The Winchester

So Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic , where I am employed, is located in a tall office building in Bethesda. This building rents out office space to businesses looking to do business from the confines of an office space. Some floors are devoted entirely to one company, others have different companies on the same floor. This is a common thing in office buildings. It's okay, I didn't know at first either. We were originally located on the 1st and 2nd floors. The studio and control room, where I spend the majority of my time, could be found on the 1st floor, while upstairs housed the News department, Master Control, editors, feed room, creative services, etc. There were people in another building across the street, but that holds no relevance to this soon-to-be-highly-entertaining blog. On a side note: We refer to the anchors, producers, APs, and such as News even though we do all sports. It may seem a bit odd but it works, so just let it be. A new studio and control room an...

Kind of a quick hit here, for I am at work and we have roughly 15 minutes before we start actually doing work. Not much time, but we make do. First off, my computer at home is really grinding my gears, as it seems to be getting slower and slower. I don't understand it. It has been slow for awhile now, being an older model and not as up to speed as these hip new computers the kids are using these days. How I long for the days of MS-DOS and text prompts and simple commands and yellow or green screens and BBS boards where only one person at a time could call a computer and leave messages and play turn-based games with others and get frustrated when the line was busy and I had the handle Thanatos and the line would cut off whenever Mom or Dad would pick up the phone. I think I'm getting old. That wasn't what I came to tell you, though. They released a couple more photos from the production of The Dark Knight . Apparently, Christopher Nolan is shooting some of the scenes from t...

So continues my blast from the past. As I said before, I found it interesting that in the first part of this I used a third-person viewpoint to narrate. Then, here, I find myself using first-person. Why the change? Did I intend the first part to be a selection from a larger narrative or story I wanted to tell? Or did I decide it was absurd to put myself out of myself in order to get the emotion across? Who knows? Not I, assuredly. The question is neither here nor there, I'm afraid. That is what I did, therefore that is what I will transcribe here. No reason to edit when I'm just copying, so take it for what it is, as I am doing. By the way, I'm not certain of the time frame between the last one of these I so diligently penned. I believe it was a day or two. _____________________________ I don't have a TV. Well, I do have a TV, but it has not been delivered yet. She took the one we had (feels weird to say HAD, but there it is), which is understandable considering it is ...

So it was released today that Anthony Michael Hall is joining the cast of The Dark Knight . Apparently his role is of some importance, as according to him he is seen throughout the movie. There has already been much fan-boy debate and assumption over what his role will be, from mainstream choices such as the Riddler, to more recent characters like Tommy Elliot (a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne's who ends up trying to kill him, in short), also known as Hush. Obviously we all just need to wait and see, but while we do, allow me to offer my explanation (which is probably extremely accurate). My guess is as follows: Anthony Michael Hall will in fact be playing The Riddler, real name Edward Nigma. Get it? E. Nigma? Yes, yes I know. Nigma will be incarcerated in the film, most like in Arkham Asylum, Gotham's home to the criminally insane. After having virtually no luck in catching the Joker, the protagonists in the film will use Nigma as a Silence of the Lambs kind of soundi...

Batman Begins was a good movie. Two of Batman's recurring villians from the comic books made their way on-screen, and it wasn't exactly his "main" two. Scarecrow and Ra's al Ghul are not the first two evil guys people would think of when thinking of Batman's greatest villians. Even a comic book stud like myself would place several others before these two, yet there they were. And I say Bully For Them. It probably took some amount of guts to tell Those Of Higher Up that the real main villian would be a person that anyone unfamiliar with comics would not know. Ra's al Ghul definitely had many good and major plotlines throughout Batman history, but he does not wear a flashy suit or rob banks or look like a penguin, as does his foe The Penguin. I think it's how he got his name. So good for them. Got some lower tiered, as far as the general public goes, villians to thwart Batman. Now bring it on. The Joker is easily my All-Time Favorite Villian. Across the ...

I was leafing through the many different notebooks I have kept since college the other day, and stumbled upon one that was with me through both college and after. I used it once since then, it appears, and although I do remember using it I had since put it away and not remembered using it. If you follow me. What I found was some writing I had done after an ended relationship. My current girlfriend, Nichole, and I have been together almost two years now. We are just recently moved in together and everything is going well as I'm sure you were wondering and are happy to hear it. Previously, I was in a relationship that lasted roughly two and a half years or so. I won't go into the details, both because you don't really care to hear them and I feel like I'm so far past it that it doesn't even matter anymore. Also, I tend to keep things light and fluffy and this is getting dangerously close to personal. So why post it? Good question. I found it intriguing to go back and ...

(Originally written March 19, 2007) When I say My Bathroom, I am not referring to a previous blog describing the bathroom I envisioned for My Restaurant. I am referring to My actual Bathroom in my apartment. What follows is a brief yet informative paragraph detailing how My Bathroom went from a bathroom to My Bathroom. For those that don't know, by the end of this month I will be fully moved into an apartment with Nichole. I am leaving mine and moving into hers, which will then become ours. That's how it works. Before this move, we had discussed whether or not we would upgrade the apartment from it's current Two Bedroom/Two Baths status, to a Two Bedroom with a Den/Two Baths unit. Keeping the current apartment until the lease is up would save us roughly $300 or more in monthly rent, but we sacrifice having extra room (which, with a 3 year old in the house, is sometimes missed). We came to a compromise of sorts. We keep the apartment we're in but I get to have the 2nd ba...

I think I'm going to steal the idea behind Girls Gone Wild. Except mine will be slightly different as to avoid copyright infringement. It will be a DVD series about home renovation featuring the kitchen called Floors Gone Tiled. Shortly thereafter, when the success allows me to build upon my franchise, a new series about boring museum visits will debut. Tours Gone Mild. Maybe get a little crazy with the makeover fad. Curls Gone Styled. If you would like to pre-order your copy just pay my bar tab.

This morning, at approximately 7:06am, I may have found what may just be the Greatest Movie Ever. Now, I was only able to catch about 20 minutes or so but I am convinced that when I do in fact watch the entire cinematic masterpiece, I will be able to say that in all confidence. For those of you who do not know who Nick Fury is, let me give you a very quick, short background. Nick Fury is a Marvel comic book character, the head of an organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. [Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division - originally. It's been changed but that's not what's important.] It's a counter-terrorism/intelligence agency that deals with superhuman threats. Basically. Anyway, Nick Fury is the head of the agency, and a TV movie was made called Nick Fury: Agent of Shield in 1998. This is the movie of which I speak. Not being a huge fan of Nick Fury's character in the comics - don't get me wrong, I like him and he's an enormous bad-ass -...

This evening I went to Safeway to get some dinner during my dinner break as that is what society dictates one does while on a dinner break and far be it for me to buck the trends of society. So I went to Safeway, and purchased a Ready-Made roast beef sandwich on wheat, a bag of lettuce for a salad that may or may not poison me depending on which news station and/or internet news outlet you believe, and a small container of pre-sliced, pre-de-seeded watermelon. Pretty nice little dinner. I made my way to the register, first eyeing every single line for the least amount of customers and least amount of purchases said customers were making, and made ready to purchase my Pretty nice little dinner. As my food was being dragged across the radioactive laser beam scanner, a man came up behind me in line pushing a cart. This cart had nothing in it, aside from 44 containers of yogurt. I know because I counted 44 of them. I could be off by a couple, but the main thrust of this is that the...

Hello all, just wanted to post a quick message here with a website link that I fully expect you to follow. Awhile back I stumbled upon an interesting website, through another site I'm sure, although I cannot say for certain which one it might have been. That is neither here nor there, though, for it is the content of the interesting website that is the true thrust of this blog. http://mfdh.ca/starwars/darth-vader/index.html This site is officially named The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster. Or, rather, that is what the site is. A Star Wars fan took it upon himself to create a fictional journal of the life of Darth Vader, detailing many of his day-to-day activities between the beginning of the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, and ending right before Darth Vader's death in Return of the Jedi. As a Star Wars fan, these entries are a fun read, as you get to join Darth Vader in boring staff meetings, crushing various tracheas, fighting in battles, and listening to music while eati...

(Originall written November 2, 2006) This morning, I was leaving Nichole's and had to stop and get gas, as my gas light was on in the car and when that happens your car is telling you it will soon needs gas or you will have to walk which amounts to exercise and neither of us wants that. Also, gas near her house is $2.03 per gallon, which is better than near my house, priced higher. First, turning into the gas station, I had to sit behind a minivan for a minute while the minivan driver decided what she wanted to do, her choices being sit in one spot and not move or actually pull up to the pump. After choosing the first choice, she then moved on to the second. Congrats. Then, I had to stop again while someone backed out of a spot on the side of the station. When they were fully backed out and ready to proceed forward and out of the station, a Complete Idiot in a pick-up truck cuts quickly in front of them to park in that spot, instead of doing what Not Complete Idiots would...

You know you've been waiting. The Bathrooms. Each bathroom in My Restaurant will be an amalgam of everything good I've seen from place to place. I personally am not a big fan of the public bathroom. If I need to 'drop the kids off', to use a phrase I heard on Golden Girls, I much prefer the privacy of my own home where I have the kind of literature I enjoy and where there are no people coming in and sitting in the stall next to me. I do not want to see someone else's feet, nor hear their exertion. Which brings me to my first feature. Each stall wall will go from the ceiling to the floor. No gap underneath on either side, no opening up top to allow birds-eye view onlookers. You know who you are. There will be a vent located overtop of each stall to allow for the optimum vacuuming of rancid smells. The door will not include this luxury. The door will have a gap at top and bottom as your typical stall door has now. The reason for this is simple. There has to be a way t...

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Last night, I got out of work around 1:45am or so. When working in a television studio there is a good chance you could be somewhat sequestered within the confines of said television studio. Allow me to paint a picture in your mind. When exiting the elevators on the 6th floor, I walk into a lobby of sorts, three elevators all facing each other. On one side I could walk to the newsroom, a large open area with windows facing the outside world. On the other is a small hallway leading towards the control room, where I spend the majority of my time. I have a picture showing you part of the control room in my pics section, because that is where you are supposed to put pictures. You'll notice in that picture there are no windows. Now, taking that picture, if I had turned 180 degrees I would have been facing a very large window that looks out into the actual studio itself, where the cameras and set are located. There are no windows out there. So when one finds oneself located in either the...

(Originally written December 2, 2006) Okay, so Nichole just got cable installed in her new apartment. Seriously, the guy just left about 20 minutes ago. You know how there's a stereotype regarding plumbers and repairmen? How when they bend over some you get to see the crack of their hairy posterior? Right, well you can add Cable Guy to that list, because I was treated to quite the sight when he went for that serial number. I'm still trying to erase the image from my mind by watching a Faces Of Death marathon. So I'm here, surfing the ol' net and critiquing the MySpace pages of many a stranger while Nichole channel surfed, enjoying her newfound foray into the world of Cable Television (newfound in that she just got cable again since moving.. she has had cable before). She happened upon The Real World. If you are unfamiliar with The Real World, This Is A True Story Of 7 People Picked To Live In A House And Have Their Lives Taped To Find Out What Happens When People Stop B...

As some of you may already know, I have before talked and will again talk about My Restaurant. Now, before you get all excited and hungry, allow me to preface this discussion by passing on the knowledge that I do not in fact own, run, or own a restaurant. "Then how dare you write that as the opening to and title of your blog?!" you exclaim with some indignity and italics. This topic lends itself to what My Restaurant will be if I ever gather the capital needed to own, run, and own a restaurant. These are things I have picked up from other establishments, things I do not like from other establishments and wish to improve on, and things I have figured out how to do after working in an establishment specializing in food service. I decided to go with Part 1 as part of the subject because I have not finished, in my own mind, My Restaurant, nor have I the patience to go through all the stuff I've thought about. So, I decided to do this in parts. Both to give me something else ...

Girl Scout Cookies are good. I don't think anyone can deny that. They are, for the most part, freakin' delicious. It's a shame they only come around twice a year or so, because they really do compliment any dinner or dessert. Want to spruce up a Hot Fudge Sundae? Crumble up some Thin Mints and spread 'em on. Want to make your Banana Split sing? How about two well placed Samoas? Yeah, that's right. Feel the goodness. A Producer at my work put up a Cookie Sign-Up Sheet. I'll be the proud recipient of one box of Samoas, one box of Tagalongs, and one box of the classic shortbread. "What?!" you exclaim. "No Thin Mints? And you call yourself a guy who buys girl scout cookies??" I know, I know. Normally I'd be on those like a fat kid on something fat kids really like to be on. You see, Nichole and I received what is virtually three boxes worth of Thin Mint-type cookies for Christmas and for me to purchase a box of Thin Mints from the Girl Scouts...

Sorry , Guy With Cart. Sorry , Lady On Bench. Sorry , Scruffy Guy With Old Paper Cup. Sorry , Dude With Sign And New Shoes. I am no longer able to give you guys money. It's not because I think you're lying or are lazy and just don't want to get a job or are an alcoholic and will only spend my hard earned money on booze or anything. It's because others of your ilk have ruined it for you. That's right. I have seen so many signs and heard so many blatant lies that I can no longer give you my money with a smile and good hearted, "Here, get yourself something pretty." In Salisbury, Baltimore, and Bethesda, I have heard all kinds of sob stories. From someone's father being airlifted to John's Hopkins and needing money to get across a bridge to money needed to get a cab to get blah blah blah. It really all becomes the same. Now, this apology and basic lack of charity does not blanket the entire run of homeless folk. Sometimes you can tell who...

Well, here we find ourselves. An actual blog website. So far I have only been using my MySpace page as an area in which to blog (if that is really what I am doing... as opposed to rambling, ruminating, or simply writing). In light of this, I have decided to bring over some of what I've posted there and post it here. Some may call that cheating. I call it... not cheating. Rather, it is a chance to allow those of you who deem this blog worthy of reading the ability to enjoy the soft melodies of other musings of mine without the need for either a MySpace log-in or the pressure of correctly right-clicking on an internet link. Decent of me, to be sure. http://www.myspace.com/mattcwa , though. Janet, if you're nasty.