posted @ 19:22...

The following was overheard yesterday afternoon at the Rio Grande campus of Austin Community College:

female: "Yeah, like the ducks in the ocean..."
male: "What? Ducks don't live in the ocean!"
female: "Some do!"
male: "No they don't."
female: "Of course they do!"
male: "Think about it. Ducks don't live in the ocean."
female: "Oh. Well, I guess you're right."

Sure, these people may be only 18 years old. Sure, I'm not necessarily the picture of intellect. But what the hell? I'm beginning to think that whoever said there was a mass "dumbing down of America" was right. People are stupid. It reminded me of that segment on Jay Leno where he goes out on the street and asks people simple questions about American history. Example: "What United States president is on the one dollar bill?" "...Um, like, Ben Franklin... or whatever?"

posted @ 14:02...

I ran approximately two-and-a-half to three miles today. I'm in pain, but have a sense of accomplishment. Protein helps rebuild muscle tissue, so I made a concoction of milk, water, protein/vitamin powder, and a butter shot. ...blended it together and drank it. Wasn't bad, but it might wreak havoc on the bowels later. [Sorry - you didn't want to know that!]

Cool link of the day: Austin Historic Photos

posted @ 15:22...

It's important to remember that I did not join the Army out of necessity. I had firmly decided, on a particular Thursday evening, to go ahead and join the Army. The very next morning, I walked into work and was handed a termination notice. It's important, because I didn't get fired and then say, "What do I do now? Well, I guess I'll join the military." In fact, the termination only served as yet another confirmation that I was doing the right thing. I'm not all spooky-religious, thinking there's a demon or an angel behind every door, but I definitely believe that all of these events have been planned and timed perfectly by Someone who knows whats going on better than i do...

I don't report to Ft. Jackson for another four months, so now, as a courier of medical transcripts, I drive around Austin delivering important documents to various physicians. It's actually a lot of fun. And get this: Working at a bank is ten times as stressful as driving back and forth across this city all day. And those of you who live here see how these people drive. They're insane. Yes. But I'd much rather be doing this than be a bank teller. Can you believe that?

It helps to get zen about it. I'm not really into zen (and I'm probably way off, because I know hardly anything about it), but from what I've heard, the idea is to sort of not let things get to you; seeing the bigger picture; remaining calm, etc. Behind the wheel of a medical transcription delivery vehicle, I just hear the music and make the rounds.

There's also something therapeutic about melting soap and pouring it into fish-shaped molds.