The Polls are in: Summer '07= Ribs & Hip-Hop

Well, it's official... Hip-hop is "in" for the summer. A brief stroll around Wicker Park confirmed it this Memorial Day Weekend, when they were blasting Clipse in Reckless, Company Flow in Una Mae's, and... I don't know, some garbage in Urban Outfitters. I responded to the trend accordingly. A glimpse of the shuffle:



I mean, I don't want to be the guy that bucks every trend, but I really love hip-hop, and I hate when it comes into fashion every three years or so, and I have to listen to some fake-ass, desperately intellectual hipsters tell me what I'm supposed to like about it.

With that rant off my chest, I should mention that Memorial Day itself was excellent, in large part due to my friend Tsha and her mother, who cooked up this ridiculous meal for Josh and Myself. There may have been other people present as well, but my attention was locked on the meat, like Chewbacca on Endor. Luckily, Josh keeps a mini buzz-saw in his pocket, so we were able bail.

Hydrate or Die Tryin'... No more!

Question: Does Glaceau really expect me to keep buying 50 Cent's Vitamin Water, now that they cut the chromed-out packaging? I mean, this new label just ain't street. Even worse, they removed the quote, "Suckaz be movin' out the way at them beverage conferences."
Word to Gatorade: My life is now seriously devoid of ill hip-hop beverages.

The 80s are back.

As a kid growing up in the 80s, I only wanted one thing: lasers in the background of my school pictures. Oh, and Lazer Tag. Yeah, two things. While my Mom never let me get the pictures (mine are all "Traditional"), my brother and I did eventually pick up a pair of these bad boys.

As the 80s faded into the 90s, my appetite for lazers went dormant; and was eventually replaced by L.A. Looks hair products.

Thankfully, Bungie redeemed my life this week, with their release of the Halo 3 beta. Check the vid- it looks more like an ELO concert than a game of Halo. It's good to know that some people still remember what it means to be Rad.

Transition

Blazers Low
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

To my great relief, I am officially down to one job. About 35-40 hours a week. A normal schedule that feels like another vacation, considering the 60+ hour weeks I've become accustomed to.

I am so happy with my newly freed time, in fact, that I spent most of this weekend drafting a cover letter for my next 2nd job. I've learned my lesson though-- from now on I'm only applying for dream jobs. I almost landed one once; only school thwarted me. And Lord knows I don't have that to get in my way at the moment.

So after many hours hunched in the lounge at Alliance, I have a pretty dope cover letter together. Just the right mix of bravado, flattery, and brilliance. You know, like everything I write.

The only problem is, the position I'm applying for doesn't exist, and the company in question probably doesn't have the budget to create it. The goal of my cover letter isn't to sell myself. It's to convince this company to rethink their entire public image, hire me, and allow me to handle the change.

It's a pretty audacious goal, but when you only apply for dream jobs, that's the way it's gotta be. Besides, I wrote like 3 drafts of that letter. And I never rewrite.

I'm a shoo-in. Get it?

Have you Slept Yet?

Goodbye Japan.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

It's 3:00am in Chicago, and I'm wide awake. Perhaps I'm not fully adjusted yet. At least I'll have endless espresso in about 2 hours.

In regards to my last, "introspective" entry, I seem to be taking steps toward changing my life here in Chicago. On my first day back, I sent a sort of "fuck off" email to the Lawyers, although I admit it was phrased more politely than that. I told them that I didn't need their money, which is hilarious because post-Japan, I need it more than ever. But sanity is more important. With any luck, today will be my last as their bitch. Amber is taking steps toward leaving too, which helps my conscience. And she bought a Prius! 'Atta girl.

Happy Endings?

Salarymen Graffiti
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

The first sentence of this post was written and deleted about 6 times. Each tackled a different issue I have with life, ranging from my rampant aimlessness, to my mistreatment of those who deserve better, to more positive thoughts about life's general excellence. All overlaid with depression, stemming from my impending return to Chicago, where I feel like the chaps pictured here.

This trip was bound to spark some introspection, as I've spent a huge part of it alone, but I'm going to organize my thoughts with a pen before I get all emo on ya'll. Most of this shit isn't fit for public consumption anyway.

7 a.m. Update

OMG Liverpool wins on Penalities! Pics on Flickr and Vids on Myspace as soon as I get an hour or two of sleep!

Work
So, I just spoke with my cousin Bob, who teaches English here in Japan. Bob seems to think that I'd be able to find work here, with an agency that will line up housing and a livable salary. As many of you know, this was a long term goal of mine, that is perhaps more attainable than I had thought. More on that later.

Play
Liverpool plays Chelsea tonight in leg 2 of the Champions League Semis. Chelsea has a 1-0 lead from the first leg, but THIS IS ANFIELD, BITCH! L'Pool's gonna bring it home, no doubt. I'm going to head over to Ebisu to watch the game here. Should be a crazy time, as the game is on at 3:30 a.m., and everyone is bound to be a bit slap-happy and more than a bit drunk.