The Illusionist

Wildness last night.

First, I discovered that I was rather enjoying an endorphin high after the exercise I got yesterday. I didn't recognize it until after I was in bed, but once I got it, it was rather unmistakeable.

Hard time sleeping, so I took a melatonin and a GABA, and dissolved them both under my tongue. Melatonin has an interesting side effect of keying some rather vivid dreams, and last night was no exception. Awesome dream, where I ended up going through a hazing and being accepted by a group of mischevous freaks, and it was glorious. I really miss belonging in that way.

I also slept through my alarm clock. Barb woke me up at 9:00, and I was still nigh-unto unconscious. Still kinda half-asleep.

Today I noticed for the first time that my ass is narrower than my thighs.

And I just got off the phone with a collection agency, disputing a collection as fraudulent-- and they agreed! They're taking it off of my credit rating.

This is starting off to be a good day.

And I will be paying my last back tax payment to the IRS today.

Paid in full.

I can breathe again.

Dang! Free movies!

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Fri Aug 4, 11:38 AM ET

LONDON (AFP) - A company has defended its decision to sack one of its staff by text message, claiming it was keeping in touch with youth culture.

Katy Tanner, a 21-year-old sales assistant, received the message while she was off work with a migraine, the South Wales Echo newspaper said Friday.

The text message said: "We will not require your services anymore...Thank you for your time with us."

"I don't think it's right to just text someone. At least they should have talked to me face to face," Tanner said.

"You're not allowed to text in sick, you have to phone. The fact that they texted me is a bit of double standards."

Several senior staff members at Blue Banana, a body-piercing and jewellery shop based in Cardiff, defended the decision.

But company director Jon Taylor added that an internal investigation was underway to see if "the ultimate action was ideal".

The retailer claims it tried to reach Tanner directly "five or six times" and passed on a message through her boyfriend before the text was sent.

And store director Ian Besbie added that the dismissal method was fair because texting was a part of "youth culture".

"We are a youth business and our staff are all part of the youth culture that uses SMS (text) messaging as a major means of communication," he said.

The company employs about 120 people in Britain, many of them aged under 21.

Quandry.

I have to try and find a contractor that will finish the work on the front porch rather than having me do it.

Said contractor has to be bonded and insured.

The problem is that most contractors don't like to finish projects that have already been started, since there may be some issues of liability if the previous work was sub-par.

I'm having the roof done first, so there is some time.