Take the ride as far as anyone can go

Well hello there. Did you miss me? Thought so. If you're curious, here's what I've been up to while I've been neglecting my blog:

- Took my kids to Slide Rock State Park in Sedona.





- Started a new job, teaching part time at a small college here in town.

- Saw Cracker play at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock. Good concert. They played for two straight hours. And that's not even counting the opening band, which was . . . one of the members of Cracker.

- Defended my dissertation. And passed. But you already knew that.

- Spent a few days biking in the mountains of Utah, and spent the evenings soaking in a hot tub on the deck of the cabin. There were some beautiful fall colors.






- Visited my grandparents.

- Had a paper accepted into a good scientific journal with minor revisions.

- Went flyfishing.

Lazy fish crisscrossing endless seas will lay their golden eggs right in your hand

If the economy was better, and if I had a job lined up for after I graduate, and if I didn't have too much other crap to have to pay for, I would so buy a bunch of these.

They're certainly not very classy, but perfect for a guy like me. I may end up buying them anyway.

One day it'll take and they'll start to make shirts that fit right

Tortellini: Thanks for the shirt, Dad.

Me: You're welcome. I shouldn't have spent so much, but I like to spend money when I'm depressed. So basically, you're the beneficiary of my depression.

Tortellini: Yay!

I'm your Testarossa, first gear, watch me go, keep 'em in fear

Driving Togers to school this morning we started joking around about what he wanted for Christmas. I told him all he was getting was a pack of gum. Cheapest. Christmas. Ever. I then joked about how some kid in his class would get a plasma tv for his room, complete with surround sound, all three video game consoles, and a Ferrari, even though they're only twelve. Then he could say, "Oh yeah? Well check out this pack of gum! It's spearmint!"

Togers then told me that there is a kid in his class who has a Ferrari, and it's his own, not his parents'.

Did I mention that they're only twelve?

I've failed as a parent.

The last thing I told him when he got out of the car: "Have a good day. Go make friends with [Ferrari Kid]."

Standin' at the foot of eternity

How was your weekend? Mine was alright.










Jealous? You should be.

Flat ass broke with no hope for loans, unable to feed me or let alone my clones

Me: Guess what I finally bought.

Girl: I don't know. What?

Me: You have to guess. But here's a hint: It's something that I've wanted for a really, really long time.

Girl: Bunny slippers?

Me: Nope. Guess again.

Girl: A Ouija board?

Me: Seriously? Those are the first two things that come to mind? Guess one more time, then I'll tell you if you don't get it.

Girl: An unabridged dictionary?

Me: You know, none of those can be classified as things I've wanted for a really, really long time.

Girl: What did you buy then?

Me: An ipod*.

Girl: Ooh. You have wanted one of those for a long time.







*I got an ipod touch for $100 off the regular price. At a price so low, I couldn't afford not to buy it**. Mom, Dad, I might need you to pay some of my bills*** later in the month ;-)

**And finally join the modern age.

***Not really.