Midwest boy now...

The transformation is complete. Today I lost my last official tie to California...my car license plates. I've been putting off changing the my plates for two reasons. The first is to delay the cost, but since the plates expire on Saturday it was due. Secondly, I really liked having out of state plates here in the Midwest. Granted, it makes me a little more paranoid about getting pulled over (scroll down and check out the post about my trip to Chicago), but I do feel individualistic as I'm sure I'm the only CA plates in town.

So, here is a quick recap of the long weekend's festivities. My old roommates from the OC decided to make a trip (probably their only one) to the Midwest. I'm fairly sure they had a good time. I tried to have a bunch of events and things to do so it wasn't like my last visit to CA where we sat around a lot and played games on the iPhone. I kid, I kid, they are right I used to live there so there wasn't anything new that I needed to see. I digress, here is the break down.

THURSDAY

EVENTS:

We ate dinner at Jack Stack Barbecue. Definitely good eats and big portions. We were munching on left overs all weekend. The only odd thing is that they didn't have or even know about TriTips. Strange. After dinner we sauntered over to the Power & Light district in downtown KC and hit up the Mosaic Lounge. Sadly, this place is probably one the best "dance clubs" in KC. The dance area was probably a total of 30 square feet. But the music was good and the company was even better.

Interestingly, I met up with an old high school buddy whom I hadn't seen in 14 years. We'd emailed and we're FaceBook friends but hadn't hung out in a long while. Turns out he had come out of the closet a few years back. He's still the same nice guy, but honestly I was a little surprised. Back in High School he was the left guard on the football team, and we always talked about girls. Back then he was a very good wingman and always mediated things with the ladies, hmm, I guess that should have been a sign. Oh well, he's still a cool cat and it will be fun to hang out with him again.

SNAFU:

There was a little confusion about when the guys would be flying in. Keep in mind that I live in a city that is 2 hours away from the airport they are landing at (Kansas City). Not a big deal, I just have to time things correctly. So, originally they guys were supposed to fly in around 4 pm. I received a call early Thursday morning telling me they missed their flight out of OC and wouldn't make it until 5. No biggie, we'd still get to see some of the city.

Then I get a call saying they wouldn't get to their connecting in Denver in time so they wouldn't make it until 9:45! Again, not a disaster, we would skip the fancy dinner and just grab a bite then hit the club. So, around 1 PM i decide to take a nap to charge up for the weekend. Lo and behold, they called around 3 to tell my voicemail that they caught their connecting flight and would make it in by 5:45.

I awaken from my glorious slumber around 5:30 to find those messages. I just out of bed, grab my things and start scrambling to get on the road. I know they'd been at airports/airplanes all day and didn't want them to wait longer than they had to, but I was still 2 hours away. Thankfully, another friend, whom they had met when he visited us in CA, lived close to the airport and offered to pick them up. So, they got picked up earlier and got to watch some college football while waiting for me to get there.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The BBQ was good, I'll definitely make a return trip there. But the highlight was definitely hooking up with some Filipino folks out in KC. As Mosaic was winding down we got approached by this guy who asked us if we were Filipino. That is the universal opening that leads to instant friendship (or hook up) among pinoys. We ended up grabbing some after bar foods with them and I'll be back in KC this weekend to party it up some more with our new KC crew.

I would say my highlight was just the banter we had thru the course of the night. During one such exchange a friend casually mentioned that he liked the website "Perfect Guy". I think he meant Dude Perfect, which are trick shots in basketball. However, this caused quite a bit of laughter as you can imagine. I don't know what it is, but nothing brings men closer together than making fun of each other's sexuality.

I'm sure even cavemen did it.

Ungaha: Me, Ungaha, make fire!

Oophala: You, Ungaha, make fire to have sex with other cavemen.

Everyone else: Hahahahaha, Ungaha like sex with men.


FRIDAY

EVENTS:

We woke up around noonish on Friday and made the 2 hour journey back to Columbia. We drove around town so we could see some of the sights and ended up downtown. We had a late, late lunch at Booches Billards Hall. This is a local favorite as they serve some pretty tasty sliders. The bread is delicious and the meat is the perfect blend of herbs, spices and grease.

After the early dinner we decided to chillax for a bit at my house, do a little preparting before we headed to the Mizzou Black & Gold basketball scrimmage. The guys got to see an Elite 8 college team from last year play against itself in the first scrimmage of the year. We saw some dunks, some nice j's, but it was pretty relaxed since its just a scrimmage.

Photo Credits: R "double dribble" Drizzle

We left with about 4 minutes left to edge out the rest of the 5000 folks in attendance. After fighting some bitter cold we headed to the Heidelburg restaurant. This is a nice little joint right off of campus where I used to go quite a bit during undergrad. We got some food, some drinks and took in some eye candy.

After padding out stomachs for the eventual alcohol assault we made our way to a club called Generic. It was an off night (I'd been a few times before), but there was some things to look at. However, now the guys now know the plight of the short Asian man in the midwest amongst all the cornfed giants.

After Generic we went over to a buddy's house for some Flip cup & beer pong. Also there were a few games of Madden to go along with all the drinking.

SNAFU:

The only plan that kind of hit a snag was the trip to the Corn Maze. It had been raining all week and the maze was pretty muddy according to the farm people. Also, three guys running around in a corn maze together isn't very masculine...its almost romantic. So, we decided to cross that off the to-do list.

{Side note: There are about 7 smoke detectors in my place and I just spent 20 minutes trying to find the one beeping to tell me it needs a new battery}

HIGHLIGHTS:

While my friends really seemed to like the Sliders and the Fried Ravioli (from Heidelberg), I really enjoyed seeing the basketball team in action. I do plan to catch as many live games as I can.

SATURDAY:

EVENTS:

We were up pretty much till the wee hours of Saturday morning so it shouldn't have been a surprise when we woke up at 1:30. This was interesting because we were supposed to be at the tailgate by 1 PM. For those who may not know, Tailgating is a time honored tradition for many sporting events. People basically go to a parking lot, pull out their grills, folding chairs, beer and party until the game starts.

After preparing the fellas a sumptious meal of eggs, sausage and eggo waffles we headed out. We had to take a side trip to the mall because one of my friends (who shall remain nameless) advised me that he is incapable of wearing t-shirts larger than a "small". Hiding his "guns" is appearantly not part of his steelo. I actually told him to take a look in the kids section.

After our mall misadventures and a trip to the grocery store (which are quite large in the Midwest BTW) to get some tailgating supplies - beer and chicken- we made our way to campus. Now, the city I live in is roughly 85,000 in population. With the students at Mizzou, the population expands to nearly 115,000. The stadium holds 71,000 and it was full to capacity that night. You can imagine the parking situation when nearly the population of the whole city decends upon one square mile area.

We parked on campus, but it was a good long trek to the tailgating area. It was a good workout since I was lugging a gym bag full of beers. Though we got to the tailgate around 3:30 we still had plenty of time to get our beer on. Funny thing though, we were camped near the line for the porto-pottys. Not the porto-pottys themselves, but the line for it. Easily a 30 minute wait, so our drinking was tempered, not by the fear of getting drunk, but rather the fear of going to the bathroom.

The game itself was laughable. Texas easily over matched Missouri, and everyone in the stadium was pretty resigned to that fact. Most left around middle of the 3rd quarter. We hung around until about 7 minutes left in the 4th, but left right when the drizzle started up.

Photo Credits: Ronaldo von Hennessey

After the game we made our way back to the downtown area. For those of you who are aware of San Diego, the downtown area is akin to the Gas Lamp district. Most of the bars and nightlife is within easy walking distance.

Since the guys were hungry we popped into an Italian food restaurant called Rome. The food was good and the drink prices better. One of my friends, lets call him "Small Shirt Wonderboy" was a little saddened that we weren't carded for our drinks. However, my other buddy did point out to him that kids under 21 typically don't ask for shots of Hennessey and Grey Goose on the rocks. An astute observation I thought.

With our meal and a couple drinks vanquished we sauntered a few doors down to a club called Tonic. This has probably become my go-to dancing establishment. The shitty thing is that its sometimes closed. The owner owns another, more crappy, dance club in town and sometimes doesn't open both so he doesn't compete against himself. Bastard!

So, we shook our money makers for a while then grabbed a bite to eat at a midwestern late nite diner, Steak'n'Shake. By this time I had really lost my voice. I sounded like a 12 year old finally going thru puberty. Let me tell ya, that worked wonders for my game, PIMP!

SNAFU:

It was a great day, capped by a great night. The only regret is that we didn't get to eat at Shakespears Pizza since they had reached max capacity. Damn fire safety codes. I did accidentally step on a very LARGE brotha's shoes while on the dance floor. Luckily he was dancing with a lady and let me off with a stern look and a "damn homie, these are some new shoes". Hey dog, you had new Nike tennis shoes, not that pimp. Needless to say, I did not vocalize my thoughts.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The football stadium was really rocking for the first 5 minutes or so. Then people starting thinking about where to go drinking. Tonic was tons of fun and they actually played decent music. All in all, I think we all had a blast.

SUNDAY

The day was basically spent driving through the rain back to the KC airport. It was interesting as we had to drive through a bit of a thunderstorm. There was a "shocking" moment as one lightning bolt struck the access road about 30 feet from the highway causing a "boom" in the car. You know the lightning is close if you can hear the thunder in a moving car over the radio and the rain hitting the windshield. Welcome to the Midwest fellas!


Thats it from me...hopefully I'll have more stories and pictures to share after this weekend's Halloween parties! Stay safe out there and don't let the ghouls or zombies get you!

SLTSFMM

What you need, you can have that,
my black card they won’t decline that,
see potential in ya,
let me mould that.

"I Can Transform Ya" by Chris Brown

Manly things...

I realized that my recent blogging has been somewhat related to musicals and, how shall I say it, "fruitier" subjects. So I thought I'd take time to blog about some more masculine topics.

You know, like football and guns, and of course my favorite activity...SMASHING HOES!

Yeah, you know you like that.

I am currently trying to bake some cod fish fillets. I've been cooking mostly with tilapia and salmon but I decided to go outside the box and change things up a bit. So far its not looking too good. The cod didn't seem to be cooked thru enough so I just left it in the oven for a little longer.

I had been using a special concoction of soy sauce, sesame seed oil, sweet chili sauce, lemon pepper and garlic salt, to season the fish. But this time I decided to be lazy and just slather the fish in a store bought "sweet and sour" sauce. I think the store bought stuff is having some weird chemical reaction to the natural cod oils and the EVOO I used to grease the pan.

Wait, let me go check on the fish. Oh, cod definitely has more of a "fishy" smell.

OK, I'm back. The fish looks ok, edible to say the least. I wasn't planning on having cod sushi tonight that's why I decided on throwing it in the uveb longer. I probably won't ever use that sauce to bake with anymore. The sauce totally fucked up my Paula Deen baking sheet! Oh wait, I'm supposed to be more masculine in this post...damn.

Fine, lets talk some football! Mizzou lost again on Saturday. It wasn't a shocker, I didn't anticipate a win but it was disappointing none the less since they clearly had good opportunities to win this game. Unfortunately, they kinda pissed it away.

I'm extremely hyped for this coming weekend however. As some of you may know, I'll have a few out of state guests coming into town. While we will probably witness an epic beatdown from Texas on homecoming (I thought you were supposed to schedule pansy teams on Homecoming) hopefully we'll be inebriated enough not to care very much. Most people are expecting a pretty horrendous loss so I think most will be having a good time regardless of the score.

On the plus side of it being Homecoming weekend...we won't be the only older people there. SWEET!

The weather will likely determine how much outdoor activities we can do, since rain is predicted off and on during the week. But there is a pretty sick cornfield maze that I hope be able to visit. It will be a muddy and kid filled affair though. Below is a picture of this years maze (they change it yearly).

If you get separated from the group, meet up at the tiger's nose.

So the weekend will mostly be spent eating and drinking. There are several "local" spots that we'll go to check out the local cuisine.

There will be some tailgating prior to the game, with lots and lots of alcohol. I've actually been saving my liver for the past couple weekends in preparation of the liquor bombardment that I'm anticipating. We'll see how this old man handles it.

That's all for now.

SLTSFMM (courtesy of my brother since I try not to listen to MC anymore, but this song is fly)

Vacant inside, no one was there
Couldn't be real, had to keep quiet
Once in a while, put up a fight
It's just too much, night after night

"Side Effects" by Mariah Carey

How can I breathe with no air...

Ok the title of this post doesn't really make any sense. But I just watched yesterday's episode of Glee on Hulu.com and it was one of the featured songs. This show is officially my new guilty pleasure. I just have no idea how it will last several seasons. I hope it does, and I guess that's why I'm not a writer.

I think its tough when you have a show dealing with kids in high school since they eventually have to graduate. I think that's what will be difficult about Friday Night Lights (another great show). All the characters that people have identified with are set to graduate and they really haven't introduced many replacement characters.

Oh well, that's my TV rant. But definitely catch episodes of Glee if you haven't already. Its definitely 3 strictor heads worthy.

On a sucky note, I think my clutch gave out today. I was heading out to run some errands when I suddenly couldn't shift into 1st or 2nd gear. Thankfully the engine was still running and I was close enough to home that I could get it there in 3rd gear. Guess I have a trip to the mechanic in the morning, good times. But, the positive is that I won't be the designated driver this weekend.

Hopefully there will be more people out and about this weekend though. Because it was the first really cold weekend, there weren't very many folks out last week.

Actually, I guess I'm not completely done talking about Glee related topics. After their rendition of Don't Stop Believing it got me thinking about my favorite Journey songs.

Journey was a truly awesome 80's band who's popularity may never go away. I would assume that most people would share my view and probably have these same songs in their top 3, maybe just in a differing order.

First some Honorable Mentions:

Any Way You Want It & Separate Ways

Nevertheless, here is Reset Button's Favorite Journey Songs:

#3. Faithfully

This is just an awesome love song. It has the required 80's guitar riffs and the appropriate amounts of whiny "whoa whoa oooohhhhaaaa".

Strictors Favorite lyrics:

Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscoverin' you
Oh girl, you stand by me
I'm forever yours
Faithfully

#2. Don't Stop Believing

I really should try and learn the piano part so that if I ever get into a public area with a piano i could start playing. I guarantee that at least half of the people will start singing. This was a very close second by the way.

Strictors Favorite lyrics:

Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

#1. Open Arms

This gets the slight nod over Don't Stop Believe because open arms is my go-to karaoke duet song. This is my go-to song because its slow and I can usually sing soft enough so you hear the girl more. I bet that even if a guy screwed up his relationship if he could actually sing this song and have some dude play piano next to him, I'm pretty sure he could get his girl back for any reason short of murder.

Strictors Favorite lyrics:

How much I want you home
But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay


Here's a parting question for you:

Would you want to have an awesome singing voice but have a very nasty speaking voice?

For example if you're a girl you would have a very deep, manish voice and guys would have an high-pitched, elfin voice with a slight lisp.

I think I'd be ok with it. Though I might pretend that my life is a musical and just sing all the time...then again, that might have the opposite effect on the ladies than I intended.

SLTSFMM

I like when you do this to me
Make me wanna tear it up
The way you move me, it's music to me
I just wanna turn it up
Higher level, highest level, feel like I can't be without you
Take you to a bass in no time
My body on your's, and your's on mine

"Switch" by Ciara

Its all about the lighting...

So I'm probably running at 97%. I have a minor little cough and hopefully that goes away by tomorrow. I've been putting off working out so that I don't relapse with the flu, so I plan to get it going again tomorrow. Since I'm now an official student again at the University of Missouri, I hope to make it down to the Rec center (and look old).

I suppose the one positive of being sick is that I've had very little of an appetite so I've actually lost weight. I was never a skinny kid. Even as a child I always had some sort of pot belly. I blame genetics and my outward slanting pelvic bones...Google it, I'm serious.

But, I have recently realized that I can look pretty cut with the proper lighting. Typically an overhead lamp that cast downward shadows. I'll post a picture of my best angle so you all can marvel at my buffness.

I ended up using the best lighting scheme for me. As you can see I'm posing with my right side more prominent. And yes, I am wearing Armani boxer briefs in case you were wondering. That picture is actually taken in my house too.

Wow, doesn't that pose just scream out "sex"!

Oh well, enough about lighting.

Unfortunately nothing new to report out in the Midwestern front. I'm still awaiting word for those Nursing Technician positions. I also applied for a transport position, but some folks advised me to go ahead and wait it out for a tech position as it will be serve me going forward into nursing.

I do have an ice cream social to go to on Wednesday for the prospective students in the accelerated bachelors program. It will be interesting to see the competition. Maybe my wife will be there, oh wait, that just happens in the movies.

I did get into a couple interesting debates recently. They are of the "nerdier" variety so I apologize.

The 1st Question posed was:

Which movie is more unrealistic, Star Wars or Knocked Up?

The root of this discussion revolves around how possible is it really for a slovenly, fat slacker to meet a fine hottie at a club whom he not only impregnates, but eventually maintains a relationship with.

On the flipside is an awesome coming of age tale of Luke Skywalker and his merry band of the Rebel Alliance doing battle with Darth Vader and the evil Empire.

So whats more plausible, that he is really be dating one of these ladies? (Remember he's a weed smoking loser and she's gets pregnant)

$20 says he's their "funny" friend that always eats crazy food combinations like a doggy biscuit stuffed in a Taco Bell gordita and covered with strawberry yogurt.

Or that there could be EPIC space battles like this:

I'm rooting for you tubby, but even he would admit that a space battle would be fucking sweet!

Reset Button's Conclusion: I would propose that both movies teeter on the exact same realistic/unrealistic edge. You would have to assume that at least ONCE in the history of clubs all over the world that some lucky shmuck hooked up with a super drunk hot girl, got her pregnant and she ended up keeping the baby and the shmuck. Also, with the current theories about the near infinite number of galaxies and universes, a Star Wars like conflict had to have occured with humanoid like beings.

So, its a push. It's as likely for Star Wars to really have happened as a fat slob hooking up with a hot girl and making a baby. And hopefully she didn't give him herpes.

Oh, that reminds me of that urban legend of the hot prom queen hooking up with the nerd. But when he wakes up in the morning she's gone. He goes into the bathroom and on the mirror, written in lipstick is: Welcome to the wonderful world of AIDS.

Thats a good anti-Knocked Up urban legend.


2nd Question:

(I apologize again because it gets even more dorky from here since were staying in the Star Wars universe)

Why did Obi Wan Kenobi age so much from Star Wars Episode 3 to Episode 4?

Okay a little refresher for the not-so-nerdy people reading. Star Wars Episode 3: A New Hope was the "original" Star Wars movie that came out in 1977, this is the one with Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones. {Quick tangent: one guess on what other awesome thing happened in 1977...bonus points if you get this right}

Star Wars Episode 4: Revenge of the Sith was released in 2005. This movie is the last of the series and is where Darth Vader is created. Do you remember the extra crispy version of Hayden Christensen?

Now, according to the movie timeline, there should only be about 18-20 years between the events that happened in Episode 3 and Episode 4.

Yet, Obi Wan Kenobi went from looking like this...

Looking pensive and virile.

To looking like this...

Still looking pensive, but now needing Viagra.

Hot damn! I realize that some caucasians seem to age fast, but freaking whiteboy Jedi Knights must have crazy job stress!


Reset Button's Conclusion: Even in his wildest dreams George Lucas had no idea that the Star Wars franchise would get that huge. So, in 1977 he cast Alec Guinness into the Obi Wan role because he needed an actual actor with chops to play the mentor role. In the later series, he needed a young and adventurous Obi Wan, thus ushering in Ewan McGregor.

Either way, Obi Wan went from "cool uncle who buys you beer" to "grandpa who's about a year from being sent to the nursing home".

Thats it from me...

SLTSFFM

I can be the sauce you crave.
I can spell what you can't say.
Chocolate flavor love theme
Treat the treats you so mean
Covering your nights and days.

"Ice Cream" by New Young Pony Club

In-flu-en-za...clap, clap...clap, clap

So the flu is kicking my ass like all other NFL teams are boning the Chiefs and Rams. I thought it was fitting to give the flu a nice cheerleader chant.

I didn't have much new to relate, but I've been stuck at home with the flu for the past 3 days. Hopefully, I'll be close to 100% by tomorrow. My fever has broken and I'm a little congested still, but other than an ear ache, I'm optimistic that things are looking up.

I've applied for a couple late night positions at the hospital. Hopefully I'll get something set up here soon.

So while I've been relegated to pretty much staying in bed, I've been able to catch some movies and TV shows. I must confess that I've become a huge Glee fan. I caught up on all the episodes on Hulu after watching this clip on a football board. Watch the clip if you have time. Let me preface it for you. So, the football team is winless and after the Quarterback joins the glee club he realizes that if the football team were to dance and shock the other team they could run a quick play to score...hilarity ensues.



I should try and get some sleep...though its tough since I can't breath and I go from hot to cold in 15 minute intervals.

So, I'll leave you with another installment of RCCOTM. And since I missed the last few months I'll select 3.

1a. STEPHANIE JACOBSEN

I guess try as I might I still have an Asian fetish. But I think that is somewhat acceptable since I'm also Asian. Or maybe its not. I may also be biased because she was on Battlestar Galactica Razor. Either way can't go wrong with this choice for RCCOTM. She's cutesy but looks like she could also kick ass should the need arise. And, knowing how weak sauce I am, I could use a girl with an edge like that.

I would normally make some lewd comment about the placement of that lucky necklace she's wearing...but I'm feeling under the weather.

1b. JAYMA MAYS

I remember her in Paul Blart Mall Cop, but I won't hold that movie against her. This could also be a result of me really liking the show Glee. But she's a saucy little tart. I'm usually not a huge fan of red heads but I'll happily make an exception here. Oh, and when I google searched a picture of her, I came up on some pictures of Kevin James' wife. I really liked his show King of Queens and knew he had an Asian wife. It looks like she's a Filipina (I'm guessing from the name). Check her out here. More power to you Kevin James!

Its cool cause she plays a dorky character in the show, but it looks like she can turn on the sexy when appropriate.

1c. AMBER HEARD

I just watched Never Back Down the other day. The movie was actually pretty good. It had your "Karate Kid" cliches but I thought it was well done and the fight scenes were pretty good. All I know is the girls never looked like that at my high school. Oh, and I only have 3 words for the following picture: Oh my goodness...

How come women are so sexy when there's a fan pointed at their heads and they look like they have to pee? Its either that or her boobies...I can't decide.

SLTSFMM

Can you picture my lady,
This empty scene.
There's no me or no you,
What will we do.
An awful sight to me.

"Forever my lady" by Jodeci