn't make her Audrey Hepburn, who had more talent in an eyelash than Julia has in all of her huge overwhelming teeth. Watching her win Academy Awards makes me cringe!Labels: memories |
| Kevin Costner | |
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6:22 PM | Link |
 I don't like Kevin Costner because he commits the ultimate actor's sin - he acts the same role in every damn movie! I don't care if he's a DA or Robin Hood, he's just plain ol' no-talent Kevin. Can't he take the time time develop a mannerism or an accent or something to show he can act? Sheesh.Labels: memories |
| Non-alcoholic Drinks | |
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8.31.2002
6:29 PM | Link |
 At Home: Recently I've been having an evening cup of Constant Comment (instead of a fattening snack).
Dining Out: I love a Mountain Dew now and then! Labels: memories |
| Beer Drinks | |
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6:28 PM | Link |
 At Home: Alas, the Celis Brewery closed, so I don't get as much lovely wheat beer as I used to. I have been enjoying light Japanese beers like Asahi lately, though.Labels: memories |
| Liquor Drinks | |
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6:28 PM | Link |
 At Home: In addition, I try to keep a nice bottle of Pierre Ferrand cognac on hand.
Dining Out: I've fallen in love with Grey Goose vodka, the smoothest I've ever tasted. Labels: memories |
| Lunch Foods | |
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8.10.2002
6:16 PM | Link |
Dining Out: The fantastic Hang Town Grill has closed, so now I go to Waterloo Ice House for a big juicy burger! Labels: memories |
| Dinner Foods | |
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6:15 PM | Link |
 At Home: Sometimes I can't resist ordering a Papa John's Pizza, since I can order it online with three clicks!
Dining Out: My sushi preference has changed to Sushi Sake (Alaska roll). Labels: memories |
| Snack Foods | |
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6:13 PM | Link |
Dining Out: When I really need a treat, I love Sonic's Coconut Cream Pie shake - it's a pie in a glass! Labels: memories |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | |
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8.01.2002
6:13 PM | Link |
 Every last dust mite in Great Expectations looks beautiful, and Gwyneth is flawless, always in green (I had to buy the DVD to watch her at the water fountain). In Sliding Doors she seems like someone I would like to meet, and crying at the Academy Awards was just too cute.Labels: memories |
| Kate Winslet | |
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6:12 PM | Link |
 Every time Titanic is on cable, I manage to tune in for that lovely drawing scene. I had to buy an issue of In Style for an extreme close-up portrait with eyes that could make me cry. Kate is pudgy and Gwyneth is skinny - variety is the spice of life!Labels: memories |
| Heather Graham | |
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6:12 PM | Link |
 Heather is alternately gorgeous and downright clunky, but I think I can get over it. She was way cool getting drunk in Two Girls and a Guy and was a cute little teen in Shout (along with Gwyneth). Of course, she was also amazing in Boogie Nights wearing only her skates.Labels: memories |
| Diane Lane | |
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6:10 PM | Link |
 A very early obsession from the "staying up late to watch R-rated movies on cable" days, when I swooned over her feather dancing in The Big Town. Incredibly sexy when young, still sexy today (love that scar).Labels: memories |
| Shampoo | |
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6:09 PM | Link |
 Shampoo is the ultimate goofy, sexy, anything goes girl from Ranma 1/2. Her third-person, grammatically-incorrect speech drives me crazy ("Shampoo want date Ranma now!"), and the fact that she often turns up naked doesn't hurt either (in innocent situations, of course!).
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| Non-alcoholic Drinks | |
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1.01.2002
6:26 PM | Link |
 At Home: Ozarka Natural Spring Water, Tropicana Pure Premium Original orange juice, Einstien Bros. Coffee (whole bean), Bigelow Japanese Green Tea
Dining Out: Coke (not Pepsi), Sprite Labels: memories |
| Wine Drinks | |
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6:26 PM | Link |
 At Home: Coppola Rosso, Sterling Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Black Opal Shiraz
Dining Out: Usually a Merlot or Cabernet Labels: memories |
| Beer Drinks | |
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6:25 PM | Link |
 At Home: Newcastle Nut Brown Ale, Bellhaven Scottish Ale, Celis White, Heineken
Dining Out: Fosters, Tsing Tao, La Fin du Monde (my favorite!), any of the At Home beers Labels: memories |
| Liquor Drinks | |
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6:24 PM | Link |
 At Home: Glenfiddich or Glenlivet Scotch, E&J Superior Reserve Brandy, Finlandia vodka
Dining Out: Lagovulen Scotch, Drambuie, Amaretto, B&B, various cocktails (vodka martini, Mai Tai) Labels: memories |
| Breakfast Foods | |
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12:54 PM | Link |
 At Home: Quaker instant oatmeal (Maple & Brown Sugar flavor), Eggo blueberry waffles, two boiled eggs, poppy or sesame bagel, Dannon Fruit on the Bottom yogurt (raspberry or strawberry)
Dining Out: Eggs Benedict (every time) Labels: memories |
| Lunch Foods | |
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12:52 PM | Link |
 At Home: Top Ramen noodle soup (oriental flavor), tuna on crackers, Tyson chicken breast patty
Dining Out: Subway 6-inch turkey sub, Thundercloud 6-inch tuna sub, Hang Town Grill cheeseburger, Twin Lion broccoli chicken Labels: memories |
| Dinner Foods | |
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12:49 PM | Link |
 At Home: Pasta, Van de Kamp's fish filet with rice, chicken breast with baked potato
Dining Out: Ichiban sushi (Philadelphia roll), Castle Hill anything Labels: memories |
| Snack Foods | |
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12:48 PM | Link |
 At Home: Swiss cheese on crackers, microwave popcorn
Dining Out: Starbucks triple venti nonfat latte and maple scone Labels: memories |
| Compulsive Foods | |
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12:47 PM | Link |
 At Home: Cap'n Crunch cereal, peanut M&Ms, Tostitos and cheese dipLabels: memories |
| Magnetic poetry | |
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7.31.2001
8:10 PM | Link |
I bought one of the original magnetic poetry sets as soon as they came out, and it's been on my refrigerator ever since. Every time I'm waiting for water to boil I doodle with some words, and when friends come over, they like to give it a shot as well. The best thing about magnetic poetry is it frees you to use words and styles that you would never think of on your own. It also transforms nearly everyone into an erotic poet! Labels: memories |
| Worship Size / Ann Marie | |
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8:09 PM | Link |
 Worship sizeAnd ask me When death sings After some lazy drunk felt his chain snake And swim in my flood. I want to leave the bed. Labels: memories |
| Then What? | |
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8:08 PM | Link |
 It be me - he - we -Weakness. Nearly summer, Then what? Want life - light - gone. Labels: memories |
| Still | |
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8:07 PM | Link |
 At blackest languid day,All is still - Say for A thousand lakes And go-go like suits. Labels: memories |
| The Wind | |
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8:06 PM | Link |
 Mad cook.Purple produce. Bloody underarm. Rusty butt wind. Labels: memories |
| Advice | |
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8:05 PM | Link |
 Never rob mean men.Think about it. Labels: memories |
| Blue Boy / Mikey | |
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8:04 PM | Link |
 Blue boy said,"May I smell your gorgeous bare peach - a soaring symphony of beauty like a luscious white playing puppy beneath your gown?" Labels: memories |
| The Moment / Mikey | |
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8:03 PM | Link |
 Picture the moment -a knife ripping the void. You could ask how she does it, but why? She will say, "Please stop whispering." Labels: memories |
| Iron Moon / Mikey | |
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8:02 PM | Link |
 Above a forest of stormy mist -delirious, panting, aching like some frantic girl - these two pound together - one time fast, next falling like an iron moon. Labels: memories |
| Wax / Mikey | |
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8:01 PM | Link |
 Woman of waxsweating milk. Smooth hot skin drooling honey. A cry like music. Labels: memories |
| Shine / Shelly | |
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8:00 PM | Link |
 Love your friends.Lick the sky. Dream in the rain. Always shine. Labels: memories |
| Power Pole | |
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7:59 PM | Link |
 Fiddle my rock sausage!Manipulate her rosy diamond! She eats red power pole, breast smear after boil over, repulsive only, as in butt love... trudge for chocolate. Labels: memories |
| Lusting | |
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7:58 PM | Link |
 She is lusting.My goddess moaned as head beat egg. I screamed as I shot juice on her leg. Labels: memories |
| Mother / Chris | |
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7:57 PM | Link |
 Watch my enormous raw pink apparatusspray mother's delicate behind with man lather and tongue her fluffy ass hair. Labels: memories |
| The Urge / Ernesto | |
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7:55 PM | Link |
 Sordid ugly urge.Spring garden vision. Finger up your dress. Tiny club feet. Labels: memories |
| Austin Chronicle Review | |
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7.21.2001
7:23 PM | Link |
 Le Petomane: Anatomy of a Fartiste: Sweet Toot
June 22, 2001 It might be hard to imagine that a story about a man who breaks wind for fame and fortune could be called "sweet," but this Tongue and Groove Theatre original musical about Joseph Pujol, written and directed by David Yeakle, combines good humor, fun song, bawdy dance, and just enough ribaldry to make for an engaging, if somewhat long, late night of theatregoing. This production, first aired in shortened form at this season's FronteraFest, returns here in a full-length version. The subject of Yeakle's musical, the famed Pujol, discovered early in his life that he had a gift for making all sorts of sounds from out of his anus. From bird and animal calls to simple melodies and orchestral arrangements, "Le Petomane," as he called himself, created a variety act of his finely tuned rear end, amazing spectators at Paris' Moulin Rouge around the turn of the last century. (Utilizing a method of "breathing" air in through his sphincter Pujol could create his sounds sans smell -- how perfectly modern: all the entertainment value with none of the noxious gases.) Yeakle makes good use of the cabaret motif for his production, aided by Kari Perkins' excellent costumes and moody lighting by Elizabeth Doss and Jennifer Rogers. Amiable Can-Can era showgirls and a talented musical combo linger onstage to maintain the pleasant mood. Robert Pierson plays Pujol, striking that famous, slightly bent pose with index finger raised (as if to discern the direction of the, er, wind) as he entertains with his arse. Pierson is as charming as the rest of the charming cast, exuding quiet confidence that his path to success is behind him, so to speak. As Monsieur Zidler, manager of the Moulin Rouge, Michael Stuart is amusingly wry and amazed at the "discovery" of Le Petomane, although not without a little bite when he is crossed. The subtitle, "Anatomy of a Fartiste," indicates that this production is as mock-educational as it is entertaining. Much time is spent dissecting just how Pujol's musical bottom functions. This leads to some very funny sketch comedy in which Jenni Rall and Ellen Kolstö lead the audience through a pseudo-medical explanation of Pujol and his musical sphincter. "Much time" may be the single thing that detracts from this colorful musical: Writer-director Yeakle lets almost every scene, and some of the songs, continue way past usefulness, and often at a snail's pace. Jokes, while good, tend to wear, and scenes feel like they'll never end. Mark Stewart's monologue, for example, in which he attempts to emulate the great Pujol begins with charm, but then continues past the point of humor. Some judicious use of the standard cabaret "hook" could help restore the sweetness of the tale. Labels: memories |
| American-Statesman Review | |
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7:20 PM | Link |
 The story may sound odd, but 'Le Petomane' is a gas
June 18, 2001 "Le Petomane: Anatomy of a Fartiste" is a strange, whimsical, musical romp through the life of a most unusual man. Joseph Pujol had a talent for, well, musical flatulence. He left his family and his job as a baker in Marseilles for Paris and the Moulin Rouge where he became one of the most popular performers during the last years of the 19th century. After presenting an abridged version of "Le Petomane" earlier this year at FronteraFest, David Yeakle, artistic director of Tongue and Groove Theatre, unveils his full-length, two-act version at the Vortex Theatre. Replete with cancan girls, mustachioed emcees and a crack Django Rhinehart-style quartet (which also provides the necessary sound effects), and with the cast sporting period attire and goofy French accents, this eccentric show is nothing if not entertaining. With music by Yeakle, Ian Case, Jonathan Hoyle, Art Davis and Mark Stewart, "Le Petomane" loosely follows Pujol's life from anonymous baker to celebrity. Appropriately, Yeakle laces the tale with plenty of anachronisms, incongruities and spoofs. In one of the first all-ensemble numbers, the music switches suddenly from melodic music-hall jazz to something distinctly contemporary and the cast begins to rock out. And in the seemingly sentimental number "Are You on Your Way?" singers hang on to one note at the end of a phrase, effectively spoofing the maudlin song about Pujol's conflicting feelings of homesickness and ambition. Robert Pierson plays the affable and resolute Pujol, who feels it's his destiny to perform, with a good sense of presence. Mark Stewart does a great comic turn as the weird and almost unearthly sometime-narrator, X. This is by no means a slick production. Some of the singing was not great; a few actors weren't able to hold a pitch or project sufficiently over the band. Still, "Le Petomane" is fun. It's an odd little musical that's a gas. Labels: memories |
| My girlfriends | |
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6.30.2001
8:50 PM | Link |
The criteria to make it on this list consists of dating over the course of at least one month. As anyone will tell you, I am terrible with timeframes, so all relationship lengths are usually a complete guess. Labels: memories |
| Helen | |
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8:49 PM | Link |
 Relationship length: 2 yearsHelen was introduced to me by Dave & Jill, who were working with her in a Tulsa play. It took a while for us to start dating, but once we did it was wonderful. Helen was an actress and could sing harmony with anything, including my songs. We had a great time in Tulsa and then I moved to Austin and she moved to Washington, DC (both for work). Now I think long distance is impossible, but we did our best - lots of visits and some amazing trips to Canada. Helen and I were as serious as possible, but distance intervened and we slowly evolved into friends. Labels: memories |
| Teresa | |
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8:48 PM | Link |
Relationship length: 2 months Teresa worked at CITGO and sang in the CITGO All-Star Rock & Roll Review. It seemed like we had been flirting at rehearsal for years, and after the divorce, she asked me out (that was cool). We had absolutely nothing in common - she was a country girl with two kids, I was a bohemian city boy writing sad poems about the loss of Liza. We did have a pretty strong attraction, but that's all we had. We just faded away nicely without a word. Labels: memories |
| Colleen | |
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8:47 PM | Link |
Relationship length: 1 month I just recently discovered Colleen's first name in an old journal. She was the only "pickup" in my entire life - I actually walked up to her in a coffee house and asked if she wanted some company. We went on a few dates and had a few goodnight kisses (I remember she had huge lips!). Nothing serious at all, but the pickup was significant - it hasn't happened again since. Labels: memories |
| Liza | |
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8:46 PM | Link |
 Relationship length: 6 monthsLiza was a college student in bell choir with me while I was a Methodist, and even knew Cheri and all about the divorce. Somehow we got started in an email courtship, and sent each other hundreds of poems while she was home for the summer. When she returned (just as Karen left for Seattle), we started getting together and lightning struck. Liza was everything I wasn't - extroverted, uncontrollable, and incredibly sexy. We were too perfect together, because when we weren't in love, we were at each other's throats. We actually planned our last date together, and sat there and cried. Her last words to me were "I'm going to write poetry all fucking day." I'm sure she's in Minnesota somewhere reading vampire erotica right now. Labels: memories |
| Liza's Poem | |
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8:45 PM | Link |
 The most amazing thing about my relationship with Liza was how we told each other we were "interested". We had gone out as friends several times, and I finally got the courage to tell her how I felt by writing her a poem. On the night I gave it to her, she had done exactly the same thing, and presented me with the glorious work of art you see here. I seriously doubt that kind of luck will ever strike me again in my life, but a smile will always come to my face when I think of that moment.
References The music of your voice Over coffee Touches me almost as deeply As the music of your songs. Amazed, I hear you speak my thoughts Almost before I have time to think them And our shared laughter Echoes in my mind for days. Time with you Is sheer joy Mixed with understanding And a pinch of fantasy For the hours slip by too quickly For this to be real life. A ripple of bells The vibration of guitar strings Or a rhythmic beat of a drum Dance through my head Borne by your words. My day is fuller, My life richer, My happiness truer From knowing you. Labels: memories |
| Karen | |
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8:44 PM | Link |
Relationship length: 2 months When Cheri and I separated, I begged friends to set me up on some dates (and to all friends reading this, that begging is still valid!). Karen (I don't remember her last name) was a great person - intelligent, tan, and fun. We drank wine, I sang her songs, and then she went on a business trip to Seattle. While she was away, I got extremely lucky. Labels: memories |
| Cheri | |
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8:43 PM | Link |
 Relationship length: 9 yearsCheri was my first everything - actual dating, actual marriage, and actual everything else. We dated for two years and then got married at the wise age of 20. We had two crazy years while we were both working and still in college, then 4 strange years when we had too much time together, took care of a foster child, and basically realized we would be much happier apart. In the 7th year we had a $65.00 divorce, but I don't regret a day of it. Without Cheri to break me out of so many boring patterns in my life, I wouldn't be half as fun and exciting as I am today. Labels: memories |
| Kellie | |
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8:42 PM | Link |
Relationship length: 1 year Kellie was the younger of two PK (preacher's kid) sisters in Ohio - my cousin was dating the older, and I guess Kellie and I thought it would be fun to be together. We had lots of fun double dating, and learning about French kissing (we had no idea what we were doing, but we would listen to Foreigner and Peter Cetera and kiss for hours). We wrote tons of letters (which were hilarious considering Kellie's age), then faded away. Labels: memories |
| Kristi | |
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8:41 PM | Link |
 Relationship length: 2 monthsKristi was this gal in 7th or 8th grade (I can't remember which) who liked me because I was into Star Wars as much as she was. The Empire Strikes Back was big then, and she kept giving me doubles of this bubblegum card of Han and Leia. She also drew me lots of pictures of horses (I have no idea why). On the last day of school before she moved, she kissed me in the breezeway, much to my surprise. Labels: memories |
| Many Mikeys | |
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5.31.2001
8:23 PM | Link |
My life seems to be easily divided into phases, each one quite different from the next. I guess I have always enjoyed reinventing myself, so there have been many Mikeys. I think Mikey today is just an acceptance of all the Mikeys that I have been - I'm proud of all of them (and of any other Mikey lurking in the future). Labels: memories |
| Childhood Mikey | |
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8:22 PM | Link |
 About a year ago I realized how lucky I am - I really have very little to worry about. So, I finally decided to enjoy and celebrate all of the things I really love in life, no matter how silly they may seem! Childhood Mikey embraces all of the wonderful things about being a kid - Disney movies, theme parks, toys, and having fun! All of the Mikeys of the past are still inside me, and all of them come out now and then, but for the most part you'll find me in a Mickey Mouse T-shirt, playing Dance Dance Revolution, and dreaming about my next trip to Disneyland.
Childhood Mikey in the Happiest Place on Earth Labels: memories |
| Mod Mikey | |
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8:21 PM | Link |
 When I became single again and started dating, exploring spirituality, and reading and writing poetry, I transformed again. Even though I was balding, I let my hair grow long in the back. I wore rings and bracelets (even with my Corporate Mikey suits!), turtlenecks, flannel shirts and vests. I was now Mod Mikey, the guy in the corner of your local cafe scribbling furiously in my notebook (with a big sticker of a rose on the cover). I was also writing songs and singing for friends every chance I could get. Lots of Mod Mikey still lives in me and my writing, but the surface has evolved into the "normal" Mikey you see today.
Check out the wad of hair on the back of Mod Mikey's head Labels: memories |
| Corporate Mikey | |
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8:20 PM | Link |
 I was able to get hired by CITGO Petroleum Corporation before my last semester of college, so when I graduated I moved to Tulsa right away to become Corporate Mikey. Now my world was full of suits, briefcases, meetings and conferences - on the day I requested my nameplate I decided I was "Michael", since I had usually been "Mike" before that (and "Mikey" started in Austin). Corporate Mikey was so corporate that I took notes at every meeting and then typed them up on my computer afterwards!
Corporate Mikey in his interview suit Labels: memories |
| 80s Mikey | |
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8:19 PM | Link |
 Don't ask me what happened here, but I guess dating and starting my first band had a weird effect on me. Either that, or the perm that Cheri gave me fried my brain and made me love all things 80s! This is 80s Mikey - lots of hair, skinny ties, bright clothes, and lots of New Wave music. I know I was pretty silly during my Freshman and Sophomore college years, but it's out of my system now.
Nothing says 80s Mikey better than FineLine Labels: memories |
| Valedictorian Mikey | |
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8:18 PM | Link |
 Somehow it's true - there was a Valedictorian Mikey. I've always been able to study and take tests without really trying (especially in high school), and I was completely shocked when I got the announcement letter from the school - I had never even considered my grades that seriously before (but I loved making As, of course). The Moore High School Class of 1985 had 1,024 students, so my speech had to be fast (I basically wanted to say that grades meant nothing, but they edited that out!). I guess being valedictorian looked nice on my resume, but it didn't make college any easier.
Valedictorian Mikey sporting the white gown Labels: memories |
| Geek Mikey | |
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8:17 PM | Link |
 Call it whatever you want - geek, nerd or otaku - there always has been (and always will be) a Geek Mikey. Who knows why, but I have always gravitated to science fiction TV shows and movies, fantasy books and games, super heroes and comic books, and everything in-between. My parents have a home movie of me watching Star Trek (when it wasn't a rerun!) while I'm learning to walk. I memorized the entire script to Star Wars (and still know most of it). And yes, I've even been to conventions. Now that I'm older and nostalgic, I'm totally proud to be a geek!
Geek Mikey wears his Captain Kirk uniform at his Star Trek birthday Labels: memories |
| Spoiled Mikey | |
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8:10 PM | Link |
 As you may have guessed, I'm an only child. My fantastic parents have always been great at actually knowing who I am and the things that I like, and buying them for me! No matter how you look at it, there was a Spoiled Mikey. This was especially true at Christmas, when I would haul in so much stuff that I never knew what to play with first. The worst part about being spoiled was cleaning my room after my friends and I played with just about every toy in the place.
Spoiled Mikey gloats over a Star Wars Christmas Labels: memories |
| My computers | |