Morning

Sunrise

Morning delicious

Morning has broken

Morning sun

Early morning laundry

Sunrise series continues

Pretty today

East river sunrise

Morning travel

8 days of nothing

today marks the official start of spring break. which was unhappily punctuated by a call this morning at 7:45 from my realtor:

"Rebecca, is it a good time?"
"I guess so," I replied sleepily.

I want to make sure that you are aware of this, this, this and this, and also this differential that and everything else in the world, here it is."

"Um, I lied. I'm actually sleeping. I have no idea what you just said."
"I'll call you later."
Click.

Anyway, from this weekend, tator tots and whiskey. Beat that.

colin firth

I have been up since 4 am. The satellite is wacked out and I don't feel like turning the alarm off so that I can climb onto the roof and readjust the satellite (see: last Saturday's thunderstorm; Dish network's inability to send anyone out until next Sunday to readjust satellite). Plus I would just get sucked into the Lifetime Movie Network. Which isn't bad, per se, it just removes any hope of returning back to bed because I would be riveted to the drama of Kellie Martin, the passion of Lynda Carter or the schemes of Nicolette Sheridan for two solid hours. Anyway, here I am, redesigning my web site. I think I am finished. I may go back to bed. Or watch Pride & Prejudice. A solid 5 hour committment.

A headline in today's Rocky Mountain News:

Cheese More Than Just Topping For Pizza

What? Where? How? Why wasn't I called? I can--gasp--use cheese for more than just pizza? Sakes alive, next think you know, that jewel of a newspaper is going to be telling me that I can do more with eggs than throw them at people on my list of people to throw eggs at.

My bus driver is not on that list. I have a little kid crush on my bus driver. I got on the bus this morning and he said,

'hello stranger! long time no see!'

sigh.

Taking the bus to work in the morning is much more interesting than driving my car. I get to socialize, observe, relax with a book and a latte. I smile more when I ride the bus.

When I drive, I find myself glaring and swearing at whomever dares to get in my way: thirty-five minutes of slowpokes, morons and potholes. While sour and angry by the time I arrive at work, driving myself does offer ninety extra minutes of glorious morning sleep.

Therein lies the rub.

Today's Morning Radio Surprise Song:
Down by the water.
come back here and give me my daughter...

The note from my landlord/houseowner last night read: We're getting satellite television tomorrow! I know you don't watch a lot of television... Over 200 channels!

My note back read: I am going to start watching a lot of television now.

Today's Morning Radio Surprise Song:
Rabbit in Your Headlights by u.n.k.l.e.
Performed by Thom Yorke.
fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away...

This morning saw the continuation of my marathon initiative. Am working toward consistent six minute miles. Am close. Can feel it.

[ed. note: Shawnna has just reported to me that my dream of six minute miles is not as easy as two consecutive weeks at the gym. that can't be so, i insist.]

Today's Morning Radio Surprise Song:
The Whores Hustle and The Hustlers Whore.
Rock.

Today's Greatest Annoyance: People repeatedly ordering me to 'Smile!' Why do I need to smile so you feel better? What if I want to frown? What, I can't frown?

Why Being Told to Smile Bugs the Heck Out of Me by Rebecca:

I don't go around telling fat girls to lose weight.

Smiling all the time is for crazy people.

Perhaps I was in deep thought, interrupted by your trite command to 'smile!'

Don't you tell me what I need to do.

The end.

P.S. If you tell me to smile and I don't want to, don't challenge it. I've obviously decided I don't want my facial expressions to be commanded and don't want to hear, 'But you're such a pretty girl when you smile!' What the fuck.

After I got back from the gym this morning, I thought I'd see what early morning television had to offer. Mtv had its 21st century edition of Yo! mtv raps or something so I gave that a watch for three or six minutes. Imagine my surprise at the junk being offered our youth at six in the morning. It was awful!

There was this horrifying Jennifer Lopez video, filmed under the guise of an audition, which of course gives her an opportunity to prance around Jennifer Beals circa Flashdance style in a leotard and little else. Occasionally wet. Of course.

Then there was this astoundingly bad video in which three or four very attractive women stand in front of a Las Vegas-style sign lit by lightbulbs, reading DAMN. Cue to the rapper, who would say a word or two. Scroll back to the ladies, who harmonize Damn, then rapper repeats Damn, then ladies say Damn again.

Eek.

The one morning's redemption was a great song called something like I Can by somebody big but I can't recall who. Not Nelly. Oh! Nas! It was all motivating and telling girls not to dress slutty and telling youths they can be anything and not to do drugs and remember: Africa was once ruled by kings. Africa is where it all started.

I think it's a great trend for rap. Come on, role models. Come out, come out.

If the truth is told, the youth can grow

They learn to survive until they gain control

Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes

Read more learn more, change the globe

Ghetto children, do your thing

[ed. note: I see that this video has been released for over two months. Um, I should really try to watch Mtv more often.]

Phone call at 4:45 this morning:

Skip: Rebecca, it's Skip.

Me: Mmm hmm?

Skip: You coming to the gym?

Me: No.

Skip: Why not?

Me: Um. It's Friday.

Skip: [pause] No. It's Wednesday.

Me: Oh. Okay.

Skip: See you there.

Me:Mm hmm.