No, I'm not dead yet though I feel like it. A bit more work to get through before I can embrace the winter break with carefree abandon. Just a stream of consciousness run down of some items lately. Let's see, Big Brand Tire Co. was cool to do a flat repair for free and I think I'll have them put on my new tires whenever the M needs them. Got a polarizer and a UV filter for the camera finally. Skies look BEAUTIFUL now. No more washed out overexposure from refraction! But now I need a tripod. Mom? =)

Let's see, oh yeah, Chocolate Gallery is pretty cool (on Fairview, in Goleta). They make their own chocolates. The 50/50 blend (half unsweetened and half sweetened) is good but I think I still like the buttery flavor of the Droste Pastilles better. J works at the Chocolate Gallery though and got me a chunck of unsweetend chocoalte "straight up". OK, I could finish the entire thing. I'm not a man. But oh that raw chocolate flavor. Everyone should try it at some point.

Er...god a red scarf (w00t! Color!), lots more wines (thank you trader joe's), and have been nursing a bottle of scotch. Been restarting the leisure reading (Life of Pi) and have also restarted lesiure piano practicing. Rachmaninoff 2 is heaven on earth. Some claim it better than sex. I'll refrain from commenting. Hope (ahahaha. Pun entirely intended!) ranch is astonishingly beautiful and reeks of wealth. Hope to get back there soon with the camera and its new polarizer. Wonderful ocean views all the way out to Channel Islands.

Things to do soon: start saving money for M Roadster upgrades. Start saving money for trip(s?) to Europe. Oh wait, Indonesia too. Crap. Start saving money for Camera accessories (tripod mainly and a case mainly, and then filters and conversion lenses). Start saving money for certain choice wines and liquors. Ah shit. Start saving money period. So that I can spend it, I mean!