There is good news out there.

Ok, so neither the Butterfly nor Dragonfly situation went remotely amicable. Ok, fine. I have no intention of getting involved with Grasshopper either.

I would tell of a story that takes place in the mall which happened earlier today, but I digress. Suffice it to say that when temptation comes, all I have to do is remind myself of the one great universal truth: WOMEN ARE EVIL.

So the Arte is the English department’s magazine in which they prominently display the artwork and writings of those in the Liberal Arts department. (Actually, it’s open to all students, but seemingly no one seems to care. Again, I digress.)

The person who was doing their layout cut them deal with a publishing house about 45 in Arab. Needless to say, this company either doesn’t know what the hell they’re doing or they quoted the layout editor the screw price. Either way, the demo copy came back and was missing fonts, etc.

What does all this have to do with me? Well, if everything goes as planned, I will layout the Arte for last year (since they had issues with the way it was laid out) as well as do it for this school year. Each year should pay $400. Knock on wood, I would see the money from this past year before Christmas, so it looks like I don’t have to rely strictly on Blue Portal or working 20 hour days. Maybe.

//In the style of Amy, end good news flash amidst news of pending hurricane.

Hate Mail Here, Fan Mail Over There

This post is dedicated to comments flamming Danizfried to make sure he is burt to a crisp for the following comment:

ehowton, you’re more…..Tom’esque in demeanor…..and a bit of a donkey bottom-biter….

I’m you’re host for life, not retiring until everyone agrees with me because I’m documented to be right 98.7% of the time.

I hate it when I’m always right. It’s not that I hate being right, I love that. I just hate it when I know for a fact ahead of time that things are going on a downward spiral. For example, I told Beth about my problem with Dragonfly. She told me that if this girl was as conservative as I said she was that she’s waiting on me to call her. This was very perplexing, considering that I didn’t have her number, mainly because I had never asked. I told Beth that I figured that she really didn’t like me but was just flirting. Beth said that I was scared and a pussy and that I should ask her for her number. So I did.

I told Dragonfly that I wanted her to meet someone. That was a true statement as I wanted her to meet John and Beth and then later on Richard and Stefani. I also told her that I needed her number to coordinate scheduals since my friends didn’t have their act together on scheduling since classes just started. This was a partial truth in that I have no clue what either Richard and Stefani’s or John and Beth’s schedule is since classes started. Perhaps I choose the wrong words. Whatever the case, I got the following response:

Are you sure that’s all that you want my number for? Cause there was a rumor flying around the kitchen that I liked you.

I told her that I didn’t start a rumor and that I didn’t have the time for such. I don’t know if she believed me or not. She then proceeded to tell me that she was sorta seeing someone right now. Huh!

As I turned things over in my mind, at first I thought that perhaps I had scared her by moving too quick etc. I got angry then depressed over the fact that I was rejected. I also thought that well, maybe I waited too long. I don’t know why, but I almost cried. I don’t give two damns one way or the other, but I’m getting worked up over something that’s supposed to be nothing. The next thought that came to mind was “Don’t shit in your own backyard.” After that, I could see the whole thing playing out: the next couple of days will be rocky and ultimately I’ll have to leave because we won’t be able to work together. Meanwhile, rumors will be flying all over the place. I will be disgraced simply because I didn’t heed my own adage: WOMEN ARE EVIL!!!!

I promptly called Beth after I got off of work and told her about the whole debacle and how I was disappointed that she was wrong. It was then my turn to be awed because she didn’t seem to have any advice on the subject, so she told me to talk to John. At that point, I didn’t care because I knew that I was going to TGI Friday’s to mope over a vanilla bean cheesecake, and I’ll be dammed if Pumblechook attempts to chastise me by getting the information third hand from my personal blog.

One other thought: No sooner had the above taken place (minus the call to Beth) then Grasshopper asks me what I was doing tonight. I told her that I was planning on going home and watching Man on Fire to which, she replied, “I thought you had a girlfriend.” To which I replied, “Why the hell would I do that!?”

I swear I hate being right: WOMEN ARE EVIL

Ok, the whole Dragonfly thing is getting out of hand quickly.

I was at work this evening and one of my co-workers goes, “So when are you and Dragonfly getting married?” And I go “where the hell’d that come from?” and he’s like “she’s got a huge crush on you” and I’m like “I have a theory” But the poor boy wouldn’t believe my theory. I think she just might be doing it to make her sister jealous, but there are a number of factors that don’t add up. I thought this because she was calling her sister (who also works down there) a slut. When I asked her why, she wouldn’t tell me. Oh well. The death nail in my theory is that the sister thing just started tonight whereas she was all hyper and such about three weeks ago. In the words of Howton, *sigh*

If she likes me she must be rather shy about it. Either that or Daddy’s already stepped in and told her that I’m a bad guy without ever meeting him. Who knows? We’ve only went out (if you can call it that) once and she’s yet to call me, let alone kiss me. Frankly I don’t care either way. I mean, if she’s really into me, fine, I’ve got someone I can call to hang out with. If she doesn’t, I can move on.

The irony of course is that about five minutes after the crush comment, a different co-worker goes “Dragonfly’s hot. I think I might ask her out on a date.” to which I replied sarcastically, “Good luck.” It irked me thought that he thought that he could ask her out. Guess I had the whole ownership/property thing going on in my head. The point is, I don’t really care cause she isn’t available when I am. Wonderful girl? Yes. Someone I think about when I’m masturbating? Only when I’m feeling devious.

*sigh*

Just wanted to drop by and give you the lowdown.

Eric, I took your advice about Butterfly. I do believe that you are right, but I’m wondering if it isn’t more of a reaction to depravation than it is genuine interest. Time will tell. The only question I have is this: Is she really happy with the asshole or is she waiting on that one thing to push her over the edge and leave him?

Dragonfly is hot enough, but she’s Mormon, so I can foresee that being a problem down the road.

Grasshopper is drop dead sexy, but she’s too wild for my taste, not to mention that I rubbed her the wrong way one to many times.

I didn’t take the job at IHOP because I was scheduled for five doubles this week, and hence I literally wouldn’t have gotten any sleep. I know this move will greatly piss of Pumblechook, but his view is that the world is out to screw him, so it’s just more of the same in setup. However, I am going to take the advice of an old friend and make my “second job” be Blue Portal. As already mentioned, all we have to do is negotiate the Christmas concert and it will be one project in the bag. There is also an upcoming wedding in October that we need to get. Oh yes, Pumblechook has no idea about Sidewalk. He’s really gonna hit the roof when he finds out.

To update, things went shitty as expected. I found out that three people don’t have the same dream that I have, and from time to time, I wonder about a fourth. That said, I’m still in high spirits that I will have a few production credits to my name by the end of the year. Either that or be dead.

Currently, I am working at the Macaroni Grill. IHOP just hired me as well, so I’ll be working 4 in the evening till 7 in the morning to try to make ends meet and better myself financially.

Film is looking extremely promising right now. I have already been offered a deal that I do believe I could make no less than $1000 on. We shall see though. Sidewalk film-fest is the end of September. I’ll know something by the first of October if all the dreaming and believing and delusional attempts at trying to make a go of it will pay off. If not, I fear that unless I met a young woman soon that I want to give the world to who will allow me that privilege, there will be nothing left to live for since “this fell sergeant Death is strict in his arrest”, i.e. I will be getting older, approaching death and having nothing to live for.

For those of you who are wondering about Butterfly, it ain’t gonna work out. She did tell me that if we had a shoot to give her the hook up if an extra pair of hands were needed. I am not upset nor depressed about this. I am depressed that those who I’ve been working with the whole damned time backed out on me. Oh well, different strokes for different folks.

Um, that might not have been the juicy stuff you’re used to, but I’m starting to wonder if my readership is worth it since all they want to do is give me grief, with the notable exception of a wonderful friend with excellent advice who has a great perspective on life. So I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong woman and perfectly content about it. Who gives a damn? It’s my Goddamned life and I’ll fuck it up myself, thank you very much.

Speaking of which, Dragonfly has entered the picture and is following the model set forth by Seduction Insider. We shall see how long that lasts.

Oh, there’s one more character I need to introduce you to, and for those of you who know your literature, kudos for getting the reference: Pumblechook. We shall talk more about said character when the time merits wasting the effort doing so. Insert aptly penned comment here.

To be or not to be–that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And, by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep–
No more–and by a sleep to say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to–’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep–
To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there’s the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th’ oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th’ unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin. Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And eterprised of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry
And lose the name of action.

And the purpose in that was?…

I’m sure you’re wonder exactly that. Well, I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I left a voice mail with butterfly that we were having a meeting next week, but alas, she hasn’t gotten back to me that she got the message. I could go down tonight after work and see if she did or not, but I don’t’ want to be a bother. However, it’s her only chance for redemption, because if she doesn’t come to the meeting, she won’t be part of Blue Portal, and that’s that.

EDIT:

False alarm. Turns out she’s just like Timon about voicemails and returning calls, the differncence being she actually listens to hers.

I don’t have to worry,
I don’t have to care,
My coat is very furry,
I’m a grizzly, grizzly bear.

Sometimes, I it feels like I should start my entries off with “Dear Diary”. Oh well.

I said I was going to tell the story of Will and the test drive, so here goes.

Will was an old neighbor of mine. He came up at four in the morning Saturday a week ago now. It was funny ’cause I couldn’t go to sleep and one of my new neighbors had AIMed me two hours prior saying he couldn’t sleep. So we swapped girl problems. That’s not the story we set out to tell though. We want to talk about Will.

So this white car that neither me nor my neighbor has ever seen before drives up at four o’ clock in the morning. It was kinda creepy ’cause we’ve been having problems with break-ins. Two nights before this even, several of us had seen these three teenage kids looking in cars as if they were casing the joint. I almost called the cops. Alas, that’s not the story I want to tell either.

White car pulls up. Tall guy gets out. Don’t recognize him at all. As he approaches the stairs, something registered in the back of my mind that I knew this guy from somewhere. Then it hit me––it was Will! He had cut his hair and shaved. He didn’t recognize me either for I too had shaved.

After we’d greeted each other, we decided that we’d both go to IHOP, his treat. That was kinda fun cause he tried to hit me with his silverware. I blocked with my arm, and the wrap hit the guy katty-corner to us. He was drunk and almost picked a fight with us. When the festivities at IHOP had come to a close, we came back to my place.

I suppose I should tell you a little bit about Will’s car. He’d just bought it about two months ago brand new. It was a five speed. (Don’t ask for the make and model ’cause I wasn’t paying attention.) It was a five speed. (For those of you in Rio Linda, that means it was a manual transmission.) He let me drive his car for a little bit. That may or may not be exciting to you, but what made it special to me was the fact that I hadn’t driven a manual for three years andit was a new car. I hopped right in and drove it like I’d been driving manuals for years.

We got back to my place around eight in the morning and then he decided we’d go out to Athens to visit his friend. On the way back, we stopped at a dealership cause driving his car made me want a new one to replace that piece of shit that I’m driving. Specifically, I wanted a manual. So, long story short, I duped the salesman into thinking I was going to actually buy the car right then and there. I test drove a 2005 Vibe. Talk about having a laugh for the day! Twice in the same day I had driven a manual and both of them brand new.

I finally crashed around noon and woke up around six. Beth called and we had dinner cause John was out of town. Talking to my neighbor as well as Will, I had come to the conclusion that it was best to just try to be a good friend to Butterfly, so when Beth and I had dinner, I told her that her and John had taught me patience and how to have a proper relationship. She was like, “John taught you patience, not me.” We had a little laugh over that because she can be demanding at times whereas John is really laid back.


INT. IN THE APARTMENT MOPING ABOUT THE FUTURE–DAY

So I’ve really gotten a lot of information that I needed about forming a partnership as well as some information about the local area as far as certain services offered. I’ve got about 5 days of work I’ve got to get done before Monday morning so that I can finally pass off the info to Butterfly. However, in my studies in bringing the company into existence, I’ve run into what I believe is an artificial brick wall. Hopefully that will all be cleared up by the end of the week, if not by mid-week.

My birthday is tomorrow, but there’ll be no celebration. My family will be out of town, friends won’t be able to come because of their schedules. Oh well. I got my wish out of the whole thing. Except for a four hour shift in the morning, I got the weekend off, so I’ve got some downtime that I can dedicate to Blue Portal.

Wanna here the irony? My sinus infection kicked in Wednesday night, so I had to call in sick Thursday at both places, but it’s pretty much cleared up now. Oh yeah, the theater that was so oppressive at times (translation: overworked and underpaid) was the only one to send me cards and letters prior to my birthday. I think I can claim I’m officially an old man. That, and that I know who really cares. Oh God, the irony!

I need to get through the end of the year in one piece, but more importantly, I need to get to Sidewalk Film Fest. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get everything together the way I want it, but if we are to have a shot at owning and operating our own production company, this is where we turn it around. If all we do between now and the end of September is dick around, our course is obvious. Grief and heartache will ensue.

So, to all that read this, pray or do whatever your religion dictates that I’ll/we’ll have plenty of good favor the rest of the year and that all the hard work that has been done/will be done will pay off.

My Xangain friends,

What lies below…
For those of you who were wondering, I have made a definite decision about Butterfly: I do believe that a professional/good friend relationship is in order and will henceforth follow a suitable course of action. Should Fate decide to push things in a more definite direction, I shall act appropriately. As such, certain information will soon be passed on to her in the hopes of further discourse, especially professionally.

In other news, I’m growing by leaps and bounds as is Blue Portal. While I can’t divulge into the details at the moment, within the next few weeks we should either be in business or admit to ourselves that we were just dreamers and that this sort of thing is best left to professionals.

Uh, I know that I promised some in the audience great revelations, but somehow the previous two paragraphs sum up what’s happened. I shall have to tell the story of the test drive as well as Will’s visit sometime. There is other shocking, confidential information that I would like to release, but human nature compels me to secrecy.

And now a word from our sponsors…
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And

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