I'm like the dad who misses three visitation weekends in a row with his kids, then takes them to the arcade for 8 hours straight to compensate. Not that I'd know anything about that, of course.

I really, really need some new photo display software. Though I love the ease of Photoshop, I despise the fact that it will only order things alphabetically. Forcing you to add superfluous numbers or letters before image names, really disrupting the flow of the story. Other nitpicks: 1. No color or format customization, at least in my version of the software. 2. Photoshop's insistence on defaulting to today's date, even after you've adjusted that text line. I guess I shouldn't complain since it is ridiculously easy, and to date I've been too lazy to investigate other options. Ah well.

So I've decided to begin a study in labels and signs. I feel like I've already missed so many prime opportunities, such as the "Hick'ry Pit" sign on our drive up to Truckee. The problem with this project, I guess, is that it requires a good deal of pulling over to the side of the road. Maybe focusing on labels is more practical. I may start here, with the warning on the container of fruit dip last night, which reads: "Does Not Contain Fruit." In case you were worried. Or excited.

This new interest in Pabst Blue Ribbon concerned me at first, until I read that "Nature's choicest products provide its prized flavor."

Last night we also ate stirfry, drank wine and watched "Bring It On." Jess and Gareth fell asleep. I stuck with it, finding myself notably surprised at how much actual cheerleading (and how little witty irony) went on in that movie: Crossroads is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of plot development, if you ask me.

I took a picture of the Starz! pitchman after Gareth's apt observation that it must be unfulfilling to sell something that's already free.