J. Jason Lazarus Blog

So I’ve started travel arrangements to go to MacWorld ‘06 this January. Planning on Deanna coming again as well as planning 4 additional days on our own down there. I really enjoyed Macworld last year and had a blast learning all that I could - and to be honest, it was my first chance to really dive into the realm-o-mac and I was extremely overwelmed. This time that proves to be different - with my familarity with the city as well as the conference, I’ll learn a ton as well as enjoy the city life for a week and a half. Already starting to think of all the great shopping we can do!
Felt a little like a geek last night when I figured out how to send email from/to my cellphone. This will be essential in San Fran to get together with Deanna easier - dealing with trying to email each other through limited web kiosks around San Fran didn’t work to well and calling the cellphone out of home calling will kill us.
Porcelain Twinz is tomorrow! Yay!
um… not much else going on. Been working my butt off this week and can’t wait till I’m done with this week. Probably going to the gym again today…
Oh, there’s actual conversations happening on the Forum that I made about two months ago - some good info on Fairbanks Development. Enjoy!

Although we didn’t do a huge amount of stuff this weekend, the fact that we didn’t do much at all was actually why the weekend rocked so much - I actually got to rest - and rest a lot we did. Friday was pretty laid back seeing that I get that day off, went to “class” and just hung out a lot. Played some games, stayed at home and just veged. You have no idea how much veging is sought after when you haven’t done it in such a long time! Played some games, went to the gym and enjoyed my evening. It’s offical, in the last week I’ve lost 5 lbs. Was hoping for some more but that’ll come eventually… anyways, back to the weekend:
Saturday Deanna had a tour-thing to do a the Museum of the North (UA Museum) so I veged some more - managed to rack over 11 hours on Burnout (total, not what I did over the weekend) and such. Then, Saturday night we had a few of Deanna’s friends over for scary movie night and watched Land of the Dead as well as Ju-on (Japanese “Grudge”). It’s always nice to find some girls that can appreciate not only Romero but also subtitled movies - at that, really scary subtitled movies! Had Big Al’s Chicago Stuffed Chicago Style Pizza (the best *and only* 28-dollar pizza I’ve ever had!) and we veged some more.
Sunday we went to see Doom in theatres, I got to complain about how incompetent some of the Regal staff are (and apparently always will be) and tried to enjoy the movie. Only real complaint is that it needed a bigger budget and could’ve done the 1st person shots more through the movie - overall, decent man-movie.
After that we went home (had met up with Jack at the movie) and watched Undead, a Aussie movie somewhere in between Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive, Night of the Living Dead and Contact - yes. Contact. Of all things, a Sci-Fi Zombie movie. That’s funny. And Gory. Well worth a watch! Haven’t laughed that hard at a horror movie because it was good in a while (Shaun of the Dead is the only example that comes to mind)!
Why did this last weekend rock, you may ask? Simply because I got to watch movies, which I haven’t done in a while, and vege! Just do nothing - yup, it helps deaden the mind
Anyways, you’re probably asking whats up with the picture of two ladies to the right - well, they’re coming to Fairbanks. Yessiree, Porcelain Twinz are coming back to Fairbanks this weekend for several shows at the loon. A few years ago - Curt and Romeo will remember - I went to their show out at the loon with Jack and Brian and enjoyed it so much I was speechless. For those unknowing - for lack of better terms, they are a erotic show-art group that does amazingly choreographed (sp?) routines to modern music. Amazing stuff. Nonetheless, got me two tickets to their show for free (thanks to a coworker) and so I’m happy. This weekend is leaning toward rocking as much as last weekend did with slightly more activity involved!

Decided to get around to working some more on my artwork - got five more pictures up today on my personal site from my Cleary Hill Mine trip earlier this summer (well, early August). For those that don’t know Cleary Hill Mine is a mining operation from the 20’s to the 40’s just north of Fairbanks, just a few miles off of the Steese right before Chatinika. Went out there with two of my students this August and had a blast. I’m hoping to put a little story entry off of that page about the actual trip up there - it was pretty interesting. Leave your comments on what you think. Enjoy!

Also rearranged my links section on my personal site. This new blog really has gotten me to work on my website more. Lemme see - what else is goin on… Started going to the gym again, went one time last week, going for three times this week hopefully - trying to lose a little that I gained back during the last month and hoping to get under 200 lbs by Christmas - that’d be great! Nonetheless, taking it slow and hoping for the best.

I usually like to stay rather P.C. in my blog about those around us because I know how easily blogging about something when it concerns someone you know or love can really hurt them but I thought I’d make an exception for this:
This weekend while I was in Anchorage I kinda ran into a ex of mine - in the sense that we both saw each other and yet didn’t say anything. We actually haven’t talked in years more than the once-a-year message on ICQ. I won’t name names to keep things clean but it just really made me think about exactly how much we manage to keep those that were so close to us once so far awaynow. I actively avoid some members of my… rather colorful past… not for any reason like active grudges but only for what seems to be an avoidance of a awkward moment.
This avoidance is in regard to several people that I seemingly feel awkward to be anywhere near them - although something in me tells me that a simple “I’m sorry for being an ass back then” would solve so much. Then again, having a flavorful past makes you wonder what kind of Jerry Springer Show such a reunion could actually become. I enjoy that I still talk to many members of my past - including ex’s. Although living in the past is cause for worry, reflecting on the “good ole times” with those around you can’t be that bad. It’s not nearly as fun as talking to new friends about your past troubles and making light of them. I have tried to make sure that with every friendship, pseudo-relationship and actual relationship that I’ve taken something from each of them and incorporated it into me to make me a better person. As much slanderous things as I could say about a huge amount of my relationships and friendships, I’d like to say that I’ve grown from all of them and that I’ve taken something good from each of them. I’ve especially appreciated those few friendships that I’ve rekindled over the years - here’s to rekindling more of them. For those out there that look at this site and know I’m talking about you (there’s quite a few) please drop me a line.

Got back late on Sunday from Anchorage and have been recovering since… well, not really - the trip was actually relaxing. Even though we had to drive 6 hours on Friday, then 6 on Sunday to get back, the 700 mile round trip was worth it. Got down there about 4pm on Friday (left early, skipped classes, etc) and headed over to the Millienium Hotel down on the good side of Spenard. I was actually shocked as how nice the place was - well worth the $89/night that we spent. I’ve grown rather tired of going to the cheaper/cheapest places in Anchorage - although it does save me $20-$40/night, I get really tired of being up half the night because the guys that built places like Motel 6 decided that putting some padding between the floors wasn’t a good idea.

Nonetheless, after checking in, we headed back downtown to go to the Glacier Brewhouse. Although we didn’t get a real table (got a table in the bar section) we still managed to have one of the most romantic evenings that we’ve had in a long time - starting off with a alaskan-style Fondue, Deanna having a blackened BBQ Salmon and I had a Chicken Portobello / Walnut Pasta dish, sharing a desert of Chocolate Cheesecake while washing it all down with a bottle of Ice wine - all very nicely done, arranged artistically and all - just…wow, a very, very nice meal. Well worth the money - and at that, it wasn’t that much - much cheaper than a comparible meal would’ve been in Fairbanks.

After that we strolled a little (our stomachs wouldn’t let us go far), went to a few stores and then Title Wave (local used/new bookstore - best in the state). Picked up some cash and made our way over to Chikoots - Deanna had a good time looking around at all the old newspaper clippings, stories and posters that adorn each wall - to be honest you can, oddly enough, learn a lot by going to Chilkoot’s. A lot of Alaskan history on the walls there - although I’m sure that she enjoyed other things about it was well - with each room having a separate theme, it makes the clubbing experience so.. refreshing.

After a few drinks we decided to leave - hadn’t met anyone there like we had hoped (not like we actually tried to get ahold of them) and went back to the hotel. The next day we started out in the Dimond district going to Compusa, Dimond Center, Best Buy and a few other stores. Went to Gallo’s Mexican Restaurant for lunch to see what to expect when Fairbanks gets one this Winter/Spring - pretty good, tastes more like a lower-48 Mexican Restaurant than what we’ve got here. Don’t ask me how… Alaskan Mexican Restaurants just… taste different. Went downtown to a few stores including Kobuk’s Teas, 5th Avenue, Trooper’s Museum and even the Imaginarium (a fun place to learn about science and stuff).

Finished up the day by going to Bosco’s and then our most Favorite Indian Restaurant in Alaska (the only one as well) - Bombay Deluxe. We are hoping that they manage to move up to Fairbanks soon - apparently the owner has some aspirations to open up a place in either Juneau or Fairbanks. Nonetheless, great food. Finished off the evening at Borders. The next day we finished our shopping at New Sagaya (natural/international grocery store) and then headed home, stopping by Deanna’s friend, Roni, to say hi. Great weekend nonetheless - had a great time and loved the time I had with Deanna.