Recieved in my inbox this morning:


SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Drinking style: In vino veritas -- and, for Sagittarius, in booze blurtiness: When buttered, they'll spill all your secrets & many of their own. Tactlessness aside, Sagittarius is just plain fun to drink with. This is a sign of serious partying (what else would you expect from the sign of Sinatra, Keith Richards, the Bush twins & Anna Nicole Smith?). They're the people who chat up everyone in the room, then persuade the entire crowd to travel somewhere else -- like a nightclub, or a playground, or Cancun. Good-natured hi-jinks are sure to ensue (including a high possibility of loopy groping; spontaneous Sag is a brilliant booty call).


I don't know that I have ever been called a "brilliant booty call" but I'll take it. I am frightened by how much of the above is true. Please don't drink with me if you don't want me to say stupid things or reveal my deepest secrets (which are apparently only as deep as the bottom of a bottle of liquor). I might “accidentally” reveal yours too, but at least I will make an exaggerated “shhhhhh” gesture first. I am not totally rude.

I confess I have also done my fair share of persuading a room full of people to do something rediculous but harmless. Like the time I had an entire wedding reception (or at least what was left of the guest list during the last hour) doing shots of tequila. OK, maybe that wasn't totally harmless. I mean, I can't speak for everyone else but I at least didn't have a hangover in the morning.

So I am having a rough day thus far. Went swimming this morning before work (I forgot how much I love starting my day with a swim), got in late, had some coffee and a cold slice of veggie pizza for breakfast while I checked my email. Now I'm doing a bit of writing and in 45 minutes I leave for my yoga class.

I love it when the boss travels.

Last night I was up late because I was trying to prepare for today's Cub Scout meeting (I am going to talk to a bunch of boys about abstaining from the use of drugs and alcohol; given how I started this entry, the irony is not lost on me). I couldn't find a folder I was looking for and ended up deciding to totally reorganize my Scout stuff, the disarray of which has been increasing at an exponential rate. I did end up finding the folder in question at the bottom of a box, but by the time I had gone through everything and refiled it (and by refiled, I mean filed at all) it was too late to read it. So I am still not ready for the meeting but at least I know where my shit is now.

And amazingly enough I am not tired from being up so late.

No wait.

There it is.

What is strange to me is how I am really starting to feel proud of the work I do with these kids. When I started it was because I felt I had to because nobody else would step forward. But now I find it to be fulfilling. I was terrified at first because I had to be in charge of other people’s children, but it turns out that I enjoy being a mentor. I enjoy giving them chances to express themselves to someone who is really listening, teaching them new things and helping them learn to support and encourage each other. Setting aside the politics of the organization (anti-gay, pro-religion), there is more good here than I originally imagined. For me and for the kids.

I also figure that it’s better to have me teaching them tolerance and open-mindedness than if they had ended up with another leader who might be a little more hardcore on the religion and gay bashing aspects of the organization. At least it’s me who is indoctrinating the future of America.

So, wish me luck tonight. I need to find a way to tell them “don’t drink or do drugs but if you ever make a mistake, I promise you can always call me for a ride home and I won’t judge you”, without getting any sideways glances from the parents who may or may not be in the room.


Reading:
“Take a Stand Against Drugs”

Hearing:
The song in my head. I forget the name of the song and the name of the band but it’s by the guys who did the other song about Superman. You know who I mean.

Needing:
A drink of water. And that other thing that I always need.

In My Car CD Player:
Nothing.