Where did the time go?

Folks from my high school are planning our ten-year reunion. The milestone sounds unreal. It feels like just yesterday we were all getting our diplomas. On the other hand, there's a large list of setbacks and accomplishments I've experienced in that time frame. The juxtaposition of these two ideas feels contradictory, yet fitting. Looking over my classmates' facebook and myspace profiles, some haven't aged a day while others I don't even recognize. I wonder what impression I'll make on them without the thick glasses, slouching posture, and severe awkwardness. Am I where they thought I'd be?

My memories in high school aren't particularly scarring or nostalgic. I recall having a few friends who shared both my gaming obssession and off-beat sense of humor, two things that definitely haven't changed over the years. There were ups and downs at school (and home), arguments, a few dickhead bullies and the aforementioned social awkwardness, but I can't really say it was bad. I wouldn't want to relive that time, because having no car and no money while sharing an already-small room with someone else and therefore having little-to-no privacy ain't fun. And being a dorky black kid pretty much concludes ever fitting into any sort of clique, except the dorky kids. Hmmm, maybe it's worse than I remember.

One nice thing about a high school reunion is it gives you a way to reconnect with people you don't keep up with anymore. After high school if you lose contact with someone there's no easy way to do that. Facebook and MySpace are useful for that, although both sites became popular only recently. Even so, people can delete or neglect their profiles on those sites, just like they can skip a high school reunion. Sometimes I wonder about those whose paths intersect with mine briefly and then we go our separate ways. Did they succeed? Fail? Marry? Divorce? Would their lives make an interesting movie?

These are things that spring to mind as I get older. At some point over the last ten years I became adult without realizing it. Now my mind thinks about the economy, politics, saving for retirement, and health insurance. I used to be some kid waiting for summer blockbusters and major video game releases. Now I do that and pay bills.

Pimples, Disney, justice, etc

An update on goings-on in my life.

The other day I was thinking about the US justice system and how those with money can usually skirt harsh punishment. When I tried to imagine a world where sentencing for crimes were handed down fairly and evenly, my head couldn't comprehend the idea. It almost seemed wrong to me. What the hell? Had my cynicism somehow looped upon itself until the reality seemed more 'right' than the ideal? I've read too many stories of injustice to lay back and accept business as usual. Maybe it was my realistic side overruling my idealistic side. Who knows. Further investigation is needed.

There should be a cut off age for acne. This shit is ridiculous for 27. And fluorescent lights are the devil.

My job is sending me to a conference in Anaheim, CA at the end of the month, which is great since I've been bouncing around the Raleigh-Durham area for the last six months without visiting anywhere new. Even better, the hotel is literally a block away from Disneyland, so some friends are going to show me around the park and the surrounding area. Definitely going to be a great time.

A mere month after that excursion I'm going to Disney World with a friend. Let's call him MacBoy. We planned out the trip last night, by navigating the website and checking out the schedule. This will be my first visit, but MacBoy's fourth, so he led me through all the necessary steps. From the luggage pickup, monorail access, airport transportation, flexible park visitation, and the all-encompassing pass complete with fingerprint verification, I was left in shock at the high bar Disney sets for their guests. And as MacBoy went over the many perks and amenities we'd enjoy the park began to sound so inviting it became creepy. Like in Big Fish when Ewan MacGregor goes to that perfect small town where the residents are incredibly nice, but they won't let him leave. I'm going to be Disney-ed out by the time all that's over.

Sticking to a diet isn't hard, but it sure isn't fun. This is doubly true when you're abstaining from drinking.

I've been enjoying the hell out of the Super Smash Bros. Brawl soundtrack. Nintendo not only included an absurd number of remixes of classic games (Dr. Mario and Tetris tracks? Yes please) on the disc, they commissioned an incredible number of composers to handle the task. It's a nerd's wet dream and a heavy dose of nostalgia.