See the story here.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Still not much going on
God you must all be so bored by now!
OK, so an email went out recently to our department, telling us about our Christmas do... Good grief. My idea of hell. I know some people look forward to Christmas, especially the chance to go out and get drunk and stupid on the company's pound. But for me, I couldn't imagine a worse way to spend my free time. Seriously, I can't stand it. So a few people have been asking "So, are you going to the Christmas do this year?" and I think the way I just laugh and walk away gives them the notion that I won't be attending. It wasn't always this way. I remember a couple of good dos, back when I was sweet and innocent and not yet 20. I used to work for Texaco and we had one do at a hotel in London (can't remember which one) back in the days when companies paid for EVERYTHING. We had dinner, a band AND a dj, and a room in the hotel all company paid for. I managed to bed a girl who worked on the helpdesk with me, and it was a fantastic night all round.
Also, the first Christmas do I went to with the current Mrs. Molloy. We had met and got together during Euro '96, so when our company's Christmas do came round, and we were still at that stage in our relationship where we were keeping it quiet, we were both excited about going to the do together, but not 'together' (if you get my meaning) and then after the do we had a hotel booked in London for the night. I spent the evening getting ready in the hotel before meeting her at the do, but unfortunately overdid the speed a bit, so I was a little 'excited' all night... I think the common term is 'whizzin' my tits off'.
Anyway - they were good dos. But as I got older and more cynical, I went more and more off the idea. I haven't been to a Christmas do now in years, and I'm glad of it.
I think part of the problem is the "getting drunk with work mates and having to see them in the office again" thing. I mean, lets say you have a few too many shandies, and so does that collegue who normally gets right on your nerves. He says something to you he thinks is funny, (but isn't) and because you've had a drink, you give him a mouthful back and before you know it you're slugging it out in the car park. How can you then go back to working in the same office as him, sitting 10 feet away? It just can't be done.
Besides, I've cultivated this aura of misery, anger and cynicism for a while now, and it'd be going against what everyone thinks is my character to go along and play "happy co-worker". My good friends and family know what I'm really like, they are the people I like spending my time with, same as the few work collegues I actually like. Everyone else? pah.
There... for someone with nothing to write about, that was a bit of a rant wasn't it?
Peace. And Merry Christmas.
OK, so an email went out recently to our department, telling us about our Christmas do... Good grief. My idea of hell. I know some people look forward to Christmas, especially the chance to go out and get drunk and stupid on the company's pound. But for me, I couldn't imagine a worse way to spend my free time. Seriously, I can't stand it. So a few people have been asking "So, are you going to the Christmas do this year?" and I think the way I just laugh and walk away gives them the notion that I won't be attending. It wasn't always this way. I remember a couple of good dos, back when I was sweet and innocent and not yet 20. I used to work for Texaco and we had one do at a hotel in London (can't remember which one) back in the days when companies paid for EVERYTHING. We had dinner, a band AND a dj, and a room in the hotel all company paid for. I managed to bed a girl who worked on the helpdesk with me, and it was a fantastic night all round.
Also, the first Christmas do I went to with the current Mrs. Molloy. We had met and got together during Euro '96, so when our company's Christmas do came round, and we were still at that stage in our relationship where we were keeping it quiet, we were both excited about going to the do together, but not 'together' (if you get my meaning) and then after the do we had a hotel booked in London for the night. I spent the evening getting ready in the hotel before meeting her at the do, but unfortunately overdid the speed a bit, so I was a little 'excited' all night... I think the common term is 'whizzin' my tits off'.
Anyway - they were good dos. But as I got older and more cynical, I went more and more off the idea. I haven't been to a Christmas do now in years, and I'm glad of it.
I think part of the problem is the "getting drunk with work mates and having to see them in the office again" thing. I mean, lets say you have a few too many shandies, and so does that collegue who normally gets right on your nerves. He says something to you he thinks is funny, (but isn't) and because you've had a drink, you give him a mouthful back and before you know it you're slugging it out in the car park. How can you then go back to working in the same office as him, sitting 10 feet away? It just can't be done.
Besides, I've cultivated this aura of misery, anger and cynicism for a while now, and it'd be going against what everyone thinks is my character to go along and play "happy co-worker". My good friends and family know what I'm really like, they are the people I like spending my time with, same as the few work collegues I actually like. Everyone else? pah.
There... for someone with nothing to write about, that was a bit of a rant wasn't it?
Peace. And Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
I'm still alive
Just not much to post about recently. Stay tuned. More updates, I'm sure, soon...
Soundtrack of the day: "Return To Cookie Mountain" by TV On The Radio
Soundtrack of the day: "Return To Cookie Mountain" by TV On The Radio
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
I am SUCH a wuss
Yes the beard has gone. I had one day, ONE DAY of unbearable itching and thought "sod it, it has to come off". I wasn't expecting to grow a Brian Blessed style mega-bushy number, but I was at least hoping to get to a Bill Oddie...but no, I just couldn't handle how horrible it felt. So as I soon as I got home I was out with the clippers and it all came off - I now have a light dusting of stubble instead.
In other news... played well (again) last night. The guy I've been going with over the past few weeks made the point that since we've been going together, I've never been on the losing side. And I think he's right. We mix the sides up every week, and for a while now I've never lost. Now I know its a bit big headed to say, but I AM good at football! (And I'm gonna say that coz I pretty much suck at everything else...)
Finally, it's three weeks today until the next U.S Presidential Election. A new (so called) "leader of the free world" will be elected. What do we think people? Any opinions? Are any of my listeners from the U.S, do they want to share their thoughts? Do we in the UK even care? (Well, yes, we should actually... do we really want another George W. Bush??) Lets have your thoughts, to the usual address...
Peace.
In other news... played well (again) last night. The guy I've been going with over the past few weeks made the point that since we've been going together, I've never been on the losing side. And I think he's right. We mix the sides up every week, and for a while now I've never lost. Now I know its a bit big headed to say, but I AM good at football! (And I'm gonna say that coz I pretty much suck at everything else...)
Finally, it's three weeks today until the next U.S Presidential Election. A new (so called) "leader of the free world" will be elected. What do we think people? Any opinions? Are any of my listeners from the U.S, do they want to share their thoughts? Do we in the UK even care? (Well, yes, we should actually... do we really want another George W. Bush??) Lets have your thoughts, to the usual address...
Peace.
Monday, 13 October 2008
What I did at the weekend
Well, the beard is still coming along - its at that stage now where its starting to look more like a beard and less like the long ignored stubble of a wino. Its at that itchy stage now, but must persevere as I want a nice bushy one by the end of the month.
Saturday Jake had training - but no match on Sunday as he was not well :-(
He was supposed to be playing against the toughest team in his division, but he had a rotten cough and a temperature Saturday night, so we thought it best he rested. They lost 5 - 3 in the end, so not too bad (managing to score 3 goals against who should be the league winners is good).
Sunday, I borrowed a bike (push bike) and decided to ride to work and back. I have been wanting to ride to work for ages but a) haven't got a bike of my own and b) was worried that by the time I got to work I would be swimming in sweat - and with no showers in the office, this would obviously be a problem. So anyway, I decided to give it a go.
First of all, the ride itself was actually really nice - I left early in the morning, so there was very little traffic, and the mist was just lifting - lovely. But my goodness, was it hard work. My hands were sore (the grips on the bike are not the best... for some reason they're designed with the texture of a cheese grater - I shit you not! - so even with gloves on my hands were agony), my legs, although footballers legs (short, muscular, used to hard work) did ache quite a bit. And fitness-wise, it was a bit of a struggle. But I did it, there and back, a round trip of about 9 - 10 miles I think, 26 minutes each way. I didn't get off the bike once, even up one particularly massive hill, and didn't even have a drink or anything with me. The only downside? I was sweatier than a sweaty thing. When I got to the office, I was swimming in it - no WAY could I then walk into the office in that state, which is a shame, because I think I would enjoy riding to work every now and then.
Finally on Sunday afternoon, to my parents house for a lovely roast dinner.
So that was my weekend - anyone else get up to anything good?
Saturday Jake had training - but no match on Sunday as he was not well :-(
He was supposed to be playing against the toughest team in his division, but he had a rotten cough and a temperature Saturday night, so we thought it best he rested. They lost 5 - 3 in the end, so not too bad (managing to score 3 goals against who should be the league winners is good).
Sunday, I borrowed a bike (push bike) and decided to ride to work and back. I have been wanting to ride to work for ages but a) haven't got a bike of my own and b) was worried that by the time I got to work I would be swimming in sweat - and with no showers in the office, this would obviously be a problem. So anyway, I decided to give it a go.
First of all, the ride itself was actually really nice - I left early in the morning, so there was very little traffic, and the mist was just lifting - lovely. But my goodness, was it hard work. My hands were sore (the grips on the bike are not the best... for some reason they're designed with the texture of a cheese grater - I shit you not! - so even with gloves on my hands were agony), my legs, although footballers legs (short, muscular, used to hard work) did ache quite a bit. And fitness-wise, it was a bit of a struggle. But I did it, there and back, a round trip of about 9 - 10 miles I think, 26 minutes each way. I didn't get off the bike once, even up one particularly massive hill, and didn't even have a drink or anything with me. The only downside? I was sweatier than a sweaty thing. When I got to the office, I was swimming in it - no WAY could I then walk into the office in that state, which is a shame, because I think I would enjoy riding to work every now and then.
Finally on Sunday afternoon, to my parents house for a lovely roast dinner.
So that was my weekend - anyone else get up to anything good?
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
You know its bad...
... when you dream about waking up, and getting ready for work, and the you actually have to wake up and get ready for work. That sucks.
I haven't shaved for ages, so I look like Robinson Crusoe, and the beardy hair is starting to get that horrible itchy, scratchy feeling... but I think I'm going to keep it going as long as possible. Yes, I am aiming for a ginger beard... won't that be nice. (Mind you, there are a worrying amount of white hairs in my beard, so maybe it'll be ginger with a distinguished white tinge).
Jake is playing in his first football match for his school tonight. He had 'trials' last week, and has been picked to represent his school. (Not to sound too much like the proud father, but I would have been extremely surprised if he hadn't been picked. He is easily one of the best footballers in his year, in the top 5, if not top 3).
I played for my junior school team (in fact, myself and another boy, Jonathan Morrow, were the first two picked to train with the squad of boys that were in the top year - yes we were that good!) and I'm sure I even captained them for one game. I'm pleased Jake is going to get to experience that.
Soundtrack of the day: Old skool nu-metal (Linkin Park, Lost Prophets) and some Heavy Metal Ragga (Skindred) - I want something loud and obnoxious...
I haven't shaved for ages, so I look like Robinson Crusoe, and the beardy hair is starting to get that horrible itchy, scratchy feeling... but I think I'm going to keep it going as long as possible. Yes, I am aiming for a ginger beard... won't that be nice. (Mind you, there are a worrying amount of white hairs in my beard, so maybe it'll be ginger with a distinguished white tinge).
Jake is playing in his first football match for his school tonight. He had 'trials' last week, and has been picked to represent his school. (Not to sound too much like the proud father, but I would have been extremely surprised if he hadn't been picked. He is easily one of the best footballers in his year, in the top 5, if not top 3).
I played for my junior school team (in fact, myself and another boy, Jonathan Morrow, were the first two picked to train with the squad of boys that were in the top year - yes we were that good!) and I'm sure I even captained them for one game. I'm pleased Jake is going to get to experience that.
Soundtrack of the day: Old skool nu-metal (Linkin Park, Lost Prophets) and some Heavy Metal Ragga (Skindred) - I want something loud and obnoxious...
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Sitcom World
I was thinking the other day (yes, me, thinking) that I sometimes wish life were more like a sitcom.
Let me introduce you to Sitcom World(Registered Trademark).
Your relationship problems could be sorted by performing some deed for your partner, with the intention of them not finding out, just a totally selfless act, but in Sitcom World they would find out somehow and that would make them realise how wonderful their partner was and they would fall in love all over again.
Or if someone is diagnosed with an illness, a serious illness, and they are shocked and stunned and upset, but it turns out they have the same name as the person who REALLY have the illness and so they do NOT have two months to live after all (never mind the other poor fucker who actually is going to die - you never meet them in Sitcom World).
Another example, when you are walking home late at night, on your own, you can have all manner of fun adventures in Sitcom World, because you keep hearing things, or seeing things, that make you scared and jumpy and can have over exaggerated reactions that leave you laughing in the end, instead of walking home and meeting a group of teenagers out of their heads on cheap beer and poppers who surround you and kick the living shit out of you and leave you in intensive care with a wired shut jaw and a fractured skull.
Everyone's job in Sitcom World is fun, well paid, and a pleasure to do, rather than the mindless, droning, brain death that we have to live through.
Sitcom World. Who wouldn't want to live there?
Following on from Phil's comment - in Sitcom World, your house would never get dirty, dusty or dilapidated. Bulbs never go, unless its a good moment for an amusing "fumbling in the dark" anecdote. Mortgage payments never go up, and homes are never repossessed. If there is any danger of a repossession it's always saved by a last minute find of cash that no one knew existed before the moment it was needed. Ever tried laying your hands on £50,000 at short notice? Whereas in Sitcom World the money is found with just enough time to spare, and everyone ends up laughing and drinking champagne toasting to a bright future (What about next months payment??), in reality you're evicted, and end up living on the street in a box from a washing machine drinking meths and swearing at the demons that constantly dance around your fucked up head.
Let me introduce you to Sitcom World(Registered Trademark).
Your relationship problems could be sorted by performing some deed for your partner, with the intention of them not finding out, just a totally selfless act, but in Sitcom World they would find out somehow and that would make them realise how wonderful their partner was and they would fall in love all over again.
Or if someone is diagnosed with an illness, a serious illness, and they are shocked and stunned and upset, but it turns out they have the same name as the person who REALLY have the illness and so they do NOT have two months to live after all (never mind the other poor fucker who actually is going to die - you never meet them in Sitcom World).
Another example, when you are walking home late at night, on your own, you can have all manner of fun adventures in Sitcom World, because you keep hearing things, or seeing things, that make you scared and jumpy and can have over exaggerated reactions that leave you laughing in the end, instead of walking home and meeting a group of teenagers out of their heads on cheap beer and poppers who surround you and kick the living shit out of you and leave you in intensive care with a wired shut jaw and a fractured skull.
Everyone's job in Sitcom World is fun, well paid, and a pleasure to do, rather than the mindless, droning, brain death that we have to live through.
Sitcom World. Who wouldn't want to live there?
Following on from Phil's comment - in Sitcom World, your house would never get dirty, dusty or dilapidated. Bulbs never go, unless its a good moment for an amusing "fumbling in the dark" anecdote. Mortgage payments never go up, and homes are never repossessed. If there is any danger of a repossession it's always saved by a last minute find of cash that no one knew existed before the moment it was needed. Ever tried laying your hands on £50,000 at short notice? Whereas in Sitcom World the money is found with just enough time to spare, and everyone ends up laughing and drinking champagne toasting to a bright future (What about next months payment??), in reality you're evicted, and end up living on the street in a box from a washing machine drinking meths and swearing at the demons that constantly dance around your fucked up head.
Monday, 6 October 2008
I hate football...
...sometimes. The weekend's football started off badly - Jake had a poor training session, (bad attitude, not concentrating etc.) but then Sunday morning his team played their first league game of the season, against a good side, and they came back from 1 - 0 down to win 2 - 1. And guess who got the winner? Yep, number one son. So I was buzzin' when I went home Sunday lunchtime, thinking "football's great" and I was looking forward to watching the Sunday afternoon games while listening to reports on how my team were doing. And that started well! 2 - 0 up at half time, so 45 minutes left to hold out... and what happens? We go down to 10 men, and lose 3 - 2 in the last minute. Absolute kick in the teeth. So going from the high of Jake's win, to the low of City losing in one day. F*ckin football.
Still, I'm telling myself to look on the bright side and focus on Jake's performance on Sunday. He was outstanding, doing everything I think he should be doing as a centre forward, and to score the winner... well, perfect.
This week:
Tonight - playing football myself (I still get pleasure from that, so thats OK)
Tomorrow night - Jake's training
Wednesday night - no plans as yet
Thursday night - Im playing again
Friday night - no plans (where does the week go?)
I've also got a lot of work on this week, so am going to be pressured.
Soundtrack of the day: "The Illusion Of Progress" by Staind & "Strange Days" by The Doors and "Started Out With Nothing And I Still Got Most Of It Left" by Seasick Steve.
Update : New soundtrack of the day - "Dig Out Your Soul" by Oasis (yes, the new one).
Its been slated in some of the music press, saying "It's half a good album" but that would not put me off buying it - I mean, it's Oasis. And I have to say, I'm not disappointed.
Still, I'm telling myself to look on the bright side and focus on Jake's performance on Sunday. He was outstanding, doing everything I think he should be doing as a centre forward, and to score the winner... well, perfect.
This week:
Tonight - playing football myself (I still get pleasure from that, so thats OK)
Tomorrow night - Jake's training
Wednesday night - no plans as yet
Thursday night - Im playing again
Friday night - no plans (where does the week go?)
I've also got a lot of work on this week, so am going to be pressured.
Soundtrack of the day: "The Illusion Of Progress" by Staind & "Strange Days" by The Doors and "Started Out With Nothing And I Still Got Most Of It Left" by Seasick Steve.
Update : New soundtrack of the day - "Dig Out Your Soul" by Oasis (yes, the new one).
Its been slated in some of the music press, saying "It's half a good album" but that would not put me off buying it - I mean, it's Oasis. And I have to say, I'm not disappointed.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
The anti-flu
Even though a lot of my life is still pretty much toilet, I'm feeling more upbeat and positive today.
This gives more credence to my theory (albeit stolen from Red Dwarf) that there are 'good' viruses as well as bad. As in the anti-flu. Nothing really has changed with the crappy parts of my life, but I'm sitting here at my desk in a much more positive and upbeat mood. Could I have caught the opposite of a the common cold or flu?
Of course, it could be the fact that my mind has decided to shield myself from the real truth of things, so I can drift through the days in a mindless fog of ignorant bliss... but still, I feel better than I have done for a few days. The question is, of course, how to keep this mood going... drugs? Alcohol? Hypnotism?
Soundtrack of the day: The various Bluetones albums...
Update to the soundtrack of the day: "I Started Out With Nothin And I've Still Got Most Of It Left" by Seasick Steve.
This gives more credence to my theory (albeit stolen from Red Dwarf) that there are 'good' viruses as well as bad. As in the anti-flu. Nothing really has changed with the crappy parts of my life, but I'm sitting here at my desk in a much more positive and upbeat mood. Could I have caught the opposite of a the common cold or flu?
Of course, it could be the fact that my mind has decided to shield myself from the real truth of things, so I can drift through the days in a mindless fog of ignorant bliss... but still, I feel better than I have done for a few days. The question is, of course, how to keep this mood going... drugs? Alcohol? Hypnotism?
Soundtrack of the day: The various Bluetones albums...
Update to the soundtrack of the day: "I Started Out With Nothin And I've Still Got Most Of It Left" by Seasick Steve.
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