I've just been watching a rather dreadful movie on cable, in fact, it was one that I recall seeing back in Spring of 2001 before I shipped off to Chicago for ACen 2001 - I found out the title, and some more details at least. I was instantly repulsed by the film, because it deails in some degree, with what I do at my day job. The film I'm talking about is Two Shades Of Blue.

This semi-disaster is about some novelist who was framed for the death of her publisher husband, and so, to find out what happened, she changes her identity to that of the character in the book she wrote, and goes undercover - As a Relay Operator.

Frankly, I just couldn't watch this film. I couldn't give a damn about Rachel Hunter, other than that fact that I guess she was married to Rod Stewart (I'm not so sure about that... Celebrity nupitals aren't my bag, baby!). Apparently Gary "Head Injury Club For Men" Busey was in it, as well as Eric "Somebody stop him, he's improvising again!" Roberts. Marlee Matlin was in it, of course, but I know she's been in better things. My main peeve was that I couldn't bring myself to watch it, because it's about what I usually like not to deal with when I'm not working: My work.

Of course, things at my work aren't exactly like they're depicted in the film, but they did manage to do some degree of research. Mainly, I managed to fight off the pain by spotting how many floor policy violations I could count while watching. Somehow, I managed to ultimately shake it off, and fired up the kerosene-powered Linux box to log on here to rant about it. Pathetic, isn't it? ^_^;

Anyway, I think things are better served by me killing the TV for the night, being nice to the cats, and seeing what I can get taken care of before the weekend is upon me. See you next zig.
posted by Raider3 at 1:23 AM

Well, as it has became glaringly evident, I didn't post anything here last week. At the beginning of the week, I had to take my youngest cat, Smitty, to the vet, as she had a couple things wrong with her that got out of hand. I'll spare the details, other than to say, she's out, she's making a nice recovery, and I'll be more attentive to the cats from now on.

Right now, she's got a set of stitches that should be taken out in a week, she still won't take pills easily, and she might be spooked of me for a bit, but she's easier to handle than Lum-cat is (And SHE"S eventually going in for her shots... God help me...)

That's about it for this one... the main attraction should be above this one.
posted by Raider3 at 1:20 AM

(Or: "How does it feel to be 33?")
(Answer, as always: "I'm wet, and I'm still at Lyon's" - Answer stolen from Jonathan Christian, as he responded on turning 21, oh so long ago.)

Friday was the culmination of what ultimately turned out to be a rather bad finish on a very trying week. The constant waves of prison/jail calls at work, plus a recurrence of work-related paranoia did not help at all. Add all that in with a realization that some of the foods I used to like are starting to make me feel physically and mentally nauseous, and by the last hour or two of my shift on Friday, I was in agony, and just wanting to get things over with, so I could hop in the truck, floor it, and head home, screaming in agony all the way. (Pausing to accept yet another Drama Queen award... Hey, it's my damn blog, go make your own!)

For some reason or another, all I could think of was... fish... not just your average parade of battered and fried, broiled, baked stuff, like cod (had some rather disappointing cod a while back), orange roughie, sole, etc, but my all-time favorite... Prepared Japanese sashimi/sushi style, the one thing that always makes me smile. (For those who have seen me at work, the Japanese restaurant menus I keep stashed in my DayRunner are not just there for advance planning, they're there for moral support!) More and more, I think about becoming the Iron Chef of sashimi, only thing is... I just need to start learning! ^_^;

Anyway, as I said, I was beat, semi-sick from a Chinese food lunch buffet that was coming back to haunt me, and I was seriously considering skipping dinner, and just collapsing in bed, riding out whatever illness I gave myself. I even told mom that if she didn't feel like cooking, that was ok - I didn't feel like eating. What I didn't expect is what she had in the refrigerator waiting for me.

She had gone to one of my favorite local places, Modesto Sukiyaki, and briought me home a Sashimi-Sesame Chicken combo. It was as if all the depression melted away instantly.. I guess I can't say no to a well-prepared serving of tuna. Needless to say, I skarfed what I could, thanking mom profusely for what she did, and for being mom. ^_^ (Awwww....) I tell you, it's as if she could read my mind, and I can't thank her enough. I also know she'll be happy when I finally get my own Windows computer (again) so I can stop using hers. It's a done deal, just as long as she doesn't let it gather dust, or drive me up the wall with frequent "Michael, something's wrong - What did I do this time?" requests. She's getting better, gradually...

"How much longer, Mom?! I'd like to tell the 3 people who are actually bothering to read this 'See You Next Zig!' - Come on already, I'm tired!!"
posted by Raider3 at 12:35 PM

Well, here it is... the last few minutes of the last day before my birthday. Normally, I don't let on how old I am (As per the clues in the About Raider3 node), but this birthday coming up is a special one. I think a Shakespeare line sums how how I'll be feeling from tomorrow (Aug. 7, 2002) onward...

Tomorrow, you see (or today if you're reading it on the 7th of August) marks my 33rd birthday, and that, to me, is an accomplishment, but not one to be taken lightly. 33 seems like it's going to be an interesting age for me, as I've been reminded that Jesus Christ was crucified at age 33, and John Belushi died of a cocaine and heroin overdose, not even two months after he turned 33. (Forgive me for that last one, but I'm currently reading Bob Woodward's Wired at this time.)

More and more, I'm reminded that I'm getting older, and the world keeps changing, but I somehow keep managing to keep on. I have hopefully matured, or at least I hope that I know better than I did about five or ten years earlier in life, but there's always room for improvement. Based on current local events, I have a feeling the next couple of years are going to be interesting, if I don't suffer a nervous breakdown any time soon.

Every day since the end of August last year, I remind myself, has been a gift, and I hope to earn each day, while staying in good health, and hopefully, continuing to gradually lose weight. The closer I get to 260, the happier and better off I'll be, and THEN, I'll see if I can reach 240, whenever that happens (And evaluate from there...)

Currently, at work, I'm in the mood where I feel where if I even breathe the wrong way, I'll get written up, so I've resolved to basically shut up, sit down, keep taking calls until break/lunch/end of shift, then get the hell out at the end of the night, so, if any of my co-worker friends read this, and wonder why I seem to keep to myself more often, or if I seem more aloof than normal, relax - It's not you. ^_^; I love my weekends, and guard them with a passion.

Other than that, I wish you all 33 seconds of sanity, 33 chances to make things better again, 33 things to be thankful for, and 33 minutes to click the next link and move on out of here. Just kidding, but thanks for reading this, and, as always... See you next zig!
posted by Raider3 at 11:49 PM

Well, the walkthrough of the Doubletree in downtown Modesto was quick, limited, but suited my needs. However, I feel there's still a lot of stuff to plan out. Item one is, we need to get organized. I see myself becoming more actively involved in Raging Otaku Society, meaning more promotion of the club, among other things. (With an offshoot of that for possible con promotion.)

My feelings: This is just the beginning; we have a long way to go, and I'd be happy if we can pull things off by 2004, possibly 2005. A one-day mini-con, probably at MJC, in cooperation with Anime Anonymous. I've got a lot to think about, and I hope some of my friends/clubmates are close to, or will be on the same page sooner or later.

Oh, yeah, checked out the Red Lion off 99, at Sisk off Briggsmore, basically to humor myself. I still think of it as the Holiday Inn. It may be a nice place for a one-day event, if we can't get MJC. In related news, headed out to the mall, and picked up Hellsing Vol. 1 and Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 19 on DVD, and managed to explain my point of view on why I would hold out for The End of Eva, rather than get Eva: Death and Rebirth, to a fellow who was contemplating getting Death and Rebirth.

Went to the Ceres Drive-In and saw most of Signs, which more or less freaked me out. (M. Night Shmlayan hasn't lost his touch after The Sixth Sense); Mel Gibson was... more or less, up to usual, refining his chin puckering that he did in The Patriot ^_^;) Didn't even mind that there was Yet Another Culkin sibling in show business. Men In Black 2, however, IMHO, didn't quite measure up to the standards set by the first film, though it did have its moments. ("o/~ Who let the dogs out? Bark! Bark! Bark, bark, bark!") ^_^;

Almost ducked out on Foothill Anime, after finding some Army or whatever event going on at the usual spot, but, if it weren't for some signs that were set out for that event, I wouldn't have found the relocated spot for Foothill as quickly as I did. Had a good time for what I saw, and some interesting talk with the woman who cosplayed as Misato at ReccaCon. Finally, another birthday present to myself, with dinner at Sushi Lovers in Milpitas before heading back home to get the week's update/planning cycle started. But, to think, if I didn't notice the sign, and take the path it indicated, my Sunday plans would have been different, and probably a bit less exciting. Kind of makes me think of the last few lines from Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken...

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

See you next zig.

posted by Raider3 at 10:34 PM

Recon mission 1 - emphasis on the on the "con" - Expect an R3 sighting in downtown Modesto within 60-120 min of this dispatch.

Speaking of an R3 sighting, check out http://www.usagichan.com/Recca2002/panels.htm and fix your eyes on the picture above the "Japanese Culture in Anime" heading, and notice the rather huge fanboy with the camcorder in the foreground, left of frame. Now, think of the following line, which I uttered out loud on IRC Thursday night:

"AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggh!! R3 sighting! Get your fat back out of the picture!" (or something to that effect. Yes, I misquote even myself at times, deal with it)

Ok, digression over, pre-birthday celebration commencing real soonly. In closing, if you're reading this, and you are Jim Flavis: You are extremely bored! Find something else to do, other than waste your time here! ^_^;

For everyone else, see you next zig. (taking off for great justice now)

R3 Theme Songs For This Time: Unpublished original compositions. I so need to get my MIDI software back up and running.
posted by Raider3 at 10:02 AM

Oh, yeah, expect to see a gradual revival throughout the Network R3 structure. (Yeah, I know it's been said many times before, but it will happen... soon.)
posted by Raider3 at 1:40 AM

Since the beginning of this week, a great thing is being planned. Details to come. This area will never be the same!
posted by Raider3 at 1:39 AM

Oh, shit.... Raider3 just HAD to open his fucking mouth about this!

But seriously, what I'd really like to know is... What kind of recreational pharmaseuticals were the Ninth Circuit Appelate Court Justices taking when they pulled this ruling out of their collective asses? I'd sure like to have some of what they were on, because frankly, I could use something to make me forget the way I've felt since Tuesday afternoon.

For those who've been following up with the news, and for those who know what I do, I'm sure you're thinking what I'm thinking - That I'm probably going to be one of the soon-to-be-unemployed before the year is up. At least, this time around, I can take comfort in knowing that It Wasn't My Fault!

But, back to the big news that is sure to make the rest of the nation resent us wacky Left Coasters even more than they already do. I'm not going to harp on the obvious, like the impracticality of having to recall every piece of printed and minted currency out there, just to remove "In God We Trust" from it all. (Hell, that's the last thing I look for when I'm using cash... I'm just happy when I see that it's not fake!)

The thing is: I'm a traditionalist at heart, and a recovering liberal (i.e. gradually going conservative). I grew up saying the Pledge of Allegiance from grade school through high school, and had no issue with it. I certainly didn't view it as being forced upon me, or as State sponsorship of religion. (For the record, centuries ago, in countries like Japan, they persecuted and killed Christians... And let's not forget the good old U.S.S.R. and their views toward religion.)

For the record, I was baptized Catholic, I spent over three years in a Catholic high school, but I never took catechism, nor was I confirmed. Technically, I'm not worthy of receiving the "Body of Christ" in the eyes of Catholicism. I don't even attend church on a regular basis. Yet, I feel the need to believe in a higher power, and I deeply believe that someone out there is watching over me, because I've come close to death way too many times to explain otherwise.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is: What kind of a country do we live in, where the rich get richer, and the poor get fucked in the ass, are left with their asses bleeding, and have their cribs broken in the process? Moreover, what kind of country that prides itself on freedom of religion, yet harbors a percentage of Oppressed Athiests? Let's face it, the words "Under God" have been part of the Pledge of Allegiance have been in effect for nearly a half-century. I think we're just a little late in calling this one out.

This country may have its problems, but still, it is a place where people can dream, and hope, and work towards making things better. As for those who can't sit well with all that, there's always living in Afghanistan... But wait... didn't we bomb the fuck out of that place a while back? Whoops, my bad... ^_^;

Thanks, my fellow space travellers, and see you next zig.
posted by Raider3 at 3:08 AM