Don't say that later will be better now you're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it

Time for the weekly update I suppose. I'm slightly sunburned and a little tired. Some where I dug up the motivation to crawl out of bed and go to the gym. I suppose it's time to work off the weekend. And it was a good weekend. More on that later.

So, last week started with a kind of a downing note. I was kind of feeling blah about a lot of things. So, I spent some time trying to run out some frustration, which is amazingly more therapeutic than I would think. I thought all you health type people were just trying to get us unhealthy type people to join your cult. But I guess there something to sweating it out or even just putting the earbuds in and blocking out all the crap that can get to you. Not to say it still doesn't get to you, at least you have a little time away from thinking about things.

And then, while in a funk I cleaned up the place. I was thinking that not coming home to a dirty house all the time would be a little less downing. And it's true, I like not having to see the dust gathered on the floor in those places I don't walk often (which ironically seems like most of my apartment). I also have guests planning to come up in a few weeks, which this is like a pre=clean for that. I couldn't imagine letting anyone in my place in the condition it was in. Ad there were some things that needed to be put away, and on occasion just thrown away. I tend to keep too much stuff, a little bit of a packrat. Sometimes, things just need to get tossed out. There's a certain good feeling to the cleansing of ones life.

I'm still not out of the funk, btu I'm getting better. The weekend in Atlanta helped. I experienced riding a MARTA bus for the first time, which as a 30 year resident of Atlanta I think I did well avoiding. But alas, since Grace didn't get an apartment right outside the train station, I had to endure a 5 minute bus ride. Wasn't bad really. I'd be inclined to use more mass transit if I lived somewhere I could.

I arrived at Grace's house about 4 hours before she did. I even tried to burn some time with lunch at Tap. I do recommend the roast turkey sandwich. And you gotta love a restaurant that provides water bowls for dogs on the patio. Once there, I thought some sun time would be nice. Too pad the pool was closed. It's like they planned this just to annoy me.

Friday though, I managed to get some pool time, and accompanying sunburn. And not only that, we were treated to two men in Speedo's. Seriously! How do you think you look good in that? That afternoon we packed up and headed south to stately TanJoe Manor. It was very good to see everyone there and have a few drinks ( a few being key.. I mean a bottle of bourbon counts as a few right??? Don't judge, I had lots of help).

The next morning I awoke on the (in)famous couch in the living room. I felt a little dirty for sleeping on it, just because I know a little of the history this couch must have seen. And not to be outdone by previous couch occupants, I was awakened with a big wet sloppy kiss. Thanx Mac! You're my favorite mutt too.

Saturday consisted of me trying to talk myself out of calling for work and going to Trish's going away pool party. I eventually realized I have a lot of things coming up I need the bank time for, so home I flew. Only to be delayed by a broken beverage cart wheel, which was not deferable (ie can't go without it working, which is usually an attribute reserved for things like engines and wings and compasses and Full Authority Digital Engine Control units... oh wait the last one u can do without it working fully). Shortly after determining that you could indeed go without the trolley brake working (assuming you don't try and use it in flight) we were off.

I made it back in time to get a nap in and drag myself to work. At least I had a clean place to come home to. Today I've managed to restock my bare cupboards and pick up some folding chairs for the back deck (which now has rails on all sides!), which is where I'm sitting typing out this literary masterpiece. Thanx again to Grace, Trish, Tanya, Joe, Mac, and Mandy for letting me couch surf this weekend. I really enjoyed being around everyone! Hope to see everyone soon, and given I'm almost a commuter again I probably will in the near future.

Next week, a trip to San Juan is being formulated... If the price is right I'm there. Nothing like a beach to make one feel better about things.

From the dark side we can see a glow of something bright

I've been ina bad/blah mood the last few days. Lots of contributing factors that have been gnawing at me. But I'll manage. Work has been kind of blah. I miss the variety and challenges of working international desks. Domestic just kind of bores me, mainly since pilots can call in easier and ask annoying questions. Plus, since I'm working weekends it's slow... unbelievably slow. Which is ok sometimes,but makes the night drag on and on. I'm running out of books and I've seen every movie in AMC's inventory 5 times.

But hey, I have a job and I get paid a ridiculous amount to sit there bored. I just feel like it's a waste of time that I could be doing something more... useful.

And then there's the added fun of watching Fox News for 9 hours 2 nights a week. Which brings me to something that really annoyed me. All the talking heads latched on to Op-ed article by Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer. The headlines all read that these too politicians called the protesters of healthcare reform "un-american". Wow, that's pretty strong for a nation founded on protest. However, if you read the whole column, the line is actually: "Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American". Well, I have no great love for either te Speaker or the Senator, but I gotta kind of agree with them on this one. But hey, it's one hell of a story an gets viewers right??

That's enough of that... I'm over health care, I'm over the economy, I'm past bailouts... I seem to be the definition of apathy.

I am however very excited to be celebrating TanJoe's new floors this weekend. I have a bottle of black cherry bourbon that has my name on it... well, actually it has Jim Beam's name on it, but I'm gonna enjoy his work. And it's already in New-Nan waiting for me.

I am trying to put a lot of things together and make it all work out. It requires me taking a few weekends off.. did I mention I hate working weekends? Let's hope I can make it all work out and still afford my car payment.

I think I'll be getting out of the funk in due time, until I'll just keep running out my aggrevations. I suppose that's healthy. Later.

Band Geek, and proud of it!

I just got back from the DCI movie.. well, life simulcast of the quarterfinals at the movie theater. By the way, this is gonna have a lot of band geek stuff in it, be warned.

Anyways, I'm not arty or esoteric enough I think for modern drum and bugle corps. First off, I'm not a fan of synthesizers and voice overs. I like good old accoustical instruments that don't require sound boards for balance, just an ear and pointing at some one to play louder. But anyways, I guess I'm now old school drum corps, because I miss the loud, fast, and high stuff. That being said, I'm still amazed at what a bunch of kids can accomplish, and so close to perfection in music and motion. And I loved me some Vanguard!! I really dig their attitude, same with BD and their arrogance they exude... obviously would good cause.

I also have to say, I miss those drum corps chicas... great tans with strange tan lines, a lack of modesty, and especially miss the horn chicks.. always so fun to hang out with.

Then I realize I'm old... at least 10 years older than anyone on the screen. It's been 15 years since I last strapped on a shako and stood on the starting line. Hard to believe isn't it. And I still look back on those years as some of the greatest accomplishments, and greatest experiences in life. Who would have thought 14 hour rehearslas and sleeping on buses would feel so appealing. It would probably kill me now...

OK, enough if the reminiscing. The shows were all varying degrees of good, even if I thought some were kind of dull. But it happens.

Otherwise, I'm trying to get back in the groove at work. I'm not enjoying the domestic thing.. same flights to the same places... I need some variety. I'm also really struggling to get back in the groove of working out and doing the diet thing. After my 2 weeks of vacation (with a solid week of work in between them, it's hard tog et back into a groove. I'm trying not to go into burnout mode, since I have come pretty far and I wanna keep going. But I also want a cheeseburger and fries.

I did however discover this week that there's a lot of "distractions" at the gym in the late afternoon/early evening. I usually go out earlier in the day, but I may have to change my schedule. ANd I also don't understand guys who just sit on machines and really don't actually use them... well, ok, they're probably "distracted" too... but do something!

I should clean, but I should also sleep since I know I'm going to be awakened by people banging on my house in the name of "upgrades" and "repairs". They need to accommodate my sleep schedule. Other than that, just another weekend of working. I'm hoping to work it out and make it down to the Tanjoe Manor next week. I'm looking forward to that.

That's about it. Lot's of things coming up and I need to work out some days off to cover it all. Ugh! I really don't like working weekends! Later.

I got nothing...

Well, Let's see how this goes. My first time writing on blogspot. I'm slowly moving the old blogs over from Myspace, since it seems to be abandoned these days.

Let's see, what's been going on... I just got back from a trip to Atlanta. This time I drove, since I have a car capable of doing the trip (more on that later) and I wanted access to wheels while I was in town. I tried to make a visit to everyone, but I think that's impossible without staying a month or more. I would like to think Jersey for hosting me, and Grace for allowing me to crash at her apartment, and Tricia for allowing me use of her bed (sadly without Tricia in it :-P) and the couch.

OK, let's talk about cars. Most everyone knows I bought a new car. Ok, maybe not everyone, but a few people know I have new Scion tC. It goes, and I like that! But I feel remiss if I don't pay tribute to the old car.

The old Honda Accord, a 1997 model V6 with leather interior. Yes, 1997... and I bought it that year. So old that CD players weren't considered standard. It came with cassette. That lasted about a month. The first person I let drive the old accord was Jennie Mills, who promptly found a hail storm in m new car! No damage but it was kind of amusing, and I never have seen Jennie panic like that... so calm and collected she is. The Chrissie had to leaver mark on a trip to a drum corps show, and I think some of the glitter was still there when I traded the car in.

A few trips to Orlando to see Jamie and Shelley, I don't know how many trips to Montgomery, first for drum corps then to visit Susan, an early morning run to Savannah because I was bored, and a lot of adventures around the Atlanta metro are. There's a few nights I slept in the car, simply because I was unable to drive home. (Yeah I know, that's no bueno but when a girl in tight close keeps pouring you shots, u take em! Especially after she whips you on the bar...).

So, 188,188 miles later, i kicked the old Honda to the side. I can't complain... I should really write Honda letter of admiration. I wasn't very good with the upkeep, and the car kept on going... but she was on her last cylinder I think. Here's hoping the the new car gets as much mileage and fun. I think it can be done...

Enough of that. I don't have much else to say. I've been kind of sedate of late.. well, except for the trip to Oz and ATL. Next... who knows. I have a car payment now and that's gonna put a crimp in my fun. But I'll manage.

Some one suggested I go to Vegas on my birthday... thinking about it, but I wanna try something new! I mean, sure Vegas is fantastic... but the Coyote Ugly leaves a lot to be desired... and that's what is important.

I thought of a lot of interesting things to say on the drive home, but I seem to have forgotten all of that. So I'll put an end to this. I have a couple more days off, and I'm seriously thinking about cleaning. It needs to be done, and some things need to be put away... sort of the out of sight out of mind thing... we'll see if it works.

Oh, and final note, Bourbon Festival Sept 15-19. I'm taking reservations... The couch and floors are open.

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time, you know why you came this way.

Back at work tonight, and I can't say how much I would rather be on Vacation. SO, I'll use this as a nice summary of events over the past couple weeks. I took a journey down under to Melbourne and Sydney. For the first time in I don't know when, I bought and paid for a plane ticket. Confirmed seat, and even though I tried to sweet talk my way into business class, I was relegated to seat 49F. Apparently, if I would have non-revved or was a jumpseater I would have most likely been moved up. Sad ain't it.

Also, being a plane person I feel I should describe the Boeing 777. Wasn't too horribly uncomfortable.. Well at least not for the first few hours. Being used to flying cargo planes and in the cockpits of RJ's, the touchscreen movie, TV, music, and games feature was a lot of fun. FYI, apparently they don't edit the movies on planes like they used to. I watched Caddyshack on the trip back and was surprised to see topless scenes left in. Nice!

Anyways, about six hours into the flight I popped a couple Tylenol PM, ate a sandwich, and crashed. I woke up in time to change clothes, enjoy the tasty breakfast (airline food is the same everywhere), and fill out the customs forms. Why they hand out customs forms an hour after departure and say not to lose them is a mystery… any idea how strewn about things can be after 14 hours on a plane? I do.

I wish I would have gotten the passenger next to me's email. He had just graduated with his masters in architecture and couldn’t find a job. Thus, he decided to take off and be unemployed in Australia for a year. I'm jealous a little. When I asked his plans, he had none other than 2 weeks of a hostel in Sydney reserved. Awesome!

After getting into Sydney, I stood in line for 2 hours or so to check in for my flight to Melbourne. I found it amusing how much more relaxed they are down there at the airports. None of this taking shoes off or interrogation at the checkpoints. Very smooth, very relaxed, barely a line. And amazingly the whole flying thing was a lot less stressful. Leaving Melbourne was even better.

So, I left Louisville at 4 pm on Wednesday, and I landed in Melbourne at about noon on Friday. Thursday didn't exist for me.

I made my way to my gracious host's apartment, and she had been very nice and gotten me a tram pass. Using the Melbourne tram system is an art, and I managed to only get on the wrong one a few times. They are great for of mass transit if you have no time deadlines, or really destination to get to. I would have killed for a pocket map of the routes. But alas, I muddled my way through. The time in Melbourne was nice. I made sure to go have a drink with Chloe on arrival…

A little background on Chloe. Apparently this painting of a young, nude girl was once hanging in a local art museum, until it was forced to be removed by those persons with strong Victorian (the time period, not the state) sensibilities had it removed from public display, to save the children's eyes from falling upon it. AT this time, a pub owner bought it and hung in the pub. I can only assume this happened around the end of the 19th century. Now, fast forward to 1999 and a young starry eyed southern boy was preparing for his first trip abroad, which was going to be Australia (later changed to Europe due to scheduling conflicts). I mentioned one day while getting a haircut to my barber that I was about to head down. And older gentleman waiting his turn for a haircut told me I should go find a pub there in Melbourne, where they had a huge painting of a naked woman on the wall (huge I guess is an art term for 6 feet tall). Apparently he had been there during his army days back during the Korean War or something. So I found her, and ever since I make a point to go have a couple there.

I spent the next couple days exploring Melbourne city and surrounds. Gaie and I took a nice wine tour up into the Yarra valley. I'm not a wine connoisseur by any means, but we were instructed on the process of sampling and what to look for. What I got out of this was mostly that the wine country outside Melbourne is beautiful and that you should drink the wines you like, not worrying what's proper for what meal. I apparently like Port, or similar fortified wines. I also like a few other ones. I seemed to like more and more as we went on… could be the large amount consumed. It was very educational and interesting. Not to mention nice to see the country side.

Other must see destinations in Melbourne… the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The MCG is apparently (and I learned this on the tour) the center of sport history and tradition of Australia. Also one of the largest stadiums in the world, dating back to 1853 when the original grounds were established, it can hold the capacity of the the Birds Nest Stadium and the Water Cube from the Beijing Olympics, and still have an entire upper level empty. It's a lot of people. It's a very nice stadium, and i walked on the "hallowed ground" on the field where they play Aussie Rules Football ( a game I don't get, it's like a violent padless form of US football with less rules), Rugby ( another game I don't exactly understand but seems to be ridiculously popular as the entire city of Sydney shut down to watch a game while I was up there), and Cricket (which is like "baseball with out the steriods… one match lasts 5 days and there may not even be a winner at the end").

Also, I love how Melbourne has what look like these little dark alleys where they've just set up cafes and bistros. You would think you might get mugged walking down the crevasses between the buildings, but there in the middle are tables and some really fine food establishments. Also take a walk by the river, more good dining options (though more expensive) and street performers. Seems the people of Melbourne like to eat.

Next it was off to Sydney for a couple days. I do love Sydney, there's something that just strikes you when you exit the train at Circular Quay and see the Opera house gleaming to the right and the Harbour Bridge reaching out on your left. I was feeling a little homesick and ready to get back until I got down to the rocks that night. I went down to the Mercantile Hotel (hotels are often just pubs), and sat down next to three gentlemen who I shortly discovered were the UPS crew on layover. You can spot pilots in public easily once you know what to look for, and being in a bar increases your chances… to paraphrase Brian from Family Guy " An airplane.. Where there's a plane there's an airport, and where there's an airport there are pilots, and where there's pilots there's a bar".

Next "hotel" down they had live music signs out. Everywhere seems to have people playing music there. I really dig that. While there, I met a couple of girls also visiting Sydney, Swanny from Germany and Erica from Minneapolis (via Vancouver). We ended up closing the place down that night and having a generally grand time. Of course more Americans showed up, and now I have new Facebook friends :-). It was a fun time… and really got the "this is why I travel" feeling. That and the great beer…

Oh I nearly forgot that… back in Melbourne I ventured out ti the Carlton & United brewery. That's where the Victoria Bitter comes from… and it is soooo yummy. I went on a work holiday, which they were nice enough to compensate me for with 2 extra schooners ( 12 Oz glass) of free beer. I tell you the Aussies know how to make you feel welcome.

Anyways, back to Sydney.. My last full day I took off to Manly for lunch and to head to the beach. Even though it was cool out (low 60's) there were still people swimming and surfing. Insane. This was the day I totally kicked my diet to the curb and had some fish and ships for lunch.. I spent the afternoon shopping for a few souvies, wandering around the Rocks (the original settlement of Sydney), and then back to repack for the early morning departure. A visit to the Kings Cross area ((which looks to have been cleaned up since last time I was there… no hookers or junkies bothered me this time), and then back to Scubar for some more music (and rugby) before settling in.

And not to leave Oz with out at least one lasting impression, one of my hostel roommates came stumbling in that night, and he brought a friend with. Well, I had set my alarm for 6 AM, but luckily the two of them decided to ensure I was awake by having not so quiet sex. At least she wasn't a screamer and I wasn't the guy in the top bunk. So, after the show was over, and all of us were awake (I'm not sure the others needed that wake up call either). The funniest thing was when one of the other guys in the room, a Korean guy, decided it was time for a bathroom visit right after amorous couple had completed their fun. He opened the door to go out, the light from the hallway flooded through the room to light up a young girl (cute too) sitting there in t-shirt pulled down to cover most of her while searching for her discarded pants. The look on the face is probably the most embarrassment I've ever seen. Being awake, I took off to the shower. Then off to the airport for the journey back.

At least the flight back was empty enough to have a vacant seat beside me. We were served lunch over Fiji, Snack just northwest of Christmas Island, and breakfast shortly before landing. This time though, I left Thursday morning at 9:25 (well 10 AM since we were late for a stupid Maintenance reason… spent 45 minutes trying to get permission to go without a portable oxygen bottle, found out they couldn't, and took another 20 minutes refilling it… why didn't you just refill it to begin with?). Anyways, We left at 10 AM and flew all day, through the night, and landed in Los Angeles at 7 am on Thursday. Again, it kind of messes with my head. The Delta agents were nice enough to push me to the front of the line in customs so I could have a shot at making my jumpseat. It didn't work, thanx to the baggage people. I did however barely manage to make the next flight, where I discovered the joys on inflight internet and onboard trivia games.

After about 18 hours aloft, I made it to Atlanta, met Grace while she waited for her next flight, got JoHnathans car and was at the Newnan Taco Mac by 7 with Jersey. I would like to thank Jersey for accommodating me and allowing me use of her house and JoHnathan for letting me drive his hot rod around. I was able to spend lots of fun time with jersey, get up to visit my family, see some other folks around the area, and add to my beer list at the Mac. However, I wasn't feeling well Friday and felt I was too ill to make it back for work Saturday night, a serious eye problem. So I was able to get the day covered and spent another night down south. For Jersey's early birthday, we checked out the Senoia nightlife with Grace, Tanjoe, and Charity. Who knew Senoia had a nightlife??? The band could have been better (and played something from my lifetime) but we had fun just getting together… or I did at least. We also learned that Tanjoe are haviing triplets.. So good for them!

I hopped a plane back to Louisville, drove home in my still ailing car. Going shopping this week for new wheels. I was slightly confused when I drove up to my house. The landlords had freshly painted the doors (now black instead of white), shutters, and front porch. I almost thought I was on the wrong street. I also learned the downstairs has been rented out to a girl who is "cute" and works at Churchill. I may have to make friends! I suppose I should get back to pretending to work. I think I'm going to start spending more time moving about these days, money permitting. It was a little refreshing to get out of the country again. Where to next?

Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone

Current mood:contemplative

Well, I't been a while since I've wrote anything on here. I seem to have a lot of things going on right now, and most them ae costing more than I want to pay. At least there's some fun time in the near future. Or that's the plan.

I've been on a bit of roll lately. Been to Vegas, Atlanta for a Braves game, and up ti Minneapolis to see Chandra. ALl had their high and low points, and it was good to see some old friends and hang out. I'm getting to be some what of a shut in up here, and for no apparent reason other than I'm either working or out of town. A trend I'm probablygoig to conitnue over the month of July, if everything goes well.

The latest problem to arise is my car. At just under 190,000 miles it needs some maintenance. And should I elect to fixe everything (mechanical) that's wrong with it, we're talking over $2000. That's not going to happen, at least right now. But focusing on the important items, such as the ones that keep the engine running smoothly, is going to cost be enough. On the other hand, it's cheaper than a new car.

I think next year i'll be in the new car market, as right now the money that I would pay for a new car with is allocated to improving my health. The whole excercise bit is gong well, and I'm really surprised where I'm at sometimes. And i didn't even have to order something of late night TV to do it. I guess the dieting and excercise thing really works. I have discovered that I have to go to the gym when I firt wake up in the afternoon, or I lose focus and say the hell with it.

ON the horizon, I'm leaving the country. I'm thinking about committing a crime first to make it a little more exciting at Customs. But I'm off to Melbourne and Sydney next week. So if you call me between the 9th and 17th of July, don't be surprised if I don't answer. That trip is already set up and mostly paid for. I'm having a moment of indecision about where to stay in Sydney. I'm leaning towards hostelling it for money reasons, but kind of feel like I'm getting to old for that stuff. ON the other hand, I'm not real big on growing up anyways. I'm thinking a little adventure will do me some good. ANd the Holiday Inn isn't what I call adventurous. The thing I'm dreading the most is the 15 hour non-stop flight fro LAX to SYD. I actually bought a ticket on Delta (I know, a payin passenger... i can where sweat pants and drink!!!) sine it was ridiculously cheap. CHeaper than a roud trip ticket on Delta from Louisville to Atlanta.

AFter that I'm tring to work out a trip to Prague while Ryan and woman are going to be there. That's proving a little more difficult to allocate funds for (due to unexpected car maintenance) but I think I can make it work out. Probably hostelling it there too. We'll see.

And after that, who knows what I'll do in August. probably stay home and eat ramen to repay the international forays.

I've gotten in the cleaning mood, maybe its in memorial to BIll Mays. It needed to be done. I was starting to see foot prints in the dust. Later this week I'll tackle my bedroom, the biggest disaster of them all.

I got a lot of other things on my mind, a lot of forward looking stuff. I guess you can say I'm setting goals and making plans. All I need to really make it all work out is some winning lotto numbers. Keep your fingers crossed.

I'll probably be writing more of these things, and I'm thinking of copying Grace and getting a blogspot sight and moving my random thoughts there. I don't spend much time on Myspace these days, as everyone has seemed to migrate to FaceBook.

On a side note, why does FB keep insisting I should be friends with A?

Oh, and work is going OK, had an "exciting" night a fews days back. Yes I know that sentence makes no sense. We had a massive thunderstrom roll slowly into Louisville about the time all the flights were due for taking off. A few brave souls made it out before it hit. And if you ever get the chance, watch a large jet take off with a massive storm a couple miles of the end of the runway. The planes were banking hard right before they got over the airport perimeter fence. Impressive. Good thing boxes don't frighten or vomit.

Well, back for a little more cleaning and then off to work. Later!

Some men like fishin, some men like fowlin, some like to hear a cannon ball roarin'

Current mood:energetic

Me, I like sleeping.

Sorry, couldn;t get the full subject the space provided.

It's been a long time since i've wrote anything here. I've kind of shunned MySpace for the world of Facebook. Not to say a lot hasn't happened, both in my little world in the great big one. Let's sit shiva and chat.

FIrst off, I would like to thank Fox News, the fair and balanced network for consrvative American values, for spending the pat week or so running Miss California strutting in a string bikini every five mnutes. And thank god for her expressing an opinion, or else we'd still be in the middle of a Swine Flu pandemic. WHatever happened to that?? Oh yeah it wasn't a big deal and was blown completely out of proportion by the major news networks.

So yes, some one of little influence on anyone expressed an opinion based on her religioud beleifs in a country based on freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Let's persecute! Whatever happened to the old pageants where they asked about world peace and other stuff they had no power to change? But at least there smore eye candy on the news, should be good for ratings.

Enough of that. So, I just pickd up an OT shift for next week, woohoo, cha-ching. MOr actully, mor bank time to use later for an extended weekend. There is talk about voyages to Eastern Europe... hrrmm. I'm defintiely getting the travel bug again. Next month will be 2 years without a new stamp in my passport. And accoridng to Tanjoy I have to hit three countries this year.

Speaking of TanJoe, I hosted the lovely couple for the Kentucky Derby. I had a lot of fun having them here, whether they enjoyed it or not. It wa sa long week, starting with a quick trip to Atlanta for a Brave's game, followed by Dave Matthews Band, and a visit to the Sweetwater Brewery. All were fun times and I wanna get back to do it all again. Thanx to Grace and JoHnathOn for putting me up and shuttling me about.. again! They do rock! That thursday, the Joe half of TanJoe flew back with me on a big brown plane, and we went to Oaks day on Friday.

Let's talk Derby for a second. FIrst of all, everyone needs to come for this, it's the kind of thing people should do once. It's a bg party with ridiculous hats and the town is just fun. Now, I'm willing to provide housing for a number of people. Second, while Derby is on Saturday, you should really plane to be here for Friday, which is the Kentucky Oaks race (among 10 other races) which is for the phillies. It's ike mini derby in that people dress up, big hats are worn, and theres a lot of fun. But the crowds a lower and grandstand seats are affordable.

Other than that, I've been here for the most part. WOrking, school, and gym. That's my life in Louisvlle. But summer is coming, and I'm looking forward to getting out, and having visitors... so come!

That's about it really, nothing else of much intrest to report. I think I'm off to go read a book, later!