They're coming to take me away....

Why must my co-worker clip their fingernails at their desk, particularly when their desk is approx. twenty feet away and the high-frequency metal ringing can pierce my eardrums so easily, distracting me with madness while I'm trying to calculate expense forms?!?

They're trying to kill me.

Don't give that boy a gun.

Damn -- you give me a quiet office and quiet phones and I'm suddenly Mr. "Crossing Off Item on the To-Do List" on top of Mr. "Let's see how many livejournal entries I can make in one day". Maybe I should go back and take some out.

Yesterday I got three compliments on my new (to me) coat, two from co-workers and one from the guy who works at the White Hen near Old Town School on Armitage. He was ringing up my off assortment of goods but not taking his eyes off me, which I started to freak out about until he said, "that's a nice coat, man."
"Oh. Thanks."
"Where'd you get it?"
"Village Thrift."
Nods. Pauses. "How much did it cost?"
Normally this question would bother for some unknown reason unless it's a thrift store purchase, in which case I'm always thrilled to show off how little I paid.
"Five dollars."
"Five dollars?!? Where'd you get that coat, again?!"

I then explained to him that Village Thrift store is a chain, and even gave a lesson on how thrift stores work. I guess if the phenomenon of thrifting is new, I can't blame you for not knowing, but I still get caught off guard when people act like if they go back to the same store I went, they'll find a whole rack of whatever I'm wearing.

I haven't really talked about my Recording Arts class since the initial day after, and there's not much to say. I do feel like I'm learning, but in this general amorphous understanding of principles and ideas, nothing concrete. Next week we're meeting at his studio, so I might actually learn something specific there. But the class does give me something less tangible, namely inspiration to do and try more but also confidence that I know more already than I give myself credit for and the stuff I don't know I'm quick to pick up.

As the day progresses, the more noticeably sleepy I feel, the better my mood. Strange. Maybe because my body is admitting that it's not operating at 100% so I'm not as hard on myself. I swear, I treat myself like a bastard a lot of the times and I wouldn't accept that behavior towards my friends, but I let myself get away with it. This is probably why the buddhist readings I'm doing right now are focusing on loving-kindness towards yourself and resonate so much.

This weekend is the opposite of the last couple weekends where I had invitations for 2-3 outings per day on top of things that needed to happen. I might finally get to hang out with my best friend thebrownhornet who I feel I haven't seen in months, and on Sunday I have plans to go hang out with Miller-Miller-Miller that include shopping for a pumpkin and she's going to make a pie while I carve it. So wholesome. I love it.

"Dark Lady" just came on my iPod.

That's a lot to learn. What can I give you in return?

Download of the week: To Sir With Love by Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe.

I forgot this version existed. Damn. Even though Natalie went baywatch, I still have fond memories of her voice and old 10,000 maniacs.

And yes, I'm getting the LuLu version too of course. Though I also have a vinyl 12" single that's Vicki Sue Robinson dance mix version.