Abbreviated update

2010 so far has been quite the riot.

I've been keeping up with most of resolutions (toot toot). Although I have fallen behind in my reading.

I am reading a wildly interesting book called Friendship, An Expose written by a college professor. I will surely dedicate an entire blog to it as I have highlighted several well thought-out passages from the book.

I already have my next book lined up called "Founding Myths" by Ray Raphael. I guess its a book revealing stories that hide our patriotic past. I'm excited to read it.

I'm dedicating 2010 to opening horizons and catching up with the world today since I feel like I am falling behind. I don't want to end up like my mother where she stopped keeping up with technology after VHS.

I already have a hard enough time trying to work the TV. Pathetic.

I've also dedicated 2010 to the arts. Obviously music will always be my number one boo, but I want to expand my writing opportunities (which is well on its way since I got hired as a freelance writer for Demand Studios), dive back into photography and even try my hand out in drawing and paint. I've already drawn out a few things. One of which is a gnome. Cause I have a freak obsession with them... don't judge me.

And I can officially say 2010 is the year of coffee. I am in love. I think I just like the smell of it the most, but obviously it's also tasty. I have been going to a lot of different coffee shops and trying out their goods.

Best coffee in town thus far: Peet's Coffee and Tea.

Keeping tabs on Obama

This is a wonderful site that keeps a tab on President Obama and the status of all the promises he made while campaigning.

The site, PolitiFact.com, has a nifty little device called The Obama-meter which keeps a tab on Obama and the progress (or lack thereof) of his promises.

I highly recommend checking it out.

Flying hysteria

The American media is going nutty for airport stories.

And Americans are eating them up.

After Umar Abdulmutallab's failed attempt to take down a plane on Christmas Day, the media is stalking airports and looking for something - anything - to write about.

There are multiple articles written about the incident every day.

President Barack Obama takes responsibility for the failures of U.S. intelligence and security officials.

You can read what the moron is charged with.

We have the "what-can-we-do-so-this-never-happens-again" stories up the wazoo, too, specifically regarding the full-body scanner stories.

If you haven't heard, certain U.S. airports are in possession of full body scanners where the technology pretty much sees through your clothing.

The scanners will be able to see everything you are hiding underneath your clothes, whether it be money in your bra, a plastic bag containing a liquid explosive strapped to your leg, a nugget of marijuana hidden in your butt crack or a pencil in your pocket. They will also reveal your body size, exposing any cellulite, stretch marks, piercings and/or tattoos you might have.

The last statement may or may not be true.

In any case, some persons argue these full-body scanners are too personal and that they violate an individuals privacy. Others are willing to forgo the somewhat embarrassing scan in the name of security.

I personally wouldn't mind getting a full body scan. I have nothing to hide (except maybe the cellulite), but I don't see the point in spending millions of dollars in purchasing, installing and then training staff to use such advanced technology when there are other, simpler ways of checking for suspected terrorists going through airports.

I don't understand why each airline can't check the background of each individual who purchased a ticket for a flight. Why don't we just have every airline run a quick background check on every individual, similar to what police departments do, as step one? Umar I-wanna-blow-up-my-Underwear was previously flagged as a potential terrorist (His dad visited the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria in November to warn that his son was "under the influence of extremists.") If they ran a check against his name, surely someone would have noticed.

Step 2: Pay attention to how the ticket is being purchased. Umar bought his with cash. That's sort of unusual in today's credit-card driven society, no?

Step 3: Pay attention to the amount of baggage a person checks in. This guy was traveling across the ocean with no luggage? Suspicious much? Come on!

LAX recently announced they want these full-body scanners.

The article reads: "About 40 devices are operating at 19 airports across the country -- two at LAX, the nation's third-busiest airport and one of the top potential targets in the country for terrorists.

The TSA has ordered about 150 scanners to be installed this year and has received funding for an additional 300."

I find it curious that none of the articles I've read about these scanners divulge information regarding its cost.

And if you think flying is scary because you have to worry about terrorists, think again.

Apparently, you also have to worry about being pick pocketed! Some Toyko-to-Paris flyers were robbed while they slept. How pissed would you be if your were the victim of theft while traveling thousands of feet in the air, and the robber was somewhere on the plane with you!?

Great. Revealing full-body scanners. Unpredictable terrorists. Shady pick-pocketers.

Oh wait. I forgot one: Drunk pilots.

A United Airlines pilot admitted that he was shmammered while navigating a plane. Really?

I mean ... really?

I love Reg Henry

Reg Henry, a columnist for the Pittsberg Post-Gazette, is my all-time favorite columnist. We run him in The Signal every Thursday.

His latest column touches upon some interesting things in a humorous way (which is typical of Mr. Reg Henry and why I enjoy reading his column so much).

It's called "Convert a liberal? What a radical idea"

Take a moment and take a read it. It's a fun read.

2009: A year in review

Personally, 2009 wasn't really a bad year, so to speak.

I still have a roof over my head, I still have a job, I still have my health.

Since I write everything down in my Google calendar, it's easy to review what I did with my 2009, and I did a lot. A lot of good things.

Travel wise though, in comparison to other years, 2009 sucked for me. But that's only because I am spoiled and am used to traveling to a new location every year because I have ever since 1998.

In any case, I did do a lot of traveling... but it was mostly within the state.

Despite my lack of traveling to new places, 2009 was (in all sense of the word) okay: let's review.

Boozin
I did a lot of drinking. Mostly until July. Then it significantly slowed down. And I mean significantly. It went from literally everyday to roughly once a week ... if that.

Boys, boys, boys
Looks like my sour streak of failed boy relationships rolled over from 2008 to 2009. Whether I was the one chasing, the one being chased or actually dating the guy (whatever that means), there were a few good ones and a few rotten ones ... Obviously some "season finales" were more unfortunate than others, but I learned valuable lessons from most encounters and naturally don't regret any of them.

In a recent conversation with Dustin, I think he's right when he says that I will probably be single for the rest of my life. I have accepted this... although some days the romantic little girl surfaces and cries about it.

Nicotine
Tried to quit smoking twice. The first time failed miserably. The second time, after the annual Mono Hot Springs trip, was more of a success, but I still find myself craving cigarettes and smoking, especially socially. But to celebrate SOMETHING out of this "failure," I have reduced the amount of nicotine my body was used to. I don't smoke everyday, and I can confidently say I have conquered my "habitual addictions" (like that of smoking at work, smoking in my car, after eating a meal and right before going to bed.) Hopefully, by 2011, I will say I'm 100% smoke-free.

House-sitting-mania
2009 was definitely a year of house sitting for me. I credit it to the fact that everyone is aware of my situation at home - where I sleep on a couch and technically have no room - and so my friends and extended family invite me over to take advantage of their homes while they're gallivanting the world.

Shay and I stayed at her uncles house in Castaic for a week or so and threw the annual BBQ at the house.

I enjoyed living on my own in a studio while Dustin was enjoying himself in Europe in June.

I watered plants for Gma Tozzi for a month while she road-tripped to visit family.

I then took care of little Rocky at the Tozzi residence in October while they went on a cruise for a week.

And finally, I took care of three massive dogs for my musical buddy Michael in Winnetka over Christmas.

I also think I spent a few nights at the Matzner residence taking care of Ugly while they were out of town... but I seem to have missed writing it down in my calendar.

Camping and hiking
I camped a lot this year... which in retrospect makes me giddy and excited for next year's trips. Most of the following are annual:
-Bad Bear with the Polacks
-Hot Dogs and Whiskey with the Polacks
-Yosemite with the Italians AND the Polacks
-Mono Hot Springs with my girls, the Polacks and the Katies.

Hiking wasn't as strong, but I did hike in the SCV for the first time. I plan on discovering more local trails in 2010.

Car troubles
2009 was by far the year of car issues. My car, Jupiter Optimus Maximus, is growing old and breaking down. His CD player skips like crazy, his seats are torn, his driver's window doesn't seal so it's always noisy.

His roof broke three times (where it didn't open or close all the way). His air conditioning broke twice. His back bumper fell off returning from a camping trip. His front seat heaters don't work.

And of course, what topped it off, was when some sad person slashed 3 holes in his convertible to jack a bag full of underwear and makeup.

Not only did my car suffer in 2009, my older brother's car crapped out on my on the way back from Mono Hot Springs (costing $600 to fix), and the engine light came on while I was driving my dad's car (I probably fucked up the transmission).

Other highlights
All of the Mammoth trips. Had a season pass and definitely used it.
All of the Vegas trips. One with my girls. One with the Polish Crew. And the last with my RA crew.
Memorial Day weekend in San Diego with my RA buddies.
Stephanie and Matt graduating from college and Mickey getting his master's degree.
A few San Francisco trips - one of which was my birthday and another was Halloween weekend where I met Tony Vincent after seeing the Green Day Musical
Sea World with Asia and Peter
The discovery of Vozdu Yoga

Rediscovering music
And last but not least, I think the most important thing I got out of 2009 was diving again into my artistic side, specifically music. After taking a few music classes, I have used playing guitar as a way to cope, to concentrate, to express and to enjoy myself. It's probably the most valuable and significant thing I have taken out of 2009.

And so, although 2009 wasn't the greatest, it definitely could have been a lot worse.

Regardless, I'm still giving 2009 the finger and embracing 2010 to snuggle in my bosom.

It will be a good year.