• Forwards and backwards.

    ‘Tis the season to reflect on the past and predict the future. I’ve been reflecting all year so I figure there’s no sense rehashing it all now. As for predictions, roll your own dice. You’ll probably get a better answer. Awfully gruff coming from such a mild mannered, middle class, middling influence, man of our time; isn’t it? Where’s the optimistic yearning for new challenges and opportunities? What happened to all of that unbridled sentimentality? I know they’re here somewhere. They’re probably sitting right next to my car keys, wherever the hell THEY are.

    Could all of this sour spirit be because the legend in his own mind didn’t get a “superior proficiency” raise? Does he think he is better than everyone else? Do we sense a little too much feeling of entitlement here?

    O.K., I’ll fess up. I am talking trash about myself again. Maybe I’m being a little too hard on myself, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Fragile egos need all of the primping they can get, and rejection certainly does not help. The pity party will be at my place and everyone is invited.

  • Welcome to the end.

    You have reached the end of the year. Please proceed carefully.

  • What is it with the bodily fluids?

    Colds and bad cars have dominated the last few entries. Well, it’s high time I talked about something I like.

    I like my iBook. I am a convert to the joys of portable computing. I only sit at a desk when I absolutely have to, which now means only at work. I have a faster computer sitting on a desk in my living room. It is a wonder of modern technology, but it is big. Plop me down on my couch and put my portable in my lap and I am in computer heaven.

    I like Cheryl’s new car. It is everything the lemon was not. It has room. It feels well crafted. It does not shimmy, shake, vibrate, or buzz.

    I like my new car. I didn’t want to have to buy one, but as long as I did I might as well have something I like. It is small. Traffic is a plaything for my new car to toy with. The manual transmission is smooth (compared to others I’ve driven). The engine is responsive, without being a gasoline hoarding pig. It is colorful.

    I like the weather this time of year. Crisp and clean with no caffeine.

    I like my friends. They put up with me when I’m busy entertaining myself.

    I like November, December and January. Over 55% of all Florida state employee holidays fall in these three months (not counting the floating “personal holiday”).

    I like my hobbies. Reading, bicycling, writing, picture taking, screwing around with this site – I’ve got a few things to occupy my time.

    I like it when I think I’ve thought of something new, even when it turns out it isn’t.

    (Author’s note: this is not meant to be an all-inclusive list. There are plenty of things I like that do not appear on this list. There are probably many things I like more than the things on this list, that are not on this list. Why then did I bother with a list? If I don’t know then I can’t expect you to know, can I?)