Adventures of an Invisible Man

one month in

2009-09-16T02:14:19Z

Realized this morning its been a month since I moved to Austin and almost a month since the project started. Twelve days in and only about twelve to go before I head on to the Beecave store and do it all over again. Turns out I made a good team with the Arizona vitamin merchandiser and so it was decided I would help him with the next store and run it until its time for me to move on again to my final store in the Austin area. I'm pretty excited. No more commute once that happens.
For now though, well, unless there is a wreck on Loop 1, like there was this afternoon, it isn't that bad getting around. Though I am beginning to think that Austin drivers aren't as adept as their Metroplex counterparts.

Really haven't done much of anything while I've been down here. Been out a couple times with Dave and some of his friends. Mostly I either hang around my house and go to bed early or I go over to Dave's and hang out there for a bit watching Venture Bros until he decides to call it a night. We're all old people apparently. Getting up at 5:30am doesn't help matters at all.

The apartment is largely finished, as far as the living room and kitchen are concerned. Still debating on whether or not to buy a microwave. A think a toaster oven is a bit more likely to happen sooner than later. Finally visited the Ikea the other night and picked up some trim for the place. Some rugs, another lamp, pillows. Going to go back this weekend and buy my first bed frame in something like five years. Very excited about that. Then all I need is a desk and the rest is just fleshing out the decor but nothing major. Unless I decide to buy a dinner table or another couch.

Skully is really getting on well. She's got her little perches and is eating regularly and has her own little water fountain. The sound of the water trickling is very soothing and ambient. It keeps the apartment from being otherwise silent.

Silent and dark. There aren't many light fixtures. I need more lamps. Two so far, but I am thinking five or six or more.

Caught up with an old Denton friend and her boyfriend yesterday. Had lunch at a place called Mr. Naturals. It was rather good and I'd like to go back. Saw yet another part of Austin that I wasn't really familiar with. The little bit of town I live in is known as Furniture Row and its about as exciting as it sounds. It's not far from Anderson though so there is a little bit to do there and oddly I live by two comic/game stores, though one is arguably superior to the other in just about all regards. I've gotten to be a regular already.

Another place I visit semi-regularly is the convenience store next to my apartment. It's crewed by a motley assortment of creeps and one kindly older Southern guy. He's all right but the potential felon is something else. Always listening to classical music and staring at stripper's asses. I think they're strippers, anyway. There's also a busted down taco truck in front of the place. All in all that little square of property gives me the heebiejeebies.

I'm hoping to step out and do something this coming Friday, as it will be my first weekend night off in awhile and my last one for another couple weeks.

Brand new Days.

2009-08-14T19:38:27Z

As of yesterday morning I am a resident of the city of Austin. I'm basically moved into my new apartment. Still need to acquire some furniture. A desk would be nice. A couch or some form of seating is imperative.

Yesterday I found a Target and a place to drop off my U-Haul trailer. Spent a ridiculous amount of money getting some basics. Every couple hours it seems I think of something I forgot. Took some initiative this afternoon and found the Sprouts I'll be working at until the end of the year. Its not as far as the Flower Mound store was from Denton. Maybe a twenty-five minute drive. Easy breazy. Not a huge fan of my department's lay out. I think they nailed it at my old store, but I understand not every store can have five aisles of vitamins.

Skully weathered the trip rather well, though I did discover she had wet herself at some point during the drive. Poor thing. She's been through a lot these past couple of weeks but I think she's figured out that the new apartment is home.
At the very least, its just her and I.

Tonight I'm looking forward to my first weekend night in town. I'm broke. I hope the city delivers.

Bluebonnet Vitamins

2009-08-11T18:48:51Z

Flower Mound in Sugarland
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

Last Monday the Bluebonnet sales manager took me and two of my co-workers to visit their facility in Sugarland, Texas. I got to take pictures of the machines that actually make vitamins.

It was awesome.

dorian_hero @ 2009-08-06T10:03:00

2009-08-06T15:04:39Z

Less than a week.

Denton, I'll miss you

2009-07-27T02:29:55Z

The past few weeks I've made a very conscience effort to make the most of whats left of my time in Denton. Unlike so many other people who have moved away from this town I'm not doing so out of any spite or hate of the place but just because I want to see who I am outside of its confines and contexts.

Plus the job opportunity is really going to put me on good footing for what I've decided is my career path. If I can succeed with the new Austin stores I'll be golden.

If not, well, maybe I'll come back to Denton. I want to eventually.

Last night was Candace's birthday. Ridiculous pictures can be found on my flickr. I think I'll leave it at that.

dorian_hero @ 2009-07-12T10:44:00

2009-07-12T15:49:51Z

Spent the past few days in Austin and managed to find a nice apartment on Burnett and Penny Lane for a reasonable rate. Includes cable, too, though I doubt internet. But it has a pool, so maybe the swim trunks I bought a few summers ago will finally get used.
Did have a real nice time down there, all in all. I always forget that Austin is so small and compact. Literally just driving around I felt like I was tripping over things I'd just past or thought were in vastly different parts of town.
The craziest instance of that was that when Dave and I drove by my new apartments so he could see them we literally just turned onto his street and driveway a few seconds later. Inadvertently I ended up being just about neighbors with some one I know.
Highlights of the stay were absinthe and old fashioned cocktails with Dave and Friday night drinks with Claire, Dave, and his roommate Brandon. We ended the night watching BBC2's Weird Weekends.
Month from tomorrow I'll be living down there.
Scary.

The Great Dalmuti

2009-07-09T03:17:00Z

Ali and Steve
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

Monday evening Ali invited us all to her and Adam's place to play the Great Dalmuti.
I spent most of the game as one of the two peasants.
Which might have been a major contributing factor as to why the game went from being all "thee" and "thou" to southern genteel.

Tomorrow I'm going down to the mid-cities to pick up Dave's scooter and then to Austin for a few days. Hopefully I'll find an apartment.

In all honesty a big part of me is starting to regret my decision to move.

But I know staying isn't good game in the long run, at least not right now.

Herb Walk

2009-06-12T22:41:28Z

Herb Walk
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

Here are a few more pictures from Nature's Way. Found myself prominently in some of them and have decided to share.
Oh, vanity.

The Da Smurfi Code

2009-06-09T01:44:29Z

While in Provo, Utah, I made friends with an Englishman who has, in a quite roundabout manner, found the underlying catalyst for the world's religions.

I share with you The Da Smurfi Code

Nature's Way

2009-06-08T14:57:00Z

Old Packaging, 4
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

I just spent the last five days in Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah, courtesy of Nature's Way. I've sort of drafted out an account of the trip, but am still feeling a bit exhausted from all the bustle and travel.

So, in the interim, here are some pictures I took of the vintage supplements they had on display in the lecture room at Nature's Way.

a time line; feel free to add, punctuate, or elaborate as desired

2009-06-01T04:13:37Z

Fall 2000- Summer 2001: Began first forays into Denton. Made initial friends in town via my friends from high school who had preceded my move up. Spent a lot of time at Kerr Hall. I forget which tower. B, I think. Started going to Rubber Gloves a lot.

August 2001- May 2002: First year in Denton. Lived in West Hall with Woody. Met a number of people who would go on to become part of my life's extended cast for the next several years. Notably I met and dated Eve.

May 2002- Summer 2003: Lived with Candace and Ktrey at 904B. Bought my VNB. Broke up with Eve. George moved in. That first summer I worked at the short lived Eagle Burrito. My next job would be a brief stint at the Cupboard.

Summer 2003 - December 2003: Lived with Woody at the Trees on Bernard St. It was a lot of fun to ride down the brief bit of road that was Chestnut. Started working at Drug Emporium and later Vitamins Plus.

December 2003- Summer 2005: Lived with Alicia on Bryan St. The longest I've managed to stay in one place in Denton. Also the most pleasantly furnished place I resided as it had been fully decorated by Alicia prior to my moving in to replace her previous roommate. Dated a bit during this period. First a girl named Sarah, then, notably, Camella. After Camella is when I started going out to Haileys with Christoph on a regular basis. Actually belonged to an extended social circle. Loved the fleetingness of it.

Summer 2005- Summer 2006: Moved back to 904B, this time with Cody and Dave. The place had been completely gutted and renovated and, amusingly, unoccupied since I'd lived there last. The summer heating bills were outrageous but otherwise I really enjoyed living there again. During this time I started dating Ashton.

Summer 2006- Summer 2007: Moved into what would be dubbed "Castle Greyskull" by Alison, Crystal, and myself. The place was small, but oddly quaint. I liked it a lot and think, had Alison not moved out, I likely would have stayed longer, despite not having an overhead light. A little over half way through this lease I left Vitamins Plus and briefly began working at the Super Target. This is also were I was living when my relationship with Ashton ended and I adopted Skully.

Summer 2007- Summer 2008: Moved into the Leaning House with Woody and his then girlfriend Katie. Up until this point I had never lived in a Denton landmark. The house was sweltering but large and I really loved the Christmas tree we put up and Monday nights watching Heroes. Dated Dana, twice, while living here. Hosted D&D for a few months. While at the Leaning House I left Target, worked at GTI over the holidays, and eventually started at Sprouts. During my time at Leaning House I also gave up on UNT/ college for the time being.

Summer 2008- present: Moved into the duplex on Strata St with Woody and Crystal. One of the nicest and easily the most modern place I've lived since moving out of my parents. If this relocation for some reason doesn't pan out I would love to find a way to make it possible to stay here.

Clearing Out

2009-05-31T23:24:06Z

Kitsch
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

While I am relocating to Austin in August my parents are relocating back to Florida this July.
I'm still under a bit of shock from the suddenness of the announcement.
What it meant for me this weekend was that I had to take a trip down memory lane and dig through boxes and boxes of possessions I hadn't seen since 1999. The corresponding flickr set highlights some of the items I decided to bring back with me. Going to Florida with my parents is a good chunk of the mid-90's Star Wars Power of the Force action figure line and a ridiculous amount of Star Trek figures. All on card. As much as a nerd as I as think I am now, I know it pales in comparison to the nerd I once was.

dorian_hero @ 2009-05-30T23:14:00

2009-05-31T04:16:51Z

Spent the day at my parent's house going through tubs of possessions I hadn't seen in about a decade. Mostly the tubs consisted of Star Wars/ Trek memorabilia I deemed collectible in middle school and hadn't given any though to since moving to Colleyville from Grapevine. Some more interesting items were my year books and high school awards. Some things really went back in time. I may take some pictures tomorrow afternoon. Right now its late and I'm about to call it a night.

Austin. August.

2009-05-27T20:56:03Z

That is all.

Ali's Graduation Party

2009-05-19T16:53:51Z

Dancings.
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

Pictures of said event.
Was fun.
Part of the best weekend I've had in a long time.

The nerdliness is getting worse.

2009-05-19T16:41:54Z

Box Art Detail
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

Yesterday before going out to finally see Star Trek Candace, Ktrey, and I went down to Denton Thrift for the first time in ages and I must've rolled a natural twenty on a spot check because while looking for vests I found, amidst bags of broken toys and an Animaniacs puzzle, a complete Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set.

webcomics - this post is for Liz!

2009-04-16T21:36:31Z

Perfect Stars: I recommend starting at the beginning. I think the girl who draws it lost a bit of interest seven or eight months ago when the updates became uncommon and with a bit less emphasis on the whimsical and innocent.

Octopus Pie: A Brooklyn Drama is a bit of a slice of life comic in the same vein as Scary Go Round/Bobbins, sans goblins, spookies, etc.

The Non-Adventures of Wonderella is a parody of super heroes, particularly the DCU. It only updates on Saturdays but, more often than not, is pretty amusing. I did get tired of the punchlines being preceded by "Soon:" though.

Gunnerkrigg Court started off slow, then brilliantly picked up, before sort've slowing down again recently. A sort of sci-fantasy Hogwarts/ school life drama.

The Adventures of Dr. McNinja is just goofy fun that, I think, strikes a good balance of action and comedy.

Stuff Sucks ended years ago, existed only briefly, was charming, hip, and delightful the whole run.

Captain Excelsior had an amusing premise that it ran into the ground quickly, effectively, and pointlessly. A train wreck of a comic with little redeeming qualities other than it could have been a hoot.

Huh?

2009-04-09T21:49:42Z

Hello adulthood. When did you stop by?

So many minis!

2009-04-07T03:45:41Z

So many minis!
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

For the past couple of weeks Candace, Ktrey, Manny, and I have been cranking out minis for Pathfinder. Candace is exceptionally good at it, and I think I'm not so bad either. We're getting better. I loaded a variety of images on flickr, but I may retake some with better lighting. I like how the flash gave some brilliant pop to a few of them.
Personally, of the ones I've painted, I think Tenh, my first start to finish job, and the Goblin Sorcerer, are my best works. Candace's first mini, Devora, and the sorcerer she painted for Cody, are my other two favorites.
For those interested we're using Reaper miniatures and mostly Reaper paints and brushes.

My tree.

2009-04-06T22:43:15Z

Christmas Tree
Originally uploaded by vespathetic

This little guy started off as one of a half dozen seeds in a little green novelty pot I bought at Target for one dollar. I planted him sometime in mid-December and sometime in late January I noticed I had a sprout. Here we are in April and I've relocated him to a new pot with fresh soil appropriate to his seedling needs.

courtesy of iGoogle and wikiHow

2009-03-25T15:36:19Z

"Big buttedness" is in the eye of the beholder.

dorian_hero @ 2009-03-15T19:58:00

2009-03-16T01:00:11Z

I just eBayed for the first time.
A pair of Diesel jeans.

I also bought a flickr pro account a few weeks ago but haven't made any use of it outside of creating a handful of sets out of my existing photos. Need to start taking my camera out with me more.

dorian_hero @ 2009-03-10T12:30:00

2009-03-10T17:37:17Z

Summer is coming. I can smell it in the air. Feel it in the humidity of the past few days. Spring was over before it sprung, though I did honor that fleeting season today by cleaning and dusting my room and the downstairs bath.

The transition at work is in a couple of weeks, with a tentative date. I know I'll be functioning as a manager at an event on the twenty-sixth.

I think thoughts of wanting to move just strike me around this time of year. As much as I've contented myself with my life in Denton I sometimes see snapshots of my friends who have moved on to Dallas, Austin, and beyond, and wonder what would have become of me if I had gone that route. The fleeting images shared are of more adult and artistic endeavors.

It's against my nature to move like that. I am inherently sedentary. I like keeping jobs. I would like to stay in one place for more than a couple of years.

But like this entry, my thoughts are incomplete and unfinished as more practical things come to mind.

I need new pants and an oil change.

another raise!

2009-03-05T01:10:04Z

For years I worked at Vitamins Plus and never managed to make more than a full dollar more than what I started at.
Today I got my second raise at Sprouts and am now making almost twice of what I was making when I started at VP.
Small victories!

it could be the day beer.

2009-02-24T18:41:13Z

Things are going really well. I don't mention what is going on in my life very much on this little livejournal of mine, but being a blue moon and all, I thought a decent update was due.

First off I've been seeing a rather wonderful lady for the past several weeks. In contrast to the debacle that became (and was) my prior relationship I am glad to be seeing some one who has her own priorities and interests and life and isn't all that concerned with integrating mine and hers.

Secondly I've hit my year with Sprouts and finally found out what vitamin department I'm going to be overseeing in the near future. I wont spoil the surprise, but its good to know my uppers have not just immediate plans for me, but also a back up plan, which I can mention: Coppel. Every one knew it but I was never officially informed that that was my intended destination.
But things change and I'm really optimistic about the future.

Thirdly, as I've touched on, the small frame is going strong and the only problem is that the battery is not charging off the stator like it should be. While I do have a battery charging it is really annoying to constantly have to be checking it to make sure it has enough spark. I'd like to just forget about it. I ride often enough.

Also in scooter news: I met a fellow named James with a Rally 180 who is interested in starting up a Denton scooter club. Now I've tried that in the past with little to no success, but maybe this time will be different.