Well, The Good News Is…

…I only had to waste less than 30 minutes watching the game today… so I’ve got that going for me.

I can’t wait until the Suns stick a dagger in me as well.

Good times.

**EDIT**

Has there ever been a worse playoff defense than the Cardinals?  Would it even be possible to have a worse playoff defense than the Cardinals?

This is nauseating.  And I’m not even watching the game (trying to preserve my TV and remote).

If I were a Saints fan I’d have to be at least a little concerned that the Saints had to settle for a field goal on one of their possessions.  Against this defense that should be unacceptable.

Embarrassing.

Not much of a prognostication… but I predict this is the end of the Cardinals defense as we know it.  Starting with the Steelers devastating touchdown drive to win the SuperBowl last year, this defense has done an excellent impression of a subway turnstyle… letting anyone through.

They’re beyond terrible.  Excruciating.  And they’re wasting an awesome year by Kurt Warner.  And, after that wicked hit he took in the second quarter, probably his last (another not-very-far-out-on-the-limb prediction).

How bad is it?  The Saints are *actively* trying not to score right now so they don’t run up the score (too late).

I will now go light myself on fire.

Grrrr.  I hate sports.

Movie Elitist

Hello.  My name is Matt.  And I’m a movie snob.

Lauren thinks I’m odd because I’ll only go see movies at the new Harkins Norterra.  Why will I only go there?  Because every theater is digital.

Lauren can’t see the difference.  So she doesn’t understand why we would drive further to see a movie.  They’re all the same.

By the way, she said the same thing when we got our 1080p HD TV.

What?  How can you not see the difference?  It’s like going from black and white to color.

I don’t understand it.

Why can I see the difference so plainly and to Lauren there is no difference at all?

And I’m writing about this today because the stunning contrast between digital and film projection was reinforced.

For most Saturdays recently I’ve taken Lauren and my mom to go see a movie each Saturday morning.  We hardy ever get to go see movies and this has turned into something I enjoy and quite look forward to.

And it’s my excuse to go to the new Norterra digital theaters.  Because they’re right smack dab in the middle of my house and mom’s.  So we just meet at the theater… and it just happens to be the best theater in town.  (If you live in Phoenix you have to go there and watch a movie in digital… I’m telling you, it’s a totally difference experience.)

Well, today we had to change venues to accommodate the Cardinals game (starting in about 5 minutes).  So we went to the AMC Deer Valley 30 cinema.  And it’s not digital.

And I learned something about myself…

I am a movie elitist.

I could hardly watch the movie I was so distraction by the film projection.

It was like going to someone’s house to watch a big game and discovering they don’t have Hi-Def… it’s not even worth it anymore.

I’m spoiled.  And I can tell the difference.  And I’m a snob about it.

Lauren was talking to me like I’m a child… “stop whining about the picture.  It looks the same.  Just watch the movie.”

Only I couldn’t “just watch the movie.”  And I know that makes me an entitled, spoiled, movie brat.

So be it.

Digital is so much better.

P.S.  This post is a pre-emptive post just in case the Cardinals lose today.  Then I don’t have to come back and rant and rail about the game.  And I also don’t have to smash my MacBook or bust up a perfectly good keyboard.  Just in case.

Go Cardinals.

I’m An Embarrassment to My Family…

I am so the opposite of my wife and daughters.  And sisters, for that matter.

I can give Lauren $100 and she’ll clothe the entire family in inexpensive, yet stylish, clothes that she finds for $7 at who knows where.  I love that she can do that.  And she enjoys it.  If it were an Olympic sport I think I would put the photo of her on the podium in our hallway.

She’s good.

As are my sisters.

And I am not.

In fact… I would go so far as to say that I the anti-Lauren shopper.

Today I went shopping for some jeans.  Here’s my haul…

From the Buckle…

• 2 pairs of jeans
• 2 t-shirts
• 1 belt

Total: $416.91

From Macy’s…

• 1 pair of shoes
• 1 shirt

Total: $150.94 (the shoes were on sale)

From Abercrombie & Fitch…

• 1 jacket

Total: $108.18 (also on sale for 50% off… woohoo)

Grand Total: $676.03

…And I was proud of myself for keeping it so low.  I’m pretty sure that doesn’t crack my top 20.

And I can’t even fathom doing it much cheaper.

But I’m pretty sure Lauren could clothe a small island nation for that amount.  (She was a great sport, by the way.  Didn’t even blink at the Buckle.)

And I would be ashamed to let Brooke see my receipts because she probably has coupons and some crazy buying combination that would give me 90% off and I’d also go home with 37 tubes of Colgate toothpaste for free… or something like that.

But I am whatever the opposite of bargain shopper is.  I think they could even name it after me.  Or maybe it’s just called “male” shopper.  I don’t know.

I do know, however, that the two shopping experiences could not be any more different.

I like shopping with Lauren.  Because it’s like a game.  It’s competitive.  You can keep score.  It’s fun.

But not nearly as fun as just going out and getting exactly what I want and then coming home.  Now that’s a successful shopping trip.

Right?

Which shopper are you?

I Miss…

…my sister’s blog posts.

I know it stresses her out.  And she has a *much* busier life than me (and also a much funnier life than me… although she might disagree).  And it’s how I keep up with her life.

No pressure… just wanted to let you know that it matters.

Love you, Brooke.

Didn’t I Just Do This?

One thing about blogging… it really emphasizes certain things about life.

Like how fast 24 hours can pass.  It’s staggering, really.

If I was going just by feel I would say I am blogging every 10 hours, or so.  But at the speed of life it’s all I can do to remember it once every 24 hours.  Funny how time (and life) can play tricks on you like that.

I’ve also realized that I live like I eat.

And maybe only my brother Brett can really appreciate what I’m saying here.  It was him that brought my eating habits to my attention.

Several years ago Brett and I were eating at a restaurant… since that’s what you do at a restaurant.

And he noticed I eat my food odd.  (well… odd according to him… just the right way according to me).  If I have a plate with 4 foods on it I don’t cycle between the foods.  I eat all of one food before moving on to the next and eating all of that food, and so on.

And even when I drink my water, I typically drink all my water at once before going back to eat another food group.

Since then I’ve made an effort to be more “normal.”  I don’t know if it’s working, or not.

But since I’ve been blogging I’m noticing that it’s not just about the food.  That’s how I live my life.

If you had asked me 2 weeks ago I would have said I live a varied and full life.

Now I can see that isn’t true.  Doesn’t even approach the truth, really.

I live a lopsided, completely imbalanced life.

And I like it this way.  I just never noticed it until I started blogging.  Well, until I started blogging more than 14 times a year, anyway.

As much as I like to play, I don’t seem to be able to integrate it with my work.  And as much as I like to work, I don’t seem to be able to mix it in with my relationships.

I live like I eat.

When I’m working… that’s all I’m doing.  There is nothing else.  No moderation.  No balance.  Nothing.  But.  Work.

And when I’m done with (or tired of) work then I play.  And when I play, it’s to the extreme… either in my time commitment or the activity of choice.

Three weeks before Christmas I decided to give golf a try again.  It had been years since I golfed.

I liked it.

And golfed every day for the next 2 weeks.

It was all I wanted to do.

And then I was done.

I haven’t even looked at my clubs since then.

And I realize that my whole life is like that.

Today I sat down at my computer and realized that this day was just like the last day.  Which was just like the day before.  And there’s nothing new to say.

I don’t mean to say I have a boring life.  I don’t.

But when it’s time to work I am consumed by work.  There is nothing else.  Including, sleeping, eating, playing, etc.

And that’s all I do.

Until I don’t.

Does that make sense?

I can’t say I dislike it.  I just never noticed it before.

And all that is just a long way of saying that I have nothing new to write about today because it’s the same day I’ve already lived for the past week.  Only different.

And now I’m excited for what’s next on my plate.

Sometimes People Suck…

Okay… I know I said yesterday that I maybe, kind of, possibly might actually like people.

Days like today reinforce why I mostly don’t.

Today is the day that about 80% of my clients get automatically billed via PayPal.  It’s a day I look forward to for obvious reasons.

It’s also a day I somewhat resent, though.  Because it’s when I have to deal with people who are flakier than me… and sometimes outright dishonest to boot.

Like the guy who filed a fraudulent charge claim against me to his credit card company.  That’s serious business in my line of work.  My business lives and dies with my merchant account.  And the online world is already on edge with all the scammy biz ops and bogus get-rich-quick schemes people promote.

So I get ticked when people feel like they need to tell some elaborate lie to cover either 1) their buyer’s remorse, or 2) the fact that they can’t pay this month.

All they need to do is cancel their billing agreement with me.  That’s it.  And it’s all automated and online.  They don’t even have to ask me to do it for them or get my permission or even notify me.

And even afterwards all they have to do is ask and get a refund.  Every time.

But that’s not good enough in today’s world.

Because then, who would they blame?

So they decide it’s better to waste the time of a half dozen other people who are now required to jump through hoops to show there was no fraud, no unauthorized transaction, and no conscience on behalf the consumer.

And all I want to do is just give him his money back and move on.  I don’t want him as a customer any more than he wants to keep paying me.  But because he took the coward’s road I can’t do that.

I first have to defend myself.  And respond.  And do busywork.  And prove my innocence.  Because credit card fraud is a very serious offense.

And I just don’t get the point.  What does he get out of this?  I have the records that he actually used my product.  There’s nowhere for him to go with this.  Doesn’t he know that?

I can’t hardly even speak, I get so frustrated with people like this.

And do you want to know the best and juiciest part?  He’ll probably go years in his life wondering when it will be his turn to be successful.  Wondering when people will stop ripping him off and taking advantage of him… probably so he can turn around and do it back to them.

And it’s sad that people see the world like that.

And it's maddening that somehow it’s my fault.  And if you’re an honest, hard-working person it’s probably your fault, too.

We live in a society of professional, lifelong, outrageously committed victims.

It’s too bad… I was actually beginning to enjoy maybe, kind of, possibly actually liking people.

So, George, here’s to you… I present my Official Snake of the Day Award.  You’ve earned it.  Now go bother someone else.

Mo meets Jo… and other random thoughts

Okay… first off, I just have to say WOW! for the Cardinals game yesterday.  Talk about *serious* mojo heading into next week’s game.  Just… wow.

The bad news was that I turned it off when the Packers won the toss in overtime.  I couldn’t handle it.

I know… right?

When my neighborhood erupted in shouts 2 minutes later I raced back in time to watch the replays.  I wish I hadn’t turned it off… but I’m kind of glad I did.  I just got an expensive new remote for Christmas, and… well… you know.

Of course, the Cardinals rocking, impressive, total mojo win made me 3 out of 4 picking the weekend games.  Not bad.  I beat the only sportswriter I follow… Bill Simmons (The Sports Guy on ESPN.com).  He was 0 for 4.  Did I mention I was 3 for 4?  I thought so.

Other random thoughts…

Apparently I don’t blog on days when I’ve stayed up all night.  I pulled that twice last week and missed my blog posts both days.  Once I missed it and I had Live Writer (my blog software) open to the post on my desktop.

Don’t know how that’s going to play out since I do that several times each month.  We’ll see.

Also, my new church schedule is confusing me.  It’s not just the early start (my first meeting is at 7:30am… which means I’m up about 6:30).  It’s that I routinely get to bed after 3:00am.  So on Sundays I’m fighting whether I should try to get some sleep or just stick it out and sleep after church (which is at about 3:00pm for me).

I’ve had 1 of each so far this year.

I’m thinking the ultimate solution might be to (*gasp*) go to bed at a more reasonable time.  But that throws the rest of my schedule off.  Don’t ask.

New random thought… my current church calling is my favorite.  Which is odd… because I didn’t think it would beat teaching (in church).  It does.  I don’t understand it.

Even more strange, after years of knowing I don’t like people I’ve learned that I kind of like people.  What should I do?  That really blows some things up for me.

Lastly… my days of grinding last week culminated in the development of some of the most ridiculously cool software I’ve ever written… and a re-designed bedroom (but that’s another story).

I rock.