Already 10:45PM, not tired yet, two beers into what could be three or four. Don't know how much sleep I'll manage. I had to deal with one too many ass clowns today. "Ass clowns". I love that phrase.

10 Bullet Post! Here we go!

* I've been doing better with staying calm and keeping the snakes off my heart. Today was rough, though. I know how easy one can fall off the path, how I can grit my teeth again, constantly, and forget how to breathe, in the wrong circumstances. The last week of the semester at a university...that's the wrong circumstance. One more day, then the waves should start breaking early. I think I'm going to avoid work-related email from next Friday through early January, and even next week I'll take the days as easily as I can.

* I took in the biedermeier show at the Milwaukee Art Museum again today. I saw it on my birthday, back in September, but the show's leaving in a few weeks, and I wanted to see the exhibit again before it left for Europe. I wouldn't expect to be that interested in a show about German furniture and whatever, but I loved the experience. The glassware and writing tables, oh, and a couple of square armchairs for which I would kill particularly caught my attention. Here's a link to the exhibit:

http://www.whosbiedermeier.com/

* I have listened to nothing but The New Pornographers in the car for the last two days, mostly "Twin Cinema" but also "Mass Romantic". Man, are the New Pornographers great. "Sing Me Spanish Techno" might be my favorite song from the last few years.

* I have played hoops four days in a row. I might break that streak tomorrow, if I'm up too late, but I'm doing ok. This morning I shot lights out in the last game. I think I hit five shots in a row. Can't complain, as I think I heard someone say when another guy went off, everybody deserves a day like that every now and then. My left knee hurts, I twisted it while covering a fast break, but I think I could handle one more run.

* I've been dreaming about the pet store with huge fish tanks again. I dream about fish, pet stores, and aquariums a lot. Last night's dream features self-generating fish...a narrator was commenting about small fish near the bottom of a tank that had emerged out of nowhere. Interesting, eh?

* I have been reading Vaz's "Saudade" on Mary's recommendation. She pointed me in the author's direction after I lent her some Murikami. I like the book so far, although I've had a hard time concentrating. More on that in a second. Anyway, I might switch to "England's Dreaming" when that arrives from the library. I feel like I need something lighter for Christmas week.

* Yesterday I watched "Talladega Nights". I liked the film more than I expected. You can't lose with a guy running around in his underwear. Even my kids get that.

* I feel like my memory is fading lately. Could that be connected to diet coke? Stress? I don't know. I can't remember people's names, which disturbs me greatly, as I'm very good with names. I couldn't remember this guy from basketball's name yesterday. Weird. I'm good at that sort of thing. Maybe I have a brain tumor.

* No huge plans this weekend. Maybe I'll catch up on transcriptions. I didn't do any yesterday. I hardly left the couch. My body was not cooperating. I also want to skip the department holiday lunch tomorrow. I might call my brother, if my mom sent his cell number, on guitar advice. I could use some time to clear my head...shopping for the kids might help.

* M's been sick and kind of tired lately. I feel badly for her. She's not usually like this. I hope she's sleeping well.