Hello. It's Monday, the start of a new week, and I'm glad "The First 48" is on at 7:00 tonight. Nice to have something good to watch before work, for a change.

They've added a couple new channels to our cable line-up. One is Epix, which is a movie network that you have to pay to have permanently, and the other is Halogen, of which I have watched a little but still don't know what it's for.

I watched some anime this afternoon. It was an old TV series, "Saber Riders," and I liked it a lot. Did some reading, too. I was going to go buy the new FIFA 10 game, but I thought I'd rent it first. Have to send back the game I have now, "Storm Rise," which turned out to be a big disappointment.

That's it for the moment. Thanks. See you soon.

Cover of Alaska Geographic's issue on the Russian settlements of the pre-statehood days.

Hello, it's the day before Halloween-- did you get your candy ready yet?

I played "Stormrise" for the X Box 360, and it was one of the worst games for controls I've seen in ages. The plot and the graphics were good, but I couldn't move a thing without losing control of the camera, so I had to be stuck in one spot while my team got mowed down around me. Not worth the rental.

"Knowing" turned out to be great for 75% of the film, and for the last part, the most depressing film ever made. I won't tell you what happens, in case you haven't seen it, but it's serious. Yipes. Get something else.

I have only read a paltry 17 books this year. I count the ones that I get all the way through, not ones where I have maybe finished part of them. I hope next year will be better.

We still don't know where we're having Thanksgiving this year. To tell you the truth, I miss the Indian restaurant I used to go to -- their carved turkey was surprisingly good. They know how to do a sauce.

Okay, that's it for the moment. I'm off to get some lunch. See you later. Thanks.

Hello. It's early, and I am passing the time with some music and then reading when I'm done. I just had some graham cereal for breakfast.

Started watching "Knowing" with Nicholas Cage. Liked it a lot better than I thought I would. Yesterday I went to a birthday party for my Aunt and one of my uncles as well. There were a ton of family and friends there. It was very nice, good food, plenty of stories and picture-taking as well. I haven't seen a lot of the people in a while. Good to catch up on things.

It's cold and rainy outside. I was going to take a walk, but I think I'll wait until the sun comes out.

The World Series should be exciting- as usual. I'm also glad it's hockey season. This is a good time of year for me.

That's it for the moment. Thanks. See you later.

Early in the party, when the guests were just starting to come in.

It's already been a fun day (sarcasm): I had to work an hour overtime, then I had to go to the doctor. When I came home, I couldn't find this half a candy bar I know I saved the other day. Oops.

Finally finished watching all my videos for the week. Can't wait to get some new ones. I was disappointed in one film, "Landscape No. 2," which was good in parts but then slowed down. Haven't played "Stormrise" yet. I got it from Gamefly.

I got some new art markers. I've been thinking of lots of designs I'd like to work on. Found some paper the other day, but they had turned bright yellow, for some reason. They turned the same color as the dresser I stored them in. What the--?

I have lots of reading to do. I'm still too stressed from the doctor visit to get to sleep right now. (I work nights, and have to rest during the afternoon.) I think I'll try to kill time before I have to go to work. Thanks, see you later.

Hello. Not much going on today, except that my shift at work will now start an hour later. I also got my new medicine in the mail, after having waited more than a couple weeks. What's nice is I can watch the 9:00 p.m. shows before I leave for work. I used to only be able to catch the 8:00 shows. In case you're wondering, we don't have DVR.

Yesterday, I cleaned out several shelves on my bookcase. I'll be giving away a lot of old magazines. I brought two whole huge plastic crates full of books and other stuff over to the storage center. It makes the bookcase look a lot less sloppy. I even thought that the room doesn't feel as crowded.

My dog has to go to the groomer's pretty soon. She looks like a little walking carpet. She doesn't like to go, but after the haircut is done, she looks like a puppy.

Okay, that's it for now. See you later. Thanks.