T-Shirt of the Day

Today's shirt is one of my many Star Wars themed T-shirts. This one was actually purchased at Walmart a couple of years ago. Yeah, every now and then I'll pick up a shirt, and more at the evil Walmart. I actually have a tolerate/hate relationship with the place and don't think it's quite as evil as others, but that's another conversation for another day when I feel like making a serious post. Anyway...the Stormtrooper helmet and cross bones just...fits. I think they used to sell these on the Star Wars store website, but I only see the female, babydoll version on there now. If you're looking for a similar, just as cool (and one I want to add to my collection) shirt, then Wicked Vintage Tees has one with Boba Fett's helmet and the crossbones. Highly recommended.

In today's photo I just got finished playing a show in the very hot World Famous Milestone. Probably one of our better shows and one that left me plenty sweaty!

Weng Weng Rap

Don't know who Weng Weng is? You betta recognize...

It's Friday!

Have some fun...

Canned Bacon!!!

It's about damn time...

A new direction?

Okay, I think I'm taking this blog in a new direction (as evidenced by my
posts from today). Everyday I'm going to try to find the things that
make me smile, think and reflect. I have a feeling this is going to be
all over the place, but that's sort of the way I am anyway.

One feature I plan to keep regular (and maybe even branch off into a blog
of it's own) is my T-shirt of the day. Everyday I plan to showcase one
of my favorite Tee's (and I have many). I'll give a short description
of why I like it and, in most cases, links to where you can buy them
yourselves if you so desire. Some photos will be staged, others will be
candids, but they'll all give you more insight into what a total geek I am,
and the fact that I'm not afraid to show it.

First up is Dude-Vinci



I actually found this image on Google image search a while back. I love the Big Lebowski and The Dude is one of my heroes, his philosophy on life much the same as mine (though I only wish I could be as laid back as he is). I like the juxtaposition of The Dude in Da Vinci's rendition of "Man". I figured it must be a t-shirt design, but never really checked into it until a couple of months ago. Turns out a company called Wicked Vintage Tees not only made that shirt, but many other cool ones as well. I'll be showcasing at least one more of their designs in the future, and probably more since they have so many shirts I'd love to have.

By the way, that's my buddy Lee with me and we're pimping the Limited Edition "MikeHell's Sweet Action" condoms at the Hickory Hops beer festival.

Check them out!

This gives me hope in humanity...

Cat Found!

Do you have Adultitis?

I seem to be in denial at the moment, but you may want to see if you suffer from this
debilitating disease and see what you need to do about saving yourself
pronto!

Another video blog. Weezer - Pork and Beans. I really love this video for no other reason than it's fun. And I'm an internet dork.

I am totally geeking out over the new Indiana Jones movie. Everything I hoped for and more. Sure, some of it was outlandish, but it is and Indiana Jones movie after all. If you've ever read any of the comics or books, you'll know this is far from the most out there plot they could have went with and it fits...it really fits in with the other movies very well. Plus, I can't believe he said it...well, actually I can and I had a dorkgasm when it happened. I wont' spoil it, but fans of both Indiana Jones and Star Wars will know exactly what I'm talking about when it comes.

Now I just need to go watch it in an actual movie theater. Mikey hearts the interwebs.

I said I was setting up this blog so I could get away from blogging (I still kind of hate those words, but have grown to begrudgingly accept them) at Myspace so much. Or at least keep certain things over here different from my persona on that site. However I find that the two worlds often do bleed together and that many of my real life friends keep up with me more through the internet than they do in real life...which is fine by me. I'm not fan of the telephone that's for sure.

So I realize today that while my Myspace "friends" weren't left with a cliffhanger, any readers I have here (besides the one I know I have), don't have any resolution. Well, neither do I, but here...you can at least catch up:

Originally posted on Myspace, May 5 2008

What once looked like it was going to be a good thing turned out to be not all it seemed. And believe it or not, I'm happy with the outcome. I get a much needed break and a chance to start fresh, doing something I enjoy...hopefully.

I have been meaning to write this blog for a while, but between being super busy getting things ready to move out for the old company, and the emotional rollercoaster it put me through, I just waited until today...my first day of freedom.

When the new company came in to "save the day" we were all pretty optimistic about it, but when they gave us our "employment packages", none of us were very happy with what they had to offer. They raised our pay slightly...basically enough to cover the difference in their more expensive, yet not nearly as good, insurance. Bad thing was, they wanted to make us all salaried and they already had built in overtime which made our pay significantly less in the big picture. Plus they wanted us to sign a no-compete contract. Now whether or not I would want to stay in the gutter industry (more likely not), I did want that option to remain open. That no-compete contract would prevent that (even though I've been told that they don't always hold up...it was the principle of it all). I even told the guy who was handling all this that I had a feeling that they were going to use us to get the place running, to keep our customers and then replace us down the road with people they could pay less since he had already told us that we made more than they typically paid. He said they weren't that kind of company and wouldn't do that, but I told him he could say that all day, but in the end they could do whatever they wanted and we'd be stuck. This was especially a big deal to Bull (older guy I worked with) since he'd been doing this for over 20 years, his main options are in the gutter industry right now. There were a couple of other things we had issues with and in the end they weren't willing to budge, so we told them, "Thanks, but no thanks". The good thing is the company we did work for was behind us 100% and said they'd support whatever decision we made and wouldn't penalize us for not taking the jobs, severance-wise or unemployment benefits-wise.

I really do have a positive outlook on all of this. I think in the end I'll be much happier and hopefully be doing something I enjoy. Time will tell though, but for now I plan on taking a few weeks off to get some things done I've been planning on but have never gotten around to. Plus mentally I need a break. I won't wait too long to get serious about looking for a job (especially with the job market the way it is) and if something comes my way in the meantime that I just can't refuse I'll definitely jump all over it.

So...what to do now? I think I'll go take a nap! Thank you unemployment!