I'm apparently one of the few people who are satisfied with the earbuds that come with the iPod.

At least, I was. My earbuds that came with my 3G iPod have decent bass response, and in spite of the many hours I've listened to my iPod... still sound as good as they did on day one. No distortion, and they're not blown out.

Over the weekend, I inadvertently acquired a pair of the new iPod earbuds. I like the redesign, they are comfortable without pads, and they are sleeker looking... but the sound quality I've come to expect is no longer there.

The bass just doesn't come through. Hardly at all!

So, I guess I'll just hope these old earbuds that came with my iPod and my nano just last a while longer... or even forever.

Or at least until I get a nice pair of noise-cancelling earbuds. I would love to have a pair of these new earbuds with the old technology inside them... that would be sweet!

What i'm listening to:

Voulez-Vous Danser
Ace of Base
The Sign

Right now, I'm sitting on my flight from Portland to Denver... and I think I'm ready to go home.

I did have a lot of fun on the trip, but I missed my privacy. You see, my family is one of those families that enjoy tagging along for all of the experiences. Add to that, they don't understand my inner desires to wander out and find some show at the theatre, or find a club to pick up women, or whatever.

And, somehow, I didn't get my "Jack in the Box" fix, even though there was one only a couple of blocks away from my sister's apartment. "I don't like their food," or "It wasn't anything special," was enough to stay away... but I didn't get enough alone time to wander in and order something... anything!

So, no Jack in the Box love. Not mine! =^(

So far, the flight's not too bad. Normally, I dread sitting in the center seat, but it really isn't bad at all today. To my left is a lovely brunette who is flying to see her boyfriend in Iowa, and has spent most of the flight sleeping.

On my right, sits a lovely blonde with gorgeous eyes reading Cosmo. It took a little bit, but before long we were chatting it up. She's a bartender visiting a friend in Denver... and looking forward to her night on the town. The longer we talk, the more friendly she gets. Before long, I find out that she loves pop and country music, has lived in Oregon all of her life, and has no boyfriend.

Now, there's just a certain je ne sais quoi about a pretty young lady who peruses the sexy articles in Cosmo, yet has no boyfriend... and a little something more when she talks to me. All in all, I'd say it was a good experience... and if I hadn't had to work tomorrow, I'd have to tell her she couldn't handle me! =^)

So, things are looking good for my "inner game," all those months of staying in will pay off... which is nice.

I have so much to do when I get home. I think that my week away was something I really needed to do, but on the other hand, with my upcoming scheduled vacation in two weeks, I ... let's just say that I'm definitely not spending enough time at home! I guess I need to make a pact with myself... no more trips!

Besides, if I'm at home I can finally finish getting my life back together. Everything I've been working on for the last several months is on the verge of happening... but if I don't see these things through, I'm only cheating myself.

As 'A' keeps telling me, I deserve to be happy! =^) For now, I'll just enjoy my flight!

What i'm listening to:

Maneater
Nelly Furtado
Loose

It started innocently enough. She was a client of mine, and I'd noticed that she was appending little questions about me to the end of her business emails.

Little things... like inquiring what I do for fun, how my weekend was, and in addition, she was telling me how she is and what she was up to. Within a few weeks, she was making stops by the office when she had things to deliver rather than using a messenger.

I remember being unsure about how I felt about these signals. I'd never really recieved signals from someone so sexy before. I still don't know exactly what it is about her... she just "oozes" sex appeal.

Plus, she was married... so while I would entertain some fantasies, I would never have thought to act on them at the time. I remember feeling confused, because I knew she was married, but I had never seen "him," nor had she ever mentioned him to me.

She started inviting me to little business things. Again, I couldn't be sure she was interested because the events she invited me to were usually big to-do's. However, I decided to find out when she invited me to a volunteer's awards show.

That night wasn't meant to be. I was ready to go out that evening, looking hot in my shirt and silk tie, but as I climbed into my car to leave, and turned the key... nothing happened.

It was a fluke. Earlier in the day, when I was running errands I had started to switch on the headlights. I caught myself while the park lights were on and just switched them off... but something shorted across the switch and the park lights had stayed on. My six-year old battery didn't hold them up for the four hours I was at home, cleaning and getting ready for the show.

So, all I could do was call her and explain why I wasn't there... so she wouldn't wonder when I didn't show. I didn't get her, only voicemail, and when I didn't hear from her for some time after, I figured it really was nothing.

The attraction she was showing towards me was all in my mind.

Or was it? In a later email, I casually mentioned that I was planning on attending an open house where she worked. That was the night I found out my intuitions were spot on.

She told me later, that as soon as she found out I was going to be attending, she volunteered to be one of the speakers at the event. Anyway, when I arrived, she met me at the door, introduced me to her son, and stood next to where I was sitting in the room. Then she said she'd be right back.

She proceeded to go to the front of the room, and explained how working where she did was such a positive influence in her life. She explained how they had become like family for her and how they had helped her through her divorce and even helped her move towards her dreams. She has so much to be thankful for!

After she was finished, she came over to me and apologized because she had to leave and take her son home, but thanked me for coming and I told her I'd see her later.

And I did, the next day. They were offering tours the previous night after the speakers, but the guide didn't take us into the basement, which was an old fallout shelter.

Now, I love old buildings... which is partially why I'm so interested in real estate today, so I used that as a double-sided in. That day when she called, she asked what I thought, so I told her that the tour was incomplete because I didn't get to see the basement... to which she responded by inviting me over to complete the tour.

The basement was neat, but not terribly impressive... but there was an energy present with the two of us alone down there. It was everything I could do not to kiss her down there.

I later found out that she had wanted me to.

We talked for a couple of hours that day, and I invited her to lunch at the end of it... and she accepted. I still didn't know exactly where it was going... but I did find her fascinating, and while I did have girlfriend... that relationship was strained at the time, so I figured that she probably just wanted to be friends and to get me involved and want to volunteer where she worked.

And, as I am painfully aware of these days, I really need my friends. So, I was hoping at the very least we'd have that.

Greetings from Oregon!

Let's just say a lot has happened in the last few days... and the chain of events led to me taking some time off work and accompanying the family to move my little sister to Portland.

So far, it's been fun. It's nice to be on a trip where I'm not doing all of the driving or paying all of the expenses! =^)

Plus, I can credit my job with my incessant need to take time off. I figured that the long road trip out, the three days there, and the flight back, will give me plenty of time to plot out the next few steps of my plan. I'm almost distraction free, and I'm not thinking about work, so it's a good idea!

Some might argue that it's not a true vacation, because I have my cell phone, my iPod, and my iBook... but it is. The cell phone provided me with impromptu internet access so we could eat the awesome pizza that Zio's in Omaha has to offer, by providing us with the address and maps on how to find it.

The iPod is essential when I'm riding in the car, because I don't always have interest in what's on the radio.

The iBook was a necessity, because I brought along my homework... to take advantage of the work-free down time away from the house. That, and I intended to do some journaling.

And the iBook gives me something to do on the airplane and during the layover in Denver.

As of today, Washington state is the only western continental state I've not visited, and commemorates my first trip through Idaho and into Oregon. So far, I have to say that there are some beautiful women in Idaho, and the scenery is gorgeous in Oregon. Soon, I'm sure I'll see some lovely young ladies in Oregon too! =^)

At a rest stop, we met a German couple with an adorable Pomeranian. They were so cute and clearly very happy on their vacation... and they were impressed by my sister's three-pound dog and her thirty-pound mountain lion cat.

He had some amusing things to say that I must note so I never forget them.

I've been observing people on this trip... it's part of one of my projects, working on my inner game by observing what others do that works, and doesn't work.

I think it is time for me to get out and apply what I've learned... and maybe a few nights in Portland will provide me with the perfect opportunity!

So, we'll see what happens!

Finally, I've decided to start a new section of the blog... a "fact or fiction" area. I guess the reader can make the ultimate decision if what is written really happened, and if they decide it did, maybe they can figure out who I'm writing about. Who knows?

It'll give me opportunities to get my creative juices flowing and work on my writing, which I know leaves quite a bit to be desired. It should get easier as time goes on... so that's something to look forward to!

What i'm listening to:

Something
The Beatles
Abbey Road

Feeling 210% better, thanks for asking!

And today is moving day. Very exciting. Not for me, of course, but my li'l sister leaves for Oregon first thing tomorrow morning.

So, it made sense for me to take the afternoon off and help her pack and hang out with her and the folks before they head out.

I'm going to miss her, though I am excited for her. Somedays I think about starting over, and she's taking advantage of the opportunity!

I just hope she knows how proud of her I am. Best of luck, sis!

What i'm listening to:

The 39 Steps
Bryan Ferry
Mamouna

I should not have come in to work today. I'm still feeling lousy, and this cold has got my mind so muddled up that I can barely concentrate enough to hold my head up.

After last night, this is definitely the worst cold of my career. I've never been so desperate to breathe, or to relieve the pressure, or to do ANYTHING to keep it from draining into my lungs.

Head colds are bad enough, chest colds wreak havoc with everything... and add a good week to recovery.

Hopefully someone someday will come up with a pill that keeps all cold virii away.

Silver lining: tomorrow I get my new furniture... i hope. I haven't heard from my li'l sister since she called last weekend to tell me that her boyfriend got rid of his truck.

No one I know around here has a vehicle big enough to transport all of it at one time, so she considered using her moving van before she loads it up for the move to the west coast, so I guess we'll see what happens.

And, I appear to be climbing out of this illness, but as bad as it was, it'll be a while before I can hit the gym again. I'm afraid I miss the gym more than anything else right now... =^(

I'll live, I suppose. I'd better, I've still got a big year ahead of me! =^)

And, still not a single comment. No surprise there... either they don't work (but they've been tested!), or I'm just a terrible blogger.

I have to vote for the latter. ;^)

What i'm listening to:

Inside and Out
Feist
Let It Die

Ok, I may regret this later... but I'm going to do it now.

I can see that people read this, yet nobody has left a single comment.

Why is that? It's more curiosity than anything... although some feedback (good or bad) would be nice, it certainly isn't necessary.

Perhaps my posts are dull, or far to self-centered to elicit conversation. I don't know, please tell me.

Either way, I'll still post when I feel like it (which hasn't been a lot lately...).

So, I'm curious... enlighten me. Why don't you comment?

What i'm listening to:

Keep Holding On
Avril Lavigne
The Best Damn Thing

Right now I'm between 24-48 hours into yet another common cold.

Funny, I thought people who are healthy and "in shape" are supposed to be less likely to catch a cold! I went through a spell of about five years where I didn't catch a single one. I was also fifty pounds heavier and would run only when chased.

Now, I'm even catching more colds than I did when I was dating someone who worked at the airport! What gives?

So, it was time to do some research. Sure, some websites say staying healty and in shape prevents colds. Others (probably the more knowledgeable ones), state that healty people still catch colds, but the symptoms are less severe (check) and they frequently run their course a lot faster (check).

I did find one site that might explain why I didn't catch colds while dating... something about hot sex and passionate kissing actually boosts phagocytes and they boost resistance to virii.

Perhaps there is a reason to get back into the dating game. I'm almost ready, but my inner game still isn't as honed as I'd like it. That and I'd like to concentrate on my school work, house work, and other projects for the time being.

Anyway, ah-choo!

There really is nothing I hate more than feeling this way. I hate not being able to breathe through my nose, the constant drip of fluids, the aches, the pain.

Here's to hoping this one runs away as fast as my last illness did!

Rumour has it that Rachael is working on an album and it's due out this spring.

Yippee!!