Martha Coakley assumed the seat would be hers before Kennedy even passed. She sat back and did nothing until the polls showed that Brown's grass roots had been well fertilized. She did not engage the public, she did not talk to reporters.
This was Martha's race to lose, and she did.
I'm relieved that Coakley didn't win. She wasn't the right person for the job (not that I entirely agree that Brown is either). I'm laughing at the blame game and Spin going on this morning. Fox news, of course, is taking the stance that this is a clear reflection of Obama and his poor public rating. Maybe, but I don't quite see it as so cut and dry. I'm not happy with the President but I grow tired of hearing conservatives bitch about spending yet they have nothing to offer as a better solution. Call me old fashioned, but my Dad taught me that it does nothing more than make you look like an ass if you complain about a situation but don't offer any alternative solution to make it better.
What this really comes down to for me is health care reform. I think Brown's win will put a hault to the propaganda the democrats are trying to railroad through congress under the guise of health care reform. I am a huge proponent for reform but late night backroom deals and sneaky wording to promote other agendas is insulting to me and to this country. Let's see real health care reform that the country can stand behind and that truly serves our citizens. Let's call on our elected leaders to listen to us and remind that them that they were elected to serve by the people and for the people.
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Something about this song.
"....I miss the pull of your heart
I taste the sparks on your tongue
I see angels and devils and God when you come...Oh
Hold On, Hold On...." |
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A devastating reminder that our world is so much bigger than our own simple burdens.
My heart weeps for you, Haiti. |
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I was officially offered a new job today.
And I have accepted.
I am now the IS&S Project Manager for the Michigan Division.
Today is a very good day. |
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So, I kind of skipped out on adding my resolutions for 2010 when giving my year-end wrap-up in the previous post. It was, in fact, intentional. I've been giving a lot of thought to what I'd like to accomplish in 2010 and I didn't want to just go publish something all half-assed...well, even whole-assed for that matter. I mean, publishing these things to a blog kind of puts some pressure and responsibility on me to actually achieve them.
So, better late than never, here they are:
1) Achieve more items on my life list!!!!! This was my number 1 last year also but this is a big one for me. It is my constant reminder to live juicy!
2) Own my own business. This one is huge but I've spent the last few months paving the way for it to happen and I desperately need to see it through. Come on Universe!!!!
3) See more live music. I already have two shows I plan on hitting up in February - Lucero on 2/12 and Robert Earl Keen on 2/13....this will inevitably be a fantastic weekend.
4) Attend church more regularly and focus more on my spiritual enlightenment. Joining a small group, studying the bible, etc.
5) Be more organized. That means cleaning out my purse, managing my schedule better, everything at home has a place.
6) Read 20 books this year. I know that 20 doesn't seem like much but when I think about how busy we usually are, it seems like a realistic and attainable number. I'd love to exceed it!
7) Take an amazing trip with my kids. Not sure where yet.
8) Take a girls weekend trip. Again, not sure where yet.
9) Get myself in the best physical shape I've been in since....forever.
10) Don't get my heart broken.
What have YOU resolved to do? |
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Well, here we are again.
2009 has held a lot of ups and downs for me. This was sort of a strange year, because my whole life changed, and that was weird getting used to but yet very satisfying. But I’m figuring it out as I go, and I’m very thankful to be able to say that overall, I like my life. That hasn’t always been the case.
I was looking back over my resolutions and reflecting on all that this year has been. I got off to a bit of a slow start but when I wrap it up in my mind, I realize that I've accomplished more than I think I have ever resolved to do in the past. I was able to complete some items on my life list - most notably seeing U2 in concert. I have made great strides in taking much better care of myself...I'm eating better, taking vitamins, exercising more and taking more time for myself. Sleep is still a bit of a struggle for me but I'm working on it. I am definitely less cynical but the happiness part has been a little wavering. The cursing less didn't happen and the PMP certification didn't either . I did go to church more and did wear more dresses, but did neither nearly as often as I could or should. I still struggle with the blogging but I've decided that I'm just not going to worry about it anymore.
I also fell in love this year. And I somehow managed to get my heart broken too. Since my heart is still very much wrapped up in it, I think I will just leave it at that.
I listened to a lot of great music this year. I saw Neko Case live twice. I took several weekend trips back to Michigan and a few trips to Arizona. I rekindled some friendships with life-long friends, read a lot of books, and I realized a life dream and have started to take action on making it happen. I also somehow managed to survive my daughter graduating from high school and going to Phoenix for her first year of college.
I started thinking about what I want 2010 to look like and I can see that I will carry over a lot of my resolutions from this past year. I am living more deliberately now than I ever have before. I am awed by the quantity of good, amazing people I have been blessed with in my life and the way in which the universe moves itself to help even little ole me. I hope to stifle the control freak in me in an effort to humble myself to that power and perhaps I'll eventually be able to let myself stop and be happy a bit more often.
Tomorrow I will be heading up to Michigan to ring in the NewYear, drink lots of Oberon, and spend some quality time with friends.
It's hard to imagine a better way to start 2010. |
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Big day today, kids.
Big day today.
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"Life sometimes separates people so that they can realize how much they mean to each other." - Paulo Coelho
I love you, Mom. I miss you every. single. day.
 mom-1 |
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My dream last night:
I was in Tempe visiting Kaylie at her dorm. I could see myself walking downtown. I recall passing a homeless-type guy who was sitting in a lawn chair giving tourists directions. Because there are apparently a lot of tourists in Tempe???
Anyway, as I was walking into her dorm (which looked nothing like her dorm) I saw two, small, black, kittens near the doorway. They were in really bad shape - nearly starved and flea infested. So I stayed at Kaylie's dorm while she went to class and I bought a huge bag of cat food. I took two pie tins and filled one with water and put food in the other. Then I went outside and got the kittens and bathed them in the sink. They were a mess and in a lot of pain with sores all over them from the fleas. I towel dried them and fed them a bowl of milk.
Kaylie isn't allowed to have pets in her dorm with the exception of fish. She currently has a betta fish named Norton. Norton has actually been on my mind the last couple of days because Kaylie is coming home for a month and she's trying to find someone to care for him while she's gone. I thought about having her bring him on the plane but then it occurred to me that he would surpass the 3oz liquid limit in the container Kaylie would bring him in. So, everyone sleep better tonight knowing that air travel is much safer without bombs and Betta fish on board.
Ahhh, I digress.
So back to the kittens. I cleaned them up and filled their bellies and had to take them outside. I charged Kaylie and some of the other girls on her floor with rotating leaving them food outside. I found a milk crate and turned it on its side and put an old towel inside and stuck it behind the bushes outside the dorm. I put flea collars on the kittens and put them in the crate with food and water nearby. I think they were ok but I recall being terrified they would be eaten by coyotes.
Then I woke up. |
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I'm in Phoenix! I got in last night and "technically" I am here for work, however, I am of course taking full advantage of the opportunity to spend time with Kaylie! The time change is kicking my ass but I got up really early and worked out in the hotel fitness center. It's 85 and I just watched a desert sunrise while sipping my coffee.
It's going to be a good day.
I haven't posted for awhile but tons has been going on so rather than make excuses for why I haven't posted (after all I think only one person reads this thing anyway), I will just give a brief overview of some fun things and post some photos. How's that?
This past Saturday I went to the Neko Case show in Bowling Green, OH at a little joint called the Clazel Theater. I completely fell in love with this place...the amazing architecture, the atmosphere. I think I must have a "thing" for old theaters. This was the second time I've seen Neko Case this year and I was worried it would just be a repeat of the previous performance I attended at the Newport Theater in Columbus but it was different and in a lot of ways, better. Also, I took the coolest photo I've probably taken ever and I think I might just blow it up and frame it.
 marquee1 I also went to a kick ass Halloween party dressed as a black cat but I'll have to wait to upload those photos a little later.
Right now I am getting ready for work. It's weird but I think I am still full from hefeweizen and Claim Jumper chicken pot pie last night!
Tonight I believe I am meeting up with a gal I went to high school with who lives out here in Scottsdale. I think we are going to meet for dinner but plans aren't finalized yet. At any rate, I'll post more this evening when I'm chilling back here at the hotel!
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Jessen and his team had a fantastic water polo season! It's hard to believe it's over so soon but this weekend at Regional Championships was truly a culmination of their hard work over the last few weeks. The Vikings came into the tournament seeded in 5th place and ended up finishing 3rd overall!  Friday started out rough....none of the guys seemed like themselves and the plays just weren't there. They ended up losing to Sycamore and I know their spirits were pretty low. Their coach wasn't happy either and told them that they played like quitters and that coming in to Saturday they had better "Man-Up". I think this is exactly what they needed. Saturday was an incredible day. The first game against Glen Oak started at 9am and the Vikes, clearly recovered from whatever fog surrounded them the day before, slaughtered them. Next up at 11am was a match up against Sycamore again and this time they were ready to bring the hammer down. I think Sycamore must have been walking into that game completely unprepared and thinking they had it in the bag but they couldn't have been more wrong. The Vikings brought it and were triumphant in ending Sycamore's season right there! Then the guys got a break for a few hours and went out to a restaurant for lunch and to rest up for the next game.  Senior Starters Mohawks!!!
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Read more...
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I had a dream last night that we were sitting together in the morning, drinking coffee, and when you leaned over to pick up the newspaper, I could see the tag on your t-shirt, inside your sweater, against your neck.
I could read the brand name and for a moment it was so completely paralyzing that I almost forgot to swallow. I try to imagine you going into a store and picking out a sweater, choosing blue over red.
I couldn't.
It just doesn't fit anything I know about you.
I woke up before the alarm this morning and lay there sleepily thinking about your tag. It was almost decadent. It's like hearing a favorite song and the minute the song is over, lifting up the needle on the record player and starting it all over again. Even though it was only seconds long, I'd pick up the needle and start the memory all over again.
I tell myself that I will only allow myself to think about your tag until the alarm goes off and then never again. I turn on my side and stretch out to the cool, empty, pillow on the other side of the bed.
I closed my eyes and lifted the needle.
Then the alarm begins to beep. |
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Jessen and his Water Polo coaches on Senior Night. Vikings won 9-7 in OT!!!!
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Jessen wants to attend college at the University of Michigan. He hopes to be accepted into their School of Kinesiology where he wants to major in Sports Medicine. We've been preparing for his application (and for other schools he is applying to as well). He's scheduled for the ACT and SAT, he's got a rough draft of his applicaton essay and he asked one of his former teachers to write him a letter of recommendation.
I read the letter that the teacher wrote about Jessen last night and I was moved to tears. I just wanted to share it because my GOD I am so proud of my son. I know it's easy to think your kid is pretty fantastic but if anyone really knows me, then you know that probably my biggest insecurity is that I am failing as a parent or I haven't done the best I can for my kids. This letter was some HUGE validation for me that I've done a great job and even more importantly, that Jessen is every bit the amazing kid that I think he is because someone else recognizes it too.
Here is the letter:
To Whom It May Concern:
The purpose of this document is to serve as a letter of recommendation for Jessen, Princeton High School, Class of 2010.
I have worked with Jessen for the past three years, first as his Honors English 10 teacher his sophomore year, then as his Teacher Assistant supervisor, and finally as a sometime mentor in this, his senior year. We have chatted at least once per week this year, and in the previous years he often spent hours after school in my room working on projects.
You will find Jessen to be an exceptional young man and an asset to your shcool. Why?
He is very astute academically. Though his grades in my class weren't as good as I had hoped, his participation and in-class leadership made up for it. He grew, personally and as a student the year I had him. The next school year he served as my student aide and constantly received plaudits from his AP English III as being the best student in her class, making connections other students missed and writing exceptionally well.
He is a great athlete. One of the toughest sports offered at Princeton High School is Water Polo. Jessen is a multi-year varsity Water Polo team member and is a three-year varsity swimmer. Sports like water polo and swimming show a lot about a person's character. The crowds aren't large - most of the cheering is by teammates and parents - and there are no pep rallies or cheerleaders. All that those sports have to offer is hard work, self-discipline, teamwork, and intrinsic motivation. Because of the nature of those sports, I find my best students are participants in them. Those same traits carry over into the classroom, which Jessen consistently demonstrates.
Finally, of the three traits I wish to write about, the last and perhaps most important is that he is a great person. No only did he really help me as my aide, but he demonstrated characteristics one would like in any young man. A great example of this is when his girlfriend's father was deployed with the Army Reserve, Jessen took over many roles in her home to help out. He did all the "man work" around their home, from cutting the grass, to moving the firewood, to clearing brush and hauling in groceries. What kind of kid does that? Not many.
Jessen will be an asset to any college, university, or community. He has the skill set and dedication to be personally successful in the classroom or the pool, and the commitment to help his community succeed as well.
If I may be of further assistance in helping you or your institution make any decisions about Jessen, please contact me at the above address, via email or by phone.
Sincerely,
Lance A. Armbruster
English Teacher
Damn, I'm so proud of my son. |
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I am taking Josie to the vet this afternoon. I think she likely has allergies because she's licked and chewed her paws so badly over the past few days to the point that they are raw and she can hardly walk. I've been giving her benadryl the last couple of days and last night I washed her paws with peroxide diluted in cool water. She wasn't the least bit happy about that and whined and yelped and even nipped at me! After I dried them, I put some antibiotic ointment on them and then covered them with two pairs of Bennett's old socks to try to prevent her from licking anymore.
She looked pretty ridiculous. :) Bennett came down stairs and looked at her...then looked at me...then back to her and cautiously asked, "um...Josie is wearing socks?"
So, I'm taking her to the vet to be sure it's not mites or mange or something horribly gross like that. I did find some interesting info while scouring the web to diagnose her: Huskies and Malamutes have a genetic deficiency that prevents them from being able to absorb zince like other breeds of dogs. Apparently it doesn't affect ALL huskies but I guess it's a good idea to supplement their diet with additional zinc and if they are in fact affected, it can cause issues with the pads of their paws. Weird, huh?
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It is a water polo weekend for our family. Jessen's team is hosting the Packer Classic at the high school so in between watching Jessen and his team play, I will be volunteering at the concession stand.
This has been a fantastic season so far and it completely blows my mind how improved Jessen's playing is just since last season. He scores consistently every game and kicks ass on defense. I guess that $500 water polo camp at the University of Michigan has helped him some!
It's hard to believe but the season is already half way over. We have a couple of tournaments coming up in early October and then it's Regionals the weekend of Oct 16/17! I don't know if they'll qualify for State this year but every game they improve and it wouldn't surprise me if they weren't a fierce contender this year!
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I've put some more thought into the items on my life list I'm going to try to accomplish before the end of the year. I'm open for suggestions but I think I will do the hot stone massage since that's a fairly easy one and I know the salon/spa where I get my hair done does offer hot stone massages for a fairly reasonable price.
I will also be going fly fishing and oh my gosh, I could not be more excited! I was going to do it earlier in the summer but things got all messed up and it didn't end up happening. So,I've decided that I'm going to take the boys and we'll try it together. My hope is that we can go up to Michigan for a weekend later in October, perhaps drive up on Thursday and then hire a guide to teach us and spend that Friday on the water. I intend to go to Michigan anyway because my dear friends, John and Sarah, have an award winning photography exhibit on display at the art museum in Muskegon, and I want to go check it out to support them. So if schedules cooperate...it would work out perfectly.
Lastly, I will take the boys to a Red Wings game, likely in November. There's a lot happening in November...including my heading to see Neko Case (again!) in Bowling Green, OH!!!! As a matter of fact, there is a ton of great live music touring this fall: Wilco, Social Distortion, Son Volt, Roger Clyne, Lucero, Robert Earl Keen...just to name a few. I've only purchased tickets for the Neko show so far though but I'm going to see what my schedule/budget will allow for one or two of the others. Anyway, I digress....back to Hockey!!!! So yes, I will take the boys to see the Wings play in Detroit!!!!!!!
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Cloning Confuscius: The best way to predict your future is to create it! - Paulo Coehlo |
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Having just completed another item on my "life list" by going to see U2 this past Saturday, I'm feeling somewhat inspired to keep going and achieving some other goals so I can cross them off the list! The hard part is deciding what's next.
Part of me thinks I should focus on the ones which are Supremely important to me...you know the ones that I would feel fantastic about having accomplished if I died tomorrow. Those, unfortunately, also seem to be the hardest to tackle either logistically, financially, or circumstantially right now.
Then the other part of me thinks I should build some momentum by knocking out some of the more easily attained goals.
Perhaps, I'll try a bit of a hybrid of both????
Ok, so it's September 18 today. I am going to give myself until the end of the year to accomplish three more items on my list. So by December 31, 2009 - and then I'll set a new goal for 2010. I'm not sure exactly which three I will do yet but I will let you know as I decide. I'm a little worried since I'll also likely be adding more to the list, so it kind of falls into that one step forward, two steps back scenario but I guess that's somewhat insignificant when you're LIVING! and creating moments!!!!
If anyone would like to join me in this quest to LIVE JUICY, please feel free to jump on the bandwagon!!!
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This weekend I am on call and it's literally the only weekend Jessen has off from water polo tournaments until the end of October, so I am hopeful it will be low key. I could use the rest and need to recharge my batteries. I plan on doing some things around the house I've been neglecting and hopefully spending some time outside. Oktoberfest is happening downtown this weekend so it's possible we'll go check that out tomorrow. Sunday afternoon we are going to Ann's to watch the Bengals game, which I could really care less about football, but I'm making guacamole and intend to drink beers so if that's the excuse wrapper I have to put around it to do so, then so be it.
Tonight though, I think I will be pouring myself a big glass of wine, putting on my jammies and curling up in my favorite chair to finish "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis.
Or maybe I'll just watch Red Wings pre-season hockey.
Carpe Diem? Absofreakinlutely. |
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Saturday night, I saw U2 at Soldier Field in Chicago. I keep trying to write about it but I either start talking about how amazing they sounded or how I can't believe that it took me like 20 years to see this band live and I still can't manage to give a decent summation of just how amazing the whole experience was. Also, there is no way to say you had some sort of visceral or spiritual experience when they encored the second time with “With or Without You” without sounding like a douche, so I’m not even going to try.
Some of the great moments for me:
*Hearing the opening chords of "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and having the band stop playing entirely while the sold out 60,000 person audience sang their hearts out, acapella.
*Looking around me while I'm rocking out to "Pride" and thinking to myself that this fucking rocks.
*Being completely moved when Bono, saying goodnight after the second encore, looks out into the audience and says, "Thank you for giving us this amazing life."
That still makes me tear up a little bit.
Great review of the show here.
Saturday in general was probably one of the best days I've had in the last ten years and for more reasons than just the concert. I am on the precipice of some amazing happenings and even with all my doubts and insecurities, I just know in my gut that things are going to work out the way I want them to. Me one year ago would scoff at such a statement, but the me now is seeing the world in a much different light. And I'm thinking that perhaps articulating what you want, even if just to yourself, somehow sets the universe in motion, and maybe that knocks over a book that blows out a candle, and eventually leads you to falling in love with a guy you knew in high school, which in turn inspires you to pursue what your truly passionate about and even if you end up with a broken heart, realizing it isn't all in vain.
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Something is about to give
I can feel it coming
I think I know what it is
I'm not afraid to die
I'm not afraid to live
And when I'm flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did
And hardness, it sets in
You need some protection
The thinner the skin
I want you to know
That you don't need me anymore
I want you to know
You don't need anyone
Or anything at all
Who's to say where the wind will take you?
Who's to say what it is will break you?
I don't know, which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around?
Don't want to see you cry
I know that kiss is not goodbye
It's summer, I can taste the salt of the sea
There's a kite blowing out of control on the breeze
I wonder what's gonna happen to you
You wonder what has happened to me...
I'm a man, I'm not a child...
A man who sees
The shadow behind your eyes
Who's to say where the wind will take you?
Who's to say what it is will break you?
I don't know, where the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around?
I don't want to see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye
Did I waste it?
Not so much I couldn't taste it
Life should be fragrant
Rooftop to the basement
The last of the rock stars
When hip hop drove the big cars
In the time when new media
Was the big idea
That was the big idea
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I had a great Labor Day weekend. My life-long friend, Cindy, and her beautiful family came down from Michigan to visit me here in Cincy for the weekend. We watched Jessen play water polo and went to the zoo, to the pool, and to see the fireworks on the River. We also drank a lot of beer (love Oberon mini-kegs!) and ate Skyline dip until we thought we'd explode. The best part though was just spending time with a dear friend, whom I greatly admire and love and adore....just as much as I did back in school. It's hard to believe that I've been friends with Cindy since I was 8 or 9 and spending time with her now, it just doesn't even seem like we were ever out of touch. I was so sad to see them go, but I know it won't be too long until we can see one another much more often.
Speaking of life-long friends, my dear friend, Jacque, and I are headed to see U2 this weekend at Soldier Field in Chicago. This stop kicks off their North American tour which should bring a great energy to the show. I'm not only excited about going simply because, HELLO, this is Ufucking2!!!! but I'm also very excited because this has been an item on my life list for quite some time and we all know how I love making lists and subsequently crossing things off them once they are completed. Living is AWESOME!
I am thrilled to be going with Jacque for a couple of reasons...one being that she is another friend that dates back to grade school and I simply adore her and secondly because she is about the most hardcore U2 fan I know. When I originally bought the tickets, I did so with the intention of going to the show with someone else and it's been difficult for me to not be tremendously disappointed by the fact that it's not going to happen, especially since there has been no real closure to the whole situation. So, I am trying to focus on the great time that I'm going to have and less on the missing. After all, it doesn't do me a lot of good to waste anymore of my heart on someone who clearly doesn't care. But anyway, I am certain I will have a great time with Jacque.
There is a bunch of other stuff going on and I've got some other huge developments happening this weekend but I'll have to keep that under wraps for a wee bit longer.
Yes, I am a TEASE.
I will just say that I'm trusting the universe and I'm amazed sometimes by how good the world can actually be. |
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It occurred to me that I missed my blogaversary on August 20. Riddle me this: How is it possible that I've been blogging for six years? Of course that includes the years on my old blog and here....but really? SIX years?
Also, how is it possible that in six years of blogging, my writing has not improved in the slightest?
I'm going to have to think about that one.
At any rate, the whole sixth blog anniversary got me looking over some of my old posts and realizing how much my life has changed in the last six years. On one hand six years doesn't seem like a long time at all and then when I think about the moves I've made, the job changes, losing my parents, ending relationships, two presidential elections, Kaylie going off to college....it just blows my mind that all of that stuff happened over just six short years.
I thought it might be fun to repost a couple of favorites from by gone days. (Or is it days by gone?) Nostalgia. Whatthefuckever.
Here are a few I found at first glance:
There's this one - where I wish had testicles.
And this one where I made up some mid-year resolutions...wtf??? I think I drink too much. Although, they are some pretty good resolutions.
Of course this one where I talk about my someone.
And I can't forget this one where I discuss being a projector.
I'll look through some more to see if I can find any others that are half way decent and worth sharing. It's funny but it seems like the majority of my posts were about why I haven't been posting anything or how I never have sex.
I'm a sad, sad, little woman.
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Agreed, Scott. I am pleased that a lo...
late night backroom deals and sneaky...
Bah. Take some time away from the TV ...
20 books?! Holy crap. I thought abo...
I think you did better on your resolu...