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Jun 27, 2003

Ah, but how to bring back the scores of readers this blog once enjoyed? Controversy, of course! So let me proceed to rant mercilessly about the habits of a depressingly large percentage of my friends, because they deserve it. I love you all, but sometimes you can really annoy the hell out of me.

Let's talk smoking. I've said it many times, and I'll stick to it: I don't mind having friends who smoke. However, as has been intimated, I do not like the habit of smoking itself. There are a few reasons I do not, and will not, participate in this habit. There is, of course, that whole thing with the cancer rotting away your body from the inside, which isn't really my style. There is also that clinging, disgusting aroma which can only be eliminated through thorough bathing and a change of clothes. But the most important reason I don't smoke is that I don't like the idea of an enslaved mind. I hate the very idea of steeping my brain in a cocktail of chemicals that force it to act a certain way and need certain things.

However, the most important point to this argument is the second. It's the smell! I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink, and every time I do I fear that I have somehow been infected by it. Er...ahem. Anyway, it's gross, and I go out of my way to avoid it. Thus, my annoyance with people who bring the stench to me.

Don't get me wrong: I can't criticize anyone for adopting whatever stinky, expensive, antisocial habits they want. That's their decision and their right. I'm criticizing people for a lack of common courtesy. When you meet with a large group of non-smokers, it is rude to immediately excuse yourself so you can go stench yourself up. It is pretty impolite to do it any time, actually, if you're planning to head right back into the conversation smelling the way you do five seconds post-brain-steep.

By all means, smoke...on your own time. In your car, maybe, with it out the window so the smell is mostly blown away. In your room, in your back yard, whatever. But I'm sorry, that awkward pause after you come in from your fourteenth smoke break of the night is everyone else in the room struggling to breathe. When people scoot away from you on the couch, rest assured it is only their instinct for self-preservation acting.

Let's look at last night. Just considering the driving times when you can smoke and not be too smelly, you have the ride to Jason's, the ride to the Thai place, the ride back to Jason's, and (if you aren't spending the night) the ride home. That's three or four smoke breaks in one evening! Is that not enough to slake your thirst for the damn things? How hard can it possibly be to wait?

I'm not saying all smokers are rude. I know many, in our group of friends and outside it, who can't kick the habit but won't make it a burden for anyone else. You choose to smoke and I respect that decision. I choose to breathe freely, and I hope you will respect that decision. As for the rest of you, next time you feel the need for a cigarette, maybe think more that two minutes into the future and consider the way other people feel about it.
Nick ::: 11:50 AM ::: 0 comments

OK ... if this works, the grapics are back!
Nick ::: 10:56 AM ::: 0 comments

Jun 26, 2003

Damnit, I need to get on the ball with my hosted content. Where the fuh-kack are my graphics? My intro movie? My ... other graphics!?
Nick ::: 11:59 PM ::: 0 comments

Tonight's get-together really gave me a chance to realize how much I miss everybody. You guys are all awesome, and not because I need you to fend off boredom -- I don't. I've had lots of places to go and lots of stuff to do since we last went somewhere as a group. The thing is, I've really missed all of your distinct personalities. We need to make these group events as regular as they were during the academic year ... or at least, I need to be invited as frequently as I was then. ;)

Look at me; I'm so happy I'm using smilies.

I also like blogging again. This really will be an awesome way to stay in touch with each other later on. And for now, it's a way to guilt-trip you into letting me tag along when you go to Thai restaurants. (Incidentally, great sweet-and-sour, sweet-and-hot, and fried rice, but for a Thai place the curry was unforgivably un-curry-ie.) Now I just need to write something snarky to bring the blog up to its pre-abandonment standards.

So until next time, ain't nobody dope as me!
Nick ::: 11:56 PM ::: 0 comments

Jun 25, 2003

OK, never mind. I'm not going to get sappy about graduation. If it makes you feel any better, those sippy-cups aren't actually spill-proof. That's probably what happened.

Anyway, just figured I should update y'all on my life plans. I've chucked the old one that ended with getting shot (heaven knows why) in favor of a slightly more (read: unrealistically) optimistic series of events.

1) Go to college, study Journalism.
2) Get a job with a newspaper or magazine that isn't on the brink of going out of print.
3) Write and circulate many screenplays in my spare time.
4) Have a script bought by a wealthy studio.
5) Become a well-paid big-budget writer/director
6) Use immense wealth and fame to create my own production company, studio, record label, publishing house, chart-topping rock band, and secret evil moon base.
7) Spend the rest of my life in pleasant, leisurely pursuits, such as ridiculing celebrities, driving expensive cars, and watching movies.
Nick ::: 12:51 PM ::: 0 comments