Puh-lease.

It's been well over 100 degrees this week. Working outside during this time of the year gets painful. Imagine running 10 hours a day in this heat. Now imagine you get short breaks by sitting in an uninsulated metal box.

That's my job.

Today I recieved 5 bottles of water and 2 sodas from people who didn't have to take the time. Delievering stuff to their homes and businesses is what I unfortunately have to do, but so many people ended up giving me water just from the kindness of their heart.

Or maybe I just looked that pathetic???

Either way, it was another reminder that some people are truly nice. And in times like this, it's a pleasant surprise to see that.

As an employee of a multinational conglomerate, I'm supposed to hate the competition. We are constantly reminded to snatch up any business from "them" and make it our own. My bosses have incentive plans, bonuses, etc to hand out for stealing business from "them."

So it's comforting to know that when the bullshit happens, the people who work for "them" are just like me: just working class people trying to get by.

check it out...

I work for UPS (no, I hate the "Brown" ad campaign). The other day I pull up to a large warehouse and notice that inconsiderate asshole execs decided to park their cars in front of the entrance. Now, I could be a total prick and scratch their autos as I squeeze my big ass truck (no, that's not me) through the driveway. But hey, I'm a professional. Right behind me comes this FedEx driver. Right away he looks at me, points to the blockade of Audis and Volvos and says "Can you believe these fucking idiots?" We both started laughing. We sat and joked until the guilty moved their asses out of the way.

No cold looks. No trying to steal each others pickup. Just two guys stuck with the same type of day to day shit. Sure, the company I work for is bigger. The union provides me with a better living. But he's no different than I am. We're both fucked by lazy ass suits. We both sweat like pigs doing a job.

Now I'm sure he hears the same type of company propaganda before he leaves his hub. I'm sure his supervisors want him to have a cut throat business attitude. But 99% of the people I've met from other companies (FedEx, DHL, the former RPS) have been absolutely cool. I'm glad we don't take this type of capitalism too seriously.

So on behalf of all working people in the world I say:

Dear CEOs, CFOs, Managers, Supervisors and Assorted Suits,

Sincerely,
Lare

LG's practice last saturday was interesting in many ways. Now, I've played in a slew of bands (most were very short lived), and I can say LG rehersals are quite unique. Most bands tend to play songs over and over until they are perfected, hoping it'll sound just as tight during a live set. Litmus just plays a setlist, mistakes or not, and moves on. Of the 3 hours usually booked, we practice maybe half the time. The other half falls under the "break" category. It's common to go through 3-4 songs and someone quickly yells, "break!" Twenty minutes of sitting, pacing around, and smoking occur. Another 3-4 songs. "BREAK!"

But last time was different.

Ron was new in the band. He had never practiced with us before. Ed showed him some songs and he learn more by listening to the CDs. He tells me he has 10 or so songs down and practices 2-3 times a day.

It was like someone hit me over the head with a brick. I suddenly remembered what it was like to work in a band. I used to work that hard in every band I've ever played in. I worked that hard when I first joined LG. But since nothing new had be written in years and nobody seemed inclined to push for new material, I hid all my song ideas away. There was no point in trying to push for more music. Mat had numerous injuries/problems, Ed was out of town for a while, etc., so we had to take breaks now and then. But once we got back together, we had to get ready for another gig.

Maybe I should have pushed harder to write new stuff??? Either way, it's not a lack of new material that finally made us quit.

Anyway, last practice felt like a band.

Finally!!!

Normally, shit blows over after time. I'm getting more pissed today. This is one of the very few times I've ever felt "violent." But that wouldn't change anything, as usual. Some people are too stupid to realize they've just had their ass kicked.

Fucking-A!!! Try to do something good and someone will use you or accuse you of something evil. Too bad if you misinterpret something or someone lies to you. Fuck this!

I'm not quite sure what to say about the show with the Partisans. Part of me wants to apologise to everyone who showed up. Part of me wants to walk away from it all because the anger is so great. Another part is just too embarrassed to say anything.

Why should I walk away from all this? I don't feel like I fucked it up, so why should I pay for it?

I can't remember seeing anything so pathetic from any band....ever!

Lare

Last night we managed to finish the season undefeated. The final score was 5-3, I tallied two (one awesome, grinding Allison-esque drive, the other, a quick wrister from between the circles). While this is a different team, it made a personal 3-peat for me. Afterwards, he headed to a local bar where the Arrogance was on tap ;)

read on...

Looks like we are handpicking the top players from the division to form a team, move up one division, and play at another rink, possibly Brea, or Anaheim. Either way, I'll still play Sundays at La Verne.

The best part was early in the 3rd (bear with me). I got shoved to the floor from behind. I got up and started racing to backcheck (not knowing if the penalty, so deserving, was called). Another guy (Ozzie) cuts me off by throwing a backhanded glove at my head. I said "Fuck off" and kept moving.

Now keep in mind this is the asshole who literally bruised my friend's back with two hard slashes. A few weeks ago he slashed my friend Marji TWICE out of frustration. Victor, the smallest guy in the club, dropped the gloves to protect his teammate. I was waiting for my game to start and saw the blows being thrown. A big "FUCK YEAH" to Vic for sticking up for her.

So I have a bone to pick with this asshole....

Anyways,
I tell him to fuck off and asked "so I guess you are at least hitting men now, eh?" After that I recieved 3 (count them, THREE) slashes from this guy. One across the shin, one across my left elbow, one across the right side of my head.

OK, I grab the puck, race right at this fat fuck. About two feet away from this prick (who's flat on his feet) I pass it across to Dan, lower a shoulder and hit this fucker square in the chest. He must outweigh me by at least 40 pounds, but his back hit the sportcourt before his ass did. BOOM! In vain, he tried to kick me to no avail.

Damn, that felt good.

Now this is the ONLY guy I've ever seen do this sort of shit this season. The LVHC has the absolute friendliest atmosphere, especially to us n00bs. Emil's got a great program if you have any interest and no experience.

After the rousing Cup ceremony ;) he said "good game" and the guy who shoved me said "sorry" and asked if I was ok. Bygones.

I'm sure Marji would have loved to see that.

Lare

This new thing Ed set up is pretty cool. Of course, I don't know half of it's uses and probably couldn't figure it out with a manual. Oh yeah, there is a manual.

Lare

Today I got to live a fantasy all young boys dream of.

No, not that fantasy!

Today I had permission to absolutely wreck a house. Well, two rooms at least. My brother in law and I tore two whole rooms out of his new house and made a huge fucking mess. We were able to push, unscrew, pry, hammer, and kick the shit out of the walls and ceiling.

Good fun.

I talked with an old online gaming buddy (with the nick of Smokin_Hunter) and I guess he's now the CO of The Damned, my first and only online virtual squadron. Most of the original members left the game "Fighter Ace" when FA2.0 came out (it sucked). A few stayed on and kicked serious ass. My last days of active playing were 2 years ago. I realized it was pointless for me to hold onto the domain name for the website (damnedsquad.org), so I'm handing it over to him.

I'm fucking bummed out. I realized how much I missed playing with these guys.

So I emailed everyone with the news:

I was talking with Smokin_Hunter today and realized that the squad is still going strong even though most of the originals have been retired for years. I had no idea there was a new website for the Fighter Ace players. I was thinking about it, and realized it's sort of silly to keep the domain name where it is. The Crimson Skies wing didn't last too long (not because of us, but because the game was too buggy) and _Alliance_ doesn't really play FA anymore (or so I hear). So I'm letting Smokin take over the domain name (damnedsquad.org). There's no point in hogging it up for myself when there's some Damned pilots who actually fly in FA.

It's a bit of closure for me. Dammit, I feel sad!!! The Damned is the only squad I ever joined. I never felt right joining another squad in any game because it wasn't The Damned. I know, it's stupid, but hey, I considered you guys all close friends and I'm Damned, dammit. This just reminded me how much fun we had while playing a game.

When I took over doing the old site and started keeping KOTS scores, SkyKlutz said that I was the new Secretary for the squad and he "passed me the bra." So now I pass the bra onto Smokin. May he wear it well.

Damned For All Eternity,
LareNgitis

I love the way the LG site has had more revamping now that the band is dead.