Dow Chemical's prices are going up by 25%.

Lowe's is increasing prices. That's because the housing market is in a slump and people are selling for 17% under market value (on average).

Peanut Butter in Hawaii costs $7.95.

UPS charges are nuts.

By January 2009 it is predicted that the US unemployment rate will be up to 6%.

Blah.

A Few Things ...

First, I’ve been thinking a lot about marriage vows. This one is popular: “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live”. This in turn leads me to think about divorce. I’ve been really curious about why or why not certain marriages end and why some work out. I wonder a lot about what the people were feeling, what their thought process was – at the beginning, in the middle, at the end. Maybe it’s the amount of people I know getting back together with their ex. Which is interesting because I’m finding that I’m ridiculously accepting? Or maybe it was the 5 days I spent vacationing with Casey’s Dads side of the family. I wondered what it’d be like if I had ended up divorced with two boys, the one on the other side of all of this. It’d be extremely hard and I think I understand some fears now that I didn’t before. On the other hand sometimes staying in a bad marriage or relationship can be just as damaging for the parties involved so it remains a grey area. It’s just been on my mind.

Secondly, I’m going through another one of those semi weird life changes. I’m got some interesting things going on with work. I’m moving yet again, which is proving to be a forced cleansing process.

Third, the American economy is awful and unemployment is going up up up. But more about that later.

Broad River 06/07/08

Besides playing around in a kayak on Clark Hill lake as a counselor at summer camp, i admit i've never been down a river in one of the things.

I heard about the Broad River a while back from an ex-boyfriend who described his fun drunken experience to me and explained that I wouldn't be tough enough to handle it. He mentioned something about splitting my head open on a rock or not wanting me to go because I wasn't in that great of shape. I'm 103 pounds now and was admittedly around 7 pounds heavier at the time. Anyway, as I easily paddled my way down I and II class rapids past tipsy groups of college kids I found myself thinking about all of this.

Nevertheless the experience was a fun one. 7 of us went out. I jumped off a rickety 10 foot wooden driving board. I think I've caught the kayaking bug.

Location : Broad River - Danielsville, GA

Load In Location: Broad River Outpost
7911 Wildcat Bridge Rd
State Road 281
Danielsville, GA 30633

Distance: 6.5 Miles

Time: 4.5 hours (with 3 stops)

Rapid Class: I and II



next stop ... Outerbanks, North Carolina .... week of June 16th

fake embroidery

good try cafe press.

I was going to write a story about an ant that worked too hard and got buried under the weight of a load that he could not carry alone, but I think you get the picture.

It's 5:06 and I'm hiding out in my office. I don't really feel much like moving from my desk. I've got a headache and I feel a little worn down. I've always had a battle with taking things too much to heart or too personal.

Maybe I just need a genie or a 4 leaf clover. I vote genie.

Life is pretty damn hard and a bit disappointing. I know somewhere out there is a good cause just waiting for me to embrace it or an outlet to pour all my fustration into. I'll be searching.

It's Hard To Get Outta Town ...

1. The water pump in Casey's jeep messed up, but we thought it was the fan belt which we tried to
fix for 2 hours.
2. Kendra had to work until midnight
3. Popcorn climed a tree around 1 AM

I guess those 3 things don't seem like a big deal but at the time life seemed nuts.

Bangs

Bangs as of tomorrow. eek.

Here I sit with no cell phone trying to file Casey's tax extension. Seriously, I have no clue what I am doing, but somehow I've become the person who 'handles things'.

Sun, Sand & Isolated T-Stroms.

Tonight I leave for a much needed beach vacation - hooray!
I'm packing up the Jeep and somehow fitting Casey, Elliott, Kendra & Phil in too.

As my luck goes, there is rain in the forecast, but that is A-OKAY.

Birthday Weekend

Overall things were great.

Friday night I was wasted, wasted, wasted. I asked to close out my tab twice and tried sell t-shirts to the guys from camel cigarettes. The entire night I was lost in a state of drunken bliss. All was right with the world.

The next morning I found myself still drunk. I had a slight panic attack. Casey is pretty good about things when I have panic attacks. Thankfully, my parents were late coming into town. We ate @ Red Lobster. My niece and brother came up too. They gave me a rad record/ cd/ cassette / radio device.

Kendra bought ballons and some awesome party hats. The party hats ended up downtown on random strangers later.

After my parents left (I was able to keep my brother in Athens with me), a bunch of friends came over to the apartment. I made sloppy joes & grilled hot dogs. Drank bloody marys and wine. Bounced around and talked to people. Then we went to max canada and to a dance party.

The next day we decided the remedy to our hangovers was The Grit. It was way too crowed so we went to Clocked. It was just as good.

Pretty typical weekend in Athens, but a good one nevertheless.

Ah, Freak Out!

The past few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for me. I've gone from feeling like I'm at the top of my game to feeling as if I've been kicked in the teeth, slapped in the face and then thrown from a moving car. I've been too drunk and too sober.

the best policy is...

honesty.

'un' employed.

unemployed -

adj.

1. out of work, jobless
2. not being used, idle


I've come up with a new idea for a book.
The title will be Unemployed with the UN titled on its side. The cover, I believe, should be red.

So many of my friends are in this situation right now. Although busy doing side projects and what not, the government would mark them as unemployed. Other friends of mine are simply idle. I think everyone experiences a period of 'in between' at some time or another too.

It'll be a series of fictional (although based on fact) experiences had by several characters. Some may intersect, some may not. It'll be a good read for those that are unemployed or in an idle life state. Tips will be offered but more important than that, it'll be humorous and comforting.

Should be fun to write.

It's Now.

My cousin died today. We aren't sure how yet. He was 28 years old, the same age as my brother. It's a shock to the entire family.

I'm not sure if I'm just getting older, but death seems to be in the air. I’ve come to a lot of realizations as of late, but now I’m forced to face my own morality. A friend once looked me in the eye and said “you never know when you’re going to die, so enjoy each moment, each place, each relationship.” It’s simple, but true. We spend so much time planning, worrying and saving for the future that we never stop to think there might not be much of one. Being completely negligent of the responsibilities that the future may hold would be idiotic, yes, but I do wonder if we put too much stock in it. I guess I'm just saying we should do more living than we do and not get so wrapped up in our nit picky little bullshit.

Rest In Peace Ben. I'm sure we were more alike than we will ever know.