Lies.

When I was in high school, like many, I strived for attention. And even though I got plenty of attention I still strived for more. I was greedy. I was the skate-rat that was way into music... which helped me relate to lots of different people. My friend Keith and I use to dj during lunch in the main quad. There was no one that I did not get along with. I was even elected to the student counsel. Yep, I was the Rally Chair. And I also started an official club at school... The Norm Peterson Booster Society (yep, from Cheers).

With all of the attention I had on a daily basis I was pretty set - but I always seemed to want / need more. Probably not need, but as a pimply faced teenager I thought I needed to be cooler than the day before. I had to learn the newest skateboarding trick, or go bigger, faster than someone else. I had to spin the latest cool record... before it was cool. So after spinning it I'd have to go to Tower Records or up to Rough Trade or Reckless in SF to find a new 12" that was even cooler.

I was a happy kid from a great family, and looking back on my time in high school I have no clue why a spent so much time grasping for more and more attention. Since I was not doing super amazing things all of the time (yeah I know, hard to believe) a few times I stretched the truth a little. Actually I flat out lied. Lied Lied Lied. And I am not a liar, never have been - because I am not good at it, and I feel awful for doing it. But in my high school days I did tell a few whoppers just to be cooler than the day before.
Lie #1.
I knew 3rd Bass. The first 3rd Bass album came out in the Fall of my senior year. Since I spun their record before anyone at my school had heard of them I was super cool. But since that was not enough for me, I told people I knew them. I had proof. The CD booklet had pages of Thank You/Shout Outs, and one of the names listed was NINER. So why could it of not been me? Well maybe because I lived in Northern California and they were from Queens... and I never had met them. I was a dumb-ass.
Lie #2.
I had a broken leg. My older brother had busted his kneecap and had multiple leg braces. After he was better I decided to come to school on a Friday wearing one of the leg braces and crutches hobbling around saying I had busted my leg. Sure I got the attention, but no one really questioned it all when I showed up on Monday morning all healed. My Physics teacher never believed me... you could see it in his eyes, he knew I was full of it.
Lie #3.
I had a mysterious disease. Now I only told this to a couple teachers, primarily to get out doing a bunch of work. I was not a strong reader so instead of working on my reading I screwed off, went skateboarding, bought records, and came up with some story that I was really really sick. I wish I remember the name of the disease I made up. See back then there was not internet searches, so you could get away with it. Until my parents went to Back To School Night and they came home telling me that some of my teachers were really worried about me and my health issues. I really felt like a dumb-ass.
Lie #4.
I had a book deal. I had to write a story for an English class... and I just rolled with it. I had written about 100 pages of pure crap - and so why not get a book deal. I never told my teacher about the book deal (he knew people so I did not want him snooping, he knew Enya - really) but I told some people at school. People really did not care. There was this "Oh, that's nice" attitude about it. They probably read right through my lying eyes.
Lie #5.
I designed a logo for Adidas. I was really into art and I got into graffiti designs during one summer. Well I made this graffiti design re-doing the Adidas logo... and I lied to everyone in my art class that Adidas paid me to use the design. Of course all of this went down during the summer. Uh, sure it did. That was such a dumb-ass move.

Were there more? Nope. I just used these at key times when I needed to feel even cooler... never realizing that I was being the biggest dork, and that people liked me any way... without all of these made up stories. But people never called me on any of it because I had lots of accomplishments - they just bought into my full-of-crapness. Or they just made fun of me behind my back.

Oh, being a teenager...

Friends.

This past Saturday night LP and I went out with two of our good friends. A night in Chicago that took us to a neighborhood Oktoberfest gathering (which was way over crowded) and then to a local pub that had a great patio where we had some drinks and just talked about random things... mostly relationships, not politics or religion. I am a lucky person to have good friends. I have always had good people in my life.

I am one of those people who only count a few people in my life as good friends... and then I have some friends, and then there are the people I know. There are others that will call anyone they know "friend" - and maybe that is a good way of looking at life, then you are always surrounded by friends. Maybe it makes some feel loved or popular. Or maybe it's just a positive way of looking at life and the people in it. Preachers often call everyone friend. I on the other hand like to use the title of friend to those in my life I truly care about, and who also care about me. People who know how I am doing because they ask.

Saturday night's evening had some discussions that I agreed with and did not agree with. That is the beauty of friendships... learning more and more about how we all think and feel. Going out, going on trips, doing exciting things are all wonderful - but there is something about sitting around a table (even just at home) and talking over a few drinks. It's a time to give support, feel support, laugh, and feel apart of something - a family, especially when real family is so far away.

I love my Chicago friends, you are all very important to me. Having no family here, LP and I would have never enjoyed the city as much as we have without the friendships we have made here. It feels like home... because good friendships are truly like a family in many ways. Good friends don't treat you like shit - they may give you a little shit because you need it (I often need it). Friends are around even when they don't need anything - true friends do not have an agenda. Good friends also like you because of you - it's not just a stop off until something more exciting comes along. Friends don't lie - maybe a white lie now and then (example: gee Niner that sure was a funny joke... ha ha).

Maybe it is a positive way to call every person you know a friend, but I like to use the term less frequently so the meaning does not get diluted.

Future Shows To Get The Axe.

As some of you loyal readers of the 5 of 9er may know, each year I pick a few new television programs to get into... and each year most of them get cancelled. Yes, after one season. Some may last two seasons if I am lucky. Last year's victims were: The Class (cbs) and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (abc).

This year's nominations for not getting through to the Fall of '08 are:
Gossip Girl (cw)
Chuck (nbc)
Big Bang Theory (cbs)

I really have no clue why I pick certain shows. Last year I got absorbed with Studio 60 but I had never watched The West Wing or any TV dramas like it. This year I decided from the get go to get into Gossip Girl although I have never seen an episode of The OC, 90210, or Melrose Place. I am already sucked completely into it - so I can feel the cancellation coming on. Big Bang Theory just happens to be on right after the best show on TV (How I Met Your Mother) - it's good dorky fun, much like The Class (r.i.p.). Chuck seems to be a good blend of humor, drama, and action... no, it's not like the A-Team.

Thankfully I got into Weeds after it had been on for a full season and had started on it's second.

A Boorish Food.

I appreciate food. Good food. Fine food. And I enjoy cooking... although I can go on long periods without cooking something exciting and new (I have a grip of regular dishes). I am not a foodie, but I completely understand the way of the foodie - and if I had the budget I would follow those ways.

I do have one dish that would fit in the anti-foodie realm (here is where LP is saying "One, just one?"). This dish, which I could eat daily (but I don't), would easily get my wanna-be-foodie card taken away.

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ala Niner. It is a box of Mac & Cheese (must be Kraft, and the directions on the box must followed - I prefer nonfat milk) and some added spices (I suggest Morton & Bassett SF spices). After the box of chemicals and macaroni are cooked I add:

1 tbsp Curry Powder
1 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

The only problems with this dish:
1. One box is too much for me to eat... I don't need it - but I could eat the whole box.
2. LP thinks it is disgusting and will not eat it.
3. Kraft Mac & Cheese is never good the next day, and I like leftovers.

Road Trip: Highlights.

Some of my thoughts about my road trip to Charlotte, NC...

Indiana is a nice calming drive... you drive by farm after farm after farm. I've been to Indiana a few times before this trip and I think I've done all I want to do there. Sorry Indiana.

Kentucky is one of the most beautiful states to drive through. Almost every exit has a sign of some kind of attraction, which most are distilleries. Mmmmm... booze. We did not stop at any of them because we had places to go... and drinking and driving is not a good thing. We did have some fantastic Basil Hayden bourbon at dinner in Louisville. The Louisville Slugger Museum was fantastic... any baseball fan would enjoy the tour. Tip: Go to Louisville Slugger during the week since they do not make bats on the weekend and I am sure the tour would be less exciting.
Things still to do in Kentucky:
1. Go on the Bourbon Trail
2. Stop at the original KFC - they have a museum there!
3. Ride a horse, and go to Churchill Downs.

Eastern Tennessee is much more beautiful than the flat Western part of the state. I had already been to the Great Smoky Mountains, but if you have not been you should go. You just might see Dolly Parton, really. I wish we could of spent some time in Knoxville but we passed it (both going and coming) at a bad times to stop. I dig that city.
Things still to do in Tennessee:
1. Grand Ole Opry.
2. Ride on the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

I cannot say much about South Carolina since we just drove through only about 100 miles of it, and we only stopped for gas... and took a couple photos of the Peach looking water tower. I did notice that all of the dirt is red, and lots of people have the state symbol (palm tree and a crescent moon) sticker on their cars... state pride is alive and well in SC. I did not see in Confederate flags, but I did learn that many from SC truly think they are the best part of the States and they are the true south... whatever that means.
Things still to do in South Carolina:
1. Everything... especially Charleston.

North Carolina is fine. Charlotte is fine. I wish I could think of a better word for fine, but fine seems to closely match how I feel. My feeling is that Charlotte is one of those cities that is more exciting to live in, rather than visit. I did have a good time - but was not blown away by the city. I would say the highlight would have to be the Billy Graham Library - it is done so well. And for a man I only know a little bit about I was very very impressed with the entire tour. I also enjoyed the Rosedale Plantation tour. I could sum up the people in downtown as: fat guys in dockers who smoke... although I am pretty sure someone said that about Chicago once. On the drive to Charlotte we stopped for lunch in Asheville which was a really beautiful part of the country... I'd like to go back and see more of it. LP and I did take a quick trip to Greensboro to see some friends for a quick lunch. The company was better than the town, but downtown Greensboro was really cute.
Things still to do in North Carolina:
1. Chapel Hill
2. Raleigh / Durham
3. Outer banks.
4. Asheville... and go to the Biltmore.