Did absolutely nothing today except yard stuff.

Mowed with the rider, then mowed with the walker, then ate weeds with the weedeater, then sprayed vegetation killer where it was needed.

All just to have to do it again in a week.

And I've got this huge hole in my backyard where a groundhog or a bear or something has its burrow. The damn thing is a foot wide and seems to go all the way to Hell. My first thought was to just get a bunch of dirt and/or concrete and fill the hole, but that just seems mean if the creature is down there with a bunch of offspring.

I'm such a fucking softie.

Maybe I'll lower a radio playing heavy metal music down the hole. Isn't that what we did to Noriega?

I used to love making new images.

These days every time I make one it reminds me of one I've already made.

I guess you could say I'm in a rut.

Anyway, here's my newest:

Yesterday I went to a Derby party at my friend Eric's house.

I really only knew Eric and Terri there, but there were also some people from high school that I at least remembered. There were a lot of kids running and screaming. All of the kids were boys. I thought that was a little strange.

Drank some Blue Moon and threw some horseshoes. I now officially suck at horseshoes. Not that I was ever great but I was always better than that.

I drew two horses in the $5.00 pool. One was the favorite and the other was like a 12-1 shot or something. I think they're both still running.

Left the party at seven-ish to get showered and head down to Rich O's.

Rich O's was moderately dead. I sat alone in the living room area for quite a while, drinking a Founder's Red Rye and feeling a little depressed. I think it was seeing all the happy families at the party and feeling like that life is something I'll never experience again.

There's something you say to only a few people in your lifetime. To feel it in your heart but be unable and/or unwilling to say it is kind of a pain. Plus it'd be kind of nice to think that the other person would at least be listening.

After a while this dude that looks like Buddy Rich sat with me. I had a Newcastle Brown Ale and we just talked about various crap.

I came home at about 11:00 and played pool until 4:00.

So this morning I'm a little irritated with myself for letting my mood slip last night.

Stolen from this guy's page.

1. What is the geekiest part of your music collection?
I guess American Idol Greatest Love Songs, but I also have Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space and some Devo on LP.

2. What do you eat when you raid the fridge late at night?
A pack of ramen noodels if I have any. Usually if I eat late it's because I stopped at White Castle on the way home.

3. What is your secret guaranteed weeping movie?
Major League. When they win the game at the end.

4. If you could have plastic surgery, what would you have done?
I'd have the fat sucked out of my head.

5. Do you have a completely irrational fear?
Afraid to write it, lest it come true.

6. What is the little physical habit that gives away your insecure moments?
Staring at my feet. Used to bite my nails but haven't been able to since the dentist replaced a filling in my sharp tooth last month.

7. Are you a pyromaniac?
Nope. I like to watch fires, but not enough to go around setting them.

8. Do you have too many love interests?
Sometimes one is too many, if it's the wrong person. When I'm in a relationship I find that one is plenty for me.

9. Do you know anyone famous?
I know a couple of pro pool players. Does that count?

10. Describe your bed
This super thick Sealy that's too soft. In the guest room the mattress is too hard. My sofa is just right.

11. Are you spontaneous or planned?
I plan things then spontaneously change my mind.

12. Who would play you in a movie?
I did an entry about this recently.

13. Do you know how to play poker?
The same way I know how to play chess. I know the rules but I suck.

14. What do you carry with you at all times?
My stupid fucking cell phone. God I hate that thing.

15. What do you miss most about being a kid?
Summer vacation. Trusting people. The whole innocence thing.

16. Are you happy with your given name?
I never really cared for my middle name. Don't know why. It's Shane by the way.

17. How much money would it take to get you to give up the Internet for one year?
A lot.

18. What color is your bedroom?
Kind of a girlyfied light blue. I need to paint it something more manly. Maybe black.

19. What was the last song you were listening to?
Heard Hell's Bells by AC/DC on the radio last night.

20. Have you ever been in a play?
No, but I wish I would have. I think it would be fun. Not a musical though.

21. Have you ever been in love?
Yes.

22. Do you talk a lot?
With one other person I never shut up. In a group I usually just listen to everyone else.

23. Do you like yourself and believe in yourself?
I guess I'm okay. Kind of a sad sack sometimes. Kind of a sarcastic asshole at other times.

24. Do transient, homeless, or starving people sometimes annoy you?
By their existence, no. By asking me for handouts, yes.

25. Do you consider yourself to be a nice person?
I suppose I'm a pretty nice guy. I'm hardly ever intentionally mean.

26. Do you spend more time with your girlfriend/boyfriend or your friends?
Not applicable right now, but in the past, definitely my girlfriend or wife.

27. What is your ideal marriage location?
I like the idea of a wedding somewhere outdoors, somewhere beautiful. Anyplace but a church, really.

28. Which musical instrument do you wish you could play?
Guitar I guess. Piano would be cool too, but it would be harder to carry a piano around to parties.

29. Favorite fabric?
Denim.

30. Something you love and hate?
At the same time? Being in love with the wrong person.

31. What kind of bedding do you use?
Umm, sheets and pillows.

32. Do you tell your friends about your sex life?
No. At least not in any detail.

33. What's the one language you want to learn?
French. I don't know why. My Spanish could use some refresher courses as well.

34. How do you eat an apple?
Peel it, cut it into wedges, then eat the wedges.

35. What do you order at a bar?
Beer.

36. Have you ever pierced your body parts?
Nope.

37. Do you have tattoos?
Nope.

39. Do you drive a stick?
My truck. My cars are both automatics.

40. What's one trait you hate in a person?
Insensitivity.

41. What kind of watch do you wear?
A Fossil.

43. Do you consider yourself materialistic?
I like nice things.

44. What do you cook the best?
I like to make up my own Hamburger Helper recipes. I also make great grilled chese sandwiches. Nothing too fancy for me.

45. Favorite writing instrument?
A pen. This was a stupid question.

46. Do you prefer to stand out or blend in?
Blend.

47. Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex?
Maybe for Halloween, though I never have.

48. What's one car you will never buy?
That ugly-ass Honda Element.

49. What kind of books do you like to read?
Science Fiction.

50. If you won the lottery, what would you do?
Retire and travel.

51. Burial or cremation?
Cremation.

52. How many online journals do you read regularly?
A couple dozen.

53. What's one thing you're a loser at?
Love.

54. If you don't like a person, how do you show it?
Walk away.

55. Do you cry in front of your friends?
Nope.

56. What kind of first impression do you think you give to people?
Perfect strangers are always asking me what's wrong, so I guess I come off as sad.

57. What's one thing you like to do alone?
Besides the obvious bathroom activities, I don't really care.

58. Are you a giver or a taker?
How about both?

59. When's the last time you cried?
When I realized that I had to start something over.

60. Favorite communication method?
Telephone. I also like that whistling language I saw some natives use on TV.

Diane Kruger is my Hottie of the Day for today.

Just a classic beauty. I liked the way her character in National Treasure evolved from a bitch to a sweet girl.

After I left the bar last night I went up to listen to some karaoke. My uncle Wayne was there, as was my aunt Carol. The place was pretty dead otherwise.

At one point I remembered that National Treasure was out on DVD so I drove back to New Albany to pick up a copy at Walmart then I went to White Castle.

I guess Derby eve is some kind of cruising holiday or something. In Louisville I gather that this means jamming the streets and getting arrested, but in New Albany it means that everybody goes to White Castle and stands around in the parking lot.

It was pretty cool to drive my Monte Carlo in and park it among all those ricers. Nice to remind them what a real car looks like.

Walked into White Castle and, lo and behold, MixedSignalGirl was standing in line with one of her friends. We hadn't seen each other or even talked since things disintegrated back in February. I lied and told her I was doing fine, she lied and told me she was looking for a job. It was just like old times except that we didn't go home together.

Once I did get home I called her up and apologized if I'd seemed a little standoffish. We talked for a while and ended up agreeing that going our separate ways was the right thing to do. Between my baggage and her hangups it was just too much work.

She'd read here about LaptopGirl visiting but she thankfully dropped the subject when I told her I really didn't want to talk about it. I think she always knew she was competing with that ghost - even though I always denied it.

So I guess it was a nice way to end the night. I don't feel nearly as bad about her as I did when we broke up. Partly because I can tell she's doing fine, and partly because I now know for sure why I was not able to provide what she was looking for.

I only watched about half of my movie before I fell asleep on the couch.

I dreamed that the UPS guy had dropped off a package all the way out in the middle of my yard, and I had to go get it while I was naked. I don't know why I didn't stop to put clothes on first. I should have at least covered up my morning erection.

I bet some people would have a hard time cramming two day's worth of stuff into a 'blog entry.

For me it's easy: slept, worked, drank, watched TV, repeat.

You want more information? Fine.

On Thursday I was sitting at home waiting for Survivor to get tivoed when I realized that I only had a half-day of work Friday. This meant that I could risk going out to Rich O's for a bit, so that's what I did.

I had myself some Newcastles and sat in the living room area listening to these people around me argue about Star Wars and The Lord of the Ring trilogy. It was kind of nice to know for sure that I was by far the coolest person in that area of the bar. I usually suspect that it's the case but the geek squad there provided definite proof.

Oh yeah, I also apologized to ExBartender for doubting his ability to keep his mouth shut about things discussed last weekend. My estimation of him has certainly gone up a notch.

Friday night Rich O's was a lot more crowded, but there was a place next to this cute girl on the loveseat so I sat there and waited for her to stand up so I could check her out.

My first beer last night was a Fantome Saison. I've had this before and liked it. It tasted a lot more sour than I remember, but in a good way, so I had another.

It's been a while since I've actually had anything new to drink. For my next beer I had one of these:

Founders Red Rye

(draft) The first sip of this was just disgusting, but I vowed to drink a couple of inches to give it a fair test. At about halfway through the pint I decide I sorta liked it. By the end of the pint I wanted another one. An odd-tasting beer that just grew on me. Not sure I can describe the taste.

Once CuteGirl and her posse left (waiting for her to stand was worth the wait) PorterBob and some other PBDs whose names I don't know came and sat with me. We talked about various fluff, interrupted by the occasional head turns while WorldsHottestGirl or DooRagGirl would walk by.

WorldsHottestGirl is actually becoming a bit of a regular at Rich O's. I hope the air conditioning is in good working order or it may be a long hot Summer in there.

My last beer of the night was a Newcastle.

Guys engaging in raunchy locker room talk about their women friends.

Cleaned out some old pictures from my phone this morning.

With this one I was trying to capture how green the sky was after a storm. My grass, which obviously needed mowing, was practically glowing. The camera did not do justice to the green I was seeing.

This is some of the landscaping at work. I'd love to know what these bushes are and get some around my house.

A few days ago I took my phone out of its holster and saw that it was in camera mode and that it had taken this picture. I have no idea what this is a picture of, but I thought it looked pretty cool.

Just a quick follow-up to this old entry about my upcoming Las Vegas trip.

Got an e-mail this morning from the people holding the conference, and they indicated that they have secured a room for me on the 14th. This is the exact opposite of what I was told early last month.

So I called Mandalay Bay and had them double and triple check. I do indeed have a room reserved for arrival on the 14th and checkout on the 17th.

I called the Luxor and cancelled my reservation for the 14th, stressing that my reservation for the 17th through the 20th was still valid.

So now I only have to pack my shit and change hotels once during my trip.