One of the things I do on my not so interesting job is run a program that includes our student's dining facility. The whole thing is done by contract. Government contract. That in and of itself provides insight into the operation. It should come as no surprise then, that of all the people who eat there the German soldiers like the food, the American soldiers are mixed but not vocal in their reactions and the students from the thirty something other countries who attend our programs loathe it.

Therefore we "fixed the problem." We got a whole bunch of the taxpayers money and we gutted the place, remodeled, redecorated, rebuilt the kitchen, got new furniture and art and had a grand opening at which the same old contractor with the same old bag of tricks happily served the same old shit on a shingle but it sure does look better in those new digs. I bet they don't eat this good in Iraq.

It's time to ditch this gig. Here's another GREAT piece of government work. I've been keeping my programs running with books and ledgers, pencils and pens; the old fashioned way. I'm great at it and mine are the most current and up to date programs in my branch.

I got to thinking though, I have this computer see... and what if I put everything on MicroSoft Project? Then I could email stuff around and do some web based stuff and some work group stuff and all that. "GREAT!" said the powers that be. Visionary! Fantastic! Quel Currant! Today they put it on my machine. My service request was submitted two years and two months ago to the day. That didn't take long.

My pal Sean came by last night. It's the last time I'll see him before he heads to the states tomorrow. He's way younger than I am. It doesn't seem to bother him though. Sinead say "he has the map of Ireland on his face." Frankly, I think he's much better looking than the map of Ireland. I'm not sure what she's getting at.

It's still cold and rainy here and the haters seem to be winning. Maybe the weather and the politics will change. But maybe not.

Sinead is BACK! We had a lunch date today. She's been in BULGARIA. Ugh. I'm glad she's back. I knew she was back before I saw her because she sent me some good articles in the email. (Not my YAHOO! email because that is defunct and I seem to have forever lost touch with the stunning and not overly tattooed Dave and my new, now lost epal in Texas called GOOCH.) One of the articles said fat people live longer than thin people.

Such an article is good for certain friends of mine and the entire nation of Americans. Given, however, that the fatest Americans are corn fed church dinner eating neo cons this is most likely bad news for the world. The neocons don't care that they are fat and will be willing to let the thins die first because if they don't they'll bomb them sooner or later anyway.

Sinead is a ton of fun and especially today when SEAN (Irish good looks, killer blue eyes and smile and a past FLING) ended up sitting at the table right next to us. RIGHT next to us. I was trying to figure out a way to let Sinead know who Sean was and that I dug him and then, just when I figured I'd tell her in the Russian language, in walked RODRIGO and the MARTINMATON. Dammit. Rodrigo is as big a homophobe as ever there was but the Martinator isn't. He's cool. I know he's cool because we've kissed but it didn't mean anything.

So there I sat, stealing sidelong looks at Sean. When his buddy left, he waited a long time and then he slipped me his email and phone number. Uh Huh.... I can even work it with Sinead at the table. In fact, she's an ally - and if she thought she could help she'd pitch right in. Now if I could only get Mick to invite his pal Steve back and get Steve a little liquored up...

It's a full moon. I met a guy over the weekend and we howled at the moon, in a sense, the whole weekend. So what if I'm a little tired now.

Brad went to Dortmund to see the charming Michael and on his way back, made an obedient stop in Munich to see the swine Ulrich. I wish he'd leave off with Ulrich but it's not my picnic so I don't have to eat the baloney.

I haven't seen Scott or Flannery in the longest time. I love it that Sinead sent Scott and Flannery the aforementioned article. Sinead is, as we say, a shit starter. Sinead has a good way about her.

I saw Mick in his office the other day. He's as cute as ever and he and Sinead are a damned fine looking couple. Mick's charming with his understated "cheers" and the way he drops his inflection at the end of a sentence. Much better than dangling participles.

Now it's rainy and cold. Spring has arrived in Germany so we can get out the wooly sweaters. Maybe I'll go to Italy this weekend to warm up. Or the sauna.

It's good to be back.

When one's friend (Luke) writes about his current student (a stylish japanese man with a slight lisp) one can't help but think that the friend in question is evolving in surprising ways. But then one hastily realizes, no... that's not it... he is already highly evolved so quit projecting!

Were I to teach the stylish japanese man, the fellow might have something to fear (or not) but since Luke is teaching him, he needs fear nothing. All he needs to do is study and learn. This is why Luke is a brilliant teacher and I would be a disaster at it. Unlike Luke, I should not be allowed in polite society.

For example, the University where I work (I say "University" euphemistically, it is a rather self-concious school sort of thing that deals with post graduate and post doctoral students but isn't really very credible) just had graduation today. After graduation, there was a reception for the students and we all went. That's when it happened. The waiter came up with a tray of drinks. Our little group promptly emptied his tray. I flirted with him the whole time. Then I walked back through the ballroom with him to get a bottle of mineral water. By the time I had the mineral water I had his phone number, a date for later tonight and his name and age. By the time the reception was over I had him. In the men's room. It was quick but it will be better tonight at my place. His name is Sean, he's 24, he's from Sacramento and he's coming over tonight. Like I said, I shouldn't be allowed in polite society.

My friend Brad (who has been banging one of our students this whole class) thinks I'm oversexed. This coming from Brad. Jesus. Look up oversexed in Websters and you will find there a photograph of Brad.

This weekend I'm meeting Mick, Sinead, Scott, another guy, and another guy at Molly Malone's. It's one of the Irish pubs in Munich and it's supposed to be the best. I don't know what's going to happen there but the waiters better watch out.

Speaking of waiters - yesterday I was at the best pizza joint in town. When we left, the waiter looked at me and said "I love you." Now i ask you, what the fuck is THAT?! The others heard it too, clear as day.

I have a devastating affect on waiters, dogs and old ladies. It's a curse. Oh, and on hairdressers. And barbers.

Oh well.

Now that the pope-a-palooza is over I figured I'd write somthing about it. The thing that is crazy making is how stupid the whole thing was. A guy who was the totalitarian head of an organization stuck in the 13th century dies and everyone hails him as a hero/saint/champion of democracy, etc.

A lot was said about his belief in THE DIGNITY OF LIFE. There sure is a lot of dignity in encouraging people in underdeveloped nations to not practise birth control, thereby having a dozen or more babies most of whom don't stand a chance of a dignified life. Go pope. Starving babies on the side of the road with flies all over them is dignified as long as they're catholic?

Then there's the thing about the priests who couldn't keep there hands off the altar boys. That was handled nicely. Or the banking scandal. It goes on and on.

About the only compelling thing I can think about the grief as a spectator sport news coverage was some interesting footage of certain art treasures. Most of which were created by homosexuals. Isn't that inconvenient? But then, no one ever accused the vatican of being convenient.

So long pope. Bring on another one. Not much will change. At least the Bush family approves.