I got cheated on a few days ago and I'm feeling pretty low.

I've grown more intelligent than I must come off, and my reaction to genuine depression is to not drink, so there won't be any ridiculous, drunken posts for a while.

Let's just talk about happy things.

I'll start:

Today I cleaned my room. I used bleach to scrub my floor. I found twenty-six dollars in change.

today i drove to work. it was cold.

It is cold outside. It finally feels like winter. I enjoy this board more than I enjoy 90% of the other things I do in life. That is all.

i got a new scarf and some much needed cookware today and a new microwave a few days ago...color me happy...

well, today was the usual cadre of bullshit... I stumbled around, saw my girlfriend off to work, checked on my car being repaired so that I can find employ again soon, looked at my last class schedule at NIU before graduating in May, strategized on other ways to maneuver in my negotiations with prospective employers on a degree in Economics being just as useful as a degree in Finance...it isn't , as the labor market shows, but I couldn't live with myself going to the business school here.

Noted how fucking cold it was, made doubly sure that the bits of ice on the stairwell were gone such that my best lady can walk in and out of the house in heels most easily- we both are extremely clumsy to begin with.

Figured around how I was to fax a copy of my social security and drivers license...resolved to do it tomorrow at the document services joint next door.

Looked at some program to teach Math in the Chicago Public School system and then make use of the "Teacher next Door " program organized by HUD.

Received some books on Econometrics and SQL and gleefully cracked open a few chapters. Gave up on online job ads, after applying online to 230+ positions on the internet in the Metro area and near DeKalb.

A lot of prospecting really.

I listened to an album today that I didn't like previously. It's "Lonely People of the World, Unite!" by Devin Davis. Damned happy album. Cheered me right up today - I'm glad I'm finally into it. I learned the words today, and sang along bobbing my head all the way home from work. I also got my first Melvins album today.

You know what else makes me happy that you could try? Go out and buy a late Christmas present for someone you know that wouldn't expect a gift from you - make sure it's something they'd like. Something fun but inexpensive like a book or a CD. That person will be smiling at you all day, and if he/she tries to tell you, "oh, thanks, I'll be sure to get you back," just say, "nah, that's OK. That's not why I buy gifts for people. I really just saw it and thought of you."

Or buy a homeless guy some lunch and throw in an additional 10 spot. Not only will he feel great all day, you will too.

It must be ridiculously cold in Chicago. It's freezing here on the east coast. My smoke breaks have been shortened to 2-3 minutes, which is a shame considering the price of death sticks went up about 25% on the first of this month.

I may try that Christmas gift idea. I've been broke for the last two weeks but I have two or three books laying around that I haven't touched yet. My plan for the day was just to clean and clean so my environment would be all chipper and new rather than dusty and familiar.

Hairspray Queen cheers me up a lot, too. Not in an ironic or twisted way. I just really love that song.

I had two Chicago-style hot dogs earlier today (minus the bright green relish because I can't find any in California). I'm a bit depressed not being able to return home for the holidays and generally missing Wisconsin and brats weren't readily available, so one of these F.I.B. delicacies sufficed in temporarily quelling my longing for home.

I suggest indulging in encased meat products. There is no ill that cannot be solved by their delicious majesty.

I puked twice at work today, that was pretty cool.

I finally got it together to buy a present for my Secret Santa victim. It goes into the mail tomorrow morning.