I have tried searching my blog to see if I had written about this before.  I couldn’t find any evidence that I had–and I find that really surprising, since I think about it a lot.  What am I talking about?

Since leaving University, I have begun to shake off all the negative affects it had on me (there were many good as well, don’t worry).  It is hard for me to sum everything up, but I can say that overall I had very poor methods of dealing with stress.  Which, I think, lead to a very self-reflexive/self-absorbed mindset.  I didn’t mean to guyz… I’m sorry! 

I am not really embarassed at who I was because there isn’t much I can do now, except change.  But, I suppose, I would have liked to have been different.  And for being so self-aware I now realize that I wasn’t really aware at all.  Or, letting go off that pseudo self-awareness or focus on who am I, what am I doing, etc, I think I see myself much more clearly when I am not thinking about myself (as much)–but Rhett how are you more aware of yourself without thinking about yourself???  Don’t use your tricksy logic on me!

All of this, I have noticed, has directly influenced my writing/would-be writing.  In English 252, I wrote my first short-story and I wrote a/in character.  Every other poem/story I wrote after that was somehow, fairly directly based on something my life and in fact the character was always some version of myself.  This is a fairly limited way to write if you have to wait till experience something in order to have a story.  I have noticed, now that my stress is reduced and I don’t need to sleep 14 hours a day and play computer for the other 10, that I have begun to think in character again and it is good.

I haven’t written about J.D. lately, but I probably should have been.  It turns out that he might not be the lap cat I wanted him to be. 

Last week, Leah took J.D. to the Vet (for our free checkup).  Generally, when you take a cat anywhere, especially to the Vet, they are scared and high-strung.  JD, on the Vet table, started to groom himself–like he owned the place.  The Vet said This is one of the most dominant cats I have ever seen.  Well, that’s just great.  Likely, JD–now 2–has had to fend for himself a lot of his life and done whatever he wanted to do.  Now, he is living in a small apartment and we have enforced rules (like he can’t just lay sprawled out on the dining room table as he would wish).

First, we have leather couches.  (I told Leah they would be a bad idea if we had pets, TOLD YOU SO!)  Well, we have undertaken measures to stop any scratching on the couch.  We have a small post that he has been using and a spray bottle!  Hehe, that’s fun.

Second, he can’t really go outside, except that I bought a harness.  He hasn’t quite figured out how to go for walks yet, but it might work?

Third, he has been randomly biting/scratching me.  (I can’t remember why this is a list.)  So, I have given him a couple nose taps and one time lifted him up by the scruff of his neck and had a stare down–after a particularly bad bite.  However, he still remains fairly dominant.

Getting to my final point.  Last night, we trimmed his nails.  Holy moly, what an ordeal.  You should have heard the sounds this cat was making.  But, as soon as it was over, we gave him a treat and he was right as rain.

Who knew cats could be so much work?  I was too young when we first got Stormy and Cloudy but I don’t think they were this bad.  I am sure he will come around… I hope.

You all know that I have been working a lot lately.  Tuesday was the last day for filing earnings so lastnight my co-workers and I went to celebrate a job well done.  After eating some supper and having two beers everyone was ready to go–except for one.  The waitress came around–no, I’m good, no thanks, just the bill please–everyone was saying no.  Then he said it, the one thing that doomed us all–I’ll have another.  Well no good natured person can leave anyone to drink alone.  Alright, I’ll have another… and another… and another… Let’s have a round of shots… and another…

My head throbs.  My stomach churns.  My body aches.  My voice is four octaves lower.

I need sympathy, love and support pronto!  Hehe pronto.  Good word.  I haven’t stopped singing Silver Bells today and I don’t know why.  What did I drink that would make me sing carols?   

My mother loves the old Battlestar Galactica.  This is something my family makes fun of her for.  I cannot understand my mothers fascination for trashy cinema or literature for that matter.  She is smart and intelligent, but she loves it.  She has a shelf full of neon-coloured detective novels, the kind you see in airport bookstores and cornerstores.  How bizarre.

But, I am her child and from time-to-time I follow in her shoes.  The new Battlestar Galactica is amazing.  I am a total sci-fi nerd.  I love Star Trek, but I don’t really like Star Wars.  I can’t think of another sci-fi show that I like more than Next Generation, but BSG might be better.  The 360, real space-like flight/battle simulation is like none other.  The story line, from meta power struggles to micro personal issues and large philosophical debates with good, bad and inbetween all playing off each other makes it is the best drama I have seen in a long time–plus there are big explosions!

If you need a show to pickup this season, I would suggest Battlestar. 

Edit- I know a website you can watch entire seasons (of a lot of different shows, including BSG), if you need a place to start, just email me.