Sordid Exuberance

Keep a diary of what you're hitting, what's frustrating you, and your goals.
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ted
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Sordid Exuberance

Post by ted »

Episode 1: I see some corpses and judge the state science fair. I also discover that I am made entirely out of Boston Baked Beans. Damn you, Ferrara Pan!

My name is Ted and I live in the mountains because I am a misanthrope. I study plant molecular evolution at Claremont Graduate University. Springtime in the San Gabriels is beautiful; Yucca whipplei in bloom.
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The view from my house. Beyond this ridge is the smoky, sunlit mortuary I despise, Lost Angeles.
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Saturday I was driving home and came across a nasty car accident where a big Toyota truck had ended up on top of a smaller sedan. There was a cop there but no ambulances yet. People were scattered about crying, and a pair of people were laying on the ground, really mashed up. In case you were wondering, they really do drape white sheets over the recently deceased. :? After this, I went home, traveled back in time and edited this post which was originally about how gay male footbag players look in shorts.

Yesterday, I was a judge at the California state science fair. I had to wake up at 5:30 am to drive (read 'sit in traffic') to downtown Lost Angeles by 7:30. It was fun though, lots of bright little minds. I got a judges handbook before I spoke to the kids. There were a few guidelines we had to abide by; I was not allowed to solicit personal information from the students (yuck), I was supposed to act interested and engage the students in conversation, I was not supposed to tell them what they should have done, and I was supposed to 'treat them with respect and avoid having contempt for the students.' What kind of corrupt, callous bastards do they typically have as judges?

On a side note, how is it that I can be so shitty at footbang after 5 years of playing? I have sessions where my skill is roughly equal to that of 3 years ago. I hate you kicky-sac!!!!

I make the best peach cobbler.
I have the cutest baby daughter.
I can bench press 100 dollars.
Last edited by ted on 29 May 2005 15:42, edited 2 times in total.
Theodore Anderson
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habitat
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Post by habitat »

wow when did I get so smart :wink:

btw, welcome James Randall
James Randall
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Post by wolfpac444 »

I happened to like Sordid Exhuberance.

It was funny -- when I read "Footblogs :: Sordid Exhuberance" in my RSS reader (which doesn't show who posts", I was like "Oh, Ted must have started a blog".
Mike Hansen
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ted
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Post by ted »

Episode 2: I meditate and then recieve an email threat.

We spend 2 hours meditating on my favorite rock by the swimming hole, in the nude. I reveal to Kevin Crowley that I often have difficulty knowing who I am and he agrees that personal identity can be a nebulous concept. He expresses his fear of being lonely and I tell him I am often troubled that what I perceive to be happiness is so temporary and ill-defined. Kevin shares with me Crowley's steps to self-awareness:

1. Spend quiet time alone everyday.
2. Don't wear clothes if you don't need to.
3. Cut away
4. Cut your own hair. You are beautiful.
5. Examine what makes you feel ashamed, upset, or embarassed and ask yourself if there is valid motivation for it.

We had a session where I hit drifter>barrage BSOS and drifter>royale>whirling swirl.

[James, we have always been smart. Ever since your mother bore a beautiful baby boy.]

Scene 2:
I subscribe to an online DVD rental service. I rented a movie recommended to me called Customer 152. A economically struggling fellow applies for a new credit card with incredibly high limits and good rates. When he is unable to pay it, he begins getting visits from 'the tall men' who end up breaking his fingers. It was terrible so I wrote a review of it:
I wrote: Where to begin...the film looks like analogue camcorder quality, often grainy, probably only a single mic in each scene, unbearable set choices...All of which are easily forgotten with a fantastic screenplay and solid acting. Unfortunately, both are absent. I was grimacing in the first 20 seconds of the movie from the awkward dialogue and sterile set reminiscent of low-bugdet pornography. Where the hell did they cobble together such an incompetent cast? Was there a script? Why is this movie available commercially? Why is my video from 9th grade about the periodic table of elements not listed? This movie certainly leaves you with a lot of unanswered questions. Sequel?
Favorite moment: When Terrance's car overheats, listen for the bubbling of the dry ice in the engine to create the 'steam'
Then I get this email:
studiohfilmworks wrote: The tall men cometh for you. We break your fingers, hippy boy.
Theodore Anderson
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ted
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Post by ted »

Episode 3: I shave my head, expose my scalp to a full day of sunburn in the mtns and now I am suffering dizzyness and a searing hot pain all over my head reminiscent of a 3 day hangover :x.

Why I like Science:

I spent 3.5 weeks in Hawaii doing field research and it didn't cost me a dime. The National Science Foundation and the W.M. Keck Foundation picked up the tab. There is a lot of money out there for scientists to do fun research.

Cool Lava.
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Coast of Molokai'i. Down on the coast is an old leper colony. Nathan Oates didn't believe that lepers were really quarantined there through the early 1900's until we hiked down to the old church and graveyard.
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Summit of Mauna Kea, 14,000 ft above sea level with the ocean in the background. Tom Mosher and I watched the sunset together.
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I was out botanizing this week and collected Nemacladus glanduliferus. The floral male reproductive organs have little transparent icicle-like appendages. So cool 8). It seems no one knows the purpose of these very unique structures.
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Cross section of a stem showing the cortex, vascular elements and epidermis:
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I am warm light shining on all of you.
Theodore Anderson
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ted
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Post by ted »

Gee Ted, your posts are boring as hell. I hope that as you die it's a gasping struggle to keep breathing as you cling tenuously to your silly life. You use big words you learned in college to conceal your insecurities about being socially awkward. Nobody thinks you're smart, just an ostentatious jerk. You should be voted off modified, liverlips.
Theodore Anderson
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Jeremy
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Post by Jeremy »

yeah Ted: what were you thinking 8O

Actually those photos are awesome - I'm always impressed by your photography - nature rocks!

Wow I was just thinking you should really come to Australia and meet Lotus - I'm sure you'd get on so well with him. (lotus=Australian footbag legend)
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Post by Moxie »

Liverlips, your posts are pointless as hell. But you have some beautiful pictures in this thread. I hope you don't die, because you'd be a waste of space in the ground. Nice blog, but it's a little too coherent for my taste. Work on that.
______________
Emily Kulczyk

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it"--Albert Einstein
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mosher
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Post by mosher »

ted wrote:Tom Mosher and I watched the sunset together.
That sunset was beautiful.
Thanks for letting me be a part of it.
I was surprised at first when you insisted we watch it in the nude, but you're a nature guy and you seem to know best so I ran with it.
It was definately the right call.
Tom Mosher

hate is a waste of passion!
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Post by C-Fan »

I`ll start posting poetry in here as soon as possible.

Some other things I`d like to see in this blog:

1. Pictures of fractals in nature.
2. Ted showing contempt for kids.
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ted
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Post by ted »

Episode 4: Utah. 15 days of backpacking and canyoneering. I hit Rubberman 2 and a sealed Janiwalker in Zion National Park. I also did some kicky-sac with a grizzled woman who claimed to have played for 24 years. Her record was 45 consecutives.

I love digital photography. I have hundreds of photos but I tried to condense them to a few images that capture the majesty of canyons. I hope you enjoy.

Beautiful Dark Canyon
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Neat rock contacts bewteen a red sandstone, a limestone layer, and a white sandstone.
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Pure art. (Make a poster of this, Blackcrown)
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Waterfall in Dark Canyon.
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Best jumping hole. Ever.
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Exploring the start of Keyhole slot canyon.
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Wood, rock, composition.
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Slot canyon fun. Wetsuits are for the 40 degree F water
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My friend Dana rappeling through a cathredral room in Pine Creek slot. Note the 3 natural arches.
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More arches and ropes.
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Why canyoneering is as fun as footbag.
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Long way down on Navajo Sandstone in Zion National Park.
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I believe you have all lost your minds.
Theodore Anderson
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Post by Senor Grommet »

Quite the pics there, CHET! (Wayne's World ref.)
Looks like you must have had tons of fun without me

Look me up when you get back to the West Coast . . . and be sure to check your answering machine for drawn out messages with little to no content.

Jeremy
My name: Jeremy Mirken, AKA Chocolatey Shatner, AKA jerk enemy rim.

I kick it with trunk chef elf and liz luck key my.
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ted
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Post by ted »

Episode 5: Barnacles all over my hull.

Wanna hear some music I made? OK. That's me on guitar. I dare you to listen.
http://wfs.cgu.edu/andersot/music/thebigeasy.m4a

my phone doesn't ring
this ship isn't sailing
I've no cellular service
don't you dare put me in the air
Theodore Anderson
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Post by bigdirtyfoot »

Wow I never saw this blog before, but those pictures are AMAZING. Look at how clear that waterfall IS. Super cool, props!
David Wilder

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NC Aliens.
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ted
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Post by ted »

Thanks.

Ok OK OK, before (if) anyone comments on the music, I've got one for you.

How many emo kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

None, they like to cry in the dark. Ha.
Theodore Anderson
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Post by Senor Grommet »

When I read your footblog, I feel like Im readng james joyce (i.e., no idea wtf is going on). I encourage more people to read it. At least it is funny!
My name: Jeremy Mirken, AKA Chocolatey Shatner, AKA jerk enemy rim.

I kick it with trunk chef elf and liz luck key my.
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Post by HG »

you know. Lots of people say that all the fat people are in wisconsin. But ive seen more fat people in California then here.




-Ted
JSACK wrote:alright well me and obara'bars, shredded our dicks off, since we are both in high school, obviously there is some sort of talent show
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Post by HG »

And by the way mr. Ted! Whyd you have to go and stomp my lonn bag, huh? i just found another hole! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




:cry:
JSACK wrote:alright well me and obara'bars, shredded our dicks off, since we are both in high school, obviously there is some sort of talent show
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Post by Senor Grommet »

Imported Protuberance
Awarded . . . there's only one word that rhymes with exuberance :cry:

So what's new?
My name: Jeremy Mirken, AKA Chocolatey Shatner, AKA jerk enemy rim.

I kick it with trunk chef elf and liz luck key my.
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ted
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Post by ted »

What's new?

Well, now I am thinking of changing the name of my blog to "Awkward Protuberance".

I am also thinking about quitting grad school or at least taking some tyme off. I am sick of this place. I am sick of being poor as hell, sick of no friends, sick of no shred, sick of driving, sick of being sick of everything. It always puts me in a shitty mood. I am moving to a new place in 5 days, still up on the mountain but closer to society and with a roommate. I have been building walls, hanging the door, knocking a hole in an existing wall and putting in a window, drywalling, painting, etc. Good, practical experience. Too bad negativity and self-pity aren't currency or I would be rich...at least I'm resourceful.


Episode 6: What I'd do if I were rich.

Kevin Regamy and I spent several hours discussing the merits of Capitalism. We argued about whether or not we cared to take part in accumulating wealth or if we would feel our ideals compromised in doing so. We agreed that 'sordid exuberance' would really best describe our financial renaissance:
We wrote:Bespectacled, donning fine, shiny sashes aboard SS Tom Mosher we fill our tumblers with scotch and trade racy limericks. I propose we renew our memberships with the Sporting Gentleman's Cycling Club, stop by the Haberdashery and attend the first of the yearly Debutante season. But each evening I find myself stricken with embarassment and agony as failure to perform beneath the sheets leads to a drunken climax where I smash my tumbler by the fireplace and retire angrily to my quarters. Ahoy. $$$$$$$$$
On a side note, I believe I am actually going to play footbag today. Hurrah. Did anyone listen to my song a few posts back?
Theodore Anderson
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