the Carmen Rizzo/Jed Smith Indian Summer Remix

• Stalker Dude emailed me at work yesterday (Friday), midday. That solidified my urge to call him after work (as requested in his voicemail message on Thursday). I did so; he didn't answer when I called the first number he'd left. I called the second, and he answered after several rings. I could hear talking in the background, so I didn't say anything right away. He repeated his "Hello?" and I began talking. Said who I was, told him I got the messageS, and when he started to make what I was by then remembering as his good-old-boy patronizing calm-down blather, I cut in. "When I told you to stop contacting me, I meant it. That means no emails, no phone messages, no contacting me at work. Stop."
  
  "Yes, yes. I understand, and I can certainly do that. Har har."
  
  There was clearly someone else in the room.
  
  "Right." I hung up, hoping but not really believing that it was really over.
  
  Maybe 10 minutes later, he called back. I answered, because...I don't really know. I suppose it's a lifetime of training in not being angry or aggressive or "mean." But there is a bit of that in me, because I flipped the phone open and merely said, "Yeah?" rather than my more typical, "Hello?"
  
  "Just hear me out. I'm sure you're cursing me out in your mind right now, har har...."
  
  "Yes."
  
  And then - thank God! - the call completely broke up. Must've been in the car or something, because he was totally garbled and then just gone. Wipe, wipe. Done.
  Well, not quite. He sent a text message a few minutes later. "Can I just have 2 minutes to talk?"
  He's had his 2 minutes. He wasted it by using someone else's photo and name when he set up his OkCupid account, and pretending to be that person - that single, available person - when we first chatted, two years ago. He used his 2 minutes to lie. No more 2 minutes for you, whomever you are.
• After about a week of thinking about it, I made tacos for dinner tonight. They were really, really good. I should cook more often. Homemade food kicks ass.
• I've developed a powerful crush on one of my Facebook friends. That's really a dumb way of putting it, since the crush was there before we became friends, and we're friends for a very stupid reason. But every time I see his little thumbnail picture in the set of 6 on my Wall, or there's an update from him, I feel a little queasy (in a good way). In a sea of idiotic crushes, this one is very, very idiotic - but, hey, it's not like I've got any control over what my heart (or wherever this stuff comes from!) does.
• My car is done. It's been in MN for repair for the past couple of weeks. I got the call a few days ago that it's done. Because of some preexisting plans on the parental end (! my parents had plans! the world may never recover) we've put off switching my mom's car for mine for at least a week. The bill came in much lower than I'd originally anticipated, but I still don't have the money to pay it. Not quite sure how that's going to work out, i.e. whether my dad's going to float me a loan or if I'm going to work it out in some other credit fashion. Can't get blood from a turnip, though. This turnip is blood-free.
• I have a new favorite band: Alkaline Trio. Just discovered that they're from around here, which is both exciting and, I don't know. Maybe I'll stick with 'surreal.' Their song "Fine without You" - which was on the Cursed soundtrack - is wonderful.
• The Cat is away from her computers for a week, so the rest of you who never comment because you assume she's going to do it for you - you know who you are - can feel free....
• Ooh - I've discussed the exterior light situation with my favorite landlord (i.e. the one with whom I am friends on Facebook, so, the one who now has to read the politely-phrased complaints that I no longer leave at the office with my rent checks). Something will be done. Yay!