My Life According to Fall Out Boy (plus Beards!)

Hello all! This post is inspired by my sister, Deann, who posted this theme quiz on Facebook, and I needed a distraction, so here you go! I chose Fall Out Boy (she used Tom Petty) because they have lots of fun song titles, which should make for some crazy answers.

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 10 people you like and include me (presuming I'm someone you like). You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. Repost as "my life according to (band name)"

Pick your Artist
Fall Out Boy (by the way, I searched a lot of pics of Fall Out Boy, and I am pretty sure Pete Wentz demands that he never have wear a shirt in a picture)

Are you a male or female:
Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?

Describe yourself:
The (After) Life of the Party

How do you feel:
I've Got All This Ringing In My Ears and None on My Finger

Describe where you currently live:
This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On a Bad Bet

Your favorite form of transportation:
Sending Postcards from a Car Crash (Wish You Were Here)

Your best friend?
She's My Winona

You and your best friends are:
Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes

What's the weather like?
Golden

Favorite time of day:
XO

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Champagne for my Real Friends, Real Pain for my Sham Friends

Your relationship:
It's Not a Side Effect of the Cocaine, I am Thinking I Must Be in Love

What is life to you:
Dance, Dance

Your fear:
Reinventing the Wheel to Run Myself Over

What is the best advice you have to give:

A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me


Thought for the Day:
The Pros & Cons of Breathing

How I would like to die:
Thks Fr Th Mmrs

My soul's present condition:
Homesick at Space Camp

My motto:Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part to Save the Scene and Stop Going to Shows)

These are the last two pictures of the great beard re-growth of 2009. Both being taken exactly 2 weeks after I shaved it all completely off, the first pre-shave and the 2nd after I trimmed it up to its usually awesomeness! So apparently I can grow my beard back completely in 2 weeks...I don't know if I'm really excited or sad about that. Currently, I have some crazy stuff going on based on an unexpected job off, so expect a post next week once I sort it all out.

Hi, My Name is Joe, and I'm a Mac

For some reason this topic has come up a lot lately, and I realized how much I don’t like using PCs now when I was home for the 4^th and had to use my parents’ computers daily (one of which crashed due to a virus before I got back, shocking right?) So as a former Mac-hater turned Mac-peddler (the first one is free…OK, actually the first one is quite expensive), I wanted to weigh in on the issue. I want to start by saying that I have nothing against PCs. I realize they are cheaper, more readily available and compatible, and easier for people to use from their previous experience. However, I do want to try to educate a little about the advantages of a Mac for those who want to make outrageous (or even just rageous ones) claims about the Mac without ever having really given one a chance. I should give a shout out to Greg who is the one badgered me about Macs for years before I finally saw the light.

PC-user complaint #1: There is no right click mouse button.

Response: I know this one well, because it was one of my biggest complaints about Macs when I was against them in college (many of our library computers were Macs). This is just flat out not true, and I am pretty sure has not been for a while. I am surprised this perception still persists, but trust me, there is right click capability…I’m doing it right now…and it feels soooo gooood.

PC-user complaint #2: I am used to using a PC, and it will take me too long to get used to a Mac.

Response: A valid argument, and it took me several months to get completely used to the commands, key placements, and user interface. I didn’t even realize that I had really become Mac-dependent until it took me a second to oriented on my girlfriends PC a little while ago. Nonetheless, it is not that hard of a struggle. And just because interfaces were a certain way (the PC way) for so long, doesn’t make it right. You mean don’t have to time to get a used to an easier interface where everything is right at your fingers tips, where you can click and drag anything from folder to folder, internet to folder, internet to desktop, where everything is connected through USB ports and not a different one for the mouse, keyboard, printer, and storage drives, where…well, you get the point. Is your life really that busy that you can’t make a few wrong keystrokes now to save yourself days of time over the span of your life? Is it, really? I am sad for you…

PC-user complaint #3: They are not compatible with everything I use.

Response: I have found very few examples of this being true. I have/can run Microsoft Office, Acrobat Reader, Full Tilt Poker, Warcraft, Real Player, etc., and Quicktime is compatible with Windows Media Player files (you know, for all those “funny” videos you have stored deep in your computer). The only exception I can think of is that I couldn’t find a Mac version of SPSS for data analysis (and I’ve even been told recently that this might have changed). Anyways, even if something isn’t compatible, you can run Windows on your Mac OS operating system and boot the software onto there. I prefer to get the pure Mac experience, but to each their own.

PC-user complaint #4: They are too expensive.

Response: Not as expensive as PCs in the long run! Between 2000 and 2006, I bought 3 PC computers. Most of them were running so slow or poorly within a year, that I already wanted a new one. I have had my Mac for almost 2 years, and it is running basically as good as the day I bought it. Plus it comes with so many extras that PCs don’t to make up the cost. For example, it has a built in camera, which I’ve used more than I thought I would (not for that sickos, for posting beard pictures and eventually taping some comedy for all of you loyal readers). It has a 19” widescreen display that is great for watching DVDs, and the operating system actually runs smooth enough to make using it as a TV worthwhile.

Plus! Super-Fantastic Bonus Mac Advantages!

#1) iTunes. Even if you don’t have or want a Mac, please, please, please use iTunes. It is by far the best music organization and playing system. No, seriously, go get it now. You can come back to this.

#2) The iPod is directly compatible, which is of course the best music player on the market.

Carter Pewterschmidt: Hey, Bill, can you help me program my Zune.

Bill Gates: Sure!

Carter Pewterschmidt: Oh wait, I have an iPod like the rest of the world!

#3) My Mac asks for a password to install any program that executes, limiting the chances of viruses.

#4) I can’t say it never crashes or runs slow, but it is very rare, and easier to correct.

#5) Justin Long is way awesomer than that guy with the glasses on the commercials.

#6) I can’t say I get no spyware, but I get very, very little comparatively.

#7) Stickies! Post-it notes. On your desktop. Nuff’ said.

#8) You can sound cool and condescending to people who don’t own one! J What?!? If PC commercials can say they aren’t cool enough to own a Mac, then that gives us a right to say it too, right?

I feel like I should get a royalty for writing that or something! I would feel like a corporate shill except that I didn’t get paid a dime for that (so far), I did it out of the kindness of my heart to help you. Um, you’re welcome.

Moving, Twitts, & a Beard Update

Hey all, I haven’t been able to post this past week because Abby and I have been busy moving into our new apartment. Although I did have my computer set up on an end table from day 1 (I can’t live without constant internet at this point), I just got my desk setup.

We were welcome to our new place by a window covered in flies, a crap-ton of bugs in the kitchen, and a broken alarm system that would not stop beeping. Nonetheless, we persevered and have since killed all the flies, used traps, exterminators, and cleanliness to limit the bug population, and the alarm system is up and running. After an entire day of moving on Saturday (special thanks to Ben, Kyle, and Abby’s fam) and 5 days of organizing the apartment, it is now completely livable and almost fully functioning. We are hoping to have it all done by this weekend, so we can relax, and then I can get down to some hardcore work and job search prep starting next week.

FYI, I finally gave in and started “twitting” (I refuse to use the term “tweet). If you use Facebook, my updates go on there as my status. But if you are a Tweeple (and yes, that is the official term, I looked it up), you can login and follow me at http://twitter.com/Mazzter4l.

Finally, the great beard grow back is in full swing. I am trying to see how quickly I can regrow it back to its previous majesty. I of course mean how I usually wear it, not the supreme awesomeness of my redneck beard (although I have not ruled out that making a comeback at some point). I'm thinking I can pull it off in about 2 weeks, but we shall see. This is what it looks like after 6 days. That's a little bit of the new place in the background there as well.

Boredom and a Razor

Yes, boys and girls, this is what happens when you are bored and you have a razor at your disposable.

I had planned on shaving off the beard for awhile now, so I figured it would be more fun if I shaved a crazy redneck mustache first. Now, its completely shaved off, and I already want to grow it back, since I look 12! I kinda forgot that's why I grew the beard in the first place!

July 4th: The Recap

Abby and I got back from our trip to C-town this week (she came back Monday, I returned on Wednesday). It turned out to be a fun and eventful trip in which I accomplished no work (a stated goal) and probably ate and drank a little too much (more of a by-product). Here are the highlights:

1. Abby met the parents (which went very well), and we told them that we are moving in together (which went well after some initial surprise). She also met most of the extended family, which must have been somewhat stressful for me, but she persevered. They all seemed to approve as well.

2. Went to a restaurant called “Melt” which sells upscale “grilled cheese” sandwiches and high-end beer. I enjoyed some Spinach Artichoke Dip, the Hot Italian Sandwich (I won’t even insult you by making the obligatory jokes about my man meat…but I’m sure you can imagine a few that are rattling in my head), and a few Bells Oberons to wash it down. Got to see Aaron and his girlfriend, which was a nice added bonus.

3. Introduced Abby to the movie “Goodfellas.” She thought it was a little too violent (which of course it is, that’s half the appeal), but overall thought it was an interesting story.

4. Watched Joey Chestnut win the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the 3^rd straight year. Since I am usually sitting around waiting to BBQ, I try to watch this event every year. I love it! I especially like when they list all of the foods each contest is champion of (did you know there are contests for oysters, jalapeno peppers, and just about any pie flavor you can imagine?). Nonetheless, I feel we base a little too much national pride in whether an American can eat more hot dogs than anyone else in the world. It’s just another way to prove that we are bigger fat asses than the rest of the world.

5. Went to Little Italy for lunch. Had amazing cavatelli and probably the best meatballs I have ever eaten. Also introduced my Dad to Chimay beer, which he enjoyed despite him being most a light beer/Blue Moon guy. Before lunch, we stopped into what we would later find out was an upscale establishment for a drink and a quick pee. After we paid $50 for 5 drinks, I wish I had actually peed on something of value, so I would have felt like I got my money’s worth.

6. Greg came over for one of our BBQ’s and brought his Cornhole set. I haven’t played in awhile, and I don’t think my uncle Keith has ever played. Nonetheless, our team went 6-0 thanks to our commitment to consistency and few great bounces.

7. Got to catch up with Joe Gags after what seems like forever. The first few seconds of our excursion to Boston Market were pretty much the most insane thing ever. I can’t explain it, but it involved me trying to mumble an order and us not being able to stop laughing for 5 minutes.

8. Finally, took a trip to Mountaineer casino with my Dad. Sat down at poker for about 4 hours and played some real solid poker. Made a couple of tough calls when people were trying to push me around. Ended up making $220, getting another $40 from Let It Ride (my fav table game despite its horrible odds), before dropping back down to $100 after a tougher night session of poker. Also, ate an incredibly delicious bacon and blue cheese burger. All and all, a fun and profitable evening.

Overall, the trip was a lot of fun, involved a lot of great family & friends, I ate a lot of incredible food (already looking forward to going back to the Corkscrew restaurant we went to the last night), and imbibed in a few libations. Look forward to getting back in the groove, which really won’t happen until after this weekend when the big move is completed.