A Quick Walk in The Park
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
Have you ever had to stop, pause and reevaluate. I tend to do that every couple months. Just stop and look at where I am, where I've been and where I am going. I just went through that. My bank accounts are empty and I am working under 20 hours a week at a job that gives me a paycheck for showing up. I can see that this train is headed for the poorhouse. On the other side I have a new career I am trying to launch. With all sorts of possibilities, if I can ever get this thing off the ground. What I see around me is alarming and promising. I am completely overwhelmed with the drama going on in my life and as a result my energies have been sapped. Unfortunately I have let one outlet slide recently and that is my writing. I am not promising to get back to writing a blog entry every day like I was for a while but I am promising to get on here more then twice a week. When I least feel like writing is probably when I need to do so the most. I find that when I am not writing I am shrinking back into my cave. Never leaving the apartment, always feeling trapped, and headed toward running away to Mexico moment. I can't afford the run to Mexico. I would run out of money between my apartment and my car. So I better get back to writing. That being said......

I went for a walk today in an effort to not slowly melt into my La-Z-Boy chair. When you need to dig yourself out you know you have watched too many hours of nonsense. In fact I found myself watching MTV today. That scared me and I immediately went for a walk. Unfortunately the park, my intended destination, was closed due to construction.

So my walk was a little shorter then I expected. I found a stack of wood and I couldn't resist taking a picture of it.

I can just imagine someone saying "Why is this wood all bent!"

So I headed to the rose garden and took mucho pictures! The roses are in full bloom which reminds me that this weekend I should head to the Portland Rose Garden. I made a collage of the pictures just to give you a brief look at the rose haven.

I talked about the plane eating tree and I wanted to show the plane that survived the plane eating tree.... survive is a loose term......

Finally I wanted to leave this picture of me and my birthday shirt.... courtesy of Maryann.

That is it for today....

A Rambling Review of X-Men: The Last Stand
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: A Rambling Review

A Rambling Review of

X-Men: The Last Stand

It was May 2003 and I was walking out of a theater after seeing X2. I was ecstatic. I had just seen one of the best films made from a comic strip ever and they hinted at a grander sequel. They were going to tackle the infamous 'Dark Phoenix' saga, a tale that turns the loveable and amiable Jean Grey into a horrible and unstoppable mass murderer. I could not be happier or more excited. How long would I have to wait? I knew that it would take a while but after the second movie how could they mess up. The characters were dead on, just the right amount of cheekiness mixed in with real human emotion set in a world with mutants that had amazing power. As long as they took the time to tackle it they could have the best movie ever.

May 2006....

X-Men: The Last Stand. It finally came. The box they packaged it in sure was shiny. That should have been my first sign something was wrong. Never being one to pick up on signs I took no notice of these ones. Even when I learned that the director was somebody new I did not worry. I am too optimistic sometimes. The new director was Brett Ratner; he was the director of both Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2 and apparently the impending Rush Hour 3. Bryan Singer the director of the first two X-Men titles ran off to play with Superman and Brett took over the reins of the hugely ambitious storyline of X3. The fan boys (a cute pet name for the die hard comic book dorks that could tell you everything that has happened in the comic book world but can't tell you if they will ever date) were up in arms apparently. Brett Ratner knew that he had a huge story in his hands and it was his to destroy, so he did what any good director and non-comic enthusiast would do. He added characters and I mean a lot of them. There are so many characters in this film that it's ridiculous. They even had to get Frasier Crane to play one of them, that's how many characters there were! I mean Frasier Crane! All these characters and yet he forgot that he needed a character driven plot. Instead he focused on having Magneto leer and Wolverine slash. Everyone else stood around. They introduced one of the coolest X-men characters into the film, Angel. In the comic books he is a Greek god; amazingly powerful and graceful in flight. In the movie he looks like the blond dorky kid (Anthony Michael Hall) from Weird Science, Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles fame. Great casting.

So our little Dark Phoenix, aka, Famke Janssen, how was she? Well I could not tell if she read the script or not. She spent most of the time alternating between looking confused and looking apathetic. When she was supposed to be really upset about something she kind of looked like she suffered from constipation. So her acting consisted of her looking constipated while the special effects department tried to make something cool happen or a blank stare as people tried to interact with her. What about Wolverine, he was slash happy so that is good right? It should have been. Hugh Jackman had put in a decent Wolverine act in the previous movies so he had it down right? Not really a lot of the jokes he delivered were jokes you could have seen Wolvie say but the delivery wasn't quite right. He seemed happy go lucky and it just didn't feel right to me.

So I hated the movie... but I also enjoyed it. I made myself watch it for what it was. A light hearted romp through one of the best and most shockingly grim comic book tales ever layed out in the X-men comic books. I let myself enjoy the computer graphics. With no character story what else was there. I enjoyed seeing Magneto move the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz. I enjoyed the effect that the Phoenix had on the people as she some how turned them into ash and disbursed them into the swirling air. How she was like an atom bomb always about to go off or a girl that really needed ex-lax; that when you stop and think about it might be one and the same. I let go of the fact that what I like about comics is that these characters have lives that go on even during the fights. That they worry about never embracing their loved ones ever again as they try to crawl out of the rubble of a collapsed building. Or that they get a choice between saving that loved one from death or saving the world. I love that when it's all over and they win they still have to go home and face whatever they had left behind to save the city. Whether it is a painful separation, a loved ones death, increasingly unpayable bills or just the fact that they are so different and alienated from the world. I let myself forget and forgive Ratner for not telling the story right. For taking a great epic tale and turning it into a package of Pop Rocks, all fizz and pop and no relevance and no story. I even allowed myself to not feel robbed by the emotionless final scene on the battlefield as someone made a sacrifice that went against his heart and his own emotions. I allowed myself to enjoy a total failure but when I tried to review it all I can remember it as is a step backward. So that is what I will call it a step backward and a computer generated pile of poo. It lacked story and substance but wow did it look pretty. Well maybe not Famke's Dye job.

Was it a good movie? No. Would I see it again? Maybe. Could it have been better? Infintely. My rating: See it but don't expect to like it if you have ever enjoyed a comic book or one of the previous movies.

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My Weekend and the Contest Winner
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Trick Daddy - I'm A Thug
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
I had a good weekend.... Did you guys? I certainly hope so. My dad and I were only slightly hampered by my work schedule. We saw a movie, went to a few bookstores, hit up Dim Sum, Fuddruckers, Sweet Tomatoes and a nearby breakfast joint. We barbecued steaks and I made a chicken dinner. We ate chips, cookies, candy bars, guzzled soda, a 7&7 and a beer. We watched bad scifi flicks, some Mythbusters, Doctor Who and some Fosters. It was a grand time.

This week has started out pretty good. In insurance news. I sold a home insurance policy! I signed my first account up for Aflac and I hope to sell them some products soon.

In CLD.com news. I received the stickers I ordered a while back. I have 250 stickers which means all I need is your address! Give me your address and get some free stickers!! Email me at: CrazedLunatik@gmail.com Please include your address and the quantity requested. This is at absolutely no cost to you. Which means you can give them out as housewarming gifts, birthday gifts and anniversary gifts! You will be so popular!


The contest: I had a few entries and I have narrowed it down to two. I promised a name today so I will give you one...... here are the two contenders:

Robert W submitted this:
Here lies "Mr. Obvious"... He "obviously" missed the "No Pedestrians" sign on the freeway.

and Kevin wrote this:
"the view sucks from down here."

So who won? Robert is the winner and Kevin is the runner up. Robert let me know what shirt size you wear. Thanks for the entries. Keep your eyes out for the June contest. Did I choose right? Let me know by posting a comment.

What did Robert get? A Crazed Lunatik Design Value shirt. Kevin as a runner up will be receiving Stewey Button.

I am robot model 12345. How may I help you?
Mood:  cool
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
Working in a call center sets you up for interesting experiences. As a Liberty Mutual agent I was yelled at for calling when in fact they called me. At Leslie's Pool Supply I advised people on replacement parts for their pool equipment and offered treatment advice even though I have no real clue about pool maintenance besides what Leslie's pamphlets said. At HSBC I was yelled at, compared to bat guano and told what I should try doing with myself when I got a moment. At Vesta I have a different issue. As most of you know the world has become one automated phone option after another and unless you mess up you never talk to a person. I am the person that the computer sends you to when you do mess up. Being a person is the crux of my problem. When I say my intro and ask for the last four numbers of their wireless numbers a few people punch the number into the phone. Nothing beats a number being dialed on the phone while you are on it. I give people a break though because they probably were asked several times for the same info and maybe they just aren't paying attention. So I say "I'm sorry I did not get that number could you please say the last four numbers?" At this point you have a 50% chance that people will say the numbers and a 50% chance they will punch the numbers in again. My immediate response is to yell at them to knock it off and point out that I asked them to say the number but I refrain. Instead I don't yell I just calmly point out that I am thankful they are attempting to give the number but I need it verbally since I am not a machine. You are probably only half believing me but I swear it is true. I will give an acted out example.

The phone: Beep (my cue to talk)
Me: Thank you for calling __________! My Name is Mike my rep ID is __________. May I please have the last four digits of your wireless phone number?

Customer: Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Me: I'm sorry I did not catch that could you please SAY the last four digits of your wireless number?

Customer: BEEEEEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEEEEEEP!

Me: Thank you! Unfortunately I am not a machine and I am unable to understand the buttons you press. Can you please verbally tell me the last four digits of your wireless number?

Customer: (huge sigh) I just did!

Me: Actually....

Customer: Fine it's fififfoto!

Me: I'm sorry could you repeat that slower?

Customer: (larger sigh) FI! FI! FO! TO!

Me: Thank you sir, that was 5542?

Customer: YES!

Me: Thank you and may I have your.....


One time I actually had a person hit the buttons into the phone a third time. I hung up on that person. I figure they were messing with me or natural selection had failed....

Have a Great Memorial Day weekend
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
Hey all I made it through the week of training. Today was pretty long and tiring but I am ready for next week.

I am planning on having a nice weekend hanging out with my dad. Have a good and safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Today...
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
I did it I set an appointment! I was able to make my first appointment for Aflac. Now all I need to do is make more! Muhahahahahahaha!

Some pictures to share
Mood:  chatty
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
I have some other people's pictures to show you.

Recently Kevin and Becky went to the White Mountains for their 1 year anniversary. Kevin sent a few pics to share from the trip including this wonderful picture of the Tonto Natural Bridge.

He was not the only one doing some traveling my Cousin Robert and Denise were in Hawaii recently. They had a great time and here are a few pics to prove it.

Thanks for sharing your pictures guys! I love getting a few pictures now and then. If you do something fun or go somewhere cool and want to share pictures email them to me at crazedlunatik@gmail.com

The Birthday Training
Mood:  loud
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!
Thanks for the birthday wishes everybody!

I was at work from 9AM to 6PM learning about the first visit to a company: The approach, what to say and what the goal is. Basically we are trying to set an appointment with them for later to explain the Aflac policies and benefits. Everything I learn about AFLAC so far has really got me excited. I am looking forward to putting what I learned into practice. I am not worried about falling flat on my face I have to get started somehow! Luckily tomorrow we get a chance to do that. We hit the pavement at 8 and besides lunch we are not stopping until 5. I am ready to set some appointments! Thursday we are back in training to learn what we do at the appointments. I have to fit in Action insurance sometime this week so I think I will be thoroughly exhausted by the weekend. I found out I need to request 3 more days off two weeks from now as well. The training is good though so I will try not to whine..... too much.

I have some reading and mental preparation to do before tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Before I go I did want to complain that since I moved to Oregon I stopped getting all the freebies from local businesses on my birthday. In Phoenix I used to get a free appetizer from Rock Bottom and I usually ended up with a few more free things in the mail.... Oh well.

We Give You Training For Your Birthday. WooWoo!
Hello all! I am going to attempt to make this quick....

I have to go to bed soon I am exhausted!

Some of you may know that tomorrow is my birthday. I am sure all of you know that I am broke..... I mention that at least once per week.... SO I did not have any plans for my birthday except for the possibility that I might get some training with AFLAC or I might do some marketing for leads. I hadn't heard anything about the training so I was not sure I would be able to get in. I had requested the 4 days off for the training which prompted my panic attack this weekend due to the lack of fundage that resulted in the nonexistent work hours..... The worst part about Saturday was that I had no idea if I was even in the class. I convinced myself that I wouldn't be and started envisioning tomorrow as a day of sleeping in until 8 AM and then doing some marketing and cold calling! The late start would have been luxurious considering my usual work time of 5. I couldn't wait until my shift at the call center was over this morning. All I had planned for the rest of the day was a meeting with my boss at the Action Insurance place to set up how to run the store while he was in Mexico for the week, a run to a used bookstore to cash in some books and maybe a little nap. I got out of work and headed to the bookstore when I saw a message on my phone; thinking it was probably Jason (my AFLAC trainer) I figured I would sell the books since I was there and then call him back and figure out when to meet with him this week. I sold the books for 19 bucks and felt very excited about it. I listened to the message and it wasn't Jason it was Jason's boss saying. "Hey Mike! It's 9 AM I was wondering if you were able to make it today. Give me a call." I instantly exclaimed "WHAT??!!!" and I gave him a quick call. Apparently I was supposed to be there at his office for a product overview and a few other things. I am still not sure how I was supposed to know this.... some people mentioned an email... but I have no email address as far as I know. I am still waiting for a company computer. So apparently the computer chip in my brain should have received an email.... unfortunately I was absent on the day they gave those chips out. Either way I was required to get there and I headed there post-haste! Luckily he was not upset because he knew I work the other job and I was able to say that I was ready to head to the training the next 4 days with no problems at all and that was what he really wanted me to say.... I didn't mention that my gas tank might go empty while I was training with no pay and not working at my crappy call center job... Figured that would be seen as a motivator as opposed to an obstacle so I tried to view the financial woes in that light without being told to think of it that way. Anyhow the best part was that this meeting included a free lunch! The boss man brought in some Hawaiian food from a local restaurant and it was awesome! I definitely need to know where that place is! I met with Jeff afterwords about the Action Insurance duties and this week I will be pulling a lot of hours between the two responsibilities.

So just what I always wanted a birthday where all I get to do is work! WOOHOO! I will type at ya later! I am headed to bed.

The Stores:

http://www.cafepress.com/cldholiday

http://www.cafepress.com/crazedlunatik

http://www.cafepress.com/rentmydad

http://www.cafepress.com/cldstewey

http://crazedlunatikdesigns.tripod.com/

Rain, Money Woes, The Cigar Smoking Gas Man, The Surprise and The Rubber Band Plane Memorial Ceremony
Mood:  sharp
Topic: One Ramblin' Ranter!

The day began with rain and dark clouds.... It was an ominous sign. I was at work looking at my schedule for next week and almost fainted from shock. I had all but forgotten that I had requested Tuesday - Friday off for the upcoming week and I had half believed they would not give it to me. I was wrong they did give it to me. So I am scheduled for only 15 hours next week... I started calculating my budget and came to the sickening conclusion that even with the usual 25 to 30 hours of work I was way off budget. I deduced that since I have not friviously bought anything except for the planes and the Frisbee at the dollar store it must be because of the lack of work hours earlier in the month. I started freaking out, my stomach was upset and I was not sure if I would keep my oatmeal down.... I kept taking calls and worrying about my monetary issues until I was released from my internment. I stepped outside into the surprising sunshine. I hardly noticed the weather change; I was too busy planning the sell of all my valuables. I saw boxes of books, cds, movies and comics all heading down to used bookstores, music stores, comic stores and pawn shops. I then imagined myself paying half of the money earned to the gas attendant, the gas attendant was smoking a cigar made of 100 dollar bills and laughing at me...

I arrived home to a note on my door from UPS saying I had a package at the manager's office.... I was not sure what it was. So I grabbed the sticker and walked over to the manager's office and was handed a Cafepress (these guys produce my store items) bag..... I took it home and ripped it open and found a CLD Ringer shirt and a Rent My Dad Messenger bag! It was a birthday present from Maryann (you may remember that she was reader of the week a little while back) and it made me smile. I immediately changed shirts and started stuffing things in the bag. I walked around modeling the stuff for George and Baz. They were very impressed! I was still majorly worried about rent and all the bills that were due next month and the fact that I only had a fraction of the money for but I felt a little more positive worrying about those things with my shirt on and my new bag by my side. I started grabbing books off the shelf like I had planned to do anyway when I remembered that Kevin was working so I figured I should email him and bother him while he was at work. I also used that time to finish up my last Father's Day design for my Holiday store. While I was doing all of that I made a half dozen calls to people?s answering machines until I finally reached my dad. After a few seconds of restraining myself from being all doom and gloom I launched into my financial nightmare tale of woe. He managed to calm me down considerably but I still plan on selling some books and cds for cash. I hope they will help me pay a bill or two.

So I was in a better mood. I finished my designs for the Father's Day merchandise and got the CLD Holiday Store up and running. I decided to take my bag out for a stroll and I headed to the park but before I left I grabbed my remaining half of the wing from the plane that was tragically lost on Thursday. As I entered the park I found the plane devouring tree from Hades and I did a little ritual to memorialize the loss of my ultra cool plane which consisted of me waving the wing fragment around in front of the tree and giving the tree the 'evil eye'. After I felt the point was made I headed into the park. I discovered that the park seems to be getting ready for renovation because all the movable benches were gone and the road through the park was closed... and the entrance had been repaved. Oh and the road closed for renovation sign helped me figure it out as well.... Nothing gets by me! I'm CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! Wherever something is completely obvious and in no need of being pointed out you can count on me, CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! to point it out. This has been another episode of CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! Next Episode: With the heat soaring CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! comes by to tell you "It's HOT today!"

I found some more interesting things that sparked my interest in the park and I began visualizing this blog entry. Except with a completely different tale.... So not like this entry at all. CAPTAIN OBVIOUS! strikes again. I decided to head back home and on the way out I stopped to give the tree the 'evil eye' as I left when I saw my plane sitting below it. I ran to the plane and grabbed it and then hugged the tree... I guess what they say about Portland is true; it turns you into a tree hugger. Dang hippie!

The Stores:

http://www.cafepress.com/cldholiday

http://www.cafepress.com/crazedlunatik

http://www.cafepress.com/rentmydad

http://www.cafepress.com/cldstewey

http://crazedlunatikdesigns.tripod.com/

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