Slowly Learning...

So the tradition was kept alive this year as my mom held yet another clam bake at her new(er) house in Greece. As per usual there were plenty of clams (just under 60 dozen were served up and eaten this year), games (both boccee [excuse the spelling] and bean bag toss), dinner (just finished up the last of the leftovers tonight), and desserts (tasty as ever). I like to think that a fun time was had by all, and I certainly enjoyed myself. Even the minor rain at one point couldn't put a damper on the festivities.

Once again I'd like to thank both my mom and Charlie for all the work they did (my mom especially since I know how much planning and work she always puts into these things). They were fantastically gracious hosts to not only the 25+ guests, but also to the random assortments of overnight guests through the entire weekend.

And speaking of house guests, I would like to thank Cross and Em, Neil and Rachel, Steff, and Sabra for making the long treks into upstate New York. And as much as both me and my mother expressed a desire to try and get the entire Quarry crew to one of the clam bakes, I also understand how hard it is to get free time and travel over 5 or 6 hours just for an event like this. So instead I'll have to settle for a possible house reunion next July at Neil and Rachel's wedding (once again, congrats to you both on the engagement and pending marriage).

On another entertaining note, my dad, Mary Lou, and myself made our way out to Batavia Downs the other evening for a night of playing the ponies and the slots. And now while I would not normally gamble on such things (and trust me, both wagers are major gambles), they are good for a night of entertainment. It also helped that my dad treated in both cases... I hadn't ever been to the track out there (although I had smelled it many a time before) and had a very fun time. It isn't like standard horse races with a jockey on their backs, but rather the riders at Batavia Downs ride on small carts behind the horses (and also get a running start behind a pace car of sorts). Being the natural gambler that I am I carefully studied the race program before each race, searching for the secret winning formula, and then choosing horses based on a scientific formula which amounted to choosing my favorite name. This worked in three races, and failed miserablly in the other four. The most notable win came in the first race we bet on where a horse named Sahbra won me $5.70 for my $2 bet (however I never found a Steff or Christine horse, and the Sabra named lost me another $2 bet in a later race as she couldn't hold off a late race charge).

The slots were also rather amsuing. We all sat down at a block of Video Poker machines, each with $20, and spun to our hearts content. This state was reached by both Mary Lou and my father when they hit rather big and walked away winners, and by me when I finally gave in and walked away with my remaining $10.

So as I am starting to run out of late nights/early mornings in which to write entries I've also begun to look at all that I need to do before I leave. And towards the top of that list is to compile a list of emails/addresses to bring with me so that I can stay in touch with everyone on this side of the Pacific when I do once again get online. I plan on going through all my most recent emails to gather up all the most recent information, and I hope to do a rather thurough job, but I'm sure there will be some names/emails that I'll miss along the way. I plan on sending out a test mass email within the next day or so to test out the list, so if you don't get an email (or wish not to be on the list when I'm overseas), or if you just want to make sure I have all your info right, just let me know here on my blog or through an email to either my Cornell email address (tjh23) or my Cortland one (heidt77). I haven't decided which one I will use most often over there, but I'm leaning towards my Cortland one as it tends to get a lot less junk mail.

Oh, and as a final note I headed down to the Drryden Theatre the other night (movie theater off the Eastman House that plays old/unavailable films for those of you that haven't heard of it) and caught a screening of So Long At the Fair..., a 1950 British film about a sister who visits Paris in 1889, only to find both her brother and his room missin in the morning. It was a rather entertaining film which apparently is the inspiration behind Jodie Foster's new film Flgihtplan. The ending did seem a bit odd (I don't mind giving it away because the film isn't readily available anywhere) when the girl (played by Jean Simmons [the actress, not the rocker]) finds out that her brother was taken away in secret when it was found that he was suffering from the black death. Yes folks, it seems he had a bad case of the plague. Somehow I think this ending may be left out of Flightplan. But if by chance you get the opportunity to see it, I'd take it. Even with me giving away the ending it is still entertaining.

So in conclusion...
-Seeing/saying goodbye to everyone was bitter sweet
-My mother did an outstanding job once again at entertaining an abundance of people, and feeding them all until they were ready to burst
-Anxiety/Nervousness are starting to really set in
-Horses named after ex's are good for $2.70
-Mass Email Test going out in the next couple days
-The plague was still a major problem in 1889, it remains to be seen if it also terrorizes air travel...
-The past couple of weeks have been fantastic (thank you to everyone's that been a part of it)

Posted by Thom at 2:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I'm not sure exactly where the urge to write this came from (maybe it's my leaving, maybe the recognition of someone on the street, maybe a complete whim), but I've been thinking about the past and my relationships a lot recently. Perhaps this could be because I've seen all three of my ex-girlfriends withint the past week, but the one that I've really been thinking about is a girl that I never even dated. It wasn't for lack of desire or effort (ok, maybe from lack of effort), I just got flat rejected. But still, she sticks in my mind.

Back when I transfered into Cortland I signed up for Intro to Photo (despite the fact that I had already basically taken the course at TCCC), and that is where I met her. On the first day of class, being a single guy and all, I naturally checked out the females in the class. There were a couple that were very attractive (bound to happen in an artistic course), and another couple borderline ones, but this girl just caught my eye. She had beautiful red hair (I've always had a thing for red hair) with two black streaks down the front. She also wore a jean jacket and skirt (always another plus), and when she put on her cute glasses, well that was it. I could tell she was fantastic. I don't really believe in love at first sight because so much is dependant on personality, but how could someone like that not have a awsome personality? I can quite honestly say that that experience was the closest that I've ever come to that feeling. I soon came to realize that I was right too. She had an amazing personality to match her appearance.

I really get to talk to her at all at the start, until one day in the darkroom. The whole class was doing work, and her and I were waiting to develop our rolls of film when out of nowhere she just started talking to me an asking me questions. Real questions too, not the standard "Hey, how you doing? I'm so-and-so, what's your name? What major are you?" and so on. These were more personal questions. About who I really was, and who she really was. I learned that she was a musical theater major, and even that didn't change my opinion of her. I grew more and more enamored with her.

Even fate seemed to step in about a two weeks into class, when we both arrived late (which we didn't realize at the time) and the whole class had gone to the conference room to critique each others work. Apparently there was a note on the board, but neither of us noticed it. Instead we sat there talking and joking with each other until she decided that we'd waited long enough. She got up and said she was going to get coffee and a bagel, and then as she picked up her bag to go she looked at me and said, "Come on. You're coming with me." I had no problems with that, and even if I did I doubt she would have taken no for an answer. So like that we left and went across the quad for coffee and bagels. She then proceeded to drag me along to all the other places she had to go that morning, and I tagged along, thinking how great it was to be hanging out with her like that.

We kept on with our friendship in class and around campus, and I learned even more about her. The more I heard, the more I liked her. Even her faults made her seem even better in my eyes. I'd hang around the darkroom just to chat with her while she worked, even if I didn't have anything of my own to do. She was, and is still is, the only woman to make me feel like stammering idiot. I may not be sauve and overly articulate, but generally I can hold my own. Not around her though. I like to think of myself as witty as well, but she had such a sharp mind and wit that I felt like I could never keep up with her. I remember one occasion where we were walking together in the rain and I mentioned how I loved the rain, and how it made me happy, and she asked if I were Shirley Manson. Normally I would have been able to come up with some cute, witty response like "yeah, except without the melodic voice", but instead I sputtered and stammered something about being happy when it was sunny too. To this day I still can't listen to Garbage without thinking about that moment, and what an idiot I must have looked like.

After a short while I made my bumbling attempt to ask her out on a date, and naturally I was turned down. Much like any other time around her, I felt nervous and idiotic, and came off poorly. Our friendship didn't seem to change too much, at least not until she was forced to withdraw from the class due to her being overworked and overstressed from an excessive course load. I still ran into her from time to time around campus, but not nearly as often. She had given me her phone number, and said we should hang out together sometime, but I never got up the courage to really do anything about that. I've always been bad on the phone (something I've just now started to overcome), and I knew that based on how things went in person it would be just that much worse for me on the phone.

Towards the end of the semester I ran into her once more and we got to hang out and wander the campus (her leading the way, me the little puppy following behind). We talked of staying in touch and I gave her my email and new phone number (she had been planning to transfer in the Fall, and it finally all had come through). Exchanging AIM screen names had been mentioned, and had it been any other girl I probably would have been able to swing that. But as it stood I bumbled my way through another conversation and missed the opportunity. After that the only contact I had with her was the one call I finally managed to make over the summer. I got her voicemail, left her an idiotic message, and never heard back from her. I don't blame her for not calling me back. How could I? Just about every time I was given the opportunity to be witty or clever I fell on my face.

It may seem that I've put her up on a pedestal, and maybe I have. In my mind she's a standard that I'm sure not even she could live up to. And I know that I probably wasn't as much of a stammering fool as I imagine. But I also know that at that time and place she was great, and to me she was one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. She was so unique and special. Truely one of a kind. She was one of those people who let me forget about everything else and just made me feel happy, even when I felt like a fool around her.

I have almost no regrets in my life. I believe that everything that has happened happened for a reason and without it I wouldn't be where I am today, be that good or bad. But one thing that I do regret is not having a better chance with her. I wish I could have been my typical, charming, lovable self rather than the stammering, bumbling idiot that I imagine I was. But in the end I guess this is just another one of those experiences that gives me character and had made me into who I am. So for that, thank you Ashley, whereever you are.

Posted by Thom at 2:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So we're a mere week away form my departure, and that can mean only one thing...Clam Bake Time! Tomorrow marks yet another clambake (something like 98 years in a row now?), and already the guests have begun to pour in. In fact this will be the first clambake in my recent memory where I actually have people crashing over night. Right now I've got 2 out of 3 ex-girlfriends staying at my mom's house, yes I do realize how strange that is, but I'm still very good friends with both of them. Next up tomorrow night we will also be housing another 2-4 people from the old Cornell crew, so it'lll be a nice, friendly full house (still trying to track down John Stamos and Uncle Joey however. Send any info on their where abouts to me personally).

In other strange girlfriend news, I also got the chance to spend some time with my first ex-girlfriend the other night. We had a lovely time, going to the movies and coffee afterwards, and chatting and whatnot. While seeing only on ex for a single evening might not seem as weird as housing two of them for a couple nights at the same time, it was quite unexpected as we have not really hung out at all in the past 4 years. So it was a nice, pleasant change. Hopefully we'll be able to do it once again when I return from my Far Eastern Voyage (I have my map and visa in my possesion now, so I'm good to go).

And lastly in other party news, my dad and girlfriend threw me a wonderful going away party at his house this past weekend. It was a fantastically catered party (by both the likes of Mary Lou and Dinosaur BBQ, although the Dinosaur BBQ didn't go quite as fast because everyone was stuffed off of Mary Lou's fantastically great appetizers). Almost all of the Heidt side of the family was there (with the sad exception of Jen and Pete who were off in Toronto), and despite the rain and golf on TV just about everyone took my dad's new Mustang out for a drive/ride (some multiple times). I'd have to say that the car didn't really stay in the driveway for more than like 15 minutes at a time. Not too hard to understand though, because I've had a few oportunities to drive the car, and it is a pleasure to drive. Fantastic acceleration, beautiful sounding engine, very nice handling, and pretty to look at. There was also a nice cake complete with Chinese characters spelling out "Wish You Good Luck Tommy" (some nicknames from younger days will never die, but that's quite ok with me...as long as it doesn't catach on elsewhere). So once again a big thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with me, and a extra big thank you to both my dad and Mary Lou for all the hard work they put into it.

P.S. - As always with family parties there was a nice $10 buy-in, dealer's choice poker game. And while I didn't win back all that I had lost over my short and unfortunate first run at a semi-pro poker career, I did play well enough and win enough to boost my card-playing esteem back up. I like to think that I proved to myself that without all the outside pressures of playing poker for a living I still know how to play well, and given a different situation (and more maturity) I could make it as a semi-pro.

So stay tuned for my future updates about the clambake and my final goodbye post before jetting off. (I'm still not completely sure how much access I will have in Beijing, but I will do my best to continue the postings while I'm over there as well.)

Posted by Thom at 1:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So this isn't so much a review of the new Daft Punk album as much as it is my own little rant (positive) about Daft Punk as a whole. I've always had a special place for Daft Punk in my heart, going way back to Homework even, and it continues to this day. But it's not like their music is all that great. It is, however, extremely entertaining. The other thing that I appreciate about Daft Punk is the constant growth. Many of you have heard my rants about how U2 are overrated reprocessed crap, and that their only real good album was when they actually tried something different (Pop). Well Daft Punk is on the other end of that. Just look at their 3 main albums (I'm not counting Daft Club here, it's just remixs)...

Homework - A fantastic openning album for the group. It's darker, deeper, and has a very bassy feel to it. It's very well put together and probably, in my mind, the best produced and put together of the three.

Discovery - Their second go around is still my favorite. However, this is easily the lowest on the musical quality scale (come on people, it was basically disco!), but it was also the most fun. Maybe I might be slightly biased too since it brings back great memories from Spring break in California, but it's still my favorite.

Human After All - Still haven't gotten fully into this one (I only got it about a week and a half ago) but it's definitely a new turn for the band. It's got much more of an electronic edge to it, with a little bit of that disco-y feel of Discovery underneath. From what I've gotten so far from the album, it's almost like a combination of Homework and Discovery, but with a whole new sound to it. If it wasn't the most modern sounding of the bunch I'd almost say it was the bridge album between the other two.

In the end though, each release from Daft Punk has gone in a completely new direction from where they seemed to be heading. They seem to constantly evolve and change (to the times and to their own personal whims) which makes every new release fresh and new. Not stale and old like everything someone like U2 has put out in the last 20 years. Daft Punk is Radiohead, plus a more electronical feel, minus some of the musical talent, minus some of the rock feel.

PS - In case you couldn't tell I'd reccommend all three Daft Punk albums to anyone, as well as every Radiohead album (I guess you could skip Pablo Honey if you wanted to), and I'd avoid all U2 (except Pop).

Posted by Thom at 6:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So I had a lovely time in Vermont this past week. Got to see Sabra, finally, as well as spend a fantastic couple of days on the lake boating, swimming, and attempting to ski. The weather was great, except for the one major storm one evening, but even that was entertaining. I also got to experience the beauty of an undisturbed night sky, something that's hard to come by most other places. Big thanks to both Sabra and her family for having me.

Also you may have noticed the new look of the site. That is thanks to Dan who updated it for me the other night. So thanks go out to him as well, for both the update and the constant webspace to rant about nothing at all.

On a sadder note, the summer is winding down and due to both lack of time and finances I was unable to get back down to New York City. I know I still have three weeks before I ship out, but with everything I have going on between now and then another trip is sort of out of the question. I appologize to those of you that I missed on my last visit. I promise that I will stop in to say hi when I return.

But on a more positive "End of Summer" note the Clambake and my exciting Eastern adventures approach ever closer. And of course you know what that means for me...hour upon hour in front of the computer trying to rip all my music before I leave. I am pleased to say that the process has been going a lot faster than I thought it would, and it's allowed me to catch up on my Dr. Mario (something I have deeply missed the last year). I'm thinking that at this rate I should be finished with plenty of time to still enjoy the nice summer weather. Now if I could just find some friends around here to enjoy it with...

Posted by Thom at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)