friend of the built environment

The best birthday of my life. No question. Having David there was a definite plus. The Superfluid boys didn’t even kick my ass when I stole the mic to sing along with “I’m the Ocean” in my cracking off-key voice. Many wonderful presents from David and from the family on Sunday. Thanks to all the people who’ve sent birthday [...]

I don’t really feel sorry for the civilians killed in Afghanistan, and I don’t think the military should, either. If I were patrolling enemy skies and started getting fired on, I wouldn’t care whether the bullets were from anti-aircraft guns or revelers at a wedding party. Isn’t it kind of indicative of the backwardness of [...]

I must admit to a somewhat love-hate relationship with Martha Stewart. But I also think the recent insider trading scandal is one big stupid witch hunt.
Ultimately, they’re basically trying to send a message that people shouldn’t give, take or research stock tips. The SEC wants, in the end, to turn the stock market into a Vegas-style [...]

Mental health day off work. I figure I’m partly excused because of the horrible headache I woke up with, which kept me from being able to get ready in time. This combined with the fact that the place is going to be sloooooooow as hell…
I know, I’m rationalizing. But I think it’s pretty good rationalizing…
Turns [...]

With the writer’s block and yearning to be closer to a certain someone getting the better of me this morning, I will leave it to Chuck to provide the Independence Day entry.
For those of you reading this from America, I embrace you as my fellow countrymen, and hope you share the unbending love I possess for the [...]

Nice long weekend. And I even managed to get my walking in. Now if only my back didn’t feel like it had a sharpened #2 pencil jabbed in it.
So it seems the Fresno Grizzlies have decided to join the brainless masses pushing anti-secular America today. They have replaced the Star-Spangled Banner with the Pledge at [...]

A few months ago, I had a little rant up about the use (and misuse) of the flag since 11 September. How horrified I was thus when I saw a purposely-beholed flag draped over the side of the Union Square Macy’s, whilst out for a stroll with David last Saturday. Now how stupid can a [...]

I haven’t had much comment on the recent accounting and corporate scandals, and the subsequent reactions to it, but I thought I’d point to Chuck’s recent blog on the topic. He makes a point about how jail terms are less likely to improve the self-policing of accounting. Most strange, isn’t it? The government threatens you [...]

Yes, it is going to be hotter tomorrow. Yes, those are clouds. Yes, it is going to get more humid. No, there isn’t anything under 100 in the 7-day forecast. 
A few power outages around town on top of it. I’ve been lucky enough to have been spared thus far. I ask everyone else to conserve [...]

So I brought Amy over for movie night - mostly because it was just too darn tootin’ hot fer coffee. And sure as heck I wos right - she gee golly thought my new birthday gift was just the most amazin’ talkie she’d seen in ages, dontchaknow!
Well, of course, that is after all her favorite [...]

Cattie Ness plays their last show tomorrow…

One thing I really miss about Net Nation was their very nice and comprehensive Statistics tracking. I could log onto my account and not only see how many hits I was getting, but how much of my bandwidth was being taken by which files, and my referrer logue not only showed where people were coming [...]

This week isn’t being the best it can be. After payroll yesterday, I came to the realization that once again, the bills soaked up 110% of my salary, and I’m still not saving enough for the move which is edging ever closer. The several hundred resumes I’ve now sent out have resulted in only 1 [...]

Sitting at Avalon last night, sipping a peach cider with Amy , I started reflecting on how lucky I am to have such a sane, rational and beautiful boy in my life. I think I tend to be cynical about my life too often, but then I hear about some of the things other people [...]

Have I mentioned lately how much I miss my NetNation account?

I got an email today from a long-lost epal; someone who I honestly regretted losing touch with several years ago in my (previous) Banshee-obsessed heyday (eg. the days of hyaena.org). Sometimes its incredibly fun to reminisce, even if I’m only doing it in private. Catching up is always enjoyable, especially when there’s still old mutual [...]

I just needed to say that it’s great to be alive. I’ve finished my work for the day, I’m well-fed, and tomorrow I get to spend time with the the boy of my dreams . The beige skies are beautiful, the streets are busy and my mind feels well tuned after polishing off yet another [...]

Another sleepless night. I don’t know why, but I’ve been having incredible trouble sleeping lately. It’s not that I don’t need the sleep - it usually catches up with me by Thursday or Friday, by which time I’m falling asleep at the wheel on the drive home…
I think it’s just all the things on my [...]

Sucky week. I’m not sleeping well, work is hell, dermatologist can’t keep her liquid nitrogen off me, etc.
Why do people bother to write me just to complain about my site? I don’t even have the motivation to rant about it this week. Ugh.

A small break from the otherwise dreary and unpleasant mood of this week. Seems not too many other people are having much luck with this week either. I will not miss it when it’s over this evening…

If that guy wins his lawsuit , I’m leaving the country. [This was a commenary on the obese man from NY who was suing McDonalds for making him fat]