Call a doctor.

Annoyed.

Felt sick all day, sore and tired. First cold day of fall, a nice 57 degrees. Would have liked to take a walk.

Talked to Kyle on Facebook. Seemed perturbed. Likely from the papers he was writing. Ran my idea for the letter-writing short, he responded favorably [Re: Untitled Short]. Feel behind already. Odd for me to have a plot before I have characters. Need supporting cast... round up usual suspects. A friend, an ex, and a pretty new girl.

Kaley brought this to my attention today --> http://myblogthebword.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-holiday-with-john-mccain-it-was-just.html.

Couldn't let it rest. Tried to play it off with a joke, no good. Spent the night on dial-up, downloading Supremely Gratifying [Re: SG] free pornography, and scuttling around the darker political corners of the internet. Found this on Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2231653698&topic=57628 , then this elsewhere: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x191045#194821 ... difficult to gauge. DU is full of crazies, but there are a few levelheaded Dems in the bunch.

Found no extra information -- gleaned those links from Google search of "Ana Dubey"in first 5-15 minutes, did no better. Everything else was just confirming other confirmations. Hours, reminds me of why I opted to do fiction over journalism. There are rumblings of NBC looking into this -- right now, only covered on sites ruled by the crackpots, or sites where the legitimate and the crackpots are allowed to mingle. Be nice to find the story at someplace with a more stringent man at the door.

Maybe the fact that they haven't means I'm wasting my time.

Feelings on the Old Man aside, apprehensive of this story. Seems too sensational, too little is available about it. May yet be earlier in the cycle...could all be cleared up tomorrow. Still, story turns my stomach... have spoken well of McCain in the past, no easy feat, feel his character should reflect that. And I expect the undecided and the Republicans to be fair to Barack -- not believe every outlandish e-mail about Muslims and flag burning they read. But the chance of real vilification for the Old Man? Won't lie... tantalizing. Glorious bastard, steps from the presidency. Hunter would say a reason to throw a trash can full of rats right on the White House lawn.

If he wins. Which I still doubt, whether this story is true or not. Can't help it though. Compelled to keep looking. Feelings say this will be like the cold today. All blow over.

Dreamt last night I was showing Anna tornadoes. Then she turned and asked me how I was feeling. I miss that.

Hannah had a headache, but still stopped to say hello on AIM. John and I almost got into a fight, because I didn't think before I spoke. It seems like so much I say to the few people I talk to is so rehearsed, when I get relaxed, I sometimes throw out words that are more loaded than I realize. Hurt feelings by accident. Reconnected, at least momentarily with Justin Teter from Middle School. [If we hang out, I wonder if he'll still let me call him 'Teter'?] Also heard from Kristen Hale, who I never knew her name, but always saw at Taylor books. Apparently, she's with some guy named Bo... I'm sure he's a nice guy, but I've never met a Bo who couldn't dole out an "ass whuppin'", so I guess I'm glad I never flirted.

Ego boost, knowing someone who's only talked to you sparingly would think to look you up on the internet, though.

Justin sent me a short layout for the town [Re: Calamity Cash and the Town with No Name]. It's looking good, and he even fixed a planning snafu in the script that I didn't realize we had. My mistake. Forgot what it was like having someone who can work out a problem when you're not around. If he puts it up on his blog, I will link it tomorrow.

Shalom.

Letters to strangers.

Rough morning. Dozed off around ten, which would have been fine, but almost missed call from Ally. She's leaving for Pittsburgh today. Actually, she's leaving for Baltimore today, where her, Justin, and Glen will be meeting Mike Mignola, and I imagine other cool comic-related peoples. Met Mignola myself once at Bennington... came off like a right herb, I did. Still awesome to have met him.

Anyway, long and short is that it sounds better to just say she's leaving today...which is true, she's going straight from there to her new home. Proud of her. Also, sad. I hate goodbyes, and ones like today make me think of graduation, and of saying goodbye to the girls, and everyone crying, and Sam crying so damn hard and hugging me so damn tight, and I just pushed up my glasses and sucked it up and didn't let a tear fall. I'm an idiot like that.

Speaking of the girls, Julia sent me an awesome link today [http://www.mingdoyle.com/comics/greenarrow.html]. Definitely worth a look, but not knowing Ming Doyle bugs me. Should commit time to that tomorrow. Today, it's all been Hirooki Goto [Re: Fire Pro Edit].

I miss everybody.

Still, I said goodbye. Will likely see Ally again soon. She has some of my books. I have a few DVDs. Still down. Friendlies are like the truth these days [Re: Mark Twain].

Worried this is starting to sound like Rorschach's diary [Re: Watchmen]. Since the blog isn't "officially" open though, don't care. May stick to this format, may not.

On Work. Forgot to message Savannah back. Should keep at that, for pointers, and just because it's fun to think about the pilot in the works [Re: Sweet Home]. She's also very encouraging, though worried about a friend of hers.

Also, spoke briefly to Glen's friend Kyle. "Kyle Christian Quinn"... the man has the name of producer. Offered me an idea for a short -- piece about a guy who writes letters to strangers about his problems, idea catches on, everyone starts doing it. Light to heavy drama. No timetable, and he said it didn't have to be more than 20 pages. Then reassured me that he wasn't looking for a feature. Then said he'd love to do a feature.

I think I like this guy.

Best to wait until I meet him in person, but basic good feelings here. Good vibrations, Hunter would say.

Took down some notes, have a treatment in mind already. Not sure if he'll be crazy about the first shot, but the idea is an open enough one that endless takes could come. Another thing to work on, but exciting. Might have a draft in a couple of days.

Watched the debate tonight. Might account for current ill feeling. I had forgotten how utterly useless debates are for anything. Proves little, perhaps nothing. Sad most people will vote from what they see there. Maybe they've already made up their mind. Small comfort.

Feel sorry for Obama... current events seem to call even the most earnest promises into doubt anyway. Meanwhile, McCain is some strange, shape-changing beast, adapting with a nudge from stern, record-oriented politician to mold-breaking maverick. The irony -- definition of maverick is an unbranded, motherless calf -- a record of no allegiances and wild unpredictability. So many claim he sold out to get here, but did he, really? Is this not just the same McCain? Could he not win, revert, alienate his new "base," or become something entirely different?

Mercurial. Funny thing with mercury, hold it long enough, it'll make you crazy. And think of the man's age... just how crazy is he now?

I still think of McCain as that young man, showed in black and white on his first go round at this office, young and hurt and scared. Tortured. Heart goes out. Still see that pained desperation in his face these days, but feel less pity. Again, Obama... this seems all like some wild dream, some altruistic bid for changing it all. But McCain. There's hate. It's personal. The face looks the same.

I still don't believe he'll win come winter. But if I'm wrong, and the country votes the old man in, the country deserves what it gets, whatever that will be.

Tomorrow should try to be more productive. No one here all weekend. Got time.

Shalom.