Work has been weird the past few days. A combination of being yelled at for being late too often (I really need to work on that) and a somewhat depressed mood hasn't helped anything. Blah. Nothing to be seriously upset over, but blah. It certainly doesn't help to see the usual folks getting away with murder.

My mood? All over the place. Mild depression, to stirred up crap from the past, to a great deal of amusement at the shenanigans of various customers. Today was epic. The best was the guy who sat in the kids' department for a long time, then begging for a few hours of work so that he could get gas money to drive home after a long night at the nearest bar. Um, it really doesn't work that way. I sent manager J and officer R back there after a customer complained, but the guy was already gone. Bookseller M really needs to learn when to get some backup.

We have now been at war with Iraq for five years. Congratulations, Mr. President for keeping us in that quagmire for so long. I look forward to your last day in office.

Barak Obama's latest speech has convinced me even more that he is our best hope. I am stunned that anyone could manage a speech on race relations in this country that could be so uplifting and wise. It's such a damned depressing subject. He makes me believe that we can make it better.

And I was shocked to hear of the death of Arthur C. Clarke. He seemed too eternal to die. Rest among the stars, good man. Know that you have inspired us.