I'm very excited to be riding a scooter. We're kind of in the boonies of the suburbs (Burboonies?) so it's not like this is totally useful for meeting up with people or running to the corner grocer to get your single person's week's worth of food. It is however a lot of fun to ride.
This isn't the scooter I'm going to be riding either. The one I'm currently trying to get working and legal is a generic Chinese 150cc scooter. I have to get a class M license, we have to get the title (bought it from someone who bought it at an auction) and then get it licensed. It also needs to be fixed, it won't start. We think it's either the starter or possible the valves. Look at who doesn't know what either of those things mean. (I kid, I can replace the starter.)
These were the scooters the ladies bought a couple years ago but used only rarely. I'm basically riding it to the bus stop and back. The kids don't need rides to school; they take the bus now. This leaves me freed up to get them ready and then take off. It's very liberating. I've been bumming rides off people or borrowing cars for a couple years now and it's wearing me down. Having this is a boost.
The other scooter is also a bit more stable and can technically go up to 70mph. Now, I don't see myself doing that on I-35, but it just means I can get downtown if I want to and go to places that aren't just close by. Again, exciting times.
Big news for Rowan: She is part of a group of musicians that will be playing at the Capitol in December. We don't know the details yet, but I have a feeling it's for the big tree lighting ceremony they do every year. It involves caroling and other musical events. We're all very proud.
Our little buddy Charlie had another cluster of seizures last night. So that's a month apart. We're supposed to go back to get his blood work done anyway, but it looks like we might need to up his meds a little so these get farther apart. If you've never seen a grand mal in a dog, I wouldn't recommend just looking it up online. It's a little traumatic. I'm sure it is for all animals. Just nothing we can do but make sure he's loved afterward.
Everything else seems to be going well. Everyone here is either at work or in school. I'm still losing weight and feeling pretty good about it. Just moving ahead. Now I'm moving ahead with 150 cubic centimeters of fun.
29.8.13
21.8.13
Mass Transit
This is the view I've seen twice a day for the past year.
The car I had failed catastrophically in late 2011. I didn't have decent enough credit or much in the way of savings to get a new one. At the time, Grace and I were living together and so we'd share her car. Most of the time we would ride bikes to school/work but for dates or events at night we'd drive. We also drove to visit her parents.
When she moved away to grad school, I had a choice: Try to get a new car and likely have to pay through the nose and go further into debt with car payments, or take the bus. I chose the later, really wasn't much of a choice.
I will say I enjoy taking the bus. I think Austin's mass transit over all is really underutilized, isn't well developed, and is very under appreciated by the general public. (Just my opinion. I'm sure someone will show studies of how some cities have great mass transit.)
In Austin it's just the bus and light rail. The light rail is a single line going from way north to downtown. It runs every half hour from before rush hour till just after rush hour in the evening. It runs till midnight on the weekends. The buses have locals and expresses and some flyers or shuttles with limited stops for the airport or UT campus.
I ride the express. I get a lift to the park and ride and get downtown about 30 mins later. Then I walk a few blocks to work. Same going home. Sometimes I'll take the train, depending on if my ride needs to go that way or not. But the train fills up at that time and there's never a place to sit. Still, it's better than driving.
I thought at first not having a car would be really awkward. But it's not as bad as I thought. I think even if I had a car, I'd still take the bus. There are two cars at the house and I've been told I'm free to use either. I'm on the insurance. And while I've always threatened to ride my bike more, being that far away from things makes me glad I have options.
Soon I'll have a scooter to ride. I just bought a battery for one of the two scooters we have in the garage. The ladies got these years ago but haven't used them a whole lot. There's been mechanical issues and one needs to be licensed. Also, they're both 150cc scooters so I need to get a class M license.
Then, I'll be able to drive that to the bus stop. And they're big scooters, so technically I could drive one to work if need be.
The only problem I have with the bus right now is it gives me a lot of time to think. I used to read or nap, but the last few weeks it's been hard to do those things and I just sit and stare. I know I'll get past that, but right now it's kind of a long sad ride to work, where I sit for long sad stretches doing nothing but thinking. It's not the bus's fault and I'm really glad it's still there to take me where I need to go.
The car I had failed catastrophically in late 2011. I didn't have decent enough credit or much in the way of savings to get a new one. At the time, Grace and I were living together and so we'd share her car. Most of the time we would ride bikes to school/work but for dates or events at night we'd drive. We also drove to visit her parents.
When she moved away to grad school, I had a choice: Try to get a new car and likely have to pay through the nose and go further into debt with car payments, or take the bus. I chose the later, really wasn't much of a choice.
I will say I enjoy taking the bus. I think Austin's mass transit over all is really underutilized, isn't well developed, and is very under appreciated by the general public. (Just my opinion. I'm sure someone will show studies of how some cities have great mass transit.)
In Austin it's just the bus and light rail. The light rail is a single line going from way north to downtown. It runs every half hour from before rush hour till just after rush hour in the evening. It runs till midnight on the weekends. The buses have locals and expresses and some flyers or shuttles with limited stops for the airport or UT campus.
I ride the express. I get a lift to the park and ride and get downtown about 30 mins later. Then I walk a few blocks to work. Same going home. Sometimes I'll take the train, depending on if my ride needs to go that way or not. But the train fills up at that time and there's never a place to sit. Still, it's better than driving.
I thought at first not having a car would be really awkward. But it's not as bad as I thought. I think even if I had a car, I'd still take the bus. There are two cars at the house and I've been told I'm free to use either. I'm on the insurance. And while I've always threatened to ride my bike more, being that far away from things makes me glad I have options.
Soon I'll have a scooter to ride. I just bought a battery for one of the two scooters we have in the garage. The ladies got these years ago but haven't used them a whole lot. There's been mechanical issues and one needs to be licensed. Also, they're both 150cc scooters so I need to get a class M license.
Then, I'll be able to drive that to the bus stop. And they're big scooters, so technically I could drive one to work if need be.
The only problem I have with the bus right now is it gives me a lot of time to think. I used to read or nap, but the last few weeks it's been hard to do those things and I just sit and stare. I know I'll get past that, but right now it's kind of a long sad ride to work, where I sit for long sad stretches doing nothing but thinking. It's not the bus's fault and I'm really glad it's still there to take me where I need to go.
19.8.13
Knock It Off
I have a confession to make. I haven't been handling myself well post breakup. Instead of cutting off all contact, I've been actively looking for ways to sabotage it. It's been the act of a weak and desperate fool. I know those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter have probably noticed the remarks. For that I'm sorry.
Truth be told, I have no contact with her. All I'm doing is spinning in place and hoping I find something that sticks and lets my brain move in a new direction. Some days are better than others but I still find a lot of my time is spent just thinking and missing her. I know it's harmful and I've tried not to, but I've never been a mentally strong person.
But what I can do is stop talking to the internet about it. I have my own journal I keep in which I can write all these thoughts down without sounding like a doofus to the rest of my friends and family. So this is in essence and apology for not acting like a grown up. Thanks for you patience.
Truth be told, I have no contact with her. All I'm doing is spinning in place and hoping I find something that sticks and lets my brain move in a new direction. Some days are better than others but I still find a lot of my time is spent just thinking and missing her. I know it's harmful and I've tried not to, but I've never been a mentally strong person.
But what I can do is stop talking to the internet about it. I have my own journal I keep in which I can write all these thoughts down without sounding like a doofus to the rest of my friends and family. So this is in essence and apology for not acting like a grown up. Thanks for you patience.
16.8.13
AIDS Walk Fundraising
Dear friends, strangers, robots,
Please join me as I raise funds and awareness for AIDS Walk Austin 2013! An estimated 7,000 Central Texans are living with HIV and AIDS, and about 20% of them are not aware of their status due to not getting tested.
Help me raise funds for HIV prevention efforts and care services for our friends and neighbors.
The AIDS Walk benefits AIDS Services of Austin. Founded in 1987, ASA is the region’s oldest and largest community organization addressing the local AIDS crisis. Annually, they provide direct care services to over 1,500 people and HIV prevention education to over 10,000 people.
Please take a moment to give. Even $20 or $50 goes a long way. For example, $50 will supplement food for one person for one month in ASA's Helping Hands Food Bank.
Thank you for making the difference in someone's life! All I'm doing is walking, you are the real heros by supporting it.
If you'd like to donate, please go here to visit my page. Thanks again!
9.8.13
My Buddy
My parents went through a divorce when I was about 11. They split up and my dad moved out. The actual divorce wasn't legalized until about 10 years later. Today my parents are civil and will communicate with each other if needed. However the break itself wasn't amicable and my brother and I went through a lot. To this day there are things from which we haven't recovered.
However, we both survived. My parents both remarried and my mom lost her husband to cancer, then married again. My dad's been with his wife for some time now, I forget honestly how much. I think 15 years or more. My family isn't close. Something happened with my brother and my parents some 20 years ago and it's never been the same. Everyone's tried to the limits of their abilities and compassion to recover, but I think the rift is too wide. I wish it weren't the case, and I've tried to mediate, but so much has been lost in time and emotion that I think we'll all just keep on the way we are. As long as it's not brought up often, it's probably for the best.
I've been working on keeping in touch with my brother, and I know I could do more, but it's better lately and I think we're still good friends. I'm sure there's things about each other that we don't like, but we're family and that's important to have. He's been there for me and I hope he knows I'm there for him. The physical distance isn't easy, but I think we've been actually getting a little closer.
My parents are their own people. They still love and care for both me and my brother, but like I said, something happened and the wrong choices were made or the wrong words were said. Now they live their own lives as best they can. Their children have been grown adults for years and they have their own problems to worry about. I love them too. They've been there for me when I've needed it and although things have been bad between my brother and them, I know they still care. I hear it all the time, but I don't think we'll ever be a very close family.
But I have my own family now too. I have two great kids, good friends in my ex-wife and her new wife, and a group of friends that is quick with a helping hand, generous with a bar tab, and always looking out for each other. I wouldn't say I'm super close with any one of them, and to quote Bilbo, “I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” Having this kind of support system has always been valuable. When times were tough, there has always been people upon whom I could rely.
All of this leads up to recent events of the past month and the bond I see developing between me and my son. Gregory and I are a lot alike, but he tends to wear his heart on his sleeve more than I do. I don't know if I was like that as a child, but I know now that I don't express my feelings nearly as brilliantly as he does. He has been diagnosed with ADD, and while I'm pretty sure I have it too, I've never seen a doctor for it. I never thought it was a problem.
When we put Chimera down, Cheryl took it hard. It was her dog. But Gregory was the one who played with her the most, took her on the most walks, feed her the most and I think felt the most attached. He was crushed when we had to put her down. He's lost fish before and never took it well, but this was his first big loss. Chim was always in his life.
We put Chim down a week after Grace left me. I too was crushed and went through a lot of pain for the loss. I'd lost a friend, a future, and more than a little of myself. I was very much attached to her and the life we had. It's been a month and I'm still a mess. I've just recently decided I can't be friends with her for the time being and I've severed what little contact we had. It was as painful as the first break and the notion of accepting the fact that she is forever out of my life brought up all kinds of new emotions. But it's for the best and time will heal it all. Whatever hope I have for reuniting with her will fade and in time I won't think of her at all. That time is not now, but it will happen.
In the meantime, my need to feel pain and be sad and recover is paralleling Gregory's loss of Chim. He wakes up crying because he misses her. He thinks of her all the time. He gets sad when he thinks of things that our new dog doesn't do that she did. When he finds an old toy of hers, it hits him in all the feels. It's a loss he has to deal with.
So we talk about our feelings together. I know he's only 9 and he lacks some of the vocabulary needed, but his pain is just as real and his need to heal is just as real. What he lacks in experience in helping him cope, or the awareness and tools to help him see what he needs to do, he makes up for in youthful optimism. He may not need to talk as much but he's also not weighed down by what I can only call "age." His world is smaller, and when it crashes down around him, it still hurts, but he'll recover quickly.
For my part, I've been trying to give him the tools he needs. He's almost past the point of being sad all the time, so I don't have to do much. I've told him he can come to me any time he feels like something is wrong and that I'll always listen to any time he just wants to vent or be sad. I'm also doing it to talk myself down from all the hurt I have. I've been offering advice to breakups on reddit, knowing that shared pain is pain halved. I think in talking to Gregory too, he'll see that pain impacts everyone but that it's okay to share and talk and have feelings. I will admit that I cry a lot when I talk to him about it. Part of me feels bad for dragging him down with me, so I try to make sure he knows that it's okay to have these feelings and that in time we'll be able to look back with fondness rather than loss.
I experienced this with my parents as well. When they split it was traumatic for everyone. I saw my parents cry and rage and feel hopeless. They had relationships after that didn't last that caused more grief and more pain. I felt odd at the time, finally seeing that they weren't giant indestructible creatures. Seeing your parents cry is hard to deal with. You don't think that kind of pain is possible, but seeing it repeatedly over a lifetime you realize it's just a part of life. It'll heal. It leaves scars and never leaves you, but over time it gets better. We all get up, we all dust ourselves off, and get back to what we know as life. We get new pets, new loves and new paths. Experiencing it with my son, having my parents talk to me, and having my friends around has been invaluable. I wouldn't wish this kind of pain on anyone, but I would wish that if they did they were able to share it openly and have the same help as Greogry and I do.
I'll never forget Grace and Gregory will never forget Chim, but I think because of this, we'll be better friends and better to each other. If that's the only positive that comes from all the pain, it's very much worth it.
6.8.13
31.7.13
Meet Charlie
But, last Saturday, Cheryl and Clair went to Town Lake Animal Center and found Charlie.
Charlie is a Tibetan Spaniel/Chow mix. He's about 30 lbs and as far as anyone knows will be 3 this Halloween. He's very sweet, gentle and friendly. So far he likes sleeping most of all. He doesn't bark and the only sounds we've ever heard him make are when we started crate training him (which took all of a day.) He has an under-bite and a snaggle-tooth. He loves being pet and will roll over and let you pet his belly at the drop of a hat. He pounces like a puppy and knows how to sit and lay down when commanded.
He was at TLAC because the previous owner had a dog already. The two got into a fight and the other dog tore up Charlie's legs pretty bad. The medical care was more than the owners could shoulder, so they turned him over for adoption. He'd been there 90 days and was on the at-risk list. He had another week before being put down. We were shocked, he's such a nice dog.
Yesterday he was alone with Cheryl and he had a seizure.
It lasted about 5 minutes and was very severe. For the rest of the evening he was scared and unsure of where he was. He shied away from everyone and then slept all night. Except for at 1 am when he had another one. This one wasn't as bad, but he paced afterwards, didn't anyone petting him and just generally seemed like he didn't know where he was. It was heartbreaking.
As of this writing he hasn't come out of his crate, nor has he eaten. He drank some water after his last fit.
We're all understandably concerned. The shelter didn't tell us he had seizures, but after contacting the previous owner, they told us they had seen them frequently. They also said this was something they told the shelter, which makes me think Town Lake conveniently lost that piece of information to make him more adoption worthy.
But just like in humans, seizures (unless caused by outside stimuli) aren't really anything you can cure. I believe there are meds you can give people (and dogs) to limit them, but they don't really ever 100% go away. Hopefully his seizures aren't common.
In the end, it's good he got this home. It's full of people that love him (I mean look at that face) and he'll get all the care possible. Whatever life he lives now will definitely be a happy one.
26.7.13
Pacific Rim vs. Neon Genesis Evangelion
If I were an average American, which by all rights I am, I'd probably not know about Neon Genesis Evangelion. Even if I'd heard of it, I may not know its origins as a serialized animated television show. The movies are just recaps, and in fact some of the plot lines were abandoned for the movie. As far as I know, there's no US equivalent of what happened. We've had TV shows turned into movies, and we've even had kids cartoons turned into major summer blockbuster movies. But I don't think we've had a long running main stream cartoon turned into a major motion picture, but containing its own story. Closest I can think would be the Simpsons.
But I've become completely sidetracked. The point is, Evangelion is a pretty big deal. It had a huge following in Japan and a rabid one in the US. The last few episodes were among the most watched and most talked about of any TV series. And its ending has left a lot of fans unhappy. (So now think M*A*S*H or Dallas or Lost.) It's a well known idea, it's a well known story. It's not like this is some weird little DVD only anime that Hollywood has never heard of.
Personally, Evangelion was a bit of an eye opener for me. I wasn't ignorant of anime by any stretch. I'd been watching various serials and movies since Robotech first hit the US in 1985. But there was something about Evangelion that frightened me and yet also made me more invested. It could have been the time I was watching or the people I saw it with or the fact that I hadn't seen much like it in a while, but regardless, it made an impact. Probably the same impact it had in its televised form in Japan years before. There was something primal about it the ideas; the link between man and machine, the fact that we've been targeted by supreme beings for annihilation, the fact that the angst and confusion of youth seems universal.
For those that don't know, Evangelion is set in the future in the city of Tokyo-3. Earth's population has been cut in half by a great cataclysm. Most think it's the result of a meteorite, but the result is the world is physically and politically changed. The remaining populace band together and the resultant scientific breakthroughs allow them to create towering mechanized warriors called Evangelions. These giant machines were useless unless a pilot was included and were controlled primarily by neural interface. This was in preparation for the coming of the Angels, creatures of vague origin setting about to destroy humanity.For those that have seen Pacific Rim, does that sound familiar?
It should, but in defense of the new movie, that's about where the similarities end. In Pacific Rim, humans know where the Kaiju have come from and we've been able to beat them back for years, handily. The pilots in Evangelion are children because of their youthful brains and ability to meld with the EVA. Pacific Rim has two pilots to offset the neural load, but for the most part they are trained and hardened warriors. The Angels in Evangelion are complex and completely unearthly figures (save for the first couple.) The Kaiju are just giant beasts.
To be fair, Neon Genesis Evangelion is actually an adaptation of many properties before it. Pacific Rim is just a different version of that adaptation. To say the later is copying the former is disingenuous. It's easy to point and say, "It's just Western Evanglion!" What we should be saying is, "This is great, can we make a decent live action Robotech now?"
I like both for what they are. Yes they are similar, but so many stories are. To me, Pacific Rim at a story level was more in line with Independence Day than Evangelion. If you haven't seen it, it's not the greatest movie ever and I rolled my eyes a few times, but it's just damn fun.
24.7.13
Camp!
G is in Webelos and joined just in time to go with his pack to go camping. On this last day, his mom is there so the kids can get a ride home. The pack leader had an emergency and had to leave, so Cheryl filled in. I know what you're going to say, yes the BSA does have a fairly strict anit-gay policy. The pack G is in, however, knows about C & C and is actually trying to work to change this stance from inside the organization. They feel it's more about the kids and should be less about politics. We like them. And G seems to like being a scout so far. This is his first event, so we'll have to see how it goes.
Some more somber news, we had to put Chimera down last Saturday. Initially the vet thought we could do it in a couple weeks and at home where we'd all feel a little more secure. But the following day it was apparently she wasn't doing well at all so we made the decision to do it then. It's been really hard on Cheryl. It was her dog. After our cat died so many years ago, and after we found out she was pregnant, we decided to get a dog. That way the kids and the dog could grow up together. I wasn't really a dog person at the time (still not really, but I like them okay) so it was mostly for her.
She was a great dog. Well trained and sweet. Like all other dogs she had her issues, like getting into the trash or eating a low hanging sandwich. But all dogs do stuff like that. Yes, she destroyed a lot of my books and my grandpa's old watercolor paintings, but that's equally my fault for not making sure my room was closed off or those items put higher up.
So the house has been quiet. We moved her stuff out of sight. G took it really hard initially, but seems to have moved past it. He mourned his first fish for days, and still gets sad about that. I think I've given him my proclivity to hold on to sadness. Horrible trait to have.
Speaking of, things are still touch and go for me. You always hear that eventually the good days will outnumber the bad days. I'm hopeful for as much. So far they've all been varying degrees of bad. I want to thank everyone for their kind words. I know it's hard to talk about or say anything, but I appreciate all the advice and sympathy. Just doing my best to get past it.
That's all for now. Carry on.
18.7.13
Update of all things
This probably isn't a smart idea, but writing seems to help. I shouldn't have been so drastic earlier.
First, our dog is sick. Chim is old and has been losing her hearing and eyesight. She's had joint pain for a while now and takes pain meds. The other day she got into the trash and ate a whole chicken carcass. I mean all of it, bones and all. Now she's listless and doesn't like moving or eating and is just all around not good. Vet said nothing was wrong with her, just that she's old. So she's on softer food now till she's feeling better, but we're all worried this is it.
When it rains...
There are a few things I should catch you up on. The summer has been *ahem* otherwise pretty good. LMA and G-man are both doing things and keeping active. They're changing schools so this August looks to be quite exciting. There have been a lot of local events that they've gone to and their moms have done a good job making sure they don't get summer-lazy.
G is in a coach-pitch baseball league through the Y. It's pretty cute, if a little disorganized. They've had one practice so far and got their uniforms. I should have some pictures up on Flickr soon. He's also a Webelo now. The Boy Scouts of America has a very staunch anti-gay policy, but they've recently relented a little and said they would be okay if the child was gay or was the child of gay parents. However, they still didn't want any gay folks in adult roles. The troop that G is in is very friendly and open, more so that the parent organization. G seems to like it and he's really cute in his kerchief and hat.
G is also on some ADD meds that have been really effective. He ended school with great grades and he's just a wonderful little ingenious person around the house.
LMA went to a band camp and made a few friends. She did fairly well and when she got back was able to meet with her new instructor for her new school. She just loves playing music and it's nice to have around the house.
So, elephant in the room. It's been 10 days since the break up. I'm not going to lie to you and say it's been anything but hellish. I'm writing about it elsewhere so I won't go into it much here. Just the nuts and bolts are that I'm still in a lot of pain. I miss her all the time, with a furious passion. I don't know how to describe it without sounding desperate and weak. I don't know when it'll get better. It's not even day to day, but minute to minute. My friends have been kind but I know people have different ways of coping and I don't think they know what to say, really. I've just gotta keep busy and hopefully it'll fade.
That's all for now. I'll try to keep the break up talk to a minimum and focus more on what the rest of the crew are doing. Carry on.
First, our dog is sick. Chim is old and has been losing her hearing and eyesight. She's had joint pain for a while now and takes pain meds. The other day she got into the trash and ate a whole chicken carcass. I mean all of it, bones and all. Now she's listless and doesn't like moving or eating and is just all around not good. Vet said nothing was wrong with her, just that she's old. So she's on softer food now till she's feeling better, but we're all worried this is it.
When it rains...
There are a few things I should catch you up on. The summer has been *ahem* otherwise pretty good. LMA and G-man are both doing things and keeping active. They're changing schools so this August looks to be quite exciting. There have been a lot of local events that they've gone to and their moms have done a good job making sure they don't get summer-lazy.
G is in a coach-pitch baseball league through the Y. It's pretty cute, if a little disorganized. They've had one practice so far and got their uniforms. I should have some pictures up on Flickr soon. He's also a Webelo now. The Boy Scouts of America has a very staunch anti-gay policy, but they've recently relented a little and said they would be okay if the child was gay or was the child of gay parents. However, they still didn't want any gay folks in adult roles. The troop that G is in is very friendly and open, more so that the parent organization. G seems to like it and he's really cute in his kerchief and hat.
G is also on some ADD meds that have been really effective. He ended school with great grades and he's just a wonderful little ingenious person around the house.
LMA went to a band camp and made a few friends. She did fairly well and when she got back was able to meet with her new instructor for her new school. She just loves playing music and it's nice to have around the house.
So, elephant in the room. It's been 10 days since the break up. I'm not going to lie to you and say it's been anything but hellish. I'm writing about it elsewhere so I won't go into it much here. Just the nuts and bolts are that I'm still in a lot of pain. I miss her all the time, with a furious passion. I don't know how to describe it without sounding desperate and weak. I don't know when it'll get better. It's not even day to day, but minute to minute. My friends have been kind but I know people have different ways of coping and I don't think they know what to say, really. I've just gotta keep busy and hopefully it'll fade.
That's all for now. I'll try to keep the break up talk to a minimum and focus more on what the rest of the crew are doing. Carry on.
8.7.13
"...here at the end of all things."
Sunday the 7th of July, 2013.
Grace and I are no longer seeing each other. The wedding has been called off. She has decided that she needs to learn to be by herself. She told me she's confused and conflicted. She believes we're both at a crossroads and it's a perfect time to find out what we really want and how we want to live our lives.
Last night we were talking and she said she had to admit a few things. After we talked everything seemed okay. I (literally) put out some fires at the house and went to bed. I had had a horrible day with my job and was not looking forward to Monday. Just after 11 she called back with more stress and anguish about everything. Eventually I asked if she wanted to break up and she said she did.
What followed was categorical grief. There was no sleep. I cried a lot, but I mostly just sat in bed stunned. I stared at nothing for hours trying to think of what to do or say. In the end there was nothing I could do. As sudden and unexpected as it was, there was no changing it.
I'm still angry and I'm hurt beyond recognition. She still wants to be friends, because there's a chance she'll have her few years of growth and realize she's ready to make a commitment. Until then, I've got no plans to grow or seek happiness elsewhere. I'd found something inordinately special and I'll likely never find her like again. She's convinced time will make it all right. I'm not at the point I believe her yet. I'm 40 now and I know what it's like to be happy and what it's like to hurt. I know that it's not going to get better. I know I don't want anything else.
I'm sure I'll be able to cope. I'm sure that in time the sting won't. be as wicked. My concern is that this will turn to resentment. I also know myself and I don't recover well from these. It's going to take all I have not to be petty and hurtful just because I'm wounded.
I don't understand it. I can't comprehend the reasoning behind being happy (as I was told) and in one turn being conflicted and confused and wanting it it all to end.
So, I'm going to be quiet for a while. I don't know how else to do it. I'm also fairly sure this will mark the end of this blog. I haven't been writing and I don't see much of a reason to keep up with it. I wish you all well.
Carry on.
Grace and I are no longer seeing each other. The wedding has been called off. She has decided that she needs to learn to be by herself. She told me she's confused and conflicted. She believes we're both at a crossroads and it's a perfect time to find out what we really want and how we want to live our lives.
Last night we were talking and she said she had to admit a few things. After we talked everything seemed okay. I (literally) put out some fires at the house and went to bed. I had had a horrible day with my job and was not looking forward to Monday. Just after 11 she called back with more stress and anguish about everything. Eventually I asked if she wanted to break up and she said she did.
What followed was categorical grief. There was no sleep. I cried a lot, but I mostly just sat in bed stunned. I stared at nothing for hours trying to think of what to do or say. In the end there was nothing I could do. As sudden and unexpected as it was, there was no changing it.
I'm still angry and I'm hurt beyond recognition. She still wants to be friends, because there's a chance she'll have her few years of growth and realize she's ready to make a commitment. Until then, I've got no plans to grow or seek happiness elsewhere. I'd found something inordinately special and I'll likely never find her like again. She's convinced time will make it all right. I'm not at the point I believe her yet. I'm 40 now and I know what it's like to be happy and what it's like to hurt. I know that it's not going to get better. I know I don't want anything else.
I'm sure I'll be able to cope. I'm sure that in time the sting won't. be as wicked. My concern is that this will turn to resentment. I also know myself and I don't recover well from these. It's going to take all I have not to be petty and hurtful just because I'm wounded.
I don't understand it. I can't comprehend the reasoning behind being happy (as I was told) and in one turn being conflicted and confused and wanting it it all to end.
So, I'm going to be quiet for a while. I don't know how else to do it. I'm also fairly sure this will mark the end of this blog. I haven't been writing and I don't see much of a reason to keep up with it. I wish you all well.
Carry on.
23.4.13
Wait...what?
TL is about done with her first year of graduate school. She'll be coming down to visit in about a month. We have a trip to Louisiana in May and then I'll be going up to Illinois for a couple weeks. I've been given the opportunity to work remotely for a week, then take a week of vacation. If that scenario works out, I might be able to do it again in the future. I will also be returning via MegaBus. I'm excited yet wary. 22 hours on a bus might be too much for me, but I will hopefully be able to sleep/read/draw the time away.
Ms. A is also graduating in a couple weeks. She'll officially, after 20 years we figured, be done with her undergraduate studies. She already has several plans for graduate studies. Very exciting.
The biggest news lately is that Lil G officially has been diagnosed with ADD and as of today is now on medication for it. I know a lot of kids are medicated for it and I know it's not a failure on our part that he needs it. I still can't quite shake the feeling that he's going to change and it won't be the same little boy. When I got the news I literally teared up and needed a moment. After giving it some thought, it's going to be good for him. Lil G is one of the sweetest kids I know. He would give you the shirt off his back, provided it isn't a Beyblade or Star Wars shirt. His downfall is just his lack of attentiveness. He doesn't have bad grades (all As and Bs) and he's not mean or prone to outbursts. He's just twitchy and it keeps him from being able to read and focus and learn.
So we're hopeful. Today is STAAR testing and there's a good chance he will do well enough on it that he won't be held back.
On the other end of the spectrum, Lil Miss Austin has been having some behavior issues. Recently it's resulted in some major disciplinary action. She too is not a bad kid, but over time we've all discovered she's not the nicest. If given the proper attention, (which let's face it parents, it's exhausting, right?) she's equally as sweet and fun. If that slips for just a moment, she becomes manipulative and deceitful. Punishing her, and Lil G if it's warranted, is the hardest thing to do as a parent. I'd rather change diapers for an extra 5 years if it meant I never had to cancel a party or take away an object of affection or forbid an activity.
Hopefully, it's still early enough in her life that she won't follow this pattern and we're able to keep pushing her in the right direction. Her grades are also good (all As at last check) but she has a problem of waiting till the last minute and panicking at the slightly hint of difficulty. Some of her behavior is entirely too grown up for her, and some of it is obviously too young. That's always been her MO. Just when you think she's mature enough to handle something, she acts like someone years younger and the illusion is shattered.
Still, that's not all that's going on.
There's wedding planning. We've put a deposit down on a place in Chicago where you spend the day learning metallurgy and at the end you forge your own rings. TL's parents are helping with the planning in Louisiana and we've already got a place booked and a menu picked out. TL and I are still debating about favors and decorations, but rest assured it's going to be 100% nerd. We've also decided on a place in Austin to host a party and there will likely be karaoke. It will be lots of fun.
If you haven't heard, I'm still drawing robots. In fact, I finally got a commission to draw something and get paid in LEGO. There was a guy who was the manager of the LEGO store in Austin who then moved on up in the world and became a community relations rep for LEGO. So I'm drawing a nice big 14x17 of him as a cowboy space robot fighting an alien slug creature. Just a reminder that you too can order a drawing. I'm actually also trying to figure out ways to be paid in Starbucks cards.
I've also been exercising and eating better. Since the end of February I've lost 14 lbs. I haven't noticed any health improvements, ie I don't feel any different, but people have noticed and that's pretty cool.
That's all for now. Carry on.
PS, the little guy in this photo was seen on the Capital building here in Austin. I've been playing a game called Ingress, which is an Android based GPS turf war ARG. (If you have an Android and are interesting, I can get you an invite code.) So it involves a lot of walking and I'm really close to the Capital. I just saw him sitting on the building as I was walking in from the bus. TL says people would see them at UT and it meant you'd do well on your next test.
30.1.13
Create 2013 (Test Post)
Carry on!
TL vs. Fedex
Fedex will not leave packages in front of my door. Based on my last conversation with Fedex, in which I told them that I never asked for signature on delivery, the customer service said that leaving a package "was up to the delivery person's discretion." So, basically, the Fedex people don't like my neighborhood; to those of you who've never been to my neighborhood, they really have no reason not to. It's has brick streets and old houses. It's very quaint and picturesque in the fall when the foliage is shades of orange and red and when covered with snow. I'm not sure why the Fedex people don't want to leave the packages on my porch, but I've had no real reason to care up an until this point. I did have to drive to the delivery office to pick up some boots and books that I ordered, but it's not very far.
HOWEVER, my generous and amazing parents decided to send me a King Cake. If you've never celebrated Mardi Gras season in Louisiana, you may not be familiar with them. They are delicious giant sweet rolls basically. Usually, they come with a filling (my favorite and the one that most people get - I think- is Bavarian cream). They have green, purple, and yellow icing for the season and have a small plastic baby Jesus inside. Whoever gets the baby Jesus has to buy the next King Cake. It's fun and fattening, but don't worry Catholicism comes with a built in diet - Lent. :) That being said, I am super excited for my fresh from Louisiana King Cake to be delivered to my apartment! (If you'd like one of your own this is where my parents ordered from this year: http://shop.rouses.com/c-8-king-cakes.aspx. These are also very good http://www.gambinos.com/shop/mg_packages.php).
One possible hiccup: Fedex is delivering it, and I will be on campus all day Wednesday, so I won't be home when it is delivered. In hopes that Fedex will leave my delicious present in front of my door, I left them a note. If Fedex does not, there will be swift online retribution and besmirching of their reputation. I posted the note below for your enjoyment. I shall update you on the delivery status later.
Carry on.
TL
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HOWEVER, my generous and amazing parents decided to send me a King Cake. If you've never celebrated Mardi Gras season in Louisiana, you may not be familiar with them. They are delicious giant sweet rolls basically. Usually, they come with a filling (my favorite and the one that most people get - I think- is Bavarian cream). They have green, purple, and yellow icing for the season and have a small plastic baby Jesus inside. Whoever gets the baby Jesus has to buy the next King Cake. It's fun and fattening, but don't worry Catholicism comes with a built in diet - Lent. :) That being said, I am super excited for my fresh from Louisiana King Cake to be delivered to my apartment! (If you'd like one of your own this is where my parents ordered from this year: http://shop.rouses.com/c-8-king-cakes.aspx. These are also very good http://www.gambinos.com/shop/mg_packages.php).
One possible hiccup: Fedex is delivering it, and I will be on campus all day Wednesday, so I won't be home when it is delivered. In hopes that Fedex will leave my delicious present in front of my door, I left them a note. If Fedex does not, there will be swift online retribution and besmirching of their reputation. I posted the note below for your enjoyment. I shall update you on the delivery status later.
Carry on.
TL
UPDATE: Fedex responded very nicely (see photo below). I also added a photo of the King Cake in case you've never seen one. Here is a page telling about the history of King Cakes in Louisiana
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The writing says, "You made my day. Thanks. FedEx."
22.1.13
TL Post- Comic
Hello all! I'm having a fairly relaxed week so far because I got lots of work done during the extra day this weekend. With extra time on my hands, I drew a comic about what happens when Mr. Austin and I watch a TV show together. I will admit that this happens less via Skype, although I have fallen asleep at least once.
I apologize for the poor quality. It's just pen. :)
Carry on.
TL
I apologize for the poor quality. It's just pen. :)
Carry on.
TL
14.1.13
Guest Blogger
Hi Everyone! TL here. I will be a guest blogger on Mr. Austin's blog. I don't know how much I will contribute, but a lot of it will probably be fun media stuff or news, maybe life stuff if you're lucky ;)
Wedding planning is going well. We'll update everyone when we have more news. School officially started today. I taught my two classes; they went as well as expected. Tomorrow I have a couple of seminars, then the real work will begin. I'm looking forward to my first conference in February and, of course, seeing Mr. Austin there.
NOW onto pop culture stuff. I watched the Golden Globes last night with a couple of my cohorts. If you watched or have been on the Internet today, Tommy Lee Jones was seriously grumpy. It was like he was still Thaddeus Stevens. I mentioned on Facebook that he needed to be compared to grumpy cat. I decided to make one because I had time. Below you'll find the original and my remake. Feel free to Facebook, Tweet, Tumble, Reddit, etc., but at least link back to the blog. Creative Commons!
Carry on.
TL
Wedding planning is going well. We'll update everyone when we have more news. School officially started today. I taught my two classes; they went as well as expected. Tomorrow I have a couple of seminars, then the real work will begin. I'm looking forward to my first conference in February and, of course, seeing Mr. Austin there.
NOW onto pop culture stuff. I watched the Golden Globes last night with a couple of my cohorts. If you watched or have been on the Internet today, Tommy Lee Jones was seriously grumpy. It was like he was still Thaddeus Stevens. I mentioned on Facebook that he needed to be compared to grumpy cat. I decided to make one because I had time. Below you'll find the original and my remake. Feel free to Facebook, Tweet, Tumble, Reddit, etc., but at least link back to the blog. Creative Commons!
Carry on.
TL
4.12.12
My Phone Hates Me
I wouldn't even chalk this up to first world problems. I would chalk it up to me being a giant doofus.
Scenario one: I'm walking from my bus stop to my office. I'm not setting any records, but neither am I lollygagging. I carry a messenger bag kind of across my back and my headphones plugged into my phone in my pocket. Just as I cross the street, I pass a fire hydrant. It's a section of sidewalk that's choked by utilities and you have to navigate one of two passages. I take the one closest to the road. My headphone cord catches the hydrant, my head snaps back and my phone jumps out of my pocket.
The phone, my biggest concern, is okay. Thankfully. I don't have a case on it, and it's a work issued phone, so I'm just happy nothing happened. Its fall was buffeted by bungee cord the headphones became. My next concern was my head. It was really ripped back quite forcefully. However, I didn't notice any stars or funny sounds or tastes so I guess I'm okay. My third concern was if anyone saw me. Hey, I'm only human. I just managed to recreate a cartoon accident in real life. Next to a bee or a spider web, this must be high on this list of amusing things to see happen to people at a distance. I kind of hope someone saw and got a good laugh.
Needless to say the headphones were thrashed. I've never seen trauma like this on a cord, it was very interesting.
Scenario two: I'm visiting a comic shop looking for gifts. As I walk in the door, I notice there's Christmas music playing. I don't think anything of it. It started as I walked in the door, it's holiday music, it's all very natural.
I find my gift, and then proceed to meander about looking at other items. I'm partially aware of stares I'm getting, but I'm not giving it much thought. At the time I just figured I was a guy dressed in business casual clothes in a comic store and people were eyeing me a bit. I don't know. This is also a game store, so there were guys at a couple tables playing something. There's also a couple people at another table discussing music by the looks of it. Also giving me a strange look.
I get back up to the front, trying to convince myself I don't need to start buying comics again, nor do I need that Serenity model or that Doctor Who action figure set (with all the Doctors) when I see a lady gesturing to me. She obviously works there given that she's stacking shelves of comics from boxes. I walk toward her thinking she's asking if I'm finding everything okay, but I can't really tell over the Christmas music.
She says, "Can you turn your music down?"
I blink stupidly. My music? What is she talking about? "What?"
"That music, it's coming from you. Is your phone on or something?"
Suddenly all those people staring at me flash through my mind. I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone and it is indeed open on Pandora and it just happened to be on a holiday song. (Not just any holiday song either, but some really obnoxious a cappella version of "O Come All Ye Faithful.")
I apologize, explaining I thought it was the store's music. I fumble with it, trying to find the quit button all the while she's saying repeatedly that I really need to turn that off now, it's very disturbing. I agree and again apologize. Once I find it, the lag between hitting "quit" and it actually stopping could be measured in decades. The music stops and I'm painfully aware of how quiet the store is.
I immediately head to the cashier, pay, apologize again (although the other lady said she didn't hear anything, thankfully) and leave.
Had I heard the music before I got into the store, I'd have known instantly it was my phone. Had it been anything but holiday music, I might have figured it out. But the combination of it starting as I entered and it being a Christmas song, just totally fooled my brain into thinking I wasn't a giant walking jukebox of cheer and holiday spirit.
I hope someone told their friends about that one too and they got a good laugh.
Carry on.
Scenario one: I'm walking from my bus stop to my office. I'm not setting any records, but neither am I lollygagging. I carry a messenger bag kind of across my back and my headphones plugged into my phone in my pocket. Just as I cross the street, I pass a fire hydrant. It's a section of sidewalk that's choked by utilities and you have to navigate one of two passages. I take the one closest to the road. My headphone cord catches the hydrant, my head snaps back and my phone jumps out of my pocket.
The phone, my biggest concern, is okay. Thankfully. I don't have a case on it, and it's a work issued phone, so I'm just happy nothing happened. Its fall was buffeted by bungee cord the headphones became. My next concern was my head. It was really ripped back quite forcefully. However, I didn't notice any stars or funny sounds or tastes so I guess I'm okay. My third concern was if anyone saw me. Hey, I'm only human. I just managed to recreate a cartoon accident in real life. Next to a bee or a spider web, this must be high on this list of amusing things to see happen to people at a distance. I kind of hope someone saw and got a good laugh.
Needless to say the headphones were thrashed. I've never seen trauma like this on a cord, it was very interesting.
Scenario two: I'm visiting a comic shop looking for gifts. As I walk in the door, I notice there's Christmas music playing. I don't think anything of it. It started as I walked in the door, it's holiday music, it's all very natural.
I find my gift, and then proceed to meander about looking at other items. I'm partially aware of stares I'm getting, but I'm not giving it much thought. At the time I just figured I was a guy dressed in business casual clothes in a comic store and people were eyeing me a bit. I don't know. This is also a game store, so there were guys at a couple tables playing something. There's also a couple people at another table discussing music by the looks of it. Also giving me a strange look.
I get back up to the front, trying to convince myself I don't need to start buying comics again, nor do I need that Serenity model or that Doctor Who action figure set (with all the Doctors) when I see a lady gesturing to me. She obviously works there given that she's stacking shelves of comics from boxes. I walk toward her thinking she's asking if I'm finding everything okay, but I can't really tell over the Christmas music.
She says, "Can you turn your music down?"
I blink stupidly. My music? What is she talking about? "What?"
"That music, it's coming from you. Is your phone on or something?"
Suddenly all those people staring at me flash through my mind. I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone and it is indeed open on Pandora and it just happened to be on a holiday song. (Not just any holiday song either, but some really obnoxious a cappella version of "O Come All Ye Faithful.")
I apologize, explaining I thought it was the store's music. I fumble with it, trying to find the quit button all the while she's saying repeatedly that I really need to turn that off now, it's very disturbing. I agree and again apologize. Once I find it, the lag between hitting "quit" and it actually stopping could be measured in decades. The music stops and I'm painfully aware of how quiet the store is.
I immediately head to the cashier, pay, apologize again (although the other lady said she didn't hear anything, thankfully) and leave.
Had I heard the music before I got into the store, I'd have known instantly it was my phone. Had it been anything but holiday music, I might have figured it out. But the combination of it starting as I entered and it being a Christmas song, just totally fooled my brain into thinking I wasn't a giant walking jukebox of cheer and holiday spirit.
I hope someone told their friends about that one too and they got a good laugh.
Carry on.
27.11.12
Made it so!
*fanfare*
I'm actually a bit stuck for words.
For those not following very closely, here's a quick run down.
In 2007, my now ex-wife and I split up. She came back out of the closet and I was okay with it. No harm. It was difficult at first but in the end we stayed friends and roommates to raise our kids. Her new girlfriend moved in and we got to know her family. Among them was her younger sister, Tiger Lily (not her real name obviously.) She was visiting Austin to get a look at the University of Texas. She is several years younger than me, but something sparked between us and both of us were smitten.
It was rough at first. Her family wasn't happy about it. We tried keeping it from them for a long time, but eventually they knew and you can probably read back through the history of this blog to see for yourself. (Although I may have deleted them, it was bad.) Still, we persevered, knowing somehow that it would some day be worth the trauma. And I'm glad to say it has.
I'm not entirely convinced her family totally approves, nor my family for that matter. But we've come to realize that it's our life to lead and that there will always be unhappy or unsympathetic parties involved. I can't change their minds and I don't want to. It's their prerogative and I'm sure those who aren't happy for us are that way for their own perfectly acceptable reasons. I just hope that in the end they at least respect our choice and let us move forward.
But all is not dystopian plains of remorse. For the most part, everyone was pleased at the news and none more so than TL and me. We have a lot to plan and thankfully a long time to plan it. It's always been our choice that she finish her education no matter what. This union we've agreed upon does not change the things we've planned to do. To that end, the date we have in mind will likely be in 2014 when she's done with her masters degree. After that she'll be going right back into it for her doctorate. At that time, I may decide to move or I may not. So far the long distance thing has been going great. Not perfect, and the snuggling is clearly missing, but thanks to technology, it's not as bad as it could be.
For the actually joining, we're still deciding what to do. Her parents would like a Catholic ceremony, but we're not practicing Catholics. I'm sure both families would like a ceremony of some sort. We had a plan of just getting the JP certificate and then having a big nerd party, but there's likely going to be some compromises and some changes before then. Either way, we want it to reflect who we are above any traditional trappings. Yes Star Wars, Lego, Lord of the Rings and Star Trek will all be a part of it, and probably more. Because, well, we're nerds. And we like that.
So there's that. Thanks for listening. I know ABC hasn't replied to my request to develop a story about my life. Modern Family is pretty close, but I think them casting me with Ed O'Neill is a little hurtful. I'm not THAT old.
Am I?
Carry on.
5.11.12
Ad Rating: Cadical ATS vs Nissan Pathfinder
I've been watching a lot of TV lately. More so than usual. I can't help it. I like watching football on the weekend. I'm not even a sports nut, I just like having it on. There's something calming, almost nostalgic about the snaps and buzzes of snare drums on Saturday and the evening musical cues on Sunday and Monday. It sounds like fall, like childhood.
Watching all this TV I've stumbled across a couple ads that are in stark contrast to each other, but are attempting to show the same thing. I'm not an ad guru, or a marketing maven. I'm just a person who appreciates good ad campaigns. I don't like feeling patronized or needlessly hooked into a product. No one does. If you feel like someone is playing you for a sap, then the commercial just lost that company a client.
Let's start with the Cadillac ATS vs. The World.
At first glance, it's ambitious. It's part Travel Channel, part James Bond. The driver, his attractive and excitable passenger and the film crew travel to exotic locals in order to put this luxury car through its paces. If it can handle THESE roads, it must be good. It must be able to handle driving upstate to visit the family, or across town to catch that late night sci-fi/horror film. Is there anything it can't do?
Well, yes. It's just a car. And let's put some perspective on it, it's still just driving on roads. Yes, the roads are twisty and turny and bumpy and shadowed, but my guess is they are still flat ribbons on which this car goes forward with all tires touching at once. Notice also that the car is brought in on a semi. It's such a great car, it can't be bothered to cruise the pedestrian streets of Normalville. It has to be carted in NASCAR style to these locations.
The car doesn't turn into Aquatron and swim to across that beautiful cove. It doesn't fight those kid judo masters. It doesn't plow across the ice flow. It drives on a road.
The co-pilot's line "It's like Armageddon out there!" just solidifies that fact that Cadillac's marketing division really thought that viewers would buy into this whole adventure across the globe as a good way to show off their product. The problem is, in the right hands, you could drive any car down these roads. If you are a professional driver on a closed course, you don't need this specific car. To me, this is an example of hype, and an ad campaign that's over blown and insulting. It looks like an excuse for a group of people to travel the globe to "test" whether or not this car can handle these roads, as though the R & D people didn't think of that already, as though the safety team didn't smash up hundreds of cars just like this, as though hundreds of well educated people didn't already have their say. Now we have Bo and Luke driving on a dirt road.
Where do I sign up for this job?
To top it off, it's not just ONE commercial. Cadillac has created a whole TV/web video campaign about this car vs. The World. There are episodes. EPISODES!
By way of comparison, let's look at Nissan's Pathfinder commercial. In this (remarkably shorter) ad, a family wants to see Glacier Point, but it's closed. They feel their car can handle the terrain so they ask the trail guide to open it up for them.
What follows is a decent example of what a commercial CAN be. It shows the car in action, it doesn't pander, it doesn't hype and it uses a bit of humor. This car actually CAN go to exotic locations, but we aren't treated to the two hour IMAX hosted by Anthony Bourdain version showing us how. It's simple, it's not overblown and it's not completely out of the realm of possibility.
I guess what it comes down to is why Cadillac may be trying so hard. Their ATS is only $5k more on the base MSRP than the Pathfinder, but the latter is an all purpose vehicle. Depending on the driver, it can be driven many ways. The ATS is nearly a muscle car by comparisson. It's a compact luxury sports car. Nissan's site also lists the MPG for the Pathfinder, the ATS doesn't. I guess "luxury" means we have to also deal with the pomp associated with the vehicle.
I wonder, would the sticker price be lower if they didn't have to pay for these people to fly all over the world doing what you could probably do driving around Colorado?
Watching all this TV I've stumbled across a couple ads that are in stark contrast to each other, but are attempting to show the same thing. I'm not an ad guru, or a marketing maven. I'm just a person who appreciates good ad campaigns. I don't like feeling patronized or needlessly hooked into a product. No one does. If you feel like someone is playing you for a sap, then the commercial just lost that company a client.
Let's start with the Cadillac ATS vs. The World.
At first glance, it's ambitious. It's part Travel Channel, part James Bond. The driver, his attractive and excitable passenger and the film crew travel to exotic locals in order to put this luxury car through its paces. If it can handle THESE roads, it must be good. It must be able to handle driving upstate to visit the family, or across town to catch that late night sci-fi/horror film. Is there anything it can't do?
Well, yes. It's just a car. And let's put some perspective on it, it's still just driving on roads. Yes, the roads are twisty and turny and bumpy and shadowed, but my guess is they are still flat ribbons on which this car goes forward with all tires touching at once. Notice also that the car is brought in on a semi. It's such a great car, it can't be bothered to cruise the pedestrian streets of Normalville. It has to be carted in NASCAR style to these locations.
The car doesn't turn into Aquatron and swim to across that beautiful cove. It doesn't fight those kid judo masters. It doesn't plow across the ice flow. It drives on a road.
The co-pilot's line "It's like Armageddon out there!" just solidifies that fact that Cadillac's marketing division really thought that viewers would buy into this whole adventure across the globe as a good way to show off their product. The problem is, in the right hands, you could drive any car down these roads. If you are a professional driver on a closed course, you don't need this specific car. To me, this is an example of hype, and an ad campaign that's over blown and insulting. It looks like an excuse for a group of people to travel the globe to "test" whether or not this car can handle these roads, as though the R & D people didn't think of that already, as though the safety team didn't smash up hundreds of cars just like this, as though hundreds of well educated people didn't already have their say. Now we have Bo and Luke driving on a dirt road.
Where do I sign up for this job?
To top it off, it's not just ONE commercial. Cadillac has created a whole TV/web video campaign about this car vs. The World. There are episodes. EPISODES!
By way of comparison, let's look at Nissan's Pathfinder commercial. In this (remarkably shorter) ad, a family wants to see Glacier Point, but it's closed. They feel their car can handle the terrain so they ask the trail guide to open it up for them.
What follows is a decent example of what a commercial CAN be. It shows the car in action, it doesn't pander, it doesn't hype and it uses a bit of humor. This car actually CAN go to exotic locations, but we aren't treated to the two hour IMAX hosted by Anthony Bourdain version showing us how. It's simple, it's not overblown and it's not completely out of the realm of possibility.
I guess what it comes down to is why Cadillac may be trying so hard. Their ATS is only $5k more on the base MSRP than the Pathfinder, but the latter is an all purpose vehicle. Depending on the driver, it can be driven many ways. The ATS is nearly a muscle car by comparisson. It's a compact luxury sports car. Nissan's site also lists the MPG for the Pathfinder, the ATS doesn't. I guess "luxury" means we have to also deal with the pomp associated with the vehicle.
I wonder, would the sticker price be lower if they didn't have to pay for these people to fly all over the world doing what you could probably do driving around Colorado?
2.11.12
Movember
Tiger Lily reminded me that it's November, and that means it's another year to try Movember! Movember is a time when guys enter the month clean shaven and then a grow a moustache (or mustache for us yanks) and raise money and awareness for men's health issue such as prostate and testicular cancer. Much like October being all things pink, November is now all things mustache.
So I'm giving it a go. I've already got a few pledges and that's good. I don't have a goal other than to raise as much as I can. You can read about the event online and if you'd like you can make a pledge.
I don't plan on posting photos here every day, but I will put them up on a Flickr set if you're that hard up for entertainment.
Carry on.
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