]> http://greasy.com/mattguru18/index.html mattguru18's Blog en-us © 04:32:57 Greasy.com All rights reserved. Sat, Jul 04:32:57 5 GMT 30 http://greasy.com/mattguru18/close_call.html I left work early last evening because I was feeling ill- I had (and still have) a headache, and feel a bit sick, that sort of thing. Unfortunately, because I didn’t drive and didn’t wait for a lift home, I had to take the city bus. Just as you get to the city bus stop there’s an underpass. Normally, I’d be one to avoid underpasses at night - but I reasoned that it was only half past nine, the underpass was well lit, and I shouldn’t be scared in the part of the city that I practi ... Fri, 4 Jul 2008 17:21:11 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/parental_addiction.html I’ve written before how my sister’s old Dell 4600 computer died last year because of the hard drive. I finally got around to fixing it because my mom asked about it. You see my parents are currently taking this, “Intro to Computer” course two nights a week. They’ve been learning simple things I take for granted, like typing, e-mail, turning on a computer, and browsing the Internet. She wanted a computer of her own so she could practice the topics she learned in class. Anyway, I b ... Wed, 2 Jul 2008 16:49:27 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/try.html Lulu was downstairs with me, her tail wagging, while I got some water in the kitchen.   I could tell she wanted to play. Our eyes locked in on each other, and I could see her plotting her next move. Her head went down, and I could see she was getting ready for attack.  And then she launched it… She came running towards me at full speed… I braced for impact. She bounded at me, jumped up, and pushed me with her two front legs with enough force that it pushed me backwards into the wall ... Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:13:28 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/novel_idea.html "It was curious to think that the sky was the same for everybody, in Eurasia or Eastasia as well as here. And the people under the sky were also very much the same—everywhere, all over the world, hundreds or thousands of millions of people just like this, people ignorant of one another's existence, held apart by walls of hatred and lies, and yet almost exactly the same—people who had never learned to think but were storing up in their hearts and bellies and muscles the power that would ... Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:55:05 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/spain_pictures_part.html Here is the last set of pictures that Ryan sent me of his trip to Barcelona. I will break them up into three parts: Gaudi architecture, gay Barcelona, and miscellaneous. It was easier for me to do it this way. Ryan told me that he was so surprised by the active gay scene in Barcelona. He spotted a lot of same-sex couples holding hands in public, kissing, etc -- something he wasn't expecting, but was pleasantly surprised by. :) Gaudi architecture: Gay Barcelona: Ryan wasn't sure what this m ... Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:46:25 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/spain_pictures_--_part.html I have Ryan's Barcelona pictures ready to post ::crosses fingers:: -- this wasn't easy! He sent me so many great pictures that it was difficult to narrow them down. Anyway, here they are! Let's start out with pictures of Ryan: Barcelona: Sitges Beach: **I will post Part II tomorrow -- Gaudi, gay Barcelona, and miscellaneous pics. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:39:24 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/back.html Ryan's back from Barcelona. It was odd when he was gone. When he was in Barcelona, we sent each other emails (something we rarely do) and our emails were rather brief. Nothing too deep or intense, just simple small talk like “I hope you're having fun” or “What kind of food are you eating?” But then again, that’s what our conversations are like. We’ll fill 45 minutes about what went on in our day, about the food we ate, the people we encountered, the weather. “That’s the thi ... Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:41:29 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/50_things.html 50 Things (courtesy of Brian45 and Ducky) 1. What do you add to your coffee? I don't drink coffee. 2. What are you reading now? 1984 by George Orwell 3. Do you own a gun? No...unless water guns count. 4. Are you registered to vote? DO you vote? Yes and yes, I'll be voting in this election. 5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? More going to see a dentist or when getting a shot. 6. What do you think of hot dogs? I love them. Got started eating turkey dogs on the grill with musta ... Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:35:17 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/day_riding_coasters.html So yesterday my buddy Jim & I took advantage of the 2 for 1 Great America tickets through Pick n Save and we trekked up to Gurnee, IL. Neither of us wanted to deal with the hassle of driving, so we decided to take the L train from downtown Milwaukee to Chicago. We enjoyed 9 hours of roller coaster thrills. It was a beautiful day, and the park was not that crowded, which was a bonus. I love roller coasters. I used to be scared to death of them when I was younger. I remember the first time i ... Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:05:04 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/barcelona_bust.html Ryan left last night from Chicago and he’s headed to Barcelona, Spain for six days. The trip includes side trips to Montjuic which is a big hill next to Barcelona, host to the Barcelona Olympics of 1992 and a spectacular display of architecture from all around Spain. Then onto Tibidabo, an even bigger hill, this time with a popular amusement park. And lastly, Sitges the best beaches in the area, just a stone's throw from Barcelona. I'm worried about him though. I've been hearing some ske ... Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:35:52 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/time_give_lollipop.html I went to the doctor today. I got a blood test. While waiting in the waiting room, I scanned the other patients waiting. Patient #1: Elderly lady with a farting problem. She continued to let it rip. Not a single “excuse me” or “was that me?!”. Nope, just a pffft and back to reading O. Patient #2: Dentures… This guy who must’ve been in his 70s kept playing with his dentures. He’d take ‘em out, examine them, put them back in his mouth, flip ‘em around with his tongue, and t ... Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:22:39 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/porcupine_throat.html I awoke yesterday morning to a slight tickle in my throat. It felt as if I had swallowed a tiny porcupine that was lodged just past my uvula. And I knew what that meant… It meant, “Frick, I’m sick!!” I played it off all night at work. When it started to bug me, I drank some water. When it started to bug me more, I ate some food. When it started to get scratchy, I ate some candy. Thank God it didn’t keep progressing cuz at the rate I was going, I would have been eating whole steak ... Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:13:21 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/houdini_proud.html Since Lulu is still peeing inside (she poos outside though, thank God… but I have to pick it up immediately or else she snatches it up and eats it… yum!), we’re crate training her to save it for outdoors. When I put her in her cage, she settles down immediately, laying down and relaxing. As long as I’m in the room, she doesn’t mind being in there. But as soon as I leave, she bounces up and starts barking and whining her head off. Today, my friends came over to treat me to a movie ... Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:50:00 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/graduation_2008.html My high school graduation took place yesterday. It was really nice. There were a lot more people there than I had expected, and the auditorium was completely full of the family and friends of the graduates. My mom, sister, brother-in-law, and dad were all there. A few students came up and delivered speeches before the diplomas — or rather, certificates to trade in for diplomas — were handed out. They were all well-written and most were delivered well. A few people sang, one guy recited ... Mon, 9 Jun 2008 22:01:21 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/balloons.html Last night my doorbell rang. When I opened it, there was a man holding a whole handfull of red balloons. “Umm, I think you have the wrong house,” I said almost immediately. “What number are you looking for?” “These are for you,” he replied with a smile. “Is your name Matt?” “It is, but… huh?” I said, still kinda in shock. “One thing I need to tell you though and I hope you’re not mad,” he said, almost sheepishly. “I lost the card that came with the balloons.�� ... Fri, 6 Jun 2008 16:48:18 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/huge_deal.html I hate to state the obvious, but it’s June. June! Do you know what that means? It means that I have all of 5 days before what is probably the most anticipated event of my life - graduation is June 8. To say that I am looking forward to graduation would be making a serious understatement - as if it is on the same level as the weekend or the newest flick or ice cream for dessert. No, graduation means the end of high school and marks the beginning of adulthood, so it is a huge deal. And, fo ... Tue, 3 Jun 2008 17:49:48 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/riley_sister.html This morning, my Mom and I went to our local animal rescue center to drop off towels/blankets, animal toys, a heating pad and some canned dog food. We came home with a puppy. It was unplanned but when we learned of the puppy's reason for being at the rescue center, our hearts went out to her. Her previous owners didn't want her strictly because their child thought she was ugly and wanted a pretty puppy instead. So, with no further adieu... Say hello to Riley's baby sister, Lulu. She’s a ... Sat, 31 May 2008 21:30:33 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/mine.html Well, today was pajama day, but I didn't bother. I never dress up for spirit week. I'm horrible, and probably the reason our class never wins anything, but I really don't feel like coming to school in my pajamas. I sleep in the nude, anyway (kidding) so they probably wouldn't appreciate that (the administration is rather finicky about those sorts of things.) School is very, very nearly out now. Some ten days left. I can't believe I passed everything. Seriously, I'm shitless with surprise. ... Fri, 30 May 2008 21:31:19 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/memory_jeff_buckley.html I want to do a little featurette for the man who has brought more beauty to my ears and to my life than any other artist in my music collection. Jeff Buckley was a talented singer-songwriter with a haunting voice, who was thought to be the most promising artist of his generation. I remember first hearing Lover, you should have come over on a CD sampler that my sister had in her CD collection. It grew on me and I found the full Grace album in the bargain bin at the local Disc-go-Round (why ... Wed, 28 May 2008 22:43:41 GMT http://greasy.com/mattguru18/give_woo_part_2.html On Sunday we went to the Akron Art Museum. The museum has been under renovation and was finally unveiled to the public a little over a year ago. As you can see, the museum's architecture is very unique and modern which fits in well with the city's new image. It was extremely refreshing to visit this museum. The modern pieces on exhibit were shocking, captivating, alarming, and inspiring at the same time. There was an exhibit detailing a man who would bite his body in all the places his mou ... Tue, 27 May 2008 20:01:10 GMT