Better than Fine @ 39

Yesterday, I hit the big 3-9. It's funny how many people either offered their condolences or shared their age-fudging secrets. I don't have any hangups about growing older; never have. To me, each year adds a little more seasoning to the core of my being (in ways "good" and "less good," I'm sure) and helps me feel more rooted in both myself and the world around me.

I spurned the big-deal celebrations this year, because I had pretty much everything I needed: loving friends and family, a home away from the rabid pace of big-city life, and an adoring/adorable dog. The career's coming along as well: my freelance career is coming along (...slowly), and I'm set to teach English composition (at Armstrong Atlantic State University) next semester.

My "wild time" involved taking Lizzy to the dog park, hanging out at home in my favorite chair with the she-beast in curled in my lap, and letting the day drift by. Easily the best birthday I'd had in years (since the accident).

Featured Song: "Waltz (Better Than Fine)," Fiona Apple (from Extraordinary Machine)

Student Loan Holders Beware: "Finding Debt a Bigger Hurdle Than Bar Exam"

The New York Times story about Robert Bowman and the consequences of his difficulty managing his student loan debt gave me a chill. It's one thing to block him from purchasing a house or other credit, but to deny him admission to the New York Bar is simply insane.

I get it: He's accrued approximately $435,000 in student debt over a 26-year period--a problematic feat if ever there was one. Denying him the opportunity to practice law, however, runs counter to his repaying the loans. It would seem more sensible to allow him to practice law--a far more lucrative field than most--and garner his wages. I could even wrap my head around admittance on the condition that he pay the debt in X amount of years. But to ban him completely is just moronic.

As a student loan holder who consolidated via the federal government's William D. Ford Direct loan program, I feel fairly safe. But I think this case sets a dangerous precedent and plan to keep my eye on this case. Those of you in similar loan situations to do the same.

USPS: They Deliver, Alright!

It should be noted that the handwriting on the back of this envelope is not mine. Based on the address-related hieroglyphs ("Duffy" and "Paulsen" are streets in Savannah), I'm guessing someone at the post office saw fit to use my envelope as scrap paper. And they wonder why people pay their bills online and send important parcels with FedEx, DHL, etc. I sure don't.

Cherish the Day: Sade Returns!

Sade fans like myself have been jonesing for nearly ten years for a new album, and it seems the wait is nearly over. According to Sade's Web site, the band plans to release Soldier of Love on February 8, 2010.

No track list available yet, but from the look of the album cover, my guess is that it will address the current War on Terrorism and its effects on the human heart. Screw Thanksgiving and Christmas--I'm looking forward to February 8th!

On Pigging Out

I like bacon--especially when it comes to hamburgers. So you would think bacon-flavored envelopes would have me jumping for joy. It's certainly a better alternative than the regular stuff.

Still seven bucks is a lot to pay for 25 envelopes--especially in this economy. There's also the question of who you'd mail them to: certainly not a human resources department. And in these days of email, PDFs, and Fedex Kinko's, there aren't too many opportunities to use them.

But wait--there's more. Justin and Dave, the founders of J&D's (whose tag line is "Everything should taste like bacon.") offer bacon salt, bacon mayonnaise, bacon-flavored popcorn, and bacon-ranch dressing. And while I'm on the topic of things porcine, there's a book called Men Are Pigs, But We Love Bacon (by Michael Alvear) I've always been curious about devouring. Perhaps some day I actually will.

Notes from Insomnia: November 23, 2009--3:11 AM (EST)

I was fascinated by Erin Biba's "Amber Ale: Brewing Beer from 45-Million-Year-Old Yeast" story when I came across it in the August issue of Wired Magazine. The beer was an interesting aside; I was more taken with amber and the idea of resurrecting dormant things.

As the list of entries show, I've been delinquent in posting. Some of it I attributed to the psychological dislocation involved with moving to Savannah, Georgia; the rest I think was the result of the aftermath of the accident--the life I lived before it seeming so long ago and inaccessible. I survived the accident, the surgery, physical therapy--for which I'm extremely grateful--but have been at a loss in terms of direction.

Which is why the notion of amber resonated so profoundly with me. The task of sifting through my psyche for chunks of insight started overwhelming me to the point where I found it difficult to express my thoughts with words--something I've never had a problem with before. Words have always been my refuge--my way of making sense of the incomprehensible. Last month marked my 20-year anniversary of writing seriously, and I...let it pass without commemorating it in the ways I felt I should have.

Though my words (and posts) have been few, my experiences these past nearly ten months have been many. I think that, like Dr. Cano (the Wired story's protagonist), I've been trying to figure out what to do with my findings. He was lucky enough to come up with a new beer. Me, I'm working on a special brew of my own. Until I bring it to fruition, I guess I'll keep tinkering with words--on pages real and virtual instead of keeping them locked inside my head.

Veteran's Day

Today being Veteran's Day, I thought it important to thank all of the US soldiers--and families--who serve and have served this country. I commend you all on your bravery, endurance, and strength of character. For that, and so many other reasons, I salute you.

Today in History: November 11

Blogging in the Streets: Live from Tehran

Being on the streets of Tehran these days is brave enough; blogging from them is...unfathomable, so I have to give props to the folks at Revolutionary Road for today's post.

Discovery Health's "Strange Sex"

We live in a world with a syndrome for just about everything. I don't want to make fun of Discovery Health's Strange Sex program without having watched it, but I worry that it leaves itself ripe for the abusing. And mockery: It's hard to hear a doctor refer to a condition (P-GAD) as "Tourette's syndrome of the genitals" and not want to roll the eyes.

That said, my heart--fickle beast that it is--goes out to the sufferers and their partners.