Quote board

me: new passion?
J: hahah yes
me: awww
how did you get into it?
J: well I went to the craft store looking for a new hobby
and the beads just spoke to me!

Five words I wish I could sneak into regular life and/or the newspaper

1) Boondoggle
2) McGillicuddy
3) Curmudgeon
4) Braggadocio
5) Wonky (not sure if this is a slur of some sort)

I really love subscribing to the Urban Dictionary and Merriam Webster words of the day. I feel like I live a richer and fuller life for it.

I have been suspiciously healthy during my time in Vegas.

I can't even think of a series of sneezes that wasn't induced by a gust of dust or looking directly into the sun (not that I ever do that. *averts eyes*). The last time I coughed was probably more of a choke from Diet Coke going down the wrong pipe. And the flu? What's that?

In the real world — you know, a real climate with humidity and weather change — I can at least count on the seasonal cold. I also work in newsrooms which rival nursery schools as germ incubators. But I have been the tip top of health out here.

Something has to give.

Well, I can think of one minor thing.

The lack of humidity never really bothered me. My hair has never looked better and I appreciated not sweating through my shirt after stepping out of the house.

I didn't notice things were up until I realized I haven't been able to produce tears in a while. Nothing emotionally tragic has come up (although I would LOVE to know where I will be in the world post-Jan. 1) but I was watching a Lifetime-caliber movie the other day and I couldn't cry. I sat there telling my brain to kick itself into emotional gear and let me cry. Nothing came out. Not a single tear.

I winked. I squished my face. I tried thinking of hurt puppies and my impending student loans kicking in.

I'm a journalist. I didn't take this lying down. I just dialed up an opthamologist and had a delightful chat with a nurse in his office. Cheryl told me that the desert air dries our eyes so much that when we produce tears, the eye just soaks up the moisture on spot. Air conditioning and no humidity don't help the cause. She said a lot of people ask about this and was especially jovial while sharing the little info. She just suggested I get Visine.

Her generous sparing of time could have moved me to tears but, you know, I can't.

Maybe I'll just rent "Steel Magnolias" this weekend and cry like my entire family was eaten by a T-Rex like I usually do.

killin' it

fifteen listens in and no signs of stoppin'.



eh, three fourths of the band hail from the 702 so this is an appropriate post.

Election daze

Four years ago, I changed my address so I could proudly cast my vote for president. Election day was rainy. I was late for my North American literature class. My polling place was in the basement of a musty dorm. Specifics aside, I was hopeful.

Then I watched everything unfold alone in my dorm room that night. As state by state lit up with their allied "color," I turned red and then blue before going to sleep feeling kind of gray.

Four years later, I think this has been an electric election. I didn't change my address this time. Election day (so far) is sunny and 70 degrees. I don't have to be to work until 3 p.m., so I'm really only late for a shower. My polling place was my desk two weeks ago. I'm in a totally different place in my life, yet I'm still hopeful.

Here I am casting my vote last Thursday. Don't fail me now, U.S. Postal Service!!!



On a completely unrelated note, here are some electiony things I have encountered in the past few weeks.

Drag Queen with a message



Club clowns on the political prowl



As an added bonus, here is video from a rally I attended a few weeks ago. Bette Midler speaking on behalf of Barack Obama at a gay disco. Just putting a Vegas spin on politics, ya know.

I thought two hefty questions today that I will pose to whoever still reads this ol' thing.

a) Does it weaken my journalism degree that I have never seen "All the President's Men" in full?

b) Do you think Laura Bush is starting to pack up the White House? (Subquestion) Do you think they have White House-issued boxes or Rubbermaid?

Happy Election Week! This could be an entirely different country in a week. Think that out.