Unlike Highlander...there can be more than one!

From time to time, I am asked what my favorite of this or that is. There is an key problem with this question, or rather, I don't have a viable answer for this question and therefore, the question is a bad one. Let me explain...

I was asked one time, "Hey Scott, what's your favorite book?" Well, let's see. To be honest, I really have no clue because I read so many books by so many different authors that it would be unfair to myself (as well as the authors of those books and the characters contained therein) for me to limit myself to just ONE favorite. Now, ask me something more broad, such as: "What are some of your favorite authors?" and I can answer easily! Here's my list of favorite authors: Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver, Thomas Harris...and many, MANY more.

Then, one other time, I was asked, "Hey Scott, what's your favorite movie?" Well, once again, I have no single answer that will cover this question in such a way as to answer in the way that you want it to be answered. That is to say, I have no single favorite movie. So, what are some of my favorite movies? That's easy! Let's see...Indiana Jones, Matrix, Star Wars, Hannibal, Silence of the Lambs, Kiss the Girls...well, that's a bunch of serious movies. I also like anything with Mr. Bean, Monty Python or Wallace and Gromit in it. How's that sound?

Favorite foods are the same. Pizza, Spaghetti, Lasagne, Anything Oriental (I even had squid or octopus once!), German food...well...pretty much anything within reason.

Now...what about people? Have I a favorite friend? Is there really such a thing as a "best friend" anymore? Personally, I don't think so. I have several friends and many acquaintences. None of them are my best, because if there is a best, there is a worst...and none of my friends are worst at anything.

thus ends the conversation for this evening

What would you do if I sang out of tune?

Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ear and I'll sing you a song...
And I'll try not to sing out of key (yeah) - Joe Cocker

If I had a little help from my friends...Do you ever feel like you're being left alone? Like everyone in your life has walked out on you all at the same time? I have, and do. I know, I know. I have friends (Jared, Heather, Will, Ami etc...)...but, where are they? Will and Ami are in Baton Rouge. Heather and Jared are in St. Paul (or the surrounding areas). I realize I have other friends that are local, but for the most part, they have let me live the last 3 months alone. Why, I wonder to myself. I've done nothing against any of them. Who knows.

I've already posted that my great grandfather died on July 27th. My question for the day is: Who do you look up to when the person that you looked up to has died? I've been considering this question for days now, and I can find no viable answer. Some would say, "It's time to live life like the one you looked up to did so that you can be an example for others, thus making the person you looked up to imortal." Imortal in that the idea of them and the things they lived for live on. I don't know. Others would say, "Find someone else to look up to." Easier said than done. I mean, how does one find someone as great as one own great grandfather? Or, rather...how do I find someone as great as mine (said thusly because not everyone's relatives are adored so greatly by their family)? What are your thoughs, oh Internet? Let me know.

You want to know what the coolest word in the English language is? I'll tell you anyway. "Facetious." Facetious is the coolest word in the English language. Why? Well...look at it. What makes it unique? It's the only word in the English language that has ALL the vowels in order in it. Unless, of course, you count the word "Paletious" or "Banetious" or even the more rare "Zaxetious". No no...I'm just being facetious. There are no such words (that I'm aware of, anyway). Another cool word happens to be "Coquettish". Try using that one in a sentence today. What does it mean? "Coquettish": being a flirtatious female. Or rather, a Coquette is a flirtatious female. Wow...English rocks (I guess French does too, considering that's a French word). Well...ok, American rocks! We steal words from everyone! May I have a taco, you coquettish bink? Of course, but only if you write with my kugelschreiber. (WOW! Ok, so we didn't steal that from the Germans afterall...thankfully, we say "pen")

Another great question that I hope you comment on is as follows: When one looks at one's life and realizes how many mistakes one has made, how does one go about making a change? I suppose everyone makes mistakes at one time or another. How do you get beyond them? For me, I don't know. See...I'm one of thos stupid people that can forgive a person (or myself) for things that have happened in the past, but I find it VERY hard (almost impossible) to forget the things that were done. In my own life, if I forget the things that I have done that wronged other people, I am doomed to make the same mistake again. And, for others, if I forget how I have been hurt/wronged by them, I am setting myself up to being hurt the same way again. Granted, people change...but they have to WANT to change. Who's to say that someone has or has not changed? Not me...I can't judge anyone but myself...anything less would be unfair.

On a happy note, I'm presently on #12 or 29...so there is almost light at the end of the tunnel!

QuakeCon 2004...had a freakin BLAST!!!

Wow...

It's now Saturday evening, and QuakeCon will officially close tomorrow at noon. I'll be headed home WAY before then (like 10 or so...or I hope so anyway!).

What are my overall impressions of QuakeCon 2004? Wow. I can sum up everything that I think in that one, simple word. "Wow" implies so much, but it is the only word that I can think of right now that comes even close to what I feel. I mean, it's been 4 PACKED days since I got here. Not a moment goes by that there hasn't been something to do. Now, granted, I didn't get to do all of the things I wanted to (for one reason or another), but all in all, it's been a freakin blast!

One thing I am looking forward to, though. Well, ok...two things I am looking forward to:

#1: Sleeping in my own bed - For the last couple nights, I've been sleeping on the floor, half under this table that is against the wall in our room. I'm not complaining. It's been some of the best sleep that I've gotten in a long time! There is just nothing like sleeping in your own bed, though. Nothing can compare to it. Nothing at all.

#2: Coming to QuakeCon 2005 - yes, that's right. I am ready RIGHT NOW to sign up for QuakeCon 2005. If there was a place that I could sign up, I would. Unfortunately for me, it's going to be April of next year before registration is open again! Oh well...it's been so much fun. The only way that I can think of for it to have been more fun would be if there were some of my friends here. Don't get me wrong! I've met quite a few people that just ROCK! I wouldn't trade the last 4 days for anything...and that's a fact, but next year, I'm going to kidnap my friend }{ (tm) or maybe even handamer. It would be super fun then! w00t!

Anyway...there are these people playing some weird techno-dancing game over there that looks really funny (why make a game that causes you to get hot and sweaty?!). Must go laugh at them and make them realize how goofy they look.

LT

Copacetic Fruition...or "The Supa-Fine Ending"

No no...I'm not going anywhere. I shall return, as the General said...or something!

Well, here's the scoop. I'm leaving Ruston within the next 4 hours for Dallas for GeekFest 2004. While there, I'm going to have some fun, meet some cool people, play some cool games, eat some exotic Texican (foreign) foods, and maybe even sleep once or twice. Well, once at least. The only thing that I can think of that really sucks is this: I know nobody that is going to be there. Yeah...that sucks. Well, I take that back. I know that I have a cousin that lives in/near Dallas...but I haven't seen her in 15 years, doubt that she, her husband whom I've never met, nor her kids play games, and I wouldn't recognize any of them if they did show up anyway. Then, there is my investment guy...he lives in Fort Worth. I haven't seen him in over 20 years and REALLY wouldn't recognize him even if he told me who he was.

Ok, so yes...you read that right. I have an Investment guy whom I haven't seen in over 20 years. How in the world could I trust someone who doesn't know me? Who better to trust than someone you've never met! (enter news articles about Enron and every other large corporation that crashed and burned the last couple years due to accounting errors/intentional mess-ups). Well, ok...he's a childhood friend of my dads. My dad invests through him, so I do too. I mean, it could be worse...I could just give my money to some slobbering, frothy faced monkey to do my investing. Then again, after over 20 years, he might be! AAAH!!!

You know what I would really like to eat right now? Some banana pudding with those vanilla cookies on top. Wow...that would really hit the spot right now. Just the creamy goodness that is banana pudding with those strange chunks of banana dispersed within...and half crunchy, half soggy vanilla wafers. BAM! That's yummy.

Well, I'll try to post again when I get to Dallas and whilst there. Whilst....wth!? Does anyone even USE that word anymore? Then again, I used "Copacetic" and "Fruition" in my title...next time, expect "facetious" and "coquettish". Yeah baby, YEAH!

The origins of all of this...

Hmm...so, I guess it's probably time to try and explain why I picked not only the title to this bad boy, but also my name (LaTech, not my name name...we all know where that came from, or rather, I hope you all know where it came from). I'll explain both of those things as well as write more about what's going on for me.

So, first things first. I go by "LaTech" in many different places and have been doing so for about 6 or 7 years. Wow...has it been that long? (I hear insane laughing coming from beyond a door that leads to my office and I am reminded of Doom3...I shudder). Yes, so...6 years or so. The name, of course, comes from my Alma Mater, Louisiana Tech University (La for Louisiana...and, well...nevermind...if you don't get it, don't blame me). At the time that I started calling myself this alias, I was still a student there. Actually, I was a student there, then I wasn't, then I was again...but that's a different story. Back when Team Fortress Classic came out (right after the release of Half Life), I began playing that and LaTech was the first name that came to mind. No, I'm not French, nor do I speak it. Regardless of the fact that I presently reside in Louisiana, and regardless of the fact that I went to high school and college here, the only French I know is how to say what translates to, "I don't speak French." I figured that was the most important phrase I could ever learn if I was to ever, say, invade France on my own (which I would win) or if I was lost way down in the bayou of South Louisiana. Anyway, I digress. The name followed me as I began playing CounterStrike, and has stuck with me ever since. Would I ever change my name? Sure...when I changed my real life name to Peter O'Brian. And that's gonna happen within the next 50 years...so just wait.

Now, about "Token White Guy". I presently work at a HBCU (Historically Black College or University). I won't say which department, but it's not that hard to figure out. Then again, you can easily tell where I live, so me leaving out which HBCU is rather idiotic of me...but anyway, that's not the point. The point is, in my department, I am the only white male. I find this QUITE humorous and point at the humor in it whenever I can. So, as the only white male in my department, I'm the token white guy. Thus, the title of this blog.

I am so psyched about this week. Why, you inquire. Well, if you would leave me alone for one second, I would tell you! Patience, my friend, is a virtue. Wednesday, just after I leave work, I will begin my trek to Dallas, TX (ok, so I didn't need to put "TX" because, while there might be other Dallas', there's only ONE DALLAS!) for GeekFest 2004! Doesn't sound familiar, does it? Well, ok....there IS a reason. The official title of where I am going is "QuakeCon 2004", but while that title is nice and all, it doesn't explain the true magnitude of what will be going on or who will be there. GeekFest....a gathering of computer geeks that will be sure to inspire e-zine articles, blog postings, and photographs. Anyway, I'm REALLY looking forward to this thing. And yes...the fact that I'm a geek could explain a lot of that excitement.

Wal-Mart - The Black Hole of the Universe!

Ok, so...here's the deal: I hate Wal-Mart. Well...ok, so hate is a really strong word that should never be used at all, so...let me say, I can't stand Wal-Mart. Let me explain.

So, it, being the weekend, was time for me to do my shopping for the week. I was to get some food stuffs so that I wouldn't starve to death (yeah, oh...so that's actually NEVER going to happen...I could probably survive atleast 2 weeks without eating) and so that I could get more Tylenol (I've been having wicked headaches for the last month or so due to tension and stress...or, that's what I tell myself anyway) and more Acid Reducer (Equate, of course, for the same reason as the Tylenol).

So, all told, I purchased a grand total of 19 items. NINETEEN! Oh...the number makes no sense to you yet because I haven't told you that my bill totalled $122 and change! BAH! That's insane! I mean, I could understand if I bought 4 T-bone steaks or something, but no! The only meat that I bought was some ground beef and some Buffalo Chicken Strips (if you've never tried those, I highly recommend them...they're easy to make and taste great to! (If you work for Tyson, please make cheque payable to LaTech!)) . Now, you could say, "LaTech, that's only an average price of $6.45 per item! That's not that bad!" Ok...please consider: I bought a can of refried beans (for Mexican night) at $.58, and a pack of gum (for after Mexican night...along with the Equate) at $.78. Now...somewhere, something doesn't make sense.

Anyway, today was a much better day than yesterday (especially when I don't consider the Wal-Mart incident).

Weekends are made for those that care

Wow...how boring can one existance be?! Now, I'm not trying to be bitter here...quite the contrary. Let me describe the weekend that I've had thus far...

I woke up at 9 am which is SERIOUSLY late for me. Usually, regardless of the day fo the week, I'm up between 6 and 7 in the morning. 9 is LATE. Anyway, I woke up and cleaned up a little bit. My apartment hasn't been "dirty" per se yet. I mean, I find it disorganized from time to time, but never dirty. So, then at 10, I got all cleaned up and went to the post office so that I could mail a package to a friend of mine. Once finished with that, I got the oil changed in my truck and then went to the computer store that I used to work at. Nobody that I knew was there (surprise!) so I left and went back home.

Once I got home, my neighbor, his son and I went to Taco Bell to eat. Then, we drove around Ruston for a couple hours, then went back home. There isn't much to Ruston to begin with...so driving around Ruston for a couple hours take a lot of patience more than anything. Anyway, we came back home and played Battlefield 1942 against one another till 5.

Then, I had supper while I watched a movie. Alone.

You know...sometimes I wonder if happiness is worth this. Atleast when I was married, there was someone else there (not that I say people should just get married for the sake of not being alone). Plus, we had a dog. Poor puppy...I miss her a lot.

It's times like these that I really sit back and wonder if I made the right decision. Did I give all that I could? Could I have tried one more time? I guess it doesn't really matter. What has happened has happened. I've been hurt, and have hurt others in return. Such is life, I guess. One big pain after another. Yes...I'm falling down the stairs. One more landing, and I'll officially be depressed.

Anyway, tomorrow is another day. It could be better than today...who knows. - LT

First post in what may be a waste of time...

Greetings, salutations, and any other well-wished words that I could hurle at you through the ether that is the internet.

So...I understand the premise of all that is "blog-dom", but what exactly is the point? I guess the point, to me, is to get something written down about how I feel about certain things at a given point in my life.

Here goes...welcome to the thoughts of my mind.

On July 25th, I turned 28 years old. That's never happened before and, unless I'm in some Bill Murray...Groundhog Day existance, it will never happen again. What is is like being 28? I'll tell you! It's exactly like ti was when I was 25, 26 and 27. The only difference is, you're supposed to act a little older, sound a little wiser and look a little grumpier. Well, I've got the grumpy part down pat now...it's the wisdom and actions part that keeps throwing me for a loop. One of these days...

Which brings me to my next topic.

On July 27th, my great grandfather, Charles Straub, died at the age of 98. Ninty-Eight years old. I can't even imagine the things that he saw throughout his life. Two world wars. The depression. The Space Age. The Computer Age. The transistor. Television. Silent movies. The list goes on and on. He always said, "I'd like to life another hundred years to see how we make it out of the mess we're in." One day, I hope to be a wise man...one day, I hope to be as wise as my grandpa Straub.

Something I think is funny. People get into routines that they just don't want to get out of. Take, for instance, the ladies I work with (aka "The Oldies") go to Peking (a local Chinese food place) EVERY Friday for lunch. Today, I had the audacity to ask if we were going somewhere else for lunch. You would have thought I had asked them to give me all the money they had! "NO! We ALWAYS go here to eat on Friday! You know that!" Well...excuse me for wanting to live a little.

This weekend is going to be pretty boring, I think. The only thing I have planned to do is clean my apartment. What fun! It's so lonely living by one's self. I can't thinkn of anything worse than going home to an empty house...knowing that it's going to be empty no matter how long I stay there. What a delightfully depressing thought. I guess I'll end with that.