Hebell's Other Head

hebell @ 2009-11-07T13:19:00

2009-11-07T19:23:03Z

Sitting on my porch listening to band in my driveway. Keyboard no longer has a functioning backspace, one, or two key anymore. This leads to much frustration.

Today is a day of wine and music, and friends who will show up soon one hopes.

I haven't been posting. I've been writing or working on paintings for so long.... now with Christmas coming I see more and more artwork presents in my future so this may be the last post for another 7 weeks.

I have nothing profound to contribute to cyberspace.

I like dixieland jazz. That is all.

Giving Politics the Boot (and yes, that's a steel re-inforced toe)

2009-09-14T17:36:40Z

Monday is a day when it seems the veil that separates me from the annoyances of daily life is stretched and thinned so that the average jolt, usually no more than a poke, from the outside chaos, feels like being stabbed between the ribs.

I’m tempted to go on a tirade, or at least make snide pointed remarks intended to get my unspoken point across, but this is what has been annoying me from others, so I will make a rare attempt at avoiding hypocrisy, which I will probably fail at, but I’m trying to keep this both balanced and personal.

Suffice it to say, I am going on record: Hard-core politicos from either party, I really don’t care what you think anymore.

Between the whiners and the moaners, the preachers and the prophets, the world has taken on cartoon-like proportions that defy any sane person’s hope of participation. The Democrats do it to the Republicans, the Republicans do it to the Democrats, both complaining about the rude/unfair/childlike behavior of the other side. They posture and waste valuable tax payer money on investigations into blow-jobs, or making a grown-man who has apologized in person apologize in session… I guess to avoid doing their real jobs in both cases, or maybe they really just never grew up, I don’t know. It’s just so god-damn frustrating, as is the sports-team-like support from their base constituents who seem to be unable to do anything other than shout “go team” or “boo ref” and will create a host of ludicrous and unsubstantiated reasons/facts in their own heads to justify it.

Even up until a few days ago I thought reasoned debate might still be possible on an issue by issue basis. You can always get into arguments based on generalities, but I’d found in the past when you broke things down into facts, and smaller points, you could still have a reasoned conversation that lead both sides of an issue to a greater understanding of the opposing side, if not in empathy.

But, the world has changed. I used to like talking to people and hearing their side and defending mine. I don’t anymore. It’s too ugly now. If someone can’t use logical argument to get their point across, the resort come-back now is so quickly and easily, “racist” or “communist” or “Nazi”. It’s depressing. And for the first time in my life I really think there is no hope for democracy.

My only remaining hope is the Libertarian party actually runs someone with a small modicum of sanity (I know it hasn’t happened yet, but there is always a chance) next election so I can vote for them. Until then, I will read the posts on various feeds, or hide them, depending on the severity of my stomachache that day; I'll try to not take it personally when friends, purposefully or inadvertently, call me a racist-moron while referring to something, and I will try not lash-out back, because name calling only escalates when you participate in it, while silence sometimes seems to multiply around you. Here is to the sound.

Two + Months

2009-08-28T23:49:47Z

It's been a long while, in my spare time I've been working on a new book. Here is an excerpt:

Yellow light and dew heavy air, every-every mornng. No rain, just the constant tease. The large twisted plants, able to suck moisture from the sky itself, moving, searching, animated like no foliage should be. They had started to seem normal, if not normal, after two years, familiar at least. The body wouldn’t adapt as easily as the mind. A constant sticky film clogged human pores, left human hair oily and limp, skin burned from the unrelenting shine of the stars light. The star not the sun, always the star. The moon light, blue, it released unwonted amount of ultra-violet rays as well. Even the dim blue baked you... turned a person red, and redder, when no thought of that was possible. If not for the medicines cancer would take a human within months on this hell-hole of a planet. Instead, with haphazardly formulated treatments, health maintained, as skin developed a bronze, a leather surface, a hardness that required less medicines, but more oiling to keep it flexible. Like slowly becoming a living statue, of wood, of wood not marble.

And in that, the mind and body found syncronicity.

TRIP ITINERARY FOR MAINE (you know, loosely like)

2009-06-23T16:43:20Z

So, I will be arriving in Boston on Saturday evening, July 18th. How I’m getting from Boston to Maine is yet to be determined. It’s only like 2 ½ or 3 hours from the parent’s place, so shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out, either bus or Amtrak, or a pick-up from a parent.

I have reserved Sunday for the Thomas’ and whatever moving help they need.

Monday is my shopping day and visiting my Gram day.

Tuesday is preparation of camp day. Claire and Chris will arrive late Tuesday night and I will grab them and bring them back to the house.

Wednesday we’ll be getting Leah from the airport in Portland around noon, get her, maybe take in a few Portland sights, get some grub, and then head for camp. At this time all Mainers who want to head up to camp should converge at some spot so we can either car-pool or caravan. The camp is not easy to find. In fact, it’s damn near impossible (ask any of the high school peeps who attempted it in the past. I actually have fond/funny memory of finding some people in their cars sleeping in the middle of the woods because they thought the road had ended – Jen and Dale I think, good times).

Anyhoot, so Wednesday night will be the first big night at camp. If you are a local Mainer and have a tent, please bring it, we may run out of cabin space. We have one new tent up there. Also, please bring musical instruments and other fun stuff like games you may want. I plan on providing food, but extra liquid libation is always welcome, although there should be a good deal there for anyone who needs it.

Thursday will be hiking, and swimming (brrrr) and kayaking and drinking, campfires and fun madness galore.

Friday will be more of that. Until Friday evening, when I think we should head back to my house (all crashers are welcome) and either party there, or maybe play some pool in Gardiner.

Chris and Claire leave early Saturday morning. Like, butt crack early. Saturday left over peeps can maybe visit the beach, or some other Maine tourist thing I can’t think of because, you know, I grew up there.

Sunday morning it’s Leah’s turn to leave in the wee hours of dawn. I shall rest, and probably figure out someway to get to Boston with my Lil Bro for the evening as on Monday it’s my turn to fly out, yes, again, far too early.

Well… that’s it. It sounds like mad-capped mayhem to me, just the way I likes it.

Vacation, It's A Mental Health Thing

2009-06-09T17:46:48Z

My vacation time has been approved. From the 18^th of July through the 26^th I will be in Maine. I will go up to the camp, sit on the dock of the pond and listen to water lapping along the shore, attempt to skip smooth water polished stones, smell the camp fire burn the sap off pine logs, bathe in lovely clear but mud bottomed water and trek through the woods to use the outhouse where a small field mouse makes his home. I will drive a four-wheeler, and take long hikes on old paths that will seem different yet the same all at once, eat berries off branches on the way without washing them, drink coffee on the porch when the dew still chills the pine needle ground. I will probably step barefoot on a pinecone or two, and not even mind. Best of all, I will get to share the time with friends and family.

Until then I will ignore that which annoys me, which is everything between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. I will be a robot, but a nice one, like Data. I will not scream, I will try not to roll my eyes. When the bosses are gone for the next two weeks, I will be patient with their poodle I'm babysitting. I will not complain about no lunch break, I will find the joy in solitude, and laud the benefits of a long day on my bank account. When the time comes for my vacation, it will be a reward not an escape. When I slip or fail in any of the above, I will not berate myself over it.

32

2009-06-03T14:38:14Z

It all started last weekend when Leah came in to celebrate my birthday weekend early and spoiled me as we galavanted around the town, kicking butt at pool and forgetting names. :O) While our dancing was spoiled at the dungeon by some porn-star wanna-bes plastered against the mirror and eachother, we had fun all around anyway, culminating with Greek Fest wine and food.

Then this week I had another lovely Birthday weekend.

Saturday Bek and I went to St. Joe's and got midnight dinner at Reginelli's. It was very nice and fun, the perfect amount of chatter and beer and greasy yummy food.

Sunday Jesse and Tracey had a BBQ at their house, which wasn't for my Birthday, and I made a point of not mentioning it, but none the less everyone knew and LeiLani bought me a cake and they all sang Happy Birthday. It was really sweet (and decadent cake too I might add). The BBQ was very pleasant as well, starting at 2 for a late lunch, and then around six eating seconds for dinner, topped off with the cake. It was fantastic.

I loathe Monday, which is where my "actual" Birthday fell, and didn't think I'd be up for anything big, so Chris, Claire, Bek and Brock took me out for a scrumptious sushi dinner, gave me way too many presents, and treated me to even more beers afterward at St. Joe's. I had quite the hang-over the next day. It was all lovely and awesome and I felt super loved and spoiled all around.

Now I need to get to bed early and catch up on my sleep!

The House of the Dead

2009-05-21T15:13:55Z

There are two little white pills perched atop the “Best of Elizabeth Taylor” DVD box set. I’ve forgotten what they are.

The kitchen floor is strewn with oily art supplies, pens and bottles of dried up paints, the bag they were housed in laying deflated to one side, its inability to produce the exact pencil I was looking for, having led to the disembowelment of its innards.

The dishes are stacked in order of scrubbing priority, that which is sponge washable, that which needs scrubbing, that which may require some sort of nuclear device to remove the caked on food stuff.

The bed hasn’t been slept in for months, and is piled with clean clothes and clothes that have only been worn once, in separate but equal piles, laundry segregation if you will.

The living room isn’t that bad, other than the in progress artwork and supplies in the middle of the floor. My fear is that if I move it before I’m done I may never finish it. This is not unfounded, it has happened before.

The bathroom is a graveyard of tiny termite wings, iridescent shimmers and writhing little flightless bodies. The casement window won’t close completely, and even with the lights off each night they make the trek into my bathroom like little hungry pilgrims to Jerusalem.

Anyway, this is what I need to fix tonight before Leah arrives at my little house of horrors.

Happy thought:

Last week the new baby mourning doves (Fyodor and Leo) flew the nest. Leo, in his first flight, after haphazardly landing on the railing next to me, (nearly missing the wall on his way out of the nest), took a long hard baby-bird look at me, and decided I was family. He flew over and landed on my leg and walked around there for a while before moving on to the next big adventure. They’ve both gone off into the big bad world now, but the moment was precious.

13 minutes to 5

2009-05-11T21:50:03Z

Well, I’ve finished all my work for the day… but one boss left already and the other is trying to catch up on some long ignored paperwork, so that leaves me twiddling my thumbs, manning the phone and front counter in case someone randomly chooses to call, or enter the establishment.

I have no idea what to write about. I’ve been very annoyed so I’ve been scrawling in my personal journal in vicious little angry chicken scratches. I don’t really have anything I feel like spewing out for public regurgitation.

This poor journal. I should really take better care of it. Let’s see… there have been some pleasant times…

Leah came in town and we had fun. Bek and I went sailing with John. Bek’s friends came in town and we all had fun. Yep. That sums up the month.

Details shmetails. It was rompous. There are facebook pictures posted should proof be needed.

P.S. The birds gave birth again. I have two babies this time. Pictures may or may not follow someday in the future.

At five a will flee this place and endeavor to avoid all that which annoys me on my way home, then to Claire’s house. Should I fail, someone will be cursed terribly, but likely never hear it.

I've seen fire, and I've seen rain...

2009-03-30T14:40:42Z

I have not seen a sunny day that I thought would never end, I am far too practical for that. The sun goes down... no matter what you do or hope for, but the benefit of knowing that, is also knowing it will rise just as assuredly.

oooo, deep much? Blah.

I have been reserving judgment on 2009, I don't like to center my opinions solely on first impressions. But now we are at the completion of the third month, that's 1/4 of the year, 25% you know. So far, I'm going to have to say that unless 2009 undergoes a massive character change, 2009 sucks sweaty dirt monkey balls.

Not that every moment has sucked. That's how it tricks you, lulls you into a false sense of hopeful security then, like a kid that pretends he can't throw at a dunking booth, BLAM, on the final try, down you go, into cold, wet, dirty water.

And before anyone asks, nothing bad happened, I just woke up on the wrong side of the couch and the year to date flashed before my angry tired eyes.

The sun will come up tomorrow, you can bet that dollar that's stuck to your ass.

Old As Dirt

2009-03-23T20:14:54Z

Well... I don't actually feel QUITE as old as dirt, but close.

It's amazing how hobbling around, slightly hunched, because you've thrown-out your back, can bring into sharp focus every wrinkle on your face, and crack in your knee.

I still don't know what happened. As near as I can tell, I woke up Wednesday morning and stood up... boom.

Blinding pain, jello legs, wobbling upper torso as everything below my rib cage seemed to have disappeared in a searing wave-like explosion... and the ground, there was a lot of ground.

It's almost been a week and improvement only really got under way on Sunday morning after I slept on my friends couch.

I think this has put my $99, 9 year-old, mattress at the forefront of the suspects list.

Today I can stand up and sit down with almost normal movement, I've only done it wrong a couple times and come marginally close to wiping out. The first few days if I got into any position outside a very small range of motion the pain would go from dull to avalanche again, and 'hello' floor. Now my range is getting better. I'm almost walking normal again. Normal enough that the customers are just giving me appraising "what the hell" looks instead of asking, "what'd you do to your back?"

I obviously have many bruises, none of which came from the initial back-toss, but rather ensuing dates with horizontal planes. I hope to be better by this coming weekend.

Madness

2009-03-03T21:11:55Z

It’s been a while, figured it was about time to post.

Mardi Gras came and went in a whirl of pain, fun, sickness, drunkenness and general debauchery.

My little brother came in town on Thursday before the last big weekend, as did my friend Leah, and the 4 o’clock until after 6 that day was spent fighting my way through traffic trying, and failing, to get to everyone on time. Eventually I did make it to the airport and back again, parked albeit about 7 blocks from my house. With the new parade route Muses started less than a block from my apartment which is convenient for parade viewing indeed. We drank and watched parades that evening, I believe we played pool, although to be honest the sequence of events of the weekend have melded into an amalgam of drinking in my head, yet somehow I managed to pull myself from bed in the morning and head to work.

Friday night was more parades, again close to my house, and then heading on a bus downtown to watch the “last” Morning 40 Federation show. And no, I have not really come to grips, terms or acceptance of my favorite local band breaking up, I’m still clinging to the last shred of water-soaked-lumber of the "USS Not So" adrift on the sea of Denial.

Saturday my cold, and other things caught up with me and I basically powered down completely. I have no memory of Saturday really, I think I went grocery shopping.

Sunday, the big day for my place as Thoth rolled down Magazine directly under my balcony. I threw a party; Mark and Leah helped me clean and set up. I had tons of snacks (still a bunch in my fridge going bad damnit) and supplies and a gaggle of my peeps came over and we enjoyed the parade from the comfort of our own bathroom.

I made the mistake of leaving the house later to attend Bacchus. This was a bad idea. I had become heavily intoxicated during Thoth (in an effort to smother the pain and illness) and it all wore off within five seconds of Bacchus, now very far down St. Charles, cursing my own stupidity. With a lot of walking, and good bit of pitiful sobbing on my part, Mark, Leah and I finally got back to my place where I collapsed in a state of drunken pain-induced confusion. I think I spoke with Fuzzy at this point on the phone. Poor guy. I sent Leah and Mark out to go drinking, I already felt like enough of a party pooper, and eventually drifted in and out of semi-sleep for the rest of the night.

Monday morning I got up early with Leah as she had to leave to get home. I stayed up for a bit then promptly collapsed back into a puddle of oblivion for the rest of the day. That night Mark and I played video games and watched movies.

And then Mardi Day… Walking, Rex, Drinks, Bourbon, Beer, 190 Octane Daiquiri, Balconies, drinking, walking, Bourbon, home, drinking… Blur, whir fizzle pop snap... Awake to work the next morning.

It’s a miracle I’m still alive really.

Yes, I’m still sick.

Life Expectancy

2009-02-05T20:09:53Z

Just took a detailed test and answered everything honestly and I still get to live for a good long while. Good, I can keep living my life of idle debauchery.

"Based on your answers to the above questions, your current life expectancy is 71 years. If you're not happy with the result, consider that by adopting a healthier lifestyle and avoiding various risk factors, you can increase your life expectancy by up to 15 years."

High Low

2009-02-02T19:10:56Z

It's been a strange week... or end of last week and today...

The end of the detox was good in some ways... but I drank a wee bit too much for someone coming off a long stint of sobriety and ended up hung-over most of the weekend.

Some of my friends are having a rough time, and I can't do anything to help, so I just hope for the best.

It was a very stressful morning, and my PC (Lucy) still isn't fixed. Techie-Guru thinks it was a virus. This is not good. Virus problems have always led to a wipe and re-install in the past, I don't have time. He's at lunch. I haven't had a chance to go to lunch yet.

So tonight I need to do taxes, my student loan paperwork finally came in... and I can only hope I get a significant amount back to take a small chunk out of what I owe American Express. I am very in debt right now.

I'm out of coffee, and cigarettes and running the shop by myself.

Detox Back in the Box

2009-01-26T16:05:57Z

Two weeks of Detox down and time to start adding things back in, namely, coffee. I’m drinking coffee. Hel-lo lu-verrrr…. Awk, I love it. It’s decaf, but it makes no difference, I luvz it luvz it luvz it.

Next, wine, red-red wine…. Mmmmm yeah, stay close to me baby...

I’m leaving all the bread and wheat out for another couple of weeks, so still no beer. But it will be back in time for the crunch time of Mardi Gras!!!

It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks coming up. My Brother is coming to stay with me from the 19^th through the 27^th, and much adventure is anticipated.

The co-ed Baby Celebration we’re throwing for our friend is on Feb 7^th. I got the invites out, now I’m making grand plans for the cake I’m baking… My schemes may be grander than my execution, but I’ll try my best.

I want to sit down and learn to play my guitar that finally arrived. I haven’t had time yet, after all my complaining of it not being here. I’ve tuned it, kind of… I’m having problems with the G-String (no laughter in the peanut gallery). I can tune anything by ear, anything that is except the G-String on this guitar. I don’t think there IS G on that string. It’s really annoying the piss out of me, and I have plans to borrow Tracey’s tuner to find out if it’s me, or the string.

It won’t happen tonight though. Tonight is laundry night at Claire’s where I indulge in the oh so guilty pleasure of watching soap-opera twisted drama in the form of Gossip Girl on her TV. It’s so bad it’s delicious.

On Ennui and On Living Alone

2009-01-09T16:16:34Z

“Living, just by itself / what a dirge that is! Life is a classroom and Boredom's the usher, there all the time to spy on you; whatever happens, you've got to look as if you were awfully busy all the time doing something that's terribly exciting /or he'll come along and nibble your brain.” –Louis-Ferdinand Celine

So, as a project I am determined to lose weight. It seems ridiculous to me in many ways, all the effort it requires to shape one’s outside to appeal to other people’s outsides when the insides quite often find no matching relevance in their external counterparts. Such is balance combined with chaos.

The detox starts on Sunday, and I am only participating for two weeks this go-round. It’s just a little system cleanse, defrag the colon and liver, wrap your mind around healthy eating, hope something sticks with you for the rest of the year. Or at least until the next big nervous break-down in your life when dodging the shit flying off the fan becomes all-consuming.

I like being alone. Don’t like my space invaded. I function better in groups and constantly surrounded by people. I have more respect for their expectations of me than I do for my own. The irony of this amuses me, and annoys me in equal measure.

“The whole business of your life overwhelms you when you live alone. One's stupefied by it. To get rid of it you try to daub some of it off on to people who come to see you, and they hate that. To be alone trains one for death.” –Louis-Ferdinand Celine

New Year

2009-01-07T19:06:58Z

So, I finally remembered my laptop so here are the New Year pictures. It was a lovely low-key evening at Chris and Claire's house. Jessie and Tim were in town, sans baby, and Eugene and Lowen came too.
I was exhausted after my debacle of a trip back. I only drank a few beers, couple glasses of champagne, and stayed sober to drive home.

I got the Mainer phone call at midnight, at which time Fuzzy, Andrew and Carla serenaded me with the classic bedtime lullaby "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen. It was great.
I got home, and went straight to:

Bugger

2009-01-05T18:52:41Z

I have New Year's pictures to post, but, of course I walked out the door without my laptop this morning.

Monday is sucking. I'm not going into details, Murphy's Law applies. And some person's sanity is in question. No, not mine, we already know I'm a fruitcake. And no, not anyone who ever reads this, I'm not that passive aggressive.

I went to Barnes & Nobel yesterday and purchased all the books my gift certificate would allow. I have read one of them already. And the Greg Isles book Chris loaned me. And another book I had already read before. I may read too much. Three books in one day seems like too much. I should join Book Fiends Anonymous. BFA, haha, already have one... ok, yeah, I'm loosing it. Must sleep. Can't. I'm at work. This sucks.

Drama, blah

2008-12-31T15:27:36Z

So, this is Heather, after two nights of about five hours of sleep. I don't even want to celebrate New Year's tonight. I want to go to bed.
It all started Sunday I guess. Got to the airport two hours before my flight. It take about an hour and fifteen to an hour and a half to get to the airport mind you.
After sitting there until after my flight was supposed to have taken off, the finally admit it's going to be over an hour late and I'll miss my connection in Philadelphia, which is the last flight to New Orleans.
So, I get my checked bag back from downstairs, wait outside for my parents to come pick me back up, drive back home. Get there at six. Five and a half hours after we left earlier that day. I spent five and a half hours going absolutely no where.
Monday I'm scheduled for the exact same flight schedule. After a restless sleep, I actually make it to New Orleans, this time 8 1/2 hours later. At which time I take a cab to Claire's house and join the Birthday Party for 3 hours.
At 11:30 p.m. I finally get home for the first time and find the street blocked by about 5 or 6 cop cars.
There are about 7-8 cops standing outside my building and the front door has been kicked in.
They won't tell me what happened but insist it's safe to go up. Which I have major problems doing being tired, so one of the Officers carries my big heavy bag up for me, which was nice.
As I walk by my next door neighbors apartment, see one of the guys being put in hand cuffs by about 4 cops. There is glass everywhere.
So, the commotion continues until about 1:30 am, me locked in my apartment listening to the police radios and screen door slamming open and closed. Then, I finally get to sleep for 5 hours.
When I get home the next day, as I'm stepping out of my car, my neighbor Will from the building across from mine walks out to talk to me. Apparently he called the cops, and I FINALLY get the story. He's a wreck. The guys saw him so he's worried they'll come back... but anyway, two "soprano looking" guys kicked the door down outside, Will saw them on my balcony breaking into the neighbors apartment. One of them saw him and took off, the other kept breaking in, and then Will heard a "blood curdling" scream, so he called the cops. We don't really know many of the specifics other than one of the roommates is out of town, one is already in jail, and the third guy, who isn't even supposed to live there, screams like a girl cause Will thought it was me screaming.
Why he was getting arrested too, I don't know. If they ever caught the guy that ran off, no clue.
So, I try to wrap some presents while watching Dr Who on DVD, but get almost nowhere being sick and exhausted. I finally read for a bit and am almost asleep around 11:00 when people start storming up and down the balcony outside my window, slamming the screen door to the apartment next door (prop it the fuck open bleedin' morons).
Thinking it could possibly be the bad guy come back I keep my large butcher knife from the kitchen next to my bed and prepare to hide behind a door and use it (stomach or throat) if necessary.
I finally peer out between the blinds in the kitchen, unable to fall asleep. It is my neighbors, apparently moving out. At midnight +.
I consider using my knife anyway.
I finally get asleep around 2 am.
I hate people.

Christmas is almost over...

2008-12-27T17:46:14Z

I leave to go back to New Orleans tomorrow.
Below are a few pictures from my time at home.

NorEaster

Our Tree

Lil Bro sleeping by tree

Molly

In Maine

2008-12-19T16:24:09Z

I made it on time to Maine, which is quite lucky considering my first flight was canceled.
Carla retrieved me from the airport and we went grocery shopping for supplies for our night of debauchery.
First we went to listen to Andrew and John rock out at the open mic night at Java Joe's. They were excellent.

Then back through the snow to Andrew and Carla's for far too many Vodka/Sprites on a stomach that had only consumed a chicken/provolone sandwich in the last 24 hours.
But there was much fun and laughter and good times had by all (except Carla, who is sick, and we tortured by keeping her up as late as possible). The next day passed in a blur of upset stomach, and aching blood vessels, topped with a large welcome dollop of greasy Denny's food.
Now I am home at the parental's house. They are at work so I have the day to wrap presents, and probably clean because Mom appreciates a maid more than any present I could possibly buy her.
:)

The Big Chill

2008-12-16T18:56:39Z

Tomorrow morning at 7:35 I will be boarding a plane to fly home to Maine for Christmas.

Yes, my stomach is already doing evil flips, swan dives, and belly flops into the pool of illogical abject fear that accompanies all flight for me.

Shiver.

In (not) Global Warming news, Hell Freezes Over

2008-12-11T19:15:14Z

It snowed today. Snowed in New Orleans. Enough to completely cover the ground, cars, etc. It'll be gone by the end of the day, but still, it happened. And I didn't bring my camera.
This means there is a distinct possibility I need to move further south.

How to electrocute yourself 101:

2008-12-10T18:27:33Z

First, put lotion on hands after shower. Second, try to unplug laptop so you can take it to work with you. Thirdly, stick fingers under plug base, as your hands are slipping, and have your fingers make contact with the metal prongs of the plug whilst still partially in socket. Finally, shake for a few seconds, wrench hand away (inadvertently completing initial mission) and swear loudly while shaking hand and arm.

It's Over

2008-12-08T14:44:08Z

I've decided to officially declare my mid-life crisis over. No more thinking, no more whining, no more excessive drinking and emotional break downs. I've managed to annoy myself. So, it has to stop.

I've had my fill. It was like a couple month long temper tantrum really.

The truth is, you'll never find happiness searching outside yourself. And pride is ugly when it's false.

Cleaning House

2008-12-05T18:21:46Z

I've never documented the making of my caramel apple pie before, so this year I took a few pictures in the stages. Obviously, some caramel escaped marring the final presentation, but it still tasted damn good.

I cleaned recently. The house is spotless, and has remained that way for almost a week now. All dishes washed daily. Bed made every morning. With the house so spiffy, comes an organization of the mind I quite enjoy. I did yoga last night. Then I read snuggled in my bed. I think I'd be perfectly happy to spend my whole life in that bed, if there were a constant supply of books in arms reach.

Just looking at the picture now makes me want to rush home and crawl in.