The difference is hot and cold

What is it about a hot shower?

And I don't mean a warm shower, or a comfortable one. I mean a hot one. Stinging. Steaming. And then there's that point where once your body becomes acclimated, turning it up JUST a little more and once again the rush of pins and needles comes over you. Ahhhhh. There's nothing like it. After such a shower, you get out with your skin mottled and pink, and the heat stays with you for the short duration of drying and putting on a robe. I wonder if it's that core temperature being raised that I crave so, because there's nothing I like worse than being in a luke warm shower, or worse a cold one and then that treacherous moment of standing in the now quiet tub dripping and goosebumpy while reaching for the towel. I hate that moment.

I would WAY rather be hot than be cold. I wonder if the dislike of cold water and goosebumps is biological or psychological? Even on a hot day and the joy of a cold pool, I hate that initial shocking plunge. Why is that? I don't particularly dislike cold weather mind you, but something about cold water just gets to me.

But Hot. Now THAT's what I'm talking about. I don't think there's anything I like more than a clean bright shower, good water pressure, ample hot water, a variety of soapy things and a sharp razor. I think that's what heaven is going to be a lot like.

Wheee!

Has anybody else gotten hooked on Guitar Hero?
Actually I keep saying that, parading around my addiction like a badge of honor to anyone else who has felt it and chimes in that they "know just what you mean", and truth be told, I’m not that hooked. I just like it. I don't really play it that often, and I still struggle at the medium level, but when the notes magically flow from my hands OH how it feels, my entire body keeping beat, time slows down and I'm wrapped in the song. Faux guitar. But is it really? If I've strapped the instrument over my shoulder against my body at a slightly raised angle, using my left hand stretched around the neck, fingers working sometimes together, most often independently and in time with the insistant beat, the other hand strumming a different action but in company, isn't that playing? Or is it really just glorified video gaming as I'm so afraid it to be? Have I truly just traded in a joy stick shaped controller for a guitar shaped one and shooting bullets at appropriately timed intervals. Faux guitar indeed. You should hear me sing.

Back in the saddle

I don't have a good reason for my absence. I'd love to give a great story detailing my recent lottery riches, fancy homes with large staff in exotic locals and wormholes to new dimensions. It's all true of course but it would just be an excuse. I have a lot of catching up to do. I'd really like to start at the start, I think I fell off the earth back in about October of 2007. I think it all started with the Golden Retrievers, but I haven't really allowed myself very deep introspection about that time so my spiral may have been before that or after. I don't know, I think I left the cliff notes in the worm hole. Instead of back tracking, I'd like to start with something happy now. I have a new job and some very cool new friends. Look what they did for me for my birthday a few weeks ago! I don't know if they realize what a gift they give me in their friendship long before the birthday song was sung at the restaurant. Jack and Jen, you guys rock!

Ps: did I win?