And over the past 24+ hours, Bitscape has spent far more time watching episodes of The X Files than would be physically or mentally healthy for any normal human being. Hahahahahahahahahahah!

Hey, what better way to spend one's day when the DSL line is down than sitting in a darkened room, blinds drawn, watching some of the best damn television to be produced over the past decade; crystal clear picture and sound, with no commercials. Complete and uncut. But I think my brain is, like, fried.

In other news, I got the callback from RMI yesterday afternoon. This time, they're actually going to have to send a Covad tech out to the house. The earliest time they could schedule was Thursday. In the meantime, I'm without a connection. Yuck.

In the inconsequencial rambling news, I did actually go to the furniture store yesterday to shop for... a chair! Sat in just about each and every chair they had, comparing feel, features, flexibility, trying to imagine myself as both typing, kicking back to watch DVD's, and reading. I did find a most excellent one that I believe will serve all functions. Two that were very nice, actually. The one I really wanted was out of stock. I placed an order. They're going to call me when it arrives in a few weeks.

Last night, Bitscape also took some time out of his busy X Files watching schedule to again view the broadcast of the Season 5 finale of XenaWarriorPrincess (say it as one word, just like Lucy did in Deja Vu All Over Again, at the end of Season 4). Very excellent. Next week is the Season 6 premiere. Ares does the mortal thing. Just call me a couch potato. :)

Back on the X Files track, methinks I'm going to have to be one of the people standing in line and drooling at the door on the day they release the Season 2 DVD set in November. Good stuff. Very Good Stuff. (Meanwhile, the Mythology fans among us are still waiting for them to start releasing complete seasons of Xena and Herc on DVD. Come on Renaissance/Universal, what's the holdup? Are you pulling a George Lucas here? Releasing the tv movies and Warrior Princess trilogy was a start, but the fans want MORE. Do just like Fox is doing with X Files -- complete boxed seasons, 4 eps/disc -- and we will love you forever. Promise.)

La la la.

Well, I suppose it's time to get down to business, isn't it? What business is that? Well, October 1st, of course. Long time readers should need no further explanation.

• This year, I shall find a real job.

  Hmmm. Obviously, this has long been done. Perhaps, given recent insanities, it should be revised to, "For the remainder of this year, I shall strive to keep at my current job without allowing it to drive me over the edge." Although I think the worst has passed, we're still not out of the woods yet.

  Eh, probably best to just leave it alone.

• This year, I shall buy a new desktop PC.

  No further comment. Maybe I could use a new mouse though.

• (Revised version) For the remainder of this year, I will take the necessary steps to expand my social circle, meet new and interesting people, and see where life takes me.

  Hmmm. Acting class is good. I like the people I know there. Although I wouldn't really say any of them are personal friends at this point. And once all the sessions are over, I have my doubts that I'll ever see any of them again. :(

  Some further direction is called for here, but I'm not sure what. Oh well. We'll see what happens.

• This year, I shall find more avenues other than the Internet to channel my self expression.

  Again, acting class as good. It's right on target here. I feel that more is needed if this is to become something that is sustained further than a few Monday night evening class periods. Not sure what though. I guess this one ends with another question mark.

• This year, I shall obtain lodging of my own.

  Okaaaay. And now the bomb drops. Lately, thinking about this resolution repeatedly, I find myself asking, "Why?" Why did I make this resolution? What was the point? Quite honestly, in recent weeks, I've been thinking that I don't really want to move out of here. What has changed? I made the resolution at the beginning of the year, so there must have been something driving it then. But no longer?

  When the resolution was made, I was living as a moocher. No doubt about it. I had no job, no goals (until the morning these were written), no life, and little purpose to fuel my existence. So I created purpose. (Or made a valiant attempt, at least.) I came up with a set of landmarks to strive for. Now that it is within my means, and the deadline is approaching, I find that this may no longer be one I want to go for.

  I'm not a moocher anymore. I pay rent. (Yes, far less than I would if I were living by myself, but given that there are other occupants whose numbers fluctuate between two and three, it's equitable.) When I need to go somewhere, I drive myself. Right now, I don't think there's any doubt that I am financially capable of living on my own. (This assumes, of course, that my job situation remains stable. From where I stand, that's looking a lot more likely than it did a week and a half ago.)

  So, putting aside the fact that I made this resolution for a moment, what would be the advantages to carrying through with it? It would be nice to say I could have a whole place to myself. Free rein of the premises. I could crash without being bothered. I could have more room to spread out my personal stuff. More privacy. Friends could come and hang out whenever. Etc.

  As of right now, I am officially cancelling this resolution. If my heart isn't in it, there's no point in trying to carry out the motions, spending potentially thousands of dollars, and going through extreme hassle just because I wrote something in my ramblings ten months ago.

  Let's be realistic.

  Free rein of the premises. I have that here. Yes, I share that with other people too. It really ain't such a great burden. If it does get too annoying, I can jump in Tobias and hit the road.

  Crash without being bothered. I can do that. Just did it this weekend. Maybe it's not possible in all households, but it is here. Just go in my room, close the door, and zone. Yes, there may be a knock occassionally. Occassionally. That can happen when you're living by yourself too, except it will be at the front door instead of the bedroom door.

  Room to spread my personal stuff. As I discovered a few weeks ago, when I economize space, this area ain't half bad. Everything is in one place. Should I want to, I think I could even fit a little fridge in here. It works.

  Privacy. Like I said above, close door. It's that simple.

  Friends could come and hang out whenever. Haha. The most obviously biting answer to this: What friends? What, the occassional fest? That can, and has been done here on many many occassions. To assume that just because I get a place of my own, friends will start dropping out of the sky is pure self-delusion.

  So, what are the advantages to the decision I have already made? Obviously, it's the less stress path. I get to keep my familiar surroundings. Hold onto that which has been home since... '94, I believe. In truth, I think my trip to Atlanta may have drove in the realization that there are actually a lot of things I just like about living here. I don't just mean in Colorado, but in this house. These surroundings. Of course, financially, it allows me to put a little more away into savings, and nice things like getting entire seasons of very cool tv shows on DVD.

  Finally, I'd just like to say that yes, family can be annoying sometimes. So can absolute isolation. For now, I'll stick with the former. Executive decision made.

• Be true, honest to myself.

  I don't even know how to talk about this one anymore without being redundant. Vague, vague, vague. Stating the obvious. Oh well. So be it.

And in other news, I meant to say this before going through the resolutions: bouncing moved back in yesterday. The circle continues.

Now, I'd love to ramble further or watch some more DVD content, but sleep beckons. It's certain to be another crazy one tomorrow. Best be at least somewhat rested.