A Sentimental Journey 2006

I just got back from my Dad and Monica's wedding in Las Vegas, I'll fill you in on what I learned. If you don't have a big bank roll, don't start playing $10 black jack hands. I lost a bunch of money right off the bat and stayed up 'till 5am that night hunched looking at the felt, smoking cigarettes, drinking Coors Original and giving loud, bad advice to other gamblers.

I'd like to say "thanks" to everyone who sent me a birthday greeting, you really brightened up the corners! I got some really cool stuff for my birthday such a black velvet Elvis painting from Stephanie (seen above). A fat Elvis original done by a Texan "artist"; it doesn't get much better. I also got a DVD player with a DivX player from my Mom. I would urge everyone to get one of these because they play most digital formats from data CDs or DVDs. From now on DVD authoring is dead to me. It's awesome because you can burn around five full length movies per DVD; it's the best thing to happen to piracy since the eye-patch!

I started my new job today at Schnider Electric, it was the first time I've had to wake up before 10 since the whole crew went to Alberta. I got out of bed at 6:50 and muttered "It's ball itchin' early." Imagine my excitement when I learned the standard starting time is 7 am, now THATS ball itchin' early! I think a methadone type system is needed to ween people like me off unemployment insurance. Day one starts at 11, day two 10 day three 9 and so on down to 8; that's the limit. This company I'm working for is really by the book: affirmative action; posters of bears telling you to shift you weight; I have a feeling someone might try to hug me. Quite a change from my former supervisor who liked to know how often her employees were whacking off. Oh well, the gravy train was good while it lasted, but there was always something keeping me from fully enjoying my few months of freedom: the sickly feeling that I would soon be back at the grindstone, regretting I didn't grab the world by the balls when I had the chance.

Jake called me up and ask "Do you want to go surfing?"

Last night I had the biggest revelation of my young life. I learned the truth about Chris "Corky" Burke. Not to sound too hippyish, but everything in my universe fused together in cosmic unity. A few months ago I traded mix CDs my friend Sarah. Her mixes were a really eclectic mix of obscure gems. One track particularly stood out for me: "Eating Is Serious" by Chris "Corky" Burke. I assumed the song was from a children's show and didn't give it much more though. I played it at work and my co-worker Ashley thought it was hilarious. Ashley liked to parody the retarded voice and he made it his own; "I like CHEESE" was a favorite. Fast foreward another coouple of months. I was out for some drinks with Stephanie's friends who were in town from the Netherlands. There is a show in the Netherlands called "Knoop In Je Zakdoek" (it means Knot In Your Handkerchief) where Downs syndrome people compete on a game show. Knowing about the show was amazing enough, but then the Netherlanders said they call Downs syndrome people "Corkys" after a charachter with the same affliction in a late 80s early 90s television show called Life Goes On. You can probably see where this is headed, Chris Burke of Life Goes On is the same Chris Burke as the singer featured on "Eating is Serious"! Chris Burke's band has got to be the funniest band ever, a Downsy, a set of twins, who play songs about eating and venereal disease (Coasters "Poison Ivy")! So, check out their offical website, buy some merchendise and bask in Chris Burke's Downsy glow!