I prefer delusion to clarity. So little matters to me now I can't get excited. Whoever sold simplicity as peace did not have it all together. I understand why people find religion - it shuts up that nagging little voice telling you off for a million different things. Perhaps god is simply the manifestation of the conscience, as many much sharper ( Read more... )

Everything is in order for filing my income tax return. For once I don't dread this use of an evening, as I'll be getting a cheque worth approximately $7500 as a 'reward' for buying a home at well below its value. Unfortunately, as always happens with homes this money is spent already. Your boy has to buy new windows and gutters. I have the old ( Read more... )

After a looong plateau, yours truly is down a total of 50 lb/22.6 kg. I'm getting close to where I was pre-depression and am ready to blow past that. It really doesn't mean much in and of itself, but round numbers are good for the psyche. I'll be happy to get back in the gym tomorrow - I've spent the past few days working on the house. I made a ( Read more... )

Basketball became my sporting obsession a couple years ago - it's a much more interesting, nuanced game than American football and significantly more exciting than baseball. It's also a paradox: it's the preferred sport of very bright people (one team is run by an MIT statistician) and very dumb people (one player brought several handguns into his ( Read more... )

So to the best of my physician's knowledge, I have anxiety. Awesome. The first feeling I had was a childish feeling of humiliation. It's tough to admit to anxiety when there is no logical reason to feel that way. I felt like I'd failed my friends, family and self; how could I succumb to anxiety - I am better than this! Of course that's not the ( Read more... )

Anyone ever deal with this? I have become obsessed with perceived problems and am thinking about getting a shrink. Intellectually I know that I get dizzy sometimes and can be a butterfingers because of a pinched nerve, but I have to fight myself from thinking it's Lou Gehrig's Disease ( Read more... )

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I researched flight costs for a trip to the 'Deen next summer (I was invited, and even if it was an accident they can't take it back! HA!), and they're astronomical. Even a flight from Chicago to London (the #2 and #3 busiest airports in the world) is near $1000. Craziness. Last time I went out I got round-trip from home to Dublin for $500. ( Read more... )

The swine at Delta Airlines charge a fee of $25 each way to check a bag, but carry-on luggage is free. This sort of challenge intrigues me. Can I pack for a one-week trip using only a carry-on bag? I have a Berghaus sack that is perfect for the job. It'll just take some creative packing to get my necessary items to come along for free. For a week ( Read more... )

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My cousin Jim is the guy who has the drink thrown in his face. He's a pretty talented actor and is very likeable. Bastard.