I Didn't Think it Possible!

Because of the limited space within my new residence, I came up with an interesting idea to reduce clutter. As I own a high definition television set, I decided to let it double as my computer monitor. While HD seems like awesome resolution while you're watching TV or movies, it is a little low for things such as word processing or web browsing. But that doesn't matter, since I have a laptop to handle that aspect of computing on. I could use my desktop as a gaming machine and media center, and my laptop for everything else.

Since my computer was to be a media center, I set about ripping all of my television that I own on DVD to my hard drive so that I can watch it in iTunes (bite me MPAA, you will never convince me that doesn't fall under "fair use") with random playlists and whatnot. The problem with buying television shows that you're already a fan of is that it is hard to find the time to actually go back and re-watch all of the episodes. As such, I own the first six seasons of Seinfeld, yet had never put most of the discs in my DVD player. Anyway, as I was ripping them and inputting the episode titles, I came across a description of an episode that I didn't remember.

Could it be?

So I watched said episode. It was the 22nd episode of season 4, titled "The Handicapped Spot". It involved the group searching for a parking spot at a mall, finally deciding on a handicapped spot, and coming out to find an angry mob waiting on them because a handicapped person had been unable to park there. The mob trashed the car, which happen to belong to George's father. Humor ensued.

And, as far as I can remember, I have never seen this episode before. When it comes to television, I basically have two all-time favorite shows. I'm notoriously bad at narrowing things down to just one pick (be it movies, music, books, whatever), so I divide my TV favorites into dramatic and comedic categories. In the drama department, it is Babylon 5. And in comedy it is Seinfeld. It has been several years since I had stumbled across an episode that I had never seen before. I cannot help but watch it whenever I find a rerun showing. And, depending on current line-ups, that can be as many as 5 or 6 a day. I thought that I had seen every single episode not just once, but dozens of times.

So, why hadn't I seen this particular episode? Chance? Maybe. The only thing that I can figure is that it aired before Jerry Stiller had been cast as George's father. Some guy named John Randolph played the part. But even that doesn't make complete sense, as I have seen "The Stakeout" on TV several times, which features another actor playing Jerry's dad, not Barney Martin.

Anyway, I find the whole matter very strange. It was a pretty good episode, too. Who knows, maybe I'll find another gem as I continue to buy the show as new box sets come out.

All That Is Old Is New Again

So, just in case you haven't heard, I live in Auburn again. I have somehow managed to squeeze into my closet of a condominium. I have to move the bed to get to the closet, but it works. Its amazing how quickly I've gotten back in the old habits. For instance, I'm a long shower kind of guy. Twenty minutes is nothing for me. But my hot water heater here is in proportion to the rest of the apartment, so I've only got about ten minutes of hot water. 15 if you're willing to go luke-warm, which I'm certainly not (scalding hot and knock you down pressure is the only way to go). But I haven't gotten caught with shampoo in my hair yet.

Also, the one-basin sink thing means that you can't allow dishes to pile up or your sink is quickly rendered useless. So I've gotten back in the habit of washing dishes as I use them. That's definitely a good thing, but its something I haven't had to worry about for a few years.

I've also become a regular handy-man. I replaced the ratty carpet with hardwood laminate flooring last month before I moved in. Since arriving, I've run piping to my refrigerator to hook up an ice maker. I have installed a garbage disposal. I have put up more shelves to store the excessive number of books I own. I put up curtains.

So, anyway, sorry for the mundane update, but that's what I've been doing for the last week or so.

Breaking News!

Football players take creampuff classes!  I am shocked, SHOCKED!

Next thing you'll tell me is that football players get laid a lot or that they don't pay full sticker price for those SUV's they all drive around . . .

A Matter of Perspective

Today I made an impromptu trip from Andalusia to Auburn to deliver a bed to my new/old apartment.  After three years of making the Huntsville-Auburn trek (average time: four hours), the two hour trip up winding Highway 29 seemed like a pleasant Sunday drive.  Back when I was an undergrad, the same "Sunday drive" was an interminable haul that I hated making.  I guess after a semester or two I'll be back to feeling that way.

But, for now, I'm looking forward to the trip back.

Most of my friends are interstate warriors.  They'd rather hop on the interstate, set their cruise control at 10 mph over the speed limit and just ride.  Not me.  Give me a two-lane blacktop that winds through the woods.  A road that follows the lay of the land instead of one that blasted through it.  I love downshifting to third gear, hugging a tight corner and blasting into the straightaway.  I love passing the old pickup puttering at 35.  I just love driving.  And droning along on the interstate isn't driving.  This probably explains why I liked the movie Cars more than most.

Anyway, I'm rambling.  But I just wanted to explain myself to my Andalusia friends who think I'm crazy for taking 29 instead of the interstate.