I was spoiled by hills and trees

Well, at least there was a slightly shorter delay between posts this time. A brief explanation. This blog was first started when I created a 'blogger' account to post to another (more frequently updated) blog. I subsequently forgot I had started it until the beginning of the Fall 06 semester, when I was bored in a computer lab, trying to kill time before an orientation meeting. Now, I'm bored in a computer lab, trying to kill time before my department meeting. Now that I remember my password, maybe I'll actually start posting regularly. But probably not.

Why, you might ask, am I in a lab instead of just using the barely-functional laptop I 'inherited'? Genius that I am, I decided it would be good to get exercise and walk to campus for my meetings today. After all, I tell myself, it's only a few minutes' drive, it can't be that far. Well, distances seem much farther when it's 20 degrees with the gale force wind pushing against me. While it seemed to take forever, I now have 25 minutes to kill (I left most of my books back at the motel).

Now, an update from the last time I posted:

1) I did not get an RV. Nor did I find a cot for my office (I did, however, find a nice clock at the $1 bin at Wal-Mart). I was able to find a decently cheap hotel that would settle on $33 a night with complimentary breakfast (woo-hoo government milk and off-brand cereal) that's right down the street from campus. Plus, the hotel gets HBO, so I've been watching the older seasons of ROME (not nearly as many orgies as I had expected). As expected, it's much better than sleeping on the floor of my buddy's apartment.

2) I did get a laptop, but not from the Toronado trade (more on that later). My younger sister decided she wanted a desktop, since her laptop was 'broken.' Turns out the laptop was just crippled with every single spyware program ever created, along with 3 different copies of Gator. It has a few minor malfunctions (one USB port is broken, the built-in mousepad sucks), but it's allowed me to type many papers while reading ESPN.com in my office.

3) No No-Doz sponsorship. I've switched brands to Vivarin (about 75 cents cheaper), which tastes like salt. On the plus side, I was able to get an online teaching assignment for the summer, which should cut down on my commute significantly.

4) no shirts - me am sad

4 1/2) Finally got rid of the Tornado (Goodwill towed it away while I sobbed), and replaced it with a dog (hereafter referred to as "the dog"), which shares several similarities with the big O: both are white, seem like they're winking at me, and leak transmission fluid onto the driveway.

Over X-Mas break, I got to spend a lot of time with the dog, and I learned several things that the dog does not like:
-When I hold her over the urinal/toilet/kitchen sink and threaten to give the dog a swirlie
-When I put the dog on my head, and walk around, pretending she is a stovepipe hat and I am Abe Lincoln
-When I put the dog in her crate, then sit in front of the crate and eat Skyline (I've only done this once, because I was raining outside, so the dog couldn't go out; plus, I had recorded Venture Bros. on Tivo and wanted to watch it)
-When I throw a towel or blanket over the dog's head and laugh as she runs blindly into furniture/walls
-When I pick her hind legs up off the floor and scream "Franklin Delano Roosevelt Dog!"

And the wife wonders why nothing gets done around the house when I'm home alone.