Today I recieved my first paycheck since January 15th. After three brutal months of unemployment, I finally became a member of the tax-paying public once again. The contract is short and I took a 29$/hour pay cut from my last position, but I am still happy none the less. 4 years ago

A neighbor of mine, and a good friend, had his house burn down this past Tuesday morning. Apparently a fan that he left on for his dogs short-circuited and started the blaze. Ironically, the dogs woke him up and saved his life, but sadly, one of the dogs didn’t make it out. The house itself is a complete loss…and I mean complete.
When I spoke with him tonight, he seemed in surprisingly good spirits, which makes me wonder if he’s just still in shock. Personally, I’d be inconsolable. I have a feeling that he is going to be really depressed in a few weeks when it all sinks in. Note to self: buy a joint and a 12 pack of Newcastle and make a visit in a couple of weeks.
Seeing the burned frame of his house, which is essentially the same as mine and every other house in this 60 year old neighborhood, really hit home. This is a small, somewhat tight-nit community, so I know the same thoughts are going through everyone’s mind: That could have been my house…5 years ago

I turned 37 today and overall it was very good. My precious girlfriend asked me tonight:

“What was your best birthday ever…”

“No doubt, my 21st. I went out and…” (followed by a lengthy explanation)

Then she asked:

“What was your worst?”

“This time last year…right after my back surgery and my breakup (with my ex-girlfriend).”

It made me realize how much has changed in just a year’s time. I’m so much happier, thankful, focused, and driven than I was only 12 months prior. I think for the first time in my life I am truly “content”. 5 years ago

This was too funny not to share. 6 years ago

Ames got me interested in looking for strange 43T goals when she posted that 21 people wanted to Eat Poop. Since that time I have found that…

46 people would like to Fake Their Own Death.
33 people would like to Eat Shit.
50 people would like to Smoke Crack.
2 people would enjoy being Murdered
1 person would like to Be Tortured
And my personal favorite…
a whopping 3240 people would like to Become Anorexic!

Maybe those people should adopt this this goal instead… 6 years ago

My first undergrad degree was in history, with a focus on Russia and Balkan states. Time and again I would read passages about Serbs and Czech’s enjoying plum brandy. I later dated a Slovakian girl and her parents made mention of drinking plum brandy when they were back there.

I went to the local liquor barn tonight to stock up on intoxicating beverages in advance of this weekend’s usual debauchery. As I browsed the aisles looking for some Limoncello, I spotted a bottle of 8 year old Serbian plum brandy and immediately knew it had to be mine.

Even as I write this, I am sipping a sweet, yet highly intoxicating, beverage produced from the plum trees of the Serbian countryside. Life is good. 6 years ago

Spartacus, my alpha-male cat and the Supreme ruler of my house, has a semi-rare auto-immune disease. This disease, which only a veterinarian or a Latin major could pronounce, causes his gums to swell up and causes him a lot of pain. As a result, I take him to the vet every few weeks for a shot of anti-inflammatory steroids followed by a 10-14 day regimen of oral antibiotics.

Like myself, there are a lot of cat lovers on 43T, so I am sure most of you can appreciate what a special joy it is to give a 1 1/2 CC oral administration of medicine to an unwilling and uncooperative cat. Grrrr.

To the casual observer, it would appear that I am either a masochistic self mutilator or I indulge in knife fights in my spare time. My arms and legs are literally covered in razor thin scratches caused by the nightly ritual of giving Sparty his medicine. As an added bonus, he’s taken to spitting up small amount’s of the chalky substance all over my house, which requires me to scrub it from both the hardwoods, carpet, furniture, and even my girlfriend’s clothes.

Although he is feeling much better and putting on some much needed weight, I can still see a look in his eyes that says “Sooner or later asshole, you’re going to give this up”.

I wonder how much a suit of chain mail runs these days? 6 years ago

I adopted this bunny rabbit almost 3 years ago because I am aware of all the abused, mistreated and abandoned animals & wanted to give one a home.

He was, as I had been told by Rabbit Rescue, perfectly housebroken (once he settled in) for nearly a year. He used his litterbox faithfully.

Until I threw The Party, about a year ago.

Apparently I disrupted his sense of safety and territory.

After The Party, which also involved the moving about of living room furniture, he freaked out. He began to pee, poop on and chew my precious couches.

He’s never really recovered.

After his freak-out, I put him in a (rather cumbersome) pen in my small sitting room, for a while. I had to line the hardwood floor with newspaper to save it from the super-sticky night poops rabbits produce. (had to chisel a few of those off the floor). He doesn’t like life in a pen (who can blame him?) and developed this nervous habit of shredding the newspaper. Between this and the shedding he made quite a disaster.

Now he’s living in the rear, tiled bathroom. He’s cleaner in there; but you have to step over the child screen to get in and out of the bathroom. I also have to really stay on top of the bathroom floor cleaning so it doesn’t become disgusting.

I started trying to reintroduce him into the general household. He was very good at first (afraid of the new territory, I think). It was just in the last week that he became comfortable out there, and started marking his new territory (“Other rabbits, stay away!”) by pooping on the new rug my dad just gave me. He has a rug-pooping fetish, you see.

The new rug is right next to the gorgeous new couch, also from dad (who redecorated). I’ve been lusting after that couch for years. If he pees and poops on that, or chews on it, I don’t know what I’ll do.

He’s never lived in a cage; I think wire under their feet is unspeakably cruel. Outside would kill him. He’s a soft bunny.

I’m really torn up about this. I can’t just give him to anyone. I’m not giving him to anyone who’ll harm him.

I could try giving him a litter box in the living room (near the new couch) so he’ll claim that as his territory. I could also try giving him more attention so he’ll be happier. (part of the problem, I think, is that my time is really short.)

Any suggestions or adoption offers welcome! 6 years ago

I had to drop my cat off at the vet this morning and I figured while I was out, I’d stop by the store. Well, I took a wrong turn, so after crossing the freeway I pulled into a shopping center to turn around. All of a sudden this woman screams at me and comes running to my car. She said she was lost and asked her if I could give her a ride to her hotel, which was a few miles away. Being the good Samaritan that I am, I said “sure” I told her to get in. This is when the weirdness began.

We are sitting at a light, and she looks at me and says “I don’t suppose you are up for a little morning action?” She then says “I only need 20$ to pay my rent. Believe me, I will rock your world” Then she pulls her shirt up!!!!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! She was a hooker!

I went ahead and drove her back to her hotel (a total dive) and gave her 20$. She told me to come inside (presumably to rock my world), but I politely declined. I figured if she’s willing to fuck a total stranger for 20$, she needs the money more than me.

The moral: Be thankful for everything you have. It could be a shit load worse.

I never did end up going to the store. 6 years ago

Thanks very much to Mick, on tribe.net :
http://people.tribe.net/mickd

C is for Cookie…
I’m going to describe something here that may simply be one of those “you had to be there” moments. But bear with me…

I was watching Sesame Street one morning not long ago. (Actually, I was sort-of channel surfing—ahem!) Anyway, Cookie Monster was doing his letter of the day skit, with the letter G on a big cookie. Of course, Cookie tries to resist eating the cookie. It’s his job to talk about the letter of the day, and it’s quite stressful for him. He really wants to eat the cookie and temptation gets worse as he’s introducing the letter G with various words that start with G: “Green, great, goat, ...” He wants to be Good and not eat the cookie. And then, of course, he eats it. Goes completely nuts and eats it. It’s an exercise in utter hedonism with this one cookie. And when he’s done, he sits upright and emits this huge burp! It rattles the windowpanes! And Cookie simply says, “Oh, Gassy.” And walks off the screen in cookie-satisfied bliss.

I was laughing for days. 6 years ago

This is just too creepy. 6 years ago

A woman left a message at the shelter today asking if we had any dogs (which I thought was an odd request for a cat shelter). I returned the call and asked her about what kind of dog she would like. After 30 seconds, I knew this would be perfect for Fredrick: a 5000 sq. ft. home on 1 1/2 acres with 4 kids and a stay at home mom. Turns out she lived only 3 miles from where Fred was staying. Two hours and 10 phone calls later, Fred is spending his last night as a ‘foster’ dog. Tomorrow he will have his first real home. I can even begin to tell everyone how happy this makes me. Whooo hoo! 6 years ago

....tell me what the fuck this is??? Looks like something from a bad acid trip. 6 years ago

Well, Fredrick is finally gone. After three weeks this dog drove me totally crazy. He had this massive separation anxiety and every time I’d leave the house he’d go bonkers. I put him in the laundry room one time (a 200 sq. ft. area) and he tore up everything he could get his teeth on.
On top of that, Fredrick was not…shall we say…gifted intellectually. Over time, my nickname for him became meathead. He was such a lovable dog, but his neurotic behavior was really putting a strain on my otherwise calm demeanor. 6 years ago

I got back from the gym Sunday and was eating dinner at my desk. I put my elbows on the desk and felt something, like a small boil or a cyst. Well, I scratched at it and didn’t think anymore about it.
On Monday, my arm felt a little stiff, but I figured that was from working out. No big deal
When I woke up Tuesday, my entire left elbow was swollen and extremely painful. By noon, the swelling had moved down my forearm and towards my shoulder. I figured it was a spider bite, but when I told my mom, she got all worried so I begrudgingly made a doctors appointment for this morning.
When I got up this morning the swelling had increased and I had a fever. I went to the clinic, the doctor took one look at it, and told me I had staph infection! No bullshit. I could not believe it. They proceeded to shoot me up with antibiotics and then put me on this Cipiro for two weeks.
Now I’m sitting here with a fever, sick to my stomach from the antibiotics, and icing a swollen arm…all because I scratched my elbow. I’m going to assume that I’ve now used up all my bad luck for 2007 and the rest of the year will be perfect.

Anyone else ever had this happen or seen it???? 6 years ago

The weather was horrible tonight, so I decided to stay home with the animals and relax. I’ve spent the day reflecting on the past year, and for all the trials and uncertainties I faced, I consider this to be one of the best years of my life.

1. I broke up with my girlfriend. She was trully an evil, unhappy, and decietful woman. It is such a blessing to have her gone.

2. I finally had my spine fixed. After nine years of pain, I found a doctor that could remove the damaged disc. Thank you Dr. Kahjavi.

3. I got back into my house. Durring the The Schisim, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get back here. The court system didn’t fail me.

4. I started volunteering at Furkids.org, the local cat shelter. I feel very blessed to be a part of such a great organization.

5. I found a job I LOVE! I work from home 100% of the time, I have a great boss, and a good company. What more can you ask for?

6. I grew closer to my mother this year. We lived together for 4 1/2 months while I was recovering from surgery. The last time I lived at home that long I think I was 19. It was a good experience for both of us.

7. I learned a lot about who my real friends were. I was very disappointed in several people, but at least I now know what they are made of. Other friends of mine really stepped up, and to them I am grateful for all they have done for me this year.

I am ready for 2007. There is a lot to look forward too… 6 years ago

I’ve never been much of a dog person and I wouldn’t consider one for a pet (although I think I ate one at the airport Chinese place once). However, the shelter took in this abused dog and they needed a foster for couple of weeks, so I agreed to take him in. Look at those sad little eyes. He looks pretty fierce when you first meet him, but this guy is the biggest wuss. When my 5 lbs kitten walks down the hallway, Fred steps aside. He refuses to let me out of his sight and he sleeps at my feet all day long. Just incredibly loyal. His new family is going to pick him up this week and I can honestly say that I will miss him. 6 years ago

So I have this goal on my goal page, to have a flat tummy and small waist by BM (August) 2007.

My conniving mind cooked up the idea that if I use the method of public shame and denial breaking (ie, post my before photos on this website) then it would be harder to overeat.

So I have this friend who I convinced to join this goal. In fact, I convinced him to join 43T and he really likes it. (I almost convinced him to go to Burning Man last year, but at the last minute he ended up not going. But it seems he’s on board for this year.)

So he came over last night. He wanted my help in taking the “before” picture. Okay, fine.

It so happens that my home office is the warmest room in my house. One of the reasons being it has this great gas heater. I am laying next to it right now!

Anyway, he and I were in there. He said, let’s take the picture. We found a place to do it, with a relatively neutral backdrop to highlight the problem area for the unflinching eye of the camera.

So he stood in front of the backdrop we had chosen, hiked down his pants (nothing private showing other than Jockey shorts waistband), hiked up his shirt, and out stuck the belly that is the target of this goal. I kneeled down several feet away and pointed my trusty digital camera at this soon-to-be-disappearing belly.

Just then, at this very moment, my housemates walked in.

Observing this scene, they said, “Uh, right—do what you gotta do, guys” and they retreated post-haste!!

I had to go after them and explain what we were doing.

Good thing they know how odd I am (generally) and so weird stories like this become believable. 6 years ago

The Stalingrad of Croatia. I read an article today on ceremonies commemorating the 15th anniversary of the siege. I can’t believe it’s been 15 years already. I remember when this was happening, along with the rest of the Balkans wars. I later studied Balkan history when I was at UGA. 6 years ago

I thought this was kind of cool. On Wed. night, I made my first batch of my mother’s meatball recipe. She got this recipe in 1966 from an older woman she worked with at Ohio State. The woman said her mother used to make these meatballs, so we did the math, based on the woman’s aprox. age at the time. I figured that this recipe was roughly a 100 years old, give or take a few years. Now I am carrying on the tradition of making the meatballs and maybe someday I can pass the recipe on to someone else. 6 years ago

Yes, you read that right. I used 9 gallons of gas between May 4th and October 7th. Now granted, my back surgery kept me out of the car for three months and I also work from home, but still…given the size of Atlanta, I think that’s pretty good. 6 years ago

I finally have my house scrubbed clean, the furniture moved in, the lawn manicured, utilities on, and life back in order! I’ve done more work in the last three days than I have in the last three months. Many thanks to my mother and my friend Tammy who helped me clean the house for six hours on Sunday. It was a daunting task considering the filthy lifestyle of my ex. The carpet is being replaced tomorrow and my new TV should be here in a week or so.

I can not express how grateful I am to be back home. Sometimes it felt like this day would never arrive. Between back surgery and The Schism, I was a long, hot, and painful summer. Surprisingly, I have almost no pain in my back whatsoever, which is even more interesting given the amount of moving, lifting, and cleaning I’ve been doing. Maybe there is a correlation here? Perhaps the happiness I feel from being home is blocking out any of the aches I would endure from the work. Either way, I feel great and I’m just glad to have made it back. 6 years ago

....that I was supposed to get married tonight (shudder). My God, just think how my life would be if I was still with my ex-fiancé. Considering how nasty the breakup was, I can only imagine how the divorce would have been. Just say “No” to nutjobs. 6 years ago

I saw Bill Clinton on CNN yesterday talking to, of all people, our current Liar in Chief, King George IV. They had a chance meeting at the UN and spoke briefly without the benefit of audio recording, so the conversation will pass to the ages. I still like Bill Clinton and I always smile when I see him on TV. He reminds me of a better time…when the economy was strong and we, as a nation, dropped fewer bombs. Still, I have to admit, that seeing former President Clinton reminded me of a contest I saw years ago where you had to rhyme Lewinsky with (then Unabomber Ted) Kaczynski. For posterity, I looked up the winning entry and now I post it for your amusement.

_Lewinsky and Clinton have shown
What Kaczynski must surely have known:
That an intern is better
Than a bomb in a letter
Given the choice to be blown_ 6 years ago

Although this isn’t really a “goal”, per se, I wanted to have a space where I could dump all those various ideas, rants, editorials, commentaries, and diatribes that periodically spew forth in my mind. This is that space. Tickets can be purchased at the counter but reservations are strongly recommended. 6 years ago