Maybe I should quit this blog

Hello? Anybody here? Can I get an echo-echo-echo---?

I know, it's been a while. More than a month, even. Things have been pretty busy with a new boy life in general. For more fun, we're having additional layoffs at work. Hooray.

I'm still commuting by bike for most of the work week. I had taken some time off and gotten quite lazy, but snapped out of it.

Recently I got a new phone (my contract was near the end) and made a big upgrade to the BlackBerry Pearl 8130. It's pretty cool but can be frustrating. There's a lot I still have to learn about it.

The temperature's starting to drop, and it's pretty manageable on the bike. Last week, we had a cold front. I just layered up and did quite alright.

My trip to NYC has been postponed. Apparently, there's drama in my family and I didn't know about it. That's OK. I really wasn't in love with going there in the dead of winter. It will be so much more fun in the spring or summer. Plus, I can pack lighter, ever-important with the constantly increasing price of taking stuff with you when you fly.

Election Day cannot come soon enough. Politicians have been campaigning since 2006. I voted more than a week ago. Please stop it, already.

I am the champion of water-pistol racing at carnivals. :)

But I also have been known to drop a shelf on my toe. :(

Life moves along, but I don't want to go along with it. At least not at this pace. I'm tired of being tired and lazy. The things I try don't work. Bah.

I'll be Georgia-bound for Thanksgiving and will catch up with my mom, dad and two of my brothers. That'll be really nice.

Under my feet, baby, the grass is growing

I'm getting restless, antsy, bored, unmotivated. The new mantra is "I'm proactive," to keep myself from hearing "I'm not lazy, really, just tired." But it's time to clean out the myriad old files, virtual and real, time to empty the dust-covered bins.

There's so much crap everywhere. I get tired of looking at it. I'm tired of feeling like I live in a dump.

Maybe I should just get away. Sarasota's nice, and I haven't been there in quite a while. First, though, I'll start with the Rocket Graveyard. The BFF and her adorable babies are coming to visit this weekend. It'll be a birthday bonanza.

A few minutes ago, I thought I had something to say. Bah. At least it's Friday.

I hate when I wake up to life and realize how much time has passed. It makes me sad for all the days I waste. How do I change?

It's going to be a long two months or so. I suppose this is my time to shine, or put forth my best, or whatever. But I'm not intersted in doing that here. Hm.

Life isn't bad; it's quite good. But when I look around, I feel overwhelmed. It's silly, with so many things going so well.

Maybe this is what happens when you don't blog as much anymore.

Da da da

Yes, yes, yes. It's been a while since I last updated. Funny, I have a life now. Mr. Wonderful is all that and more. One of these days, I'll post the sweet story of our meeting and subsequent attachment.

For now, though, it's another day in paradise. 29 is a good age, but I won't keep it forever.

Upcoming excitement: Free admission to the KSC Visitor Complex, Jacksonville's Night Ride and lots of friend birthdays.

One favorite mentions another

Stuff White People Like on The Onion.

My favorite article and favorite column:
FBI Realizes It's Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years
Someday, I Will Copyedit the Great American Novel

Maybe one day I'll be a headline writer there...

Oh is it any wonder that I'm in the mood for love?

Wordnerdy is taken.

Maybe for good.

She now understands how these things happen.

Trying to reason with hurricane season

We've been inundated by rain and wind this week in Space Land. The conservation easement area has water spilling out over its sides. Now, though, TS Fay is dropping water and rain on the Big Bend, with remnants keeping Mr. Sunshine away from our windows.

This little gem is from the NOAA 5 p.m. update (which we read at 4:47...):
...FAY IS NOT IN A HURRY...SLOWLY MOVING WESTWARD...

Fay has taken its sweet time to cross the state, spending hours stalled over Space Land. We need the rain. We so desperately need the rain. But we get tired of rain after a while.

And it looks like Fay will make the Gannett tour anyway. The storm will pass well south of Tallahassee, but that city won't be able to escape the effects. We wonder, if damage is sustained to any newspaper buildings, whether Gannett will lay off more employees to make facility repairs.

Even though Mr. Sunshine isn't visible in the sky, he's visible in the hearts of a couple of redheads, which is no small feat.

All that I have are these to remember you by

Tonight, I bought an external hard drive, moved over most of my music and photos, and now my computer is flying. Woo-hoo! It's nice that $100 now will give me more time before I *must* buy a laptop. I still want one, but now there isn't so much rush.

I also picked up a digital voice recorder. After quite a bit of research online, I decided on the Olympus DS-30. It comes with transcription and editing software. Sure, I could have bought a recorder for a lot less and bought software separate ... but why not get it all at once and know everything works together?

I'm feeling pretty good about things these days, except for the incessant evening headaches. Likely it's because I've had so much to drink lately. Ugh. What I know is that it causes me pain, and I don't like pain in my head. This week, I also bought a new side chair from a co-worker. Her husband recovered it, and it looks great. It's comfy and well-made. Sweet.

Originally I was thinking of going to Jacksonville this weekend, but I don't want to make the drive. The trip would be good for me, as it always is, but there's the financial part, too. And the fact that I haven't cleaned my bedroom or bathroom or kitchen or solarium in a while. They're overdue.

Funny how inspiration can escape when you have a lot on your mind. These days, I have less on my mind, thanks to getting rid of a car (and a payment, and maintenance, and gas prices, and all that jazz) and getting my finances in more order than I've had in recent years. For the first time since college, I've imagined writing short stories. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have any story ideas, but picturing myself doing something creative with writing has been on vacation for some time. Additionally, I have some journalism-type stories in mind for a few magazines. It feels good to have these thoughts.

Of course, there are plenty of abandoned craft projects in the hutch behind me. I feel bad about those and the money they required. But I don't think hope is lost on those or any other dreams. Hope is never lost.

It's like I'm always looking for something to fill up my time, nevermind that I have plenty of activities to occupy me at home. Things I still haven't done: Write up a report for work about all that I learned at ACES Denver and St. Pete, Finish putting away the last few files in the drawer, call The Onion about the shirt I returned, return the clear glasses, make the outlines for the glass jars ... I get so busy researching how to do things, then buy the equipment, but I don't take that step and actually Do the work.

Good morning, Viera

We're blogging live from the Spring Training home of the Washington Nationals. That's right, Wordnerdy has re-entered the world of home Internet access. Look for more updates on such fascinating topics as personal finance, bicycle commuting and Wordnerdy's unending quest for a guy who'll call back.

But for now, Wordnerdy has to take a shower and get ready for work.

1st lede writethru

Starting Monday (but possibly Tuesday), look for more frequent updates and more interesting topics, as I'll be blogging (and e-mailing, and matching, and maybe even downloading music and uploading photos) from the Viera bureau. Turns out Internet access isn't as much as I first thought. And if roommie decides to use it, too, my cost will be cut in half. Sweet.

In financial news, I'm one year, two months and one day past my last bounced check and accompanying insufficient fund fee. Woo-hoo! To celebrate, I'm getting something valued at $35, the price of my last fee. I'm thinking of a few DVDs in the theme of the "American Dream," such as "Raisin in the Sun" (with Sidney Poitier, of course), "Of Mice and Men" and "The Great Gatsby."

Additionally, I've finally got my checkbook back to balanced. To celebrate, I'm getting something valued at $13, the amount I was off balance. This item will probably be super girly and cute and totally unnecessary, like the wares at Francesca's Closet in the Avenue Viera.

I've always believed in the power of positive reinforcement. No, this is not an excuse for me to go shopping. I've wanted these things, especially the movies, for a while but wouldn't get them because of, well, finances. And now when I watch the movies or use the yet-to-be-determined gee-gaw, I'll remember why I got them, and remember how far I've come financially.

At least one area of my life is doing well. Why can't I say the same about boys???

Mmmmmm, chocolate ...

How could I forget to mention the bicycle is a good invention

This blog post should be required reading for all road users, whether they're on two wheels or four.

At some point, I'll update with photos and info on my snazzy bike, which I purchased June 28. Most of my time lately has gone to looking for and buying cool accessories like baskets. The search continues for panniers that a) I like and b) are available for sale.

Also, there are bunches of
blogs about bikes out there.

Go slow.

Thinking and wishing and hoping and dreaming

Sometimes it's really hard to read PostSecret. Someone else knows how I feel. That makes me want to cry.

It's been rough lately. I don't want to go to Georgia, mostly because I don't want to pay for it. The trip would do me a lot of good, though. Everything's just upside-down. I'm tired of that.

Ladies with an attitude, fellows that were in the mood

It seems courtesy and manners are no longer in vogue in the dating scene. How unfortunate.

Really, what is so difficult about a quick "no, thanks"? Any medium is better than nothing.

All signs continue to point to me getting away from all this. But wait, I haven't even used one month's worth of my Match subscription! Bah.

I don't know when I'll be back again

I can fly to my brother's house in North Carolina for under $50. But I can't get from his house to my father's house (or even within 100 miles of my father's house) for less than $500. Nor can I get from my brother's house to my mother's temporary house for less than $500. And I can't get from either parents' house back to my house for less than $115.

The alternative is renting a car for more than a week, plus gas. I hate driving. Especially that far. And especially if there are no passengers.

Forgot about the best bike link

From The New York Times, March 28, 1898

Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today

Today, I made a down payment on a new bike.

After lots of contemplation and comparison and checking and review reading, I settled on Trek's 7200 WSD when I gave it a test ride today at Revolutions Cyclery in Melbourne. Originally, I wanted a mountain bike, but then I discovered the joys of sitting upright while riding, instead of causing pain to my neck, shoulders, elbows and wrists to ride a bike that's about an inch too tall, and too long in other places. By the way, my bike is black with blue flowers. Makes it slightly less girly, I think.

I did not switch to two wheels simply because of gas prices. On Mother's Day, my car was attacked by a tree. It was a total loss.

When I moved to Melbourne last year, I chose my apartment complex because of its proximity to work, just under 3 miles one way. I said then that I wanted to be close enough to ride my bike to work, in case the mood ever struck. It struck once, and I nearly passed out when I got to work because I pushed myself so much on the ride. The mood struck two or three more times before the first year was up, but only for trips to the library when my car was in the shop. The car was in the shop a half-dozen times in the one year that I owned it.

I was pretty happy when the tree fell, as I hated the car. And it forced me to live up to the reasoning I gave for my overpriced apartment.

It took a while to find the 7200 WSD. I looked at Specialized, the maker of my current bike, Giant, other Trek bikes, and Electra. I was especially fond of the Townie Commuter, but the components were inferior to the 7200, and the bike cost more.



My plan was to spend $400 to $500 on the bike, as I knew I'd have to add some things: fenders, a basket, a rack. Plus, I've had a great excuse to get some new clothing (shorter pants and moisture-wicking shirts, so I don't stink at work). Tonight I found valve caps shaped like rockets, perfect for the Space Coast.

It's been interesting looking at all the bikes, test riding them, and reading about bicycle culture. I've found some pretty cool blogs. In Copenhagen, the women ride in skirts and heels. Sweet. My friend Matt runs this blog that makes me miss Jacksonville more than anything.

But I've also read up on Florida's bicycle safety rules. Cyclists can, but aren't required to, ride on sidewalks. Motorists are required to give cyclists three feet of clearance. Cyclists can ride in a travel lane if there is no sufficient bike lane available. Most motorists don't know these things. Most motorists drive like there are no cyclists in the world.

My only regret in getting the bike is that I couldn't buy it from Matt. He's a great salesman and super-nice person. But he's 16 miles away. And the 16 miles include a few bridges.


Lance Armstrong rides a Trek. Of course, he's a roadie -- I'm a hybrid. Lance also wears the same brand of helmet as me, according to his Web site.

Barack Obama has been seen on a Trek, too. Unfortunately, the idiot cowboy king rides Trek, as well. But his cost at least six times more than mine, and I can guarantee that taxpayers didn't contribute to my bike purchase.

There's some talk about how Obama would fare against Bush on the bike. I'm pulling for Obama.

So let's sink another drink

Update: I'm getting the new laptop first. Dell will stop selling computers with Windows XP on June 30, which means they must be ordered by June 18. I'm not getting Vista. So come Friday, I'll order the laptop.

It gives me more time to decide between the Townie and the 7200, as well.

Why oh why did I get cable? I can't stop watching tv! Roommie and I watched vh1's Return to the 80s 3-D for years 1987-1989. Ah! Too much big hair! Then we watched Star Kid Parents Gone Bad! Eeek!

My mother should be so glad I'm not a famous copy editor like Bill Walsh. I might have emancipated myself from her at 14!

Our house is a very, very, very fine house

Hello, avid reader(s?)!

This is a first. Today, I'm blogging from home, using the roommate's computer and wireless card. (Thanks, work!) I haven't blogged from home since I left Jacksonville, which was more than a year ago. Wow. It's been a year.

In fact, I'm in the new apartment. That's kinda funny that I never once got online at the old apartment. It seems so weird. But, that's the way the budget crumbles sometimes.

Today, I put together the cheapest, crappiest bookcase I've bought yet. The thing is a real piece of shit. It came with plastic "screws"! Plastic?! How will it hold anything? In fact, the top shelves have a weight limit of 30 pounds each, which I'm sure I've surpassed. (Wordnerds love books, you know.) The one with real screws can hold up to 40 pounds per adjustable shelf, 50 pounds on the stationary shelf and 150 pounds on the bottom shelf. It's not like I bought the thing at Wally World; it was from Target! Ah well. At least I've emptied another six boxes.

The living room is just about complete. All I really have to do now is go through the newspapers ... ugh. And my bedroom is pretty well finished, too. Once I get a few more organizers for the office, the remaining boxes there can be emptied. And roommie has tomorrow off, so it's off to Tar-zhey.

A tree fell on my car on Mother's Day. The tree beat up my car, but nearly as bad as what the vandal in Jacksonville did to Emmie, the Saturn. That poor car was raped. Anyway, I've been biking to work for the better part of a month. I'd like to use the bike for small grocery trips and such, but alas, I have no baskets. Also, the bike's a tad big for me. So I'm getting a new one.

I can't decide between two: the Electra Townie 21 or Trek 7200 WSD. Both have the gearing and braking of a mountain bike, but step-through frames and wheels like a cruiser. They'll both end up around $500 when I add everything on. But the Townie salesman was super nice and that brand has more accessories available, while the Trek has better components. I prefer quality, so I'd like to go with the Trek. Yet I have that "human connection" with the Townie guy, and those accessories are so darn cute. Maybe I'll make a hybrid of a hybrid commuter bike: Get the Trek but add Townie accessories (rack, basket, bell).

The other problem: Only the Trek is within biking distance. Every other shop is at the beach. Over big bridges. And many miles north or south, as well as east.

Two nights ago, I finally paid for a Match.com subscription. Or, membership. Whatever. I've contacted a few guys whom I saw when I first signed up. At least one is interested in talking. Woo-hoo! They're both quite cute, both 33, both love their jobs. One lives nearby, the other is in Winter Park. Eek. One is a Scorpio and the other is a Virgo, both of which are signs that I get along with famously. (Especially Virgos.) So that's exciting. We'll see how it goes. As long as they meet close enough for me to bike.

Greysa's doing fine. She's as starving and as deprived as always, the way she tells it. But now she has someone else to give her love and attention, as long as she's in the mood. Greysa seems to "tolerate" the roommate, not much more.

The only problem with the new apartment, the one that I moved across property for, rather than down the hall, is that is has a real bug problem. I'm sick of these things. I kill more than one each night. The pest guy has sprayed twice, and will do it again this week. I've set out roach motels. I've bought spray.

They're crawling out from under the bar. I've even seen some in the dishwasher -- ewwww! I really want maintenance to come by and rip up the bar, drop a bug bomb or spray the hell out of them, patch whatever hole they're coming from, and seal down the bar. (The bar isn't sitting flat right now.) It's so disgusting. And I'm beyond over it.

I guess that catches me up on quite a bit. Once we get Internet at home (and I get my next new toy, a laptop), I'll post photos from the past year, like John Denver the snowman, cakes I've baked, the new apartment view, etc. Oh, and photos of Greysa. Of course.

Vroom vroom!

I'm a Lotus Elise!

You believe in maximum performance and minimum baggage. You like to travel light and fast, hit the corners hard, and dance like there's no tomorrow.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

I understand

I first heard about PostSecret sometime in 2004, I think. Or maybe 2005. I only remember who told me about it, so it must have been in 2004.

I haven't been faithful at reading the posts on a weekly basis, but I get back to them every once in a while.

The secrets so many people have shared are amazing. I've long thought about sending one in, but I don't know what my secret is.

PostSecret is traveling the country in an exhibit. The roommate and I are going to see it tomorrow before I come to work. Before we decided that, though, I had to make sure the museum would be open. I made my way back to the PS page and found the community, where I learned about the beginning of the project.

Then I read the above postcard. Suddenly, I began to understand. Not just the secrets, but myself. The questions I always have. The questions that are all wrong.

It's been an enlightening day, and not just because of PostSecret. I want to find the thoughtful questions.

Sometimes it's nice to know about advertising

MEMORIAL DAY AUTO SECTION

Memorial Day Auto Section will publish Monday, May 26. This 36-page section will showcase 23 of the local auto dealers and their new and used auto inventory. All dealers are offering big sales, free food and prizes, as well as fantastic pricing! Definitely a great weekend to buy a new car!

From the internal Weekly News Summary, sent out by HR. They must know something. Now to work out the financing on this. I haven't driven it yet, but it looks cute and I want to give it a go. Also this and of course
this and this, my favorite car.

Just overheard on the scanner

A tow truck picked up a vehicle from somewhere (accident site? repossession? don't know) and the vehicle fell off the back of the tow truck. The driver put it back on the truck without filing a report with police, according to the officer calling in the incident.

Wow.

On a side note, why in the hell am I still here at 3 a.m.? I need to go to my new apartment and empty the rental car (a PT Cruiser, which I would never buy) and go to bed so I can get up "early" tomorrow and do all my errands while I still have a car.

No title for now

Life is funny. Crazy shit happens to me and, sometimes, I can handle it with a laugh. Like the car thing. It's busted, again. I'm so over this car. But getting the phone call and seeing it made me laugh. It could have been a lot worse, so that made things easier.

But my mom was worried when I told her. I reminded her that I don't have her luck. My luck is more like "what the fuck just happened, oh well, I'll survive," not "the world is coming to an end." Maybe that's a sign of the benefit of 10 years of therapy. I certainly prefer this attitude to its opposite, which I have occasionally experienced.

The answer is blowin' in the wind

Today I got a phone call from the apartment complex office. I'm getting ready to move to the other side of the property (and take on a roommate), so it was an expected call. Until the lady started speaking.

Apartment Lady: Have you looked outside today?
Wordnerdy: Noooo...
AL: You know, there's been a lot of wind today.
WN: Oh yeah, I saw that. I thought it looked kind of pretty.
AL: We're trying to figure out who the owner of a car is.
WN: Oh. Why?
AL: A tree fell on a car.
WN: Is it a gold Malibu?
AL: Yes, it is. I'm sorry about your car. We've sent maintenance out to put cones around the damage. You need to go outside and call your insurance company.

It's now how I wanted to start the day. But I am so glad I finally called Progressive last night.

Mostly, I just laughed about the whole thing. It's funny in an ironic way. And it wasn't as bad as it could have been, by far. (There's no Your car will never run again-type obvious damage.)

Here's a photo, thanks to Kinappie.

Seriously?

On Monday, the president disclosed that Jenna will say "I do" near a lake at the ranch — in front of a giant cross made of Texas limestone that will serve as an altar. The cross will be a landmark at the ranch for years to come. The president said that was his contribution to the wedding that the Bushes are trying to keep a low-key affair.

Go here for more wedding excitement.

But wait, there's more ...

When he first talked about it, the president didn't seem all that nostalgic about seeing one of his daughters marry. When Hager said "I want to marry your daughter,' Bush said he replied, "Done deal."

We can beat them, just for one day; We can be Heroes, just for one day

No. 1 gets Testy.

I'm so glad we finally met. Maybe I can get his comments made into a poster. And autographed.

You know, I'm way tired of sensitive newspaper reporters whose badly written copy we make publishable. I've been hearing their whining for decades and it's only getting worse.

Rarely does a copy editor screw around significantly with the work of a good writer. Often, attempts to fix unpublishable copy fail, but that's hardly the copy desk's fault.

It's always the crappy writers who complain, and their insecure editors who back them. We shouldn't be trying to justify our work. We should just be doing it, and counting on our desk chiefs to cover our backs. We don't want or need thanks and praise. We just need to be left alone to do our work.

Good Christ, this isn't literature we're committing here. Even most Pulitizer-winning stories, products of great reporting, aren't particularly well-written. Readers are not impressed with failed flourishes. They are killing us.

Feel the city breakin' and ev'rybody shakin' and we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive

I was going to post some photos from Denver, but someone took home my photo disc, even after I specifically requested that it be returned to my desk after work.

Close enough to perfect for me

Thanks, William.

He always makes me lapse into a comma

Spotted as a comment by a friend on a blog by another copy editor (and I'll soon be a regular reader of the blog):

One of the most disconcerting things about attending ACES conferences is having stunningly attractive young women run up to me … and beg me to take pictures of them with Bill Walsh.

Oh, Jim. You're so good at taking those photos.

Here's a link to the original post.

And since we've no place to go

Go here to learn about the best part of the trip to Denver.

More here, too.

Why wait any longer for the world to begin, you can have your cake and eat it, too

Bill Walsh, copy editing celebrity, spilled wine on me at last year's Word Nerd Fest. This year, we hung out a bit. He complimented my karaoke choice of Bob Dylan's ungrammatical masterpiece, "Lay Lady Lay."

Last night, I discovered that he has driven through my hometown. And now we're e-mailing about it.

Wow.

***

Photos and updates of Word Nerd Fest 2008 to come. If ever Wordnerdy empties her suitcase and downloads her photos.

Follow-up yet again

Some white people place room in their hearts for typography-inspired April Fool's jokes.

That's the sound of screeching tires

which means a sudden halt.

SWPL (see previous post) has been purchased by Target. It's gonna be one big ad. Fuck.

Not cool.

Sellout.

This almost *ALMOST* makes me want to link to the site, just so the writers can see how angry I am about this. Of course, linking means learning how to link. Or at least taking the time to use Bloggers linking tool.

Stuff and Things People Like. Or Not.

Dear god, I'm here late. It's one of those "worm holes" you fall into online.

First, it was What White People Like.

Then I found Ten Rap Songs White People Love. And 10 Rock Songs Black People Love.

A few days ago, it was What Queer People Like.

Tonight, it was What Educated Black People Like, Stuff Black People Hate ... and maybe another? I don't even remember now. But they're all hilarious. And full of satire. And I don't know how any of the random "you're a racist" posters don't get it.

Oh yeah, and What White People Like will be available in book form.

If you don't know, you're just not white. Or something.

Don't know what to call this

Well, then. It's been a while.

My eye is healing up nicely as far as I can tell. No permanent damage after a co-worker friend short-term roommate hit me with the nylon strap attached to a furniture dolly eight days ago. Today is the first day that I haven't worn sunglasses at work to cut the bright glow from fluorescent lights and a computer screen.

But I'm having some pain in the abdominal area from two skin biopsies. The stitches will be removed Thursday. This is interesting thing, the stitches. I've had other biopsies but never wire stitches, always the butterly suture things that allow the skin to heal closed without sewing. We'll see how it goes.

Last night I downloaded all the photos in my camera, dating to the Jacksonville trip in December. Maybe one day I'll post the cooking photos in a blog here.

There's a new job at work. I'm now the business designer. It's been interesting, as I do little copy editing. And little designing, too.

The search continues for a potential future long-term boyfriend. Why can't I just settle? Damn. I know I wouldn't be happy then, but god this is getting annoying. I blame the one who reset the thermometer.

Another sweet horoscope

You are always smart enough to be careful in business deals, but how careful have you been in romantic negotiations? Past pain could have been caused by careless generosity, so if you want to prevent yourself from getting hurt again in the future, go slower. A new person is an exciting thing, but what's your hurry? They are interested -- and they are not going anywhere unless you tell them to. Don't give them only green lights when yellow would be much more appropriate (for now).

Best. Onion. Story. Ever.

CIA Realizes It's Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years

Everybody wants my money

Let's see, a few people have told me that Yahoo personals is free. Nope, sorry, try again. I can send free "ice breakers" but if I want to send an e-mail, I have to subscribe. Just like Match. WTF? I already have e-mail with Yahoo! Why must I pay? Yahoo, I've been so loyal, for almost 10 years! I haven't left you for Gmail! Give a girl a break!

On an unrelated note, I'm thinking of going back to LiveJournal. I really liked all of LJ's features and only switched because all the cool kids were doing it. I hear Wordpress has cool additional features, though I don't know what those are. Anyway, I'll need to investigate the current state of LJ, since SixApart was sold a few months ago, or split, or something.

The sound of silence

Apparently, I don't want to go home.

Why?

Beats me.

IT's 3:57 a.m. I should be asleep.

On Tuesday, I didn't fall asleep until 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Maybe I should keep Saturday off.

Can I get some answers, please? Not only from the question above, but life answers. Like those I've asked in previous blogs, and those many, many questions rolling about in my head.

Damn.

Fuck.

I'm an American typewriter. You?

Tell me your type.

Folo on Cupid

No, that's not a typo. In journalism, it's cq for follow-up.

Anyway...

Well, I was going to post a link to the FLAT story about an "incident" from late Friday (technically Saturday). This could be what kept the boy in Downtown, but doesn't explain why he Still. Hasn't. Called. And. Today is. Thursday.

In brief, a man was beaten in the parking lot near the place where the boy said he was. He said his car was in the parking lot. This man was beaten up some time after his third drink at the bar, and possibly because he's gay.

I know. It doesn't explain anything. In fact, it raises questions, and maybe red flags.

Reading the story was tough. It made me so angry; this man did not deserve this. No person does. The cop said the man was bleeding so heavily, it seemed that he had been shot. All, possibly, because of the man's sexual orientation.

Another thing that angers me: I asked the reporter on Saturday what happened. "We don't have a record of anything. If we did, I'd follow it up, trust me." This reporter is a friend. And this story, in tomorrow's paper, is the first we've covered on this story that I've known about since late Friday night. Looking at it that way, I'm greatly bothered that we dropped the ball. My boss said Metro has been told the cops reporters do a crappy job, and Metro doesn't change. Metro doesn't care.

How can we be taken seriously when we can't do what are considered basic stories? The cops beat is typically the first rung on the reporting ladder. Maybe it shouldn't be, with all the liability from libel, but it is. And we don't care about it.

I should not have worked on V-day.

Cupid misses yet again

My new friend is out. I have no idea what happened. He was supposed to visit after work Saturday. I still haven't heard from him. Apparently, there was a crime scene (that wasn't in the paper) and his car was stuck. What. Ever. (Yes, of course I've already checked the jail log. And checked with the weekend reporters about "incidents.")

I don't care for V-day anyway. I've been burned on that day in the past, and also later had redeeming holidays filled with love and sweetness. And then those relationships ended, too, so the day goes back to bittersweet memories of this guy's dinner or that guy's flowers. I'm over it. No sense in spending so much on candy and flowers that will be half-price on the 15th.

Besides, it's my dad's birthday.

So no cards, hearts, ribbons, lace, chocolates. Although I've thought about bringing goodies for the desk to enjoy ... Not before the 15th, for sure.

All this and I still dream of flowers on my desk from a secret admirer. Damn romantic heart.

I want to know if love is wild, girl, I want to know if love is real

Today, I was a Giants fan. It went against one of my rules: cheer for the Jags' conference team (AFC = Patriots). But the Giants were the underdogs and Coughlin is the Jags' former coach. And my new friend loves the Giants. And I think all my NY cousins do, too, since my mom was a Giants fan today. Offense didn't wake up until the last five minutes, but they got it done. Hell yeah.

Lots going on lately. Boy oh. I met five boys in three days. What? It took five months to meet two boys when I first moved. There's some serious possibility in there, too. Crazy feelings I didn't think were possible. Maybe my luck did turn with bowling.

Here's a sweet song I just discovered. Sweet as in awesome. By Third Eye Blind:

MOTORCYCLE DRIVE BY

Summer time and the wind is blowing outside in lower Chelsea.
And I don't know what I'm doing in this city,
The sun is always in my eyes,
It crashes through the windows, And I'm sleeping on the couch,
When I came to visit you,
That's when I knew, That I could never have you,
I knew that before you did,
Still I'm the one who's stupid,
And there's this burning, Like there's always been,
I've never been so alone, And I've never been so alive.
Visions of you on a motorcycle drive by,
The cigarette ash flies in your eyes, And you don't mind,
you smile,
And say the world doesn't fit with you.
I don't believe you, You're so serene.
Careening through the universe, Your axis on a tilt, You're guiltless and free,
I hope you take a piece of me with you,
And there's things I would like to do that you don't believe in,
I would like to build something, Buy you'll never going see it happen,
And there's this burning, Like there's always been,
I've never been so alone, And I've,
I've never been so alive,

And there's this burning, There is this burning ay ay ay.
Where's the soul. I want to know, New York City is evil.
The surface is everything, but I could never do that,
Someone would see through that.
And this is the last time, We'll be friends again.
I'll get over you, you'll wonder, who I am.
And there's this burning, Just like there's always been,
I've never been so alone, alone, alive, alive, I've never been so alive, so alive

I go home to the coast. It starts to rain, I paddle out on the water alone,
Taste the salt and taste the pain. I'm not thinking of you again,
Summer dies and swells rise,
The sun goes down in my eyes,
See this rolling wave,
Darkly coming to take me home,

And I never been so alone, And I've never been so alive.

Test, test, 1-2-3, is this thing on?

New music arrived. TMF albums are fabulous, of course. Next up is FBH. I *heart* Stephin Merritt.

Please, make it stop

Youth pregnancy is not just a modern problem: It affected dinosaurs too

Not quite what I was looking for

but it's awesome anyway. And no, Greysa, this does not mean I'll favor the vacuum over you. The vacuum sucks, and not in the way it's suppposed to do.

http://dndorks.com/article/6/Page1.aspx

Houston, we have liftoff

Woohoo! I'm publishing again. We upgraded to IE7 at work. I like the Mac look and the tabs, but I'm quite happy about the return to blogger.

Check out Kinappie's blog: www.offlede.com

I just bought three CDs courtesy of Gannett's health awareness quiz:
The Magnetic Fields' Distortion (available Tuesday!) and Holiday, and Future Bible Heroes' Memories of Love. I heart Stephin Merritt. As I've said before on other blogs, if he wanted to make babies with a woman, I'd be first in line.

A few nights ago when I couldn't sleep, I came up with the great idea to drive to Kansas City in April, instead of flying. Mostly because I want to make two stops in Mississippi. Then I remembered that I hate the drive to Jacksonville, and then I remembered that Lou and I will drive from KC to Denver. I haven't completely given up the idea, but at least today I'm realizing that it's not the best plan. Because I'd still have to drive 1,400 miles back to Florida.

If I really want to drive somewhere, why not all the fabulous places around sunny Florida that I've never visited? Like Cassadaga, Cypress Gardens, Apalachicola, the Everglades, the Okeefenokee, Plant City, Mount Dora, and, of course, Key West. But not the damn mouse.



Hmmmm, sounds like a good book ... "New Roadside America: The Modern Traveler's Guide to the Wild and Wonderful World of America's Tourist" or maybe "America Bizarro: A Guide to Freaky Festivals, Groovy Gatherings, Kooky Contests, and Other Strange Happenings Across the USA" or still "Weird Florida" and "Visiting Small Town Florida."

Soooo, what else is new? It's up and down for me. NASA doesn't know when it will launch another shuttle. My mom's returning from the frozen, snowy north in two weeks. (She hasn't been counting down or anything.) I should have a couch in about 10 days, as well as a tea cart, craft cabinet, side chair, bench, and a few other nice pieces that will give guests a damn place to sit. I might just throw a party.