Song Of The Day

Today's song is "Underground" by Ben Folds Five. I made this particular selection because Mogli has been singing it continuously the last few days:





Need I say more?

Mad

I'm not the angry type. Although I recently made a list of pet peeves, it was really just for fun. Truth be told, the last time I remember really losing my temper was sometime during senior year when David Deppe tried to strangle me. Even then it lasted no more than a few seconds: it's David Deppe, what am I going to do, punch him? I suppose I was pretty irate at Zach Probst one time, when he disappeared. I had calmed down by the time he came back though. The point is, I'm not very extreme when it comes to temper. I take after my mother in that way. When it comes up she always conjures up some event when her rage was palpable and all in her presence quivered in fear, but we all know she's exaggerating. If you are fortunate enough to know my mother you are probably chuckling at the very thought, if not laughing aloud. Ours is a very chill family.

Today though, I'm just pissed right off.

Mogli Is Now This Many

Mogli is now this many:



Hard to believe, right? I can barely do it. He pretty much had the coolest birthday ever. While I was busy quitting my job to move on to a better one, his Mommy took him to the aquarium with a cousin. They saw sea horses and alligators and an octopus. Afterwards they headed to McDonalds, where I joined them and Mogli got a sweet Spider Man toy. After running home for a few minutes we headed over to the pool where he wore himself out quite thoroughly in his efforts to prove that he is not afraid of anything. His Batman party was also a success. He was delighted by all the attention, and the presents and cake too. Grandmas, Grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins came over and he took LOTS of pictures of soon-to-be-Aunt Melly. He went to bed happy, and went to sleep about the time his head hit the pillow. So did we.

Doctor

I remember watching Doogie Howser M.D. as a kid. I don't remember any specifics, except one time he was doing an autopsy on a mummy alone in a dark room and he thought it came to life. Or something like that. Last summer I was introduced to Dr Horrible, and it instantly became one of my favorite things ever. To be honest I didn't even realize that Neil Patrick Harris, who plays Dr Horrible, was also Dr Howser, until someone else mentioned it. The other day I stumbled on this and it made me think "Neil Patrick Harris is funny." To back that up, there is this, and while you're at it, all of this.

That's all for today.

Pets

In a recent job interview I was asked what my pet peeves are. I found myself quite unprepared for this inquiry, and kind of stumbled around while I thought of something that makes me mad. Truth be told, I'm not often angry, so it was a more difficult task than it sounds. Just to be sure I never run into that problem again, I've compiled a respectable list of things that tick me off. They are as follows:

• People who hold up the checkout line while they count and re-count their change, then try to stuff it into an already overstuffed wallet.
• When someone leaves their turn signal on for miles.
• Brightly colored leggings (except on wee little girls, then it's just funny).
• People I've known for long periods of time who forget my name.
• When people park in handicapped or no parking areas because they're "just running in really quick."
• Loud public cell phone talkers.
• Public breast feeding.
• People in the 20 Items Or Less lane with over 20 items.
• People who, upon hearing the name "Joe," insist on making the tired old "Joe Mama" joke.
• When someone pees on the seat.
• Poor usage of the English language.
• Published or otherwise professional writing, like school newspapers (Globe) or corporate memos, that fall under the last category. These count as double, and are what I eventually cited in the interview.
• Utah County drivers.
• Crooked mohawks.
• Straight or pegged leg jeans.
• People who insist there's something wrong with a product or service and they deserve a discount. (Excluding instances where there really is something wrong and the person goes about it in a polite way)
• Liars
• People who wear, for example, Led Zeppelin t-shirts, but don't really listen to Led Zeppelin.
• Boys who wear girl pants.
• People who mumble under their breath, only to get angry when they can't be understood and are asked to repeat their mumble.
• When someone enters a store with muddy shoes, having made no attempt to clean said shoes.
  
• People who try to talk on the phone and do something else... at the expense of the something else.

I could probably go on, but this will have to suffice for the time being. I'm all mad just thinking about all of it.

Conceited

SLCC Jazz Band had their first concert of the semester tonight. I am a part of said ensemble. We played several Miles Davis pieces, a few Jobim, Duke, Dizzy, and several others. Good times were had by all.

This semester I've had a difficult time finding my groove. As it's been a few years since I've really played I have lost my lip a great deal, and was pretty rusty in general. The result has been that I've been timid in my playing, my solos have been lack luster at best, and my arrogant self has been lost in some sort of haze.

Until tonight.

Something about being in front of an audience does wonders for me. Suddenly it didn't matter that the other trumpet player's range is half an octave higher than mine, or that most of the rhythm section are expert in the ways of chordal voicing and improvisation. The only important thing was that I was there and everyone got to listen to me play, just like it used to be.

That's right folks, ol' Cuppa Joe is back and cocky as ever.

Road Trip Blues

Meet Mogli:



He's a delight. Normally quite amiable and fun.

Normally.

Last week we took a short road trip to Ogden. Mind you, Mogli is potty training. Without consideration to the circumstances we allowed him two drinks shortly before we left. Everyone see where this is going?

Just at the on ramp he started yelling at the top of his lungs "I needs to go pee!!!" So the very next exit we were stopped at a gas station. Not ten minutes after getting back on the road the yells began again. And again. And again. One time we couldn't stop soon enough, and he peed just a little in his pants. Long story short, it took us easily twice as long to get to Ogden as it normally would, and he was stuck sitting in his own urine.

When we got there we ran into another convenience store. I was running as quick as I could, and as I frantically searched for the restroom, I felt my arm get warm and start dripping. Yep, I was peed on. The rest of the trip there were two urine soaked gentlemen.

Isn't parenthood fun?