(Original Post Date: September 5, 2oo6)

I'll take the radio silence in between my blog entries to mean that everyone could take them or leave them, or that you are all ashamed to admit you read my blog. Which I think is how it works with every blog so I guess this one is a success.

The whole idea of a blog is strange when you think about it. It goes against everything my angst ridden inner child was taught about diaries. I had a diary when I was a kid (read: up until 2 years ago…just kidding). It was pink with unicorns on it and it has a lock and key…which took about two seconds of hard pulling on to open sans key, ask Andy, I'm sure he knows. I had any number of journals after that. I would write down feelings and basically "have a conversation" with the diary. And I am ok with admitting this because I know that's how it worked for a lot of people. Point being it was private, and I didn't want people reading it. Especially because I am often so misanthropic as to be horribly off-putting to the normal population unless I sensor myself. That's not to say all the time, but as some of you may know, I can be negative. But the advent of the blog brought a whole new level to diaries. Gone are the days of hiding it under the mattress, hoping that no one comes looking for it. Now, we post private thoughts, stories, etc. for anyone to read…and the really strange thing is…other people actually read it. Actually, I completely understand the reading of blogs. I do it. I have a couple that I like to frequent when I am at work and don't really feel like working (read: 86% of the time). It's fun to check in with people that I don't know and will probably never know. It's voyeurism I suppose, which, with the boon of reality television has finally become acceptable. It used to be that you would get 5-10 for looking into people's windows while they slept, ate and showered, but now, it's publicly sanctioned. Go figure. I don't have a deep point here, that's probably obvious, I'm just saying, "what is the deal with blogs?" Feel free to read that last part with your best Jerry Seinfeld accent. Go ahead, it's fun!

At any rate, I haven't written since 8.30.2006 (according to my meticulous records) because I've been busy. "With what?", you are probably not asking. I'll tell you. I have been getting ready for the semester. It starts today. How nice. Back in school again. And I have been staring at my car which is increasingly becoming an Albert Ross around my neck. My car leaks when it rains. I don't know if I've mentioned this to all of you before, but it's true. It leaks. And it rains a whole hell of a lot in State College. My answer to this was to tie a tarp to all four of my wheels, effectively (or so I thought) preventing rain from entering my car. And I do this. Zach and I stand in the rain and tie a tarp to the car. Is this embarrassing? Well, not really, but it is a source of amusement and apparent confusion for other people. I would think that it would be obvious why we are tying a tarp to the car when it is raining. If I was the average bystander, I would think that the car leaks and that's why we were tarping it. But, that's not really what the average bystander thinks. So I get questions. What's with the tarp? Why are you doing that?

But enough about me, no wait, there's more. The other day(s) it rained for 32 hours straight. It wasn't a heavy rain, but my God, it was constant. I'm not sure what the deal was, but the car got wet. The front passenger side floor (normal place of wetness and the bane of my existence) was wet…and low and behold so was the back passenger side floor. That's a new one. AND THE TARP WAS ON THE CAR. I'm not sure how the laws of Physics work, I got a B in both 180 and 181 (Introduction to Physics for Morons). I fully admit that I'm not sure I believe in gravity, but I don't see how if the tarp is on the car it is possible that it got wet. I am sure however that it is probably Zach's fault. Usually when things go wrong, it's his fault. Oh, don't go feeling sorry for him. It's just a fact.

So that's what I've been doing the past few days. I also went to a picnic yesterday that the students in my area (area meaning cognitive psychology, not vicinity) were having. I wasn't excited about going because I don't like politicking. Although we did all agree that I was the life of the party. I have nothing else to report. I'm sure I'll find some fun things to mention tomorrow.

Oh, alright, you've twisted my arm, one last story. I am coordinating brown bag (which is an area wide meeting where people share what they are working on), there is always a student that is in charge and works with the area coordinator. That's me this semester. I sent out my first email on Friday. I was trying to be funny, so I said, "I'll be reining (then I used strikethrough) to cross this out) serving as Brown Bag Queen (again, I used strikethrough) organizer this semester. So it was supposed to look like I had crossed out reining and Queen and replaced them with more acceptable terms…but when it went out the strikethrough didn't work, so everyone just
saw, "I'll be reining serving as Brown Bag Queen Organizer." Which really isn't funny at all. When I explained to my advisor what happened, he said, "Oh yeah, that's a lot funnier with them crossed out." What a typical start for me.

Ok, well, hope things are good with everyone. Feel free to send any questions, comments or concerns to be addressed publicly in the blog.