The DMV Sucks

As an elementary school student in America in the 1980's, I had more then one Social Studies book describe to me how people in Communist Russia had to wait in bread lines for hours just to get some food. The lesson was always something about how government run food stores were terribly inefficient because they didn't have any competition or free market pressure to improve. They were the only game in town so if you wanted bread...you had to stand in line.

I have no idea how accurate that lesson may have been, but it was the first thing that jumped into my mind this morning when I rolled up on this line at the DMV. Believe me, that is only the part you could see from the street. Once you got inside the waiting really started.

I had an appointment and it still took me 45 minutes to renew my licensee...but it was better then the 2-plus hours I would have spent in that line. The thing is I made my appointment more then a month and a half ago. That's a long time to drive on an expired license.

I don't know whose fault it is but the DMV sucks! It's almost like they know they are the only game in town and no matter what, you're going to wait because you need to drive. On second thought I do know whose fault it is...I blame the USSR.

Oh Christmas Tree

The holidays are all about tradition. I realize that not everybody celebrates the same thing during the holidays, and even those that do, celebrate in a lot of different ways. One of the neat things about getting married and starting a family is that you get to start your own traditions for this time of the year.

For Megan and I those traditions have been pretty modest so far. Because we don't have any children yet we spend our holidays with our family. Thanksgiving with my folks, Christmas with hers. Still, we do get a chance to put our own spin on Christmas. That's not to say we do anything unique, but we do get to start our own traditions a bit. Namely...picking out our Christmas tree and decorating it together.

Pick up the tree at Home Depot, but the Yule Log DVD on the flat screen, pour some rum into the eggnog and trim the crap out of that tree.

I told you it wasn't unique, but it has become a nice tradition for our little family.

Tis the Season

The Holidays are a great time of the year for a lot of different reasons, but my favorite has got to be the parties...and not for the reasons you think. Yes I enjoy the holiday cheer and yes I have been known to enjoy some seasonal candy from time to time, but the reason I love holiday parties is because it's all about hanging with friends.

Presents are great. Time off from work, a definitely plus. The smell of a fresh Christmas tree in your living room, to die for...but goodwill towards man is what the season is all about for me. It sounds corny, but people are just nicer during the holidays and I love it.

It's just like Bill Murray says at the end of Scrooged, Christmas is the one time of the year that people smile a little brighter and that is the true miracle of Christmas...because it happens every year.

Bright smiles and nice people make for great company at a party.

Victory!

On May 8th, 1945 the streets of New York City erupted in the euphoria of Victory. The great war was over in Europe, and while Japan didn't surrender until September of that year, the party was on. Sailors were literally grabbing women in the street and "celebrating". They couldn't help themselves.

That is kind of what it was like for my wife when I finally shaved my mustache off on Friday. To be fair, she was very supportive of my efforts to raise awareness for the fight against prostate cancer by growing out my 'stache, it's just that it wasn't her favorite look for me. I actually don't think she really minded how it looked...she just didn't like the way it felt when I kissed her.

Now that it's gone I decided to plant one on her as a thank you for putting up with my lip sweater for an entire month. Not a bad way to celebrate if you ask me.

What...No Funky Bunch?

Mark Wahlberg can be a little intense at times. This is a picture of him happy...I think. To me he looks a little intimidated, maybe it's the mustache.

Regardless he was very nice and more then happy to pose for a picture with me when we were done with our interview. If that is indeed "happy" he's wearing on his face.

The Paramount Lot

Top Gun, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Beverley Hills Cop (1 and 2), Planes, Trains and Automobiles, all the Indiana Jones movies and Forrest Gump. I think it's safe to say that Paramount Pictures has had it's fair share of hits over the years and that there has been more then just a little "movie magic" on their lot since opening in 1912.

The magic continued this week when I went up to LA for another movie junket...and this time my good friend Jaymee Sire was there too. We saw "The Fighter" on the lot and then we all went to dinner at Lucy's El Adobe Cafe across the street. I hadn't heard of it before, but given it's location directly across the street from Paramount, you can imagine how many pictures of stars there were hanging on the walls.

As always it was blast...I love the junket circuit.

The Hangover?

I don't know if it was a hangover from Black Friday or just the fact that it was a Tuesday night in November, but the mall wasn't exactly bustling tonight. Big John and I walked up to Horton Plaza to grab some dinner expecting to find a winter wonderland. However instead of Christmas Trees and carolers we found tumbleweed and wide open spaces. Not exactly the ideal recipe for holiday cheer.

No need to panic just yet mallrats...I have all the faith in the world that this holiday season is going to be a busy one. Everyone has an off day.