Omniblog

From now until May, the stuff I have tickets to just keeps growing.

Originally it was just my usual Leo Kottke concert at the Paramount in April, but in the past 2 weeks, it’s just exploded.

Let’s see.

• Wednesday, February 17 – Cirque du Soleil – Allegria (3rd time to see this particular show)
• Saturday, April 10 – Elton John – He’s always been on my “I’d love to see him if I ever got the chance.” list. Now, I get my chance. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Feb. 20th. Next is Billy Joel, who Elton John is on tour with, but I keep forgetting to look up where the tour goes in Texas. This show is just Elton, no Billy, as far as I know.
• Friday, April 16 – Chelsea Handler – ’nuff said. I was hesitant to spend the cash on her first show, but when they announced a second show, on the same day, I figured it was a sign and bought pre-sale tickets thanks to a Facebook group I found. I scored seats in the middle.
• Friday, April 30 – Leo Kottke – The usual annual concert. I have missed a few, but I am not sure how much longer he is going to tour, so I have to catch him every year now.
• Tuesday, May 4 – Stomp – This will be my second time to see this show.

I have a feeling the list might grow. There’s a Celtic Woman concert in Houston/San Antonio May 1st and 2nd respectively. However, I saw them last year here in Austin, so I am going to probably hold off. Leo, Celtic Woman, and Stomp all in less than a week: Ye Gods that’s a lot.

It has recently come to my attention that Fox Sports Radio decided not to renew the contract of possibly one of my favorite radio hosts: Steve Czaban.

I rarely caught his show in the morning (6am – 9am EST), so I caught bits and pieces of the replay from 12pm-3pm EST when I would go out for lunch.

I started reading a few things, like Czaban’s blog, as to what happened: Czabe’s Blog

I then found, in the comments of the above post, what really happened: The Truth.

I then learned who they replaced him with: Steven A Smith. Say what?

Yes, that Steven A Smith. So, it appears the new direction that FSR is taking is getting rid of good hosts that speak in a normal tone of voice that are funny, and great entertainment, and replacing/keeping hosts that like to yell.

3 examples: Steven A Smith, Petros, and JT the Brick. All of them yell, all the time, and it makes listening to them very painful, figuratively and literally. So, why didn’t they can Petros or JT the Brick? I mean all Petros likes to talk about is USC and he and his partner, Money, always have Pete Carroll on their show, or so it seems. (granted it is/was college football season, but still). And yes, I am aware that Petros used to play at USC, but come on.

JT the Brick constantly yells at callers. He kind of reminds me of Nancy Grace in a sick, twisted sort of way. JT the Brick: the Nancy Grace of sports talk radio? Ye Gods.

Steven A Smith – words cannot describe how much I despise this man. Not just how he is on TV or the radio, but his voice inflections. I am seriously starting to wonder if he really talks that way, or if it is an act when he is on TV or the radio. (Let me be clear before the mass internet reading audience jumps to conclusions: I am not racist in any way, shape, or form. I am simply making an observation.)

So, way to fail FSR. One of the main reasons I have XM Radio in my car is to listen to 2 FSR hosts: Czaban and Dan Patrick.

Will I keep my XM? Yea probably. Satellite radio is great when you are driving in the middle of nowhere in Texas.

As I sit in my office at work, I have been pondering “Why don’t I feel Christmasey?”

Then it dawned on me, in my 11 years of living in Austin, only once or twice have I felt in the holiday spirit. Why?

Because when it’s 60-70 degrees outside, it tends to be a little difficult to get into the spirit. There’s no snow, no cold, no reason to bundle up and watch Frosty the Snowman or other classics and drink hot chocolate. Nothing.

Unfortunately, this year is no different. It’s about 60 now, and it will be 70 by Wednesday. Then it will cool off, on Christmas Eve. Great. It’s all too little too late.

I thought, “Hey why not move where it is cooler and snowy and more Christmasey.” Sure, no problem, until that big ass storm hit the Northeast and buried it in snow. Of course, that’s not typical, but still, it can happen. So, that’s not going to happen either.

Of course, I could invent my own frosty weather by turning the A/C down to 60 in my apartment, bundling up under layers of clothes (which would include a Snuggie – yes dammit it’s comfy and warm), making hot chocolate, and maybe throwing some fake snow around, but sadly it just wouldn’t have the same effect.

So, I’ll make do with the warm. There is a the bright side, however. When I do my Christmas shopping, instead of freezing my ass off, it’s comfortable and warm.

Dear Citizens of Austin, Texas,

I’m sorry for closing Ben & Jerry’s at Mopac and Duval.

I’m sorry for closing Baja Fresh in La Frontera.

I’m sorry for closing Kitchen Door downtown. (First victim, in 2001ish)

I’m sorry for closing Kitchen Door on Far West.

I’m sorry, kind of but it might’ve not been my fault, for closing Salsalitos (or however you spell it) on Parmer. The reason I say it’s not my fault is shortly after this one closed, I noticed the others around Austin were closed too.

I’m sorry for closing Tin Star on McNeil.

Yes, I might be cursed. I have religiously eaten at all the places above, then the location would randomly close.

The recent victim is the Kitchen Door on Far West. They closed all their stores. So, this one might not be my fault. Check their website: The Kitchen Door.

So, I apologize for any future occurrences of this phenomenon and I apologize for the past occurrences.

Sincerely,
Me

My apartment is dark. Why? Because I keep forgetting to buy more light bulbs, energy efficient ones at that.

So, today, today is light up my apartment day. I tried to the other day, but whoever lived in my apartment before me decided that only leaving 2 “holding” screws, instead of 3, for the light globe in my office was cool. Not to mention, thought tightening one of those screws all the way in would be super awesome too. Punkass.

Oh, not to mention, I face the same dilemma I did in my old apartment, my office desk is right under the light in my office, which makes changing the bulb quite a dangerous task. And yes, I mean dangerous. I am not so sure the desk is meant to hold my weight, and my Herman Miller Aeron chair is not exactly a good place to put one foot to balance.

Soooo….I have to probably get some sort of small step-stool. Hell, I could probably use one anyway. And a new screwdriver that’s a bit easier to use for things above my head. I am not going to be able to get that one screw out without a good screwdriver. Oooh, I could get a battery one *insert Tim Allen grunt here*. Oh yea…

So, Home Depot here I come after work!

Punks and their pain in the ass ways of putting a light globe back on. I might post a Twitpic of the stupidity if I can get enough light up there. Just so I can show the utter silliness and stupidity.

I went to lunch with my manager today. While at the establishment, I got up to go get more beverage and some dessert. As I walked by the drink area, this man said “Hey”, and immediately, without even thinking I said “Hey Coach Brown, how’s it going?”

Wait…what did I just say? The man who said hi to me was indeed University of Texas football coach Mack Brown. In my 11 years of being here, his 10 years, I’ve never run into him.

It was just a normal, yet kinda neat, experience, and it was very cool in how Austin is quite good at just leaving people alone like that, or Sandra Bullock, or Matthew M. (Not going to attempt to spell his last name this late in the day.) He was eating lunch with his wife. No one bothered him for a picture, autograph, etc.

Way to go Austin. Keep up the semi-normal part of us.