Posted 4:55 PM by John A. Seafisk

I might as well face it, I'm addicted to DVDs

When the whole digital video on disc technological breakthrough came about not so long ago, I shrugged my shoulders in a sort-of "feh" kind of way. I've never been a big TV or movie geek, at least not of most of the offerings Hollywood presents us nowadays.

But some strange things started happening. DVDs featuring shows & film that I actually like began to be released into the wild. I think what started it was the first season of 'Sanford & Son'.

The advantages of DVD over VHS started to sink into my sometimes-hard skull. Instead of fast-forwarding or rewinding to get to the good spots or episodes, I could now arrive at these destinations in a few presses of the buttons & a few winks of the eye. How could I resist.

Then came my second great DVD purchase: "Monty Python & The Holy Grail: The Collectors Edition". Not only did my DVD set come with the movie, but also filled with numerous extra materials, like:

- A BBC documentary filmed while the Pythons were on location shooting

- A more recent tour of the locations & castles used in the original film, hosted by Michael Palin & Terry Jones

- An all-Lego(tm) production of the 'Knights of the Round Table' sequence

...and many more.

Now, I'm in the midst of a DVD buying frenzy. Here's what I've collected, just in the past 2 weeks:

- The Simpsons Season 3 Box Set (4 discs)
- The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus (12 discs)
- Rocky & Bullwinkle Season 1 (4 discs)
- The Red Green Show Six Pack (6 discs)
- Animal House: Double Secret Probation Edition (1 disc)
- Mr. Show The Third Season (2 discs)
- Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean (3 discs)

And I'm sure I'm forgetting a set or two. In addition, there still plenty of more discs awaiting for me on the horizon.

It's probably just a phase I'm going through. But it's sure making my credit card companies happy.

Posted 5:24 PM by John A. Seafisk

*cough, cough*

*hack, cough, cough* aahhhhemmmmmmmnnnnnnnn!

Darn it, I thought this cold & cough would be gone by now.

Guess it's back to Nyquil shots now.

Posted 11:51 AM by John A. Seafisk

It was a weekend I needed. Very relaxing, very mellow. I just hung around the apartment.

After a few weeks of running myself ragged work-wise, it was nice to have a mini-break. Maybe part of the pleasant feeling was due to post-birthday euphoria.

It was my birthday on Friday. Everyone at work wished me a happy birthday, even people I hadn't talked to all week. I went for a birthday lunch which was surprisingly paid for. Nothing tastes as good as free food.

Then that evening I went with a big crowd to Buca di Beppo, an Italian family-style restaurant where the dishes are huge. There were around 20 of us in the Pope Room, a small room decorated with pictures & photos of various popes of the past. The food was good, and the presents were nice.

It was a nice feeling to have such a big turnout for a birthday. It feels good once in a while to have a sense of appreciation, to have folks come out in your honor. It's a great boost to one's self-worth.

And we could all use some boosting now and then.

Posted 12:29 PM by John A. Seafisk

Getting to know me

The following is a response/reaction to the blog of Trish, a current North Carolinian & future librarian:

Courtesy of Green Fairy, there's a trend circling now of questions ala Friday Five, but contributed by your nearest and dearest bloggers.

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

The five given to me were:
1. Why did you pick a pseudonym, and why that particular one?

To maintain a sense of mystery about myself, and to avoid getting spam e-mails about penis enlargements & mortgage reductions. The pseudonym I've chosen is an anagram of my actual name, as discovered by the Internet Anagram Server.


2. What's the most difficult thing you find about living in LA?

The traffic. Not only are there a lot of cars out here, but 99.99% of them are driven by complete morons. Hey buddy, ever hear of a turn signal? Then use it! Why are you still stopped at a green light? What are you waiting for, an invitation?


3. What, or who, do you regard as the pinnacle of human effort?

What - Man landing on the moon.

Who - Jonas Salk discovering a cure for polio.


4. How do you feel about Ahnold running for Governor of your fine state?

It worries me, since the fine voters of this state might actually put him in office. I personally find the whole recall thing a monumental waste of time and money....a complete joke, and not such an amusing one at that. If this can happen, why not have a recall election on the federal level? The economy still sucks, they still haven't found those WMDs in Iraq, and where's Osama bin Laden?


5. Do you see yourself married with kids, just married, or still single in five years? Ten years?

5 years - Single.

10 years - Double, if I don't start watching my weight.

Posted 4:29 PM by John A. Seafisk

I own a Playstation 2 game console. Yet, instead of playing games on it, I've been using it as a DVD player 99.9% of the time. Someone told me that's what people in Japan do with theirs.

And the other day, I purchased through the mail a Kintetsu Buffaloes baseball cap. I'm in to collecting obscure sports paraphernalia, and a team with the Nippon League in Japan is pretty obscure.

And last night, I picked up a Beef & Chicken Bowl from Yoshinoya for dinner.

I'm turning Japanese. I really think so.

Posted 2:44 PM by John A. Seafisk

A problem with lack of central air conditioning is the concurring lack of sleep one gets during the hot summer months.

No rest at night means one can inexplicably doze off doing any sort of taskkkkkkkk......................afibsbdiweaEIkfsbwfresifoaWWDDRR1Wrrip;;;;fih5q55555500000000890qqqqrgeq48i4qui8t...

Oops! Sorry...took a quick nap on my keyboard.

I need caffeine. Where's a good Jolt cola when you need one?

Posted 5:40 PM by John A. Seafisk

It was an OK weekend. I've been fighting a cold. I went to a Dodgers-Cubs game. I went to a BBQ.

When I walked into work this morning & sat down, I was overcome by a wave of frustration. Three different people came by, each with a host of problems. Then a few more with more problems...dumping all their concerns on my lap.

Now I get to stay late once again, trying to solve these problems. If I don't remain tonight, it just means more barrels of crap to sift through tomorrow.

I think I'm in a rut. I'm reaching a point where I don't want to come to work anymore. My usual pleasant facade is eroding away into a dour, aggravated look of scorn & resentment. I'm finding myself caring less and less as each work day passes.

I need a change of scene. Or at least a vacation. If only I could afford such time off. Until then, guess I'll just trudge through another semi-meaningless day.

Posted 12:59 AM by John A. Seafisk

My sore throat has now developed into a congested area in the back of my throat, with some extentions into a stuffy nose.

This is a good sign. This means my body's fighting back, just like the British at the Battle of El Alamein in WW2. Mucus, although nasty in nature, is a very beneficial defense system for the body. Once your antibodies & white blood cells & allies begin the push back to healthiness, there needs to be proper disposal of the dead & defeated germs 'n' viruses. The mucus collects these nogoodniks (much like flypaper collecting flies), and streams them to your nose or back of your mouth for proper expulsion, whether by blowing said nose or hocking loogies from said mouth. I recommend the former, since it's much more hygenic all-around - not to mention the chance you may step on your own spit in your new Doc Martens or K-Swiss or whatever.

So now I'm sniffling & coughing, trying to get the mucus out. Good thing they had a sale on Kleenex at Ralphs. This may not be the end of my cold, or even the beginning of the end...but it is the end of the beginning.

I hope no one's eating tapioca pudding or egg-drop soup while reading the explicit content above.

Posted 3:43 PM by John A. Seafisk

My throat hurts. I think I'm catching a cold.

This concerns me, because how can I catch a cold when it's 90 degrees & sunny outside?