So ummm, tomorrow is David's and my 8th anniversary. 8 years! That is mind boggling. Tonight we went out and celebrated at a yummy Italian restaurant in the Alamo Quarry and then went to see a movie. Can I just say that there are NO movies out right now? So we opted for that new movie with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton.... only because it was the least of all stupid movies. Yeah, well, the whole movie consisted of Diane Keaton doing what she does in every movie: screaming and freaking out and overacting. I swear, she plays the EXACT same character in EVERY movie she is in. Why do they do that?

Loving my job... it's fun. Although I have been absolutely ASSAULTED by Christmas music. We listen to the same 3 Christmas CDs in the store all day, and lemme tell ya, Jackie Velasquez's version of Feliz Navidad is about to put me over the edge. Like we needed another version of that song -- as if the original isn't annoying enough. Please, make it stop. Make it go away. Please. It won't leave.....

So I have most of my Christmas shopping done... all except for the buying part. Well, yeah, see, all of us employees at the Compass are getting 50% off tomorrow for Christmas, so I'm doing all my shopping there. Makes it easy. So all my stuff is already picked out. I'm going in tomorrow on my day off to actually purchase things.

Album art is almost done... hopefully by the end of the week... and then we can send it away to the manufacturer! We've set a release date, but I'm not going to announce it until we send the CD off... don't wanna jinx it. But the date is exactly 4 years to the day of our last album release. That's sorta weird. Hey, if Sarah McLachlan can wait 4 years between records, so can we, okay?

Okay, I think David is finally home... which means I gotta get Punky ready for bed. David's mom watched Punky tonight, and it's late and Punky has school tomorrow. so there.

Type more later.....................................................................

Baby shark, do-do, do do do do
Baby shark, do do, do do do do
Baby shark, do do, do do do do
Baby shark

Mama shark, do do, do do do do
Mama shark, do do, do do do do
Mama shark, do do, do do do do
Mama shark

Daddy shark, do do, do do do do
Daddy shark, do do, do do do do
Daddy shark, do do, do do do do
Daddy shark

Grandpa shark, do do, do do do do
Grandpa shark, do do, do do do do
Grandpa shark, do do, do do do do
Grandpa shark

Lady swimmer, do do, do do do do
Lady swimmer, do do, do do do do
Lady swimmer, do do, do do do do
Lady swimmer

Swimming faster, do do, do do do do
Swimming faster, do do, do do do do
Swimming faster, do do, do do do do
Swimming faster

Shark attack, do do, do do do do
Shark attack, do do, do do do do
Shark attack, do do, do do do do
Shark attack

CPR, do do, do do do do
CPR, do do, do do do do
CPR, do do, do do do do
CPR

And so I tried to blog yesterday but after all the typing, it disappeared on me. I hate that.

So to recap, I am snapping out of my funk a little. Yes, I had an online pity party in my last several entries. I'm over it. Partly because I just woke up finally happy yesterday, and then partly because I figured out why I've been such a weirdo. October was a very, very emotionally taxing month for me personally... for reasons I can't print. It involved a heartbreaking situation that took almost every ounce of me emotionally and spiritually. As soon as that situation resolved... and I mean literally the moment the release came, we found out that we had to move and my world personally was turned completely upside down. The upside down part was a good thing... we moved, I started working again, etc... but it was so much change all at once with absolutely no time to even think! So I had no time to let down after the October events before I was thrust into this whirlwind of activity and craziness. So I had a minor breakdown right around Thanksgiving. Just minor. All gone. All better.

No longer at Chili's! I got a new gig at a Christian bookstore in San Antonio. I used to work at a Christian bookstore when I was in high school, so this is just like putting on old shoes. I really like it. Except that I have no clue... NO CLUE... about the music there. It's pretty sad, really, but I don't listen to Christian music! It will be interesting to see what's out there.

I have to make/buy/find an angel costume by Friday. Any suggestions? Punky is playing the part of the angel Gabriel in his Christmas play. I'm so excited about seeing him! It will be so cute.

Yes, hello. Thank you. Gotta go do stuff. Buh-bye.

" Some feelings and thoughts seem to emerge only in dark mood. Suppress the mood, and you will suppress those ideas and reflections. Depression may be as important a channel for valuable "negative" feelings, as expressions of affection are for the emotions of love....Depression has its own angel, a guiding spirit whose job it is to carry the soul away to remote places where it finds unique insight and enjoys a special vision."

--Thomas Moore, in "Care of the Soul"

Have you ever had a season in your life where you just seem to make everyone around you mad no matter what you do? I am having one of those weeks. Can't win for losing. A few folks are mad at me and I know why (because I suck) and then there are others that I just can't figure out what the heck I've done to tick them off.... but yeah, I'm getting the silent treatment without any reason given. I'm going to go hide in a hole and wallow in self pity and sarcasm for another few hours. Then I will be fine.

No, seriously, it's just one of those weeks. I've learned to keep my head down and just roll with the punches when this stuff comes up. It's just funny to me that it all happens at the same time. I must be putting off some really irritating vibes.

Hey, so work was slow today, although I had some nice people who gave me a few big tips. So that was nice... not a total loss. Y'know, I was really afraid about going back to work, and especially going back to work at a restaurant of all places... because when I was a kid and worked at Dominoes and Colter's Bar-B-Que, I hated it and the people I worked with were just such sheer losers. At Colters there was a guy who worked in my area. He was around 40 years old... and I was 16. We would talk at work, but then on my last day before I went off to tour the country for the summer, he approached me and said, "Well, you know, I'd really like to see you again before you leave. Actually, I'd really like to invite you to my company picnic at my other job, but I don't know how my wife would feel about that." AAAAAAAAAGH!! Grody! Eeeeew! I was so naive back then, but I got the creeps and got the heck out of there and never looked back. Blech. I just remembered that experience after blocking it out all these years. What a loser! Hitting on a 16 year old....

So the decision to go to work at Chili's was made with much hesitation and fear. However, the people I work with at lunchtime are older folks like me and are generally very nice and responsible and I enjoy them. There's only one individual that just really tests my patience and kindness. Sometimes in my head I hear Tori Amos' song "Waitress" when she walks in. It's a pretty funny song in a sarcastic, ironic way, and I don't really feel that way about this person, but it's a funny joke I have in my head.

I just watched "Fear Factor," which I never watch, but it was on, so there. They went to a winery and were told that they were going to make wine the old fashioned way -- by stomping around in a vat. Only they had to make wine out of worms... and then drink the worm juice. Yeah. I gagged. I admit it. See? Worms. It's a theme.

Alright. Average Joe is on now. This should be fun. I was really rooting for the Indian guy... he was cute and romantic. My stars, what has my life become?.....

nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms. nobody likes me everybody hates me i'm going to go eat worms.