I lived in central Texas for three years in the Air Force. I can say what I want about the place.

I’ve finished our tax return tonight. At least, I think I have. Once again, Alabama gives us the shaft, even though we have a child and mortgage. Federal was good to us this year, and it should be better next year. I swear, though… Alabama… As much as I love you, you always bite us at tax time.

I saw this, stole this and don’t know who wrote it.

All the obits written about Saddam were incomplete. All left out a complete listing of all his surviving sons and daughters. A corrected paragraph follows:

He was predeceased by two sons, Uday and Qusay, and is survived by fifteen sons:

Sooflay, a restaurateur; Guday, who lives in Australia; Huray, a sports fanatic; Sashay, who is gay; Kuntay and Kintay, twins living in Africa; Sayhay, a baseball player; Ojay, a stalker and murderer; Gulay, a singer and entertainer; Ebay, an internet entrepreneur; Biliray, a country music star; Ecksray, a radiologist; Puray, a manufacturer of kitchen blenders; Raygay,who lives in Jamaica; and Tupay, who is bald.

Also survived by seven daughters: Lattay, a coffee-shop owner; Bufay, a big eater; Dushay, owner of a feminine-care-products company; Phayray, an actress; Sapheway, a grocery store owner; Ollay, who lives in Mexico; and Gudlay, a prostitute.

There is reportedly another surviving son, Oyvay, but he has been disowned by the family.

I feel like “you know what” today. I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, but I went on in to work. Today, I feel twice as bad. Believe it or not, I’m one of those people who despise calling in sick.

Sick days are rare for me. I lose a lot every year, but I don’t care. However, I woke up this morning with a fever, congestition and sore throat. I haven’t shaken them yet.

I had two stories I really wanted to do today, but I’ll probably play catch-up. Instead, I’m sucking down cold medicine like a champ.

It’s Sunday night, we’ve gone to church and our Dave Ramsey class and bedtime is around the corner. However, I couldn’t let the day pass without a couple of observations.

To begin, I was furious when the VA lost a computer with millions of veterans’ personal info on it. Well, these idiots have done it again. In Birmingham, an external hard drive with a half-million vets’ data is suddenly gone. I’m an Air Force veteran, and I’m sick of seeing this mess keep popping up. Morons. Utter morons.

Another story I read tonight has me a little concerned, too. I went to college for more than four years to get my broadcasting degree, as did many of my fellow reporters. Now I read where a television station in California fired the news staff so untrained people can provide content instead. HELLO? Oh, my bad. It’s Clear Channel. That explains it (I’ve despised that company since my radio days).

I can’t say anything else tonight without insulting someone, so I’m just going to stop it right here. It was shaping up to be a great end to a great weekend.

This has not been a happy couple of days with the Internet. Our provider took a big hit of some sort statewide, and it’s caused havoc at home and work. It seems to be semi-stable for now.

I’ve discovered a blog over the last couple of days. There’s a guy who grew up in the town next to me, and he knew an old flame of mine. He’s got a pretty funny definition with her name attached to it. I’m not spilling the beans on who she is, but here’s his blog: Clouds in My Coffee. If you’re interested in who she is, have fun reading and finding out.

I’ve hit a little bit of nostalgia lately where my high school and Air Force days are concerned. That’s why I’ve done a couple of searches to see what people are up to. It’s funny to find them and see how they’re doing. It makes me appreciate my current life even more.

I think that’s all for tonight. I’ve not had but 10 hours of sleep since Wednesday, and I’ve got wallpaper and paint to deal with tomorrow. That pillow’s looking mighty good right now.