(no subject)

Gecch. I have to learn to more consistently say "No, thank you" to people sellin' stuff on the street, even if they're friendly or attractive. Gave three dollars to a young lady in exchange for a magazine published by some commune somewhere. Interesting insofar as it offers a look into a teeny-tiny personality cult (the personality in this case being the old fellow who founded the place, and whose life and works are alternately celebrated and advertised on every page), but boring in that most of the actual content is self-parodying hoo-hah. If you handed one of the columns to me and told me it's an intentionally over-the-top send-up of a Ted Rall piece or something, I'd guffaw: yes, that's brilliant! As it is, though: enh.

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My bed arrived last night, as did the little oak (I think) nightstand I chose to accompany it. For some reason I thought the bed would have a wooden frame too, but it's a very minimal, folding aluminum deal. That's fine, actually; either way, my bedroom now suddenly and startlingly looks like a... well, like a proper bedroom, I suppose. Really, it looks and feels nice in here, having become even more of a place I'd want to spend time. A day later, I still say "!" whenever I look around -- I wasn't expecting this sort of transformation to happen, and it's a nice surprise. (For the time being, I visually filter out the large pile of junk in the middle of my rug, most of which comprises bed-part packaging and the crumpled-up and mostly useless air mattress. This too shall pass.)

All that's out of place is the cheapo card table I'm using for a desk, and so now I must make a decision: should I pull my nice desk out of the computer room and into my bedroom? I am starting to lean in this direction, following the example of M, who moved that room's papasan chair (which is hers) into the other bedroom as part of an effort to arrange it just-so. She has christened it her "zen pod" and now spends most of her work and study time there. I like that idea, too, and while that desk would really complete the picture for my room, I hesitate because it would feel like withdrawing an investment which I have made to the house commons.

N, in fact, spends most of his at-home time in the computer room, rolling between the two desks there, and he has asked me if perhaps he could just use my desk as his own, permanently, since I haven't used it much lately. But, really, this is because I have myself rediscovered the joy of working in solitude. Hum. I hope he wouldn't take it as an affront if I counter-offered swapping out the desk for the card table. I do not think that he would.

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In other news, I've been hacking away at ICCB work, which I'm really behind on. I know I'm behind because I was given some deadlines, for which I am thankful. Call me a slavish code monkey ook ook, but I'd rather be (manageably) behind schedule with a project than not have a schedule at all. Anyway, I'm catching up, and my superiors and sidewaysors are good-humored and understanding of my progress and my groveling excuses.

Speaking of, that's why I haven't done anything new and interesting with jmac.org or anything else yet, a week and change after the book-yoke's off (more or less). Well, that and Fallout 2, mumble, mumble. The first thing I should do is generate an actual list of the projects I must start back up, in many cases rescuing from bit-rot... good ideas I've had since 'round the time I moved here, and which I started to pursue, sometimes attracting a fair amount of attention, only to have them fall over from lack of love due to Everything Else Argh. At the forefront is the 9-11 Freedom Tracker, which I semi-launched right before losing my job, being forced to move, and other assorted loveliness that made me focus away from it long enough for it to fall down. (Aren't you glad I'm not into conspiracy theories?) Re-launching it isn't just a manner of making the Wiki engine work again... I've gotta review the Webscape for similar sites that may have popped up over the last year, and if I feel the niche still exists for it, I've got plenty of research and writing to do. (That's the fun part, though.)

Mm. Yes. I'll share when I am satisfied with a realistic to-do list. The last thing you need right now is more vapor. Last thing I need, I mean.