A few days ago my roommate mentioned how impressed people are when she tells them she lives with a journalist. (Incidentally, she works in retail but her photography career has gone from zero to 60 in a couple of months.)

I kind of got off on that. But then I went back to work on a story that was kicking my ass and my shoulders slumped. Sure, it's impressive, because it's annoying and difficult most of the time.

My main issue: I am a perfectionist, albeit a slightly lazy one. And I hate the editing process because I hate being told to change things or that some sections of my stories are weak. I really do not enjoy having to revisit a piece, which is quite common and necessary for magazine features. BUT, two things: 1) I almost always can identify weak sections or problem areas before receiving comments, showing that I'm very intuitive but just lazy and 2) it actually is nice getting feedback that helps you create a better story.

I understand that editing is key to creating a good story and making someone a better writer. But still ...

Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of my on-again, off-again love affair with Blogger (which actually included a trip to Ev's apartment in Noe Valley for an interview -- damn it!). Here's a link to the first entry. Read and mock. That's what Jesus would do.

Speaking of Jesus, teejaymas 2006 is quickly approaching. Not so sure what I think about that!

Answers to questions I've been asked lately:

1. A tenor. Really, a baritone, but that's usually not an option.

2. Pretty good, actually. I mean, every once in a while I gag a little bit when I think about certain things, but other than that, everything's great, all things considered.

3. I'm still kind of ambivalent. Things have gotten a little more interesting in the last few days, but I'm still not sure. If nothing else, I've got a new good friend, you know?

4. Ugh. Same as seven months ago, when I made the big decision. It goes from being a total nightmare to great to OK. But would anything else be any better?

5. Me? I'm not a bitch, YOU'RE a bitch, bitch.

Ha! Finally I get in on the Yahoo! Mail beta -- about five minutes after paying for the upgrade to Yahoo! Mail Plus. Coincidence? I think not. It really is sweet, though -- a lot like Outlook Web Access. Gmail can eat it.

Here's a blast from the past (stat logs bring up old memories!), February 2000 to be exact. That was the Targum/Kris/Louis St. era, pre-Ben, pre-internship, pre-blog (just barely -- oh yeah, I think the blog is is about to turn six) even pre-Snickers, I think.

Anyway, here is my little personal photo project (taken with my big Christmas gift that year, my first digital camera) documenting my typical walk to class and work during the spring semester of my sophomore year at Rutgers:

The apartment @ Louis Street Leaving said apartment, normally I shield my eyes from evil sunlight as soon as I open the front door. Big photo! Click!

Louis Street Make a right and head down Louis Street, toward Hamilton Street. Big photo! Click!

Ale 'n 'wich Continue around the corner of Louis and Hamilton, passing Ale 'n 'wich. Big photo! Click!

Hamilton Street Walk down the ugly (uglier) section of Hamilton Street, past the cleverly-named Ta-Ta's Pizza and White Lotus Futon. Big photo! Click!

Hamilton and Easton Continue through the intersection of Hamilton Street and Easton Avenue. Big photo! Click!

Easton Avenue The section of Easton Avenue, heading toward George Street and the downtown area, is where the majority of bars, restaurants and stores frequented by the college kids are. Big photo! Click!

Hamilton - College Ave. Keep walking down Hamilton, onto the beginnings of official University property. Big photo! Click!

Frat Row A left onto Union Street would lead toward the raucus fun of Frat Row. Big photo! Click!

Old Queens After crossing College Avenue, Old Queens Campus, which houses a lot of administrative buildings, will be on the right. Big photo! Click!

Old Queens Gate Old Queens is the original Rutgers Campus. The school was originally called Queens College when it was founded in 1766. It's definitely the most beautiful part of Rutgers. Big photo! Click!

Vorhees Mall Across the street from Old Queens is Vorhees Mall, where all of the academic buildings on the College Avenue campus are. It's a huge, beautiful lawn with paths, the buildings lay along the perimeter. Big photo! Click!

Scott Hall My class, Theater Appreciation, was in the lecture hall at Scott, one of the Vorhees buildings. Big photo! Click!

Murray Murray Hall is across from Scott, and to the left of the Art History Library. Most of the English and Comparative Lit. classes are in this building. Big photo! Click!

Silent Willie From class, it's usually time to head to Targum ... I walk across Vorhees Mall and past Silent Willie, named so because legend has it he whistles at all virgins who pass, but at Rutgers the population is full of sluts. Big photo! Click!

College Avenue Make a left out of Vorhees Mall and a right onto College Avenue, where Frats and churches coexist, peacefully? Big photo! Click!

RSC The Rutgers Student Center is on the left. The Targum's offices are on the third floor, in an annoyingly small suite that doesn't fit our needs. Big photo! Click!

Not a good start to the week. My cable modem (which also affects my phone line) was down this morning (just for a few minutes, but still) for the second time in a week and I accidentally sprinkled garlic powder in my oatmeal instead of cinnamon. Let's hope I got all of the nastiness out of the way first thing.

Here's a little advice: If your good friend and date for the night comes to your place and says something like, "Yeah, let's go to the movie! We just need to make one little stop to pick up some Gas X and Pepcid AC," just say NO. Show him or her to the door immediately. If you're feeling very nice, point the poor fool toward a drugstore, but do not go with.

I did that last night, going with Jen to 7-11, where she picked up some goodies and told me a really cute story about her friend's IBS. Then we went to the movies (Failure to Launch, very good, I thought). No!

About halfway through she got up to go to the bathroom. I thought it was just a girl-bladder issue. But when she came back in and was rubbing her stomach, I thought I realized what was up. Two burps with in the next five minutes confirmed my fears. Once again, she jumped up and headed out. Ten minutes later, she returned, only to tell me she needed to haul ass out of there because she was sick. Did I want to stay and watch sexy Mr. McConaughey and lovely Ms. Parker or go with?

It was like Sophie's Choice. I didn't want to miss the movie. I also didn't want to force Jen to drive me north before she headed south. And I certainly didn't want to risk being in such a confined space in case of some sort of ... gaseous explosion. But I also didn't want to deal with finding my own way home from Freeway Central.

So I stayed. And, long story short, wound up sitting in the freezing cold for an hour and 15 minutes waiting for a cab because potential rides were MIA and drunk and the Go-Round bus had stopped running (at 10 p.m. on a Friday. WTF?)

This, added to my late-night BART battle a month and a half ago, makes the score: Bay Area public transportation, 2; TJ, 0. Of course, if I were living in SF and dealing that evil beast Muni every day, the tally likely would be much higher, so I can't complain too much.

How's this for pathetic? I was so into Project Runway that I need to decompress for a while before trying to go to bed -- I was so amped for tonight's finale (and I love, love, love Chloe). Hey, at least I admit (and celebrate) my ridiculousness.

Memo to Berkeley residents: I understand that walking around with a cane might make you feel older than you are, but using a gigantic ski pole-like walking stick makes you look INSANE.

A few weeks ago, I saw two people walking toward Berkeley High (so, right downtown) with these urban ski poles and camelbaks. As Meredith Grey might ask, seriously? Seriously?!

"Jessie's Song" = GENIUS! (Thanks, Robyn)



I'm of a certain age, an age that heard Dustin Diamond died of an overdose, that will laugh until tears start flowing when someone does "the sprain," mentions the possibility of getting a 1502 on the SAT and certainly when someone shrieks, "I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm so ... scared!"

Wow. There was an earthquake this morning a few miles west of here. I totally felt it but didn't realize what it was until I saw this story half a day later. Just like the last time, I assumed the noise and shaking was some major wind rattling open windows or something. As much of a threat as "the big one" is, earthquakes seem to be way in the back of my mind.

Edit: Another earthquake at 10:10 p.m. WTF?