Yeah, there's a reason no one thanks any deity that it's Monday. But maybe I can do something to help lift your spirits.

Head on over and check out what's happening at Kingdom Heights. It might just get your giggles started. Well, at the very least, it might fill you with the hope of giggles to come. Okay, there's a cool voting incentive at any rate.

So now you've got something to laugh at on both Mondays and Fridays around here. Check that, something apart from Pat's blogs to laugh at. Thanks and cheers.

Naten

Just like the Discovery channel commercial says. I haven't put forth the effort to write down my own list of things I love about the world, but if I did, they would certainly include these:

I love guys who think segways need that extra level of safety.


I love following the sound of a helicopter to find a plume of smoke coming from my own apartment complex.


Yep. Apparently, one of the carpet-cleaning vans that always seem to be lurking around the parking lot had an equipment fire. The van and everything in it was a total loss. That building it's right next to is a line of storage garages.

When the fire department arrived, they doused the flames, then cut open two of the garage doors next to the van to see if anything was on fire inside. Naturally, the sparks from chainsaws going through aluminum started the fire back up, and flames started shooting out from under the van like it was trying to launch into orbit.


Other casualties of the fire: the carport on the opposite side of the fire, and a cherry-red sparkling new Honda that some poor guy wishes he hadn't driven home on his lunch break. All things considered, I'm guessing it was about a $50,000 fire. That was yesterday. I can't wait to see what happens today.

Also, for those of you die hard fans who read this, tune in Monday for a little surprise.

Naten

No matter how much you enjoyed the original series, do not go see "Get Smart." You would have a better time watching some YouTube and then taking a nap.

A scathing review is forthcoming.

So here's what's been going on with me.

I've been unemployed for about 3-1/2 months now, which means I'm starting to lose some of the hard edge that years in the retail trenches gave me. I'm also reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," which is a trip I can highly recommend already.

Most of my free time is being spent working on a side project with a friend; the advance from which is keeping my head above the financial red line. The rest of my free time is going towards the noble pursuit of digital painting, and also the ironing of my own personal style as preparation for my art career.

Lastly, and this requires a little explanation, I'm going back to school.

One of the perks of being a ward of the Employment Security Department is a thing called Worker Re-training which works with a few local community colleges. While I am unemployed, this program will cover all fees, tuition, and supply costs associated with one quarter's worth of classes. This means I get to go to school for free.

Naturally, it's not as simple as that. There are forms and orientation classes and qualifying periods and evaluations, but I'm through all of that and a mere three weeks from joining the scholastic ranks once again.

Things I will be learning: web design, Illustrator, and Maya.

This means you can expect some changes (again) to the site, but it also means that I'll be infinitely more marketable as the kind of artist that companies can't wait to snatch up and hurl big swollen bags of money at.

Laters.