A salute, to two old friends...

Lost.

lose ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lz)
v. lost, (lôst, lst) los·ing, los·es
v. tr.

To be unsuccessful in retaining possession of; mislay: He's always losing his car keys.

I don't really want to dwell. But last night, and into this morning, I had to come to grips with a sad realization... my wonderful jacket, and my steadfast backpack are both gone, and I will not see them again.

I believe that they were in my mom's suv...
And that the door, or back window was opened or unlocked, and in a short time, someone came in and jacked whatever they could in that time span. I'm starting to believe this because I also had a 'CD Case' that I stored a lot of my old burned CD's in that car that isn't there.

I mean, obviously, if I was the one who left the car unlocked, it was MY fault that the items were stolen. That only makes things feel WORSE. I really don't care too much for the 'burned' CD's or the case for that matter. It was really the Jacket and Backpack that I have some connection to...

My jacket was a warm long black leather coat purchased for me by my mom, for my birthday almost two years ago. It was slick, heavy, and quite the most useful. It went with me when I FIRST visited Lisa, and when I wandered the busy streets of New York. It has protected me from a LOT of cold situations, and because it was bought for me by my mom, it has a lot of sentimental value. It's loss sucks ass, and i'm very upset that someone stole it. I cast a curse on you. A VIOLENT CURSE!!!

As for my backpack... that loss is a beast of a different nature...

This backpack was my 'SDSU' pack. It served me, my entire career in San Diego State University, and experienced some of the HOTTEST co-eds one could imagine. It was there when I was a Film Major, and carried my books when I decided to become a Psychology Major... it was my backpack when I became the Psychology Club President... and it was my backpack when I graduated after 5 years. On TOP of that, it has travelled the world with me. It was inside of Stone Henge AND the Pyramids of Giza. For the most part, it's been my reliably trusty travel partner. It was also there when I went to New York, and it carried it's weight when I lost 11 lbs. in Philadelphia.

Most importantly... there was a charm inside of the first pocket. The charm was a smallish brass colored triangle with an eye on it, and the word 'ROMA' embossed on it. My father gave me that charm, and told me that as long as I believed in it, it would protect me, even from bullets. That was the main reason why the backpack had to go with me, wherever I went. It's because it was my good luck, and my safety. It was the reason I felt comfortable on a plane. It was connected to a keychain holder on the inside of the outer pocket... and just like the bag it was attached to... it's also gone.

What does this mean? Does this loss of a jacket, and greater loss of an important backpack signify an important change? Does it mean i'm not 'invincible' anymore, and I shouldn't count on the 'warmth' and 'comfort' and 'reliability' of my parents? Does it mean, I should think about cutting down on the travelling, and focusing on the 'working' aspect? Or does it mean some DUMB FUCK JACKED MY SHIT?

*breathes*

I'm not upset.

---

Mood: Bitter.
Food: 1455 Calories (Not much... huh?)
Exercise: None... I cleaned and packed all day today.
Condition: Getting over it. Slowly.

---

Four days to go.

Here's what I basically need to do:

• Sunday - CLEAN, PACK.
• Monday - WRITE IN CARDS, TIE LOOSE ENDS.
• Tuesday - PARTY AT BROTHERS.

Then i'm out on Wednesday... but with the recent headlines in the news... i'm a LITTLE nervous...

Nigerian Plane Crash <- Click Here.
Chicago Plane Skid <- Click Here.

I'm not scared of flying, and I consider myself a frequent traveller, but it's always stories like this that always shake me up a little. I know no one died in the plane at Chicago... but STILL, do I really need to deal with that kind of stress?

And i'm touching down in TWO Airports, first the Minneapolis Airport...

Here's the weather report for Wednesday at Minneapolis.

THEN i'm landing at the Sioux Falls Airport...

Here's THAT weather report.

Simply PUT, i'm touching down TWICE, into TWO Snow Storms. (And here I thought I was worried about the SUPREME COLD.)

Anyways, here's another UPSETTING revelation...

My backpack's missing.

Yeah. Yeah, my VERY IMPORTANT backpack.
I'm starting to think, that the backpack, and the jacket are somehow LINKED.
If I can locate the whereabouts of the backpack, I will uncover the location of the jacket.

*sigh* This is just NOT good.

---

Mood: Disturbed.
Food: 2140 Calories.
Exercise: Worrying.
Condition: Wondering...

---

Satan's Claws, Satan's Claws...

I went to pho-cali. There's this freaky ass singing dancing santa. Watch him dance... And traumatize your children. That is in NO way freaky.

New. Cheap. Jacket.

I'm finished with all my shopping. (Christmas cards and nephew gifts.)

• I'm done.
• I'm like 95% healed from my past sickness. (We've got slight congestion, and an ANNOYING sore throat that's more of an 'irritated' throat, not to mention a case of 'sexy grumbly voice'.)
• I cleaned out the two vehicles today, and all presents that need to be wrapped... are WRAPPED.
• I DIDN'T win an XBOX 360 (Despite attempts.)
• I DID, however, LOSE my awesome Leather Jacket, and in trade purchased a new Snowboarding Jacketo.

It was 'like' at first sight. I was snooping around Radio Shack, when I decided to check out the Big 5 Sporting Goods (where my Niece works). As usual, i'm only ONE piece away from finishing my TOTALLY SWEET Snowboarder's Complete Package. What's the missing ingredient?

No, it's not love.

It's a jacket. So I always swing by to see if there's any ridiculous sales, like a 100 dollar jacket for, 50 bucks, or something. So I see this jacket here... (see below)



... and i'm thinking, "It's... XXL, and it's water and snow resistant... with fleece inner lining... hmmm, it also matches my snowboard pants to some extent... hmmm... how much IS it?"

$ 80.00

HOLY BUTT GRENADES. I don't have 80 bucks. (Ask Flickr... according to them, I have like, (-24.95) punks.) Anyway, I figure, "hey, this might be on sale, it might even be 40 bucks... THEN i'll think about buying it."

So I go to the cashier chick, and have her scan it.

Mel: "I just wanted to see, out of MORBID curiosity, how much this fine jacket costs?"

Chicky: "..." (She types in the prices slowly, and without luster.) "$25.00"

Mel: (blinking) "Excuse me?"

Chicky: "... $25.00"

Mel: "25 bucks? That's it?"

Chicky: "... No sir. There's tax too."

Mel: "Oh."

Well, since there was tax, I decided not to buy it- OF COURSE I WANTED TO BUY IT!!!!! But you know me, i'm cheaper than a Filipino on his last dime. So I figure i'll get my awesome niece to give me that FAT 10% discount! SCREW YOU TAXES!

Yeah, so the moral of the story is... I lost my awesome black leather coat...

I mean, HOW do you LOSE a BIG-ASS thick heavy Black Leather Coat, like <---- that one ---< ??!?! That thing kept me FLIPPIN WARM every single time I needed it. So at least I have a replacement to wear while i'm in ICY-HELL... erm... South Dakota.

So what's left?

->Clean.

->Pack.

->Party.

->Leave.

Everything else, baby it's CHRISTMAS.
But seriously... I wanna know where my jacket is. STEVE?!?! DO YOU HAVE IT?! DID YOU ACCIDENTALLY PUT IT YOUR LUGGAGE?!?! *cries*

---

Mood: Sad, and slightly nostalgic.
Food: 1675... and I thought I ate MORE...
Exercise: Wrapping Gifts... haha.
Condition: Slightly MIFFED.

---

FLICKR'D in the head.

: ( <- THAT, my dear audience is the emoticon of an UNHAPPY FACE.

Flickr went ahead and pressed it's finger deep into my heart, and punctured my left ventricle.

And people, it hurts. Like a smelly bitch.

I tried. I sent such a solid request, thinking NOTHING of it. Thinking, "hey, these guys aren't heartless beasts, they'll totally understand my problem and rectify it without as much as a 'no problemo' "

Alas, I was wrong.

Here, I present an interexchange between I, and a rep from Flickr... enjoy...

Mel: "Dear Flickr... I did something silly. In my haste of getting a year account, a good friend of mine decided to get me one as well... so, as much as i'm sure i'll be getting a 2nd year... I could REALLY use the cash for Christmas... and I would appreciate a refund. I haven't had OR used the account for more than a day, and I already have a Year Subscription bought for me by my friend. Thanks! -Mel" {This was a dramatization of the original 'remark' tag I sent to Flickr, because you know, they don't 'TALK' to anyone.}

And here is what follows...

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- [ From FLICKR to Mel ] 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Hi Romel,

I'm very sorry but Pro accounts are non-refundable.

Regards,
Ana

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- [ From Mel to FLICKR ] 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Ana,

I mean, I didn't really have the account for more than a day or so, and my friend ended up buying me a year... is there really no other option for me? I really need the money for Christmas, if there's anything you can do I would greatly appreciate the help.

-Romel

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- [ From FLICKR to Mel ] 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Hi Romel,

I am very sorry but there is no other option.

Regards,
Ana

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- [ From Mel to FLICKR ] 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

:(

I've never heard of a company that can't do refunds. But you make me cry, Ana. I cry for the Christmas I can't give.

What would baby Jesus do?

Gimme my refund. That's what he'd do.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

I don't know if I want to end this JUST yet.

I'm going to take this up with Paypal, to see if they'll try to help me.

I mean, it won't hurt to try. Right?

*UPDATE*

The gloves are OFF baby! I took it to the Paypal Resolution Center.

NOW we're GONNA talk.

Whether they like it or not.

---

Mood: Contemplative.
Food: 2392 Caloric
Exercise: Lifting a Receiver.
Condition: Clearing the throat often.

---

~A funny thing happened on the way to the FLICKR~

Ohhhhhh man.

Impatience + Stubborness = Ironic Situations

YESTERDAY... I came to the sad conclusion that I was NOT going to get .19 cents from 57 people, to have enough to get a Flickr account Pro.

So, resolved, I decided to just MAKE the money to get that subscription. I'd use the wiles of E-Bay to make enough to sustain a year of the Photo Site.

As luck would have it I ran an auction that made me 26 buckaroonies. Subtract the 1.05 for silly Gay-Pal fees... and what did that leave me?

24.95

What was ALSO that EXACT same price?

A Pro-Flickr Account for One Year.

So like a an assist in basketball...

The Auction winner passed me 24.95, and I shot it right for the Flickr account... all through Gay-Pal.

Suddenly I had a Pro Account. My 200 pictures... suddenly became over 600... because they never really DELETED any pictures from their website... they just cocktease you with the MOST recent 200 you put up, and the other 400 were in 'Get Pro Flickr or Rot' Hell.

Exploring the options in Flickr... I was like a Kid in a Candy Shop... or in THIS case... a Mel in a Flickr Pro Site. There's a ton-a-bunch of stuff to use in there... it was like the Non-Pro account was a joke... and THIS was the Relevant-Real-Deal-Holyfield.

"Flicker Pro... nigga."

So yay, I had my Flickr account, and actually I was going to post LAST night about my joy in attaining something...

Here comes the big ol' flaming ball of IRONIC COMEDY.

I speak to Jarold... (Or ~ ol' 19 Cents ~ as I like to call him) online, and he's like 'Oh, did you check your Myspace?'

And i'm like.

'No'

And then he's like.

'You should.'

And i'm like.

'I'm on it, like bubonic. Erm... Plague... is... to... people." < - (okay, I never said that.)

So then there's a series of gasping and cussing which would follow shortly thereafter... (See image below...)

On the top left image, Jay basically congratulates me on being able to enjoy unlimited pictures... wait... DOES HE ALREADY KNOW I HAVE AN ACCOUNT?!? Oh wait... let me check my G-Mail...

*Is GREATLY suprised!*

His 'kindness' came a day AFTER I 'kindnessed' myself. And I mean, I 'kindnessed' ALL OVER my keyboard.

SO, I basically told Flickr I want my money back. No offense. I'm probably going to extend with them until a better site opens or whatnot, but i'd REALLY rather use the 24.95... and add it to the unhappy little 4.74 sitting in Paypal to do some good in the cold country. (I need EVERY FRICKING PENNY I CAN HORDE.)

So cross your fingers people. Bid daddy Mel wants his mo-fockin' cash money bizzack.

---

Mood: Slightly Confused.
Food: 1710 Calories (Busy getting my badass haircut.)
Exercise: Being wicked dumb?
Condition: It's midnight, and my stomach's grumbly. I mean, 1710 calories???

---

JUSTICE! ~A dish best served cold~

I'll be quick. This isn't my 'end of day' post. (Right, because I have this big following now of readers...) But I wanted to put up a minor victory for John S. Littleguy, USA.

Here's the dirty on it~

I tried to get a loan. From a bank. Not a lot, but definitely not a little. So my brother helped me out, and we went to a friend of his who suddenly became a loan officer. Sufficed to say, I didn't get said loan from the bank, but that's not to say he didn't try.

He tried EVERYTHING. Simply put, I have a shiny and pretty credit score, but my debt (high) to income (none) ratio was out of wack. So that was a no go.

However, as a tactic, he signed me up (unbeknowest to me) for a checking account at CITIBANK so he could attempt to get me a loan THERE.

Still no good.

Now, we had LONG since gone past the need for a loan, HOWEVER, because a checking account was created, without my knowledge OR permission, Citibank felt that it was a good time to charge me a monthly fee for 'using' thier 'checking services'. So they charged a currently UNKNOWN, and UNUSED account their fee, and realized that there was no money in the account. *surprise*. So THEN, they CHARGE me a penalty overdraft fee, for not having any money in the account, that it charged me a fee for having in the first place.

Still with me?

Not long after, I was getting letters telling me that I had a negative balance AND it was totalled to -$30.00. (Which, interestingly enough is MUCH more expensive than a year with Flickr.)

So I called 'em up. Pissed as I was. I was lucky enough to get a call center in either India or the Philippines, with someone named Chris, or John, who was really named Ishmirddhi or Boy-boy to gently tell me that an 'investigation' would be placed on my account.

GOOD.

Now they'll trace their lines, and discover a contract that was NEVER signed by me.

Would that be the end? HELL NO.

I get a letter, a MONTH later saying...

"Our records indicate that on this date and that date, we sent you letters saying you had an account... please pay us money..."

...

Are you KIDDING ME?! Because they have records saying that they sent me LETTERS, that gives them the right to stand their ground on the fact that I owe them money for a service... I DIDN'T EVEN USE or KNOW ABOUT?! (<- whoa, angry much?) At a short time, SIX people were in this house, and at least FIVE of them were getting mail. I sure's hell remember never getting those letters. Anyway, I decided to handle this with a simple tool of social combat:

The Letter.

More effective than an e-mail, because it is tangible evidence. It has been used much longer, and earlier than e-mails, and for some reason has more affect on corporations. I figured that this would be the way to end this gay little game.

I wrote a letter. A polite one. But an effective one. And the same day I got their letter... I launched my own.

"Kakkatte koi yo." { Japanese ~ "Let's rumble, beotch." }

TODAY. Today, justice came home in the mail and I wanted to share it with all my (2) readers out there!



That's RIGHT, nigga!

They did their research, (probably more extensive than seeing if I got some letters) and discovered they tried to get money from someone who has no reason to be affiliated with them at all.

"Checking was closed with a zero balance"

AND

"There is no overdraft balance due at this time."

That's right. Kiss the ring.

Lisa, this victory is dedicated to you, cause I know you used to work there, and it was a MUCH worse place to be than cleaning up human shit all day.

A Quiet Sunday

Today was a quiet and mostly introspective day where I spent a lot of time to myself. As far as blogging is concerned, I don’t(thought I didn't) really have much to expand on. I dropped a post EARLIER today to make up for the night before. If anything, I looked through my old 'digital 'diary' I kept since 2002.

The original concept was interesting. It was 'batch' file. To those who don't know, a batch file is a pretty useful computer file that you run that can do multiple things. For example... my batch file... when I ran it, opened up a text file that had a pre-filled out form that I could fill out, which logged my exercise and diet for the day along with any thoughts I wanted to put in. As soon as I saved and closed out the text file program, the batch file would then run my winamp MP3 player, and play a playlist of my choice. Usually it was some type of motivational music, like Mortal Kombat, or something with high energy. I figured, if I set it up like that, i'd be more inclined to use my diary on a daily basis, with the reward of having my music play immediately afterward.

The whole 'digital diary' thing lasted for about 45 days... then I lost control. Around that time... the fall of 2002... I was doing SO MUCH at the same time:

1. I was a full time student.
2. I had a part time job as a jewelry salesman.
3. I had a part time job as a senior citizen driver.
4. I was in a research lab under Dr. Cronan studying Colorectal Cancer and Fibromyalgia.
5. I was a teachers assistant for Dr. Glaser's Psychology 271 Statistics Class.
6. I was the President of the Psychology Club.
7. I was jogging at MIRAMAR LAKE every morning.
8. I was working out with Jarold every afternoon.

So i'm not really SURPRISED that I crashed and burned around that time. But for at least 45 days, I was doing ALL of those things. Then I noticed, while reading through the log, that I started dropping one thing at a time. I first started studying less, then I dropped the driving job, then I slacked in the research lab, and eventually I stopped working out. It was pretty much downhill after that... and as I read through the 'log', it became more of an off-an-on journal ranting about a LOT of things.

And in those rants, I learned that my brother was right... I was really really hard on myself.

It was a constant self-motivating battle in each entry, constantly telling me that I gave up one day, and that i'd pick up the next, with a lot of self-bashing in the middle. It was really refreshing to read through it and really see myself almost a year later... (the last post was in 2004) .

As for that whole 'donation' thing? Like I said, other than Jarold and Lisa... (whom both either read it from the blog, or was talked to about directly) no one from Myspace probably even got a chance to read it. (Cept Kristie, but i'm guessing Jay told her about it.) That leaves the donation stuck in limbo at $5.50. Now my brother wants to join in... and still can ~

by going to paypal, and...

OH SHIT. Hahahahahahahah Man. First off, Jarold... dude... i'm sorry.

Check this out... (click on the picture.)

If you could read that... basically, when Jay donated 50 cents... there was a processing fee of 31 cents.

So Jay, you gave me 19 cents.

Somehow, I feel warm inside that this didn't get out to everyone. If 57 people donated 19 cents to me each... I'd have $10.83. I wouldn't even have HALF for the flicker account.

Thank you paypal, for making me sniff my own butt.

See, when Lisa donated, her $5.00 was spared, because she was charged 0.45 cents for the transaction.

My TOTAL is less than Lisa's original gift of $5.00. It's like $4.74, and that is in NO WAY SAD.

So BRO, if you're reading this... you have to donate like 10.00 bucks for this to even make sense. Stupid retarded Gaypal.

Thankfully, i'm selling a couple things I bought from Best Buy on Black Friday... and i'll put up the links to those auctions tomorrow, when it's about to close. The thick of it is... I spent roughly 42.99 for the items that i'm auctioning, and i'm hoping to at least get... well... all of it, if not more... back.

Now I need to sleep. But I also have to laugh. Stupid paypal... hahahahah.

---

Mood: Amused. But annoyed.
Food: 2742 :( bad mel.
Exercise: Lots of... typing?
Condition: Sleepy... but angry at Paypal. Jerkwads.

---

My Camera is bigger than YOURS!

I'm gonna be straight up honest.

I don't dislike my brother-in-law.

I mean SURE...

He can be a ~



or totally ~



but the fact is, he's not a bad guy. (I mean if he was, what kind of person would that make my sister?!)

But last night, he and my bro were shining examples of 'boys and their toys'.

See, my brother (<- click here) is all about toys. If it's hot, if it's new, if it's trendy... he's GOTTA have it. (read his XBOX entry.)

BUT, he'll compromise on the condition of such item:

• If it's used.
• If it's refurbished.
• If it's from Craigslist.
• If it's from a trenchcoated dude on Wall St. and Broadway... as long as it's the item (or at least looks and FUNCTIONS like the item) he'll get it, as long as he gets an exclusive discount for it.

Anyway, he's all about taking an obscene amount of pictures of his family, and of course, his child. So I wasn't too particularly surprised, when he showed up earlier this year with his new 8 megapixel Canon camera...

It's totally cool. I took a picture of my 'profile' pic with it, and I had to photoshop out ALL THE THOUSANDS OF PORES on my face, that this damn thing captured. So in my humble opinion, it's ~da shit~.

Now, my brother-in-law Paul... he likes toys too... but it's a LITTLE different. If the said 'TOY' appear in Sears or Home Depot, or even Cost-Co... it would be just NICE to have it. BUT if his mind is set on something... he will seek out to purchase the ultimate best super highest quality version of said thing. '

For example...

Let's say he wanted a CD player...

He'd get the HIGHEST RATED CD player on the market, then do a cross comparison versus comparably priced players. THEN once he made the decision, he'd buy the 'Fully Stocked' pack that came with all the side accessories and the 20 year fully covered extensive warranty, and once it was purchased... it would then be proudly used and talked of in great detail and length.

That being said, let the urinal comparison begin.

I suppose Paul got his hands on my brother's camera, and it sparked a want in him to have a nice camera as well. So he ended up buying the same brand of camera that my brother had except the version that cries out "I have 600 more dollars I can afford to spend!"

So last night, my brother, and my brother in law spent a MAJORITY of the evening comparing cameras... trying to figure out why one was so much more expensive than the other...

In the end, the difference wasn't substantial. And only in a professional's eyes, would the difference even matter, but at the same time, a professional would probably be spending 5-10 times as much than EITHER of them.

Eventually Paul confided to me the motivation behind his extravagant purchases... See, he could've bought the camera that my brother bought. Truth be told, there's nothing wrong with it. In fact, there's nothing wrong with a lot of the 2nd place 'toys' out there. But Paul is the kinda of guy who will ALWAYS wonder what he was missing. He will always be curious as to what little features that the 'best one' has, which makes it the best. He will always long for getting the absolute MOST for his money, even if that means he's spending MOST of the money. (And in my personal opinion, if he finds out his best friend gets the better version... it will drive him NUTSO.)

When you actually think about it, it's not a bad way to buy things... and truth be told... that fool can AFFORD IT.

---

Mood: Content.
Food: 2350 Calories beotch.
Exercise: Sleeping. hahah.
Condition: Coughing still. Stupid gay cough.
Song I'm listening to: Sarah McLachlan ~A Song for Winter's Night~

---

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Sister!!!!

Weight... LOST.

Remember those kids in highschool that didn't study, but got 'A's' on the test?

... Well, okay, that example is a little extreme.

Remember those kids in highschool that didn't study, but got 'B-'s' or 'C+'s' on the test?

That's me.

I'm currently part of a research study that gives you a pill which is supposed to suppress your ape-tit.

You take a pill EVERY DAY, and every month they log your weight... and stuff.

So for the first TWO weeks of the study... I was in beautiful Philadelphia.

I lost 11 pounds.

I mean, yeah I took the pill, but I also walked around a whole bunch, (not to mention I ran up the Rocky Stairs...)



After that trip, I stayed home for a month. WITH my parents. (But I still took the pill.)

Result?

+2 pounds.

Net Loss:

9 lbs.

THEN my parents leave. I get free reign of the house. Add a birthday feast or two, and hell, throw in Thanksgiving.

RESULT? *Drumroll*

-3 pounds.

Net Loss:

12 lbs.

Yeah. I'm still confused as all hell as to how or why I was able to LOSE 3 lbs. in the Turkey Month.

Now let's connect the story... I feel like that kid who didn't study for the test... and managed to not only pass, but actually score some points above passing. (Ergo losing 3 pounds for not doin' shiite.)

So I walked into my research lab like a dog with a tail between his legs, and it turns out that they're going to be more severe with me if I don't get more attentive with my food journal.

ROGER THAT!

So I'd like to introduce the newest part of my blog...

(look down...)

*TADA!*

---

Mood:
Food:
Exercise:
Condition:

---

I'd like to call it the 'How i'm Doing' post blog thingamajigger. Since I find myself blogging on a nightly basis, I figure it's the best way to sum up how i've kept up as far as my day. The fact is, more so than living our day as if it was our last, we need to live our day as if it's our own day to be responsible for. I need to be responsible for what I eat, and how or if I exercise, and whether or not I journal my food for the day. This little post-tag (which will appear at the end of every blog!) will be a reminder for myself to see how i'm being a responsible person. So wish me luck on that.

In other news...

Remember that bulletin that I put up on myspace? It turns out the hour I put it up, myspace goes and shuts their bulletin boards DOWN for a few hours... AND when it DOES come back up, all of my 'friends' who are bulletin POST WHORES start spilling their posts all over the board, sending mine to bulletin hell. *

(* Mel used the word Bulletin [ <-counting that one] 5 times.)

Anyway, I doubt anyone will find that besides Jarold, Kristy, my brother and Lisa, (oh and maybe Steve), but i would like to say that the second donation has come in... and it's from none other than my most favorite girlfriend of all... Lisa Brech!

I'm not sure if she got the memo, but she may have accidentally added an extra '0' to the asking donation of 0.50 cents.

That's right. She donated a MASCULINE $5.00 to the pro flickr account!

So now I get to say a few things about her...

• Lisa Brech is the steadfast type of woman who is always prepared for the worst situations.
• She's a kind soul who is willing to watch a building collapse, in the hopes that her enemies (or maybe small children) might just be hanging out inside.
• She's a stout spirit who firmly believes that felines should be given papal duties.

Lisa, my love, thank you for your kind gift, and keep the bed ANIMAL HAIR FREE before I get there, or else it's SARS MASK time!

---

Mood: Pleasantly Placid.
Food: 2483 Calories
Exercise: Erm... does putting up lights count?
Condition: End of Being Sick.

---

A Fundraiser is Me!

I'm pretty poor right now. I mean, as I type, i'm looking around my desk to see how much change I have. I probably have like 3-4 bucks in change. That should be enough to eat for a day.

But anyways...

I was chatting with Jay online for a short bit, and he explained to me how much COOLER Flickr is when you have a pro account.

For those of you who don't know, Flickr is a free photo-hosting site that's connected to Yahoo in some manner. It has a great system of uploading files, and organization, and compression, and display. Aside from kissing their anuses, it's just a great place to host pictures.

But if you don't have a Pro Account, you might as well post up your pictures on the floor of a public bathroom. The non-pro account limits your max uploads for the month at like 20 megs. And it caps out your max pictures at 200. With the 'pro' account, the max pictures become unlimited, and the 20 meg cap becomes a gig. A gig.

How much is the annual fee? 24 bucks.

So Jay was like..."

rdxiii (12/1/2005 3:06:09 PM): oh, it's only like 15 bucks a year or something ridiculous like that ($24, actually.)
Me (12/1/2005 3:06:13 PM): ...
Me (12/1/2005 3:06:14 PM): I want.
Me (12/1/2005 3:06:22 PM): <- is wanting.
rdxiii (12/1/2005 3:06:28 PM): should get
rdxiii (12/1/2005 3:06:30 PM): haha
rdxiii (12/1/2005 3:06:42 PM): because i hated how you're capped at 200 to show in your photostream
Me (12/1/2005 3:06:51 PM): i'm gonna go on myspace and request 50 cents from everyone on my friendslist.
rdxiii (12/1/2005 3:06:51 PM): but it's way better than fotosuckage
Me (12/1/2005 3:06:57 PM): Then i'll have enough.
rdxiii (12/1/2005 3:06:58 PM): haha..you should
Me (12/1/2005 3:07:08 PM): hahah I will.
Me (12/1/2005 3:07:09 PM): right now.
Me (12/1/2005 3:07:15 PM): i'm putting up a bulletin.
rdxiii (12/1/2005 3:07:48 PM): hahaha
Me (12/1/2005 3:13:28 PM): hahaha

So basically, I put up a bulletin displaying my blatant want of small change, for the sole purpose of getting a pro account at Flickr.

Here's a link to the bulletin...

(Update: RIGHT NOW)

I just went to Myspace to check out the bulletin that I put up.
This is the message I got:

We're taking the bulletins off line for about an hour right now to fix them. They'll be back soon. :-)December 1, 2005

FANTASTIC. Well, WHEN the bulletin shows up, i'll edit this post and put it up.
But I promised ANYONE who donated, that I would write up something about them in this blog.

So FIRST, lemme put up the picture of the FIRST donation:



That's right. The very person I recommended the idea to has the courage and pure honor to to kick start this epic fundraising project.

Lemme tell you a little something about Jarold Espiritu...

He's the kind that would take a bullet for you, as long as the bullet did not hurt him, nor penetrate his skin. Or in general, as long as he was not in the vicinity of danger.

He's the kind of noble spirit who would hold open doors for everyone female, and if you happen to be an 'inferior race', he'd totally cuss you out in the event of his complete inebriation.

He's that type of fellow that would be your martial arts body double, in the event that you have to fight a Miami Dolphin.

Bow your heads, and light a match. For tonight, we honor Jarold Espiritu, and his kind graciousness.

Suddenly I look foolish.

Once again, Blogger has managed to make a fool of me. Alright. So my strength is born anew. It appears that I can blog and send stuff as many times as I want without fear of diminishing the previous posts.

See, it's learning experiences like this that make me thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for everything he has given me.

For more information on the religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster... click HERE

Well, since all is well, I can actually go back to blogging like a nice boy.
I'm sick. I'm not sure what I have, but I feel down in the dumps. Under the weather. A lowly person on the scale of healthiness. I slept last night from 9:30pm until... god... 1pm today? I forget. I just know that I'm glad I don't have a job to call in to right now to say that I can't work. I just want to sit around and veg. (Which was my year, I suppose. A winner is me.) Anyway, I use two types of space heaters in my rooms. In the room that I sleep in, I use one of those water style heaters... (see fig. 1)


(fig.1) (fig.2)

And in in my computer room, I use a satellite heater. (see fig.2)

The first type is notorious for setting things on fire. For this reason alone, when my father set up his bedroom, he created a solid non-flammable spot for this heater to rest. I thank him every night I sleep with that beast on.

As for the satellite heater... it's a little more annoying. You see, according to my beliefs, my particular satellite heater has a little 'bubble level' . When that bubble is like one THOUSANDTH of a degree off of solid ground, it makes the WORST buzzing noise you can imagine. Actually, TRY to imagine this... try to imagine the MOST annoying alarm noise that your alarm clock makes.

Annoying, isn't it?

Yeah, THIS is more annoying.

And at 6:30am THIS morning, the satellite heater, which I had left on accidentally, (Remember, i'm sick) suddenly decided to shift... a THOUSANDTH of a degree. This sucker is TWO rooms away and it woke me up. I apologize to my neighbors. I'm sure they hate me with increased fortitude. I promise NEVER to leave the satellite heater on before I sleep.

Really.

Cross my heart.

Dramatic Couch

Picture 009, originally uploaded by Melzworld.

This is the 2nd of 2 pictures sent from Flickr AFTER 2 pics were sent from my Cell phone. My money is that THIS is the ONLY image to remain. What do YOU think?

Kick the Puppy

Picture 013, originally uploaded by Melzworld.

I sent TWO phone pics prior to this one, and THIS is 1/2 pix that will be sent from Flickr as part of my experiment.

A Picture Share!

Two of two

A Picture Share!

One of two.

*Back on the Saddle*

Blogging is an important therapeutic release for some people. (My brother, for example.)

To me, it's supposed to be an outlet as well, but every so often, I get discouraged.

For instance, I was excited to learn that I could do a few neat little things with my Cell Phone, and my Flickr account. My Cell can send Pics to my Blog with little to no effort. Likewise, my Flickr account has absolutely no problems sending information from that photosite, to my blog. So in so many words, the ability to throw pictures up onto my blog from wherever, shouldn't be a problem...

RIGHT?

Well it is. It turns out that when you send MORE than one picture a day toward your blog... it completely dashes out the previous blog of that day. To think, when I had spent all this time editing and setting up my blog... to have it eradicated by some test picture of a geode... or some random object... so I mean, I was worried that I wasn't able to post up more than one pic a day or something, else I would completely lose whatever i'd posted before. In FACT, i'll prove it to you. I'm going to take TWO pics on my phone, and send them to this blog today... and on TOP of that, i'm going to pic TWO random pictures from my Flickr account, and send them to this blog. In the end, my guess is either the TWO Flickr pictures will be the only thing on this blog, OR the 2nd of the two Flickr Photos will be the ONLY item on this blog.

So now I will CUT-N-PASTE this currently typed blog into Word, and try out my experiment. Because I KNOW that this one will get deleted...

HERE WE GO...

A Picture Share!

It's sad when u celebrate someones birthday... behind thier back.

Resolution.

As defined by Dictionary.com, the word 'resolution' means a state of being resolute, or firm determination. It can also mean to resolve to do something.

I remember writing an article about this to a Filipino Independent newspaper, and now I write it again, inspired by tonight's events.

The strength required to follow through with a resolution is determined upon the weight of the task at hand. If the resolution is to not kill people, then generally the strength to follow through takes little, or no effort.

If the resolution is 'to make a million billion dollars' based soley on the practice of collecting and recycling aluminum cans in the span of a few days, the strength required would we an impossibly insane amount.

But the fact is, people make resolutions that are seemingly attainable, and yet manage to not follow through without so much as a slap on the wrist.

I believe this is mainly because, it's very easy to lie to ourselves, AND break promises with ourselves.

I mean, you can't break up with yourself if you fail. You can't really punish yourself. You can't really stay mad at yourself for not keeping a promise, and the fact is, you really didn't trust yourself to begin with to put any real importance in that promise you DID make with yourself. So thinking punitively, you made a promise with someone who has a consistent ability to not perform, on a task that really isn't punitive.

So why WOULDN'T you break the promise?

SURE, the rewards are great if you DO follow through with the promise. You'll lose weight, you'll get that promotion, you'll finally be told 'yes' by that hot girl in the office. Seriously, these promises if fulfilled are nothing but bonuses, yet the fact remains, it is the constant behavioral conditioning that by 'not following through' you're not really put into some sort of jeopardy. So you WIN if you do it, and you DON'T REALLY LOSE if you don't do it. And a body at rest, tends to stay at rest. That's really the end all.

Now here's the question...

You've realized that YOU don't trust yourself. YOU won't get penalized if YOU fail to keep a promise with YOURSELF. Why ever do it again? Why ever put trust into your own hands?

Why fall in love again, if once heartbroken?

There is still the beautiful dream that one of those bazillion false promises might turn up into the real thing, and all of those times you were betrayed will finally be paid off.

I think it's time we put a little more faith into ourselves. I mean, it's important to know your own limitations, but believing that you won't betray yourself, and really sticking to it, and actually producing a result, might lead to a sense of self-empowerment. Actually being able to trust yourself, and your abilities, and being able to trust a self pact might lead to being a more successful person.

Confidence IS everything.

All those times you lied to yourself, you betrayed yourself, you broke a promise with yourself... it's water under the bridge. Re-establish a relationship with yourself. Be realistic. Then be resolved.

And SURE. In the beginning, you might STILL end up breaking a promise with yourself. But this time around, really feel that you let yourself down. Really feel like you didn't give yourself as much effort as you really could've, and then go back out there and trust yourself again. OVER and OVER, until you don't let yourself down anymore.

It's a wonderful thing when everyone else believes in you. But if you don't really believe in yourself, even in the midst of that... it won't amount to anything.

November 17, 2005 • Thursday

12:47 AM - Blogger.com can suck it.
Current mood: anxious
Category: Blogging

Na·zi ( P ) Pronunciation Key (näts, nt-)n. pl. Na·zis A member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, founded in Germany in 1919 and brought to power in 1933 under Adolf Hitler. often nazi An adherent or advocate of policies characteristic of Nazism; a fascist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

... Okay, well I suppose it wasn't the definition I was looking for. But seriously, my bro (AND girlfriend) both use Blogger.Com, and here I am, using (gasp) MYSPACE for all my blogging needs, and in order to comment on EITHER of their blogs, I have to sign up for my own Blogger.com account. I can't just VISIT their page and drop a note. NOPE. I have to join their DAMN EVIL community. I swear... By the moon, and the stars and the sky... (Oh shit. I better stop while i'm ahead.) Actually, now that i'm thinking a little more rationally, does someone else have to have a Myspace account to post a comment on MY blog?? {I am going to check RIGHT now} ... Nevermind. The Nazism is all around. If THEY wanted to post on MY blog, they'd have to do the same thing. Well, there goes THAT soap box. Okay. Blogger.com doesn't have to suck ANYTHING anymore. I'm all struck with the 'foot in mouth' syndrome now. Okay, so forget that whole diatribe. I'm just going to say that it's 5 mins before 1am, and i'm STILL wired on coffee. I must seek sleep. OH OH OH, and one more thing... http://www.timewarnerdoesnotcare.com/ While watching 'Lost' with my brother and sister-n'-law, there was this little message flashing across the screen warning of our local cable provider 'Time Warner' getting rid of ABC as a whole starting January 1st, 2006. Frankly, I think it was a well infiltrated hoax that somehow managed to penetrate HD TV's on a local level, but if i'm wrong... that would SUCK BUTTERBALLS. So click on that link, cause it's the link that was offered by the scrolling text. Alright, i'm done.

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November 15, 2005 • Tuesday

10:51 PM - Frustrated for all the wrong reasons...
Current mood: frustrated
Category: Life

Tonight, I got frustrated. (kuyashii) Frustrated because *insert something here* and because *insert something here*. What pisses me off is that I got frustrated for stupid reasons. I think I need to manage my time better. I shouldn't have just stayed home, hoping that *insert something here* or that *insert something here*. The fact of the matter is, it's not healthy, and I really need to stop *insert something here*. So I think starting tomorrow i'm going to have a MUCH healthier management of my time where i'm not hoping that *insert something here*. Because *insert something here* is very much so *insert something here* and here I AM just *insert something here*. SO, i'm going to sleep now. Wake early tomorrow, and really get my $#!T together. I've got a renter coming in, i've got to find cash, i've got to stop thinking that *insert something here* is my *insert something here*. THEN maybe i'll stop *insert something here* and actually start being productive. IN FACT, i'm going to start writing a list of things (AGAIN!) that i'm going to do RIGHT NOW, before I sleep. Here we go again. Wish me luck.

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November 14, 2005 • Monday

11:57 PM - I SUCK at Blogging.
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Blogging

This is no joke. It turns out that I am not very skilled at the art of blogging. I mean, I find time on the computer to realize that I should blog, but I don't have this inner motivation to post anything particularly... what's the word... compelling. My girlfriend explained to me that blogging to her is like showcasing your jaded personality. It's true. If you follow popular blogs that are out there, or even decent ones, you'll notice a very observant and witty attitude in their style writing. For me, blogging is a sense of straight up 'stream of consciousness', a chance to just air out what's been stagnating in my mind... the moment that I write it. I don't come up with these great anecdotes that I recall at the end of every evening. But let me try... Yesterday I went to the Del Mar Snow Jam... (Click Here!) I went last year because I didn't have diddly shit to use for snowboarding, and in retrospect, I remember buying... gloves. Yeah, I bought gloves for 10 bucks. But anyway, I paid 20 bucks to get in (8 dollars parking, 12 dollars admission), only to realize that I had an hour and a half left to purchase ANYTHING. Thankfully, I wasn't going for myself, and I picked up a 130 dollars of crap for my brother. I ended up spending like 10 on myself... for a board bag. The truth is, I need a snowboard jacket to make the set complete. After that, I will officially be a sexy beast on the slopes. Alright. That was my anecdote. See how painfully BORING that was?!?! Dammit. I really need to kick my posts up a notch. Maybe I should cuss more. Or post pictures of boobs or something... *sigh* Whatever.

Currently listening: The College Dropout By Kanye West Release date: By 10 February, 2004

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November 11, 2005 • Friday

9:01 PM - Diary of a MAD BLACK MEL.
Current mood: determined
Category: Life

I REFUSE to substitute. I just WON'T do it. Even if they paid me MORE than what I would normally expect to get paid, I just won't do it. Even when i'm NOT working, and I just THINK about the prospect of HAVING to Sub, I get Flashbacks. Those flashbacks that Vietnam Vets get.I AIN'T GOING BACK. That said. I still need to find money before Dec 12. An exact number has risen... 400. It should be enough to save my stupid hide.I need 400 clams, banannas, skrills, shells, bucks, bills, DOLLARS, and I will survive my December trip. - That is all.

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November 10, 2005 • Thursday

11:35 PM - Whole wheat... on RYE
Current mood: tired
Category: Travel and Places

... Yipes. I'm tired. I drove up somewhere with someone and totally lost something that was totally important. It makes me sad to think I lost such a thing, especially since I went through all the trouble of actually ACQUIRING said object.I know the title is weird... it's cause i'm listening to 'Bad' by Mikhail Jackson, before he started Jesus Juicing kiddies. I wonder though, do you think that WHEN this song came out, HARD CORE gangsters were bumping this, thinking in their head 'I'm a real bad ass for playing this song in my car." I dunno about that.Anyhow, i'm really tired, but I managed to REVAMP my entire Blog to look like a really badly done Web Page from the early 90's. I did spare everyone the agony of placing a cheesy midi file. That's all.

Currently listening: Bad By Michael Jackson Release date: By 16 October, 2001

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November 8, 2005 • Tuesday

11:22 AM - Need a job
Current mood: relaxed
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

Hello. I'm po. Ridiculously po. So I need a job. Preferrably now sooner than later. I have bills to pay. Don't you understand? I need to make SO much money, that it creates a vortex and sends me back in time.

Currently listening: Black on Both Sides By Mos Def Release date: By 12 October, 1999

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October 31, 2005 • Monday

11:08 PM - Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekend's OVER. Current mood: sleepy
I need to get a chob. Anyone know where I can get a quick CHOB that pays me?