Still Here!

OK, perhaps I was a bit optimistic in my last post by stating that SmogBlog lives. I would like to revise that statement to say that SmogBlog is a few shades healthier than a persistent vegetative state. Precious little happens around these parts, and that which does go on certainly holds limited interest to anyone who might still be reading. However, if anyone is still interested in what goes on with me, let me recount the previous weeks as best as I can recall them.

The early part of December was very quiet indeed. This is the "busy season" at work, which boils down to me having to tell twice as many people that we are out of stuff. It also means that I get to listen to tons of seasonal music, which has led me to a few conclusions. First, and this is aimed at the music director of whatever radio station we have on at work: just because a different person is singing the same son,g that doesn't count as a whole new song. This poses a problem when the number of actual Christmas songs can be counted on one hand, but they still play these same songs, sung by different people who are compelled to interject their own little artistic interpretations. Second, that song from "Sound Of Music" that has to do with a list of her favorite things has no business being a Christmas song. Finally, the Latin people have a long and rich history of musical talent. Also, they are rapidly becoming the largest minority in the United States. Why, then, is there only ONE Spanish Christmas song, and I know you all know exactly what I'm talking about. The macarena and that little Taco Bell dog have all come and gone, why does Feliz Navidad stubbornly refuse to die?

In other news, my car got hit last week. Before you jump to conclusions based on my rather creative driving style and liberal interpretations of the speed limit, this was most definitely NOT my fault. I won't try to explain here what happened, but be sure that everyone is fine, and the damage to my car, visually at least, it not that bad at all. According to the insurance adjusted, it'll cost about $1250 to repair though. Now I just need to convince the other driver's insurance that it was her fault and that they should pay for it. Believe it or not, they are not taking me at my word regarding this. And in true insurance company style, they are taking their own sweet time getting it dealt with. There must be something about the insurance industry that sucks the life out of people once they start to work there. I apologize to James if he's reading this, he's the one insurance man I know who still retains his soul intact.

I also found out that I am good to go for graduation, I just need to fill out some paperwork and make a few calls. Have I done any of it? Of course not. I have one more meeting this coming week with yet another advisor about some pre-law classes I might be interested in taking. I'll let everyone know how that goes. Speaking of graduations, Amanda just graduated, so congratulations to her!

Finally, the ski trip has finally been set up. Karol, Michele, and I will be spending several exciting days in Jackson Hole, Wyoming from January 3-8. Getting there and back will be something of a fiasco, but the actual skiing part should be a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to that. December also means a ton of birthdays in my family, so here goes: Happy Birthday (in no particular order) to: Mom, Nicole, Aunt Linda and cousin Barry. I think that's everyone, but I could be wrong. To cover that base: Happy Birthday to anyone I may have left out. That concludes this installment of SmogBlog, we will join your regularly scheduled Internet slacking, currently in progress.