You're the piece of gold that flushes all my soul.

So much for a trip to Evanston. There's always tomorrow. Which works out better anyway, since I have an afternoon meeting in Rogers Park. No reason to travel to Canada twice in one week. Hey, remember when we called it Canada? I should look up other local slang from two years ago and start re-using it.

This morning in the bathroom I realized I was keeping my homoepathic anti-SAD mouth spray on the shelf next to my spray cologne. That is just asking for trouble.

I had this thought in the shower today that perhaps I'm in the wrong line of work. Or rather, I maybe have some interests (and possible skills) that are being underutilized. I did a little research on the Center for Conflict Resolution, and they have a weeklong 40 hour intensive training on becoming a mediator and it costs a lot of money. But if you apply for it with the intent of becoming a volunteer, I can get a scholarship. Then I would commit to working 2 times a month for a year and a half for no pay (though I would get experience and contacts). And if ever renege in the 18 months, I'd have to pay for the training. But I still wasn't totally scared off. It might be an interesting part-time job, being a mediator, to supplement writing. I should research if it would be somewhat useless as an enterprise though, without the accompanying law degree.

I'm about to go to the movie theater that's only 4 blocks away from me, for the first time since I moved here nearly 2 years ago. It's an almost-second run theater, and primarily shows kids films and blockbuster films that don't interest me. But currently it's showing King Kong. I wonder how many people will be in the theater besides me at 2:15 on a Tuesday afternoon several weeks after a movie was released? I should go pack my banana chips.

I just realized I'm bringing banana chips to the gorilla movie. That's almost funny. Not as funny as when I asked drinkasyoupour on Saturday night, after she spent fifteen intense minutes of peeling the pummelo, if she was "enjoying the fruits of her labor". Even I make ridiculous jokes sometimes. I'm only human.

If there are people talking to Al-Qaeda, then get a damn warrant, mtherfcker.

My favorite part is when only one half of the Congress stands up to clap. And strangely enough, all the Supreme Court justices are on the side not clapping. I wonder if they are taught that they aren't supposed to clap, to maintain the veneer of checking power.

I also liked when he threw in a reference to Coretta Scott King at the beginning and they cut to the audience and in the corner of a shot, I saw Maxine Waters, not clapping, looking down, and possibly shaking her head. And when he asked to have the PAtriot Act to be reauthorized, they cut to some people sitting down, not clapping, and reading a program. There's a program for the State of the Union? What does it say? Reception to follow.

I don't even know what to say, it's too weary and expected to be clever in my rage and political commentary. It's not fun to watch, but I can't NOT watch. I have to keep tabs on this guy. I have to pay attention. I have to pay attention.

[Blah, blah, blah.]

ETA: I had to laugh and cheer a little when he said, "last year Congress did not pass my social security reform program" and all the democrats interrupted him by standing up and applauding.