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 ...