Inspired by astrology: Week in Review
Posted by Richard Mankhey
My daily Gemini horoscope from my friend Michael is as follows:
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Why gaze at the ground, when you can stare at the sky? Why focus on failure, when you can strive for success? Why fear isolation, when you can reach out for good company? Questions like this are much easier to ask than to answer. None of us chooses to struggle or suffer but sometimes we get into bad habits and we can’t easily shake them off. You have options and alternatives this weekend. From where I’m standing, they are clearly visible. But how will you see them unless you open your eyes?
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This first thing that comes to mind is:
“We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ~O. Wilde
This particular horoscope is really great, though, speaking of habits. I quit smoking on Sunday and have actually had a pretty good time of it. No horrible withdrawals…no mood swings…sure there’s the occassional “oh, I’m done with lunch time for a smoke” or “oh, my supervisor just chewed me a new asshole for something stupid” urges to light up, but I’m quite proud of myself. I’ve found that it’s not the substance itself I miss that much…though I can sense its absence…it’s the psychological aspects and the ritual of it all (smoking). Intrestingly enough, I used to walk down and up the 6 flights of stairs everytime I went for a smoke and this would happen maybe 3-4 times a day and now I’m locked to my computer all day unless I force myself to take a break. THINK about all that exercise I’m not getting!
It was interesting that last Tuesday a report came out that said the most effective way to quit smoking is a combination of the nicotine patch and gum. I have some nicotine gum somewhere but I haven’t used any of it yet. I have been wanting to eat more…like candy (Skittles, M & M’s)…and I’ve been really tired all week and have only managed to go running once (and it wasn’t a good run, either) but on the plus side I’ve gotten quite a bit of good sleep. My friend Jim came over on Tuesday for dinner and to spend the night and Wednesday I spent an hour talking to Joshua and trying to figure out when we are going to see each other again. But all in all it’s a great start.
In fact, I was thinking on the bus ride to work this morning that in a way I’m getting a jump start on the new year (2010) and why should I stop at quitting smoking? There are so many things I could change about myself and my life (some bad habits, some just plain positive changes) and I feel motivated to do just that.
As for “options and alternatives” this weekend I’m looking forward to them. Tonight I’m meeting a friend/former boyfriend (sorta) whom I haven’t seen or talked to in 2 years for dinner/whatever. Saturday I’m taking a guy named Mike I met on Manhunt (and not in real life yet) to the party of a guy I met at the Equality March (no one will no anyone else so we’ll all be on the same level, eh?) and Sunday I’m going to meet a 41 year guy named Jeff I met on Manhunt at his place in Columbia Heights to watch a movie (hopefully “Aliens”) and have some wine.
I have no expectation for either of these gentlemen. I have made many amazing friends under less auspicious circumstances (and more auspicious for that matter) and I wouldn’t have them in my life unless I’d been in a position to meet them. There’s always an option…there are always alternatives…
I’d like to think this is a good move on my part…taking advantage of my options and all that.
Time will tell. It always does, doesn’t it?
Holy shmoly I’m a hypocrite and here’s why
Posted by Richard Mankhey
Because I have been secretly lusting after the iPhone since it came out but scoffing at its popularity and ubiquity and jealous that AT&T users could have it and I couldn’t.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Verizon (my current provider) because they just bought Alltel (who owns the Midwestern cellular market including most of my family) and also because it’s the only service that works in the DC Metro underground (my sole source of transportation).
Hence, despite my level of lust for the gadget, I’d never abandon Verizon for practical reasons.
Now, according to Tech Crunch it seems that the iPhone has a chance of of coming to Verizon in 2010 when Apple’s contract with AT&T expires (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/26/apple-may-hear-verizon-now).
In the words of Sarah Jessica Parker (no, not “Amok, Amok, Amok!”)…”I have to have it!”
The Easter Bunny Cometh Early (and buys discounted V-Day cards)
Posted by Richard Mankhey
So when I was home for Christmas I found a bunch of cool crap that I had collected in college and left in my mom’s care and wanted to bring back with me to the East Coast (nick knacks…old journals from high school and college (whoa…talk about trippy…those entries deserve several posts sure to prove enlightening and potentially embarrassing)…burned CDs…my antique Winnie The Pooh books…stuff like that.
So my mom kindly sent it back to me via UPS and the Easter Bunny seems to have intercepted in along the way and stuffed full of CANDY:
But Mom was sweet enough to include a lovely Valentine’s Day Card:
And on the inside:
So thanks, Mom! I’m going to go slip into a PEEPS coma now, thanks to you!