R.I.P. "old school"

So I knew the term 'old school' was being misused and overused, but today on the train I saw a cell phone ad on the back page of the New York Times with some wall street woman having it stamped on her forehead, apparantly because she doesn't have the newest, latest wireless service. Therefore, I am convinced this is adequate evidence that the phrase is officially dead and I will not be attending the funeral. I may pour some chianti out tonight at dinner, but for the most part, it's time for it to move on. Sure, I may occasionally still use the phrase genuinely when referring to pre-1988 hip hop (which is still techinically inaccurate, since it should probably be pre-Run DMC hip hop), but when the New York Times uses it freely, it's time to come up with new shit.

Sometimes I forget that mainstream lingo most likely has a long prior history, because I'm not always seeing it happening. But I also remember the first time I really new that rap was permanently mainstream and not a passing fad. It was after Fred and Barney rapped about Fruity Pebbles, and instead when the middle-aged white mom in a Jenga commercial was spitting rhymes about not toppling the tower.

And now to completely change directions, I particularly like today's meditation.

All states that can be returned to external causes are obviously not you, but that which cannot be returned to anywhere, if it is not you, what is it? Therefore, you should know that your mind is fundamentally wonderful, bright, and pure and that because of your involvement with the things of the world you have covered it up and lost it. In this way you are caught on the endless wheel of becoming this or that, sinking and floating in that sea of endless becoming. Awaken yourself now to your own bright mind.
-Surangama Sutra

Tonight I hide for real. Mentally I'm already gone. People talk to me and I'm just phased out -- paying attention, but totally passive and often unable to actively participate.

morning postscript.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY wearemany!!

your, um, other birthday gift isn't done. I'm hoping to squeeze it in during the Aries period (i.e. before the end of April), because, you know, it counts.

much love to you on this day and everyday.

bits and pieces, in which...

(...I do my best impression of Larry King a la Norm McDonald.)

Who am I, Jay Gatsby? At the United ticket office, this annoying MSWM (middle-aged straight white male) decided to be aid me by advising, "you can go ahead up to the counter since you know you're next." One, I know I was already heading in that direction, and two, I don't want to bumrush the counter people before my number is officially called because its rude -- I wait until they're absolutely done. So I turned to him immediately after he said that and said, "thanks for your help in the matter [sport]." Sport didn't actually come out of my mouth, but I did think it, and I've decided that it sounds great. So I plan to use that from now on when MSWM do annoying things to me, which is at least twice a day since I work in the Loop.

Has anyone else felt a hole in their life because they've never eaten fresh lake smelt? Yeah, me neither. I never plan on eating a fish that came from Lake Michigan, especially with a name like that.

Am I the only one who considers creating a separate livejournal for the sole purpose of writing and/or bitching about the hijinks, annoyances and hilarity of the people on their Friends list?

How much does it suck when the "new kid" in an office takes on an authority role over peers that are more experienced then them? This guy is the bane of my existence right now. And I finally put it together exactly why he annoys me -- whenever someone express an idea or issue, he has that sort of 'I'll take that into consideration' sort of tone, as if he has the power to decide whether it's a legitimate suggestion. Hello, just cause you work at headquarters doesn't mean you're supervisor of the regional cohorts. If the regionals banded together, we could take them down, so watch out little man.

Paradise Regained and I agreed over lunch: Everyone loves Sharon Osbourne. And damn, is she hot.

How great is direct deposit? Especially when they do it three days early. I'm supposed to be paid on the 15th, but it's going through at midnight tonight -- which means grocery shopping this weekend.

It's taken me over an hour to complete this entry because of work. Was it worth the amount of time? It's unclear.

speaking of dreams.

I forgot to record my dream from last night.

I was at work (again), but it was the end of the day, and my boss was faxed a brief that our office had to printout and file at the last minute. She hired a printing service to do it, since she didn't want to put it on me or her, and this older guy who was a retired judge, wearing a kinko's apron was working on copying and binding. He kept asking me questions that were pretty basic, and he didn't seem to be working very quickly. At one point I flipped out because he was trying to re-type the cover onto a green sheet of paper, because he didn't know he could just insert the green paper into the copier. I started berating him for not working quickly enough when it was already past 5 pm (when the brief was due). He got mad and told me he was going to complain to my boss about my actions, but I was okay with that. I just kept working, knowing my boss would agree with me, though she may say I should have sworn at him.

So this is another dream where I totally lose it and get angry and yell at near-stranger. I don't do this in real-life. I occasionally make snarky remakrs, like to the guy at United earlier, but even that is sort of rare.