I'm going camping!

After months of waiting to scratch my itch - after months of dreaming of pine needles and rocks and masturbating to Man Vs. Wild, the time is right and I'm going to spend a night camping.

True, the entire family (and then some) spent several days at Lake Camanche recently. It was good fun, but didn't quite satisfy my need. Hopefully an overnighter alone on a non-weekend night will do the trick.

I haven't got much of a plan, but I intend to spend Thursday night at Board's Crossing (because it's free and far enough away), and check out some hiking trails above it during daylight hours. Beyond that, who knows?

My back hurts

It's been a long week, fully permeated with moving heavy shit around. It seems like everyone I know has something that no longer belongs where it is. My father-in-law had over 100 bales of hay that needed loading and unloading. I had a quickie job interview that saved me from the loading, but the unloading waited for me and the others tricked into indentured servitude.

Not only did my father-in-law have a hundred bales, the next day, his friend had another hundred the next day! Let me tell you, if slaving for another makes you feel like a whore, just try being passed around to someone's pals!

Then, my wife's (and my) friend decided to move! Luckily, she only owns enough material goods to bulge the seams of a one-room apartment, so our one trip from origin to destination was a big chunk of the overall job. Unluckily, when we arrived at the destination, there was loads of painting, moving and other finish work to be done to prepare the new place for human habitation! Lovely!

Add that to the dozens of bales of hay that needed moving down the hill and over yonder here at home, and you've got a spine that makes your chiropractor wince and question your lifestyle.

On the other hand:

Even as jealously as I guard my time (think "Gollum" from Lord of the Rings), I don't regret it a bit. My father-in-law, his buddy and my wife's and my friend have never failed to be there when we needed them. It was gratifying to help out when the call came. Plus, it's not like I had to take off work or something.

I better get going - I hear my Dad may be moving soon...

Clerical job, feeling a bit down

I am applying for a Clerk gig today. One of these things has got to hit soon. I can't go on not working, not contributing to the household. Web design and other fantasies are just the shits, opportunities appear teasingly from the haze, and then evaporate.

It's frustrating - people tell me occasionally how bright they think I am. I'll admit, now & then, I agree. I'm grateful for the encouragement, but I have a lot of trouble achieving results to prove that praise valid. A full-time job, getting paid what I'm worth and achieving the occasional success would go a long way.

Right now, it's pretty meager, and I've got to start putting something in the tank. This is getting ridiculous.