January 2003

Join me in the virtual Survivor game!

January 30, 2003: Okay, I need 4 other people to join up with me at SurvivorNews.net's Virtual Survivor game. I am not too positive on how it works, but I think you basically pick who you think will get voted off next and you answer some questions in a certain voting period. You can't vote yet, and you can't vote at all unless you have a team of 5 or more. And if we have the best score at Episode 13, we win cash! So, all you gotta do is click on the link above, click on the Piranha Pool, register as a new user, get your password and then login. I'm not sure how we form teams yet - and after perusing the site again, it looks like it's not available to make new teams yet. But if you're interested, send me an email or surf the site yourself and maybe you can find the answers that have eluded me. But on to other things....
So who watched the Super Bowl? What a riot! Watching the Raiders get spanked was hilarious. But I think what came afterwards was the best - Alias! What a great show. And did you catch the Buffy rerun - I hadn't seen it before but it was good. I also got addicted to another stupid computer game - The Sims! Have you played this drug-like game? You get so caught up in making sure your sim is doing things like eating, cleaning the bathroom, showering, etc, that you kind of neglect to do them yourself. That's just sad. Someone needs to take my computer away from me RIGHT NOW! No more video games for me.....okay, that's a LIE.
Well, my Mom and Harv are up in Vegas right now - I'm imagining they're at a slot machine right now as I type this. I will be seeing them Saturday, and they will be dropping by to see my place with furniture and crap on Sunday as they head home. Saturday is shaping up to be a busy day, what with school, lunch with Mom and Cheryl Bell, a friend of Mom's from a few years back, and then going to Sgt Marian Masur's birthday party that night. Oy.
So in conclusion, if you are interested in being a virtual Survivor team, let me know. Hopefully new teams can be formed soon.
What's New? Nothing. Deal.

It's Super Bowl Sunday!

January 26, 2003: And I am barely aware of what's going on with the game. It doesn't sound too exciting - but the commercials are pretty cool, especially seeing the preview for the 2 Matrix movies. Guess where I'll be in May and November? Daredevil and Hulk don't look all that bad either. This should be a good year for movies.
Alright, what's been going on with me during the past 12 days? After realizing that I'm very bored, I decided to start up my Master's Degree at the University of Phoenix. I'm getting a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems. I should hopefully be done sometime late summer 2004. I really like that the program is a combination of class instruction and online, so I don't have to go to a classroom EVERY Saturday morning for the next year and a half. This previous Saturday was my first class, and I was pretty nervous considering it's been about 3.5 years since I graduated. Ouch.
I've also got a new addiction, and it's called Simcity 4. This stupid game is such a time sucker, and before you know it, you have killed hours. It's just fascinating to watch your city self-destruct (which is unfortunately usually the case with mine) or to see it prosper, and you can even see the cars and people walking around the town. Pretty cool.
I went back to Los Angeles last weekend. Part of it was spent going to visit Wendy (of Europe Trip fame), as she was in the hospital. Everything should be okay, but it still sucked to see her in there. Also during the trip I finally got to go back to Hollywood and the Sunset Strip with Roni. We did my favorite trip, which involves going to Virgin Megastore. I LOVE that place. I think she accompanies me to humor me. Thanks Roni!
My apartment is getting more and more settled. So if you're ever in Vegas, and I don't despise you, feel free to come on over and crash on the couch or in the guest room (although there isn't an actual bed in there yet - but I do have an air mattress!).
What's New? I have started up the Survivor section again, with the Preshow page up for the time being. I can't wait for February! I have also returned to my web roots by putting up movie thoughts and the Hobie Book Club as well. The book club has an impressive roster of ONE! Who needs you all anyways?

No Buffy tonight! Jerks....

January 14, 2003: Seriously, would it kill UPN to show Buffy tonight? Apparently, it would. Whatever, I have my Season 3 DVDs to watch and I didn't need the distraction from finishing my Europe pictures. Wow - what a relief. Like I said before, that was the initial reason to get the website in the first place. NOW what do I do with this 100 MB of space? I'm sure I'll figure something out.
What's New? The conclusion of my Europe pictures has been posted with the Venice section. Additionally on the Venice page, I put Amazon links to the books Jason, Wendy, & I used while traveling throughout Europe. I definitely would use these again on another trip to Europe.

Woo hoo! Payday (night) is tomorrow!

January 13, 2003: And it couldn't be a moment too soon. Hobie needs some money and he needs it now! Okay, it's not dire straits, but initial costs here kind of hit me hard. So it will be nice to get another paycheck and soon. Not much else going on, but I decided I really need to finish up my European pictures section, as it's getting close to being a year ago when we actually went on the trip. Sad, isn't it? My excuse? Well, I didn't get the website up till September. So there. In other news, I just want to say how amazed and proud I am of my friend Veronica, who is working as a math teacher at the junior high I went to (Santa Fe). I think it's incredible, and she told me today that she loves it. I think it's awesome! Go Noni! But I guess it means you have to have normal hair color now, right? ;-)
What's New? First, I took off the Survivor section of my site, as it's old news, especially with the revealing of the Survivor: Amazon contestants. Look soon for my preshow analysis. And as mentioned above, I've completed my Florence photo page. The small Venice page should be up really soon, and then, I WILL FINALLY BE DONE with the original reason for this website!

This.... is my life. Sad, isn't it?

January 12, 2003: I have determined that I exist only to provide others entertainment.....<sigh>.......and I LOVE IT! Alright, I'm not that bipolar, I just wanted to keep things interesting around here. You may notice that I've finally come back to update this website. Well, la di da, you're the observant one, aren't ya? ;-) Anyways, the latest with me - my apartment is getting settled quite nicely. The job - well, I'll have to get back to you on that one. The social life -non existent for the time being. I did go to First Friday and the O'Club afterwards this last week. Fun, but I am VERY uncomfortable in a situation where everybody is friends with each other already and I'm the 'new' guy. That shit needs to stop, and soon! I am having a blast with the people at work though and I have become known as 'hobartbarnes', pronounced in one single gasp. I don't know how it started, but it did. Try to say it 5 times fast. I knew you couldn't. You didn't know my name could be so much fun, did you?
What's New? My Music section, the About Me section, and some pictures, some from Christmas and some from Puerto Rico.

On & On & On

January 4, 2003: I am back, party people! Okay, most of you already knew that, as I probably came and visited you during the past month. But now it's official, since it's on the Internet, and the Internet is never inaccurate. Anyways, I've been quite busy trying to get my life restarted here in Sin City. But of course, I spent some time before coming to Vegas in a few different corners of the Western Hemisphere. Hell, I actually had a few more weeks in the Azores still after my last update on the web. Warning: The following is an exceptionally long ramble. I am pretty much writing this for my own benefit when I get memory loss or something. Don't concern yourself with reading this unless you REALLY can't afford the $9.95/month fee for porn.

Lets see, what else happened before leaving the Azores? I pretty much just killed time in the office as I was SUPER short and didn't have much to do anyways. The title of this journal entry above stems from my remaining time there, as Tracy Glenz let me stay with her for a week, and one night we had an ABBA and puzzle extravaganza. You had to be there. You know you're jealous. But this ABBA song came on, and damn if that song didn't stick in my head for the next MONTH and a HALF until I got my stuff and was able to play the CD. Scary. It is a good song though. I do remember that it was sucky weather up until I left. I also met my replacement, Lt Darin North. I think the office will be in great hands with him there. Byron and I could not wait to get out of there though, and when the 22nd rolled around, it was parole time! The Space-A flight sucked! But realizing it was taking me back to the states made it worth it. We got into Baltimore that night, and hightailed it from the hotel to the movie theatre, quickly eating Wendy's before catching Harry Potter 2!!! Unfortunately, it was a 9PM showing, meaning it was 1AM our time still, so we were both quite tired trying to watch this movie. C'est la vie. The next day, I said see you later to Byron and I was on my way to Vegas!!!!!!!!!

In Vegas, I met up with my Mom and Harv (and Lori and Bill who came up to meet me too!) at the airport. From there we went to Bally's (and eventually the Howard Johnson for one night, thank God, and then Flamingo for a few days). It was so good to see family again! We proceeded to spend 7 days down on the strip, which is not a real safe thing to do. It gets expensive trying to gamble and not gamble while there. Additionally, this is when I bought my new car (oh, she is sooooooooooo sweet!) and got my new apartment. I will probably be putting up more pictures of both in the future. I had a great visit with them, and we had a traditional Thanksgiving meal of Italian food at the Flamingo restaurant! It WAS good food though. The day after Turkey (or Pasta) day, they headed back home and I went to the airport to fly to Puerto Rico to visit my Dad.

The plane ride out there was pretty interesting, as I had a redeye flight to Newark (and was able to see the very indistinct skyline of New York City from the terminal - without the World Trade Center, it is very hard to recognize the skyline at all) and then from there to San Juan, at which I was to catch a little plane to Vieques. Well, the flight to San Juan was running late, so I thought for sure I was going to miss the flight to Vieques. Little did I know that I was the only one scheduled for this flight, and I ended up having my own chartered flight to Vieques. The weather was clear and gorgeous and the views were outstanding. I didn't have my camera out, so I didn't get pictures of it, but it was incredible. I landed in Vieques and was greeted by Dad & Pat & Chilli (the new doggie). I hadn't seen them for what I reckon to be about 3 years. Yikes! But it was great to see them and to spend time out there. I got a chance to snorkel, read a few books, go to Roosevelt Roads and see mainland Puerto Rico, meet Nancy Lee, and encounter the beginning of the 'winter' there, where it gets a little bit more windy than before. But it's still around 80 degrees outside. Someone's got to live the hard life. I really did love being down there with my Dad & Pat again, and I aim to not let that much time go by again. After a week, it was time to go and head to San Antonio. I tried to leave on my scheduled departure date, but the plane didn't want to go, so all of us passengers were put up in hotels, me in the Condado Plaza hotel in downtown San Juan. Not too shabby at all! The next morning, I was off to San Antonio!

At San Antonio, I was met by Byron! It was good to see him, although it really had been only 2 weeks. So it wasn't that long of a time apart. He was letting me stay with him and Connie in their very nice home, and we proceeded to watch Lilo & Stitch a lot, and I proceeded to spend plenty of money at Best Buy. Oh the joys of Best Buy and Barnes & Noble! In addition to catching up with the Kellys, I got to see my old friends and coworkers from AIA. I went out to lunch with a lot of them at this really good Mexican food (Mexican food.....YUM!) restaurant. It didn't seem like anything had changed, and it was more like I might have been gone a week or so, not 15 months. The biggest change was the office's reorganization. Bastards! (a story for another day) It was good to see Robbie, Dan, JJ, Carolyn & the other nuts of the Palace again. That night some of us went to Rudy's BBQ where I also got to see Loren again. The next day I was then off back to Las Vegas, where I had to actually start my real life again.

So the next day, without any furniture besides an air mattress and assorted other things I'd bought and brought, I went to Nellis AFB for my first day of work at the 422nd. Little did I know that I was going to be working with a bunch of crazy people! Actually, it was very comforting to find out I was going to be in a place with a bunch of very interesting and cool people. I really don't know what I'll be doing as a job, and I really can't talk about it much anyways (because I'm ignorant about it and I'd have to kill you if I told you.....;-) ). A week of that and inprocessing at Nellis, then it was time to go to LA for Christmas holiday!

While back in Los Angeles for Christmas, I was able to see Mila and Roni again! I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but it was great to see them again!!!!!!!!!!!! I really did miss my old friends, and it was great to be able to spend some time with them. Of course, I also got to see all my family finally too, as I went to 3 Christmas get togethers - one with the Beamans, one with the Sperskes, and then one finally with the Barnes (okay, really just Uncle Richard and Diane and her family, but still.....). It's awesome to be so close to home again.

Well, I'm tired just writing about all this shit, so I'm going to go to sleep now. I have pictures from a lot of what I just talked about, but I haven't put them up quite yet.

What's New? I did manage to put up a final Survivor page if you're interested. Lots o' links and a little analysis by me. Look in the future for pictures from Puerto Rico, Christmas, and some Vegas shots.

Shoot me an email if you want to. I may respond.