Here I go trying to do good things.

I donated a bit of the green stuff to Jaden's effort to combat diabetes, represented in the above picture by Venom. You can too, if you really want to. She is so very close to her goal.

I've been selected (by the highly competitive electronic equivalent of entering my name into a hat) to attend a conference on human rights this weekend. I'm pretty excited and also a little intimidated since I'll be following in the footsteps of such great men and women as Jarod Sibbitt, Mahatma Ghandi, and that girl who did that thing. What's her name...Jaden, I think. Yeah.

I'm not sure what I'm getting into but maybe I'll be able to better focus my efforts in making a bit of a difference.

At least I'm sure I'll be in excellent company.

I've always wondered where October comes from. I wasn't paying much attention at the end of September; the short months tend to throw me off. Maybe next year.

My old pal Gabe has helped me put together a new computer, or as he affectionately refers to them "a machine." I'm thoroughly pleased with the results. He and I went to an auction where a round, fast-talking cowboy-hatted guy decided that my hand motions, facial tics, and vocalizations were superior to all other bidders. This happened enough times for me to piece together most of what I'd need.

So here I am.

I have a lot to do tomorrow. I shouldn't even be up this late but I took a long nap this afternoon. Life is so hard.

I ordered a Sony Reader. Should be here in the beginning of November. I've decided to hollow out a book and keep the reader inside so to the casual observer it will appear that I am constantly reading To Kill A Mockingbird. Which I very well may be.

I saw Michael Chabon speak. He's quite a guy. Seems like a big kid, if not a slightly effeminate one. His voice reminds me of Kif from Futurama. He read an excellent short story and commented throughout on the writing process. Fun and educational.

I have my own short story to write in the next couple of weeks. I have the germ of an idea. Let us pray that the penicillin of sloth does not kill my budding culture. Or something.