DISCLAIMER: this blog is mine & mine alone. Thou shalt not blame family nor friends nor employer for what you may read here.
Just random smack talk about the past week...
From the world of sports, Roger Clemens is most likely going to be investigated by the Feds for his (alleged) role in the burgeoning steroid scandal in Major League Baseball. That means that one of the most feared hitters (Barry Bonds), and one of the most feared pitchers (Clemens) have both been implicated in a nasty ugliness that has tainted one of America's pastimes. Sad. They're not the first, and they certainly won't be the last.
From the world of politics/economics/society, we had reports this week from economists that warn of a recession in the cards for the US. Yet POTUS - our clueless leader Dubya - says the US is not facing a recession. Who do you believe - those that are paid to study econ for a living & have advanced degrees in the subject, or the those that have astutely observed that "more of our imports are coming from overseas"? Oil teeters around $100 per barrel or exceeds it regularly, the sub-prime lending aftershocks continue to be felt from coast to coast, and the stock market is as twisted as a bad acid trip. And our gov't passed an "economic stimulus" package putting a whopping $600 in each taxpayer's pocket, hoping this will spur consumer spending & give the economy a shot in the arm (or ass). Me thinks we're in for a long, not-so-sunny stretch economically.
On the work front, this week started out rocky as hell but daftly improved as it wore on. Progress on the massive Brian-kicking project has been made, and I feel more in control of it than I have in a while. It's still a wily beast that can rear its ugly head & throw me for a loop, but obstacles were overcome, tasks accomplished, and I feel a whole lot damn better overall.
No stunning revelation here, but the days are better when there's someone you look forward to seeing or running into during the course of a day. You're not as cranky when you wake up, and the prospects for the day look brighter. Makes life more interesting, worth getting up & getting ready for.
Per my last alcohol-steeped blog, I'm planning a pilgirmage back to my home state of Iowa this summer for my 20-year high school reunion. I've kept in touch w/all of 3 classmates, and only 2 w/any regularity. I haven't been back to Iowa in well over 10 years, but I'm stoked about this trip. I can't imagine how weird it'll be to see the town, drive the streets, and run into people where I spent the first 20+ years of my life, but haven't seen in over 1/2 that span. I'm jacked about seeing my best friend Jay, meeting his family, and visiting old old family friends. I'm interested in seeing the returning classmates from GHS '88. See who's lost weight, who's found it, who's lost hair, the air of adolescent coolness, etc. If everyone is honest w/themselves, that's one of the reasons we got back to reunions such as this, to see w/some degree of spite or quiet satisfaction who has not aged well, who ended up not leaving town, who ended up falling woefully short of self-aggrandizing visions of grandeur. I have a feeling many people have already jumped the shark. The unintentional comedy rating should be off the charts. I'll also be interested from a sociological people-watching angle to see if the old cliques re-emerge & segregate our class like they did 20 years ago (and beyond). The Brian that's returning to Grinnell is worlds apart from the one that left Grinnell 24 years ago. I'm sure the same can be said of many of my classmates, but we'll see if it's for better, for worse, or at all for the returnees.
It's amazing how quickly you become acclimated to the weather here. Last summer wasn't that bad after the first week. Adjustment to Florida's furnace of heat & humidity was fast. One year ago I woulda been absolutely thrilled w/60 before the end of February but today, waking up to sub-40's was a rude awakening, downright medieval. Not sure it touched 60 today but I still wore my motorcycle jacket during any venture outdoors. Brian 2007 woulda worn shorts, and been smiling. Brian 2008 was in long pants & a sweater, and still chilly. God I hope we see 70+ this weekend as predicted! My blood has definitely thinned...anything sub-70 is borderline uncomfortable, sub-60 makes me grimace, and sub-50 makes my teeth chatter, and is considered inhumane.
Well that's it. Time to chill before heading to bed & getting ready for a Freaky Friday. Have a bitchin' weekend, from yours truly.
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