i have to apologize for my disappearance y'all. things have been rather interesting of late, and i had been so busy that i hadn't had the chance to sit in front of my computer to blog like i used to - but since it's been a while i'll tell you a little bit about what i've been up to: i went on vacation with my girlfriend to maine, and i have to admit that it was an amazing time. portland, maine is really interesting, and i dug the old fashioned, narrow cobblestone-lined streets of the old port district. we had spent a couple of romantic nights wandering around together, checking out a couple of small pubs and fish shops. and to add to the romance, we had rented a small cabin in nearby scarborough where we had a small kitchen; so we had cooked a couple of meals while we there and it saved a lot of money. we also went out to old orchard beach, maine: in the fall it's a sleepy, old-time beach resort town that would remind those native new yorkers, like myself, of coney island - but with hotels and lodges lining the blocks nearest the beach.

we also took a ride on the casco bay ferry line which transports residents of the surrounding islands in the casco bay back and forth to portland, along with mail, supplies, groceries and anything else you can think of. and watching the sun set on the water and the islands was amazing. i think i'll definitely go back again.

i have an second interview with the people at oxford university press. i had an interview the friday before i went on vacation which i had felt went pretty decently. so i need all of you to keep your fingers crossed.

let's see what else is going on - i'm disappointed in the yankees losing the way they did but there's a part of me that really isn't all that surprised. i did go to the one playoff game that they did win with a buddy of mine.

oh i should also mention that before i went on vacation, j had invited me to some get together with a bunch of her friends. i couldn't go because i was going to be out of town that day, so j writes me an e-mail back saying we'll get together after you get back in town. and do you know that she hasn't mentioned anything since i've been back? in fact, i haven't even heard from her! then again, there's a part of me that might be a bit glad but i still can't figure it. maybe she likes me and is jealous of my girlfriend. who knows.


but in any case, i'm back and it feels good.