You look like a fag. You dress like a fag. You are a fag.

Today's subject line is brought to you by Leona Helmsley. Allegedly. Big ups to Leona.

Last night was like watching television by better. I talked to freakysparks for almost exactly an hour. Then I called up Damon and talked to him for about an hour. Then nineinchlovely came by and we visited and broke bread....for about an hour. (Glasses -- in about an hour.)

I didn't make it out to Circuit with Roberto, but some other time, hopefully soon. He called in sick this morning, which probably means he was out wicked late last night, so it's probably just as well that stayed home with my glass of chocolate milk.

Some building downtown had a fire this morning. I caught this piece of information on my way out the door. I flipped around to some radio stations, and of course, since I wanted talking, there was lots of music. Even when I managed to catch a snippet, it never revealed what building or where it was located. So I just hoped it wasn't mine and got on the train. No smoke so far.

Most nights Sophie sleeps near the foot of the bed, usually on MelRo's side but early in the morning she finds her way between us, creeping up slowly until her head is near ours. This morning, she had her back pressed into my chest and her head on my pillow, her nose nearly touching mine. It was really annoying. But horribly adorable.

Oh, you're going to get all zen on me now?

Roberto likes to give me shit, though it's always in a loving and funny way. Yesterday he pulled up a chair and sat next to me. He glanced over at the book case where I hang various pictures and artifacts.

"So now you're all down with the buddhist precepts, huh? Huh?" He might just be concerned he'll no longer have a partner in crime for rage repression.

I explained that 'down' was too strong of a word. I explained to him a bit about how they're all a little different depending on where/who they came from, sort of like different creeds in the Christian church. Of course than I remember he was raised Jehovah's Witness so this was not a good personal analogy, but whatever. So I said I'm still trying to figure out what I think of all the precepts and decided to investigate which ones seemed most potent to me. This particular list has fourteen and they come from some text by a guy named Eppsteiner.

My reasoning was that when I sat at my desk, staring off into space instead of working, I could at least focus my attention onto something new to learn. The precepts are on the right, opposite from Shana's birthday gift which is on the left of my monitor (top 10 most precious raybear moments). That's where I turn if I'm looking for personal and emotional inspiration, in case I ever doubt that I'm a worthy person. Which happens.

I'm planning on rotating the precepts. Somehow I anticipate this will be like tarot cards. I went way overboard when I started reading cards, buying a deck a week. I never really intended on collecting decks, it's just when I get into something, I REALLY get into it. After giving dozens of readings with every deck, I've settled mostly into one or two favorites. This is my same strategy I'm using with the precepts. Shop around, find out what works, go with that for now. It doesn't really matter if the originate in a temple in Idaho, since I'm not really that far along.

I'm hoping to find one that avoids the word "promiscuity".