Damn, it's cold. Will someone please remind me why I live in Minnesota, anyway?

My 'interview' went fairly well yesterday. It seems that the company in question wants a web developer with my skillset. Oddly enough, they're located in the old American Express Customer Service Center....it seems that the 14-floor behemoth was just a bit too much building, and since the 'Ameriprise' spin-off, they've been laying people off. So.....they've rented out space in the building, and it appears that this company has taken up residence there.

They wanted samples of my work - between the static stuff that I have, it *should* be enough. I really have to get off my ass and finish MysteryCheese, though - and soon. Maybe this weekend....since I don't plan on leaving the house.

Once again, more proof that our society is in decline. 'Plasticine' Pam Anderson, noted animal rights activist, mother, 'actress' (and I use the term loosely), and silicone spokeswoman, sounds off about the Kentucky Derby and why she thinks it should be stopped:

"It makes me want to avoid Kentucky altogether, which is sad because there are so many great people there," Anderson said in a statement released Tuesday by Idiotic Sandal-wearin' Hippies, er...I mean, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Like most people, I don't want to support cruelty to animals, whether it's forcing horses to race for our amusement or scalding chickens alive for our plate," Anderson said. "We have to be more evolved than this."

"More Evolved"??? This from a woman who (allegedly) pumped her breasts and lips so full of silicone that she became a caricature? Who built a career on the masturbatory fantasies of men? Oh, right. Caring about animals is 'evolved'. Just like gobbling Tommy Lee's knob on camera?

I think this gets my STFU award for the week. Someone needs to stick something in her mouth and shut her up before she hurts herself.

So - I finally found out *why* I didn't get considered for the U of M jobs (the ones that I am already doing as a temp, btw)....It seems that I didn't have anough database experience to be the developer, and not enough graphics experience to be a designer.

.....I've spent the better part of the morning trying to wrap my head around that conundrum. And I have come to the conclusion that I - with my combination of practical coding experience, usable design, familiarity with W3C and WAS complience....am out of luck, as far as clueless companies are concerned.

I have another "let's meet over coffee and talk about some GREAT opportunities that fit your skill set!" meeting with a recruiter tomorrow. Maybe this time I'll remember to let them pay for the coffee.....

Well, shit.

I haven't posted here in a hideously long time. And - while I'm really not in the mood to just jump right in and 'HAY GUYZ OMG LOL!!!1' - I need somewhere to get stuff out of my head.

My best friend Terry died last week. He just turned 40 on Feb. 2 - 'Pigdog Day', as I used to tease him. I was lucky enough to have had the chance to spend an evening with him and some of the boys, playing poker, about 2 weeks ago. We tossed a few beers back, played poker, yakked about anything and everything, and laughed. A lot. We generally did that when Terry was around. He could make you laugh about anything. His unique takes and observations - usually liberally sprinkled with more than a few expletives, and so far off the charts in terms of 'non-politically correct' - were always enough to keep us laughing.

I'll probably be posting more as it all starts to come together for me - but right now, all I can feel is sad, and very much alone. A day didn't go by when I didn't talk to him in some form - e-mail, the forums, or by phone - and my world is just a whole lot quieter since Wednesday.