NP: Various Artists, Modern Rock: Mid-'80s (CD)

So, let me get this straight. This woman dated 120 guys over two years, and rationalizes it by writing a book about how you can tell what kind of boyfriend we'll be by what kind of dog we have? That's a long way to go to explain to your mom why you haven't gotten married yet, isn't it? Especially when the whole "pets and their owners have similar characteristics" theory isn't exactly new ground to be broken. But hey, you do what you have to do to maintain your self-esteem. For me, I like to think it's really not me, it's her, despite the mountains of evidence to the contrary.

120 guys, 2 years, that averages out to 5 per month, or less than a week per guy. Back on the self-deprecation front, suddenly my recent relationship longevity issues don't look so bad anymore. What I'm seeing is that, after maybe the first 20 guys, which would have covered a whopping 4 months, Ms. Diamond figured she had to portray her, um, proclivities in a more positive light. Maybe one of them worked for a publisher.

And once the plan was afoot, did she approach these guys by saying "hi, I'm writing a book about dating, would you go out with me?" My roommate was joking about leading off my dates by explaining that there would be an exit interview so I could maybe figure out why these things never get anywhere, but it was a joke. I think. I'm really tempted to use the book thing as a pickup line now, just for the proverbial shits and grins, but I probably won't. Besides, I'm more of a cat person, anyway.

Two gigs into the Sandwich Music King of Chicago thing, and I've got the calluses and sore throat to prove it. I'm singing more than Big Pussy Bonsepiero (I'm not even going to try to spell that right) in the second season of The Sopranos.

Elsewhere in today's Sun-Times, 'cause there was one for me to read while said calluses and said throat recovered between sets, I agree with Neil Steinberg's "potshot" premise that I can't possibly vote for Jack Ryan in the Senate primary, but for slightly different reasons. If he's not good enough for ex-wife Jeri Ryan, he's not good enough for me. Or something like that. It sounded better in my head. Plus, there's the whole "I'm not a Republican" thing. I guess I should maybe start looking at this election thing, maybe put in some calls to campaign offices asking what the candidate for the Water Commissioner is going to do about the lack of jobs in the tech sector.