Last night was glorious!

Seriously, I don't remember getting sleep feeling so wonderful! Of course, it was a cool night and I was sleeping in freshly laundered, thousand thread-count sheets...

Mmmm... I wish I was back there!

And it was cool enough this morning, it took some persuading to get me out of bed. Why couldn't I have had one of those dreams last night which feature car alarms or sirens or whatever it is that enables me to sleep through my alarm some mornings?

Well, tonight I'll have to get back to work. Plenty more work on two history projects remain... plus I haven't devoted enough time to learning my lines for class.

Hopefully I can finally figure out how to manage my time better. Everything went out the window over the weekend. I didn't sleep, I didn't eat, I didn't go to the gym. Kinda reminds me of the gal from Soul Man: I don't have to eat, I don't have to sleep, I just have to study.

Wow, that was a terrible movie... but I must confess that I did enjoy it. I'm working on compiling a series of lists. I'm interested in building Top-20 lists featuring favorite "good" movies and favorite "bad" movies.

I want to do the same with music as well. And television. Of course, the television shows are long since cancelled... most after a handful of episodes.

Which leads me to my initial thoughts on the new iPod. Overall, I really like it. The display is awesome, for album art and video... in fact, I've had to upgrade some of my album art, because the images gleaned from AllMusic revealed compression artifacts (acceptable) and flaws (unacceptable) that bothered me on the display. The cover flow is great fun to play with, and the wi-fi is everything I'd hoped it would be. I still haven't gotten used to the keyboard, though. You can add contacts on the fly as well.

Being able to check my email and surf YouTube before getting out of bed this morning was a treat! I get a huge kick out of this from last weekend's Saturday Night Live!

But, I don't like the volume control. It is too close to the song navigation, and you can't just touch the bar to "drop" the volume... you have to drag it. I also miss the song position indicator. It's still there, but you have to tap the screen to get it to appear. I'd be happy with merely a timer.

Also, I imagine the "24-hour" battery life that Apple was touting is if you allow the display to sleep and lock after a minute, which is the default setting. Unfortunately, when the display goes out, you have to hit either the home or wake button to wake it up, then slide the unlock before you can change tracks or adjust the volume or pause the track. Too many extra steps if the phone rings or someone approaches your desk.

Perhaps the backlight going out without the display going dark would be a potential solution?

I miss the "notes" feature. Also, while different navigation doesn't lend to the games my brick and nano have, I would think Brick Out would be viable! I don't understand why they don't allow you to add items to the calendar. From what I understand, you can on the iPhone.

All in all, I really enjoy my new toy. I wish I had the time to set it up proper... because of its size, I want it to trade music off to keep the playlists fresh based on ratings, skips and play counts, and to effectively manage that I'll need to have iTunes manage my music automatically. It's currently set on manual for the sake of having something to listen to today.

Over the weekend, I think I'll rip a couple of DVDs so I can put movies on it for whenever. I think Swingers, Flash Gordon and The Adventures of Ford Fairlane are on the short list, since those are a couple I can watch whenever. Hence my need for favorite movie lists.

If only I had time. I guess winter break isn't too far off. For now, I'll settle for what's on it and being able to drop songs onto it on a dime. It can wait, but the school work cannot.

What i'm listening to:

Objects in the Rearview Mirror...
Meat Loaf
Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell

OMG! Rachael Yamagata was in town earlier this month... and I totally missed it!

How did this happen?

Of course, I've not gone out at all in the last several weeks... but normally I hear SOME buzz.

Oh well, I'm sure I'll get over it. With her new album coming out soon, I'd think she'll be touring again very soon.

Yes, very soon.

So, would I be totally crazy for thinking about a tattoo? True, it's nothing I would ever have considered before... but I think that may have been because I hadn't been inspired what to get or where to get it.

But now? I think I have a pretty cool idea... but I'm going to mull on it a bit before I share.

My new toy arrived this morning... so my lunch hour was spent putting just enough onto it to get me through the day. Probably the week. I have plenty of things to do when I get off work today.

Yes, I came in to work today. Still not tired. I suppose 1200mg of caffeine will do that to a person. At least I'm not hungry either! =^)

What i'm listening to:

Stupid Girl
Garbage
Garbage

This is going to be an interesting day. It's too bad I probably will not remember it.

Last night, I took a study break and ventured through the dark and stormy night to pick up a pizza. En route, a li'l indicator lit up to taunt me. The battery wasn't charging.

Yes, that's what was wrong with my car last week.

So, this morning I'm waiting to see if there is a problem. There are a couple of possibilities, ranging from an improperly tightened wire... to something drastically wrong with the car that is eating alternators.

The latter could get pricey... so I'm armed with my emergency plastic. =^(

And I haven't slept. Usually, the weekends are when I sleep... but that just didn't happen this weekend. Hence my memory issues. With this much caffeine in my system, I'm afraid I'm almost completely on auto-pilot.

I would do good to call in sick today. I may still. When I'm this short on sleep, I'm not worth much anyway... however when it means more to your boss that your butt is in the seat than any work gets done, why burn the sick day?

Over the weekend, I learned a valuable lesson (albeit too little too late) while working on my project. I really don't have my shit together right now. It's not that I'm trying to take on too much, because I'm not. It is that I'm not investing the time I should into my classes, projects, etc.

There is a chapter in one of my schoolbooks that I just noticed last night, explaining how to portion out the work so it doesn't seem so daunting... so overwhelming. Basically, it outlines what I should have been doing all along.

Bleah! And here I am blogging when I could be working. So, I'll wrap this up. The question is, can I apply what I've learned this late in the game? =^\

Need sleep.

Zzzzzzz...

What i'm listening to:

Carry on Wayward Son
Kansas
Leftoverture

I interrupt this massive study/project session to mourn the passing of my close and dear friend and companion... my iPod.

After my iTunes crash that apparently happened overnight, it has left my beloved iPod an effective brick. =^(

I did go on a small quest for resurrection software, and I even found a program that looks promising. The catch, the cost for it is $40.

No, it's not much... but consider this. The iPod Touch I ordered is supposed to be in on Wednesday, and it made a bit of a dent in my fall budget.

Plus, what if I purchase the software and it is unable to resurrect my iPod? Then I'm out lunch for a week... for no real reason.

However, in the last four years, I've trained my iPod to know what music I like, which music I find to be just "meh," and I even learned a lot about play lists to automatically build exceptional play lists based on play counts and ratings.

I don't use iTunes as my primary music software... so none of that information was saved on my computer. So, all of that training is lost. =^(

The plan was to continue to use my iPod to house the bulk of my music collection and to transfer the ratings into my Mac file server, which will feed the new iPod Touch. With the iPod holding most of my favorite music, I can continue to use the iPod Nano for workouts, and the Touch was going to hold a select library of music plus TV shows and music videos.

The main draw of the Touch for me was the wi-fi internet without carrying my iBook everywhere. That, plus I plan to put these instructional/self-help videos on it, so I can watch them during that "dead" time when I'm on the treadmill or exercise bikes at the gym.

Hopefully, in a couple of months, I'll be able to justify getting that software. Realistically, this isn't a terrible tragedy. Sure, I had to re-organize my Nano so it can fill in for the next few days, but I saved the workout playlists in a different library, so switching back shouldn't be a big deal.

When the Touch arrives, even if my iPod was still working, it would probably get shelved for the next month or so while I'm enjoying the new toy... so, no big deal, right?

I do hope that software will resurrect my iPod's library. However, it isn't worth worrying about now. I have too much to worry about for school right now!

Enjoy your well-earned vacation, old friend. =^)

What i'm listening to:

So Many Stars
Jane Monheit
Surrender

I've been frequenting my favorite coffee shop a lot lately.

Why is that unusual, or even post-worthy? Well, I don't like coffee.

That's putting it mildly. I find the swill revolting! Seriously, I think you could mix motor oil and dirt, heat it up, and have something more palatable to drink.

It does smell good though. You'd think if it smells good it would taste good. I guess that doesn't work though, because there are some foods that smell pretty bad, but taste awesome.

Like cheese, for instance.

Anyway, I popped in, dumped my iBook on a table, flirted with "Amy" for a while, and decided to ask for her recommendation for a change. I've been eating there a lot, and I'd hate to go into a rut that forced me to change eating venues!

Her first recommendation turned out to be a sandwich I'd never tried there. She recommended adding ranch dressing to it, but I had to nix that. I don't care for ranch either. Even on fries.

So, I tried the Italian sub.... and, it was incredible! It's the best sandwich I've had in a loooong time! It was so flavorful, wonderful!

Words escape me! That's how great it was! Too bad words often escape me... that's nothing new! =^P

This flirting with Amy is great fun as well. It's interesting how this girl who was so emotionless and serious when I first came back to this coffee house has brightened up so much! I'm impressed that she remembers what I order to drink. I suppose that is predictable, but as a non-coffee/non-soft drink consumer, there aren't many options outside of Chai tea.

Unless I wanted the extreme sugar high that would come with an Italian creme soda.

Hmmm... that would have gone with the sandwich. ;^)

What i'm listening to:

What You Wanted
Cameron McGill
Street Ballads and Murderesques

Today, I had a pleasant surprise. There is a health fair at work! =^)

I knew there were flu shots, which is something I don't do... but what I didn't know about was the blood sugar screening, blood pressure screening, and...

wait for it...

Massages!

Unfortunately, I should have gone longer than ten minutes. He commented that my shoulder blades need to be separated, whatever that means... and that I need to drink more water, which would alleviate some of my muscle tightness.

Normally, I drink a lot of water, but I need to clean my water crock... the water that's in it tastes pretty bad.

Perhaps having a moratorium on house cleaning until my history project is completed is a bad idea...

Anyway, my family can relax. I'm not a diabetic, and I don't have high blood pressure. Unfortunately, I also do not have a grip... so I'll need to talk to my trainer about how to fix that.

Otherwise, it's been a rather uneventful day. I was going to take a break from my project last night and hit the club. Unfortunately, burning the midnight oil caught up with me and I was fast asleep shortly after eight.

So, I'm not sure how long my club hiatus will last. It has been a couple of weeks, and I have bad feelings about what that means to my game. Being holed up in my house with nothing but my iMac to keep me company... I can feel those old ideas and insecurities returning, and that can only be quelled by going out and running game.

Which will get harder to do, the longer it takes me to get back out there.

I did meet a bartender last Friday night at a different club who I hit it off with fairly well. We talked about people and boobs during her break, while she drew a pair of boobs on my hand with a marker. Weird, eh? I guess it was better than the standard X or whatever they draw to show they checked IDs.

A conversation piece, at the very least.

Anyway, I have this odd craving for doughnuts. Damn, I wish this place had a Winchell's, or at least a Dunkin or Daylight...

We don't even have Krispy Kreme... but that's ok. I'm one of the ten people in the country who don't care for Krispy Kreme. In fact, in Omaha, NE there is a Krispy Kreme and a Winchell's on the same corner... guess where I go when I'm in town? =^)

What i'm listening to:

Hold the Line
Toto
Toto

Ah, the life of the dilettante...

For those who are unaware, here is the definition (courtesy of Merriam-Webster ):

dil·et·tante \n\: 1: an admirer or lover of the arts. 2: a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge.

Anyone who knows me would suggest that both are appropriate. I love the arts and humanities, and have currently been dabbling in several: history, dancing, acting, women. ;^)

Add to that my obsession with music, movies, pop culture... with so much information, how can anyone be satisfied just pursuing one field?

However, I've reached a point in my college career where I need to specialize. My capstone project is looming.

I'd never considered specializing. I've always wanted to know everything... in fact, one could say I'm addicted to the idea of knowing everything.

I've mentioned the doomed FOX show John Doe before. If I could cherry-pick my super-hero power, that's what I'd choose. A trip to the spiritual plane where all the universe's questions are answered and back.

Access to all knowledge.

Of course, then I would give the best massages.

Oh wait, I already do! =^P

Seriously though, my mind just flits from thing to thing... and it's not boredom or ADD... I'm truly interested in everything, I just can't focus on one thing without attempting to multi-task.

So, my question is, am I alone? Is this something that is typical and I just have to learn to regain my focus.

Do I just have to learn to be less of a dilettante?

In addition to the history, the dancing, the acting, the women... no wonder I'm so busy!

What i'm listening to:

Get Ready
The Temptations
Gettin' Ready

This morning, I had a nice li'l note waiting in my inbox. The note was thanking me for a dinner date ten years ago.

Nothing like a warm, fuzzy to get the day off to a proper start!

You're welcome. =^)

What i'm listening to:

Old L.A. Tonight
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzmosis

One day last week, I forgot my cell phone at home. Now, subconsciously, I suppose my mind is enjoying the silence. There is a certain je ne sais quoi about being unreachable, isn't there?

Because I've misplaced or forgotten it many, many times over the past several days.

It has been a long, long time since I've cashed in a sick day. However, this morning I just didn't see any other choice. I've let the stress of my mountain of homework get to me, and just needed to buy myself that nine-hour cushion to get some things done.

And so I did.

Of course, there are always the fun, unexpected things that happen. My alternator crapped out on my car, so we are back in the shop... this makes four times in five months. Bleah!

At least there is a wi-fi connection, and I was able to grab a bite to eat at my favorite coffee shop... so it's all good. And the food actually managed to settle my queasy stomach.

Something that didn't settle my queasy stomach was an IM I got before I left the house. Seriously, the last person I expected to get in touch with me did. She wants her iPod back. It's been sitting in storage, waiting for her to ask for it, so now that she has, I'll send it to her.

I don't want to play anymore games with her. I'm done with her. I'll never fully understand what happened, but my version of what happened is good enough.

How does the song go?

Never again will I kiss you. Never again will I want to. Never again will I love you. Never, never again.

Hey, it's her loss. Granted, if we hadn't fallen apart when we did, and I hadn't headed down this path of enlightenment I'm currently on, we undoubtedly would have lost it anyway.

I'm a much better person now... and I'm sure she's the same. It does seem odd that she's been thinking of me... or at least that I have something of hers.

Although, there are moments when I'd like to have that Airport card back. I have a friend who's attempting to get back online...

I guess it hasn't quite been a year since she called. Still, I don't think about her anymore... especially not anything of mine she may still have.

Now, I'm not saying she's a golddigger... ;^)

You know, everytime I listen to the new Feist CD, I like it that much more! I highly recommend picking up a copy!

Anyway, study break's over... time to get back to mapping out my history project. I have to start writing tomorrow! Bleah!

But getting it done with will totally be worth it!

What i'm listening to:

Past in Present
Feist
The Reminder