Looking Out My Backdoor

Five items today:

1. Today I was walking past the S.A.V.E. tobacco superstore when I noticed a sign in the window which read

"Roll your own cigarettes and save up to 50%, or more."

Apparently by rolling my own cigarettes I can save less than, or more than, 50%. I'd say somewhere between zero and one hundred percent, but who's to say that no one would actually pay me to make my own cigarettes, or that the discount could in fact be negative, and I would be forced to pay extra for the privilege of pinching out the strands and licking the paper.

I laughed about that sign for a moment. Then I saw two guys drive by in identical 1960's convertibles. Both guys were about 60, way too tan, and shirtless. I laughed quite a bit more about that.


2*. I realize that not everyone who reads this blog has seen Shaun of the Dead and/or Hot Fuzz, and even fewer are fans of the Streets, but I feel compelled to make an announcement:

When listening to The Streets, never, ever picture Nick Frost, Simon Pegg's bumbling side-kick, as the lead singer. You'll never be able to stop.

3. Puppies puppies puppies. The runt was just too runty to make it. She is in a box in the ground. I cried about her for a while. But! There are 5 other healthy alive puppies. Perhaps I'll get around to posting pictures and profiles at some future date.

4. I picked up a pizza at the Rafferty's take and bake place today and as I walked in I thought "Man, I hope Tirth's working." Just now I realize that he's in India. Goddamnit.

5. My roomate's name is Taylor Jang. He's from a suburb of San Francisco, I think. He has a very well-maintained facebook page. More on this as the situation develops.


*Not that he'll ever read this, but this was Sam Walker's suggestion.

Pray For Rain

6 pug puppies, 3 boys, 3 girls, were all born today between 7 and 9 a.m. Poppy's first two litters were of 5 and 4 puppies, respectively.

One puppy is much smaller, about half the size of the others. I don't know if she's going to make it. Cross your fingers.

Untitled

Greetings from India, folks!
It has been raining a lot here, and a couple of days ago, the temp. was around 37 degrees Celsius (my brains are too fried out to convert that to F) with about 100% humidity.

Anyway, here are a few things that have been leasing my mindspace right now:

1.Before I left the U.S. on July 30, I attended a three-day orientation gig at UCLA, The Chosen One for the fall.Well, on the very first day, our O.C. (Orientation counselor) divided our group of ten into pairs and instructed us to "break the ice" by finding out something that both persons had in common.In ten minutes.After the stipulated time was over, Mr OC went around our sophisticated oval formation asking each pair the question of the day: Tell us something that you found in common with your partner.Well he reaches this pair consisting of a girl, whom we shall refer to as S., and a boy, whom we shall refer to as W.Follow on the conversation that ensued:

Mr OC: OK, W. what did you found in common with S.?
(The crowd (that's the rest of us) leans in to catch the vital answer)
W.:Well, I found out that both of us have lived in Paris at some point of our lives
(The crowd silently oohs and aahs)
Mr OC:That's something, W.! Now S. what did you find in common with W.?
(The crowd performs its ritual)
S.:One thing that I have in common with W. is [pay close attention now, folks] that we both have watched a live open heart surgery.
(The crowd faints at this stunning piece of information)


But I tell you, folks.Bonds like these are hard to break.They last a lifetime...


2.Bulgarian classes.That's right.Here I am, lazily browsing the internet, opening my email account at UCLA, and ZAP!, I find an email that sincerely entices me to sign up for Bulgarian classes that are being offered in tandem by UC Berkeley and UCLA.Go figure...

3.Cricket.India is currently touring (that's what they call it in cricket lingo) England and is slated to play three test matches (the ones that Maxwell erroneously surmised last seven days) and seven one-day matches (I think the name speaks for itself).Well, today is that auspicious day when the third and final test match starts on the Oval Ground (quite a venerable and historic cricket stadium in England)If India wins this one, it will win the test series.22 years after it performed this feat in England for the first time.Chance of a lifetime, eh?

Seems like that's all.
So then, as my good friend Ed Murrow said: Good night, and good luck!

P.S. 9 out of 10 Americans are officially fed up by the monkey-business of Paris, Nicole, Britney and Lindsay.If I were not out of the country, the statistic would've been 10 out of 10.

My Life in Pictures

The Manly Mustache logo Simpsonized

(I have too much free time)

The Mercury Grand Marquis

The Mercery had a major engine problem and we are planning on trading it in on a newer car. Any Suggestions?

The Charger

My mode of transportation until we get a new car.

University Wisconsin-Superior

The college I'll be attending

Litchfield

The city we're moving to this summer.