'Hey you guys'

I'm having a bad hair day and its not my fault. I currently have a haircut that makes me look like the retard in The Goonies, I feel like saying 'Hey you guys' to everyone I meet. Fuck. Seriously, what do you do if someone messes up your hair? Its not like you can exchange it for a new one or a better one is it. There's nothing worse than a bad haircut, well that's what you think that until you have an eyebrows incident.

Right, here's a piece of advice that you should all follow - never, ever trim your eyebrows while watching tv. A mistake I made while watching the underwhelming 'Wedding Crashers'. Now before you mock me at least know that I checked that the trimmer was set high enough just to take the curly bits off my eyebrows. But I didn't watch what I was doing in the mirror, I watched Owen Wilson goofing around instead and there-in lies my mistake. It wasn't until I cleaned the trimmer did I realise how much more hair there was than usual. Imagine that feeling of dread when I timidly looked in the mirror to realise that I now looked way too much like a baby seal.

So after a few weeks using an eyebrow pencil (thank God for mothers eh) I put that nightmare behind me. A bad haircut is nothing by comparison, take my word for it. But even so it pisses me off that I have to walk around like some kind of retard for the next 2-3 weeks. I'm thankful that my hair grows quickly. Never again wil I leave a haircut waiting till I can't stand it any longer, cos you'll let anyone cut it at that point rather than wait for the girl that normally cuts it.

So I have to wear a hat for a few days, big deal, such is life. I think the answer is next time I get a bad cut, I'll just ask for a grade 1 and when everyone ask why I'll tell them it was to cover up a shocking haircut. That's the best thing I can come up with, any other ideas would be welcome.

later

Anger Issues

I have a confession to make, it seems I have made what can only be described as a school boy error in the world of blogging. I let a friend of mine read my blog.

It seems that my dear, sweet friend thinks that my blogs have a lot of anger in them. To be honest its a bit difficult to argue with her, because they do.

The problem I have now is how do I persuade my friend that I'm still the 'nice guy' she and her husband know in real life while continuing to spew forth angry but honest rants from my black little soul.

I wonder if a disclaimer would work? Maybe a banner across all my posts -

'Anyone who actually knows me in real life should from this point on stop reading any more of this blog. The thoughts and words below might give you a more realistic yet slightly disturbed view of your friend. Failure to do so will impair the honesty of the author and lead to another bland and insipid blog cluttering up the ether'

Wonder if that would work. Doubt it.

Sorry hun, I think you're right, I do have anger issues but if I can't get them out here, where no one knows me or cares what I think, then where?

I know I'm not an evil person, if there is a hell I doubt I'll end up there (unless having an unhealthy obsession with womens bums leads to eternal damnation, which it might, you never know). But everyone needs some 'day to day villainy' in their life, if for no other reason than to keep the juices flowing. If I can't rip into those things that annoy or bore me then I think my dark little soul might well shrivel up and die. Would any of you want that on your conscience?

Halloween

Been reading loads of blogs form our lovely cousins across the pond, apparently All Hallows Eve is a fairly big deal over there, why is this? We don't only have Halloween we have Bonfire Night (Nov 5) as well, cue much fireworks that night.

Reading all the stories I kinda wish I was over there for the many parties, but I'm recovering form many beers myself today. Caught up with an old friend last night, so me and the boys got royally drunk in G-man's honour. There are 2 ways to kill a hangover, a fry up (sausage, fried egg, bacon, fried bread, beans and toast) or a traditional Sunday lunch.

One of my friends invited us over and we enjoyed a fantastic roast lamb dinner accompanied by masses of veg, including honey roast parsnips, topped off by many, many Yorkshire puddings. Divine. For those of you who don't know what a Yorkshire pudding is, firstly I feel sorry for you, secondly its a batter mix cooked with roast juices. These small bits of heaven are meant to be had only with roast beef, but they are good with every roast, chicken, lamb, duck, goose, pork.... They're awesome things, so much so, four of us ate 24 of them this afternoon.

We are considering some funny ways of detering trick or treaters Tuesday night. Our current favorite is to dress up as Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, complete with chainsaw and have one of our female friends covered in fake blood (read ketchup) shackled up in our hallway begging for help every time we open the door. If thats not the real spirit of Halloween I don't know what is. A cheaper option i to give my dog an alka-seltzer tablet to chew, I wonder how parents would react to a bowl of sweets (candy) handed out by a guy whose dog's frothing at the mouth.

I hate trick or treaters, its a new thing over here, anything to deter the little beggars (literal). Its not a traditional thing over here and its difficult to get used too. If its was just little kids, say under 10-11 yrs old - fine, but its older kids demanding money with menaces off old ladies. That won't happen at our house or at my parents house, fuck no. Any kid trying that with my folks will have the rules of life explained to them and their fuckwit parents.

Wish we had the kind of fancy dress parties you guys have over there, sounds like a blast, and the costumes - any woman instantly becomes twice as sexy when they dress up. Oh mamma.

later

When technology work for you

This is a list of some of the tracks that my iPod played in the space of about an hour or so, when I set it to shuffle.

David Bowie - Golden Years
Futureheads - A to B
Eagles of Death Metal - Chase the Devil
The Orb - Toxygene
The Ramones - Rock'n'Roll High School
Money Mark - Dha Teen Ta
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Knock Me Down
Depeche Mode - Barrel of a Gun
U2 - The Wanderer
Kings of Leon - Trani
Jimmy eat World - Hear you me
Air - The Vagabond
My Morning Jacket - Lay Low
Kasabian - Empire
PJ Harvey - A Place Called Home
O' Brother Where Art Thou OST - Down to the River
Gnarls Barkley - Just a Thought

Some times you can hate technology, but this wasn't one of them

later

Just give me answers

For the third post of the day I feel I need answers to important questions. I got my first few comments through on my blog, momentous I know, and being a well mannered if dark souled individual I responded. One was phrased as a question asking for a definition as to why women love their shoes so. A simple request, one where I could work out a small part of a womans psyche. Fair enough an answer was unforthcoming, cool, no worries, obviously a trade secret, fine. But it did lead me on to thinking about other things that really do need some kind of simple answers to simple questions.

So we'll start with the shoes thing

- Why do women love shoes - I'm a straight guy with 9 (yes nine) pairs of shoes. But I still can't work out what the fascination women have with these things. You have different shoes for different outfits, fine, got that bit. After that it gets weird. My friend has big feet, well for a girl, so she buys shoes that are too small for her and then bends her toes back under for feet to make them fit. How fuckin weird is that. I know its a bit extreme, but do you know a woman who hasn't got a pair of shoes that hurt her feet but got them anyway cos they were just so nice. Women please enlighten me.

- How come I know what a moron is but others fail to notice what's fuckin obvious - OK, before we start I do not hate America, want you to burn your flag, or piss on your mom's apple pie but your president is the dumbest scariest creature currently walking the face of the Earth. Now if you think I'm wrong, FUCK YOU - YOU'RE WRONG, I'M RIGHT, end of story. Don't like it, NEXT BLOG button is up there in the top right corner, hit it and fuck off. Seriously I have to change the channel if this guy comes on. This moron controls our fate and he's an imbecile, and the US voted for him twice. If I had my way it would be illegal for those people who want to be politicians to ever become politicians. These fuckers never got the attention they deserved as children or too much. I wonder if there is a genetic trait that could be screened for while they're still in the foetal stage. A positive result means a quick scrape and life immediately takes a turn for the better. Yes folks, I am a nihilist, I believe in nothing...... relax, relax - count to ten 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10. Sorry phased out there for a second, That is why I don't do politics - ever. So again why can't other people see morons for what they are?

- Why do people who dump you want to still be your friends? - Is it guilt or something. You made your choice now bugger off a leave me alone in my misery bitch (add expletive as appropriate). If you still want to hang around me why a) spoil our friendship by starting a relationship in the first place and b) if I'm such a bad guy why hang around to just be my friend now. My ex's are free to share their thoughts.

- What's so bad about porn anyway? - Distinct double standards on this one, vibrators are fine but porn is bad, who made that rule. Did I miss a meeting, I would have voted on that one. I have no problem saying I enjoy porn, some of it is awesome, who am I kidding, most of it is. Don't watch it with my friends, its just not a spectator sport. Watched it with women who seemed to enjoy it too, so who decided on porn bad, vibrators good. Please explain.

- What's so great about fishing anyway? - My brother is to blame for this one. He's actually my half brother and much older (12 years actually) than me. So when he visited my parents and wanted to go fishing I'd tag along just to hang out with him. I look back now though and see that I knew a thing or too, even at that age. Fishing is the dullest thing to do period. Nothing makes time go slower than sitting on a river bank watching something luminous float on water. Nothing. If you have a terminal disease learn to fish, you'll either be prepared for death or have way more time on your hands than the doctors gave you. So why do people do it?

- Why does everyone else have it better than me? - Ever wondered why it is, but it always seems to be true doesn't it. Job, car, partner, why are we all a little envious of our friends?

- Why is it when you lack something it's the time you have to rely on it the most? - Why is it that those days where I have to deal with stupid people (most of the time) that happens to be the day that I'm all out of patience (all the time). You find the album you've been looking for for ages but have no money to buy it. You meet the girl of your dreams while you recover from your broken heart, so instead of being the one, she turns into your rebound fling. If this is karma, then I'm properly screwed. Anyone else have any ideas? (If anyone mentions astrology, numerology of anything like that I will hunt you miserable idiots down, each and every one of you).

- Why is football known as football in the US? - Feet and ball do not come in to contact much, so why the name? Supplementary question - why is soccer called soccer (I think this might be a US thing too, football is the correct term, we use our feet and the ball at the same time). Anyone answering this could also enlighten me on why American teams when they win their respective national championship instantly become World Champs? The NBA means, I think, the National Basketball Association doesn't it, no I for Internatinal or W for World in there that I can see - wait is that what the WNBA stands for?

- Hidden tracks on albums? - Why? and please stop messing with my head.

- Reality TV? - Why? and why can't I stop watching it?

- Phones with cameras, MP3 player, video players and personal organisers? - Why not just a phone for gods sake.

- Ink refills now cost more than the printers you bought in the 1st place? - Why (and more importantly how the fuck did that happen)?

Apologies if this comes off as a misogynistic anti-American rant, who am I kidding, I don't care what you think, but I would like some answers to my questions though. If only to make me consider other suitably banal or vacuous topics when I can't sleep at night.

later

Probably another lame list

Now I have to admit that the last list of cool things was in fact lame - no don't disagree, I know, its a case of making up for it. Now I believe every person should read as many books as they can. There are 2 reasons for this -
1) it improves your thought processes by opening you up to new ideas and ways of thinking, and
2) it keeps people quiet and out of my way.
Now I've seen this on one or two blogs that I've enjoyed, so I thought I'd give it a go. Might be equally lame to me in a few days but right now I'm in the mood for something like this. Here goes....

1. One book that's changed your life. There are to many to list and I certainly couldn't choose just one so here are the highlights. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Hobbitt by JRR Tolkien (thanks Mum), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

2. One book that you have read more than once. MASH by Richard Hooker, I've read this book a dozen times and it still my favorite. It just genius.

3. One book that you would want on a deserted island. Dummies Guide to Survival or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

4. One book that made you cry. Haven't found one yet

5. One book that made you laugh. Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic, if only for the big bang theory or Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh.

6. One book you wish had been written. How to rid the world of morons.

7. One book you wish had never been written. The Bible and the Koran, or alternatively both should have a disclaimer on their opening page - all characters are purely ficticious, any resemblancee to actual events or individuals is purely coincidental.

8. One book you are currently reading. America by Alistair Cooke, grew up listening to this man's radio broadcasts. The closest thing to perfection was waking up late on Sunday mornings, having a cup of tea listening to his cultured tones. If his book on the history of the US comes anywhere near to that it'll be a very good book indeed.

9. One book you've been meaning to read. Hideyoshi - a historical biography of one of Japan's greatest warlords. Its been sitting on my shelf for far too long. When I finish that I'll start Alexander of Macedon.

10. One book you're glad to own. MASH, its the one I'd grab if the house was on fire.

11. One book from which you must read aloud. The Poems of Spike Milligan.

Honesty is the best policy

For a while now, and I blame a certain TV show for this, I've been trying to live my life using karma as my guide. Be nice to others and karma will heap benefits upon you. Well fuck that for a game of soldiers. I'm pissed off being nice all the time, its just not my cup of tea. Any of my friends who read this will instantly see the real me come shining through. I hate everybody (limited exceptions apply).

I have the ultimate nihilistic fantasy which is as follows - there is a biological outbreak that leaves the world as an empty playground habited by me and my friends. As the God-like Bill Hicks once intoned 'Humanity is a virus with legs'.

I have spent the last few days happily roaming through blogspace reading a vast array of people's thoughts. Most of which, and I'm being honest not blunt, are fuckin BLAND. And it is to these people that I owe a debt of thanks. There are a number of blogs listed on my site, these are the good ones - they're honest, funny, tragic, hateful, clever but most of all interesting.

These people are my saviours. My blog is up to this point dishonest and dull. Not anymore baby, welcome to my dark little world. Fuck Karma!!!!! Well outside this blog I might still try to be nice. I am single after all, a little bit of bastard is good, but ladies do not like complete bastard. It seems for them its too close to arsehole. Fair enough I say. I will play the game because the rewards are fun.

So here's to a dark new world. I can now rant and rage against anything I fuckin like. Screw you, if you don't like it find another blog more suited to you, the Next Blog button is there at the top of the page.

Oh boy that feels good.

Timed Out

Promised myself I'd get up early today and blog, didn't do it yesterday, just didn't have anything interesting to say that all. So I stole something off another blog. Its not bad, might change some of the questions, but you'll never know eh! So here goes

DO YOU SNORE? Apparently I do, but only when I'm falling asleep.

ARE YOU A LOVER OR A FIGHTER? I prefer lover myself. There so many more rewards that way.

WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR? Not a big fan of crowds.

AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO MANIAC? Who wasn't?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY" TV? By watching it I'm showing myself that I obviously have far too much time on my hands?

DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS? Nope.

WERE YOU A CUTE BABY? Apparently, it was the last time I ever was considered cute, I think.

IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU? I hope not.

DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? A guilty pleasure I must admit.

HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED? It was on my list to do before I hit 30, I'm 34 and its still on the list.

ANY SECRET TALENTS? Yup, but far too rude for a blog, but women seem to appreciate it and it hasn't gone away with age, if that gives you any clues.

WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT? Dublin, nuff said.

CAN YOU SWIM? I was part fish as a boy.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE DONNIE DARKO? One of those films that never gets old, no matter how may times I watch it.

DO YOU GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE OZONE? Will do if I ever have kids.

HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP? Ah an American question, don't know what a tootsie pop is?

CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS? TEBAHPLA - easy

DO YOU PREFER ELECTRIC OR MANUAL PENCIL SHARPENER? Whoever thought of this question has far too much time on their hands

WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING? Eat what you kill, simple as!

IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE? Who knows, hope so.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Too much like my mothers, unfortunately.

WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO? Sticking plasters.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU" ? Far too long ago.

DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS? Nope.

ARE BLONDES DUMB? All people are dumb.

HERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP? Omicron Persii 8

WHAT TIME IS IT? 19.37

DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME? Probably, not a good one I expect.

IS MCDONALD'S DISGUSTING? More than you'll ever know.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR? Last week.

DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS? Showers rule.

IS SANTA CLAUS REAL? Are we real.

DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR NECK KISSED? Yes.

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? No, execpt when I watch a scary movie.

WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO? Reading other peoples blogs.

CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER? Honey defeats everything but marmalade and rasberry jam. Home made blackberry jam is the daddy though!!!

CAN YOU CRACK YOUR NECK? Nah, just my fingers and my ankles.

HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE? When I was a kid.

IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE? Beer is my friend, so that would be a definate no then.

ARE YOU A HEAVY SLEEPER? Hell yeah, the house could fall down and I still wouldn't wake til morning.

WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? Brown with a hint of bloodshot.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE? Could do better.

ARE YOU PSYCHIC? I knew you were going to ask that. Ha, and if you will, Ha

HAVE YOU READ CATCHER IN THE RYE? One of the most over-rated books ever, try Brave New World by Aldous Huxley instead.

DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS? My ex bought me a guitar, but she broke my heart, so its now for sale on eBay.

HAVE YOU EVER STOLEN MONEY? Odds and ends, to help buy milk when the change I had in my pockets wasn't going to be enough to cover my cereal.

CAN YOU SNOWBOARD? Nope, and its something that won't haunt my dreams either.

DO YOU LIKE CAMPING? If camping is so great, why were hotels and B&B's invented.

DO YOU SNORT WHEN YOU LAUGH? Don't think so, think I might whinny though.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? Nah, slight of hand is great to watch though.

ARE DOGS A MAN'S BEST FRIEND? Mine may well be.

YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE? My friend's wife does, unfortunately.

CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK? Yes, but not at a professional level.

DO YOU MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES? Too msny.

IS IT COLD OUTSIDE TODAY? 13 degrees C, so just nice.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Chicken Tikka Masala with Brown Rice.

DO YOU WEAR NAIL POLISH? Not unless very drunk and it goes with my eye shadow.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU LIKE RIGHT NOW? The fewer the better.

WHAT'S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL?" Anyone offer to help me sort out my finances.

"DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE? ?????????????????????????????????????

FAVORITE SONG AT THE MOMENT? Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake.

Guilty Pleasures

Do you have things that you're kind of embarrassed to admit to liking. Well my guilty pleasures are to numerous to mention but I do enjoy reality TV. The worst kind of reality TV for a bloke to enjoy, that aimed squarely at the female audience. As a red blooded male I'm embarrassed to admit while I write this that I'm switching between The Gastineau Girls and America's Next Top Model.

Is there something wrong with me or am I perfectly in tune with my feminine side. As a man of the new millennium, does enjoying girlie popcorn TV make me less of a man? Who knows, really and truly, its not something that I'd admit to my friends that I watch, but I can't help it. I like popcorn TV, male or female, trash TV is for me.

I'm struggling with my Sopranos problem. I own the first 5 seasons of the show, but I haven't watched further than the first few episodes of the third series. Why can't I get myself pumped enough to watch a show I love. So not only do I have almost 3 series of a genius show to get through, but I now have the 6th and final season sitting on my hard drive as well. Started watching Brotherhood on the FX channel, thinking about it am I storing up the same problems for later in life. Who knows, but its a quality show.

Saw an old friend today for the first time in 6 months. His mother had an accident and he was home to make sure she's ok. He's been a friend of mine for nearly 30 years and although I'm not having my most successful spell I'm always pleased that my friends are doing well. My Doctor friend has a job he loves, he's bloody good at it and he gets to travel the world. Lucky bugger.

Hopefully I'll be catching up with another old friend tomorrow. He's doing what I want to do, traveling around Europe in is camper van...... again lucky bugger. Looking forward to a pint with my friend this weekend. I hope my back starts to heal soon, its really getting to me at the moment. Again only time will tell.

Bottled IT Again

Right, I have officially regressed to the age of 13 again. There's a woman I like but, for the love of God, every time I go to ask her out for a drink or a bite to eat I wimp out. What is wrong with me?

I'm over my ex, so that's not the problem, so what the hell is it then? Is there a time shift, a rip in the space time continum - what?

This is doing my head in, to cap it all I'm flying blind. I have no real idea if she's going to say yes, no or ask me to go forth and multiply.

I've been messing with my blog site, most of the day. Trying to remember HTML coding, considering I haven't touched it in about 18 months, is a real pain. If only I could remember how to do the banner in a coool way. I'll work it out, but if anyone reads this and can help it would be appreciated.

Int'l drinking rules and a lazy Sunday

Apologies, spent the day out with my friends, then went out drinking - internatioanl drinking rules applied - so no blog yesterday.

Drinking rules make a poor evening a fun one. The upside of living where I do is that I have all my friends and family around me, which is something that I haven't had for a long time. The downside is the lack of decent job opportunities and more importantly the ratio of women to men is low. Making it a buyers market from the women's point of view. It also means that there are normally far more guys out than women. Gay nights, as we call them, are where International Drinking Rules really come into their own. Someimes they're just fun to play. Last night fell into the latter category.

Saw the funniest brawl of my life yesterday. Another fun part of living in a small rural community is that there's a high chance of seeing neanderthal idiots knocking lumps out of each other. Last night was genius. Now I don't want to glorify violence of any kind, its ugly and stupid. The participant of last nights fisticuffs were both. I was in our local late night fast food outlet, which is almost opposite the entrance to the only nightclub in the town, ordering some unhealthy meat based products. Some shoving broke out in the queue of the nightclub, my friends who were watching called me over, I walked over to be confronted by some handbags (a british saying basically a lot of pushing and shoving but no real fighting). It was only when someone decided to intervene and break it up that everything went a bit south. By the end of that that there must have been 30 or so people fighting in the street. People love street theatre and this ranked among the best. A tour de force. Magical, I wanted an encore. I must add that no one was hurt in any way, there may have been some bruised pride though. Remember all this took place while my friends and I stood watching and eating our food in the window of the fast food joint. As everything calmed down we walked home laughing and comparing highlights.

Sundays, as they are throughout the world, are something of a down day. My housemate has never really lived away from home till he moved into our house. So his mother or the microwave has cooked all his food up till now. So I helped him cook his first real bolognese today. Took the dog for a walk. Apart from that I'm resting my back as much as possible. My back is starting to worry me, last time it was this bad it took 18 months to clear up. I wanna get back in the gym asap, its not looking good.

I have to sign on tomorrow, My dog needs a walk and I'm having lunch with my friend who's car is still off the road. Busy busy eh.

A Friday Night In

Ah joy, all my friends are out on the town but I am sitting in front of my laptop watching the TV and letting my sore back recover. Saving money and being sensible are not my cup of tea, but it must be my growing maturity. People who know me may just laugh out loud at that comment. Maybe I am growing up at last.

Somehow I doubt it, I don't see myself as 34, I think I'm still stuck at 23. Do you feel that way? My friend and I have this ongoing debate. We agree that everybody's face has a perfect time. What I mean is that there is one point in a persons life when their face fits their age. The debate my friend Dave and I have is about our mutual acquaintances and when that moment happen. We can't quite agree on it but its fun to try it, well what else are you going to alk about when you're out walking your dogs.

I'm hoping that my back might allow me to head out for a pint tomorrow night, and hopefully the object of my desire, my lovely Slovak waitress, will be out. I'll probably still bottle it. Why is it when you fancy someone you revert to being 13 again. Still I think it might be her birthday tomorrow so you never know. Watch this space.

The joys of getting older

Do you wanna know how you can tell you're getting older, your body starts to go a little wrong.

Now I'm only 34 so it may sound a little weird, but anyone who has ever suffered from back pain will get what I'm on about. I just started painting when from my seated position I stood up to paint a higher bit of my window frame, I now regret this action wholeheartedly, because someone who was behind me decided to kick me solidly in the base of my back. I have to admit it fair took my breath away.

Like amybody who's played competitive sports I stood up and tried to walk it off, and to a certain extent it worked, my muscles loosened a little bit. Being a real man I returned to my painting, another action I regret only slightly less than the first, cos when I sat and felt my back tighten again I realised that I may not now be able to get up.

Pain is a funny thing don't you think? People pay good money for women in leather to inflict pain on them for the thrill, bet they don't go looking for a slipped disc though. Which is apparently not what I've got, thankfully. My father who has suffered for years with his back, tells me I have lumbago. I have now officially entered the realms of being an old man.

So everything is now on hold. My housemate is now finishing the painting and in terms of making any kind of move on my Slovak dream girl, I just don't think so! Still all good things come to those who wait.

Have some Percodan I got while on holiday in Mexico, never had the guts to try them, today might be the day. Apparently lumbago is just a pulled muscle so I might be able to get back into the gym by Monday or so. Here's hoping!!

Catch up

Out for lunch today with a friend. His cars in the shop so he's at a loose end. Not worried really I get to flirt with my favorite Slovak waitress. You'd be amazed at the different nationalities we have here in our little corner of North Wales. Don't think I'm getting enywhere with her but hey if you don't try you don't get.

My life is free and easy a the moment, a little too free and easy really, being unemployed is not impacting on my life the way it should. I'm enjoying it really, there's a freedom. That'll stop when my savings run out I suppose. I get to hit the gym, walk my dog and hang out with my friends whenever I like. I don't get to buy things apart from the necessaties, but who cares about material things.

Speaking about the gym I need to get back into that and soon. When I skip it, I start to eat at a competitive level. My dog enjoys the early morning runs as well the sadist. You run as fast as you can manage and there he is the grinning fool, loping as slowly as he can, just ahead of you. He does it on purpose I swear. He'd lift heavier weights in the gym if he were allowed in.

Should really get up, have painting to do, still can listen to the final part of the Lord of the Rings radio play on my ipod i suppose. Yes ladies I am that sad. But I'm also old enough to not to care anymore - well not much anyway. Wait until you hear about my fantasy football obsession, that's a killer story. It American football to boot, sad is not the word.

well here goes

I found out one of my friends had started to blog, so I thought what the hell lets give it a go too. She knitted me a scarf, cos I walk my dog in the often cold and wet Welsh wearther. She sent me a link to her blog where there's a picture of the scarf - check it out at http://www.from-little-acorns.blogspot.com/, its currently winging its way to me via the great Post Office.

My dog, Bo is going to go mad everytime I put this thing on. He goes mad every time I pick up his lead so this is just a another part of that I suppose. Don't ask me i can't explain the little maniacs mindset. Still, been raining all day here so the poor dog has been stuck inside with me watching me paint, well not really watching, he's 15 months old so he just gets covered in paint, gets a boot up his black lab backside and shooed out of the room post haste.

I share a house with 2 other guys, its been like living in a student house for too long. So we have made an effort at last to do something about it, painting it and filling it up with some of our friends artwork. Should look reallly good, well thats the plan anyway.

Is that the kind of things you put in a blog, not sure but it'll do.