Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

And grateful it is Friday.

I have a number of home projects that need to get squared away this weekend to ensure a relaxing vacation, so this weekend will be action packed.

The trip back from Dallas was fun. Jeremy and I had a chance to catch-up with a buddy who lives in Dallas. It was good conversation and pretty decent food (we went to Bone Daddy’s).

On the way back we listened to the music on Jeremy’s iPodĀ  (we listened to some of mine on the way up). Oddly enough most of the music we listened to I also have.

We finished off the trip listening to different tracks off of Billy Joel’s greatest hits albums. I always enjoy a good singalong with the Piano Man.

Back to grind.

Laterz.

Jeremy and I are packing up and heading to Dallas tonight. (like probably right after I am done with this post)

We will be up there for meetings all day tomorrow, then driving back that night.

Not sure if posted an update about his car, if he hasn’t then I will scoop him here.

They believe it is a sensor in his transmission, so between the part, labor and changing the transmission fluid he will be out about another $300 bucks.

The mechanics believe that is all the work that is needed to fix his car.

Well I best shut it down and get the laptop in the bag so we can motor.

Laterz

While listening to the radio during my morning routine, Alice In Chains’ song “Rooster” came on. I came to the realization that I have heard that song almost everyday on the radio since my days in high school. That is obviously a bit of a generalization.

However, whether it is in the morning, during the day or at night, I swear I have heard the Rooster song at least once a day.

Bear in mind, I listen to “Alternative Rock” stations about 100% of the time. Back in Lansing it was 92.1 The EDGE. Here in Austin, it is 101X. (92.1 is no longer on the air)

My reason for bringing up my choice in music is that, by listening to an Alterantive Rock station I increase my chances of hearing the Rooster song significantly. But as I reached this seemingly mundane epiphany about hearing this song from 1992 almost everyday, I realized that my choice in music might soon become a form of ‘Classic Rock’.

The DJs on 101x have stayed relatively young, swapping out every few years. One of the ladies that did the morning show when I first moved down now has a show later in the day. And some of the DJs from that time period appear to have moved into management.

Another realization that I have had lately is that more and more of the new music that is dubbed “Alternative Rock” is just noise to me. It all sounds the same. Funny thing is there were a few bands that hit the airwaves about 6 months back that all seemed to want to be Pearl Jam, I mean their lead singers were trying hard to sound like Eddie Vedder.

Back in high school the rock of the ’80s was just becoming phased out into the ‘Flash Back’ hours (lunch breaks or drive-time nostalgia music hours). I still tune into the Flash Back lunch hour on 101x, the majority of the music there is from the ’80s, some of is now music from the ’90s.

Yet, still the Rooster makes its way into prime air time. I guess I am curious about what when will the “Classic Rock” be the music of the ’80s and ’90s. I mean, if Classic Rock today is the music of the ’60s and ’70s, will they tack the ’80s and ’90s music onto that genre or will they create a new genre, say “Classic Alternative Rock”.

I guess one thing that I am starting to realize is that I am getting old(er).

This year I will 30, the next big milestone for me. I think most people find 30 to be a defining point, the point at which they are no longer young and not quite old.

I have always said that I feel older than I am, I usually throw out 70. Oddly enough, these days I would probably say that I feel 60.

So by the time I am 40 I will feel like 50, so in theory when I am 45, I will say 45.

Anyway, it is time to snuff the rooster.

Night

Gina and I had lunch @ Mandola’s yesterday, it is this great Italian deli that opened up a couple of years back.

They make fresh rustic bread, their own mozzarella cheese, they have a great selection of Italian cookies and they also have gelato. They have a few aisles of specialty Italian goods (sauces, pastas, cans/jars of preserved fishes).

They also have a restaurant part there as well, where you order sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, salads and some other yummy stuff.

We split a sausage and mushroom pizza and each hadĀ  their “Mista’ salads.

The staff member that brought us our food recognized the NetworkIP logo on Gina’s shirt. Now, I have had people think they knew NetworkIP, but really had a different company in mind. And the fact that Keith kept only saying “Network”, this led Gina and I to initially think he just had the name confused.

But then he mentioned Longview.

So, indeed Keith Nelson knew NetworkIP. He proceeded to mention some folks that work at Centris (formerly known as “Network Operator Services”). He had gone to culinary school in Austin and said that three years ago had met Amy (presumably a manager at Mandola’s, didn’t have a chance to ask) and he has been working at Mandola’s ever since.

He stated that he worked at “Network” while he was in high school doing odd jobs here and there and that he tried to be an operator at one point, but he just got bored. He at first mentioned that his family helped found Network, but I could not remember hearing about anyone with the last name of Nelson.

Turns out he is the nephew of one of the executives at Network Operator Services.

Keith was very surprised to hear that there was an Austin office, which actually isn’t that surprising as the Austin office isn’t listed anywhere, I guess it is a secret. (oops, spilled the beans.)

Anyway, he asked that Gina pass along a message to one of the executives that she works closely with.

It was an interesting chance meeting and from now on I will keep an eye out for Keith whenever at Mandola’s.

Back to the grind.

Laterz

New blog domain, “ben.dominguez-benner.com”

New blog engine, WordPress instead of Serendipity.

New blog name, Ben Benner Blog (for now anyway, probably change it soon).

Same old me.

Laterz