Confessions of an Internet Junkie

By the numbers.

1. The financial mess in the States has me in a depressing tizzy. There's no good way out of it, but at least both sides of the aisle are slowing down and not just rubber-stamping that jaw-dropping fiat by Paulson that he be handed handed 700 billion dollars with no questions asked - ever! - and absolutely no oversight. That's not just handing the keys to the hen house to the fox, it's providing him with the butcher and an executive chef. I have no idea how this is going to pan out specifically, but it seems as if the American Century was just that. The 21st is going to see us going the way of the British Empire, I fear. And I don't fear our lack of global influence as much as the economic consequences for the average citizen.

I don't know how much y'all have been reading about this, but I'd highly recommend the transcript of last week's Bill Moyer's Journal. If you can't or don't wish to read it all, please just scroll about halfway down and read the segment where he interviews Kevin Phillips. The guy is completely non-partisan in that he thinks both parties are irresponsible, and he has prescient insights into what led to this and what the future most probably holds.

2.I haven't received my absentee ballot for the general election yet, and I'm starting to get worried. I think I need to call the registrars office back in lovely Acton, MA.

3.In non-political news, I switched to the basic plus account on LJ just so I could get 15 icons instead of six. I feel so trashy :( I'm finally getting used to the ads, probably mostly because they're becoming more targeted to my interests, which means I don't get the tacky flashing ads anymore. Along with the 15 icons I also get to use the photo storage and the ability to make polls. Not that I use either of those options all that much, but now I'm inspired to make a pictorial poll. Heh.

4. I started physical rehab today to try to get my muscles back in shape in a way that isn't going to aggravate my lupus. I have a series of 12 stretches and 4 strengthening routines, and let me tell you - it was rough going for a couple of them. I am completely out of shape after almost a year of being knocked off my feet by the combo of illness and draconian meds. How out of shape am I? I pulled a muscle rolling over. How freakin' embarrassing is that? Hurts like hell, too. It's on the right side of my chest, just under the breastbone. Dar said it was my "laying down muscle," which made me laugh, but apparently that's actually the layperson's term for it. I've spent so long just laying about that the muscle deteriorated. Here's to getting back in shape . . . very slowly.

5. Still no crias. I was out in the paddock last evening, and as I approached the barn I heard this ear-shattering screaming from inside. Anyone who didn't know alpacas would 1) be scared to enter the barn, and 2) expect to see a bloodbath when they finally got up the nerve to go inside. But I, being wise to the ways of the freaky little camelids, knew what it was. And sure enough, there were the two preggos - Gertie and Conchita - standing right up against each other but facing in opposite directions, screaming at the top of their lungs at each other. They really need to have those crias asap before they drive everyone around them absolutely insane.

6. I watched the first hour of Heroes, and I probably won't be back. It's not like I was a devoted fan to begin with, but there's just nothing in it that really catches me. Even the Hiro storyline is looking pretty repetitive. And unlike many of you, I find no hotness factor anywhere, not even with Adrian Pasdar. (Sorry, Q!)

7. On the other hand, I'm glad that I decided to stick with True Blood. Last night's ep was a vast improvement over the first week. I still don't like the main character, Sookie, but I'm starting to like Bill the Vampire and I absolutely love, love, love Tara and Lafayette. I'm rooting for Sookie's brother to be killed as soon as possible; I can't stand that character. Overall, though, there's more to like than not, and I can hope that the series continues to improve.

8. I had a bad night last night. Not a lot of sleep and painful joints. Combined with the pulled muscle today and the fact that I'm overtired, I know I need to take a half a sleeping pill to fall asleep and stay asleep. I was just wondering why it hadn't taken effect yet - over an hour since I took it, I thought - when I just looked over on my bureau, and there's the pill just sitting there, still waiting for me to take it. Sigh. I need a keeper. Off I go.