A couple of new images on the right. Hope you like them.

It's been a few days, so let me bring you up to speed...

We're sending the couch back. Too many flaws in it. They're picking it up tomorrow. Now, Kathy won't take a couch unless it's actually one she sees on a showroom floor.

Last night, Kathy tried to pay her credit card online. Unfortunately, she had to register online in order to do that, and every time she tried to do so, she got a message saying that the name she chose was already taken; even seemingly untaken names like "katherinetruett". Finally, out of frustration, she typed "fuckyoubastard" in the username window and hit enter.

So now, she's known as "fuckyoubastard" to the credit card industry. I won't even go into her password. :)

In happier news, I finally got the "Pearl Jam: Touring Band 2000" DVD. No footage from Atlanta (the concert I attended), but plenty of good stuff, including videos for "Do the Evolution" and "Oceans". A definite must-see if you're a PJ fan. Probably not worth your while if you're into Lawrence Welk, though.

I'm sitting here at the Blackfriars listeining to Karla Bonoff play on our stage. Tomorrow, it's back to normal as we present the opening night of Richard III. Hey, it's a living. Celebrity Alert! Aside from Karla, we were graced by the presence of Robin and Linda Williams, who you may have heard on A Prairie Home Companion, and who will be playing here themselves in November

Kathy's friend Loretta is visiting us from NC. She's on her way to New Jersey to visit a sick parent. Our fist official houseguest since we moved here. Isn't that delightful? Hmmm?

Sorry, had to throw a little Marvin the Martian in there.

Oh, and we got our new couch in, finally! Haven't had a chance to test it and see how it sleeps, yet, but time will tell. We have a blanket on it until we can get a slipcover shipped in for it. Gotta keep the cat hair off it, y'know. LOL

Anyway, that's all from this end. Hope the day's going well for whoever you are over there.;)

Here it is, one year, 365 days, 52 weeks... and I feel many of the feelings that I had when I lived through this last year.

As I mentioned, I started feeling the weight of the anniversary yesterday as I drove to work. It dissipated thanks to the ticket I got for speeding (see below), but it came back with a vengeance as I watched NBC last night.

There were interviews with survivors and relatives of victims of the attacks, and one of the interviews was with a widow who had been on the phone with her husband as the north tower collapsed. As she told of how they spent the last moments saying "I love you" over and over, I kept squeezing Kathy's hand and thinking of what would have happened if I had been in that building, assured of dying, and talking with my beloved but unable to touch her in my last moments. I cried for a good while afterwards.

This morning, I came to work and rolled into Staunton about 8:35am. While I was on the interstate, I tried listening to John Boy and Billy, as I did when I woke up one year earlier, but I couldn't take it. Instead I switched over to the more sober goings-on on NPR. When I parked in the municipal garage, I went out walking.

It was quiet in town, and I walked a couple of blocks towards the Presbyterian church. At 8:46 the church bells began to ring, a tolling that I always associated with funerals. They went on for more than a minute, then went silent. After a few more seconds of near silence, the stillness was broken by a bugler playing "taps". I hurriedly walked in the direction of the bugle and found it, on the campus of Mary Baldwin College. What looked like the entire campus was gathered around the half-staff flagpole, obvously observing the events of a year ago.

I know there were some people who were saying that they would not be pausing, mourning and observing this day, remarking that the best thing to do is to "live life normally". However, I think the best thing we could do today as Americans was just exactly what we did. Some of us remebering the dead, some of us doing the work of the living. This is one thing I love about this nation; the fact that we could mark this anniversary however we chose, or choose not to.

God bless America,

Clint

Here it is the eve of the first anniversary of September 11th, and I can feel the weight of it upon my shoulders. I feel as if I need to write something thoughtful and reflective on it, but I may wait until later to do it.

On my way to work this morning, I got stopped for speeding (48 in a 25). The officer said that I was speeding through a school zone, but I don't remember any lights flashing as I was going through. Grrrrr! I'm contesting this, so help me!

Okay, without further ado, the Friday Five...

1. What is your biggest pet peeve? Why?


My biggest pet peeve is people who don't use turn signals. Plain and simple.

2. What irritating habits do you have?


Ask my fiancee! LOL

3. Have you tried to change the irritating habits or just let them be?


I've tried, but so far, it hasn't been succesful.

4. What grosses you out more than anything else? Why?


The sight of excrement. I don't know why, but it just triggers a gag reflex in me, and I get really queasy.

5. What one thing can you never see yourself doing that other people do?


I don't know.

And again...

Okay, I'm gonna give this another try. Let's see if I can post without worry...

Posting on the range...