It's a crushing weight; I can literally feel shoulders pulled down. And it's a specific feeling - it's not a typical depression, or stress. This is an ominous sludge that I can't help but walk through. It's like I can feel it pulling me along and into its maw. I know of two moments in my life that I've felt this before, and if they're any indication... well, something wicked this way comes. Do I think I'm psychic? No, of course not.

Spent the past weekend with my father and brother and Amy (or is it Aimee?) in the far north. Brought Elizabeth with us because she would be spending the next few days with Papaw and Nanna (the designated nicknames for her paternal grandparents). We surprised Dad with a Blu-Ray player and The Dark Knight, and for those who may have missed it, I take it back, I was wrong, movies in HD are god damned sexy. Now, the gift I was expecting was the Logitech G15 keyboard, and I'm very happy with it. I'm also very happy for my Dr. Pepper pajama bottoms, which are full of win.

Christmas 2008 was spent working. And driving. A lot.

Now, there's a precursor to all of this that you need to be aware of: my cell phone does not make outgoing calls. I can receive them just fine, but I can't dial out. It could be that it was dropped into a lake, or took damage in some fall from an amusement park ride, or was too close to a solar flare, or I just didn't pay my bill this month. I'm sure it was one of those.

Let's hit this in chronological order, shall we?

Vickie and I had come into a bit of 'imaginary' cash, and we decided we needed a good break from the rigors of Minimal Spending to which we've been slave to for the past couple months. When work ended on Friday, she met me here and we went to the mall to do some window shopping and Father's Day gift-hunting. I was ecstatic to see that Spencer's carries the nerd-popular Airzooka, and will likely own one in the very near future.