...And you thought I was dead.

I'm not, although I have felt on the verge of late.

**Info for those who care: click on any of the photos in my blog to see them MUCH bigger.**

Here is the article featuring this not-so-flattering pic of Liza and me. I guess it serves me right for not offering a press release stating my intent to visit Chattanooga, my hour-by-hour itinerary while there, and my thoughts and feelings afterward. Duly noted. But really. Come on.

What has happened since I last recorded my life on the web? (Thanks to the three of you who actually care.) First off, I intended to visit Melanie for a second time in L.A. on 28 June but was affected by weather. After fully loading a plane in Providence, RI, we sat at the gate for 3 hours before flying to Phoenix and then to L.A. I was up for 20 straight hours, got four hours of sleep, and then had to work the three legs back to Baltimore. Melanie and I did not see each other that night. We were both sad.

The month of July has been less than kind to me. My schedule was originally four days on, three off, which translated into not quite 2 in Missouri due to commuting time. This coincided with me trying to help Greg move out of his place and repack all my unboxed things so that all of it could live together in rental space darkness until October, when he will return from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Facility in Brunswick, GA. So, I packed, made more trips to Goodwill, evaluated, took photos of Charlie (Greg's boss) so wonderfully helping out with his extremely large truck and trailer, and was struck with the sheer number of times I've moved in the last 1.5 years: 4 total, and twice across the Mississippi River. Egads.

And while I'm at it, may I just tell you how my life works? I was trying to make it back to Cape Girardeau after a particularly hard 4-day trip that was scheduled to return to Baltimore in time for me to catch the last flight to St. Louis by 30 minutes. The one leg of 15 that was late was, of course, the critical one - the last. Luckily, the pilots called ahead to ascertain that my intended commuter flight was also delayed. As I waited eagerly at the front to run off (after my crewmates agreed to do my share of cleaning out of sheer kindness), I was greeted at the aircraft door by a nice lady holding a clipboard. She said she required of me a certain bodily substance which will remain nameless.

Also, I was bound to render said nameless substance a full terminal, two flights of stairs, one security checkpoint and two locked doors away from the gate out of which my flight to St. Louis was located. I mean, come on. We sprinted; I produced. Providentially, Kirstin, who so wonderfully recommended me for this job in the first place, was standing at the gate, waiting to board the same flight I was intending to take. She watched my bags and may or may not have physically prevented the flight from taking off without me.

Also, now that I have vacated Southeastern Missouri for over three months, what are they building? Did I mention come on?! I guess it is fair to say that civilization follows me; it was only after I returned to Chattanooga from Chapel Hill that we scored multiple free-standing Starbucks. I must also share with you this fascinating, glorified lawn ornament that is only blocks away from Greg's apartment. It was formerly a tree stump and is now a mini-homage to our nation's monument of liberty. Take it for what's it's worth; it is certainly less controversial that the one that stands in front of a Memphis mega-church that hoists a cross instead of a torch. Again, take it for what it's worth.

Since I have left you all so in the dark for such a long time, and since you are most likely no longer used to reading my prolonged ramblings, I will save the juicy info surrounding my friend Libby's wedding for a later, although quick-to-come post. There will be many photos accompanying it, don't worry. Tantalizing tidbit: the wedding will be front page news in the New York Times life and society section this month.