We are back !!

My wife and I are back from our honeymoon.  
How weird is it for me to type that sentence ?
Well , we made it through the wedding and had a great time in Disney for our honeymoon , and we are now back home , ready to start real life again on Monday.
  We have hundreds of wedding photos and disney photos to go thru and I will get them online soon.

If you have pictures you would like to share , please contact me at Kevin@kasualkafe.com to arrange pickup.  If under a few meg , can email them to same.  
 

the wedding is tomorrow !!!

I`m freakin out ... I`m having anxiety panic attacks ... I got almost no sleep last night.  
I  hope I don`t screw up the wedding for Lori .. I`m not freakin` out about being with her , I`m good with her ...I`m bugging out about the event itself.  Its not rational , I know , but tell my mind and body that.  
agghhhh!!!!

Going to disney for honeymoon ...Can`t wait ....We are staying at one of their resorts. I`ll be calm when I`m having my first drink by the pool.  

Baseball Season is here !!

Watched the first Yankee game of the season. Joe Girardi`s first game as a Yankee manager couldn`t have been scripted better. A little bit of offense against a tough Roy halliday... Wang pitched solid 7 innings - Joba and Mo close out the 8th and 9th innings for the win and Mo hands Joe G. the game ball.
Wonderful beginning of the season.

Going to Disney !!!

I booked Lori and I for a 10 day honeymoon in walt disney world.  I already have an itinerary for every day we are there including dinner reservations for each night.  We are staying at the Port Orleans resort.  Should be fun.
KB

Clinton and Obama still neck in neck

  I don`t think this tight race is good for the democrats.  With the back and forth bashing of eachother , the primaries are providing the republicans with fodder to use against the future  democratic nominee.  
  Just like the last election when the republicans were able to establish "Flip Flop"  
to tip the scales in their favor , they have plenty to go on thanks to the 
candidates own primary campaigns .  
We are already hearing things like the following ,

She - Will do or say anything to win.  Claims experience she doesn`t actually have.  

He - is a muslim , He is all talk no action.  

This is just making it easier for Mcain to win the presidency .  The Dem`s are in trouble.



  

Conversations of Madmen

Lori complains loudly , "I am sick , I feel like Shit !" Kevin replies , "Like shit on a steeeek?"
"No , more like shit on toast", says Lori.  
"hmmm...spread or a dollop?"
"Definitely mashed down and spread"
  Kevin , wanting to be empathetic and to not be accused of trying to fix this shitty situation ; replies "I`m sorry to hear that , honey"
"I`m sorry to feel it!" , snaps Lori
Ignoring the image of spread shit on toast , he leans over to kiss her on the forehead and says , "Try and be positive , at least you don`t smell like shit"


   Well now , Kevin is in Deep Shit!

More Freakin Snow

  I guess I can`t complain coz it hasn`t been too bad with snow but it doesn`t take much to put me in a sour mood this time of the year.  I hate freakin snow unless I`m intentionally visting it.
KB

Vermont Weekend

Went skiing this weekend at mount snow.  Took Lori to a bed and breakfast inn.  We usually enjoy our stays at b&b`s - but this one wasn`t so great.  We initially liked our hostess , a kinda spunky older lady with a smoke-gravely voice; After a while , her spunky was just funky and annoying.
  We woke up at 6:45 in the AM to the cooks radio , apparently we resided right above the kitchen.  It was rock music , but once it makes it thru the ceiling and floor to our ears , it just sounds like muffled discordant noise: At 6:45 AM , regardless of sound quality , this wasn`t appreciated. 
  The cook was an "out there", loud and obnoxious Neo-hippy who obtrusively offered his dinner services , prior to even allowing us to taste his breakfast.  His breakfast sucked.  No cheese to goalong with the dry eggs was my complaint. Lori loved her pancakes.
  We had a cheesy little jacuzzi tub but took advantage of it two nights in a row  ; on the 2nd night Lori`s bathing was interrupted by the Hostess who said that the tub was apparently leaking
downstairs.  We promptly ceased using the jacuzzi and drained the tub , they promptly shut the
water off with no warning.  Ugghhh!
  We left on Sunday without their crappy breakfast , attempting to sleep in despite the cacophony
of the kitchen radio.  Unsuccessful , we got up and left.  I planned on taking us snow shoeing but it was 18 degrees , 40 mile per hour gusts , and snowing .  We wimped out...The drive sucked as it was icy as hell , at one point my subaru which rocks in
 the snow , was unrelentingly sliding down a hill whilst the breaks did nothing but whine. 
In slow motion we anticipated sliding into the car ahead of us. The drive didn`t get much better from there.
  Finally made it to Northampton on Sunday in anticipation of our night out to see The Clicks , a concert at Pearl St nightclub.  This is a fun little college town despite all the hippy lesbians that attend the local college.  I obliged Lori on hitting all the funky little shops , filled with mystic tarot cards, fair trade textiles , gay literature , vegan food stores , bath and body shops etc; I was even patient for the most part.  We ate Indian food at a place we have enjoyed in the past , but this time it wasn`t quite as good. Something about Indian food , as much as I love it , restaurants rarely repeat the dish exactly as you have had it before.  Well , we check into our hotel .  It was kinda nice considering it was half the cost of the B&B.  We relaxed , showered and dressed for our night out , and make it to the nightclub to find out that The concert was Cancelled.  The lead singer apparently called out Sick ! Fuck !!! Shit .... SHIT FUCK !!!
 Sorry , but this was actually the event I booked the entire weekend around.  Lori wanted to see
this band , and I liked the CD she picked up , booked this first and wrapped the rest of the crappy weekend around it.  SHIT ... FUCK!
  Our hotel happened to have a pool and a real jacuzzi , Lori and I whiled away the evening til we were wrinkly and waterlogged.  We drove home the next day , basicly laid around the house.  What a waste of a long weekend. 

  In between all the bullshit I described , their was pockets of fun.  It wasn`t all horrible.  Skiing was fun , we enjoyed one of the dinners out in vermont , the pool and
jacuzzi in the hotel was great and Lori and I , for the most part , got along well and enjoyed each
others company.

Quote

After reading and watching the news , I coincidentally ran across this quote by Benjamin Franklin.

He that best understands the world , least likes it.  

Its February

Well my new years goals are still on target and its february.  Generally by now most people have relapsed into the bad habits that prompted the yearly resolutions.  
  Well , I`m still not smoking , and I lost over 11 lbs .  Not easy to do considering when I quit last (8years ago or so) I probably gained about 20.  
  I have a mental plan that when March 15th hits , and 6/15th and 9/15th ....That I will renew or create new resolutions.  This way if I start to flatten out by march , I can re-up.  I figured timing it by the beginning of the change of seasons will help gear me up esp spring / summer and all the fun things that can be done during that time.  
  Last weekend prior , we  went to Marilyn Manson concert.  It was good , not great , but good. We have seen him 2x prior and thought the other shows had better sound and more theatrics.  This was at the orpheum theatre.  A small place compared to what Manson can sell out.  I expected the sound to be better since the place was built for maximum auditory experience but it sounded a bit muddy.  
   I also found myself complaining as I feel like I spent the entire weekend WAITING.  Waiting for the girls to get ready , waiting for the T , waiting on the T for like a million stops , went to museum , felt crappy and bored quickly , waited hours to leave , walked around boston , for hours , waiting for show to start.  Got to show before  7 - waited for warm up band , about 8ish.  Then waited until after 10pm ...now we were here for over 3 hours in tiny ass 
little uncomfortable chairs , until Manson finally came on stage.  
I couldn`t wait to go home !
 It wasn`t as bad as I`m describing but hopefully next weekend will be better .

Quitting Smoking - Day 1

Agggghhhhhh!!!!!


AAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

ahem.. I`m o.k - just a craving....

I did good today . . Didn`t kill anyone.. I had one cigarette at 3pm ..the only one I will ever have again I believe...

The pills do work a bit...I recall much worse anger and frustration when I quit last.  But , it is not a magic pill.  I still have to Quit... It doesn`t just magically clear all urges away.  

But I`m hanging in there , and am confident I can do it.  
KB

Going to Boston for weekend

Finally , got things lined up for the winter to get some fun in. Haven`t done alot this fall or winter , mostly due to work. This weekend going to Boston and seeing a marilyn manson concert. Not everyones cup of tea , but Lori and I will have fun. Staying at her sisters and going to the museum of fine arts during the day. I love city hopping.

mid feb - lined up a trip to mount snow vermont to get some skiing in and then a night in north hampton mass (cool little college town) on the way back to see a band - The Clicks

let ya know how it went
kevin

Yes , it is a global economy

World markets dive as fears of U.S. recession grow
Posted: 02:39 PM ET

LONDON (CNN) — From Paris to Mumbai to Tokyo, Monday was one of the worst days for stocks since the terror attacks of September 2001. Europe’s main three indices, the FT-100 in London, the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX in Frankfurt fell between 5 and 7 percent.

Getting Healthy

I signed lori and I up at the gym last week , I did a couple of light workouts so far , she has also taken advantage of the inclusive classes.  Went this morning to gym , I`m weak ...gotta get back into it.  I`m sore from light weights.  Oh well...They also have basketball court , ran around shooting hoops , felt good.  

THe last two weeks have been eating good , lost about 5-7 pounds already .. Pisses lori off.  
I`ve been eating more often , just lower calorie food , and not stuffing my face at night.  

Part of the reason I`ve done the above , is cause I`m starting the chantix quit smoking pill.  When you quit smoking , ya get real hungry.  I also need to take it with food , and I usually don`t eat breakfast til late , instead going right for coffee , so I`ve been eating breakfast in am in anticipation of starting the pill on monday.  

I`m hoping , the gym (release agression ) , the wonders of this pill , and plenty of small snacks , will make quitting smoking easier , as well as preventing me from getting fat prior to the wedding.  
Wish me luck

Benjamin Franklins Autobiography

Finished this book last week or so , and since lent it to charlie.  I didn`t think I like biographies but have now changed my mind.  Granted this is an autobiography , that is actually written by the author in his own words.  Benjamin Franklin is a wonderful writer.  

Anyway , some of the reasons I lent it to charlie , is that BF loved to discuss and dispute various intellectual topics , science , poetry , politics etc; and was hoping it would inspire Charlie and I to get some discussions going on the message board again.  Reading a topic , and thinking about it critically is one way to learn. But to discuss it , air it out , listen to differences of opinions , 
articulating critical thoughts , that is learning. 

Anyway , some more of my thought on Benjamin Franklin on the Kasual Kafe History Page 

The new food pyramid

 --This is the governments new , nonsensical food pyramid - See more at http://www.kasualkafe.com/foodanddrink.htm

I saw a cool movie - Identity

Some excellent actors in twisting plot that won`t fail to surprise.  Some of the actors...John Cusack ... Ray Liotta ...Amanda Peet.. Clea DuVall..Rebecca De Mornay etc;

Besides the plot ....the filming itself was wonderful... Lots of tarantino-like - refilming of same time frame with differing view points.  This isn`t a scary movie perse , but the delivery and filming definitely gave it some creepy tension , as well as the setting ( in a dingy ass -  out in the middle of nowhere motel) during a dark rainstorm.  Yes - maybe played , but adds to the movie
Anyway - rent this movie
KB

The bodies Exhibit

Went to the bodies exhibit in Hartford , ct - just like the one I kept wimping out on in manhatten.  Now that its here at the civic center , I had no excuse , I had to go

 -enter the kasual kafe to read my review (will eventually archive to kasualkb`s log)
//////////

My thoughts on pacifism

It is easy to be pacifist if one does not encounter an aggressor ; but confronted by an active aggressor , a pacifist must must toss aside this stance 
or submit themselves to the will of the aggressor.  

Most pacifists in reality depend upon a non-pacifist to protect them , which is why I say ...

"Show me a community of pacifists and I`ll show you either a benevolent protector , or a graveyard."

Pacifism , in my opinion , is an unsustainable ideological system to practice in human society.  
KB

Santa was good to me

well lori is my santa..she got me a garmin gps for my car....its very cool...

Happy New Year

2008 is here , Lori and I spent the end of year / beginning of year celebration in NYC.  We went down to madison square garden to watch the UFC viewing party with Matt Serra and Forrest Griffin.  They did a little Q&A with the crowd then we watched the fights on concert style screen in the middle of the stadium.  Both main fights Liddell vs. Silva and GSP vs. Hughes - both were great fights (esp since I was rooting for the eventual winners)  
  We spent the entire weekend in manhatten , walking , shopping , walking , eating , walking , sightseeing and walking ...on new years eve we added some drinking to our walking.  
We didn`t go up by the insanity at times square but hung about 7 blocks back within crowds in the 100`s not multi-thousands.  Didn`t see the ball drop but heard the noise as the countdown started and saw all the fireworks as our "local" crowd erupted with kazoos , and whirlygigs and hoots and hollers , Happy NEW YEAR ~!!!...and of course the obligatory new years kiss with my girl.  
  Last year there was a handful of us at my house , watching Dick Clarks new years on t.v - very freaking depressing .....woo hoo - the ball dropped . Yay .  --- Didn`t want to do that again.  
  The raucus noise and excitement of NYC and the proximity to the LIVE show of times square ...that was all I needed to kick off the new year right.  
  Happy 2008

Seasonal Depression

Is it the cold harsh weather and lack of sunlight ?  Is it the holiday joy , blaring from the radio or documented in the news ,  that one assumes everyone feels except yourself .  
Is it the thought that following xmas is the new year , etching into history the past years` unfulfilling monotony.  Is it knowing that this years goals , will once again fail to be reached.  
  The years have sloughed off my blissful naievety... I no longer dream.  I no longer hope.
I am suffering from seasonal depression ; the season is the millenium.

Just Read , Next by Michael Crichton

Another great book by Michael Crichton - read non-spoiler review

Dickens , A Tale of Two Cities

I just finished reading this book - See Books and Mags


"Crush humanity out of shape once more, under similar hammers, and it will twist itself into the same tortured forms. Sow the same seed of rapacious licence and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit [...].""

I am bored

There is a quote on boredom attributed to Soren Kierkegaard in “Either/Or”:



The gods were bored, and so they created man. Adam was bored because he was alone, and so Eve was created. Thus boredom entered the world, and increased in proportion to the increase of population. Adam was bored alone; then Adam and Eve were bored together; then the population of the world increased, and the people were bored en masse. To divert themselves they conceived the idea of constructing a tower high enough to reach the heavens. This idea is itself as boring as the tower was high, and constitutes a terrible proof of how boredom gained the upper hand.