I think I've regained some of my writing spirit in the past two weeks. Perhaps this week is influenced by the fact that my big trip to Texas was cancelled, of which I'm still recovering from the disappointed from. Regardless, I think there's a lot to think about in terms of how I'm going to sustain myself over the next two weeks as this big report deadline is quickly looming over my head. Of course, being the overachiever as I am, I intend to submit my report a week early...a feat that has yet to be accomplished by any major organization. This is a rather gutsy move, but the faster I'm able to submit this report, the more of a possibility that I'll get some time off to go and relax. Unfortunately, you know that everything operates on a last-minute assignment system...as in people don't do anything until it's the eleventh hour. I abhor such behavior, but I can understand how it gets to that point...but it's not my responsibility to coax them into doing their work.

On a different front, I'm starting to realize that there is a lack of momentum right now. It might be the recent ravages of hurricanes and the obvious flub of our government, but I think we're being lulled into a sleep from which they hope we don't wake up from. For example, gas prices have been up, although not as sharply as predictors had thought in the wake of a second storm. However, it's those menial, yet practical concerns that have caused us to lose focus. You also are aware that the holiday season is rolling around and eventually we'll return to our American consumerism in no time. I predict that we'll spend more than last year and that commercialism is the way to get over our financial woes and depressive morale...as ironic as that might sound.

Finally, I've been getting intermittent e-mails from my mother, who had previously departed on a tour of Asia more than three weeks ago. She's currently in Singapore after having traveled to Malaysia for a few days prior. I'm assuming she'll make her way back to the mainland once she's done romping on the islands. It must be fun to just travel everywhere...oh wait, that's what I used to do. Of course, it's not to the scale and expense that my mother has taken, but I reminsce about the days when I did get to travel all over the United States. Heh, you might say that I get my wanderlust from my parents, who both enjoy more of their times abroad than here. Sighh, I think I need a vacation.