It happened again today. And it was in public. Man, was it mortifying, though it's probably one of those things where you're hypersensitive to it and you probably read way more into it than anyone else around you did and you're worried about being shunned for no apparent reason. I was having a conversation with a co-worker, I opened my mouth to say something, and my father spoke. His words and voice and inflection and everything. As soon as it happened, the resounding shriek shot through my head: "You did not just say that." And then I thought to myself, "Goddammit, I'm too young for this. This is the kind of thing that's not supposed to happen until I'm married and have kids and I'm dealing with them in the same ways my parents dealt with me." I know we all hate certain ways that our parents brought us up and we swear on Everything That's Holy that we will not raise our kids like we were raised, but sooner or later, that latent programming kicks in and we become possessed with the spirit of our parents. But dammit, I thought it'd be a long while before I was possessed by my parents. Hell, I'm not even remotely close to being married, why am I channeling my parents now? So when was the first time you realized you were channeling one of your parents, and did you immediately follow up what you said with, "Oh my Gawd, I can't believe I just said that, that's something my mom/dad used to say"?

So after the disaster that was last night and then five fitful hours of sleep leading up to a 14-hour workday, I woke up and saw a giant bug the size of my thumb running across my floor. I promptly whacked it to death using a nearby copy of Maxim (is there anything that magazine can't do?) and flushed it down the toilet. Okay, so God is infesting my place with locusts. I know one of the Ten Plagues when I see it. In the words of Chevelle, "Wonder what's next?"

[to the tune of "Sunday Bloody Sunday"] Monday, sucky Monday... Okay. So I had intended to use this space as a rant to talk about how someone at work told me today that for the first time that he can remember, the top 4 songs on the Adult Contemporary music charts (think your local "Mix" station) were all cover songs, and I was going to rampage on about how there's absolutely no originality and creativity in American culture today, especially given this and the fact that this summer has the dubious distinction of producing the most sequels yet, and everyone seems to just be copying proven material without thinking of any solid original stuff on their own. Then I got home from the gym to find an e-mail thanking me for trying out for the singing group, but I didn't have the range they were looking for -- they wanted someone with a bit higher range -- and thanks for my efforts, but no thanks. The fact that they didn't take anyone from this round of auditions is only a small consolation. Then I found the cable box had reset itself for some unknown reason, and instead of taping the episode of Family Guy I had wanted to see and relax and decompress to, my VCR taped a half-hour of black nothing. Then I got an e-mail back from a very old and formerly very close friend telling me she was declining my invitation to go with me to the KROQ Weenie Roast this year (we went together last year). When I found her online, we had a heated discussion... well, heated on my side, at least... in which she basically and literally -- without explanation -- told me she'd been a horrible friend over the past year or so, I should just write her off and let her go and not consider her a friend anymore. I'm just waiting for the call from my doctor to tell me that he's discovered I have some rare and deadly disease and that I only have a few months to live. Either that, or it'll be my boss telling me I don't need to come into work tomorrow... or anymore, for that matter, because I'm being laid off. Because those are the only steps I can see occurring from this point.

Had a great time yesterday with Fran and Wendy, though we were a little sad the fourth member of the Fearless Foursome wasn't there. Fran's dad is a great chef and I have leftovers to allow me to enjoy the experience today and tomorrow as well. Unfortunately, the cold is taking its toll and going out and running errands drained me, not to mention the fact that last night's NyQuil is keeping me slightly groggy. So, without further ado and just before I collapse, here's my Most Listened To Song O' The Week... Finch - "Letters To You" Can't you see that I wanna be There with open arms It's empty tonight and I'm all alone Get me through this one Do you notice I'm gone? Where do you run to, so far away I want you to know that I miss you I miss you so I'm writing again these letters to you Aren't much I know But I'm not sleeping and you're not here The thought stops my heart Do you notice I'm gone? Where do you run to, so far away I want you to know that.. I miss you I miss you so...