Yay! Blog! v1.0 Category: September 2003
A lot going on... [09/30/03]
[What's Going On?]
There's a lot of stuff going on at work. Tomorrow is a division meeting where a probable reorg will be announced. From rumors I've heard, I think the reorg will be a good thing. Something else is happening that could mean a promotion for me at some point, but there's a project I have to finish first. I won't finish until probably next Spring. And I'm not sure I want the promotion, but I'm not ruling it out. There's something else happening that I can't even hint about right now that's stressing me out a little bit, too.
Then at home, I have tons of projects I need/want to work on:
I have 3 more photo galleries to build from my Arizona trip.
I want to totally rebuild the Strange Sandwich Music site.
I also want to change the home page of my website. It has a spot for new songs I recorded, but I haven't recorded any since February, so it's making that page pretty stale. Maybe I'll replace it with daily random songs.
I've got lots of photos I want to use to make more free wallpaper.
I'd like to make a halloween themed stylesheet and banner for my website. (I just thought of that one this second!)
I need to clean up and rearrange my back bedroom to make room for a new bed. Then I need to get rid of that durn futon I sleep on.
Of course, instead of doing any of that stuff, I just watched some TV, surfed some blogs, checked out some Connect 8 projects, and made a new Kim's Place banner with Lily Dawg's newest picture.
There's lots more stuff, too. But right now, I'm going to bed. Maybe I'll have a freaky dream to write about tomorrow. That's always fun!
What's on TiVo? [09/30/03]
[What's On TiVo?]
What's on TiVo?TiVo recordings I need to watch
The Directors (Mike Figgs)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Invasion of the Neptune Men)
Monk
Joan of Arcadia
the following are leftover from last time
In Dreams
All I Want
Mulholland Drive
Sixteen Candles
The Princess Bride
Best in Show
I Know My First Name Is Steven
The King of Comedy
Cocoon: The Return
Cocoon
The Quick and the Dead
The Eddy Duchin Story
Class
Ping!
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
Back on my diet [09/29/03]
[Shaping Up]
After a month (okay... over a month) of pigging out, I am going back on my low carb diet. I ate my last Dulce de Leche Cheesecake bar from Starbucks yesterday. I had my last Iced Venti Decaf Mocha with Whipped Cream. I had my last giant loaf of onion rings from Tony Romas Friday night. And my last plate of quesadillas from Texas Land and Cattle Company Saturday. Now it's back to bacon, chicken, steak and salad. Oh... and water. Lots and lots of water.
Today's weight is pound zero. My goal is minus 24 pounds.
Unconscious Mutterings [09/28/03]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
 - Herpes:: yuck
- Freddy:: Krueger
- October:: Jack-o-Lantern
- Hunting:: Deer
- MSN:: BC
- 36:: age
- Hotel:: room
- Travesty:: disaster
- Health:: insurance
- Conditions:: shampoos
Federal No Call List Stuff [09/26/03]
[Just Griping]
I started to write a rant about the latest judge trying to block the Federal No Call list by citing Freedom of Speech. It was going to be a diatribe about what Freedom of Speech means and how I'm sick people bastardizing it who believe it gives them the right to force their views or sales pitches or troll-flames upon others. It doesn't. While it does give people the right to express their views without fear of government intervention, it does NOT give people the right to harrass others, especially in their own homes.
While all that's true, upon further research, I learned an interesting thing.
The No Call list only blocks some telemarketers. There are exemptions for charities, pollsters and callers on behalf of politicians. So the judge is really saying it violates free speech because it's allowing some groups to call, but not others. I like his argument, but I think the outcome should be that the No Call list block ALL unwanted calls. Like maybe a no call list where people can specify which kinds of calls I want blocked.
It was a pollster who called me the other day and rudely hung up on me when I asked her to take me off her list. I don't want those people calling me. I don't want charities calling me. And I especially don't want people calling me on behalf of politicians.
I would disconnect my phone completely except that one in fifty calls is a call that I need to take.
My coworker disconnected his land line phone and only uses his cell phone now. He doesn't get telemarketing calls on his cell phone. I might have to go that route. I'm not real big on cell phones, but if it will help cut down on the unwanted phone calls, I might just break down and get one.
Memefest Day! [09/26/03]
[What's Going On?]
I got behind on my scheduled meme blogging, so I'm catching up today. I also posted tomorrow's Sonnet today because I might not get to it tomorrow. I see a zoo in my future.  I hope you all have a great weekend!
Saturday Sonnet [09/26/03]
[Sunday Sonnet]
Yay! A Random Poem!
 From Rob's Random Poem Generator using my blog.
~~~~~~~~~~ Yay Pictures!
MUSIC
not a long privacy statement notices
with some crap Over the web
camera at one
a bag stuff and the Day donut jelly
feli Hurtling Indie Journal D back into
my friend Rob.
Rob Rob from stealing music online
Members of course, but I was gone.
and got it was in the FreeAudioPlayer.website today!
the music including pop, rock, jazz, folk and
he was going out,
report back in the hole.
What's on my menu for tonight's dinner? [09/26/03]
[What's On [blank]?]
 What's on my menu for tonight's dinner right now? I'm not sure, but I know I'm going out. Woo-Hoo!! I'll report back where I went in the comments afterward!
Monday Memories [09/26/03]
[Memes - Monday Memories]
When were you first allowed to stay home alone, and under what circumstances?
I don't remember the age. My mom had a typing service at home, but she had to go out sometimes to pick up the work. Sometimes I would get to stay home. I was supposed to stay home, of course, but sometimes I would walk around the corner and down a few blocks to the convenience store and buy a bag full of candy. You could get a brown lunch bag stuff full of candy for $2.00 back then!
Dream Journal - Work House [09/25/03]
[Dream Journal]
Dream Journal Entry - Work House
My dream took place in a house that I made up. It was a combination home and workplace. My real-life coworker Bruce worked there, and he might have lived there, too, but I'm not sure. I think so. I think my friend Rob from England lived there, too.
At one point, I came back to my desk (which wasn't anything like a cubicle work desk.. more like a kitchen counter without the kitchen stuff), and someone had rearranged my computer. Everything was stacked like it was almost going to fall over, but not.
I started rearranging it back. I had a very small tv style monitor in addition to my computer monitor. The small monitor went with a web camera. I put the monitor up on a shelf where I could see it and decided to point the web camera at Bruce's desk without him knowing. I'm pretty sure he was the one who rearranged my desk.
Next thing I know I was going out, probably to lunch. I was at the front door looking down the hallway to the bedrooms, and I told Bruce "Bye." I walked out and got about 10 steps down the street and realized I didn't have shoes on, so I went back in to get some.
I went in my room, and it had been changed. The ceiling fan was gone. There were new lights hung over the upper portion of the bed. There were 5-6 of them in a row across the room, and they were hung very low. If I sat up in bed, I'd knock into them. They weren't all the same bulb styles either.
I think I decided to change clothes or something because now I was trying to put on a bra. But I was trying to do it under my shirt or a jacket because the door to my bedroom was open, and I didn't want to expose myself if I could help it. It was taking me a long time to get the bra on. I remember I got the hook-and-eye things misaligned one time. I guess I finally got it on, though.
Later, I had left the room and come back. This time, when I walked in the room, I noticed an indention in the floor. It was as if someone had layed down a gourd mandolin, and it had sunk into the floor and left the hole. The carpet was perfectly formed into the hole. I was staring at it, and connected it with a guy who made a mandolin for my friend Rob. Rob and the guy showed up at that point. I don't know that guy in real life, but in my dream, he was small and disfigured. He apologized for making the hole.
Then they were gone, and I was sitting in my room. A really short guy came in who I think I had met earlier. He started hugging me. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to hug me, but I didn't stop him. We talked a little, then he was behind me and hugging me. That felt really nice, just to have him hold me. I was considering asking him to come to lunch with me, but I didn't know what we would talk about, plus I wasn't sure if I wanted to start a friendship/relationship with him.
Sorry for the silence... [09/24/03]
[What's Going On?]
Sorry I'm so silent. I'm real busy with work. It's a roller coaster ride...
Unconscious Mutterings [09/21/03]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
 - Savings:: money
- On:: switch
- Wire:: electricity
- Word:: processor
- Bladder:: pee
- Missing:: link
- Side:: aluminum siding
- Window:: outside
- Digit:: finger
- Swirl:: ice cream
Unsolicited Phone Calls [09/20/03]
[Just Griping]
I hate unsolicited phone calls more than I hate spam. And I hate spam a lot.
I signed up for the no call list, but that doesn't start until next month. Plus, I doubt it covers all the calls I get. I get a lot from my credit card companies and my phone company. The kind who send out long privacy statement notices with an inconvenient way to make them leave you alone buried deep inside of it.
I got a call from Dell the other day, from whom I bought a laptop recently, and they said they were partnering with some other company to sell me some crap I don't need. I don't want to hear from companies I bought something from! You know... don't call me; I'll call you! Except I probably won't call you unless whatever I bought from you breaks! The worst part of that call is that they called my work number. Bastages!
I quit answering my home phone a long time ago. But calls are still annoying because the ringing still shatters the peace in my home and my answering machine gets filled up with crap.
Over the last week, though, I've been answering it just so I can tell people to take me off their list. I love that I have that power. I've only had two callers that pissed me off after I told them to take me off their list. One today, and one a while back.
The one a while back gave me a long story about how I was going to have to call some other number and ask the person at that number to take me off the list because the caller wasn't the owner of the list. That's not the way it works... If I tell you to take me off the list, YOU call the other person and have them take me off the list.
Today, the person flat out hung up on me. RUDE!! Usually, callers say something like, "Okay, sorry to bother you." Something nice that lets me know they are actually going to take me off the list. Today... she just hung up. Don't cold call me and hang up on me.
Saturday Sonnet [09/20/03]
[Sunday Sonnet]
Yay! A Random Poem!
 From Rob's Random Poem Generator using my blog.
~~~~~~~~~~ Yay baseball shoes tacos reebok
Searches to my cable box got spiked,
and the Counting songs are a small part,
but the toilet and blues.
You see Jerry
main thing that was one
nice scene where the base of
on the credits
I love it.
Here I never watched Melrose Place.
But I was in the Pretender too.
My simple life.
Friday Five - Music Related [09/19/03]
[Memes - Friday Five]
 1. Who is your favorite singer/musician? Why? I guess I'll go with Adam Duritz. I don't know why. I just like his voice and the songs he writes and the way the Counting Crows' songs are put together. Or something.
2. What one singer/musician can you not stand? Why? The Crash Test Dummies make me want to poke screwdrivers into my ears. Please make it stop.
3. If your favorite singer wasn't in the music business, do you think you would still like him/her as a person? Um. I don't know if I like Adam Duritz as a person now... I've never spent time with him.
4. Have you been to any concerts? If yes, who put on the best show? I've been to very many concerts. I loved seeing The Refreshments the best.
5. What are your thoughts on downloading free music online vs. purchasing albums? Do you feel the RIAA is right in its pursuit to stop people from downloading free music? It's illegal. People should pay for music that's not intended to be free. I'm not a big fan of the RIAA for other reasons, but I have no problem with them trying to stop people from stealing music. It amazes me that people believe it's okay to download music they should be paying for.
Threat Matrix stream of consciousness [09/18/03]
[Television]
I watch "Threat Matrix" tonight. Well... only the last half because my cable box got turned off when the power went out last night, so TiVo recorded a whole lotta nothing for the first half.
Anyway... it looks great. They're repeating the pilot Saturday night, so TiVo is on the lookout for it.
As I mentioned before, the Mr. Lyle actor from "The Pretender" is in it. He's a good guy this time. There's a girl in it who looked very familiar. I finally decided she was in "Melrose Place." But I never watched "Melrose Place," so I don't know why that came to me.
So I went to IMdB. Her name is Kelly Rutherford. I saw that she was in one of my favorite shows that I completely forgot about, "Kindred: The Embraced." Oh gosh... that was awesome except they cancelled it the first season. Phooey.
I looked at the cast of "Kindred," and I saw Patrick Bauchau. He was in "The Pretender," too. So it kinda came full circle.
But the main thing that made me want to blog about all this is that I can't believe I completely forgot about "Kindred: The Embraced." I mean... how come when I saw Kelly Rutherford my brain remembered a show I never watched ("Melrose Place") and forgot the show I loved ("Kindred"). How many more shows has my brain misfiled liked that? Brains are funny things.
It's Anti-Procrastination Day! [09/17/03]
[Anti-Procrastination]
It's Anti-Procrastination Day!! I haven't been keeping up with my FlyLady missions lately. Partly because the last few weeks they've been focusing on decluttering, and I need missions that clean. But the last couple of days have been helpful ones to me, so I'm going to do those today. One is clean the bathroom counter top and the other is clean the base of the toilet and the floor around it. Here I go!
Steven Wright-isms [09/16/03]
[Linkage]
Just some stuff [09/16/03]
[Just Some Stuff]
Just some stuff... - I will be so happy when this gosh darn daylight savings time is over. Getting up when it's still dark should be illegal.
- I'm not going to post a list of what's on my TiVo this week. I didn't record anything new.
- There's a new TV show starting Thursday night called "Threat Matrix." It has the Mr. Lyle actor from "The Pretender" in it. I predict that I'll love it. I also predict it won't last the whole season before they figure out I love it and cancel it.
- Diet Rite Cola is great! Now if I could only find the other flavors somewhere in Austin. C'mon grocery stores... stock up!
Monday Memories - Chores [09/15/03]
[Memes - Monday Memories]
When you were a kid did you have chores? What did you have to do? If you have children, what kinds of chores do they have? If not, do you think you will make your children do chores?
I don't think I had assigned chores. My mom used to pay me to do things like dust and vacuum. She would ask me to do other things, but I don't remember ever having a specific responsibility. I don't have children, and I doubt I ever will. If I did, I would give them chores.
Unconscious Mutterings [09/14/03]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
 - Wedding:: white
- Roach:: Eeeewwwww!!!
- Expense:: revenue
- Fight:: club
- Air:: freshener
- Protect:: and gamble (haha that's someone from Blogshares)
- Glance:: look
- Boo:: ghost
- Steamy:: laundromat
- Caviar:: black
Saturday Sonnet [09/13/03]
[Sunday Sonnet]
Yay! A Random Poem!
 From Rob's Random Poem Generator using my blog.
~~~~~~~~~~ Yay Blog! Blog Blog Blog
Kim Novak was tasty.
I get resentful and sugar been
in his picture, so he liked it,
says is, restricting my last couple
of my last name.
Unless I was all
I like It Matters
MerrinDonahue.com accurate?
How to make a site where you to
my boyfriend to act
create a member since 2000, and a
site where you and producers online.
Members of my refrigerator right now?
though, Obstacles to rehearse or love?
my solitude.
Overheard at the Capitol [09/12/03]
[Overheard]
I overheard a tour guide at the Texas Capitol today saying something like this:
"Texas is not the tallest capitol in the United States. Louisiana is. But the Texas capitol has a bigger area."
Do I sense a bit of dome envy?
Friday Five - My Name [09/12/03]
[Memes - Friday Five]
 1. Is the name you have now the same name that's on your birth certificate? If not, what's changed? It's the same.
2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be? I wouldn't change it. I like my name. Unless I got married, then I'd change my last name to my husband's last name.
3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?) My parents' last name was Novak, and Kim Novak was a popular actress, so they couldn't resist naming me Kimberly. My middle name is a family name that I shared with my Aunt Bonnie and my Grandmother on my Dad's side.
4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why? I can't think of any.
5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com accurate? How or how isn't it? I looked up Kimberly and Kim. In both cases, there are things that fit and things that didn't.
Most of the analysis of "Kim" is way off. It says I put other people's needs ahead of my own. The last thing it says is, "Home and family are important to you and you desire to establish a settled home environment where you can enjoy the congenial companionship of friends and family. " That's not completely true. I love my solitude.
"Kimberly" might be closer, but still off. One thing that's true, though... "Obstacles to your progress or restrictions on your freedom to act create a sense of frustration which may cause you to feel resentful and even rebellious." I don't think I get rebellious, but I get resentful and find ways to avoid whatever or whoever is restricting my progress.
Candroid found his Dad! [09/11/03]
[Gossip]
 Our robot at work found his dad! Click his picture, so he can share his news with you!
What's on the top shelf of my refrigerator? [09/10/03]
[What's On [blank]?]
 What's on the top shelf of my refrigerator right now? Brita water pitcher with water, a carton of heavy cream, a baggie with some slices of beef, cream cheese, leftover sauteed mushrooms, leftover chicken, two pats of butter from Threadgills, and a jar of creamy ranch dressing.
What's on TiVo? [09/09/03]
[What's On TiVo?]
What's on TiVo?TiVo recordings I need to watch
In Dreams
All I Want
Mulholland Drive
America's Deadliest Storm: The Galveston Hurricane
the following are leftover from last time
Sixteen Candles
The Princess Bride
Best in Show
I Know My First Name Is Steven
The Directors (Steven Spielberg)
The King of Comedy
Cocoon: The Return
Cocoon
The Quick and the Dead
The Eddy Duchin Story
Class
Butterflies Are Free
Waiting for Guffman
Ping!
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
Cinderfella
PCU
The Big Mouth
Things are heating up at work [09/09/03]
[What's Going On?]
Things are getting interesting and stressful at work. I've been in a bit of a depression since I got back from my trip, but for the last couple of days, my adrenaline has been too high to allow those kinds of feelings. Or maybe it's all the chocolate and sugar I've been eating. hehe
Anyway... I've been assigned as a project manager to make an extranet so. I haven't been given a server or anything. I guess as project manager, I have to figure out how to get one. Beg another division to use theirs or beg budget to let us buy one. And all the software to go with it. All I have to do for now, though, is make a plan.
Then there's the whole reorganization thing. Reorg doesn't bother me so much except for the part about not knowing who the manager will be. I think the group would be pretty much self-sufficient without a manager, but we need someone to do the administrative stuff. That way we can concentrate on the technical stuff. It's just that when someone is assigned to do the administrative stuff, there's a risk they will get all bossy. That just sucks.
Anyone out there have experience setting up an extranet?
Monday Memories - Awards [09/08/03]
[Memes - Monday Memories]
I've been doing a re-org on my scheduled blogging. The This or That Tuesday meme is no more, so I'll be posting What's on TiVo? on Tuesdays from now on. I haven't been inspired by the 5ive Minute Stories words the last several times, so I'm going to replace that meme with a new one called Monday Memories. Here's the first question:
Did you win any awards when you were a kid?
I won ribbons for being on the honor roll in junior high. I also won some trophies and medals for choir stuff. I was first alternate alto to the Texas high school All State Choir my senior year. That was cool because I got to go to San Antonio for the Texas Music Educators Association convention, but I didn't have to rehearse or perform. I got to walk around the river walk and chill!
Official Photography Meme Announcement [09/08/03]
[Photography]
It's a go! I will be participating in the Connect 8 photography thing!
Oh how the weekends fly by [09/07/03]
[What's Going On?]
Late Sunday night once again, and I wonder where the weekend went. I had a nice one, though. I went to The Cheesecake Factory on Saturday. Woo-Hoo! I got the Chicken Madeira and a slice of Chocolate Tuxedo Cream Cheesecake. It was all delicious.
When I went back to the car, people were getting in the white SUV parked next to me. The lady got in the passenger side, but before she did, she checked to see if there were any door dings. I'm glad I'm not that anal. Not that I'm not anal about other things. 
I watched a lot of football. I only got to see one of my 4 favorite teams play, but that was a great game. The Texans beat the Dolphins!! Yay!! The Longhorns didn't play. And the Arizona teams (Sun Devils and Cardinals) weren't on TV here. I also wanted to see Jake Plummer and the Broncos, but it wasn't on TV here. I heard a sports guy say that the Broncos won "despite Jake Plummer." Phooey on that sports guy. 
I went to Threadgill's for lunch today, and I got pot roast. It was tasty.
I processed 60 pictures from the day I drove on the Apache Trail. I haven't built a web gallery for them yet. Maybe tomorrow night if I feel up to it. I still have about 250 more pictures to process. By "process," I mean crop and do color and brightness correction and stuff.
It's real nice to relive the trip through the pictures. I've been in a post-vacation depression since I got back. I think it's more than a regular old post vacation depression, though. I'm starting to worry about the future and money and retirement. You know... the serious stuff. Blah.
I hope you all had a great weekend. And I hope the next weekend comes around quicker than you can say "Yay!"
Go Texans!! [09/07/03]
[Sports]
 Yay!! The Texans beat the big fishies!!
Unconscious Mutterings [09/07/03]
[Memes - Unconscious Mutterings]
 - Bookends:: hardcover books
- Compliment:: nice
- Gutter:: John Favreaux in PCU
- Obsession:: perfume
- Heavy:: steel
- Real:: player
- Disposable:: income
- Breeze:: wind
- Work:: ugh
- Sweetheart:: darlin'
Saturday Sonnet [09/06/03]
[Sunday Sonnet]
Yay! A Random Poem!
 From Rob's Random Poem Generator using my blog.
~~~~~~~~~~ Yay Pictures! of the globe.
You fufill your Destiny?
too much
But in his football cap. !
Oh...
Another something overheard [09/05/03]
[Human Observation]
Just overheard from the same cubicle I overheard something from the other day...
"Did you tell her that people in hell want cold water?"
Friday Five - Cleaning [09/05/03]
[Memes - Friday Five]
 1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most? Mopping the floor.
2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing? I don't really mind doing anything as long as I have time. I wish I had more time.
3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed? I follow FlyLady's routines. We spend a week in each area of the house for detailed cleaning, and do light cleaning everywhere throughout the week. It works well for me.
4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules? I don't know if it's odd or quirky, but I like to wipe the sinks out with a towel after I use them. They stay clean that way. And I don't like to throw away food or food wrappers in any of the garbage cans except the kitchen.
5. What was the last thing you cleaned? I filled, ran and emptied the dishwasher.
Cheesecake Factory [09/04/03]
[Food]
Bad news for my diet, but good news for my food addiction...
There *is* a Cheesecake Factory in Austin!
I should have known... it's in the shopping center where the fabulous people shop.
My Destiny... [09/03/03]
[About Me]
I'm going to die at the paws of monkeys.
I found that at Adam's place. You can put your information in and find out your destiny, too.
We don't have a winner! [09/03/03]
[Phoenix Trip, 2003]
 Adam and I didn't win a fortune on the scratch off card I bought in Arizona. Oh well. I'll try again sometime.
What's on Wednesday - TiVo [09/03/03]
[What's On TiVo?]
What's on TiVo?TiVo recordings I need to watch
Monk (2 episodes)
Sixteen Candles
The Princess Bride
Best in Show
I Know My First Name Is Steven
The Directors (Steven Spielberg)
the following are leftover from last time
The King of Comedy
Cocoon: The Return
Cocoon
The Quick and the Dead
The Eddy Duchin Story
Class
Butterflies Are Free
Waiting for Guffman
Ping!
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
Cinderfella
PCU
The Big Mouth
The Journey of Natty Gann
The Mothman Prophecies
Shadows and Fog
What's on my tv screen right now? [09/03/03]
[What's On [blank]?]
 What's on my tv screen right now? I've paused the movie "Shadows and Fog." I was laying on the couch watching it, and I got sleepy, so I paused it. That was about 4 hours ago, I think.
My scratch off card [09/03/03]
[Phoenix Trip, 2003]
 Here's the scratchoff card I bought in Arizona. I'll scratch it off later tonight. I stayed home from work today because I don't feel well. I'm real tired from the time change, and I have a headache again. Sheesh. I felt this way the day before my trip, and I started feeling this way yesterday at work. I think there might be something in the air here. I've said before how I rarely ever really feel *good*. I felt good all during my trip. Maybe I need to get out of this town.
Just overheard... [09/02/03]
[Human Observation]
Just overheard in a nearby cubicle...
"Everybody's entitled to their wrong opinions."
Home Again [09/01/03]
[Phoenix Trip, 2003]
I'm home safe with my Lily dog. The Lily dog part is great, but I don't have that sweet feeling of relief that I should have when I come home after being away for a while. I guess that means my vacation was too short. I'll remember that for next time.
Day 6: 11:23 a.m. [09/01/03]
[Phoenix Trip, 2003]
Day 6: 11:23 a.m.
 I'm at the airport sitting at the Cinnabon drinking some way overpriced bottled water waiting for my flight. I miss internet access (I'll post this when I get back to Austin).
I forgot to mention this earlier... I bought an Arizona Lottery scratch off card yesterday, but I haven't scratched it. I figured with my goofy luck, I'll win something if I'm not there to cash it in. So I'll wait until I get back to Austin and scratch. If I win anything under $10, I'll send it to Adam, and he can keep it. If I win more, I'll split it with him if he'll agree to cash it in and send me half. Even if I win $5,000, I'll give him half. You read it here. If he won't agree to help, I'll just have to come back to Arizona to cash it in. 
This time, when I went through airport security, they made me take my shoes off. It feels goofy walking at the airport with no shoes.
On the way to the airport, I stopped at Tempe Beach Park, a golf course, and the gate to Tovrea Castle to take some more pictures.
Buying souvenirs on vacation is always a weird thing. I don't like to wait until the last minute because I'm afraid I'll end up with something crappy. But this time, it was counterproductive. I bought a shot glass and something for my friend the second day. Then the next day, I found a better shot glass, and bought it. Then today at the airport, I found the *perfect* thing for my friend. So waiting until the last minute would have been better. That's okay... I only buy (relatively) cheap things, so it's not that big a deal. My favorite souvenir, though, is my Arizona State Football cap. Woo-Hoo!
Oh... I did a stoopid thing. I packed the keys to my car and house in my suitcase. I sure hope they don't lose it, or I'll be in a heap of trouble. 
I think I'll shut this computer down and go in search of last minute photo opportunities.
Day 6: 8:46 a.m. [09/01/03]
[Phoenix Trip, 2003]
Day 6: 8:46 a.m.
 It's my last morning in the valley of the sun. I don't have time to really do anything, so I went over to Starbucks for some breakfast, and I'm chilling out here in my room until it's time to check out, drop off the rental car, and catch the plane back to Austin. I got a chocolate covered donut. They don't have those at the Starbucks in Austin.
I've really enjoyed being here. Since I rarely go on vacations like this, I get pretty emotional about coming and going. I wonder what it would be like to take vacations like this every year. I wonder if I would get used to it in a way that I wouldn't get as excited about going and be as sad to leave. Maybe I would get as excited about going, but the leaving part wouldn't be so sad because I'd know there was another vacation to look forward to. I just can't afford to do this that much. But that's my own fault because of the choices I make on how to spend my money the rest of the year.
Anyway... I still have the plane ride back to look forward to. And I get to see my puppy dog. I can't wait to give her a big hug.
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