My computer is becoming the bane of my existence. Case in point--this is actually the second I've tried to this stupid post. There's some little freaky driver or piece of aberrant software that's forcing me to reboot the damn thing after 30 minutes of use on average. The joys of proprietary sound drivers (the most likely candidate, in all honesty) but then again, I doubt they were meant to do as much as I ask them to do. In either case, tis the craps, sir.

Cards lost in grandiose fashion, or more to the point lost decisively without so much as a whimper. Probably the ugliest string of four games in a row I remember seeing all season long--against better teams. No ragging on the Red Sox, but I've seen the boys hit better pitching (which, while the Sox were good, they weren't unhittable--unless apparently you had a bird on your jersey). Tis of no consequence any more. I'm sure Red Sox fans will find something else to cry about, but it is a nice thing for the life-long guys who had suffered for years and years. (Note: if you're not at least 30, that classification does not include you...) So it goes. A hundred days and change until Spring Training. In lieu of hockey, that's what I get to be excited about.
The new track is coming along. Still not 100% on what I think of it. I think more of it than I did the last time I posted, I know that. More a question of lyrics at this point. A rough version is about 60-75% done at this point and, as is customary, it's not like much of anything else on the album, but similar in some respects to all of it.

I fired off the first part of "Softer, Shallow" to Dust as well as the latest Feature. Keep checking back the Fiction and Feature pages for their triumphant arrival. In all honesty, I'm not sure what I think of "Softer, Shallow" anymore. I added some stuff and made it better, but I've been through it so many times over the years that I honestly think it sucks ass half the time. Make up your own mind. As a safety measure the short stories will remain on the Fiction page and one or two sections at a time will be posted of "Softer..."

Hung out with Rex Havoc and Josh (potential Joe-Mammy nicknames include: "Junior" "Spahhhhhk" "Actor Troy McClure" and "Lisa"...) for dinner. Twas a nice evening with the food and the talk of herpes hashbrowns (it's not as bad as you think... or maybe it is and I just didn't get the joke...) and other such frivolities. They're a good crew, as crews go. Perhaps at some point they'll be in my posse (in other words, they'll return my phone calls and e-mails when I'm not buying Rex's dinner...) Josh's bit of bloggy goodness is linked right over here -->

Ah, good times, now I'm harassing Josh on his own precious little message board. What marvels modern technology has given us to harangue and alienate our fellow man. I'm sure he's returning the favor at this very moment. Leave your filthy little comments all you want, young Joshua, for you shall ultimately have to bow before the might of Joe Mammy!

I should do something more constructive with my life...

-Joe