Wishing you and yours a Happy Holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

             &

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

                                   (David<~~~~~~~~~~one tired mofo)

 

 

Weight Loss Update!

At my heaviest I was 318 lbs.  The first time I tried to lose weight I got down to 273.  This latest attempt I became stuck at 260 for the longest time.  Bouncing back and forth between 265 and 260.  This morning I weighed in at...

 

         259 lbs!

 

Yay me!

 

David<~~~~~~~~~~slightly skinner than yesterday

 

 

 

Just got in from the Concert...

Back during my National Meeting I spoke with the rep from American Gramaphone for a bit and he wanted to know if I wanted some tickets to see Mannheim Steamroller in Concert?  HECK YA!  So I got 12 tickets and a bunch of us from work went to the concert this evening.  Very enjoyable...

 

DAVID<~~~~~~~~~~Got invited backstage but I declined

 

(they couldn't take all 12 of us, so it didn't seem fair)

 

 

Music can change your life

THE PRISONER

 

it's cold outside

the sleet rains down

making an insect sound

as it bounces off the branches

and the rain gutters

filling up the spaces

between the blades of grass

it's just so unfair

an ugly lie

that I can't return

I didn't deserve this

and it overwhelms me

filling me with rage

I leap upright

and rush at the window

violently yanking the cord

to raise the blinds

I thrust my face against the glass

knocking my cap off

and I scream at the world

my breath rushes out

like an explosion

and fogs the glass

and my features

are obscurred through the pane

I could be anyone

standing at the window

shaking and full of anger

glaring at the winter landscape

a prisoner of my actions

a victim of my own decisions

and I blink

and I'm seated again

the blinds are in place

and full of undisturbed dust

did I just do that?

did I just lose it?

no one will ever know

no one will ever understand

the only witness

is a cord

slowly swinging

for no reason at all

 

 

by DAS on a cold winter's day

 

 

David<~~~~~~some kind of fool

 

                 ::capers::

 

 

I just bought a new CD

NEW ORDER 

 

my life is in a New Order

but I stand on CEREMONY again

I lead the PROCESSION of fools

while EVERYTHING'S GONE GREEN

the TEMPTATION is to allow

myself a BLUE MONDAY

and to wallow in CONFUSION

while THIEVES LIKE US

steal THE PERFECT KISS

a whole SUB-CULTURE

of SHELLSHOCK cases

and the STATE OF THE NATION

is a BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE

and my TRUE FAITH

hasn't existed since 1963

and TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GOD

I spin

move my feet to the beat

and look towards the floor

the music moves me

and I dance my cares away

in my head it's 1984

and all my successes

and all my failures

are still before me

and I miss that time

when I didn't know

how this feels

so I put on a song

spin again

move my feet to the beat

and dance in my dreams again

 

by das nov two thousand and six

 

 

David<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~a good dancer!

 

 

 

 

Do you believe in Love?

 

Howdy Faithful Readers,

 

     I just got the latest statistics on my Webshots Albums, my Florida and Missouri collections both made the top 20 Albums on the site.  That and $3.50 can get you a cup of coffee...

     Tomorrow I have been invited to eat Thanksgiving Dinner with my ASM and her Mom, we are having duck.  The Perpetual Teetotaler is bringing two bottles of wine (thanks to Ray), it should be lots of fun.

     My Family are all in Florida:  Mom, Dad, Mam-Ma, Mark and his girlfriend are all staying in Ft. Myers for the holiday.  They are bringing back Mam-Ma's car and giving it to Darrel and Dad will be visiting me on Sunday evening, I am looking forward to spending time with Popsidoodle.

 

Do you believe in Love?

I do...

 

 

 

                        David<~~~~~~~~Official Hopeless Romantic

 

                                    (and I will never give up)

 

 

 

Nina Simone holds me in her arms and sings for me...

COTTON-EYE JOE

(Traditional)

 

If it hadn't been for cotton-eye joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from. Where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye joe?

(repeat)

He came to town like a midwinter storm
He rode through the fields so
Handsome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
But all he had come for was having some fun

(repeat intro)

He brought disaster wherever he went
The hearts of the girls was to hell broken sent
They all ran away so nobody would know
And left only men cause of cotton-eye joe

(repeat intro)

 

 

A SMALL HOPE

There is a little bit of hope for me

A small shot left at happy

There is a flicker shining in the dark

A small flame left over from the spark

There is a chance I'm willing to take

A small chance to fix my life's mistake

Can I shoulder on through the night?

Do I think happiness is worth the fight?

Or will I continue on like I have?

Surviving only to...

 

(a work in progress)

 

 

David<~~~~~~a poet, and my feet show it, they are LONGFELLOWS!

 

 

The Divorce Papers are signed and notorized!

The signing and notorizing of the Divorce Papers went very well.  The Papers will be filed on Monday.  It's weird how light I feel now, like I could just float away...

 

David<~~~~~~who always did the right thing even when it was really hard

 

                ::HUGE GRIN::

 

 

 

I had Corporate Buyers in my Store today for a visit...

I had my District Mgr and four Buyers from NY in my Store today.  My Store looked great, I have an excellent staff and everyone did a great job...

 

The pictures above are from the 4th Qtr/Holiday/Store Birthday Party that we had in the Store on Nov 6th...

 

David<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Manager Type

 

(it's good to be the King...)

 

 

The other shoe has fallen

Well better late than never.  I am meeting 'My EX' this Thursday to sign the Divorce papers and they will be filed this Friday (insert ominous music here)...

 

 

David<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~a good guy

 

(and I feel pretty darn good)              : )

 

 

 

Some flims you might want to see...

Here is a little tid bit for you Movie Buffs out there...

 

Run, don't walk to go see...

BORAT!

Hands down the funniest movie I have seen all year long.  This film is wrong in so many ways I cannot begin to describe them.  The best money you will ever spend on a comedy.

"KAZAKHSTAN GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
ALL OTHER COUNTRIES ARE RUN BY LITTLE GIRLS.
KAZAKHSTAN NUMBER ONE EXPORTER OF POTASSIUM.
OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE INFERIOR POTASSIUM.

KAZAKHSTAN HOME OF TINSHEIN SWIMMING POOL.
IT’S LENGTH THIRTY METER AND WIDTH SIX METER.
FILTRATION SYSTEM A MARVEL TO BEHOLD.
IT REMOVE 80 PERCENT OF HUMAN SOLID WASTE.

KAZAKHSTAN, KAZAKHSTAN YOU VERY NICE PLACE.
FROM PLAINS OF TARASHEK TO NORTHER FENCE OF JEWTOWN.
KAZAKHSTAN FRIEND OF ALL EXCEPT UZBEKISTAN.
THEY VERY NOSEY PEOPLE WITH BONE IN THEIR BRAIN.
KAZAKHSTAN INDUSTRY BEST IN THE WORLD.
WE INCENTED TOFFEE AND TROUSER BELT.
KAZAKHSTAN’S PROSTITUTES CLEANEST IN THE REGION.
EXCEPT OF COURSE TURKMENISTAN’S

KAZAKHSTAN, KAZAKHSTAN YOU VERY NICE PLACE.
FROM PLAINS OF TARASHEK TO NORTHER FENCE OF JEWTOWN.

COME GRASP THE MIGHT PHENIS OF OUR LEADER.
FROM JUNCTION WITH THE TESTES TO TIP OF ITS FACE!"

(the Kazakhstan National Anthem)

 

I saw a film the other day on IFC on cable.  It was called "The Station Agent".  Won three SUNDANCE Film Awards for 2003.  I ran out and bought the DVD and am loaning it to my co-workers to watch.  I honestly believe that this movie captures what it feels like to be me, David Austin Smith.  Not one character or one certain scene, but all characters, all scenes, rolled into one.  I really loved the film, you should rent it, or I'll loan it to you to watch...

 

David<~~~~~~~~~flims critic

 

(THAT IS FILM REFERENCE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

 

 

Happy October Thirty First!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I just got off from work, the majority of my Co-Workers dressed up for the holiday.  Above are the pictures of my staff that came in before I left for the evening...

 

(David<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~waiting for Paul to call me)

 

 

OK, now I really did go to ARCHON 30 this weekend...

Here are some pics I took of the Saturday Night Dance...gotta love competitive girls that shop at Hot Topic...::wink::

 

David<~~~~~~~~danced the night away!

 

 

 

Sunday Sunday...

I am packing some today for my business trip tomorrow.  I am not taking my laptop with me so I will be incommunicada for a week.  I will be back in STL on Friday, so I'll check my email then.  Must remember to put the "Dapper Dan" pomade in my regular suitcase and not my carry-on...must remember...

 

 

David<~~~~~~~~~~traveling fool

 

 

another day, another year older...

Hello Faithful Readers (both of you),

     Yesterday was by Birthday and it went pretty good.  I worked at the store and they had a BD cake for me at the Manager's Meeting and Deborah got me a Spiderman ballon (lol).  Later on Toni brought in some cookies she baked for me, it was a nice day.  I'm off today, not sure what I'm agonna do...  PABLO, EMAIL ME, I HAVE LOST YOUR PHONE NUMBER!  I may go to the STL Mills Mall and hit Games Workshop (I think it's time for the new White Dwarf).  Next week I'll be at my National Meeting in Orlando.  Pretty good agenda, here are the people coming to speak to us, sign books, and perform:

 

JOHN GRISHAM

JEFFREY GITOMER

MITCH ALBOM

JAMIE LEE CURTIS

ISABEL ALLENDE

DAVE BARRY & RIDLEY PEARSON

LAURELL K. HAMILTON

ALICE HOFFMAN

EDWARD P. JONES

DENNIS LEHANE

DIANE SETTERFIELD

OBERT SKYE

ADRIANA TRIGIANI

& musical guest SHAWN COLVIN...

 

I am going to go to ARCHON this year (have marked myself off on the calendar) and I am looking forward to going.  Geoff is also planning on going, Ray is prolly going, and if Pablo would EMAIL ME, I would know if he is coming also...

 

David<~~~~~~~~~~~~41 yrs old

(and steel champion!)

 

 

Pap-pa's Favorite Shrimp Dip

PAP-PA'S FAVORITE SHRIMP DIP...

ingredients:

2 12oz pkgs boiled shrimp

1 bottle of Heinz Chili Sauce

1 cup Mayo

1 bunch of Green Onions

1 8oz pkg Cream Cheese

lots of bags of Ruffles Potato Chips

 

BLEND CREAM CHEESE, HEINZ CHILI SAUCE, AND 1 CUP MAYO AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IN A BOWL.  DICE SHRIMP AND GREEN ONIONS AND ADD THEM TO THE BOWL.  REFRIGERATE AND EAT WITH RUFFLES POTATO CHIPS THE NEXT DAY...

 

(Pap-pa was my Grandfather, I love you Pap-pa!)

I wrote a short little story set in the W40K Universe...

 

 

Auspex auto record day 1:  -no data--

Auspex auto record day 2:  --no data—

Auspex auto record day 3:  -vox recording--

 

I don’t know how long I have been unconscious…when they came into the cell I fought them…they overwhelmed me and I am now restrained…they rub secretions from glands on the underside of their bodies all over my exposed skin…I  am an Agent of the Order of the Emperor’s Holy Inquisition…I will fight  again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auspex auto record day 4:  -vox recording—

 

I fought them again today…I’m not sure if my Auspex is functioning or not…I do not know why they are keeping me alive

 

Auspex auto record day 5:  -no data—

Auspex auto record day 6:  -no data--

Auspex auto record day 7:  -vox recording--

 

They are listening in to my recordings…I think they are keeping me alive to study mankind…I am studying them too…I think there is one of the little ones clinging to the top of my cell…I will attempt to use my gifts to dominate it’s will…I will record more tomorrow

 

Auspex auto record day 9:  -error—data recovery successful—vox recording--

 

They have interfered in my natural bodily functioning…i will fight them again

 

 

 

 

 

Auspex auto record day 24:  -error—system crash--

Auspex auto record day 25:  -error—system crash--

Auspex auto record day 26:  -error—data recovery—error—data recovery—error--

Auspex auto record day 27:  -error—data recovery—error—system crash--

Auspex auto record day 28:  -error—data recovery successful—vox recording—

 

i have successfully commanded several of the little ones that attend to me in my cell…i am going to attempt to dominate one of their warrior caste

 

auspex auto record day 67:  --error—data recovery successful—vox recording—

 

i can hear her now…i understand how they function…i will attempt to communicate with her

 

auspex auto record day 68:  --vox recording—

 

i understand my place

 

auspex auto record day 68:  -system shutdown successful--

auspex auto record day 367:  -vox recording--

i

 

 

 

 

Heading out to a Sci/Fi Con this weekend!

I will have pics to put on later on...

(OK, after listening to my Roomie that Archon had changed the dates of this year's Con to this weekend, I had changed my schedule around so I could attend.  Worrying that my Roomie might get something incorrect I checked the website and the Hotel/Convention Center, and of course the Con had NOT changed it's dates, and I will NOT be attending a Sci/Fi Convention this weekend...)

 

::cussing like Sylvester the Cat::

 

 

Listening to my new CD!

THE LADDER

by Alejandro Escovedo

 

I'd climb a ladder just to see you

I have no eyes but I can feel

Two snakes entwine so I can be you

This ladder climbs from me to you

 

La Bufadora will explode soon

In liquid splendor sculptured trees

Amongst the oads the shapes are shifting

A shift to meld you into me

 

Let's sleep away the pain we suffer

The medicine is in our dreams

Fly away like Caracaras

This ladder climbs from me to you

 

 

(he is the son of the ex-precussionist from Santana and the brother to Shiela E. ::big grin::)

 

 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

  HAPPY 4TH

     of JULY!

 

 

heheheheehe

 

 

 

   I WIN ZULUS!

 

 

I went to the Missouri Botanical Garden to see the CHIHULY Exhibit yesterday

    I went to the Missouri Botanical Garden to see the hand blown glass exhibit by CHIHULY.  It was my first time ever to visit the Garden.  While going down the stairs to the bathroom in one of the buildings I ran into my stepson.  He said something weird to me, I don't remember what it was though.  I think he was kind of taken aback at running into me there.  I was speechless.  He has grown so tall and he has lost a lot of weight, he looks great.  On the way back upstairs I said "Hello" to him and his Dad before I went into the Cafe to buy some bottled water (it was a hot one that day).  I didn't quite know what to do, so I tried not to make a big deal out of it and slipped past him and his sister as I continued on my walking tour of the Garden.  I saw them two more times that day.  I never was facing the right way when I went past my step daughter so I didn't get to say hello to her, I wish I had.  They are great kids, I miss them.

 

 

DAVID<~~~~~~~Family Man (without a family)

 

and for the record, AOL is incompetent...

    After work today I drove to the STL Mills Mall (David<~~child of the Eighties) to see The Omen,  I slept thru it.  I popped into the Games Workshop (David<~~UBERnerd) and picked up the new White Dwarf and a "Fallen Giant" Template.  Suffered thru the mediocre service at Tony Roma's Ribs (David<~~loves their Onion Loaf) and watched all the un supervised High School dropouts act the fool and use vulgar language at the top of their voices.  On the way home it started to rain and that tends to point me toward melancholy so I jotted this down...

 

What will the 'Half Full Man' do,

and how can he hope for more?

When all his dreams are dashed,

and hope is poured out on the floor?

 

     My Roomie has a keg and invited his cousins over to drink it with him.  I waved at them on the back porch as I headed to my den.  Now I'm pecking away on my laptop and chewing on my pen...

 

 

 

David<~~~~~on a Saturday Night (what a player I am...)

 

 

 

This I Believe

Family.  Love.  Fossils.  Art.  Stories.  Poetry.  Myself.  Lemonade.  Zydeco.  Dancing.  Autumn.  Cherry dipped cones.  Humankind.  Comic Books.  Musicals.  Forests.  Scary Monkey's wearing a Fez.  Celtic Music.  Air Conditioning.  Separation of Church and State.  New Wave.  Photography.  Sex.  Work.  Wargames.  Travel.  BBQ.  Wingtip Shoes.  Flat tops.  Harry Ramsden's Traditional Tomato Ketchup.  Calvin and Hobbes.  Herpetology.  Ireland.  America.  Bluegrass.  History.  Nasa.  Mythology.  Jazz.  Tolkien.  The Watchmen.  Snufkin.  Matching my belt and socks.  Shrimp Cocktail.  Candlelight.  The sound of crickets.  Blues.  My Claddaugh ring.  Butterflies.  Marlin Fishing Caps.  Science Fiction.  Adam Ant.  The Circus.  Sobriety.  Friendship.  Vidalia Onions.  Boston Terriers.  Morality.  How beautiful most women are when they think no one is watching them...

 

 

(David on a Monday night and I'm talking to my Dad on the phone right now)