What's changed since then? On the job front, sadly, not much. I thought I had one there for a couple of days last week, but it didn't work out. Don't ask me what happened; it's all very confusing. With this latest defeat and lots of other personal issues, it's been tough lately to keep my chin up. Let's talk about other things instead, though. Someone told me today that I'm good at having a glass-is-half-full perspective, so here we go as I try to make him proud & prove him right.
Today:
- I had dinner with Sam, who was passing through on her way south. This is particularly good because she's one of a very few people who know me and understand me so thoroughly that I never have to put on a false happy face or worry that she'll take everything I say the wrong way.
- My roommate told me that the crack in my windshield shouldn't prevent my car from passing inspection, since it's on the passenger side. I have to research this, but for today at least, I'm putting it in the "good things" column.
- I got an invitation in the mail from my friend Chip, to his police academy graduation. It's really awesome to see someone I care about fulfill a dream. I'm so proud of him and touched that my presence there is important to him.
- I've also been invited to join a group of people from Form & Function Festival for a meet/greet/dinner/funtime next month. I'm really excited to be getting to know some great people to work for things that matter.
- When I got bad news today, I didn't have to bear it alone. People were there for me, reminding me that no matter how bad it gets, I'll never look to my corner of the arena and find it empty.
- I did work 2 days, so that means a little bit of income.
- My post about the time I didn't recognize Dashboard Confessional earned me a nod from 30Threads and some pleasant conversation from Ginny, who also added me to their blogroll. That was nice.
- My friend the Music Fascist scored a couple of tickets to see the Rosebuds, Lost in the Trees, and Midtown Dickens at the Golden Belt in Durham. It was a really great show, full of positive energy, talented people, and quality music. The taco van out front also deserves a mention, as I'm certain those were the best tacos I've ever had. Many thanks to the MF for loaning me the $5 so I didn't have to walk the half mile to the nearest ATM.
- I visited friends and family in Virginia Beach.
- I learned that another friend got a new job and is really excited about it.
- I simultaneously decluttered my life a little and made a few people happy by shipping extraneous copies of CD's to friends. As glad as I am to have shelf space back, it brings me no end of joy that I can put a smile on a friend's face.
- I got to visit New York City, see the Toxic Avenger musical, do some window shopping with my mom, and spend a day with a friend who took a train down from Albany to see me.
- The MF and I went to the Odessa Records launch party, mostly to see The Kingsbury Manx, who rocked the Cradle as expected. Not only did the band play a great set, but I won the doorprize: a test-press of the new record, which I got the band to sign. The MF had introduced me to one of the guys in the band a few times, and I'd met him at CD Alley a couple of times, so when he told me he was really glad I was the one who'd won the record, I got a kick out of it. Oh, and at the party, there was really good cake.
- I had a birthday, and was spoiled rotten by my friends and family. Melissa designed & had printed a book of my poetry, a gift that really touched my heart. Elwood (in addition to the early unbirthday present a couple of months ago) sent me a mini-me, a Baroness doll, which is a gift most apropos from a toy master himself. My mom indulged my addiction to House, M.D. with season 1 on dvd. Chip always finds the perfect gift to make me feel like a kid again, and like it's cool to be a total nerd. And those are just the beginning, floating atop countless emails, text messages, tweets, and Facebook greetings, letting me know that I am loved.
- I did a guest blog at Pointless Banter.
