The In-Between Post

Yeah, I said next episode would be: Teens. Death. Ramones.

I'm two thirds of the way through it. I've got the teens part, and the death part, but I'm working on the Ramones part.

At any rate, I decided that I felt just like writing something that wasn't TeensDeathRamones.

There is nothing like an iPod to make you feel like you need to buy a bunch more music. Really. Jen, who carried an iPod with her everywhere she went, realized this. She'd say stuff like "I don't like my music," or "I'm tired of my music." Now I understand this. But I think it has to do with moods, really. Sometimes you're just not in the mood to listen to anything you've got with you. You have your entire music collection, thousands of songs, and nothing strikes you. Sometimes, you just want to listen to a babbling brook or wind noise in your car. More recently, I've been tuning into the streaming "Drone Zone" station on iTunes. I like the Drone Zone. It's like white noise, only different. Makes me want to turn my home into a hookah bar or something, because it's so mellow. I particularly like the swooshing songs, the ones that make me feel like I have a raging case of tinnitus. At least I can turn it off when I want to. That's the good part. Tinnitus sufferers are kind of at the mercy of their condition.

I've seriously been contemplating what it is I want to do besides working on cars. A while back, I took one of those career aptitude tests, or something like that, online. All I know is that it was a Tickle pop-under, and it just happened to pop at the right time. I got a lot of crappy email, but I found out that one of the career paths that best suited me was...Philosopher. You know, I've done plenty of philosophizing, or philosophicating or philosophizzating or whatever it is that philosophers do, and I don't see how you could earn a red cent doing it. Often, people aren't interested in what you've got to say. Anyhow, I don't think Philosphy is what it used to be, back in the day. For one thing, we don't call philosophers "Philosophers" anymore. We call them radio call-in show hosts. In two thousand years, I shudder to think that people will look back and quote some of the modern day "Philosophers": "You know, as Limbaugh said, two thousand years ago...."

Here are a few more careers that I've been contemplating:
Oracle
Town Crier
Lamp Lighter
Headsman
Hangman
Bandito
Rogue
Gunslinger
Hamburgler
Sheik of Araby
Duke of Earl
Earl of Duke
Adventurer
Fortune-seeker
Dreamer
Shaman
Mystick (with a "k", no less)
Yes-man
Pirate
Spirit Guide
Mysterious Stranger
The Good
The Bad
The Ugly
Diabolical Henchman
Scamp
Imp
Agitator
Revolutionary
Revolucionario
Guerrilla
Gorilla

If anyone has a line on one or more of these, let me know, would you? Also, I think that I'd make a perfect Crown Prince. Let me know if you're looking, and I'll email my resume to you.

So Hard to Quit

So, it's hard to quit the Internet. It's hard to tear myself away from something that offers the sort of intense, immediate gratification that the Internet does. Search for something, it’s there. Write something, post it within minutes, if you like. Email someone, anyone, and chances are good that they’ll respond. I'm addicted to it, I admit. I am an internetcrackjunkiefiendtweaker. But, I can keep away for periods, if I show myself the benefits of spending my time in the pursuit of other, more productive things.

Stay away from the computer, get the house clean.

Stay away from the computer, get the lawn done.

Stay away from the computer, get the dogs walked, and give them their dinner in a timely manner.

I just need to recognize the appropriate whens and wheres of using the computer.

Most of what's kept me away, and kept my mind locked in a sort of funk is the condition of the dogs. I realize now that there is no rhyme or reason to what's going on with them. They're sick, it's nobody's fault, and all I can do is help them stay comfy, and enjoy my time with them. And I am. My walks with both dogs have never been more fun. I enjoy the serenity of an early morning walk with Milo. I enjoy watching him sniff the ground. I like to watch as he focuses his nostrils on a random bit of shrubbery. I stand and take it in as he uses short, choppy whiffs to process various scents in his quest to answer the question "Pee or no pee?" He is an odd dog. Sometimes, after the answer seems as though it's "Pee: Yes," he'll position his body to pee, but then decide, at the last minute, "forget about it."

Anyhow, the sense of being with him, waking up, going for a walk, watching the sun rise and filter through the morning haze--facing the first bits of the day with him--I've never appreciated it more fully than I do now.

That’s it. I’ve got a ton to say, including this: Blogger really bites if you’re using Netscape on a Mac. At least the version of Netscape that I’m using bites.