Sunday, March 31st, 2002 | 12:00 pm
And now I recall to you a story that happened in Orlando last week when Heather and I were there in Mickey-town.
We were at the Disney-MGM Studios. Nice park, tied for #2 on my list, fun place. They have a “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” attraction where they have a replica studio set up and everyone in the seats there has little buttons they can press to try to get into the hot seat.
You play for points, the million point question is worth a trip to New York to see a taping of the show, and in general it’s a good way to pass the time because you get to play on every question.
So we had been to see this attraction a few times and I had been in the top ten before (they have a leaderboard) but never got to the hot seat (you are playing against 600 other people).
(OK, 599 people. Why are you always correcting me?)
It’s tough. You really have to hit that button fast. They do a fastest finger question first to put an initial person in the hot seat, and when they ran the fastest finger question this time, it was tough. It asked: Put the following consumer products in order according to the order they were introduced, starting with the earliest: Barbie, Jenga, Operation, and some other product I forget.
Anyway, Heather and I were both in the top ten on that question but not in first. When the break after 5 questions comes around with this dude in the hot seat, they show the leaderboard again and I am in second place. So close. Then, when he finally gets his question wrong, the board comes up again and I was at the top of the list! How exciting.
So I run down there and it’s definitely more nervous being down under the lights. For the Disney World version they have some aspiring actor as a host and he did fine. I got stuck on a question about where St. Mark’s Square is because, well, I’ve never been to Venice. But the lifeline I used there helped me out. I passed the 1000 pt. question, where I was guaranteed a hat and some pins. I was very successful until the 32,000 point question. It was:
Who was the first African-American Mayor of Los Angeles?
Maynard Jackson
Andrew Young
Tom Bradley
Bill Campbell
Now–I know what you are thinking. Three of those were politicians in Atlanta. That’s exactly what I thought too. Somehow, since I had never heard of Tom Bradley, I went with Maynard Jackson. Oh well. I lost. I got an ugly hat and had to sign a release saying I wouldn’t play again for 30 days.
Saturday, March 30th, 2002 | 12:00 pm
I won’t always have Saturdays as free as I have today, but it was nice. I slept, slept, cleaned my apartment, ate, and slept some more.
Now it’s the evening
So I’ve spent most of the night watching TV and playing on the internet. There’s really nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong is my Spanish homework. Well, that’s not wrong either. I have plenty of time to do it.
The rental car I’ve had for the last few days certainly isn’t bad, but I do miss driving the Explorer. The only benefits are that the speakers in the Camry are pretty good and it’s very clean. Go figure.
Of course, my room is still messy. It’s not like “things are out of order” messy. Now it’s “what the hell is that?” messy. I mean, not biologically messy. There’s nothing unsanitary about my mess; my mess is a product of my daily “routine” (in quotes because I’m not very routine myself). I wake up, I take a shower, I change my clothes, leaving them where they lay. Then I go to class. I come home and drop my stuff on the floor. Then I sit down at my computer. Then I eat, sleep, play video games, and do schoolwork. Notice “keep my room clean” wasn’t on that list. That’s what I do here. And that’s why my room looks like crap right now. I cleaned the rest of my apartment and when I do laundry tomorrow, the room will again be below 50% dirty.
Tuesday, March 26th, 2002 | 8:00 pm
Wow. I cooked a really good meal tonight. A nice filet of salmon marinated overnight and sauteéd in olive oil today, some good garlic toast and a macaroni/sour cream/cheese side dish I made.
VERY good.
Monday, March 25th, 2002 | 12:00 pm
After I typed the title for this entry, I was struck with the feeling that an entry entitled “I like coffee” wouldn’t really be that interesting.
Not that I’m trying to be interesting.
But Garrett, if you aren’t trying to be interesting, why do you write in a pretentious journal about sleeping diagonally, beating your clothes, and buoyant Cocoa Puffs?
Hey, you italicized, motives-questioning fool. You mind your own damn business and I will continue to write here!!!
Today, I went to class, ate at the Blind Pig (wings and fries are so good there) and then played tennis with Heather. We didn’t play for very long, and it may have been due to the fact that I don’t play tennis very well.
’s how it goes, I suppose…
Currently I am
eating: a mini York peppermint patty
drinking: coffee from my Fox News mug
listening to: Groove Salad on SOMAFM.com
There is precisely 1 dish within arm’s reach needing to be put in the dishwasher. Although… I guess the mug counts because I finished my coffee. Does it count? I may get more coffee, but if I don’t, it’s just a mug without a cause, sitting on my desk, smelling worse and worse as the water evaporates out leaving a milky mocha-colored splotch on the bottom of the mug that looks wet, but is actually just sticky.
I’m just gonna get some more coffee now.
Current Messiness Percentage of my room:
60%
Sunday, March 24th, 2002 | 3:40 am
Yesterday I made dinner for myself and for Heather. I made chicken teriyaki and angel hair pasta. The chicken was very good. My problem is this (and it’s self-inflicted so I’m just complaining): Glad Ovenware.
For the uninitiated, they are these plastic dishes you can use in the oven. Amazing!
My problem is that it still feels pretty weird to put plastic in the oven. I feel like it’s some cruel trick, like I’m going to put in the dish, turn on the oven, and turn over the package and see the text, “You fool!!! You can’t put plastic in the oven!!! HA HA HA! Now your food is ruined and your kitchen smells like burnt plastic. I tricked you!”
But, no such thing happened. The plastic worked, and then I look on the box and find out it’s reusable.
But really, isn’t it going to melt?
I’m still worried about it.
Saturday, March 23rd, 2002 | 12:00 pm
To those who were wondering if I would have a good time in Orlando, I did.
We went to the parks and had fun and I got a WICKED sunburn on Thursday at the water park.
Not fun.
Hmmm. In a moment of stupidity, I decided to call Cingular to tell them that I can’t dial 800 numbers.
On their 800 number.
From my phone.
Today’s invention I’m surprised women haven’t invented yet: A flag one can surreptitiously add to any credit card billing system to notify a given email address or phone number when flowers or jewelry are purchased with said card.
Currently I am
eating: nothing
drinking: water
listening to: “I wish you were here” - incubus
There is precisely 1 glass within arm’s reach needing to be put in the dishwasher.
Current Messiness Index of my room:
59% (mostly due to the suitcase, unpacking, etc…
Saturday, March 16th, 2002 | 12:00 pm
We are OFF to Norcross for the night and then tomorrow (Sunday) we go to Orlando (or Lake Buena Vista to you Cartophiles)
Did I just say Cartopohiles?
Is that a word?
I guess it is now.
“Lover of maps.”
We will be relaxing/spending time at WDW/relaxing some more. I am looking forward to it. I do enjoy Epcot and MGM and the Magic Kingdom is fun in moderation. It will just be fun to be away.
Lots of fun :)
It’s not so bad of a drive; obviously, it’s one I’ve made before.
I usually drive the whole way because I enjoy driving and Heather, while she doesn’t particularly mind it, does not actively enjoy the activity.
We are staying at the world’s largest Travelodge; if anyone has an emergency, you will look up the number and location of this hotel and find us. That is sufficient information to keep away the people who would just call me for the hell of it.
Besides, that’s what my cell phone is for.
And if you get bored, send up to 110 characters to my cell phone anytime, day or night.
Currently I am
eating: little banana candy from a little curious george tin my mom sent me. It’s cool, trust me.
drinking: nothing.
listening to: “Jump” -Van Halen
There is precisely 1 glass within arm’s reach needing to be put in the dishwasher.
Current Messiness Index of my room:
44%
Friday, March 15th, 2002 | 12:00 pm
So, our Advertising Campaigns team didn’t win. We’re glad just the same that we don’t have to go to Atlanta and do it again, but that statement doesn’t hide how much we actually wanted to win.
Oh well.
Lots of people have to lose, I guess.
In the “bad news” category, I was involved in an automobile accident (everyone’s fine) on Monday. *sigh*
I thought I was done with those.
Thursday, March 14th, 2002 | 12:00 pm
I’m going to say this one time: Our Ad Campaigns group is *A*W*E*S*O*M*E*.
Period.
Last night was crazy in many ways.
We had a GREAT performance on stage. The presentation went off flawlessly and all of us presented the best we ever had, including all 15 or so times we practiced the damn thing.
I just can’t emphasize enough how good it feels to work so hard on this for a solid month and put every waking hour into it.
I hope I am this passionate about my work when I get out there. Something says to me “You idealistic half-wit! Life is never as fun as college!”
Oh well.
Now we all hope we will win. Before, it was like… Ahhh, whatever, we don’t want to go to regionals because it means so much more work.
But it’s too late now. We’re wrapped up in it. We went out there and presented this ad campaign like nothing we had ever done.
Wednesday, March 13th, 2002 | 12:00 pm
Ooh boy… I’m in the lab. What tremendous fun!
I HATE the lab. Let me rephrase that–
I hate WORKING in the lab. I don’t mind a room full of computers any more than the next guy, but when that’s where I’m supposed to come up with my creative visions? ;)
Seriously, I can never think straight unless I am at my own computer, in my own comfortable settings, etc. The computers here are Macs. I have no real problem with Macintosh computers. I do have a problem, however, with anything that’s not my computer.
Enough ranting.
The presentation (Ad Campaigns) is tonight. That’s why I didn’t post for two days. I have been somewhat nervous for other things, but I actually am pretty nervous about this. But, at least it will be over tonight. As long as we don’t win. If we win, we have to work really really hard to prepare for the district competition in Atlanta.
I’m sure you know, then, that we are pulling for second place…
Who knows, we’ve all worked really hard on this project, but I have no idea how the other groups are going to do. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of anyone else’s campaign, anywhere.
We’ll see!
Wish me luck on the 6 or 7 minutes of the presentation that are mine!
