13 July 2000
[from Albuquerque]
-Fish is without question the most frustrating human being I know.  I mean, the Flack Contest victory was one thing, but at this point, things have gotten absurd.  Though we did get over one argument.  If only I could find a way to make it less fun for him to put me through hell.
-Roadtrip for this summer looking less likely.  Fish also doesn't support camping.  Though I suspect part of that might be just him trying to duck the blame after last time he advised me on such matters.  I think I'm only kidding about that.  Either way, he did offer the best advice yet when he said that I should leave myself a way of backing out of the journey up until a day or so before.  I'd already been planning on that, but it's good to hear someone back that up.  As far as the poll's concerned, it's tied 1-1 (hint:  no one's responding!), but I think I can assume at least one more vote in favor.
-"Unemployed Boyfriend" is the first song I've felt compelled to put on track-repeat in a LONG while.  Songs like that make people like me unreasonable.  "This is gonna sound a little bit out there, this is gonna sound a little insane..."
-If I go, Kate's countdown works for me too.  Sick timing.
-Updated again.  Click the "back" button in your browser to return to the Pond & see the new pictures, new links, & new commentary littered about the 'page.  Yes, this is why I haven't e-mailed you yet, if you're awaiting it.  That & the fact that I really have VERY little to say right now.  I mean, I'd probably bore you with an e-mail anyway.  So don't take it personally, I'm collecting data for a future correspondence.  Besides, most of the interesting stuff winds its way here, anyway, plus a fair chunk of the non-interesting.  One caveat on all this... Jake, where ARE you?  If you don't e-mail me soon, I really will get worried about your boss...
-Dave Silverman e-mailed me.  How random is THAT?
-I have said from the beginning... if you don't like your picture in the Pond, send me another you like better & I'll put that one up instead.  This applies to everyone.
-From a myriad of sources, some respected & others dubious, the issue of happiness vs. [other goals] in life seems to keep springing up.  Which reminds me to inquire yet again what everyone thinks is so great about happiness.  I mean, it's decent from time to time, if it's really sincere & authentic & non-delusional & non-drug-induced (we're probably down to about 5% of the time people think they're happy by now), but even then, it has never struck me as a semi-worthwhile paramount goal.  It's a bonus.  Far more important to me has always seemed living a moral life & doing what's RIGHT.  No matter how much that hurts or saddens.  After that, learning seems like a solid #2... leaps & bounds above happiness in any case.  After that, being honest & authentic strikes me as somewhere around #3... sincerity of will & action & all that groovy jazz.  Before I make a full list, I'll stop, but you get the idea - whoever thought that societies ought be designed to maximize pleasure & minimize pain was definitely a hedonistic moron.
-I had a dream last night about Freez working at McDonald's.  I'd actually forgotten about this till Freez called me, back from a week in Balt'mer, this afternoon.  Crazy.  If you're not rolling around on the floor from the very thought of Freez asking if you'd like fries with that, you seriously have no sense of humor (or you don't know Freez).
-The world has seriously spun off its axis.  Not only has Jose Lima won a 2nd game this season, to build a 2-13 record, but Kate is claiming to be more of a romantic than I am!  What the heck?  Too bizarre for me.  Maybe she's just trying to shock me into going camping without question.  & yes, dear, you ARE that imposing... or something.
-Never ask Tarot cards yes-or-no questions.  They'll inevitably say "maybe".