Friday, February 23, 2001

Hello fans. As usual I don’t have a great deal to say so bear with me and I’ll see what I can do. I had parents evening this week and because my English teacher was ill I only had 2 appointments. My psychology teacher said I was one of the best students he’d ever taught (it was the same teacher that said I wrote the best essay ever – maybe he has a thing for me?!) and said he’d be very shocked if I didn’t get an A. Then it was off to Politics where my teacher said the only mistake I’d made all year had been not applying to Oxford or Cambridge. Damn, I’m good. It provided me with a nice confidence booster and my parents were well pleased.

Other than that I found international fame and fortune (not true) when I had an e-mail published and answered by a columnist on RajahWWF.com about my favourite wrestler D’lo Brown. It was just nice to see that someone else cares about D’lo other than me!

Today councillor John Pugh came to college to talk to a few students about how he intends to change Southport for the better. I think I’ll be in the local paper talking to him as there was a photographer there taking pictures when he was talking to me. Afterwards I had a quick word with him and wished him well in his pursuit of becoming Southport’s MP. I think I would be suited to be Southport’s MP, I’m in touch with what people want (wrestling, football, more wrestling etc.) and I can sit and pretend to listen to old people all day (hey I have to do it every Christmas, why not every day?) so I think maybe it could be a good career path to take.

My weekend consists of work and probably collge work. Joy. However, Manchester United play a crunch game against Arsenal and if I’m not working (I said IF) then my dad said we could go to the pub to watch it. I just prey they win as they don’t have a good record against Arsenal and it really seems as if their season is about to come apart at the seams.

On an interesting sidenote I searched for “Alex Rimmer” on the UK version of AltaVista and my website was something like second of the list of results! And when I did it on Google I think this wonderful blog was near the top so maybe I’ll be famous after all! Then my plans for world domination can come to fruition…

Monday, February 19, 2001

This will just be a short blog as I don’t have much to say really and just want to get on with some research I’m doing on the Internet. My half term week has been and gone without much happening really. I more or less managed to get to the gym every day so I guess I should be pleased about that but I doubt I’ve lost any weight. Unfortunately when I go to the gym and exercise I make up for it by eating more so I’m constantly in a state of equilibrium. Ah well, plenty of time to get fit before I go to Uni.

Speaking of Uni I went to visit Lancaster over half term and was relatively impressed with it. Although it wasn’t on the same level as Warwick it was still pretty good and will probably be my second choice. I still have to look around York but as things stand right now I’m hopefully going to Warwick.

A few of my friends and I have decided to buy a domain name and put up a site with various stuff on it but we have yet to decide on a domain name. Personally, I’m not really bothered what we get although my 2 favourites so far are http://www.toast.com and http://www.easyrightmaybe.com but like I said I’m not that bothered. I’m trying to think up some more but I can’t think of anything original or witty (like my blog really) but I’ll try and think of some. If any of my blog readers out there have any ideas (or alternatively if there are any people out there who’ve read my blog…) then drop me a line at mailto:alex.rimmer@ic24.net

I think all I’m going to put on my section of said website will be a link to my blog and of course The Punisher'’ Film Reviews. Unfortunately I’ve lost a bit of interest in advertising it recently (I used to just go into chat rooms and paste the address or e-mail people randomly with a link to the site – sad I know but I’m a self-publicist) and so the hits seem to have “dried up”. I guess it will be interesting to see how many people visit the site on a regular basis and without me there threatening them to go as well.

Right, I need to find out dream theories on the Internet for my Psychology so I’d better go.

Thursday, February 15, 2001

Well, I don’t really have in anything in mind to say right now but I thought I’d just come and blog for the hell of it. I’ve just been to college (even though it’s half term – yes I’m sad but so what) and done most of my Politics essay. I noticed that McDonalds are running a Double Quarterpounder meal at the moment (so basically it’s a Halfpounder) and it sounds very appetising.

Whilst sitting typing my essay I suddenly started thinking about how my life had been at 6th form college. I was mainly thinking about how I would change my college life. Here’s my brief guide to the subjects I take at A-level:
Politics: can be extremely boring but my teacher is very funny and laid back
Psychology: when the teachers are in it’s very interesting
English Language: big fat pile of steaming poo

I hate English. I’m good at it (a plus) but it’s very hard and incredibly boring (BIG negatives). I really wish I hadn’t taken it now with hindsight. I was going to do it at degree but after a few weeks of the A-level I decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea. Oh how I wish I’d taken Business/Economics/Media Studies/Poo Studies etc. instead. Anyway, my college is very “cliquey” so to speak. Everyone is part of their own designated group or faction. In fact, it’s very similar to wrestling.

People are labelled mainly because of who they hang around with, what clothes they wear, what music they listen to, the places they go out of college etc. I think based on my experiences people are classified into several broad groups: goths, rockers, trendies, geeks and scallies. In my view, this is just puerile, immature and discriminatory. I mean, what’s the point labelling people? Can’t we all just get along regardless of personal taste in clothes and music? Clearly not. It just annoys me that’s all.

I try and view everybody equally. If they like Slipknot and Limp Bizkit, that’s fine by me. If they prefer Alice Deejay and Shanks and Bigfoot, again that’s fine by me. If people want to wear tracksuit bottoms and trainers then please do. If they want to grow their hair and wear makeup then again please do so. You see, people are entitled to this thing called an OPINION and when people deviate from what is considered “normal” or “cool” they are chastised and berated for it, made to feel left out. Everybody has a mind of their own. Please don’t refrain from using it for fear of the backlash from “cool” people.

Which label do I fit under? Hmm, interesting question. Probably all of them to a degree. But that’s a different story.

Reading back through that I sometimes think I would make a lot of money out of being an agony aunt. However, we’ve analysed problem pages in English (yes, that’s the sort of thing we do) and they’re all just generalised nonsense. So basically, yes, I could be an agony aunt in that case. Well, I think my rant for today is just about over so it’s goodbye from me.

Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Ah, it’s half term and I get a whole week of lie-ins and generally just doing nothing. I really appreciate the chance to catch up on some sleep as recently I seem to need it more and more. I’ve vowed to try and work out at least once a day instead of my usual 3 times a week routine and hopefully a few extra pounds will be shed off my rather ample frame.

Bad news, or rather good news depending on your viewpoint, as it seems Partners The Stationer will live to fight another day and pay crappy wages. They’ve received five bids for the company and now we’re just waiting to see whose will be successful. They’ve had bids from Stationary Box, another stationary company, a computer company, WH Smiths and one very rich guy. Apparently this one guy really wants the company.

What I’m wondering is if (hypothetically) Smiths buy the company will they bring our wages into parity with people who work for WH Smiths? I know for a fact that people who work at Smiths get paid better than I do (doesn’t everyone?) so maybe, just maybe, I could be in for a pay rise. Assuming I don’t get sacked before the new owners take control…

I’m actually looking forward for a change to the future. I’ve got my A-levels in a few months and then it’s off to university to party, make friends, consume horrendous amounts of alcohol and maybe do some work in the meantime. (I sure hope my mum doesn’t read this) But seriously I am looking forward to Uni just to see how I can manage on my own. I’m also considering spending some of my hard earned cash on a computer to take with me.

It’s Valentines Day on Wednesday and I’ve decided not to send one this year. I’ve sent Valentines the last 2 years and both times wish I hadn’t (last year especially). I don’t expect to receive any and I’m spending Valentines Day visiting Lancaster University so that sums up my love life. Although many of my friends moan about single life (and hey, even I do occasionally) I think being single is a blessing right now as let’s face it, we’re all eventually going to get married and complain about married life so you may as well enjoy being single while it lasts!

I think I’m gonna go for a walk since the weather is so nice. I will update again this week. And this time there’s nothing to stop me as I have plenty of free time!

Tuesday, February 06, 2001

I’m sorry to my avid readers that this is my first Blog update in almost a week. I just haven’t really had the time or much to say to be perfectly honest. Currently, I have a really bad cold and I feel awful and just doing anything is a real struggle. In Psychology one time, we were discussing how men make out how they’re dying when they’re ill and really moan about it whereas women just get on with things. Feeling the way I do right now I’d be inclined to agree.

The company I work for (crappy Partners) is in some financial difficulties (although I fail to see how considering the wages they pay) and are currently in a state of receivership. They’ve already had to close 21 stores nationwide and if a new buyer is not found in 5 weeks then they will have to close down and I will be out of a job. Boo hoo. Seriously, it might actually be good news for me. In fact, I hope they close down stupid company. I’m all for corporatism and big companies but when they pay £2.75 an hour… well let’s just say I won’t shed a tear when they deservedly go bust.

Back to trivial matters and after completing Resident Evil 3 and attempting to purchase Final Fantasy IX (it hasn’t been released yet, more delays to follow probably) I today bought Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. After a brief session I can say it is very fun to play, some excellent music and an all round top game. It’s a game I can just pick up and play whenever I want rather than having to spend hours and hours trying to figure out what to do next.

I still haven’t written a single film review in months and I keep promising myself I’ll do one soon. I really am going to do one over half term. That’s a promise. As the prospect of going to Uni draws ever closer I have vowed to learn to cook, iron, wash, clean etc. Alternatively I might smuggle my mum into Uni with me so she can do it all. Decisions, decisions. I’m probably going to go to Warwick but to be perfectly honest I don’t think it matters all that much. Four of the places I’ve applied to want the same grades (ABB) so I guess there isn’t much between them.

I’ve been invited to a party tonight and although I feel like shit I’m going to make an appearance. I’m not going into town and I’m not drinking much, I just want to get out of the house for a bit. Although I’m sure my home life is nothing like Robin’s (man, get some anti-depressants before you do something stupid) it still isn’t idyllic and is a terrible working environment. But it feeds me and keeps me warm so I can’t complain. Well, maybe just a bit.

Anyway, I will try and post another Blog before the end of the week (the operative word being “try”).