Still futzing with this blog design, and a bunch of other stuff that seems like it should be a done deal already

In my head, there are the moral equivalent of 50 post-notes circulating in a tornado-like fashion, each one with a to-do that really needs to get done. I want to start 2008 on the most positive note possible, so I forced myself to sit down and write out a quick list from the biggest pieces of paper floating around my head. As per usual, the list is not nearly as daunting on paper.

Last week, I bought a book about blogging and blog design because I’m still vaguely dissatisfied with the layout and navigation here. And, the winter marathon training group starts Saturday (!), and I wanted to get a blog up and running for that, separate from this one, designed more for interaction.

And in making up my little list, in  my apartment with a half dozen begun projects, I realize that I’ve really been overfocusing on the whole return-to-dating. I have eschewed the idea of “rules” and whatnot, but I can see the value. I’m still not going to engage in gaming, but some very simple guidelines like date #1 being just a drink (coffee, wine, tea, whatever). Some people want that first date to be longer, but I think that when you initiate contact via the internet, and exchange a series of emails, you’ve got some good information there. The next step is determining whether there is some physical chemistry, whether the witty banter translates to real life.

But more than anything, I over think this. Which is why I’m not going out tonight. I thought about trying to find a singles event, get out of the house, continue to put one foot in front of other, dating-wise, but I would feel more like myself if I stayed home with the dog, cleaned, put stuff away, and prepared for the new year.

Quite possibly the most important thing I want to get done today is making sure all my reading lists are posted properly.

On the occasion of missing my dog Ben

I’ve been up for a couple-few hours now after hearing a suspicious series of unidentifiable noises. You know how it is when you hear something go bump in the night. The mind develops creative explanations, however unlikely. Like, if someone was trying to get in my apartment via a door–a very traditional entry method–why would they hack through the middle? But it’s the only explanation for the weird noises on the other side of the door. Maybe it isn’t a somone trying to get in, but a squirrel. We have a lot of fairly aggressive squirrels in this ‘hood.

When there were peculiar noises in the night, Ben did the moral equivalent of telling me not to worry about it, he’d take care of it. Most situations called for nothing more than a cautionary (for them) grump from the foot of the bed, as if to say, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you meant no harm in touching my door. I politely urge you to take better care in the future not to inadvertently touch my door, or wall, or pass noisily by my home. I thank you in advance.

God love him. He was a confident but not overly enthusiastic guard dog.

Ruby, not so much.

She hears something go bump in the night, and turns to me as if to ask, are you going to take care of that? Maybe you should get up and check that out. I’ll just wait here. Right here.

She’s a wonderful dog, the kindest, sweetest dog soul ever. She just doesn’t seem to know she’s a 95-lb. German Shepherd.