I don't want to get into the ring

E-word,

And like that, I'm out. Forget that junk.

Love,

Toe

I could easily sell myself

E-word,

And now I have a facebook page. ta da!

I didn't fill anything out. It still freaks me out, but courage, dammit. Courage.

Love,

Toe

ps. we'll see how long this lasts until I freak the hell out.

People who believe are losers.

E-word,

And to respond to your thoughts on facebook- I am against facebook for similar reasons, and then some. I don't have a facebook, I have an old friendster account that isn't used, and I find that I really just don't want to 'connect' with people via those means, really. Like, what the hell is wrong with people who are addicted to facebook, or whatever?

I thought about it some more, and lately I'm starting to think that it's not other people that are the problem, but it's me who is the problem. You know what I'm saying? If everyone else is doing it (facebook), happily 'updating' away or whatever, maybe I'm the problem, and not them. Maybe I need to catch up with the times, or something.

My brother was telling me the advantages of having facebook, like I can keep up on my cousins lives or whatever, but when it comes down to it, what the fuck do I care? What particular detail do I require about their lives that'll enrich my life so much, or even enrich our relationship? I mean, it's great that your kid had his first birthday, or that your wife got her PhD, or you moved to Egypt or whatever the fuck, but in what way does that 'connect' us? Like, now I 'know' you because you moved to fucking Cairo, like I now have some insight or deeper friendship because I keep up with you on your motherfucking facebook?

These connections seem so shallow. Just because we're connecting more doesn't mean there is any more value to our connections. Let's take an example. You are a freelance editor living on the prairie with your beautiful wife, and you work hard everyday. That's a synopsis, maybe of what would be on your facebook page (I think? I'm not sure how these work). Does that tell me that you spent Friday night drinking and playing guitar and wondering what the fuck you're doing with your life, how you'd rather just fondle your wife's tits than work another hour ever? It's like, you don't really know someone, like, what the fuck. I dunno, maybe I'm being cynical.

And then I guess if you do share your thoughts in a personal kind of way, what the fuck is wrong with you that you're going to share your innermost thoughts with people who will most likely just take advantage of you or laugh at you or think you're overwrought or whatever?

Man, do I need a fucking chill pill right now. That said, if you get a facebook account, I'll get one too.

Love,

Toe

This is a song for losers

E-word,

I've been writing- I'm going to keep my fifty bucks, and finish a short story by March 15th. I hope you've been writing, too- I'm keeping you to that fifty bucks!

Things have been odd lately. We should talk sometime soon- there are some things I want to talk to you about that I don't necessarily want to write about, I guess things that are just more familial, if that makes sense. I mean, things are in the big picture okay. I'm not getting a divorce or anything like that.

I am thankful for a few things; I'm glad I still have a job! It's definitely not something I can take for granted. Engineers are getting hammered across the board. How many engineers do you need if the economy is not making things? The car and plane industry are getting hammered, and I imagine that the satellite industry can't be faring too well either.

Anywho, I'm going to update more often, I promise.

Take care, my brotha,

Toe

The best offense is a good defense

Toe,
I am not sure you should be offended by Jennay's question. I think it might have been mis-worded, or she meant it jokingly. I don't know. Maybe she hopes you are not still married so you might be available to go out for a drink without it being weird. Who knows?

I have had too much coffee and am typing like a loon, and possibly thinking like one.

I like your idea about keeping each other honest about writing. It's a deal: Let's write a story by the date you say, and if one of us does not meet the deadline, he owes $50 to the other.

I have not much to report. I have been going to the gym again fairly regularly, am trying to cut back on the drinking, and am focusing on my work.

I am also actively resisting opening a face book account--dude, people are pressuring me. And by people, I mean my wife. Apparently old friends of mine are friends with her now on face book, and she doesn't want to have to be the go-between for updates to them. I am sorry, but I refuse to get sucked into the madness. I am a private person. It is hard enough for me to reveal things on a semi-anonymous blog like this, never mind a page with my name on it.

So, that's my old-man rant for the day. It's a cloudy, cold, windy day here in the flatlands, and I need to get to work. Hope you are well--I will try to call you soon.
Love,
E-word

And the license said you had to stick around until I was dead

E-word,

And Jennay asked me if I was still married. Should I be offended by that?

Love,

Toe

Third verse, same as the first

E-word,

I can understand the dry spells our log has- life goes on and on, and there will be times when maybe we don't want to record what's on our minds or are just pre-occupied. That said, is there a way that we can keep one another honest about other writing? Like, can we set a deadline and maybe set a punitive fine ($50?) for not meeting the deadline? Seriously. I don't know how else I can do something that I want to do but don't always find motivation for. Like, say we start a short story now, the second your read this posting, and we have until March 15 to complete it. I know it's artificial, but everyone can use a kick in the ass once in a while.

***

Since El isn't working right now, our income has dropped pretty significantly. In a way it sucks, but man, we're getting so much back in taxes it makes me a little dizzy. Last year we owed thousands, and this year we're getting back thousands. We're even getting a rebate(!) check from last year for making so much less. I'm definitely seeing motivation for making less money. I know that sounds silly, but I realize that once El gets a job again, we have to make sure that our net income is below a certain amount, and our taxable income is even lower.

***

We're doing okay here. Life seems to be passing us by, but I hope that is temporary. I hope that you and C-L are well. Also, in really random news, Jennay works for my company. (!) She started just recently. Small world.

Love,

Toe

Prairie Snow

Toe,
It's been a while. I am doing well. We went on a nice walk this past weekend in a grasslands reclamation area, a place where they are recreating the prairie as it once was. I took a photo at the end of our long hike. It was a warmish-day--up to 32 degrees--which made it pretty nice to be out. We're down to 0 degrees this morning, so temps have been all over the continuum of winter here.

I don't really have much new to report. I've been working, trying to prevent myself from being downsized or whatever you might call it. News is not good all over, but I think my job is stable at this point.

Still no word on when I might be coming out there. I hope to soon.

So, how are the steelcut oats working out? I just had some this morning, and I have to say, they are quite nice. I usually don't go to the trouble to cook them on weekdays, but I ran out of my quicker cooking oats, so I had to this morning. It was either that or cold cereal, which I don't find nearly as satisfying.

Anyway, I'm down with the oatmeal. Hope you and E are doing well. Drop a post sometime.
Love,
E-Word