Good writing

It is always nice to find someone your own age, who can write like you wish you could. It's better when he's your friend.

Read THIS it's excellent.

On the way back from Chipotle

Hypothetical:

You are walking alone. You see something beyond ridiculous (for me: something that I would make me turn to the person next to me and make a snide and quite possibly cruel comment). Do you still make the comment?

I did. Out loud.

Columns

If you don't like me, then 1) stop reading my blog and 2) do not go pick up a daily cal today or go to these links for my 2 columns, here and here.

Big day.

Here we go

First of my weekly columns, hell yeah!

YES

Fighting

Can't wait for Fighting to come out on DVD, I am shamed to say I missed in theatres.

I am so excited.

This is an example of sarcasm.

Vick

The Eagles have apparently been preparing for Vick in every aspect. Even the merch shop.

The Nug

Hi. My name is Joe from Wisconsin. And I'm going to be honest with you, I'm a little drunk right now.

-Joe from Wisconsin to security guard at the Golden Nugget

A letter

Dear Berkeley,

I'm not ready for you yet. You make me hate myself more than Kevin Krause's parents hate themselves for what they brought into this world. But here I come anyway.

Fuck.

This song owned Europe

Roll on or off you Bears!

Not only has Ted Miller featured one of my articles on his site, he also writes my favorite Pac-10 blog.

This is a great, and I use this in its true sense and not as a casual compliment, article.

Cash flow

Anytime a writer can combine sports and entertainment seemlessly, it always turns out well.

Here's his piece for SI. GOLD!

Palahniuk

Finished his book "Rant" the other day. It has to be one of his better books. I mean, the guy is a god, but this was a gem.

It had a very non-linear feel to it and the book makes commentary and interpretation on itself, which I have not seen outside of Vonnegut's "Breakfast of Champions." It ended up being rather mind blowing. And he broke out of his element with a more futuristic and sci-fi-esque dystopia. That on top of creating a narrative using a ton of different narrators was impressive.

Thus, I must amend the ranking of his books, which originally read like this.

1. Choke
2. Lullaby
3. Fight Club
4. Snuff

Now, goes as follows (oops, first run through I missed out on Survivor)

1. Choke
2. Rant
3. Lullaby
4. Fight Club
5. Snuff
6. Survivor (I liked it, until the end. Then it dies, but not in a good way).

And it should be noted here that the top 4 are super close, like ridiculously close.

London blogging

Travelling plus writing a monster column plus travel blogging equals not a lot of time for this. Sorry.

But I will get better when I get back, so bear with me.

Last two nights, Alyse and I saw Les Mis and Phantom of the Opera (my two favorite musicals). Both were absolutely excellent.

I think I have settled on Hugo's miserables being the better in terms of literary elements. He weaves so many complex plot lines into three hours it's insane. Then he brings them all into the revolution and spits them back out as miserable as before. Just genius.

Goodbyes

My program in Spain ended today. Most everyone got on their planes and left. Back to America. 5 weeks of the best weeks we have ever had and back to real life. It was sad to see them go.

These types of programs really bring people close. It's like hyper speed dating/ friendship. For 5 weeks they are with you all the time– breakfast, lunch, dinner, sleepovers.

There's no space. But at the end of the program you feel that you have known these people your whole life. They become great friends, best friends and or bitter enemies.

Last night, the eight of us (the team), who have spent the whole trip together (taking trips, drinking, everything), went to our favorite bar one last time.

It was weird to think that we would never be in this place together again. We might never fully reunite. Sure, we will see each other in pairs of more. But the chance of all 8 in a room together is unlikely. Sad, but true.

I always have a tough time thinking about stuff like that. This isn't like California, where I can always find a way in to my old dorm room or apartment. This is Villaviciosa de Odon, Spain, and I can confidently say that I won't be back. Except in 4 days to pick up my luggage.

Europe is so far away, I may never get back here, no matter what I say now. It's a pretty rough thought.

Alyse and I take off for Valencia in a few hours, so we are just hanging out. It's weird to watch this place that we lived in for a month turn into a ghost town. It's even worse to clean out a room.

I get sad cleaning out a hotel room. It's just somewhere you will never be again. The memories can't be duplicated. It's done. Over. You have to check out.

I think emptying a room out is one of my least favorite things to do. You build your life in the room. You make it your own. It is a representation of you. It's your life and then you clear it out and it's empty.

Your life is gone and once again it's an empty room, like you were never there. I always think about leaving a note to the person, who will live there after me, but I never do. The maid might pick it up and then the plan would be ruined. And what would my note say?

"Joe Cannon lived here." To which the reader would respond, "So? Who the fuck is Joe Cannon?" An obvious oversight of greatness, but it's forgivable.

or maybe- " GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!" But that's not clever enough.

So I don't write them.

I just get really sad about getting old. I know you aren't comfortable with me having feelings, but I really hope that I'm living a full life.

I wish this program was two weeks longer. Then it would be perfect. Alyse and I are making it that long by heading off to London for a week after 4 days in Balenthia. But it would be nice to have had two weeks more with the group.

I miss everyone from home, seeing JT in Porto was a big pick me up from homesickness. Honestly, after the first night in Paris when the homesickness hit hard, I haven't felt it, until today. I miss the people that left 3 hours ago.

Having the greatest travel companion/girlfriend eases my hyperemotionality a lot. And knowing that I'm going to see everybody soon is exciting.

I hope that the whole team will reunite again. It just won't be the same. It can't be. The good news is that it doesn't have to be. We started off with some wild experiences and even better memories. Let's have some more.

In conclusion, I don't suck at goodbyes. I just would rather not say them. I always cry. Always.

When it comes check out time, you just have to go. Otherwise, I would never leave.

Thanks to the team for some great memories.

Here's a quote from last night that I think sums up our relationship rather well.

"There was a time tonight, when I was going to throw up, and give up, but I didn't. I said, 'If we are going out, then we are going all night long. So I didn't throw up."