I tag a post "spiritual things," and the next thing I know, there are religion ads on my page. Oh, they're not selling indulgences or anything; but I'm still not sure I want this kind of trade located here with what appears to be my tacet endorsement. How do I know the Bible study materials being pushed in the "Find Eternal Joy With Jesus' Word" ad are sound?

I'd better go back to pagan topics. Hmmm.... what's the last Eddie Albert movie I watched? concert I sang in? miserable student paper I graded?

I did read a book last night, but it was nothing special-- just the latest Hamish Macbeth, by M.C. Beaton. These formulaic mysteries are like literary M&Ms: I'm kind of hooked on them and vaguely wish I weren't, not because they're wicked bad, but because they offer no real nourishment for the effort one puts into consuming them. Still, I don't see me giving them up soon.

There, that ought to change the ads.

Yes, I am finally doing what all the other cool kids did last year: tagging my posts. The most recent entries are done, as are the very oldest ones. I'm now slogging through the middle section of my archive. And I've only deleted two posts since I've been at it!

Anything to avoid paper grading?

P.S. Do you taggers tag every post? I mean, take this one: not only is it not easily categorized, it's also dull and unlikely to edify upon later retrieval. So, no tag, right?

* just wants to be cool correct *

Well, I'm committed... or I should be.

I phoned the tea lady (see this post, if you've just joined me), hoping the whole time that she had changed her mind about waiting till the eleventh hour to finalize the program, and mentally rehearsing my good-natured "Of course I'm not offended that you made other arrangements" speech. And I didn't even call her last night, as I was supposed to; I waited till this morning to do it, thus increasing the likelihood that a pinch-hitter would already have been summoned from the bench.

But, noooooo. It's me (as in, "It's me, it's me, O Lord, standin' in the need of prayer..."). And wait-- I haven't even gotten to the best part. Because this is a garden party, I was informed, we'll have a floral theme going ("God blooms in our lives"... "Jesus will 'forget me not'"... etc.). Though I'm not obliged to stick to the bloomin' theme ("say whatever God plants in your head," my cheerful contact reiterated), I am welcome to do so.

So, have I ever mentioned to y'all that my affinity for growing things is on a par with my general proficiency in the domestic arts? No, let me be honest: it's worse. Nevertheless, I already have an idea of what to talk about, and kinda-sorta of how to tie it in. My piece won't be stunningly original, but I shall endeavor to compensate by saying it as well as possible. Meanwhile, if you have any floral-spiritual puns I can interject for comic relief, just, er, plant 'em in the comments. I will, of course, take full credit for anything I use.