I spoke to Joey earlier today. He told me The Kiddo's birthday was this past weekend. So, I grabbed the boy something today at Toys-R-Us. I don't know when I'll be able to give it to him. Joey gets to see him when he can see him. He is such an interesting child in the two times I've met him. I just feel like I've known him forever. Maybe because even before I met him, I heard lots about him from his father.

In fact, today, I was thinking about how a year and a half ago, Joey and I were in the middle of our Computer Ethics class. It's the only class we took together. I don't count that semester of Senior Project because I was ahead of him. Technically, we were registered for different classes at Senior Project. Well, back then, he just another classmate. We were discussing the Child Online Protection Act and other related laws in class. Joey spoke up in favor of COPAish laws and dominated the class discussion with the professor. He said he didn't want children to see porn on computers in public places like libraries. I actually agreed with Joey in that class, but since I didn't have any thing factual to back up his claims, I kept quiet in class. After class, I told him I agreed with him. Well, we'll still talk about that topic to this day. Today, I saw an article about the Child Online Protection Act being overturned. For some reason, that conversation in class sticks out in my mind. Funny how we all change as time goes by.

I had gone to Toys-R-Us not for The Kiddo's birthday, but for my own reasons. I went to get some stuff to decorate my cubicle with. My job is one where I'm on a team that helps configure and construct software for a major company here in the US. Since you can find toys related to construction work and my team's client, I thought that stuff would be cool for my cubicle. It would remind me as to what I'm doing. I just don't think a model Lockheed Martin X-33 would be wanted in my cubicle. If I get one for my cubicle, it will because my father worked on it. He's embarrassed he worked on it, but I'm proud. He did a small part in trying to further manned space flight, but still something not everyone can say they did. I was on the phone with my father as I searched for these toys. I needed his help in identifying the items related to my team's client. I didn't find anything at the store I could use for cubicle decor, but I did get the birthday gift.

My father had me look for Black Canary Barbie. She won't be out until September, but he wants her. He thinks it's a big stink over this doll. He understands she's a collector doll, not a toy doll. He knows exactly who Black Canary is, so he sees nothing wrong. Had she been at Toys-R-Us, I would have gotten her. I would not have gotten her for a child, but I see nothing wrong with the doll.

While I was looking for the birthday gift, I was taken aback by the boy toys. Actually, it's toys in general. What happened to being 7/8/9-years-old? All the action figure toys in Batman, Spider-Man, and Star Wars were pathetic. They were either turned into baby-looking characters or to sculptured for on display by teenagers. There were no average looking figures like I grew up with that kids The Kiddo's age could just play and be a kid. I don't have to treat him like he's a baby, because he's not, but he's not an adult, either. I don't want to rush him. And the same goes with little girls, too. They go straight from Disney Princesses to slutty Bratz. There is nothing in between.

Back to the cubicle decor. I did stop at Michael's the other day and got some stickers of construction tools. I placed them on my pen cup. While I was there, I got some unfinished birdhouse wind chimes. I figured the next time I see the kids of Joey's family, I would give them the wind chimes. Mary Ellen has all sorts of acrylic paints at her place and the kids love to paint the crafts she has for them. For the time being, they are my local family. I also went to the doctor's office on Monday and got back on medication I've been needing. I'm back on lisinopril and paroxetine. As a result of trying to get them back into my system, I'm jittery. What fun! However, I know once fully in my system, I should no longer be this ball of nerves that cried all the time and is afraid to hurt her circulatory system with these cries. I won't be as jittery as I am.

[♪ Listening to: "Self Control" - Laura Branigan]

Posted by Shawn at July 23, 2008 9:12 PM in General.