potential energy, lying in wait.

At first our internet was working sporadically. The modem is crap, and it would tend to just turn off sometimes and need to be reset. Most likely this would happen in the middle of writing an email, or checking something important. Like something funny on youtube.

Last week, the modem decided to stop working wirelessly altogether. Now the extent of internet use is limited to the dining room table, tethered by a cable to the modem. It's strange, and it reminds me of being back at home. There was only one computer in the house and it was just off the kitchen on one of those rolling computer desks.

It's still there, although the computer has been upgraded. When I go back to visit my parents now, I can usually find my dad on there at some point playing Civilizations 3. It's kind of funny to watch an old guy play video games in the same addictive patterns that I used to exhibit when I was younger. 5 more minutes, one more move.

So this lack of internet in the rest of our apartment has had the side effect of limiting my online time to quick blog checks and email. It's easy to lose hours surfing youtube, myspace, blogs, news, whatever. Anyway, I'll try to come up with something coherent at least every couple days.

Today is the last day of February. Finally. In my book, spring starts tomorrow. It's time to wake up out of the winter lull. Shake loose the weights of seasonal mental clutter, and look forward to what the new season will bring. Going to have to get some new springy music, and clothes. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Males are little flying sperm missiles.

Ants are pretty crazy. Check it.

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/060508_mm_ants_rule.html

No, really, check it out.

I remember the sound of your November downtown

Some people wake up in the morning, roll out of bed, brush their teeth and head out the door. Others have morning rituals. Shuffle to the kitchen in pajamas. Scoop, scoop, scoop. Wait for the coffee to slowly fill up the pot. Make breakfast. Cereal, juice, toast. Maybe eggs. Maybe yogurt. Finish eating, take shower, change clothes, read the paper.

I don't have a morning ritual, except for hitting the snooze. Anything after that strictly depends on when I have to get where I'm going. Sometimes I make breakfast. The other day I made an omelette with cheese, onions, peppers, and smoked sausage, and made a pound of bacon. (I didn't eat a pound of bacon.)

Today I showered, skipped breakfast and went to work. Every day I walk the same way to the train, and I always wonder if I'm going to just miss it. What's left of the ice was dirty, crunching under my feet, and Pancho's had traditional Mexican music pouring outside the doors as usual. I like it. It's upbeat and fun, and not so out of place. I picture people hanging out on that corner when the weather warms up.

I like the el stop, too. There is a nice, but far off view of downtown. One of the steps near the top is a little slanted and catches me every time. The platform itself is old, creaky, and rattles and shakes when the train comes. The wood slats are worn and splitting, and smoothed from so many years of people coming and going. I like to find a spot in the sun and wait. I often think it would be fun to just ride the train to a bunch of places I haven't been yet. I've only really ridden the blue and red lines, and the brown a little. I think when it warms up a little more, I'll start trying to see what else this city has to offer. Maybe just pick a stop and get off there, just to see if I find something I like.

It's been a really busy week, and I've had more than a few nights where I didn't get home from school til after 10. I've felt like writing more often, and I've developed a strange obsession with crossword puzzles. Weird.

It's been over a week since my last post, and I find that totally unacceptable. Be prepared for some major posting action in the upcoming days. I promise nothing, but what I may lack in quality, I will more than make up for in quantity.

Barnacle out.

What's cuter? Nothin'.

It's already been said, I just wanted to show a couple good ones I took of the monster.

I love the expressions here.

sigh.

I found a fatal flaw in the logic of love... 10:13

neato.

Spent most of the entire day at school. Tentative plans for the evening fell through, and didn't end up leaving campus until 10:15pm. On Friday. Oh yeah, you know it's awesome spending Friday night at school.

Near the end of the night I was showing some drawing techniques to a couple guys in my class and it was actually kind of neat. I'm usually surrounded by people in specific fields who tend to know alot more than I do, be it about politics, science, literature, etc. It's fun showing someone something that they're actually pretty interested in learning.

I got home around 11, and watched a little "Fearless" with Brian and Liz, accepted a couple martinis (I think Brian just likes using the shaker) and chatted a bit. Not a bad way to end up the night, I guess. Colin is out with his uncle and others, with breakfast plans in the am. I've got a long day of work ahead of me for Saturday, but Sunday brings some soccer and a birthday extravaganza for the cutest Lily-Monster ever to terrorize this side of the Mis'sippi.

Awesomeness. Guaranteed.

Few things are guaranteed in life these days. I thought I'd share two things that are.

1. Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.

2. Baskin Robbins Peanut Butter Chocolate ice cream.

Awesomeness, Guaranteed.

drinking with a purpose.

Realized that I haven't been posting lately. Had a busy week and I've been working at the school til around 11 the past few days. Neat. I've realized that I think about writing things usually when I'm doing something else, or going somewhere. Like walking to the El, or sitting at work.

The snow was really cool the other day. It was the really light stuff that you can identify the individual flakes. It always reminds me of a Christmas movie where there's these angels/elves that have special scissors, and they're the ones who cut out each and every snowflake and throw them down from the clouds. I came home from working on schoolwork around 1am and I was the only one on the El platform. The snow swirled around and pooled up against corners and along the fence. It looked alot like soapy suds in a bathtub or at a carwash.

Schoolwork is piling up and I really don't like the idea. I usually get everything done, but I don't like the idea of having to miss out on other things. I always hated missing out on hanging out with friends, or going out somewhere to grab a drink or just relax. I've been thinking recently that maybe I've always been a night person because I want to stay up as late as I can just in case something cool happens. It's weird.

Anyway, I had a birthday last week, and that was fun. Thanks for everyone who participated. We also went to Whirlaway, where the little Spanish lady, Maria, lit a book of matches in a beer bottle, turned off the lights, and had everyone sing me "happy birthday." It was pretty fun.

Other than that, and the super bowl, it's been a lot of school. Woo!