THE BELCH

Don't Speak

2010-07-30T19:20:00.003-05:00

Well, I didn't get a call that I was looking forward to this week. That means I need to keep looking. I actually talked with someone on the phone today about a job opening and I'm at the point where I'm afraid to say anything. I can no longer formulate words or ideas. I feel like I might say something wrong. I get really nervous, like the first day of speech class. Instead of progressing I'm regressing. I'm shutting down fast and its scary. One more full day until I'm homeless.

Truth

2010-07-27T01:03:00.006-05:00

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to begin our descent into Los Angeles. The sound you just heard is the landing gear locking into place. Los Angeles weather is clear; temperature is 72. We expect to make our 4 hour and 18 minute flight on schedule. We have enjoyed having you on board, and look forward to seeing you again in the near future. "

The truth about being unemployed since April 15, 2010 - It is now July 27, 2010 and have run out of money. (lay off) While I'm still getting unemployment money the truth is - come August 1, I will officially be homeless. Seeking refuge with some friends for a while - until something comes up. I'm now applying for jobs as if I were a teenager again. Yeah, the cardboard hats and fat vats aren't looking as bad as they did a month ago. (What would Sue Ellen Crandell do?!) While I know I won't be as homeless as the men under the bridge, I am now unable to sustain my individual lifestyle. I can always visit my parents if I need to, but I am really hoping that won't happen.

Friends have told me "maybe its a good thing" to go back home with my parents... etc. etc. I see no advantage being there. I am in control and refuse to give up. Today, however, I felt bad.

Being 27 years old mind you - I felt tired, sad, unwanted, useless and upset... first time I felt like giving up. I found it unsettling that a 27 year old college graduate felt like giving up.

For the many MANY unemployed people out there - I can only hope it will get better for us all.

Mr. Braddock: Ben, what are you doing?
Benjamin: Well, I would say that I'm just drifting. Here in the pool.
Mr. Braddock: Why?
Benjamin: Well, it's very comfortable just to drift here.
Mr. Braddock: Have you thought about graduate school?
Benjamin: No.
Mr. Braddock: Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for? What was the point of all that hard work?
Benjamin: You got me.

It's been awhile!

2010-01-28T17:56:00.002-06:00

Some silly facebook status was going around asking people who they thought they looked like. As in a celebrity, athelete, or someone famous I guess. I couldn't find anyone that looked like me at all. So I thought about putting Brian from Family Guy, cause I do drink and smoke, and tend to act like him a lot. But I went with Bender, he's my alter ego whenever I've had a little too much to drink.

Good Job Bender! I'm glad I found my look alike!

Pho Saigon

2009-06-02T20:11:00.003-05:00

Phở (pronounced [fɤ̂] listen (help·info) in Vietnamese; in English, written pho and typically pronounced /ˈfʌ/^[1]) is a Vietnamese thinly sliced meat and noodle soup dish. The soup includes noodles made from rice and is often served with basil, lime, sprouts and peppers that are added to the soup by the customer (as well as any condiments desired). The most common variety includes thinly sliced beef brisket or flank.

PHO SAIGON WEBSITE

Delicious! Spicy and Delicious. Definitely food for the soul! You must try it.

MARU SUSHI

2009-05-07T20:59:00.003-05:00

I went to a Sushi House this evening to have some well deserved Sushi. (The best food ever!) I've eaten Sushi at many places around Austin, but none compare to Maru Sushi!

I was a little hesitant ordering from there because they're a little more expensive than other sushi houses. But this six piece "Samurai Roll" was plenty for even ME to eat.

The Samurai Roll has smoked salmon, crab, avocado, and sweet potato in it. Sensational! The texture was VERY fresh. The serving sauce complimented the filling by not overpowering it. The sauce was somewhat neutral, and the ginger slices added zing to the delicious roll itself. Wasabi? Sorry folks, even this Jalapeno loving guy won't eat that stuff. (Bad experience)

Aside from the $12.00 price for this one roll, it was completely filling, and extremely satisfying. If you're ever in Austin, or live here already Maru Sushi is well worth the money. (They let you bring in your own wine!)

MENU & MAP

Continued Thought

2009-05-07T11:36:00.003-05:00

My friends will always be her friends too. And while thats fine, it makes me not want to confide in anyone anymore. Because of conflicts like this whole "inviting me to vegas" but not her, then she's saying "why not me?" thing... I realize this kind of thing is going to happen over and over. She thinks everyone there is her best friend and I think everyone there is MY best friend. Sooner or later hers or my toes are gonna get run over. This time it was her. Next time will probably be me. (estimation.. September '09) . Then or not, its inevitable. But I do see this situation as preventable, by one of us moving on completely. And for the sake of my own sanity, a difficult and sad option for me to consider. I love my San Angelo friends, but maybe letting go of them as my support system wouldn't be a bad idea. Even thinking this makes my eyes well up with tears.

MAN, I didn't want this blog to be a spill your guts diary. UGH. IT WONT! I promise!! I'm going to take some pictures this weekend through the hill country on my trip back to Del Rio, I'll have the top down, I'll make sure to post them and blog about them. I'll also photograph my dinner I'm planning for Saturday and let you know how it turns out!

Thought

2009-04-28T23:02:00.003-05:00

Even if I miss San Angelo with all my heart, having the ex show up to a friends house while I'm on the phone with them still makes me feel kinda sick and upset, makes me glad I'm not there. Maybe I should not be there. Maybe even if my heart hurts and misses the place and the people, if I still feel like this when I hear her name or that she is at my friends' houses, perhaps I don't belong there at all. Maybe the place I think of as home, isn't really what I think it is.

Any thoughts or takes on this?

Fanny Pack!!

2009-04-27T14:27:00.006-05:00

Some girl came into the office wearing wind pants today. The swoosh swoosh noise she made reminded me of the 1990's. AHHHH the 1990's! While I was thinking about how tacky it was to wear wind pants to the office, I tweeted my observation. Then I received a great reccomendation to give her a fanny pack to not only complete the ensemble, but to maybe give her a clue she's sporting some not so great attire.

Guess what? Prada is making these now, not as a fanny pack, but as a POUCH. Wikipedia says kids are digging them again, cause they're "retro".

Facebook Thread

2009-04-24T13:57:00.004-05:00

A: Looks like I'll have to go stand in line at the DPS to renew my license. Fun!

ME: You better take a bottle of water to stay hydrated.

Mystery Guest: did you hear it's a different one now?

A: Yes, just yesterday. Hopefully they improved the quality of the pictures as well!

ME:They let you pick a backdrop. I chose the beach because it most resembles my attitude. Then I opted to have them airbrush my lips to what they called "pouty pink".

A: Great! I'm pretty happy with my lips... but maybe they can give my eyebrows a higher arch...

ME: How high of an arch? They charge extra when they have to tab into the "surprised expressions" category.

A: No, not surprised. Just a bit skeptical.

ME: Oh okay. Pat Buchanan expressions are free.

Google Yourself

2009-04-24T11:16:00.003-05:00

I found this (horrible) picture of myself when I googled my name. I can't believe this is still up! Wow, I'm thinking that this was during one of the most happiest times of my life.

Now I work for THE MAN, accounting + felons = (yay?)

It's amazing how out of touch I am doing my TV/Radio and Theatre stuff. Do I miss it? Yes. My solution: going back to school for my masters.... maybe.

Here's the article that went with this picture if you want to read a little about that production...

Maybe its time for a little self reflection and evaluation.

The Cowardly Lion

2009-04-23T13:05:00.002-05:00

I'm not even joking when I say that theres this man at work that talks exactly like the Cowardly Lion in The Wizzard of Oz.

He speaks in a warbly low voice with a light phlegmy undertone. Now that I'm looking at this picture, they kinda look similar too.

I wonder how that plays out in the bedroom?

Ukelele

2009-04-22T23:26:00.000-05:00

This girl makes me smile.

Piano

2009-04-22T23:10:00.002-05:00

okay, so I came across some guys videos on youtube.com of himself playing the piano. He's pretty good. He plays a mixture of songs. You can search youtube with the word pianoreimagined and it'll pull him up. You can also visit his website at www.pianoreimagined.com

If you like piano music and interpretations of modern and classical songs then check it out!

Hobble Skirt

2009-04-22T22:40:00.002-05:00

There's a wild girl at work who likes to wear leather skirts and high heeled boots. Her hair is frazzled, and its tinted some kind of red. She sort of resembles a mixture of Annie Potts and Ms. Frazzle from the Magic School Bus. Anyway, she's always walking around and you can hear the WOOSH WOOSH sound of her fishnets as she goes and makes copies.

Okay, so you get she's a little provocative. What puts a twist on this, is that she's really hard of hearing. This means she yells a lot, and people yell at her. When new people join the office they always are surprised at the way this chick looks, but they wonder why she yells. So, I take these newbies under my wing and teach them how our office works.

Do you actually think I give them good information?

I.E.

Fishnets & Hobble Skirts: I heard that ____ is going to buy the whole office personalized brass name plates. I'd rather him buy us some Chinese food.
Newbie: hahahaha.
Chris: *having already discussed her hearing problem, I said if I told her to, the new girl was to speak in a higher tone and louder.* I give the signal.
Newbie: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Fishnets & Hobble Skirts: *makes her "o" face*

So was that even funny? Probably not. But its whats on my mind.

In the Beginning

2009-04-20T23:42:00.002-05:00

De blog inization of CROIX. Deciding what my first blog should be is hard. I guess the first blog will be about the kind of stuff that makes me laugh, and mad. Those are generally things that are worth blogging about. OH, and definately, most definately blog about people and the insane things they do.

Since many sources say I should start a blog, I am. Seeing as to how I'm randomness prone. And the strangest things always seem to happen around me, I've decided its not such a bad idea. Unless of course it becomes either an obscession or a chore. Then I throw the towel in.

I tend to find the ridiculous in everything... and I mean everything. Pop culture humor is great, even pop culture humor from 50 years ago is funny to me. (once I found out what a fall out shelter was, my grandmas stories seemed THAT much more interesting.)

PEOPLE are weird. I know I am. Weird can be interpreted in many different ways. I work with many different kinds of people in my job, and believe me... I've heard and seen some crazy stuff people have done. Some shocks me and some makes me laugh. (mostly laugh).

I usually get angry at things that cause harm or idiocy. I am by far the brightest crayon in the box, but when common sense is a brainstorm, its kinda funny. Oh and harming things.. harming nature, people, animals, etc. Those are all topics that make me a little upset.

Politics? Don't talk about them much. I have too much of an imagination to listen to 98% of anything that has to do with politics. Q: YOU WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT? A: Sorta.

Religion? Don't discuss it much, I'm neutral to listening and learning about other peoples customs.

Travel? I love learning about new places. I go on trips whenever I can afford to go. I've traveled around Europe a few times, and of course visited a bunch of the US. But there are so many places to see before I'm anywhere near my goal of places I'd like to see.

Well I'm open to many topics, and acts of randomness, so don't expect consistency. If life were consistent it would be a boring kinda place, but it would be much easier to manuver.