I know I'll never get inside of you
And make your eyes catch fire
The way they should.

The Cure, "Letters For Elise"
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One thing I wanted to mention about the bottle of Cristal. I went to my friendly neighborhood Whole Foods for some groceries and noted that Jay-Z's favorite champagne was on sale for $149.99 (a whole fifty dollars off!). So I bring it to the register along with other non-descript goods like some eggs and garlic and what not. The cash register guy can't ring it up so he asks me how much it was.

One-four-nine-nine-nine, I say. $14.99 shows up on the screen.

No, one-four-nine-nine-nine. One-hundred-forty-nine.

Oh really? Wow, I would have let you have it for fourteen.

I know, but I wouldn't have.

Nice to know that my conscience is still in check, even if it is to support my vanity. Honestly, who buys Cristal at Whole Foods? Me, I suppose.

But because I'm not the partying time, it's just sitting in the fridge waiting for a festive occasion. I'm probably going to sneak off on my birthday and just revel in the excess. That is certainly my type of activity. And I am that type of guy. At least I found my Strong Bad beanie.

I took the train down to my parents place. I've lived in LA for so long that taking any sort of mass transit is instantly a form of adventure. I have to admit, it was kind of exhilarating. It felt very European. Checking train schedules. Buying tickets. Reading a book (Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand) as California drowns out the windowside. Why do I derive such joy in these things? Why do I sometimes find a hidden beauty among the rubbish? Who is John Galt?

I found myself on New Years Day doing what I do when I'm restless and in need of occupying my mind and body: I redecorated. In my room, I moved Carroll's entertainment center so that it may house my new printer as well as serve as a more visually appealing view upon entering the bedroom. Dale can attest to the fact that I redecorate at odd hours of the night. It's really a small obsessive-compulsive side of me that comes out at odd times. It's also been known to cause me to do things like clean the individual keys of my keyboard.

So now I'm back in Oceanside. Before Betty, there was Honda, and I was always very proud of that car. I feel like I simply blend in with that car, which is an idea that I've always liked. I like assimilating into a crowd: I don't mind the implication of being perceived as just another faceless blur. I just want to go about my business. I certainly care for my fellow man; I don't think that being insignificant precludes you from being emotionally strong and capable.

But Betty sure is cushy.