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July 29, 2004
tellin' ya
Just so everyone nose!
I will be gone until the 5th to my girlfriends house so I might not update until then. See you kids later!
Posted by akijikan at 12:20 AM | TrackBack
July 25, 2004
Second time at St. John's
So I hoped to escape without injury this time around.
But no, I burned my finger. No pics this time though, it was pretty much a non-event. It hurt a while afterwards, but I didn't feel a thing this morning.
I did all the same things pretty much: desserts, salads, and "ohm-le-zays".
It wasn't hard, but it wasn't easy either. It was more rushed than the first time I worked there, but it was also just as enjoyable.
I know, I know.
I need to do another post with pictures. Don't worry, it'll come soon.
Posted by akijikan at 10:11 PM | TrackBack
July 23, 2004
Fighting fighting. Same same. (or band camp day 5)
So today was the end of the first week of band camp. It was pretty simple.
We stretched but we didn't even have to stick around for basics! YES! I'm especially glad because Mr. Rose has hired the most insane of M&M (Marching and Maneuvering) instructors. He is known as (Mr.) Harvey. He's instructed for the likes of Velocity Indoor Percussion, and other area bands.
But worse, he was in a Drum (and bugle, but that doesn't matter...j/k) corps. And not just any. No, he was in the Cavaliers. He was their drum major in '95 when they won the Championships (among many other times). So this guy is insane about breaking the down the steps and working on basics for hours to make them perfect. Crazy.
But no, we got to miss all that to work on music, so I was glad. We've played everything we have practically into the ground, and I have all that has been given to us (warm-ups, 2 cadences, opener and half of a second song) memorized. So we took a lot of long breaks.
When I go to the bathroom, they consult with the colorguard. Apparently we're going to have a water-balloon fight between them and us (the drumline). This will prove interesting and I expect, fun.
Mark then decides to get a little advance water action. He gets me and three other guys to fill cups with water, two to a person, and get in the back of his truck. We then drive up next to where the guard is practicing and throw the water on them...they were totally surprised and it was hilarious.
But please, I would like you to play close attention to this. This is so awesome.
Every year now for four years I have looked forward to a particular moment. That moment is the first time the drumline finally plays one of the pieces with the band. There is nothing quite like it when it all comes together like that and the band sounds good, and you sound good, and you just know that the marching season is going to be good, no matter how you do at competition or how many games the football team wins or loses. You're ready to get on with all the hard work because you know that it is actually going to pay off in a gratifying existance as a part of a team, and you know you want to be a good part of that team, and the will to work hard just swells in you like the bruise you got in the pit at the concert last night.
Today I experienced that moment for my fourth, and unfortunately, probably last time. It was all that and more, and it almost brought a tear to my eye. I'm so excited for this marching season.
Monday we set drill.
I gotta start wearing sunscreen, my face is a fireball of sunburn.
and I only have three and a half days of band camp left because on Thursday I leave to see my girlfriend in Wisconsin. I am so excited about this. I can't wait!
Posted by akijikan at 8:44 PM | TrackBack
July 21, 2004
Look eye... always look eye... (or Band Camp Day 3)
Third day of band camp. Tracked around school.
Tracking consists of playing and marching.
This sounds nice and fun and normal...do it at 170...enjoy!
Around the school is maybe half a mile...so yeah...I was almost dead afterwards. I wonder how much weight I've lost since the start of band camp. All the running and tracking has to have done something.
I pray.
Posted by akijikan at 10:06 PM | TrackBack
July 20, 2004
Band Camp
I had my second day of band camp.
Tough stuff. I am so out of shape. We had to run laps around the school today. We wouldn't of had to except that David, the drum captain, didn't start warming us up when Richie, the instructor, told us to. So we ran a lap, but some of us are more slow than others (READ - I'm super slow), so we didn't all make it back at the same time. Richie proceeded to line us up in single file and make us run again. This time we couldn't arrive back more than 3 seconds apart from each other. WTF? He never told us we had to arrive together the first time. So we did that, and I held everyone back...w00t.
We did get the music to the opener today. And I think I've got it all learned already. That doesn't happen often that I learn the opener by the second day of band camp. Lol, its rare that we even have music for the opener by the second day of band camp.
My everything hurts...hopefully I'll build some stamina these 2 weeks and get into some kind of shape other than fat gut.
Posted by akijikan at 8:18 PM | TrackBack
July 19, 2004
Harley Davidson 100 years Anniversary Ultraclassic
I saw this harley parked next to us at cracker barrel. Its so awesome.
this is one of my favorite pics from the set
this is my most favorite picture of the set
this cockpit is just beautiful
it even has satelite radio
OMG this is amazing!
I know that as I grow up, I'm definate Harley guy. They're just so beautiful. How could I help it
If you want to see some more pictures of this bike that I didn't display, check out my gallery: http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/thumbnails.php?album=55278
Later
Posted by akijikan at 11:18 PM | TrackBack
July 18, 2004
Bid on it...or Buy it Now! 7 Hours Left! GO! GO!
ONLY SEVEN HOURS LEFT!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6108457660&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
Bid now on this lunch box from the Dinosaurs TV Show! I know what you're thinking. YES YOU NEED THIS!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6108457660&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
YES GO BID NOW!
Posted by akijikan at 2:31 AM | TrackBack
July 17, 2004
My First Day in the Kitchen of St. John's Restaurant
Yesterday was fun, interesting, exciting, and painful, all rolled into one. Guess which one came first.
If you guessed pain than you are correct!
So I get there around four o'clock. They're not close to being open yet, its still prep time.
The first thing they have me do is roll up basil leaves and cut them into strips. Angel, the prep guy showing me the ropes, shows me how. I thought, "Okay, this is easy." So I set to work. First thing I do, I forget to roll my knuckles and the inevitable happens. I cut myself.
[edit: Pictures removed because free host would host "injury" pictures]
So I got bandaged and had to wear a latex glove on that hand. The head chef shows me how to roll my knuckles (which I actually already knew because of Alton Brown of Good Eats fame). I go back to cutting basil. I finish one roll, and show it to Angel. No, its too thick. So I try once more. This time the head chef sees it and says, "We can't use that, look, do it this way," showing me a fourth time. By this time, I'm so infuriated with myself and rather embarrassed. I mess up again. Angel sees this and he tells me to just slow down. I slow down. I'm doing it! YES! I HAVE CONQURED THE BASIL...ALL YOUR IRON CHEF ARE BELONG TO US! Oops...getting far ahead of myself there.
Next was chopping straw berries, that was easy. I was then made to pick mint from the stems. I had to pick only leaves that weren't torn, didn't have holes, and weren't to black. That was easy.
They then decided to annoy me. I had to strip leaves from lemon-thyme with out getting any stem. If you've ever had to do this, its very tedious. Not very hard, but annoying and time consuming. I did this till open.
While I was doing that, the head chef was meeting with the wait-staff behind me to discuss the day's menu. When he was done, he introduced me to the staff and had me regurgitate my plans for post-high-school education, that I had given to everyone there I'd already spoken to.
I was also able to recognize the waiter who waited on Christina (![[info]](http://img.greatestjournal.com/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
october_sky) and I. He also remembered me. The head chef said "Oh, you've dined here before? What did you have?" I said "The best foie gras I've ever had." It wasn't a lie, I just haven't had much foie gras. ;)
Once we opened, I had to make these things. I'll give the phonetic spelling, because its french and I don't know how to spell it (if you do, please comment and tell me). They were Ohm-lee-zays. They were delivered to the table one per person as a complimentary appetizer once the party had placed their order. Anyway, these involved taking smoked salmon mousse and putting that on toasted slices of baguette and topping with a peice of red onion and the lemon-thyme I had pulled. I banked a certain amount and kept that number up as the wait-staff would take them. Easy.
When I had spare time because there were enough Ohm-lee-zays, Angel would show me the desserts and salads. I quickly learned to do the dessert Christina and I had enjoyed when we were there. It consited of spread vanilla bean sauce on a plate and placing three slices of strawberries and a mint leaf, baking the molten chocolate cake, putting it on the plate, placing walnut [UPDATE - Christina reminds me, it was hazelnut], (maybe some other nut) brittle and sprinkling with confectioner's sugar. Again Easy.
Angel showed me the tomato salad. It consisted of 7 or 8 varieties of tomato arranged on a plate with salt, pepper, basil, and dressing with a small pastry placed in the fold of the cressent shape formed by the tomatos. He showed it to me a few times, but I never learned which tomatoes where and stuff.
I learned a few other deserts which I won'd bore you with description thereof. They were Banana-Split (very ornate and delicious looking, not your average banana split) Ice Cream, Fruit Ice Cream, Sorbet, Cream Brulee, and a chocolate Cannelloni. I have most of those down pat, some are iffy.
It was interesting learning from Angel because it was almost all demonstration. He was Mexican and had some english. He had more than all the other Mexicans, but there was still a language barrier.
The head chef was very nice and would show me little things and ask all sorts of questions, making conversation. I learned chefs do that a lot when they're cooking. It was interesting to listen to their conversations.
Everyone was very patient with me and my mistakes. I'm so glad for that.
I met a guy who was actually working in the other St. John's restaurant, St. John's Meeting place. Its not as high end as St. John's Restaurant, but its still nice. The kitchens of the two places are connected. Anyway, he started by doing the same thing two years ago that I'm doing now. I thought that was cool and it re-affirmed my feelings about doing this.
Just being in a kitchen, part of a team, was so exciting. I could tell this is really what I want to go. I had so much fun last night and it was great. I look forward to next time.
Posted by akijikan at 5:12 PM | TrackBack
The Darkness
Today was my first day in the kitchen at St. John's
I loved it.
My feet didn't.
More later.
Posted by akijikan at 12:26 AM | TrackBack
July 16, 2004
Global Funk Council Pictures
I took these pictures of Global Funk Council at Riverbend 2004.
I won't put a bunch up. The image below links to the My gallery of GFC pictures. Have fun.
Posted by akijikan at 8:40 PM | TrackBack
Buy it
I relisted the lunch box because it didn't sell the first time.
This time bidding starts at 50 cents. Buy it now at 5 dollars!
Happy Bidding.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6108457660&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
Posted by akijikan at 12:44 PM | TrackBack
Hit me
If you look at the graphic below, you'll I've gotten some hits from interesting places. I would love it if all these people who stop by would comment. I hope they enjoy this journal.
Posted by akijikan at 10:17 AM | TrackBack
July 15, 2004
Yay
I made the best chocolate chip cookies ever today.
there used to be a lot more....OMGWTFBBQ
Posted by akijikan at 10:57 PM | TrackBack
July 14, 2004
My Girlfriend
This is my girlfriend:
she is so cute
Her name is Christina. She lives in Wisconsin, which is far from me in Tennessee.
You can read her journal
More on her later
Posted by akijikan at 9:27 PM | TrackBack
5-31-04 Storm Proves Destructive and Costly
Starting with this entry, from now on, all my pictures on here will be linked to the full-size versions in my greatestjournal gallery. Be careful you dial-up loasters! Each full-size photo runs about 0.85 megs a peice. Click with care.
These are not of the recent 7-13-04 night storm, These are from 5-31-04
I'm getting out old pictures again for an update. I remember this storm did almost nothing by me, but its amazing what it did everywhere else, as you'll see from these photos.
I'll apologize for the quality ahead of time, I shot all these from a moving vehicle, through a window. You'll see a little blurriness and some reflections, but just relax.
I'll also apologize because this entry is [scottish accent] FREAKIN' HUGE [/scottish accent]
on the right side you can see some twisted metal, that was a billboard
look at the size of that mother...fatter than my thighs!
these were a tree, but they've been processed -- I remember having to do that when our trees fell in a storm
the storm had no regard for local government property such as that reflective barrier
it also obviously had no regard for nature either
hey -- it even had no regard for Hardee's
again, lack or regard is being shown, in this case for powerlines
a whole tree
this tree is really big around...that takes really strong "straight-line" winds
As you can see it was a very destructive storm with strong "straight-line" winds that actually gusted at 90 mph. Some people said they saw a tornado but one was never officially recorded.
Posted by akijikan at 7:14 PM | TrackBack
Yeah...
So this morning my mom is in the living room and she screams.
She runs into the kitchen where I am, and says that Tiger (our cat, who incidentally, is not a tiger) has a giant rat in its mouth.
My sister tries to get Tiger out of the living room and makes a startling discovery.
This rat is actually a young rabbit.
My sister chases the cat around who will not let go of the rabbit. When the cat finally lets go, my sister traps the rabbit under some tupperware. Now she wants to pick up the tupperware to get the rabbit. The rabbit gets away and runs into our "storage room"/supposed-to-be-dining-room.
We don't know what to do.
We need the cat to get it again.
So we close the cats in the room with the rabbit.
I'm not sure what happened, but somehow my sister got the rabbit. She set it loose in the woods. It had a gash on its back, but it'll be okay.
Tiger is so weird/amazing.
Posted by akijikan at 6:43 PM | TrackBack
Outback 5-21-04
Yet more old stuff...these are blurry, sorry, I didn't know how to use my girlfriend's camera well.
To remind, be aware that you may now click any photos for the full size version in my GJ Gallery.
Our waiter, I can't remember his name
My girlfriend (
) got a bloody mary...gross!
The bread here is pretty good. I know its not baked in-house though, its wrapped in plastic in the kitchen then they just warm it
gets eaten-up quickly
We ordered the fried mushrooms. They are so delicious and the way the batter's crispiness goes with the shrooms' tenderness just works magic in your mouth. Seriously...
not magic ;)
I ordered the sirloin and my girlfriend got the burger. She swears by their bugers. The steak is good too, but mine was underdone. I like it just a little more cooked than pictured. Medium rare is good for me. Thats closer to rare. It was even pinker in the middle of course.
yeah I know, blur city
looks better than my steak
I enjoyed this trip because I was with my girlfriend and eating good food...what more can you ask?
Posted by akijikan at 11:48 AM | TrackBack
This is really gross (and old actually)
I've had these pictures for a while now. Infact, since 5-31-04, so almost two months. I should get around to posting them, eh? (What, I'm going Canadian now?!)My cats are excellent hunters, we always find these little dead animals lying around outside. Sometimes the cats are kind enough to being them inside...thats really gross.
I had a surprise when I went out to the garage today.
You can see three casualities highlighted by red circles.
The first one was a vole or a shrew, we're not sure what to call them.
The second one was a full-fledged mouse
the frist mouse I've ever seen around my house, at least its a dead one
If you look closely at the mouse picture you can see where a fly was also captured in the shot. Weird.
Sorry for grossing you all out!
Posted by akijikan at 7:17 AM | TrackBack
July 13, 2004
Jumping Jack Flash
One other thing...
I think I am about completely recovered from my surgery
It only hurts when I yawn.
Now what to do with all this leftover hydrocodone syrup?
Posted by akijikan at 8:28 PM | TrackBack
It's dark in here... Like some kind of shadow...
So I went to St. John's today and talked to the head chef there. He said "So you want to go to culinary school after high school?" And I replied with yes, I'm hoping to go the French Culinary Institue [frenchculinary.com]." and he knew exactly what school I was talking about so I think thats a good sign. He asked if I had any kitchen experience and I said "No, but that's what I'm trying to get."
So he hooked me up with this shadowing deal. I come in on Fridays and Saturdays after 2 and help the shadow the chef who prepares the cold food (desserts mostly).
This is so exciting. I can't wait!
On a completely different note, my recently added webstats counter shows that I've gotten a hit from a Malaysian computer:
This is interesting. Actually, I'm quite sure it came from sixthseal.com because when you make comments, you put in you web address and your name becomes a link to your site. So I'm sure that's what happened. Either that or its HB himself.
If so, hello Huai Bin!
Posted by akijikan at 6:25 PM | TrackBack
July 12, 2004
Help me get to Christina's House!
My Girlfriend, Christina (
I would love to spend time with Christina, but I live so far away. I am here in Tennessee and she is Wisconsin. So I am trying to raise money to fly out to her. There are two ways you can help me:
Bid on this lunch box [ebay.com]
or, click this button and make a donation through pay-pal
[edit - button removed, trip successful]
Posted by akijikan at 9:03 AM | TrackBack
July 10, 2004
EASY PHOTOSHOP ACTION
I think this is clever, its the Grimmie Greens:
Posted by akijikan at 12:58 AM | TrackBack
July 9, 2004
Michael Moore's Anti-American Quotes
He said in a german magazine:
"They [Americans] are possibly the dumbest people on the planet..."
When asked by a Japanese reporter if he likes America:
"I like America...to some extent"
relieved not to be around Americans:
"Just for my own mental health, I need to go and sit in a room with 600 Canadians and watch this movie [F. 9/11]"
See Michael Moore thinks you and I are stupid. Those quotes are so Insulting! And they are quite anti-American.
To see more truth regarding Michael Moore:
http://www.moorelies.com
http://www.moorewatch.com
http://www.moorewatch.com/f911flyer.pdf
UPDATE:
More (or moore...lol) quotes:
"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not 'Insurgents' or 'Terrorists.' They are the revolution, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow and they will win."
This is speaking out against our men and women, the very people who are giving their lives to protect his lame ass. And it's factually wrong. The are Insurgents. They are terrorists who are from other countries.
The majority of Iraqis support the American troops because they see that the American soldiers are giving their own lives to free someone they don't even know and the iraqis recognize and honor that.
Posted by akijikan at 12:12 PM | TrackBack
War, what is it good for? I'll tell ya!
I know you've all heard that song......but the don't know what they're talking about.
To make things easier, I'll tell you specifically what American wars have been good for:
".Nearly 23 million Taiwanese would be denied freedom if not for American protection. More than 48 million South Koreans would be living under a dictatorship if not for American protection. USA action led to the removal of the Serbian dictator Milosevic, who was responsible for the murders of hundreds of thousands of people in the Balkans."
"The USA and Britain removed the Iraqi dictator Hussein, who was responsible for the murders of hundreds of thousands of people in the Middle East. And we have also removed the terrorist Taliban government in Afghanistan."
"American action in Central America, Grenada (search), and Haiti (search) has kept millions of people out of totalitarian regimes."
Bill O'Reilly knows what he's talking about here! These are hard facts. People in these forgein countries don't just believe that America is wrong in our current war. They believe that America is inherently evil. People like Chirac in France believe that America is morally corrupt and that thier government is good. WTF? We go to free people from a dictator. Countries like France and Germany opposed the war because they were trying to hide thier morally corrupt practices in the oil-for-food bullshit.
"America has a provable history of freeing oppressed people all over the world in fighting evil dictators. France has freed almost no one."
Provable. Backed up by facts.
Who pays for all this? You and me. Our money. So when people like Michael Moore go across globe saying things that are anti-American and insults the American people, it really galls me too no end.
People like him say that we went to Iraq for oil.
What?
To date, we have not taken any oil whatsoever from Iraq. And There aren't any plans to. So if you say that, you are truly wither moronic or just wrong, or...both.
The point is, it's rediculous for people to insist that America is evil when it just isn't true and they're probably doing "evil" things themselves. So when you see these people saying these things and making their arguments good vs. evil against America, stop and think about what they're saying before you let it affect your decisions. Think about their motivation. You'll see where they really are
All quotes came from Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points Memo on 8 July 2004 which can be read here [foxnews.com].
Bill O'Reilly's web page is here [billoreilly.com].
Posted by akijikan at 10:06 AM | TrackBack