Chapter 57: In which the author buys his third iPod and considers the purchase of a pair of ruby slippers

Storms a-comin'. At least that's what I'm told. When I stepped out of the hotel tonight for dinner, it was beginning to rain and the air felt thick and humid. In speaking with my new buddy at the restaurant (which I went to last night as well), I hear there's a good chance of a tornado. I was only hoping for a cracking good thunderstorm, but if we get a twister, maybe I'll have something interesting to write about tomorrow.

I just purchased an iPod shuffle; a tiny, blue clip-on one. I love it. The music it plays is completely random, but it always seems to know exactly what I want to hear. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I selected the music that went on it. I wasn't sure how it was going to behave with my iPod video. I kept them on separate sides of my laptop until I was sure they would get along. At first, you could see that they were curious about each other by the way they eyed each other across the keyboard, although they didn't quite know what to make of each other. Fortunately, all is well and the two get along fine.

The reason I bought it is that I have a more-or-less permanent ache in my left thumb from clutching my iPod video while I run. The shuffle is weightless and clips on to my shirt. My other thumb is still sore from a ball that jammed it during a dodgeball practice a couple of weeks ago. No need to point out who threw it: they know who they are. I miss having the use of both of my thumbs. It somehow makes me feel less-than-primate.

Oh yeah - I play on a dodgeball team. Well sort of... More on that some other night in some other post.

I had a piece of peanut butter pie after dinner. It had some chocolate sauce. It was really good. Really, really good. Peanut butter and chocolate is my arch-enemy. My nemesis. The Lex Luthor to my Clark Kent. The Zoltar to my G-Force. I know that it's bad for me and I hate it, but despite its rich, creamy depravity, I love it so and know that I can never truly leave it. Such is our kismet.

People I met:
The waiter from the restaurant. He works at State Farm during the day, and as a waiter at night. I asked him why, and he says it's because he's a single dad and has lots of kids. I'm not sure if he works a second job to support them or to get away from them.