Chattering Teeth

Cold. It is friggin' cold! I am looking out my office window and watching snow fall and temperatures plummet. It is now 15 degrees in Kansas City, with single-digits expected overnight. Luckily, tomorrow is suppose to reach a balmy 32. The snow showers have been very odd. With the exception of a short period, the snow has been the really light stuff where you look out the window and say, "Huh, is that snow? I can barely see it" It looks sort of like airborne dust. However, this light crap is piling up. It's determined, if nothing else. About time to head out and face the traffic heading home. Good times.

"F#ck you. I'm a prophet!"

I just returned home from an exceptional production of Angels in America. Running roughly six and a half hours over two nights, this play takes place in the mid- to late- 1980s. It looks at politics, relationships, coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation, opening your mind to another’s point of view, forgiveness and the often brutal reality of living with, and succumbing to, AIDS.

Towards the end of the play, the protagonist finds himself in Heaven. He is given the option to stay, should he wish. However, despite struggling with numerous health issues brought on by AIDS, and not knowing what the future holds for him, he requests that he be returned to Earth. He chooses life.

The play is an amazing reminder to embrace everything you can. We can choose to loath, pity, hate, regret…or we can live. Live the best way that we can.

It is snowing something crazy in Kansas City right now. It has been for about nine hours now. It is so beautiful. So peaceful. So quiet. As I drove home tonight I was thinking about the messages from the play. I was thinking about my family. Thinking about my friends. The snow. The crispness in the air. Life. I would have left Heaven, too.

It's Shiny...I'm Stoopid

Over the weekend I turned to what some might consider the ‘dark side.’ After much thought, and even more research, I purchased my first Mac. I had wanted something that I would primarily use for my various media hobbies – photos, video, web, blogs, music, pod casting, etc. Something powerful. Something fairly easy to transport. Something with integrated functionality. In short, something MacBook Pro. Yep, did it. Bought a MacBook Pro – 15.4” glossy screen, 120 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM, 2.33 MHz Core 2 Duo processor. In short, probably more than I needed…but not only is it powerful, it looks really damn cool!

I have been working in a Windows environment since Windows 3.1. While no guru, I feel very comfortable and knowledgeable on a PC. Now, I am not a completely stupid person, but the Mac OS X is kicking my ass! I find myself just blankly staring at the desktop and fixating on all of the prettiness. I am over-thinking everything. The major thing that I have learned, so far, is that what I want to do doesn’t have to be buried in layers of screens or folders. It is very simplified and friendly. I am making it much more complicated than it is. I think a couple hands-on classes at the local Apple store, and a few reference books are in order.

Do I regret buying it since I am not familiar with Mac? Not at all. I can already tell that I am going to love it. I just need to get past the ‘deer in headlights’ phase. Did I mention it looks damn cool?

Pajamas and Bubbles

So instead of hanging out in overly-crowded public spots, celebrating with drunken fools, we decided to go to the house of close friends and hang out with the drunks we know! Pat and Lisa hosted a pajama party for all of us - complete with homemade Mexican food (just food for you readers in Mexico). This gathering far beats anything a public bar or hotel could match. Hanging out with close friends and watching Dick Clark, home movies and playing Mazola Twister rocks! Below are some thoughts from those present. Happy New Year!

"2007 will be one of the biggest changing experiences in our lives! We look forward to having a new little guy to show the ropes and to learn from him too. We also look forward to seeing our friends at many more get togethers."

"We hope everyone's New Year is everything they want it to be in 2007."
- Chris & Kim

"I hope 2007 brings only happiness, peace and joy. Happy New Year to all!"
- Rikki

"2007 is destined to be a good one! Hopefully, the MOJO will become a household name by the end of the year, fingers crossed. But, tonite, the realization that I have some of the best friends in the world has hit me yet again! Anything I do, or accomplish, will be supproted by my friends, anything I fail at, or fail to accomplish, will be supported by my friends. I am thankful for all of them every day of my life. Happy freakin new year everybody!"
- Aaron, A-Train, Mr. MOJO, Byrdman

"Bloody hell! It's 2007! I can remember back when g-ville wore a big giant white hat, tall white boots, and carried a big giant rod. But enough about the 80's and marching band. Uh, can't think of anything else. I'm old. I feel old. And it's way past my bedtime. Need to grab my gerital, or is that a gerbil, synapsese are not firing correctly any more."

"Good night and may you have a pleasant tomato."
- Flea

"Here I sit, in my pajamas, eating my first meal of 2007... and it was cooked by the MOJO man himself!! (ok, so I warmed up some of the mexican we had earlier this evening... but it's still good!). 2007 looks promising... scary... pivitol (sp?)... life changing... or maybe just the same.. who knows?!.. But regardless, I echo what Aaron said. Great friends. And that's what it's all about...."
- Kent

"Yeah!!!!!!"
- Jeffrey

"Merry New Year!"
- Amy Lynn Baker

"I look back and am so thankful for the group of friends that have made this past year so great. All of the friends I find myself surrounded by this very New Years Eve. Happy New Year to all, I can't wait to see what the next year holds for all of us. Hope everyone has a great year. See ya soon!"
- Patman.

"Heres to a wonderful year! I feel so fortunate to have the wonderful friends that we do. You are truly my family! I look forward to many more wonderful years. May all of you have a wonderful New Year and may all your new years resolutions work out! See You SOON!!!!"
- Love and Friends, Lis'