(this is) durkin.org

Get a load of this… I am speechless for several reasons - 1) since when is cheerleading a sport? 2) just because princess doesn’t make the squad, you don’t get to sue 3) this is why people hate lawyers. And cheerleaders. Give me a break.

But enough about that.

Max talked about a former professor the other day, and while I never had Dr. Ley as a teacher, he did say one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard - “Reciprocity is very good.” I’m not sure why, but it cracks me up whenever I think about it.

Two years ago this weekend, Mary Reed and I took possession of our house. Wow. Happy Anniversary, House. Today is also Miles Davis’ birthday. He would have been 75.

More later. My unofficial duties in tech support have just kicked in.

1. When people enter the line at the Post Office, pass you while you are pre-filling out your Express Mail envelope [because 1) you have been there before and know what to do or 2) you are not an idiot and can read the directions on the HUGE poster on the wall] and then are told by the cashier to go back, get an envelope, fill it out and then come back *without waiting in line again*. I mean really, that just makes me burn. Here I am, filling out my forms and these old biddies, who probably are *NOT* out on their lunch break anyway, but still cut on me in line and then expect to just come back in whenever? I don’t think so. [By the way, I consider myself to have been IN LINE the entire time I was filling out the paperwork. Just so you know, and can share in my sense of indignation and righteous outrage.]
2. People who refuse to wait in line to exit or merge on the Interstate. Instead, these cool people speed ahead in the neighboring lane, then turn on their blinkers at the last second and jerk right in front of some unsuspecting, rules-of-the-road-abiding individual. I hate them. Hate, hate, hate.
3. Snot-nosed shits at music festivals. Not just the kind Beau was talking about, and not just the young ones. Birmingham’s City Stages ran into some weather troubles on Sunday night [coincidentally, the very night that MR and I were volunteering at the main gate], and the festival was shut down due to thunderstorms. We asked everyone to leave, and then spent the next several hours getting yelled at, almost run over, yada, yada, yada. As one other volunteer asked, “Why should I fuck off? The rain is not my fault.” Sigh.

And here are the results of week one of Weight Watchers. I am pleased that I lost weight, although I am disappointed in the amount. I guess the wedding rehearsal dinner, reception, and post party, not to mention the crap we ate at City Stages did some damage. [And, this week I came straight from work, wearing a suit, whereas last week I had time to go home and change into shorts and a t-shirt...laugh if you will, but clothes add to it. I've watched folks remove many layers before stepping on the scales at these meetings...]

Weigh In: 221.2 lbs. -1.4 lbs.

So - lost weight is good. Cutting in line is bad. Losing more weight will be better. Right now work is very busy. Gotta run.

This article from the New York Times paints an amazing picture of small town Alabama, or anywhere, life after a major plant closing… When the movie is made from this really rather touching piece, I hope that Bruce Springsteen, John Cougar Mellencamp and Billy Joel get the nods.

Somehow, I have neglected to mention the Weight Watchers news. Yes, we are back. Now, I know that not everyone likes Fergie, and that’s fine. I don’t really like her myself. But I have to give props to the program, because it does work. I just didn’t quite take it to heart is all. Now, however, I am on board all the way. I don’t have expectations of becoming super-skinny, but I do want to lose a good 30 pounds - maybe 32, just to make it an even 190. Then we will reevaluate at that point.

So there, I’ve stated it publicly [sort of], and now the onus is on me to produce. Weigh in is every Monday night [unless our grueling social schedule demands that we get a different night on occasion...right] and I will keep you all posted.

Whether you want to know or not. In that spirit, here is this week’s information:

Weigh In: 222.6 lbs.

According to WW, I should weigh 177. I just don’t know about that, but we’ll see how this goes. In other news… Well, there isn’t any other news.

Day two in a row…looks like I could be on to something here. But I’ll try not to get ahead of myself too much. We’ll just see how this goes…

Exciting news for Birminghamians - Publix is coming! Birmingham is the home of Bruno’s, and for a long time it has seemed as though some sort of gentleman’s agreement has kept Publix out of town, but apparently those days are gone. Thank God. I mean, I like Bruno’s as much as the next person, but I just can’t afford to shop there. Publix, however, that is something entirely different.

Hmm, a Target and a Publix. Birmingham’s looking up these days…

Perhaps I’m really back now.

I’m not sure… I am settling into the new job, and loving it, so that much is great.

Actually, everything is pretty great right now, so I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining. Cause I’m not.

I do need to wish a big ole happy birthday to my brother - Peter. I didn’t almost forget, I just can’t believe its already May 14th. Damn.

I was thinking the other day of buying a domain for this page, but couldn’t think of a URL I’d like… I thought that localandfree.org [the tag line of a friend's newspaper in Destin, Florida] was pretty fun, but then I’d get hits from pron-seekers [not that that's a bad thing, its just not what we're into here], or durkinfarm.org [due to the incredibly high number of pets at the Durkin household, but I don't know. Hmmm, what do you think?

Actually, you probably have better things to think about, don't you? World peace, ending hunger, wondering why the UN would want to take over Alabama [really, read to the fourth paragraph], yada, yada, yada.