It's odd to stumble across yourself on the net. I wrote this in the comments on Fray whilst the discussion was still happening over whether you voted or not, I just came across it today in an unrelated search:

Ahh Colorado and it's wonderful culture of diversity.

I'm standing in line at the polls and the couple in front of me is having a conversation, I'm guessing a couple of young, conservative Dems based on appearance and conversation.

He says "I hope that people realize that a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush", a statement I don't totally disagree with. A head pops out of the polling booth (well, table) a few feet away belonging to, and I'm not exaggerating, a member of the Muppet orchestra. Full black beard, white-man's afro, chairman Mao cap, only thing missing was the Birkenstocks (there's snow on the ground but that doesn't usually stop the diehards)...eyes blazing with that Green fervor. "That's bullshit man, don't say that, a vote for Nader is a vote for Nader".

For a moment I was having flashbacks of the History Channel's special on Chicago '68 (I was only a year old so the History Channel's all I've got). They trade a few barbs, voices rising with each comeback...until one of the ladies running the polling place (does anyone under 80 work these things?) shouts at them "children, we're here to vote, not to argue politics...that should have been done before you came in here", I'm guessing she was a school teacher--a few decades retired.

If only the politicians would take the gloves off and go at it this way, more people would watch the debates. We need more Taiwanese Parliment style politics in this country. Imagine WWF's Capitol Hill Rumble Tuesdays....oh the ratings.

(note: some folks have read this and misinterpreted it...I'm actually a left-leaning, geek/hippie looking, self-effacing, pseudo-intellectual..and I voted for Gore).

m@ {kerouaciness@hotmail.com}

Friday Five

1. Hey, baby, what's your sign? Do you think it fits you pretty well? Leo. Parts of it do, parts of it don't. The personality traits do but the reputed Type-A personality doesn't.

2. What's the worst birthday gift you've ever received?
Trichinosis. My then brother-in-law barbequed me some pork ribs...for about 30 seconds.

3. What's the best birthday gift you've ever received?
Honestly? A moped, when I was 14 (it was actually, technically a motorcycle but don't tell the cops in my hometown). Not so much for the machine itself but for the trust my Mom put in me to actually have and ride one (this was a big issue for my Mom).

4. What's the best way you've celebrated your birthday thus far?
Every year for the past 5 or 6, with the exception of this past one, I've gone to Taos, communed with nature, the ghost of D.H. Lawrence and the spirits that haunt the Enchanted Circle. (wow, now I'm gettin' all metaphysical on yo's azzes).

5. What are your plans for this weekend?
Spending some really good quality time with the we'en. It'll be the first time she's seen my new place. We'll do a little exploring, have fun, cook together (she's learning) and cuddle up on the couch and be Saturday Morning cartoon rats.

Down to those last few boxes. I'm sure it will get down to "that box". You know that box, the one that never gets unpacked, is forever sitting there taunting you. Furniture comes tomorrow morning but I won't be able to sit on it until Friday. It has to be stain proofed and that means no touchy for 12 hours....so unless I want to get up in the middle of the night I won't be sitting on it until Friday a.m.

Almost there. Ordered furniture last night, it'll be delivered on Thursday, Dubot Toffee if you must know, sofa/sleeper, oversized chair and ottoman and some really cool gunmetal/glass end tables and coffee table. Cable gets installed today. For some reason when I think of paying all this off the song "In the Year 2525" keeps popping into my head....................

Fittingly for me (hint, there's a joke coming, lest you be offended) I awoke this morning, the first Monday morning of Lent, to the soulful sounds of Yusef Islam (that's Cat Stevens for those of you hip enough to be in the know) telling me that "Allah u akbar". I set the 'puter up to play the Muslim call to prayer about 5 minutes before the alarm goes off.

I would have chosen something a little closer to myself but the Zen Buddhist call to prayer is "THWACK" (the sound of the kyosaku hitting you on the back). As much as I appreciate that, I don't want it to bring me out of a deep sleep, that could develop some serious side-effects.

Friday Five

1. What was the first thing you ever cooked? Microwaved scrambled eggs, nasty, nasty, nasty.

2. What's your signature dish? Fideo con Pollo with sweet tomatoes. It's not complicated or fancy but it's very satisfying.

3. Ever had a cooking disaster? (tasted like crap, didn't work, etc.) Describe. Too many to mention each. I once tried to cook Moroccan Chicken under a brick for some friends...ended up with a curried kitchen (yes, literally, all over the walls) and undercooked chicken.

4. If skill and money were no object, what would make for your dream meal? My friend Martha makes the best marinated steaks. So, Martha's marinated steaks, potatoes cooked in foil with garlic, leeks and butter, grilled asparagus and chocolate mousse for dessert.

5. What are you doing this weekend? Moving...to my own place.

When keyword advertising goes wrong. Look at the article, then look at the skyscraper ad to the right.....

Neat Trick. Growing up on the Ohio, I always wanted to work the tugs...glad I didn't, I bet this smarted.

AHEM. Not amen, just Ahem.

I need a reason to exist (well, a reason to blog), so I'm told. This could prove difficult.

Friday Five. Seems like this is all I'm posting lately, maybe there should be a Monday many, Tuesday Twelve, Wednesday Whole-Buch, Thursday Three...just so I'd post more.

1. Have you ever had braces? Any other teeth trauma? No braces but I did have to be admitted for surgery to have my wisdom teeth out. The after-effects were not fun but the drugs were grooooooovy. The next day began probably the single most non-relationship-related bout of depression in my life--drug induced of course.

2. Ever broken any bones? My left arm when I was in kindergarten. My nose, two or three times, the debate is endless. It's for certain that through my teens it extended to the left, it now curves pretty sharply right. I once took a chunk of concrete to the face (break #1), a bicycle accident (#2) and possibly a punch or kick to the head when I lived in England...whether that broke my nose or my spirit is up to debate.

3. Ever had stitches? No, but I needed them. See below.

4. What are the stories behind some of your [physical] scars? I once scalped myself on the underside of a parked tractor-trailer. I now have a scar (eerily reminiscent of a certain part of the female anatomy) on the top of my head. The area around the scar has dead nerve endings so you could pick me up by my hair if you were so inclinded. I also have a half-pea sized bit of dead flesh on the inside of my lower lip (you can feel it if you kiss me..go ahead, try it) from an electrocution (getting the picture that I was an accident prone kid).

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? Skiing. A whole weekend at Keystone compliments of L's company (we love them and it shows).