Reflections

I haven’t been watching too much of the Olympics this year. But while flipping through the channels, if it’s been on, I have checked them out just a bit. I’ve watched some of the swimming, some of the crew/rowing events, a little bit of the track and field events, and a couple of beach volleyball matches.
The American team that took the Beach Volleyball gold consisted of Kerri Walsh and Misty May. While watching them play, I’ve become somewhat enamored by Kerri Walsh. What’s there not to love? She’s 6’2”, blonde haired, great slim body, and an Olympic athlete!!! And she’s only been playing beach volleyball for 4 years. That’s amazing!!! Well, she had played indoor volleyball for a few years, but it’s still amazing.
Kerri (and also Misty for that matter) was in a Visa commercial during the SuperBowl, where they were playing beach volleyball in the middle of the winter. The ball goes into the icy water, and they play “evens or odds” to see who’ll go into the cold water for it. Amusing little commercial, but better because Kerri’s so hot in it!
Anyway, as with any crush, it’ll soon pass, and then there’ll be another cutie to gawk at. But for now, just for a little bit, I’m enamored by Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh!!

So, before that Vegas reminder, I saw this picture online.
Apparently, water polo is more of a contact sport than I thought. There were at least 3 different pictures (of 3 different players) of exposure in the pools.
Now, I’m guessing that since NBC is tape-delaying most of their coverage, that this didn’t air on TV.
If it had, would it have had the same furvor as the Janet Jackson SuperBowl debacle? Would the FCC interfere here as well?

This is further proof of “everywhere I look, there are more reminders of Vegas”, which was addressed in an earlier post.
I saw an interesting water polo photo online this morning, that I was considering posting about. So, I go to where I saw that picture, and what do I see? More vegas lightning!
Someone of great power is really rubbing it in now!
Or could it be a calling, as if destiny wants me to be there? As if I were going to win big? Nahhh… I doubt it too!

Hah… a theme post… how clever can I be?
The renovation at work is nearly done. We started moving back in on Friday, and will start serving meals again on Wednesday. The past few weeks have just been the anticipation of getting back into the kitchen. The staff got most of the “stuff” put away on Friday, but there’s still some heavy stuff that has to be moved back into the basement. The worst part of it (at least for me) is putting the office back together. At this point, we’re waiting for 2 more file cabinets to be delivered (should happen on Monday), waiting for a phone line to work properly, and waiting for our internet connection to get up and running again. Oh yeah, we have to put tons of stuff back into those file cabinets. It sucks that the file cabinets I bought (as well as the 2 being delivered on Monday) are too long, about 3 – 4 inches longer than the desk. I’m going to see if they’ll do an even swap, but doubt it for the mere fact that those that were delivered were delivered for free. I doubt that they’ll do free return and free re-delivery.
Once we’re all moved in at work, it’ll be time to get moving work wise! These next 3 – 4 weeks will be as busy as any time of the year. But, to make it more challenging, we’ll have to do it with an inexperienced manager. Since Angela moved, I got Jessica. Jessica just simply hasn’t had the opportunity to take on the responsibilities that she’ll soon be having. That means on top of being busy, we’ll have to be training and coaching her. Nothing like being thrown right into the fire, huh? So, we’ll be moving along pretty quickly for at least a few weeks.
Jeremy turned 2 years old last Wednesday. That boy sure is growing! Last time I saw him (just a couple of weeks ago), he’d shown even more bits of brilliance! He learns something new everytime I’m down there. I’m still called “Uncle” (which is pronounced more like “un-coo”), as he hasn’t even tried to say “Brian” yet. He’s moving on along, too!
I was “proposed” with an interesting option at work during the summer. They’ve asked me if I’d be interested in moving to another city. It’d be part of our company growth, and would certainly help to foster more of my professional growth. I can’t divulge to where I’d be moving yet, as it would break some company-client confidentiality issues, but I will say that I am at least curiously interested. If I decide to take them up on the offer, it would take place either at January or some time next summer.
My biggest concern with that moving scenario is my money situation. I’ve only been in my condo for about a year. I’m pretty sure that I haven’t “earned” enough equity in it to break even if I were to sell it. Between appreciation and what little bit gets applied to the principle in the first year of payments, I’m pretty sure that we haven’t reached 6% over what I paid. With my monetary situation as it is, I absolutely cannot afford to lose money on the sale.
So, that would leave me with the option of trying to rent it out. I might be able to do that, but how would that limit my “buying potential” in the “new city”? In other words, could I get a loan for another condo or even a house in a different city, if I have this one here? I doubt it, although I don’t know for sure. I imagine that if my credit weren’t damaged, that this wouldn’t be nearly as much of an issue.
The last option would be not to move. I’m not sure that’s what I want right now. Yes, I like it here. Yes, I love my condo. But, I’m at the point where it’s financially uncomfortable to be living here (I know, I really should get a roommate — but when your “friend” burns you, imagine what a stranger could do!!). The “new city” looks to be an exciting city, with a lower cost of living, and it’s been mentioned that I would not suffer a decrease in pay if I do move there — it’s essentially a raise solely based on the difference in cost of living. Decisions, decisions… all those thoughts moving around in my head.
Last thought… I was “moved” by an email I received from my old friend Angela (the girl I dated back in college, NOT the girl I used work with). She had a bad situation befall her recently, and she sent me a “writing” of hers where she got her feelings about the situation out into the open (or at least out into type). First and most importantly, I was very saddened by the news that she told me.
Back when I used to talk to her very often, she was very “artistic” — she was a songwriter. I knew that she was creative, and you could also get a sense of that by her everyday writing style (email, letters, etc). I hadn’t asked or talked about it, but I kind of just thought that those days had gone by — that she wasn’t writing anymore. I guess I was wrong… girl’s still got it!
I also knew that she kept her writings relatively private. At least she never let ME read anything she wrote. So, this one situation that she wrote about recently was the first real writing that I’d gotten to read. So, on top of it being a heart-wrenching description of what she’s gone through… I mean I could feel what she’s writing (although I cnould never feel what she’s going through)… she asks me what I thought about it.
She wants a critiquing of her writing when I’m heartbroken by what she’s writing about? I don’t know how to do that. Like I said, I could feel the pain in her writing. It’s definitely creative, and comes from an artistic head. I don’t have anything negative to say about it. But it’s sooo personal. Does saying that it’s good demean what she’s writing about? Saying that feels like saying that it’s “fine”, or like saying that someone has a “nice personality”. Do you understand what I’m saying? It’s like I feel that no matter what I say about it, she can come back with “you’re just saying that because of what I wrote about”.
So, Angela, I love ya, I love what you wrote, I’m saddened by the situation, but there is no “real” way to answer what I think about your writing (even though, I honestly think that any writing where you can “feel” what you’re reading has to be good!). Shouldn’t this be one of those “tests” that you give to your husband, not to your buddy?
OK… movin’ on, am I the only person addicted to watching the World Poker Tour stuff?

I’ve noticed for the past few months, that everywhere I look, there’s something that reminds me of Vegas. If it isn’t “special episodes” of The O.C., it’s the TV shows themselves (CSI, Las Vegas, The Casino). There are ads in magazines, there are ads online. There have even been stories (link no longer active) of MGM buying out the Mandalay Group. They even show Poker on ESPN, Celebrity Poker on Bravo, and Celebrity BlackJack on GSN! Everywhere I look, there are reminders that I really want to go back to Vegas!!!
I even have some friends willing to go for a little trip (even a friend who doesn’t particularly care to fly), but I unfortunately cannot afford it right now. I am broke-dick-dawg for a while (reasons are easily referenced via the archive links over on your right, ahem… “friend” ruins credit rating, mortgage interest rates higher, credit cards not paid off in mortgage, meaning higher monthly payments on mortgage PLUS a credit card payment… instead of having the damn card paid off, and a lower monthly mortgage payment… ugh, getting sick to my stomach STILL having to think about it and having to deal with it).
I’ve mentioned the fact that I’m dying to go back to Vegas to several people recently, because I had such a great time there last summer (even though I went with she who will no longer be mentioned).
But in true “Brian Cunningham-ain’t that just some more shit” fashion, I get hit over the head with my whole fascination with Vegas one more time. I’m walking into a drugstore, and what’s there right on the shelf in the friggin’ doorway? That week’s issue of Time Magazine with a cover story on Vegas! Enough already, I’m dying here!!! Can’t the world turn off the neon-lights-publicity of Vegas just long enough for me to get so busy at work that I won’t have the time to think about it? Is that too much to ask?
Some people have told me that I should “be careful” with the gambling, but here’s the thing: When I was in Vegas, I was there for 5 nights/6 days. And how much time did I spend gambling? Less than 3 hours. I spent approximately $250 in gambling. That’s not even close to over-doing it!
But it wasn’t the gambling that’s attempting to seductively lure me back. Oh no! I think it was the fact that everything there is larger than life. You can fly into one of the world’s top 10 busiest airports, and be in the world’s largest hotel by taking a 5 minute cab ride. And across the street is New York, New York, complete with miniature versions of the Empire States Building and the Brooklyn Bridge (and a whole roller coaster going inside and outside of the whole place). You’ve got a pyramid down the road, complete with a Sphynx. And down the road in the other direction, you’ve got the fountains of the Bellagio, a smaller Eifel Tower at Paris, a volcano at the Mirage, and it keeps going and going.
And that’s not even discussing the tremendous variety of entertainment (I’m still jonesing for another Blue Man Group visit), or the myriad of different types of restaurants.
Maybe next year I can go again… or at least I hope to go. But for now, let’s just hope that the Time Magazine cover will have a similar effect as the Sports Illustrated Curse or the Madden Cover Curse. Let Vegas just fade into the background for a little while, until I can find a way to get back there. And quit being EVERY-FUCKING-WHERE I look, OK?

Today, I met The Man, Ric Flair! I know many of you are going “What a geek”, but ya know what? It doesn’t matter. I’ve been a big Flair fan since I was a teenager, so we’re talking for like 15 or more years!
A couple of weeks back, he released his autobiography, “To Be the Man”. I noticed from looking at some websites, that the book was getting good reviews (it’s actually #5 on the New York Times bestseller list), and I knew that I’d eventually buy the book. I mean, after all, I do have his DVD. Well, I found out that he’d be touring, doing book-signings for the release of his book, and I looked at the dates to see if there would be anything close by. And indeed, he was scheduled to sign books today at the Borders in Frederick, MD. Frederick is more than an hour away, but that’s OK. So, a friend and I headed up there this morning.
We got there a tad after noon, but he hadn’t arrived yet. He was scheduled to be there from noon until 2 pm. So, I go in the store, and the place was packed. I got my book and a “gold colored ticket”, which ensured that I’d get an autograph. But “gold” was the last color that would be guaranteed him signing the book. If we would have been 20 minutes later, we might have ended up S.O.L.
So, Ric shows up about 12:30, in true Flair fashion, by limosine. Since I knew it would be a little while before those with gold tickets could get in line, I hung out at the back of the bookstore for a little bit. When Ric entered the bookstore, the “fans” went nuts. You could hear tons of people screaming “Whoooo!” either in homage or in attempts to get him to Whoo back. It was a comical sight. Ric takes his seat at the table, and begins signing.
There were some rules. 1) No personalization — all you’d get is a signature, no “To Brian” or anything. 2) He’d only be signing his book or DVD, no memorabilia (I left my DVD at home, shucks!). And 3) No pictures. Dammit. I was hoping for a picture with him. I did sneak a camera pic, which can be seen on my moblog There was a guy who was taking pictures, though and will supposedly email pictures to everyone who left their email address. The line for the email list was longer than Flair’s line (they needed more information).
Well, after hanging out at the back, we decide to just go up to the signing area to check things out… and there was Ric, having a good ol’ time meeting people and signing their books. He would joke with the kids, and shake hands with all. Every now and then, someone would come over the PA system to announce the next color ticket holders to come in line. And as they announced “Everyone who is here to see wrestling legend Ric Flair”, a few rednecks would start to “Whoo!” to which Ric would follow along and show them how it’s really done.
There was this really hot girl standing a tad behind me, who got a phone call during the signing. Ric cracked many of us up by telling her “Tell him that you’re not coming home tonight!” He was implying that she was talking to her boyfriend or husband, and that he’d (Ric) be taking care of her tonight instead. We all had a good laugh at that.
Well, after nearly 2 hours, I got the chance to go up to have my book signed. Ric was very nice, greeted me, signed my book, and shook my hand. What a pro! I’ll post the pic of him signing my book when and if I get the pic emailed to me.
He was only “contracted” to sign 400 books (that’s also why they had the colored tickets, to keep count), but he stayed a little later to make sure that those who didn’t get there in time did get an autograph. That was awfully nice of him.
The pictures I took were all outside at the limo area/loading dock as Ric was headed out (the other guy in the picture is referee Tim White, who was alongside Ric the whole time — not necessarily a bodyguard, but the “bad guy” who could tell people that they couldn’t take pictures, or have other things signed, etc… in other words, Ric didn’t have to sound pompous by saying “I’m not going to sign that”). It’s funny, when they were going to get into the limo, as Tim White goes to open the door, it was locked. And worse yet, the driver was no where to be found. They stood out there for like 5 – 10 minutes waiting for the driver, and finally decided to go back inside to wait. I wonder if that driver’s going to be out of a job later?
Anyway, between the people watching (wrestling fans are either rednecks or old people or really, really fat… at least those were the bulk of the people at this signing), and actually getting to meet a legend, I had a great time.
Ric Flair is indeed THE MAN!