It's been a hoot, so much so I'm calling in sick. I suppose only four day after a vaca, but I have an excuse. I'm starting a part time thing with the Bills on Game Days. Gonna usher (No security, no sir) to make some extra scratch and meet some folks. Might actually be fun.

Actually started getting into my new position in earnest this week. It felt good to actually contribute a little. I feel like I;ve been in a bit of professional limbo as toward the end of July my marketing projects wound down. I've been slowly adding things back to my new repetoire but it's a little weird to be intellectually the new kid. The folks showing me stuff sometimes get a little daunted. I try to tell them not to worry, I'm about the learning. It's a lot to digest, but I could be writing the Time Warner Intranet page one moment, taking your bill the next, a veritable jerk of all trades

(e:joshua)'s most recent post got me thinking about the state of the electorate. Things are so polarized that a moderate has no place to look. Joe Lieberman is a decent guy who sticks to his principals so that makes him unworthy in the eyes of his own party. The party has no chance making a dent against Republicans for either congress or the white house when it's busy eating itself. Just once I'd like a candidate to tell me what he's going to do, why he or she should be elected, not party affiliation or why the other guy is bad. Straight party votes of all kinds have lead to this kind of campaigning and as a result few voters think for themselves. Blind faith in anything will kill you and it drives me nuts (as a long term, leftist, democrat and a long time human) that people don't realize that there are smart republicans and dumb democrats. Despite this, I do however remain convinced that Rumsfield and Cheney eats puppies for lunch and drink the life out of children who aren't of their faith.

My new work hours blow - sucked my Thursday at the Square energy right out of me.

Met a nice woman about my age tuesday and we talked about life the universe and everything over a drink outside the suburban Le Metro. We're both busy with work and kids and whatnot, but she wants to be seen again. Score one for this old fart.

• '

My ex has fleas. That shouldn't be funny, but it is. She dogsat the past two nights and the living room got swept up in them. My daughter told me tonight that I should see Mom scratch her ear with her foot. She's twelve and pretty clever, but now we are both in trouble.

Got the sprint version of the razor phone off ebay the other night so I should join the mobile estrippers as soon as I get it charged up and the code number registered with the sprint poobahs.

Thinkin of making the jaunt to the Transit drive in this weekend.

How was your week??

I need to brush up on my photoshop skills to keep up with this guy. This looks even more impressive on the digital press I had access to on Friday for awhile. Dopey, but good for a giggle.

I received this in an email this morning after exchanging emails with somebody from yahoo personals 3 days ago.

I'VE MET A MAN WHO IS PERFECT FOR ME RIGHT NOW........HE LIVES A FEW MILES AWAY..........AND IS VERY INTERESTED IN AN EXCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

Who the hell knows this in that time span? The one thing I can take from that is the sender is not somebody I need to be mixed up with. Not so much about Mr. Right, just Mr. Right-now. If you've been through the "fun" of divorce or epic break-ups, you get cautious, it's natural. Who make dinner plans one moment then plunges into something else entirely 36 hours later. That's crazy. That note (and I didn't edit anything out) is very telling. Guess some hearts move faster than mine. I do not believe or understand the world in which I live.

Guess I'm going stag for awhile longer.

In other news, Sprint is making me nuts. One of the new corporate perks is some hefty discounts with other conglomerates. Since Sprint is my mobile phone home, I was glad to see them on the list since it means $10 comes off my monthly bill and Sprint, being Sprint, fucked up the request. Two phone calls, 2 hours of my precious minutes and one "give me your supervisor!" moment, we be done.

Stuff you got to do to get an even break.

Just finished 54 holes of mini golf with number one son. I think we need to repair to the hotel pool once more.

Vaca winds down....sigh

Mister Trouble come walkin' this way
Year gone by feels like one long day
But I'm alive and I'm feelin' all right
Well I run that hard road outta heartbreak city
Built a roadside carnival out of hurt and self-pity
It was all wrong well now I'm moving on

Ain't no church bells ringing
Ain't no flags unfurled
It's just me and you and the love we're bringing
Into the real world
Into the real world

I built a shrine in my heart it wasn't pretty to see
Made out of fool's gold memory and tears cried
Now I'm headin' over the rise
I'm searchin' for one clear moment of love and truth
I still got a little faith
But what I need is some proof tonight
I'm lookin' for it in your eyes

Ain't no church bells ringing
Ain't no flags unfurled
Just me and you and the faith we're bringing
Into the real world
Into the real world

Well tonight I just wanna shout
I feel my soul waist deep and sinkin'
Into this black river of doubt
I just wanna rise and walk along the riverside
And when the morning comes baby I don't wanna hide
I'll stand right at your side with my arms open wide

Well tonight I just wanna shout
I feel my soul waist deep and sinkin'
Into this black river of doubt
I just wanna rise and walk along the riverside
'Til the morning comes
I'll stand right by your side

I wanna find some answers I wanna ask for some help
I'm tired of running scared
Baby let's get our bags packed
We'll take it here to hell and heaven and back
And if love is hopeless hopeless at best
Come on put on your party dress it's ours tonight
And we're goin' with the tumblin' dice

Ain't no church bells ringing
Ain't no flags unfurled
It's just me and you and the hope we're bringing
Into the real world
Well into the real world
Oh into the real world

I was cruising along doing errands this morning. Young son was in the back seat drawing merrily away on a magna doodle. IPOD was cranking out hits and I lost myself in Paul Young's "Whereever I lay my hat." I got busted for singing along by two women readying to turn onto the Boulevard. Apparently, my falsetto needs work.

I've been pillaging (e:Jenks) music link like one of the Capital One vikings and got reunited with a bunch of favorites including the new user sound, one of my favorite Clash tracks ever.

Need to get a haircut, but I'm not sure where to go. I used to go to Chic's on Utica but I think I was one of his last haircuts ever since the store shuttered quickly after that. Probably stagger to Supercuts or something.

FINALLY, got the new overlords to get all my paperwork filed with the new company. Got the 401 K (since I'm old) and the pay advance worked out, health care will get done shortly.

Been fun having time off. The youngin' and I have been to the races at Lancaster Speedway, the movies to see Barnyard, the monday night Bisons game with lots of swimming mixed. The grandparents step in for a few hours later today, but we still have mini-golf on the horizon and I think my son has his grandfather set to pillage Dave and Busters for a vacation finale. We started today with new school sneakers and lunch at the IHOP, sounds dorky but very satisfying.

Fun to not think about work.

This is dumb, but it made me laugh

I don't wanna work.....

Off until the 14th!! Great day in the morning people. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in the land....

When he was leaving tonight, my 8 yr old was scrambling for something at the bottom of my ex's minivan.

"here, Dad" followed an outstetched hand.

In said hand was a still in the wrapper Superman action figure from his lunch, complete with flight sound effects. It's a beautiful thing. I walked around in the rain for a little bit with a goofy smile on my face.

Nicest thing to happen all week.

I hate HR I hate HR I hate HR I hate HR. Papers they should have processed have left me screwed, cheated, frustrated and more than a little angry. I check on them daily to get my new information processed and the ball keeps getting dropped. Time Warner was setting up a salary advance to ease transitions. I filled out my paperwork for that and was told everything was fine for this, only to discover the opposite. The advance was fictional apparently.

A scheduling mixup has left me unable to get to the Femmes tonight. Enjoy peeps.

I'm not happy

I was secretly hoping Mel Gibson's arresting officer was named Lipshitz.

I think the real reason Condi hasn't called for an Cease fire in the Middle East is that the Bush Adminstration is letting the Israeli Army do their defacto dirty work.
______________
Donald Rumsfeld briefed the President this morning. He told Bush that 3 Brazilian solders were killed in Iraq.

To everyone's amazement, all the color drained from Bush's face, then he collapsed into his desk, head in hands, visibly shaken, almost in tears.

Finally, he composed himself and asked Rumsfeld, "Just exactly how
many is a brazilian ? ? ? ?
______________

Govern, Forrest, govern


My new bosses didn't take questions at the big unveiling today. I made it on channel 4 in a crowd shot that I'm not going to keep. I felt bad for the suit wearers. I visited the Time Warner popsicile truck twice.

New position has me doing a lot of email repairing for my new department mates. I got vaca time coming up and I can't wait. Stuff will get serious the week after. That's fine. It just has me feeling like a bit of spare part which is taking a little getting used too.

But hope springs eternal -- My yahoo personals got answered three times today and none of them scared me.

Something's in the water, just not sure what