A Formal Apology, The Countdown Begins, And Something To "See."

First things first...yeah, it's been a while. It happens.

Now then...the editors of "The Life And Times Of..." (that is, me, myself, and I) usually issue a disclaimer with every post, encouraging readers to provide both positive and negative feedback for any content that appears here. However, there are times when things are said, lines are crossed, and feelings are hurt, sometimes to the point where you want little or nothing to do with certain people or situations in the future, whether they realize the extent of the damage they've done or not.

That being said, I'd like to apologize to OriginO for a few sentiments expressed in a previous post. It stemmed from the interpretation that I got from what we were talking about, and it would have been much more positive for the two of us to discuss it in person, or on the phone. I don't know how long you had been upset...and I really wished you would have called me about it...but I don't expect, nor can I expect, you, or anyone else, to communicate the way I find works for me. The gist of it is this: I didn't understand where you were coming from (and maybe I should have), and I felt as though you didn't understand where I was coming from. I started writing to try and gain some perspective on the whole thing, and it came out the way that it did. I'm sorry.

On a more general note...I had no idea that you even read this thing. Not saying that I should spout off about things at random, but I honestly didn't think that you did. It's a not-very-great way of finding out that someone might give a little bit more of a shit than you give them credit for, to say the least. But I did realize that the amount of time that we do talk or hang out or what have you is just a part of the dynamic that's been established between the two of us, and it's not something that can be used as a point of contention or hostility. I think we get on pretty well when we're around each other, and at the time, it would have been a really good distraction from some of the side drama that happened to be going on. Sometimes, you just want to goof around, and you're one of the biggest ones I know! Haha.

If I have it in me to put my thoughts, good or bad, in a public forum, I have to have it in me to admit when I've made a mistake in the same thread. I think you're an amazing girl, and if we've reached the end of our road, I think that the people in your life should be blessed to have you, if they aren't already. You, for lack of a better way to put it, made me be social when I didn't want to be, and while I've never really mentioned anything, it's helped me stay focused on what's going on, rather than what's already gone on. If nothing else, there's an excellent chance that I'll think of you whenever I smell barbecue. (I know that might sound weird to the rest of you out there, but trust me when I say that she understands it perfectly.)

If you didn't know before...now you know, and the world knows, too. I hope that we can try and work something out...maybe a guest editorial on "The Life And Times Of..."? *shrug*...haha. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I'm bound to do and say things that aren't always reflective of my heart. This is my own way of saying, "forgive me."

In other news...there's less than three weeks left until that fun little thing called school is back on. I know you're not supposed to be overly excited about summer classes, but my educational itch has been begging to be scratched for a long time, at least in the structured sense. That, and it pays in the long run to have the piece of paper that says "hey, I know how to do (XYZ), let me show you!", regardless of the extent of your ability to do whatever it is what you do.

I've been working like the proverbial Hebrew slave to make sure things are well in place, and the only thing left to do now is be patient. The IT certification process is coming along, slowly but surely. Thinking that the only formality with that is coming up with the loot to pay for the exams. Which reminds me...I do quite a bit of freelance computer work in my spare time! We live in a society where some of us are completely lost without our laptops, or cell phones, or PDAs, or whatever your personal for of electronic communication may be...if you guys are having issues, or know someone that does, and want a cost-efficient alternative to taking your stuff to Best Buy, or tossing it out altogether, hit me up! I'll do my best to get you back in working order, ASAP. You'll be Facebooking again in no time, and supporting a very worthwhile cause!

People Watching...

So, working downtown has opened my eyes to a lot of things that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Some things are a bit sad, others downright hilarious. That being said, I'd like to introduce a segment I like to call, "The World, As Seen Through Sleep-Deprived Eyes."

- The amount of people who drink on the job (or before the job!) is RIDICULOUS. Anything that can be tucked away in a pocket or briefcase is fair game...a bottle of vodka, a 24 ounce can of beer, a couple six-packs if you're smart. Clearly, this isn't a new development, but seeing it firsthand is still a bit unnerving.

- Gambling, in its many forms, is only fun when you know when to stop. A perfect example of this is an older gentleman who frequents work, who has an affinity for scratch-off lottery tickets. A co-worker of mine started keeping a tally of how much the guy spends in a given day, and he puts down about a stack ($1,000, just to clarify) a week (Monday-Friday). Who DOES that? I mean, if he's got the money to do it, then go for it, but good lord!

- Like with any group of people in society, the homeless aren't as bad as people make them out to be. Of course, there are still plenty of assholes, but some know how to clean themselves up every now and then. There are guys with no shame left, and the money that they ask for goes toward that next drink, or that next ounce to smoke. Seeing the same faces, in terrible positions, is all the encouragement I need to keep pushing forward.

- And now, a quick Public Service Announcement: it may be time to lose weight if you have to walk around your own thighs when you walk. I'm totally accepting of the "Big Is Beautiful" movement, but it just didn't look comfortable. That P90X keeps calling my name...haha.

- Apparently, I give off a vibe that tells people that I know my directions. Case in point...I was downtown last Thursday, and at least five people stopped to ask me how to get somewhere, in the time it took me to walk from work to Borders, which is only 5-6 blocks if I roundabout my way there. Thankfully, more often than not, I've known where they were headed, and I've been able to help, but it just seems odd. I would say that it's because I look like a local, but it's happened in other cities I've visited. Maybe it's the glasses?

It's a beautiful day outside, so I'm off to enjoy the sun for a little bit, before I resume the previously mentioned Hebrew slaving. Until next time, world.