These Days

So, no hurricane this time.  I was a little excited to have one finally, but annoyed all the same.  I guess I just don't like planning, so while everyone was stocking up on food and planning exit routes the most I did was get the umbrella out of the car.  Luckily my feeling was right and Earl passed right by with only a tiny amount of rain for half the day.  I was out walking Jonas in 81 degree weather with a nice breeze later that evening.

I got published in the paper last weekend!  The Virginia-Pilot Sunday paper.  I'm using a pen name, but if you're smart enough (and put forth the tiniest bit of effort) I'm sure you could figure it out.  Jonas and I went to Starbucks right after his first bottle, and while he stomped around pointing at things I dug through the thick stack looking for my article.  I finally found it and burst out laughing, eyes instantly misting over.  It was a nice moment.  I took three copies and sent one to my dad.  One is up at my cube, but not after I showed it to five people, haha.  The third I may frame, I dunno yet.

The whole experience was fun:  The research, the event, the writing and re-writing, having Kasey take pictures with me.  I'm looking forward to doing it again.  I already have some ideas in my head for new articles.  P.S. - If anyone wants to be interviewed for any reason whatsoever, just let me know.  I'm down.

Jonas is fifteen months old now and still astounding us with his genius.  Yesterday he completed 99% of the steps necessary to put a new movie in the DVD player:  He picked the DVD out of the pile, opened the case, got the DVD out, opened the glass door, ejected the tray, and then tried to put the new DVD on top of the old one.  So close!  He still picks up signs I've only showed him a few times and mimics things we do so well. We love the little guy, although "Napoleon" is seeming like a better and better nickname for him.

I got a book of Charles Bukowski's poetry a while back and have been reading it regularly.  This is my first book of poetry and really the first time I've read poetry at all.  Of course I knew of Bukowski but had no idea what his stuff was like.  I read that my hero Tom Waits really liked him and found some YouTube videos of said hero reading a poem or two, so I decided to give him a try.

They are exactly what you'd expect Tom Waits to like (and if you don't know what Tom Waits would be likely to enjoy then you need to come over and get an education), and I can see how he's famous.  His slant and his environment are so unique and interesting.  One poem even made me cry unexpectedly.  It's called "Where Was Jane?", if you're interested.  I like Bukowski so much I've even started to attempt to write some poetry.  I love the way you can break up lines to emphasize certain words, or just because you feel like it, or how an entire piece can be five words.  It's just a lot of fun.

I can't believe it's September already.  Where did the year go?  In three months I'll be twenty-eight...  Crazy.  Twenty-eight with an eighteen-month old.

And then it will be time for my ten year high school reunion.  Now that is insane.  I remember clearly thinking that it was a lifetime away.  How different things have turned out than how I'd imagined.  The only thing that ended up working out is that I live on the East coast, and that was really a happy accident.  I also remember clearly stating I would NOT have a kid at my high school reunion, and would be well-off and successful.  Well... I was well off, for a time.  And I'm a successful touch-typist.  I guess that can count.

Even though things didn't turn out like I planned, I think this better.

 - David