Journal Celebrates First Birthday; Being A-Head in Headhunting; Joy Riding; "If Winter Comes Can Spring Be Far Behind?"; Pink Tulips; Daffy About Daffs

My first entry in the journal was February 17, 1999. And one year later, I'm still around. And they said it couldn't be done! Hmpuuf! Long ago, when I started, my intent was to be very sophisticated, slightly detached and oh so literate. To be removed from the post-modern expressions of sexual orientation. To sway the proletariat by impeccable logic.

One year later, what do we have? Fart jokes. Unending details about sexual pursuits. Anti-papist rhetoric. Neo-Bolshevik ravings. Retro Freudian whining. Discussions about male genitalia. Frequent gossip about WB boys. Lust! Leather! Lumbago!

Ah! How the mighty have fallen.

I've gotten to know some very intriguing and kind souls. I've learned I'm not quite as isolated as I once thought. My problems are a "moon-cast shadow" compared to some. Onward to year II!

Of all the bizarre things to happen! I've been approached, not once but twice, this week by a headhunter. A very curious experience for me. My initial response was undiluted panic. I know how much work I spend on the current site, and I'm not sure I could do it in another setting. My approach has been very low tech. No frames or fads. This has been prompted by an attempt to cross platforms. So I really lack the truly desirable skills.

I immediately thought of the "devil you know" vs. "the devil you don't know." When I first started this job, I had a terrible time with panic attacks for several months. And there were periods, when I had no idea what I was doing. Maybe if they paid me a lot more moola, I'd consider it. Who knows?

The fourth day of new car ownership is almost over. I learn a little something new each day. Like how great it is to have brakes. With the Nova, I frequently had to resort to tossing an anvil out the back window to stop.

I've figured out how to lower the power windows but then could not figure out to close them. Took me a while to realize that you pressed the edge of the steering wheel, not the middle, to get the horn to work. Running lights are a true novelty. Wow! You can remotely adjust the passenger-side rear-view mirror. What they won't think of next.

Am completely baffled by the CD system. All those buttons. I put a CD in, hit seven or eight switches; the CD flew out the window and decapitated a low-flying buzzard. Really do need to look at the manual. Remember the adage: RTFM!

Maybe tomorrow, I can take her for a spin on the Interstate. It's easy to sense the pinned-up horsepower raring for a romp. Need to come up with a name. Aunt Agnes? Cousin Joan? Miss Muggs?

Can there really be a month of winter left? Since Monday, the temp has been in the '70s. Humid! Humid! Humid! It's like August. My windowless, basement office has been most uncomfortable. I'm not sure if the AC for the Complex has been turned on. I've never been able to figure out how it works.

When I get home, I've been turning on the AC here. In fact, as I type madly away, it is rumbling in the background. During the day, the house becomes very stuffy, so this also serves to circulate the air.

The first plants to bloom here are the tulip trees or Japanese magnolia. They indeed have blossoms that resemble pink tulips. But they only last for a few days and then are gone. The slightest rain destroys them within minutes.

Some daffodils have appeared. Or at least I think they're daffodils. I get daffs, jonquils and several other plants confused.

Daffodils remind me of the wonderful quote from Shakespeare.

"Daffodils that come before the swallow dares,
and take the winds of March with beauty."

Tune in tomorrow for important info about the response to my personal. No more tonight, I can feel the serotonin levels slipping.

PAX!