TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR...XCII

I made more money than expected.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR...XCI

I got two offers in the mail.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR...XC

Moving money around may be less painful than I thought.

WEEK 75

Not a terribly stressful week, but not a very profitable one, either. Still, I'm massaging again. I feel kind of like a butterfly or a hummingbird, flitting from interest to interest. Maybe I would feel better if I would pick one thing and stay with it -- Radio/Massages/Public relations? Losing weight, improving my finances?

The problem is, once I settle on something, something seemingly better comes along. Two years ago when I was getting serious about massaging, I got the job at Radio America, thinking it would be the answer to all my problems. Big mistake. It set me back further, professionally and financially. Then when I started massage school, my other jobs picked up. And when I quit my sweat shop massage job, the others fizzled out. Now, I am chugging along, but it's kind of like one step forward, two steps back.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR...LXXXIX

D sez noticed I work all kinds of shifts. So maybe other people do, too. And appreciate it.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR...LXXXVIII

My financial situation may be improving. And we're having a pignic on the 14th.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR...LXXXVII

The weather was nice, I didn't have to work too hard, the hicks weren't too retarded.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE...LXXXVI

More money. And we had a birthday cake for Reek.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE...LXXXV

I am getting more hours.

THE FIRST DAY OF FALL

Funny, Fall runs technically from about September through December 21st. I got the best job I ever had in the fall. And I met the great love of my life in the fall. Okay, my father also died in the fall and I was robbed in the fall.
This time of year brings us beginnings – the beginning of the school year, the Jewish holidays, football season and the upcoming TV season.

Even though three quarters of it are in summer, significant things have happened in September. I met three of the most important men in my life in September. So let’s see what this autumn brings.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE...LXXXIV

The people I massaged today were really grateful. And P sez they all said nice things about me.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE...LXXXIII

I am not gaining weight and may even be losing some. And I found my key card.

WEEK 74

80% done with my hospital volunteership. Seven weeks to go.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXXII

I earned a fair amount of money with little effort.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXXI

I am thankful for Dr. Scholl's foot products. And for not getting a parking ticket.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXX

It's a free country. And presumably I will be able to live in it as long as I like. Or leave it whenever I like.

Whenever I disagreed with the ex I would say "es ist ein freies Land" and he would say "was hat das damit zu tun?"

Just like when I would say "my word is not the Gospel" he would say "but it IS the Koran." Some things just don't translate.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXIX

I already have a date for Mardi Gras.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXVIII

I got to eat soft ice cream outside in the sunshine.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXVII

The weather was nice. And I didn't have to work too hard for my money. And I am at least 1/500th of the way to owning a beach condo.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXVI

Michael said I was a G-dsend.

WEEK 73

76% done with my hospital volunteer work. Earned more than last week, but still not enough. At least the weather was nice.

This year will be my most successful one financially, if not in other areas. When I look at my life now, I think “gee, that wasn’t so bad, why didn’t you enjoy it more?” For example, I didn’t have as much money or own my own home, but I was younger and thinner and my hair looked better.

Or I wasn’t earning much money, but I was full-time reporter and on-air anchor. Or I wasn’t well-treated, but I was earning good money benefits. And I had two parents and a grandmother.

DING DONG

My psycho ex-boss is no longer there. So I called and told the people frankly she was the main reason I left. About half an hour later they called me and offered me work next Wednesday.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXV

Got to see Bohannon and Burd. And free movie tickets.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 5768!

L'Shanah Tovah!

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXIV

I'm not in love.

ALL OUT OF LOVE

I'm lying alone with my head on the phone

Thinking of you till it hurts
I know you hurt too but what else can we do
Tormented and torn apart
I wish I could carry your smile and my heart
For times when my life feels so low
It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring
When today doesn't really know, doesn't really know
Chorus: I 'm all out of love,
I'm so lost without you
I know you were right believing for so long
I 'm all out of love, what am I without you
I can't be too late to say that I was so wrong
I want you to come back and carry me home
Away from this long lonely nights
I'm reaching for you, are you feeling it too
Does the feeling seem oh so right
And what would you say if I called on you now
And said that I can't hold on
There's no easy way, it gets harder each day
Please love me or I'll be gone, I'll be gone
Chorus Oh, what are you thinking of?
What are you thinking of?
Oh, what are you thinking of?
What are you thinking of?

Clive Davis · Graham Russell

Holiday Mathis sez "This year, you become increasingly self-contained. Your talents grow, and the amount of stuff you need shrinks. By next month, you're already seeing the signs of wealth building. Keep saving and investing. Relationships withstand a test in October. There's an irresistible business opportunity in December. Cancer and Scorpio adore you." But Leo has given up on you.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXIII

I wasn't robbed.

AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE ROBBED AT KNIFEPOINT

At about 8:12 PM in front of the Connecticut Gardens Apartments at 19th St. and Kalorama Rd a young woman says she was robbed at knifepoint. A black juvenile jumped out the car, pointed a knife at her and took her purse with "everything in it." She is five feet seven inches and says the attacker was probably a little taller than she was.

She says there were two other young men with the attacker. One of the three was wearing a "dark hoodie," at least one had "hair like an Afro."

They drove off in a dark-coloured, late-model car with temporary tags.

Shortly before this police say a woman was robbed in a similar manner at Lauriol plaza.

If anyone can help nail these motherfuckers call 911 in DC or 202-373-3700.

SEPTEMBER 11TH

The original September 11th was also a Tuesday, but the weather was nicer. I thought "how does the sun have the right to shine on such an awful day?"

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXII

I probably won't take too big a hit financially.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXXI

Julian McCormick has been found alive.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXX

I got plenty of sleep.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXIX

I got my insurance cheque.

WEEK 72

72% done with my volunteer work. In about nine weeks I will have four more hours per week free in which I can earn money or do other stuff.

Didn't earn much money, but was able to enjoy the nice weather and time with the pigs.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXVIII

Got to see Zig Ziglar for free.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXVII

I had a good lunch and a good reading.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXVI

The pigs have been given a clean bill of health. And the vet paid me a compliment.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXV

I had the day off. And the pigs have a nice clean pen.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR MY LIFE DOESN'T SUCK TOO MUCH LXIV

My big pig is wheeking for food.

TRYING NOT TO BE TOO UNHAPPY ABOUT IT, OR LXIII

The weather was beautiful. And the pigs are OK.

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON THE JERSEY SHORE

Lots of Russians there. And all over New York and New Jersey. Some of them are with a US study program. I wonder how they feel having to work in an un-air conditioned Internet shop in a reasonably obscure beach town. I felt sorry for the foreign students who ended up in Gainesville.

A popular T-shirt decal sez "Jersey girls don't pump gas." Very true, and it's cheaper than it is here -- I think I saw it for $2.47/gallon.

Stuff tastes good fried. And on a stick. What next—fried watermelon? Tuna fish on a stick? If you’re in Ocean City, eat at Angelo’s Pizza on the boardwalk.

We saw the Nanny Diaries Thursday night. They mentioned New Jersey a couple times. Including the Jersey shore. Massage therapists get treated somewhat like nannies. I guess the thing to do is to earn as much money as possible so that you can get massages rather than give them. And hire a nanny rather than be one.

After spending 24-7 with people ages four to 77 I wonder if I am meant with other people. Especially with children.

Maybe the Jersey shore is where I am supposed to end up. I am busting my ass in DC, apparently for nothing, running like a hamster on a wheel, trying to earn money to pay debts which just keep growing back. I loathe Florida beyond all description, even though I could probably get a job there. So maybe I will end up on the Jersey shore, working at some tiny little radio station and doing massages and tarot readings to supplement my earnings. Or I could go to New York or Los Angeles and become some anonymous drone a title that has “assistant” or “associate” in it.

I took the Clerks and Clerks II DVD's to work to avoid withdrawal.

I'M IN LOVE

With the Jersey shore. I feel like telling my boss I’m not coming back – Don Williams at WOND in Linwood has given me a job and I will spend the rest of my life in Ocean City. But then I say that every year.