Brain Damage - Pink Floyd

A response from LACLinux tells me they're trying to complete orders received prior to the closing, but the process of buying from their laptop hardware provider is "stalled." That said, he said to expect anywhere from two to four weeks for completion and shipping. Factor in the holidays and my thrice-cursed luck, and I might have a new laptop by the beginning of next semester. I'm not sure if I should reply with a request for compensation or not.

Enough of that. I wrote 1,100 words today, bringing my short story nearer completion. I must have it finished by the 29th, as I'm doing an early workshop with a girl from class who's leaving for Kathmandu on the 1st. Some of us like quiet holidays, but it seems she's not one to pass up the opportunity to approach Everest with David Breashears and an IMAX team. Nor would I, I suppose. Even if it did mean training and whatnot. Sherpas kick ass.

I still must write the script for my presentation on the 1st. Then I must record it, hopefully with the help of Pursuit Studios.

With a little luck and some audition skill, I'll have my very own specialty show on KCSU next semester. The show will be called "The Study Hall" and will feature a smorgasboard of folk, alt country, and downtempo. My ideal time slot is Thursday nigthts from 11:00 - 1:00, but we'll see. I still need to write that essay on why it will benefit KCSU, who would listen, etc. I'll try to keep the sarcasm to a minimum.

Pipe smoking is difficult. I need more practice before I can actually get the pipe to stay lit for more than twenty seconds.

My beard is scraggly and weaksauce.

soRrow - Fold Zandura

Writing is fun but difficult. I find it similar to acting in that I have to acquire a certain mindset before working on a particular scene. Music helps greatly in this, but sometimes even it can't overcome preset emotions.

For example, I'm trying to write a scene about a young man in a hospital trying to understand that his girlfriend was killed in the same accident that hospitalized him. When I showed up here (I'm at my parents' house), I was ready to go. However, a quick check on the LACLinux people completely messed me up.

They are closed for corporate restructuring.

They're not taking new orders or providing direct customer service. I don't know if this means they've stopped working on current orders, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does. It would explain why my lappy still hasn't become a nice little parcel for the UPS to deliever to me.

Fucking A.

I'm sure some of you think I'm overreacting. After all, it's just a laptop. Please remember, though, that this laptop means the reintroduction of a functioning computer to my house, which has the following ramifications: 1) a working printer, 2) a reliable workstation for my writing, 3) the return of t3h 1nt3Rn3t, and 4) the end of floppy disk ruination.

So now I have to write a sorrowful restructuring of my character's life when I really feel like an in-depth coverage of particularly heinous torture methods.

Hindslight - DJ Shadow

I might be getting my poetry portfolio back today.

I gave a persuasive speech on the historicity and authenticity of Jesus Christ today in my seminar. I think it went well. We avoided Christian-ese so we wouldn't bore our audience to repentence. Instead, we just stated the evidences (Josephus and Eusebius) and arguments (C.S. Lewis). Jeff Johnson's new age music gave us a multi-media edge.

The CSUPD received a front-page article in yesterday's Collegian for trying to "diversify" their squad. At CSU, we want a well-rounded squad of pricks, not just white males.

I feel a change coming over me. Methinks finding out what I'm supposed to do sparked a engine in me. It hasn't even fully warmed up, though, so I don't know what it will do or mean when it finally does.

Check out my new links. Especially the Monster Engine. This guy takes children's drawings and paints them realistically. I find it quite interesting.

Size Too Small - Sufjan Stevens

I shall now empty an entire clip of news at you.

-I just finished basic production training at KCSU.
-I am officially unemployed.
-My parents left the country.
-My brother tells me my Japanese is very formal.
-I have a tentative idea for my short story.
-Ben Emslie is marrying Charity Sturgeon on April 30th, 2006.
-He asked me to be his best man.
-I can't wrap my head around the idea of being a best man.
-This semester has less than 20 days of life left.

I shall now abandon your bleeding body to the dangers of the Internet.

Organized Beyond Recognition - Norma Jean

I received a reply from the lappy people:

"Unfortunately there will be a delay with this order, we've just found
out that the LUCGM2 is being updated, and the manufacturer will not send
us any more. The new unit will be available in a few days, and we will
begin shipping them in 10-11 days. They support newer Pentium M CPUs,
dual channel DDR2 RAM, serial ATA hard drives, and the rest of the specs
are the same. Everyone with an existing LUCGM2 order will get one of
these instead unless they choose to cancel their order.

We're sorry to make this change so late in the order process, please let
us know if the improved unit will be acceptable. And accept our
apologies for the delay."

I guess I'm happy about the improved specs, but it's still irritating. The god of customer service must hate me. Maybe I'll appease him by writing him into a novel.

I want my lappy.

Pudding Time - Primus

Victoria and I double-dated with her friend Courtney and her boyfriend Matt last night. It was Courtney's 18th birthday, so her parents decided to finance a night out on the town. We met at the Canton Hibachi at 5:00 for eats. First experience for all of us, and awkwardness bloomed when our cook turned out to be a former classmate of Tori and Courtney's. The food was excellent, though, and the cook was very entertaining, so no complaints. I also ordered pineapple juice to drink, something I've seen no other restaurant offer. It may not be the "correct" thing to order with steak, but meh.

After dinner, Tony the chauffer showed up with a nice white limousine. He said he came courtesy of Courtney's mother to take us around for a few hours. No complaints there, but first we had to return (in limo) to Courtney's house to give her siblings a chance to cruise for a little while. I met Courtney's cat during this interim, and it was instant affection on both sides.

The siblings returned from their joyous but brief life of luxury, and we told Tony (who had an excellent Chicago accent) to take us to Old Town. We cruised around for a little while before my bowels declared war on me. Finding a public bathroom in Old Town is no easy feat, especially if one has three other individuals and a limousine to consider. Nonetheless, I persevered and prevailed, finding the bathroom in the Old Town Weight Room quite satisfactory.

Upon returning to the Canton Palace Hibachi, we retrieved our vehicles and moseyed over to Blockbuster seeking entertainment. We picked The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the Memories anime shorts. Unfortunately, time only permitted the watching of Douglas Adams' masterpiece. Then Victoria took me home.

All in all, a good night.