I'm back.

So, my account is up at the end of the month, and I don't think I'll renew. At least, not for a while. I dropped internet at home, and I wasn't getting much mileage out of my subscription even before that. There are a lot of amazing people here, and I'm sorry I didn't spend more time getting to know you all a little better, but not that sorry. All the best, folks.

A pretty lady put this song on a mix she made me. I thought I'd spread the love.

So, I've been dating that acupuncturist (albeit somewhat irregularly) since February. Things are going pretty well. I'm enjoying her company and she's really, really good looking. So, Thursday night I get a text from her saying 'my dog is missing, my car is busted, and I'm out of wine. Come over with a bottle.' So I did. She was pretty worried about the dog, and I hing out to take her mind off it. I get a text from her the next day saying her fucking psycho redneck neighbors killed her dog. You believe that shit? Who does that? Who kills a fucking dog? He was five, which is just about the worst age to lose a dog. Old enough that you've had years to grow really attached, but still way to young to say, 'well, at least he had a good, full life.' So she's beside herself. She really loved that dog. She wouldn't let me come out to see her today. It's hard not to be able to go to her and comfort her, but we're just not that close yet and I understand the desire to be alone. I don't know. I'm trying to hold back and give her all the space she needs, while letting her know I'm here if she needs me. What a shitty fucking situation.

Friday night I became an uncle. My nephew is an amazing little miracle, and I can't wait to watch him become a person. It's really, really, really exciting. It's amazing the way you can just stare at a newborn for hours and never get tired of it.

That's not what I'm here to write about though. This isn't my outlet for that kind of thing. It's my outlet for this kind of thing. I have a date with a pretty acupuncturist on Thursday. I'm pretty excited, but I'm also pretty nervous. I haven't really been on a date since I split up with my fiance more than a year ago, and I haven't been on a date with anyone other than my fiance since 2003. That's a long damn time. I've had a few make out sessions, but that's not really the same thing. I was going to ask her over to my place for a glass of wine after work. It's my understanding that asking someone over to your place is tantamount to asking them to have sex with you, right? That wasn't my goal, and I thought the early hour would signal that, but she put the kibosh on that right quick and suggested we meet at a bar a little later in the evening. I've got kind of a love-hate relationship with the bar scene in general, but it's too damn cold for a picnic.

Any tips for someone who's a little rusty with this type of thing? Flowers? Probably not for a first date at a bar, right?

The Hold Steady covering the Mountain Goats! Not the most inspired cover, but still shiny.

In case you need some adorable in your diet:

Since you gave my car back, the whole thing has been filled with the smell of moonflower.
It's never smelled so good. Every time I drive anywhere, I'm filled with an unfocused desire.
Thank you. Goddamn you.