I've talked about the guy's bathroom before, and some of the various unspoken rules therefor. I certainly haven't covered it all. In fact, there's no doubt in my mind that even someone as disinterested in academic research as myself could put enough information together to write a book on the subject (An Excretory Tradition: Mores of the North American Lavatory).

I was in the bathroom at work the other day, and moseyed up to the only remaining urinal. I recognized the guy next to me as someone who had just left his desk a few moments before myself (recognized him from the back, of course. Turning to look at his face would have been a clear violation [see Chapter 2: Eyes Front]). And he was just kind of standing there for a while, being uncomfortable because nothing was happening for him at the time. And my heart was really torn right then - I've totally been that guy, getting up and walking out of a room to head to the bathroom, and totally missing my chance to shine. And I know it wasn't that he didn't have to pee when he got up, or even that he doesn't have to pee right then... He's just not. And it's an annoying feeling. But you can only wait there so long before you have to pack up and head home (which itself sucks, since you know you're just going to be right back in a few minutes once everyone leaves). And I could tell that he was pretty much at that point and was ready to call it quits. Like I said, I totally empathized with the guy (there but for the grace of God, etc etc), and I really wanted to reach out to him. You know, turn around and say something like "You know what? It's OK, and happens to the best of us." But again, a clear violation of the rules. And the comforting pat on the back is completely inappropriate, for a host of reasons.

So that's work. I was there late tonight (the latest yet). I was eating edamame by the handful, until I looked up it's nutritional content. Everything I read said it was nutritionally very similar to tofu. So that's the end of that, which is somewhat disappointing.

I had to take care of some business things tonight when I came home. Mostly deal with the fact that I had to cancel my credit card last week 'cuz I'm a complete idiot and left it at a bar in midtown. But some other things as well - like write a check. As I was pulling out my checkbook and blowing off the dust, I was chuckling to myself that the book of checks I was using was probably going to last me the rest of my life. So, obviously I was out of checks. Which is one of those exception proves the rule things. Or something, I never really understood that phrase. My point is that going over my past checks is pretty entertaining. Evidently I've been working on this checkbook since early '01. Out of the entire book of checks, there are only 5 different check recipients - two of which begin with the phrase "City of" (which helps explain why the vast majority of the checks say "Parking Ticket" in the memo section).

Went to see this over the weekend with Ben and Neil (the same Neil whom we went down to visit during Mardi Gras, and (if you're a regular here at ATF) who's nipples you've probably seen)). Really, I don't have anything to add, except for the fact that I'm really sorry we didn't have an entry this year. Next year, think fish-catapult, however.

That's it for now. Only so much blogging I can do in one month, else my fingers start to get the carpal tunnel.