Remember when Bush looked unbeatable? When it seemed like he was a towering Colossus against the various lawn gnomes of the Democratic Party?
Think again.
I’m kind of amazed that Clark has this much name recognition this early. I don’t think he’ll be the nominee, but I don’t think you could find a better candidate for veep.

Jonathan Lethem’s new novel, Fortress of Solitude, is receiving plenty of critical attention lately. I always meant to check out some of his earlier science fiction, but just never got around to it. I’ll probably pick this up as I’m a sucker for sprawling, coming-of-age sagas. I try not to listen to the critics when deciding what books to purchase (I refuse to read The Lovely Bones for at least another year) but this one intrigues me.
And yes, I’m still plugging away at my own book. A little under 10,000 words at last count. I’d like to be at the halfway point by year’s end.

I had to facilitate a three hour meeting today, which was a fitting end to the week. Tomorrow, I think I’m going to the oh-so-trendy Uptown neighborhood to see either American Splendor or Lost in Translation. This will also give me the opportunity to go for the first drive in the van with one of my new nurses. I just wish I hadn’t told her the story about how I was once riding with my dad and brother and we hit a lamppost in a parking lot, causing me to fly out of my chair and leaving me in a crumpled heap on the floor. But I didn’t tell her about the time when the van died on the highway at 1 in the morning, my ventilator battery almost dead, and how an ambulance had to come and take me home. And I didn’t tell her how the van once ran out of gas in mid-December and how my nurse had to push it two blocks to a gas station.
After all, there’s no point in making her even more nervous.

I’ve written before about my Asshole Neighbor. After last night, I’ve decided “Asshole” is too kind of a term. Yesterday, I received another phone call from the concierge stating that neighbors were complaining about pounding and banging noises coming from my unit. Completely mystified (I might have been vacuuming, but that’s it), I decided to go next door and try to work things out. AN opens the door—in his underwear, no less. I politely ask him if I’m making too much noise. He claims that he didn’t make the complaint, but that he was about to. Then he lays into me and accuses me and my nurses of making noise at all hours and being completely inconsiderate of everyone else on the floor. He says he’s tired of coming home from work and hearing the beeping of my ventilator. I try to explain that sometimes the ventilator alarms when a tube disconnects, but he clearly does not give a shit. Anyway, he finished by threatening to complain about me at the next association meeting and other people would as well.
Fucking asshole.
I’ve concluded that there are a lot of lonely people in this building who direct their misery towards other convenient targets. And I’m convenient. I’m amazed at how petty and self-absorbed we humans can be. But I refuse to feel like a trespasser in my own building. Life is too short. And of all the things I need to worry about in my daily life, Fucking Asshole Neighbor is at the bottom of my list.

October is a busy time for those of us in disability pollicy/advocacy. The federal government marks October as National Disability Employment Month and I have a series of trainings, events, and assorted happenings for which to prepare as October quickly approaches. It’s good to be busy after a quiet summer, but it’s also a bit stressful because I’m always afraid I’ll forget to do something or let something slip past my attention. Fortunately, I think my past experience as a law clerk has given me the organizational skills necessary to stay on top of multiple projects. I also have a Palm Pilot, which is helpful. If you look in the bag I carry to work, you’ll find my Palm, iPod, digital tape recorder, and cell phone. I never thought I’d turn into a total gadget slave, but I suppose it was inevitable.
Huh. I start writing about disability stuff and it morphs into observations on my geek fetish. My mind scares me sometimes.