Ricky Martin needs a haircut,

But I don't because wearemany chopped off my luxurious locks to give me a more prominent short mohawk that is NOT a mullet. I don't think I could sport a mullet even for fun since hair on the back of my neck drives me crazy like Britney.

Now, where to begin. Lots of eating out despite realizing that my rent check will 'bounce' again this month despite me getting my payraise check. Nice. I blame this on my panicky full-payment of my renter's insurance for the entire year after the break-in (I usually pay in monthly installments), plus the initial start-up costs for the dog.

My mom e-mailed me back after I wrote them about recent events in my life, but she cleverly sent it to my work account since I informed them months ago that I don't check the other e-mail account regularly with the hopes it would motivate them to call me instead. No, you gotta hustle smarter than that -- they didn't take the bait and instead e-mail me at work, knowing full well I check it 40 hours a week. They said nothing of substance, though they called my dog "the new roommate", which was just an attempt to be silly of course but for some reason I find horribly offensive since my dog is my child at least until I feel responsible enough to have a human child. Besides I don't normally clean up my roommate's poop and vomit or forcefeed them antibiotic pills so that they won't get pneumonia.

I feel like I've been absent from work for a week because so much got packed into the weekend, between the typical routine of tv-watching, sex, going out to eat, sleeping-in, as well as laundry and grocery shopping. Outings to street festivals and picnics by the lake -- large social gatherings of various people in town for short periods of time as well as people just returning to town after a long absence. I enjoyed myself thoroughly though by Sunday evening I was shell-shocked and over-stimulated.

And the dog ate a chicken carcass yesterday and miraculously didn't die. Now she's on her way to becoming a sausagey pup, since we've had to reduce her exercise because of the illness. Soon I can take her to the dog park to play her little heart out.

A very quiet office is the best way to begin a Monday morning.

I'm such a researcher.

I was planning on reading Watchmen on my lunch break today but I left it at home. And instead of the Sun-Times or the new Advocate, I decided to eat my lunch while reading online articles on cognitive-behavior therapy. Uh, yeah. For my own future reference (and others if they're so inclined). Some of them are just okay, but I think they have one or two beneficial insights or suggestions.

An article on irrational jealousy

the therapist calls her out pretty well; and breaking patterns.

most thorough of the 3 -- managing jealousy in open relationships


I also want to remember this:

Enlightenment--that magnificent escape from anguish and ignorance--never happens by accident. It results from the brave and sometimes lonely battle of one person against his own weaknesses.

-Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano, "Landscapes of Wonder"

And several times I keep remembering I have a dog. It seems so weird sometimes that it happened so suddenly yet feels like it's been happening for awhile. I occasionally feel odd when I realize I'm responsible for this small creature who runs around on four legs and has marked me as a companion to follow.

I'm sure it's strange that I'm blending emotional psychological state with Buddhism and dog ownership, but you know what? It all works out in my head.