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Going back to the concept of me reading books that I’ve read articles about. Generally this is always the case. Every time I’ve ever just “picked up” a book, I’ve always been disappointed in it. However, recently the new thing is that I’m starting to read books that people recommend to me. Currently my list includes a book recommended by a guy I work with, a book recommended by a guy who works for my cousin, and a book recommended by a beautiful young lady I met on the airplane back from San Diego.

I’m not sure if it’s just because I’m hanging around people who actually read or what, but I’m eager to see the results.

I’m not sure if it was in Popular Mechanic, Esquire, or some other random magazine I was just reading, but I recently read an article about these new Java Monster energy drinks by Monster Energy. Oddly enough a random fun fact about myself is that if I read an article about something and I’m intrigued by it, I will usually try and/or do whatever the article is about. This particularly holds true when it comes to reading books.

To get back on topic; I stopped this morning on the way to my little brother’s graduation and picked up one of these drinks. Surprisingly it was quite delicious. So if you like the cold Starbucks coffee drinks that you can get in gas stations, I would recommend that you try one of these Java Monster drinks. You’ll probably like it.

On an unrelated, although important, note; my little brother, Kyle, graduated from Columbia State Community College today with an Associate of Science Degree in General Transfer with an emphasis on Geography.

I wanted to post pictures of my “janky” hotel in San Diego and I didn’t really have a chance to work it into the last post. My boss and I picked this hotel because it was close to everything and essentially all the other hotels were booked. Although I know it was probably Victorian themed, I got more of the “old lady house” impression.

The lobby

A “paper mache” horse in the lobby…

Picture of my room #1

Picture of my room #2 (The TV was behind the mirrors above the fireplace)

Well I’m back from my week in San Diego.

Here’s a recap.

Sunday: My boss and I flew out early that morning and arrived to unseasonably hot 100 degree weather. Since we had time to kill before the events for the day started, we went to a Padres game. The Padres lost, but it was still nice. Later we went to the opening reception for the convention (free food and drinks). After hanging around for a bit, we hiked a few blocks up the road to a reception given by one of our insurance brokers (more free food and drinks). Once we handled business by successfully hobnobbing and chatting with our business contacts, we hiked a few more blocks back to the Padres stadium for a desert reception hosted by a big insurance company (even more free food and drinks).

Monday: After having a big breakfast and listening to a few speakers at the convention, everyone was sent off to see the convention floor (ie. vendors from things like insurance companies, medical case management, lawyers, non-slip shoe manufactures, etc. were all there trying to sell their services). Later we attended a few classes before heading off to a dinner hosted by our property insurance company. After filling ourselves with sushi and beer, we caught a cab back to the convention center for the Hootie and the Blowfish concert. An interesting note, we were on the front row and the floor of the convention center is designed to move because of the earthquakes. So once everyone started rocking and the floor started moving it was a really awesome experience.

Tuesday: More classes then a delicious lunch with our other insurance broker. Then more classes. That evening we went to a dinner hosted by a competing insurance broker and ate a lot more delicious food. Then we hiked up to the house of blues for an event hosted by some other big insurance company were they had a U2 tribute band and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performing. Note: I hate U2 and I hate the U2 tribute band even more.

Wednesday: More classes all day. To kill time before the Cirque Du Soleil performance, my boss and I decided to go to the hospitality suite of our property insurance carrier. While there one of the guys we know invited us to a really nice dinner at some swanky restaurant. So we hopped in a chartered bus and rolled out. Although we missed the Cirque Du Soleil performance from what we heard the next day it sucked, so it was a smart move on our part to be entertained yet again by the property guys. Then once that event was over I went to a party at the Hard Rock Hotel hosted by some other insurance related company. My boss decided to not go because it was kind of late and the party was kind of jumping. But I hung out and drank more free beer and chatted with some lovely ladies from North Texas University.

Thursday: Just more classes before heading off to the airport and then flying back.

Yesterday my buddy Manish pointed out to me that I’ve only posted three things in the month of April. While I knew that I hadn’t been posting much lately, I didn’t realize how infrequent I’ve become with sharing my thoughts.

However, in my defense, Grad school has been killing me. It’s been test after test after paper after test after test. Seriously I feel like all I do is study all week long. But on the bright side, I’ve just got to take one last test on Saturday morning and I’ll be done with the semester.

Also, a lot of things that I don’t write about have been going on lately. Ex: fights with friends and various ups and downs with a few “lady friends”. While I do share a lot, I don’t share it all.

But an interesting note is that I’m leaving Sunday to go to San Diego for a week for an insurance convention. While the idea of learning about insurance for a week may seem boring, it’s oddly not. Since the job of most the people at this convention is to buy insurance, the insurance companies are very eager to wine and dine you. So it’ll be a week of free food and free booze and being entertained. Also, they’re bringing in Hootie and the Blowfish one night and then another night they’re having Cirque du Soleil. So it should be good times.

The other night I bought a CD from cdbaby.com. If you’re unfamiliar with cdbaby.com, it’s basically a website for musicians who aren’t signed by a major record label, but yet still good enough and/or driven enough to somehow put out a CD. It’s a great way to find some really good music.

But the point of this post is that after I made my purchase I got this email:

Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.

A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before mailing.

Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.

We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of Portland waved “Bon Voyage!” to your package, on its way to you, in our private CD Baby jet on this day, Monday, April 14th.

I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby.  We sure did. Your picture is on our wall as “Customer of the Year.”  We’re all exhausted but can’t wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!

Those people at cdbaby.com are funny.

I just read this article about a Metro Station performance in D.C. by violinist Joshua Bell. (It’s kind of long but I definitely recommend reading it)

Aside from the fact that the article is just interesting, it reminded me of something that happened about a month or two ago.

I was in Nashville with some friends at a Predator’s game and we ended up leaving early. I don’t remember all the details, but for some reason I was walking down Broadway by myself. As I crossed over 4th I saw a woman there on the corner playing the violin. It caught my attention because it was different than the normal street musicians you see playing in downtown Nashville. I smiled as I walked by and just listened as I was walking away. For some reason when I got to the corner of 3rd I felt compelled to turn around. I ended up going back and giving that lady $2. She stopped when I dropped the money in her case and told me thank you. I just smiled at her again and told her that what she was playing was really pretty. I then went merrily on my way.

I never told anyone that story because at the time I just thought the whole situation was really odd. I guess maybe not.

The intention ever since Heather and I split up was that she was going to get our cat Mallory once she got settled into her own place. Well on Sunday Heather came and got Mallory…

Although I knew it was coming, I was absolutely devastated. Honestly, I had never felt so lonely in my entire life.

However, since Mallory isn’t what you would call a “pleasant cat”, she didn’t take to well to the new place and the new people who were around her. So Heather called the vet to see if she could bring her in.  The vet told her that since Mallory was displaying fearful aggression, the best option would be to return her to me if possible because unless you ease a cat like her into that kind of situation she probably wasn’t going to stop acting the way she was.

So yesterday Heather brought Mallory back. While I was happy to have my cat living with me again, I know how terrible Heather feels.

It’s been pretty rough on both of us; but Mallory seems to be doing well.

I found this website called Garfield Minus Garfield thanks to my good friend Micheal in D.C. Here’s the explanation of the concept from the site:

“Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb.”

I really enjoy it.

Last night I attended a couple’s shower for my cousin and soon to be cousin-in-law. Lots of fun was had and I believe that they very much enjoyed being showered with gifts and spending time with all their friends. However, the evening ending somewhat early and I was left flying solo on a Saturday night at 10:00.

Luckily for me a friend extended an invitation to join her and a few of her lady friends in Nashville for some drinks. It wasn’t until we got there that I realized I had somewhat stumbled into a “girls night” of sorts. But always being the optimists I am, I rolled with it and enjoyed the company of four lovely ladies as they bought me beer and danced to Run-DMC with me.

Also, because I’m extremely predictable, when my friend introduced me to everyone, she immediately leaned in and whispered to me, “The redhead is married”. Even still, I couldn’t help but chat her up.