A Recap then "Bon Voyage"

1. The Celtics beat the Nets Friday night. It is the first time I have been to a game the Celtics won,
2. The tab for our “box” that night was $1,920. Eleven people, one buffet and an open bar…

I wish that I could care about the Gay marriage ban, whether or not Condoleezza Rice will testify, but all I can think about is my trip. My mind is racing with the following:

1. Will my car get towed when towing for street cleaning starts April 1?
2. Should I bring some “fat” jeans on this trip in case I gain weight ?
3. Should I pack enough clothes for 8 days in Europe or plan to do laundry when I am over there? In Rome, it cost me $22 to have housekeeping wash my clothes. I don’t recall seeing any Laundromats in Paris so I may have to have the hotel wash them again.
4. How much is this taxi to Logan going to cost? Our friends at Massport have upped the tolls for taxis and I think it is going to be $40. I’d take the T ($1.25) but it doesn’t run until 5:20 a.m. and I need to be there at 5 a.m. so I am screwed.

The list goes on but it will all be over soon because as soon as I get in the taxi, I will let it all go and just get PSYCHED to get the hell out of here!

So the 9/11 Hearings are now about Race too?

Courtesy of www.talkingpointsmemo.com

How low will they go? Now Clarke is a racist (from last night's Crossfire ...

ROBERT NOVAK: Congressman, do you believe, you're a sophisticated guy, do you believe watching these hearings that Dick Clarke has a problem with this African-American woman Condoleezza Rice?
RAHM EMANUEL: Say that again?

ROBERT NOVAK: Do you believe that Dick Clarke has a problem with this African-American woman Condoleezza Rice?

RAHM EMANUEL: No, no. Bob, give me a break. No. No.



And then from Ann Coulter ...

Isn't that just like a liberal? The chair-warmer describes Bush as a cowboy and Rumsfeld as his gunslinger -- but the black chick is a dummy. Maybe even as dumb as Clarence Thomas. Perhaps someday liberals could map out the relative intelligence of various black government officials for us.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Is this a fucking joke? Some conservative commentators are "just asking" if it is possible that Richard Clarke has a "problem" with Black women in power and that might explain why he has worked so hard to discredit Condoleeza Rice?

WTF?! First I had to swallow the "Unborn Victims Act" which just makes me want to vomit and now I have to listen to the fucking RACE CARD being played by the bastards who support the White House? Hey, fuckers, if Rice wants to regain her credibility with the American public, it is going to take a little more than your irresponsible race-baiting (oh, and FYI, most Black people could give a shit about these hearings and don't even know who Ann Coulter is) she can testify in front of the Commission, under oath, like everybody else has.

The fact that she refuses to testify but has time to talk to CNN and the New York Times on a daily basis just makes my blood boil. I have no idea what things will be like when Kerry is in the White House (which he will be come January) but for the love of all that's good, it has to better than this.

Bush was here in Boston yesterday and, as usual, the protesters were corralled in the newly-erected "Anti-Bush" pen down the street from the Park Plaza Hotel; out of the sight of the media which dutifully did not film the un-patriotic communists. Enjoy muffling us while you can, your days are numbered. Someone should put a "countdown to Kerry" ticker on their blog (I lack the technical savvy) which counts us down to the day in January when Kerry takes office and we can put all of this behind us.

Because They Asked Me Too

Everyone with a Blog is being asked to post this site: www.stopfcc.com

Blogs are one of the few ways Americans can still exercise their Freedom of Speech (other than flag burning which we are free to do anytime) and I guess the internet is the next FCC target after they "clean up" network television and radio. So check this out. Massachusetts has over 3,000 signatures so far; let's try to beat New York!

Am going to the Celtics game at the Fleet (or is it the Bank America Center now?) Center after work. My company has Box seats which, unfortunately means, open bar, all-you-can-eat concessions, and no tab to worry about. OK - do not get hammered in front of colleagues, do not get hammered in front of colleagues, do not get...

Gone but not forgotten

The Sloganator has been taken down by those killjoys over at the Bush/Cheney campaign but you can still see some of the best one's here. I am soooo disappointed that "It's Not Like He's Hitler!" didn't make the cut. Enjoy!

Courtesy of Wonkette

This is just creepy

This weirdo's post on Boston Craigslist is just gross. He's trolling for some 18-22 year old to "kiss and cuddle" and "to teach you to RELAX and unwind and overcome your fears of being sexual". Ewwwww!
Note to Loser: Girls this age think that 35 (probably more like 39) is frigging ANCIENT and are lusting after with Josh Duhamel -type hotties. Don't know who Josh Duhamel is? That is because you are OLD. Go back to jerking off to internet porn; there's no shame in that and it spares the rest of us Craigslisters who just want to read normal posts like "who's up for a threesome" and "let me cum on your tits".

Student Special (undergrad preferred) - 35
________________________________________
Reply to: anon-27217329@craigslist.org
Date: 2004-03-24, 10:08AM EST


Dinner's on me. Drinks are on me, though not literally I hope. Please don't be offended, if I like you I'll want to go home with you! Men are such sluts, aren't we? Actually I want to talk, I want to kiss and cuddle, I want to teach you to RELAX and unwind and overcome your fears of being sexual. There's nothing wrong with being sexual and you know it! If you've never had a man make you cum before (or even if you have) this is your opportunity. I LOVE giving oral and I'm not gonna stop until you're thoroughly and completely satisfied! If you're physically and emotionally healthy and you enjoy being pampered, then maybe I'm the man you've been looking for. I'm probably too old to be your boyfriend but don't let that stop you from having fun! I'm not interested in one night stands but if you've got a few weeks or months, hmmmmmm.... ;-)

A Must-Read

The "Vietnam II Preflight Check" has just been re-released by the Reliable Source.

Kudos to the Reliable Source for dragging this one back out of obscurity (where the White House had surely hoped it would never again see the light of day) and onto the pages of the Washington Post.

"Heartbreak Happens"

More good advice from the Morning News's Non-Expert: getting dumped and making the person go back out with you.

London Calling

As excited as I am about my trip next week, I am a little alarmed at the latest terror warning in London.

When I came into the office this morning, our Worldwide Corporate Security department (we have offices in every country from Israel to Ireland to Indonesia) had a "Worldwide Caution" bulletin posted in our Outlook inboxes. Here is an excerpt:
Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. These may include facilities where U.S. citizens and other foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels and public areas. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

Well, no worries on avoiding "places of worship" while I am in London and Paris. I guess I am pretty much screwed otherwise as I am: staying at a friend's house in a residential neighborhood in London, planning to hit some clubs and pubs and seeing at least one show in the West End.

So that's that. My primary concern is that my parents don't wind of any of this. They have been giving me the same safety lecture when I go overseas for the past 8 years. This really gets on my nerves in a way I can't articulate. Hopefully, "Trading Spaces" will have some kind of marathon this week so my Mom won't be watching CNN...

This was a first...

Tina and I went out to the North End for “a drink and maybe some appetizers” on Friday. After one drink at Fiore (marginal, overpriced food and an inattentive bartender) we hit the Florentine Cafe on Hanover Street and the good times began to roll.

We met there two Irish businessmen who kept the drinks coming and one Navy guy who was staying at the Mariners House (which is still $80 a night – I thought the Mariners House was supposed to be affordable for servicemen and don’t these guys make like $500 a week after taxes?). The whole crew hopped in one of those minvan cabs and we took the party to Peking Tom’s.

I have, after a night out with the girls, lost my cell phone, the odd twenty dollar bill and scraps of paper with the email addresses of guys who seemed fascinating after two cosmos. However, I have never lost my wallet before.

I have to give a big shout out to Shaws Market. While foraging for late night snacks (I had the cab drop me off at the market around 1:10 a.m.), I must’ve dropped it in one of the aisles. I paid for the groceries with a wad of bills I had in my coat pocket so I didn’t realize it was missing until the next day when I needed my gym membership card.

Anywhoo, I went to the market to drop off my recyclables ( I needed the cash!) and the courtesy booth had my wallet with $48.00 in it! I can see someone turning it in but to leave all of the money in it is truly a good deed.

I just knew that all of that good karma I have been putting out there was going to come back to me! Nameste.

Another entry from "Time Killers Anonymous" (hereinafter "TKA")

I suck at this game, but I love the cockney accent of the "player".

A Cautionary Tale

With the weekend fast approaching and most of us spending our Friday making plans to get dressed-up-to-get-messed-up, it is high time I passed on my tale of woe.

I strongly suspect that I am not the only binge drinker out there searching for the perfect hangover cure (previous recommendations include: Gatorade, Benedryl and plunging into the frigid, healing waters of the Atlantic Ocean, weather permitting).

A few weeks ago, I woke up at 11 a.m. on my friend’s pullout couch on the Upper East Side of NYC and did my usually morning-after body scan. My Findings: no nausea, no new bruises, extreme dehydration and a raging headache. All things considered, not a bad one (giving up Marlboro Ultra Lights is the best thing I have done in all my years of hangover recovery planning).

We had plans to meet friends for brunch at this French place on the lower West side and my “friend” suggested that these codeine pills we got in the UK might be just what the doctor ordered. I explained that I can’t take Tylenol 3 w/codeine because it upsets my stomach but she insisted that the amount of codeine was negligible. Now, this chick parties WAY more than I do and, since getting laid off, averages about 3 hangovers a week so she is a very credible source of hangover attack strategies.

I took the stupid pills and was about to hurl 8 minutes later. We had to skip brunch so that I could stand over the john for 20 minutes (sans vomiting) until I felt well enough to leave the apartment for a brisk walk on the East River (brisk walks can be good remedies when there no ocean available see above). I felt better after about an hour and a half.

Come to find out, taking anything with codeine (other than vicodin) after a night of copious alcohol consumption is the worst possible thing one can do to one’s fragile morning-after state. If I have saved one person from agony by passing this on, my job is done.

OK, Now I am nauseous

and I thought only excess alcohol consumption could cause this kind of queasiness.
Then this Boston Globe article about how the Bush agenda affects women, not only in the US, but in all of the countries that we invade, came out and I have this "dry-hangover" sensation...

Thursday Rant

I wondered when this Howard Stern situation was going to get some local media attention and finally, today's Boston Globe covered it.

Every day that went by without this story being mentioned, a mon avis, supported Stern's assertion that the mainstream media does whatever it is told by the owners of said media and the US government. It brings back to mind the days prior to invaded Iraq when that farmer drove his tractor into to pool at the Lincoln Memorial in DC and brought our nation's capital to a standstill for almost three days.

Doesn't sound familiar? That is because only the Washington Post and a few other local DC media outlets covered it. For days, traffic was routinely backed up for over 24 miles in the greater DC area, all of the monuments on the Mall were closed, the four major thoroughfares surrounding the Mall were closed for traffic and people just stopped going to work because it would take 4 hours to get there. Someone's grandfather held our Nation's capital captive; armed with just a John Deere tractor and (I think) a gun.

The point here being: if some event/person credibly discredits the White House/US government (how can DC handle a terrorist attack if it can't handle one farmer in a tractor?), the media ignores the story. This is important to know. For every item supporting the White House we see in the media, you can bet that there are 12 items that are not being covered that day because the government doesn't want them covered.

No freedom of the press + no freedom of speech=No First Amendment.

Let's just get it overwith and repeal the First Amendment while we are amending the US Constitution to Ban Gay Marriage (Hitler was the last world leader to pass laws against homosexuality-I am so proud). That way, with no First Amendment abuses to bellyache about, we can all just get on with our lives in our new Police State. Just think how easy a subject Con Law would be - Not to mention how no First Amendment questions on the Bar exam would affect the pass rate.

In case you are wondering, I am still on my alcohol-every-day streak but only have hangovers on the weekends. Hence, my ability to give shit about the above - there's no pounding headache or nausea to distract me.

Tonight on Fox - 9:30 p.m. Sharp

A guy that I went to law school with is now an assistant-something-or-other (all I know is, he is more successful than I am) on this show Arrested Development.. So watch it!

It really is the Nation's Number One Killer!

I could / couldn't believe this story in today's Post. I guess I can't believe that this poor kid died such a horrible death but I was not surprised that one's being fat could be dangerous to those around him/her.

As badly as I feel for these people, I can't help but think that someone is now going to use the "second-hand-obesity" argument analogous to the "second-hand-smoke" argument to outlaw public obesity. I mean, if it endangers the lives of children, how can we as a society not take any action?

“The Brotherhood in Arms”

So read the title of the video tape I was given at the party at John Kerry’s headquarters last night. I ended up giving the video to the cabbie who took me home but more on that later.

The party was “thank you” for volunteers and, although I have not lifted one finger to work on the campaign, I fully intend on putting some time in next week. It was mixed crowd, not unlike the one at the Kerry rally in NYC a few weeks ago. I had hoped for a high hottie count but didn’t see one. Everyone there was so friendly and so pumped; the enthusiasm was infectious and everyone was randomly starting conversations with each other. Very un-Bostonian.

Cam Kerry (the candidate's brother) gave a great speech and, afterwards, stepped off of the desk on which he was standing and walked right over to me. It was funny because when I have a suit on and my hair up, I look like a pretty serious business person (so I have been told) and stood out from the crowd of casually dressed attendees (there was a major snowstorm going on and if I wasn’t intent on getting some plum assignments on the campaign, I would’ve put jeans on too).

When I introduced myself he said, “Oh, yes.” and flashed a winning smile (as only a Democrat can. Why don't Republicans have this much appeal? I can't imagine looking into Dubya's eyes and thinking: I bet this guy gets a lot of action. But I digress.). As if he had heard my name before. He probably thinks I am some big donor – wait till he sees I only gave $100 bucks! Via post-dated (today) check. I met another one of Kerry’s staffers who responded with the same “Oh, YES!” (she was more enthusiastic) when I gave her my name. Note to self: on the campaign trail, act as if I know everybody in a suit.

Kerry's sister was there too but she did not introduce herself. Probably just stuck-up or something. Kidding Ms. Kerry!!

The cabbie on the way home asked where I was coming from. Turns out, he knows Kerry: "before all this campaign started, I see him every Monday at Starbucks!". Kerry is helping get his sister here from Morocco for medical treatment for some awful disease and, as a thank you: "I tell Kerry people everything I hear in my cab. People talk about Bush, Kerry, everything!". He knocked six bucks off my cab fare because “I give everyone on the campaign a discount. You gonna make Kerry the next president”. I gave him the video as a thank you and that is how that happened.

I wish that I had read this before I got that stupid ticket

The ONE speeding ticket I have gotten in 9 years was just bestowed upon me last August by the fearless Framingham police. I say "fearless" because this guy showed no hesitation at all when approaching my car after pulling me over.

It was police work at its finest: it combined crime fighting with revenue generation which is really what it is really all about (see: privatized prison systems etc.). Anyway, when he asked me for my info, I broke into "church laughter", thinking about that episode of Friends where Rachel gets out of a speeding ticket, so Ross tries the same tactic and hilarity ensues.

So, he just hated me, gave me a ticket and then WRONG directions when I explained that I was lost and panicking because I was late for an appointment. I'd go into how rigged the appeal system was but I am over it now so, no since dredging that up.

D-Nasty's advice to a fellow lawbreaker just brought it all back so I thought I'd share.

But I thought that he was Christopher Marlowe!

Shakespeare's three-page will is now available on-line free o' charge. I can't help but think how stinkin' rich he'd be if he was a writer of today. A little three page holographic will wouldn't quite cut it....

The good news is: I finally did my taxes so now I can beat myself up over my laziness in other areas: not doing laundry, not registering for the foreign service exam, not brushing up on my French before I head to Paris. God, I suck!!

It has also come to my attention that I have consumed some type of alcoholic beverage everyday since February, 28, 2004. Yes, I think this is a problem and yesterday was going to be my first booze-free day. Unfortunately, some friends persuaded me to meet them for sushi at Apollo. They did nothing to encourage me to drink but I have a Sapporo anyway. I can't imagine sushi without a Kirin or Sapporo in hand. I'd make myself feel better here by pointing out that I only had one but anyone who has a had a Sapporo knows that it is a 22 oz can.

Today, however, is a new day and a new me! As soon as I stop fucking around cruising the 'net, I am going to register on-line for the foreign service exam and order a practice test. I swear....right after I check the UK newspapers to see if I need to blog about anything going on over there.

Is He Fucking Kidding?

Out Fearless Mayor Menino and the Boston Police are trying to sell the story that the Superbowl Riot was not foreseeable?!

Has the Mayor forgotten that there are FIVE lawschools (counting the one over in Cambridge) in the Boston area, about 30,000 friggin' lawyers in the area and a highly educated (tax paying!) populace in our great Metropolis and the "foreseeability" is one concept everyone understands?

See, if a reasonable person could have foreseen that a a violent riot was possible when: 1) the city just had a riot three months earlier in the same neighborhood and that one was "victory" celebration when the Red Sox won a game, not a title, pennant, anything; a game, 2) the same kids that had showed their spirit by smashing windshields and overturned cars still live here, and 3) it was the SUPERBOWL for chrissakes and the most common occurrence after a Superbowl victory in this country is a riot in the streets of the biggest city in the new Champions' home state.

I almost wish that my car had been vandalized (I live three blocks form where that poor kids was killed) because I would sue everybody just to make a point: Menino, the Boston Police, everybody. Idiots.

Boston has been a known terrorist target since Sept.11 and the mass murder that just took place in Madrid serves as a reminder of how precarious our way of life is. I mean, those were bombs in backpacks. I took the T yesterday and, let me tell you, I counted no fewer than 5 backpacks in my car alone.

What I am getting at is: do we want a Mayor like Menino who can't even protect our property and lives in the case of the kids who was killed, from Northeastern students? The police suck too.
"
OK. I feel a little better now.

"Things Aren't All That Bad!"

This is a blast! Create your own Cheney/Bush poster.

I can't believe that the Republicans are actually letting us do this! It's too much fun really...again my favorite is" "It's Not Like He's Hitler!"

from Wonkette

Big Fucking Mistake

As if Britons weren't getting fat enough, now Monsanto and other US companies have won the right to sell the GM maize crap that is in almost every sort of processed food on the market. Corn syrup, corn stabilizers, the crap is even used as a stabilizer in cow's milk.

Oh, well, we may as well all go down together. Those Europeans were just a little too snooty when only Americans were getting fat. Welcome to the club you Heffers!

I read somewhere that 35% of Bostonians were obese but I don't see many fat people in the Back Bay/Fenway/Kenmore or Beacon Hill. Seriously, where are all of these people?

Urban Chick's Guide to Healing a Broken Heart

This is one for the fridge...

Courtesy of Manhattan Transfer


An Excerpt:

You cannot preserve your heart. It's broken, it's been cut out and you can try to freeze it but it's not going to work. I was only trying to make you feel better when I said it would work again. Look. You're a drunk, you've spent money you don't have on drugs you cannot afford and you've got a bad attitude at work. Welcome to the world--we've been expecting you.

One last item...

Eurotrash lists the tops ten signs a guy is going to suck in bed but she left out a biggie:

11. He is a bad kisser.

I have only had bad sex (the kind where you say, after the breakup, "I had no idea there was such a thing as "bad sex" until now) with two guys (on different occasions!). Both of them kissed me by sticking their coated tongues down my throat and sort of massaging my teeth. Bizarre, I know, god-as-my-witness, I'll never sleep with anyone who is a bad kisser again.
The first time you think: there is no connection between sloppy kisser and the mechanical, passionate-free sex. The second time you ruminate: Hey. This guy is a bad lover and he is a worse kisser than that other guy so, might there be some connection? The third time: well, there is only a third time if you are fucking idiot who likes to torture herself by having some guy grab her breasts like baseballs (both at the same time) like some acne-scarred 16-year old. Not that I have ever been with a 16 year old. Not even when I was 16...

Just a suggestion - Satellite 7

I am loving this band. Saw them at The Middle East (not to be confused with the other Middle East) a while back and they just rock. The lead singer is easy on the eyes and the music is way better than the crap on the major radio stations in Boston.

I won't forget the little people

when I am worshipped as a Love Goddess. Thank you Free Will Astrology! All is forgiven (and by that I mean those passages in which you berated me for being lazy, etc.- I am a Lion after all. We need a lot of sleep!)


Leo

If you eventually become a millionaire philanthropist at some later date, it will probably be because of the forces you set in motion during the next three weeks. If, in the 22nd century, there arises a religious cult that worships you as a sex god or love goddess, it will be because of a seed you germinate very soon. Finally, Leo, if you are ultimately destined to discover the key to eternal youth, it will have a lot to do with the spacious new question you begin to ask now. These are days of awe and mystery.

A Must For the City Girl on-the-Go

Helpful website on dream analysis courtesy of The Morning News. For those of us who employ denial and meditation as a way the get through the day; allow your subconscious speak up!

On a much more somber note

Stories like this make me crazy for two reasons: the maintstream media ignores them and articles such as this one seems to blame the unavailability of AIDS drugs as the problem.

Cop-outs like "we-don't-have-enough-cheap-AIDS-drugs" are not helping stop the spread of AIDS. First, there is no cure for AIDS. If there was a cure, I agree that it should be made cheaply available to the entire planet but THERE IS NO CURE. Second: in 2002, at least 52,107 women South Africa were RAPED!! Forty percent of them were under 18. This is how AIDS is spreading in Africa but no one talks about it. For the love of Christ people!

Stop going on and on about gay marriage (which could be said to PREVENT the spread of AIDS) and talk about AIDS and violence against these poor women who can't defend themselves. Thank you for your support.

Take that John Kerry!

In the Onion: In an effort to avoid being called a coward in the upcoming election, Bush steps up to the plate 30 years late to defend America.

"For his sake and the sake of the nation, I hope he doesn't get shipped out."


I am also loving the juvenile but poignant: Kids in Bus Accident Mocked By Kids in Passing Bus

Not just English - Elvish

While American school children struggle to learn English and graduate from the third grade, those smarty-pants Brits have taken bilingualism to a whole new level: Elvish class.

Show-offs. Hey, we have Ebonics class here in the US so screw you! And a LOT more people speak Ebonics than Elvish so get a clue...

So that is what this is all about

I know that my clients have benefited tremendously from the weak dollar as it has increased overseas sales threefold. What I didn't realize is that, the reason I am going to get totally screwed when I go to London at the end of the month is that fucking Greenspan has been doing this to decrease the trade deficit.


Yes, I was suspicious too when the EU members were lamenting what they called a conspiracy between the US and China to devalue the US dollar and push the euro through the roof. I mean, why would anyone want to hurt US travelers and set the exchange rate at 1.88 pounds to the dollar? Am I naive or what?

Well, maybe having negative spending power in London and Paris will force to actually lose weight on this vacation. "Always look on the bright side of life!"-Monty Python (comedic troupe and members of the EU who can shop here in the US for next to nothing).

From the Grassy Knoll

So, wait a minute. According to ABC, turning lower Manhattan into a mass grave was BAD for Al Qaida and GOOD for U.S. Intelligence?

I see "Desperate-White-House-Spin" all over this. It is possible ABC is just doing some go ole' investigative journalism here but where is the news value? I hope this isn't the best Karl Rove has to offer. If so, Dubya is screwed.

Yes, I am paranoid and suspicious and you should be too.

Oh Man! I have not done any of this shit.

Just when I thought the only thing I have been faithfully blowing off was doing my taxes. Now Free Will Astrology decided to use these weeks' horoscope to berate me for slacking. What the hell kind of business are they running over there? Like I don't have enough problems trying to work through these intermittent hangovers and bouts of exhaustion brought on by insomnia, oh, who the hell cares..

Leo
Let's do a check-in, Leo. In the first eight weeks of 2004, how well have you taken advantage of the stellar wealth-building opportunities? Have you been doing the inner work necessary to increase your value? Have you unleashed your imagination in a quest to heal and supercharge your relationship with money? Have you started to lay the groundwork for the livelihood you want to be doing by March 1, 2009? It's prime time to intensify your efforts in all these tasks. P.S. I suggest that you also cultivate relationships with collaborators who can help you attract resources you'll need for a long time.

Finally: An Excuse that sounds better than, "I just love getting hammered!"

The medical community has once again made my day by helping my justify my love of vice. I am not sure I could say "not being rewarded for (my) efforts" hits the nail on the head but I am going with it.

You know that you had an amazing weekend when...

You are mildly depressed on Monday.

Apparently poring over voluminous litigation-related documents in a windowless office on a beautiful day has a tendency to bring one "down" as opposed to: closing Grendels on Friday night (after a four hour drink and gab-fest) and coming home with the email address of a hot British scholar; throwing the most rockin' party ever (unbiased review) on Saturday which culminated in dancing for 2 hours straight at the Redline in Cambridge; and spending Sunday on the Waterfront with some friends who stayed the weekend.

Oh, if you want to ensure a steady stream of e-mail in your in-box for those days when you feel a little needy: volunteer for an elected official's campaign. Since contacting the John Kerry staff about working on the campaign, not a day has gone by that I have not gotten at least 3 messages from someone over there. Thus far, I have not gone to one event but I appreciate the constant "reaching out"...I need the validation.