Have you ever been in a meeting, and someone asks you a tough question about something really important, something that will have a big financial impact on your company, and as you're answering, you realize that you know exactly what you're talking about? You're not guessing, or estimating, or talking out of your ass. You really know the answer, and you're perfectly in control.

And did you wonder when and how the hell you became an adult?

I think I just had an out of body experience. This grownup thing is so weird.

New Yorker Finds Roommate Dead, Second Time in a Year

For the second time in a year, a man who lives in downtown Manhattan's trendy SoHo district has discovered a roommate dead in the same bedroom.

Ok, this guy's probably guilty, but it reminded me of something.

When I lived in Minnesota, there was an awesome couple who lived across the street from me (technically, everyone in that neighborhood was pretty amazing, except one pervy old guy that we all assumed was a pedophile). She was a teacher, and happened to have the same name as my aunt, and he was retired. I knew him better, because we were both big DIYers.

Anyway, one day there was a car parked along the curb outside their yard, but not close to the house. I figured maybe they'd had a bunch of people over, filling the whole curb, and this was just the only person who stayed over -- if I thought about it at all. But it was still there the next day. And the next.

After a week or so, it was still there, and I happened to bump into her while I was walking my dog. I asked if she knew whose it was, and she said no. I laughed and said she was really patient. When I found an abandoned car by my curb earlier in the year, I gave them about 48 hours before I called the cops and they had it towed.

She got a worried look on her face, and said it wasn't patience. There had been another car, before I moved in. She finally called the police that time, and the guy had been found dead in the snow, about a block away. She was genuinely afraid to call the cops this time, in case there was another dead body, and they suspected her as the killer.

I could understand that, as much as I trust the justice system, and we left it. A few days later, I happened to be working in the yard when a woman walked up and drove it away.

But after seeing that headline, I sure don't blame her for being nervous.

I found the prettiest little boxer running around in front of my house this morning. She came right to me when I called her, and I locked her in my yard so she doesn't get run over.

She's obviously an indoor dog, her skin and fur are perfect and her feet are softer than mine. Somebody must be looking for her, but I've been walking around the neighborhood for an hour, and no one's out calling for her.

I'll post pictures later. So cute.

Update: She and Big G do not get along.

Update: Her daddy just came and got her! Yay!

So. I've tried to like several of the other candidates, but they seem intent on consistently making me bang my head on my desk. Does anyone know much about Duncan Hunter? He keeps sounding better and better to me.

Why isn't he doing better in the polls? Is he just too low-key and unknown, or too far right? Or does he have some freaky skeletons I don't know about?

I wasn't going to write anything today (and I still may delete this) but I've been thinking about this for a few days...

I watch a lot of shows on the Discovery Channel, and other channels like that. This weekend, I saw an ad for a show called The Falling Man -- a show about that photo. The one. We've all seen it.

I didn't watch the show, but the ad was aired during literally every commercial break, so I had time to think about it. A large part of it was just voices speaking about the photo. One of them said that the picture shouldn't have been taken, or at least shouldn't have ever been printed, because it was a private moment, and the photo "took away his humanity." I found that this line made me angry.

I have always thought the opposite. I didn't own a television on 9/11, but when I heard about the attacks, I drove to my parents' house. The first thing I saw was the jumpers, and I wanted to look away, because I knew it would give me nightmares, but I forced myself to watch, to bear witness, while I sobbed. Here's my thing:

The photographer didn't take away that man's humanity. Mohammed Atta took away his humanity when he flew American Airlines flight 11 into the North Tower, trapping him in the flames at the top. All we can do, as complete strangers, to prove his humanity, is to burn it into our minds and make sure this is never forgotten nor forgiven.

But I'd love to hear if I'm the only one who feels that way. Or am I just being morbid? What do you think about this photo? Is it a eulogy, or just exploitation?

Did you know there are blood banks for animals?

I had never thought of such a thing. It makes perfect sense, but it wouldn't ever have occurred to me, until I saw a bumper sticker that said "My Dog Gave Blood" today.

What an awesome thing. This place is apparently the national bank, and they rescue strays from shelters and give them a new home. They're donors while they're young enough, and then live out retirement with the same kind treatment, or are adopted out to new homes. Doubly excellent.

Gregory Maguire, one of my very favoritest authors ever, has a new book out!! What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy. I just got a 25% off coupon from Borders, and I now know where it's going.

p.s. If you liked/loved Wicked, try Mirror Mirror. It's gorgeous.

p.p.s. Not advertising Borders, per se, they just happen to be next door to where I work. And I have a coupon.

Dude, this place is so awesome.

I've tried to explain the City Museum to so many people, and failed. But this time I brought a disposable camera, so hopefully some of the pictures came out. We only stayed til 10 this time (they're open til 1am) but I got a whole roll of film, if not all the climbing I would have liked.

Update: Their photo tour has greatly improved since the last time I checked the site. You can watch that for clarity, minus the crowds. ( #17 of 28 is the main reason I go.)

So I got one of these (uh, mild content warning, I guess). Us, them. Whatever.

And can I just say? As awesome as everyone made it sound. Also, I can't move my arms. Perhaps a little less boxing this evening.

I just got an email from my cousin Tony, and I'm hoping some of you can help.

Most of you know that I never send out "solicitation" type emails or ask you to forward an email to all your friends. However, I'm breaking my self-imposed rule.

After seeing an article last year about a man in Maine who donates wreaths to Arlington each year, I wanted to do something similar here on Ft. Stewart.

Ft. Stewart is home to the 3d Infantry Division, the "Rock of the Marne." The division is on its third tour in Iraq. Many of the soldiers have served at least that many tours. As of today, approximately 370 brave soldiers of the division have given their lives. Each month Ft. Stewart plants and dedicates a tree to the soldiers that have fallen that month in a solemn ceremony. At the base of each tree is a small area where a simple marker is placed. Family and friends leave small mementoes. Some give you an idea about favorite activities...a bottle of beer, a cigar, a pack of playing cards. Some are so touching it's hard to choke back tears. That is where we would like to place the wreaths in honor of their sacrifice.

This is a completely unofficial effort, not affiliated with Ft. Stewart or the US Army. However, we have coordinated with post authorities to get permission to place the wreaths.

Thanks,
Tony

Here's a site that explains more about what they're trying to do at Fort Stewart.

The Wreaths Across America organization supplies wreaths for fallen soldiers in mid-December, and Fort Stewart hopes to have a wreath for every tree in the Warriors' Walk.

If you decide to donate online, please enter 'Wreaths for Warriors Walk' on line 2 of the address section, to make sure the wreath goes to Fort Stewart. If you'd rather send a check, Tony's address is on the first site linked above -- or you can leave a comment here, and I'll email it to you. (I didn't try it, but the sponsorship page also had a payment method option called "invoice.")

Thanks, y'all. :o)

[Photo by Sharon Bass. Click for full size]

FOXNews.com - Porn Star Accused of Sorority-House Rape

Has anyone seen Without Prejudice? It's a game show where a panel meets a group of people who want money, and decides -- based entirely on their first instincts -- who gets kicked off and who gets the money.

I only watched two episodes, but this guy was on one of them. All of the girls (including me) decided that he was totally skeezy and creepy (before they mentioned his current job, or his status as a former marine), and he got kicked off. I'm sure some porn stars are lovely people, but this guy was a total alarm-rattler.

And sure enough, here he is, up on rape charges. Trust those instincts, girls.

I've been consistently and rather pleasantly surprised by one of my senators, Claire McCaskill. I was pretty loudly against her in the last election, for both personal and political reasons, but she's turned out to be a very moderate democrat.

And, of course, that's not working so well for her. She wants to start pulling our troops back as soon as possible, but refuses anything that sets a date for retreat or cuts funding. She even visited the troops in Iraq, herself (all over the place, if the photos are any indication!) She voted against amnesty and for supporting General Petraeus. And that's gotten her some pretty negative attention from the Code Pink and MoveOn crowd. They've been protesting outside her office all week.

I hope they don't crack her. She's pretty much exactly what I used to like about the party of democrats. Sympathetic but sane. I don't expect us to meet on every issue, but that wouldn't happen with anyone. I think she's doing just fine.

Since the number one rule of blogging is "don't blog about work," and it's consuming my life right now, it's gotten a little quiet around here.

I wish I could tell you. I really do. I need to vent. But I can't.

I'll try to focus on and write about other things, since it's clearly not going to lighten up before the end of the year. If I last that long.

If your DVR/Tivo cut off the last thirty seconds of Grey's Anatomy (like the rest of us), some lovely, wonderful person put just the ending up on youtube, just for you.

(I started downloading the whole freaking torrent, but it was going to take hours. Thank you, youtube!)

Dude, I had no idea that baby formula was so expensive. I just came back from the grocery store, and the lady in front of me bought one can of formula.

I wouldn't normally have noticed what someone else was buying (especially at 8am), but the store apparently keeps formula under lock and key with the good booze (just kidding, they don't have good booze -- they don't even carry Maker's Mark), and the cashier had to send the bagger back into the service section to get her the one can.

Then she paid part of it with food stamps (which is neither here nor there, it just caught my attention because it made me realize that I had chosen the wrong lane, as usual) and the rest in cash. When the total came up, it was four dollars and freaking forty-seven cents!

Holy toledo. I mean, the can was maybe the size of a can of coke. Say, 8-12 ounces, somewhere in there. And it cost almost five dollars? Wouldn't a baby drink more than one can in day? I would never have thought that formula would be high-theft item, necessitating locking it up, but in retrospect, of course it is!

Madness.

[Note: Not backseat parenting. I understand that women have physical and emotional reasons for deciding not to nurse. Not my problem. But five bucks?! Jesus!]