Update.

Well, I lost my first trial as a lawyer. I felt crummy. But the judge said I did a good job for the first time. The supervisor of the misdemeanor section of the DAs office -- my opposing counsel's boss -- said my closing argument was "bordering on brilliant." The jury (after they delivered the verdict) said I need to speak up/be louder and be more charismatic, but said I mostly did a good job. Not good enough, obviously, but at least my peers think I don't suck. I'd be happier if I were a winner.

Meanwhile, my doctor informed me (after finding a suspiciously tender area during a physical last week) that my liver enzyme tests came back normal (actually more normal than previously measured) and that I am not dying of hepatitis, which I was afraid of.

So, just for those keeping score:

DA's Office, 1. Me, 0.

Me, 1. Death, 0.

I guess I can live with that.

I am now the owner of a 2005 Toyota Prius with low miles

Houston unemployment down to 8.5 percent. I'll care when I land a better job.

Its ghost day on the Discovery, which we are obligated to keep on our demo televisions at work. The shows ('A HAUNTING' etc) absolutely drive me bananas. They are a bunch of unverifiable, unfalsifiable claims stitched together with amazing leaps in illogic and drowning in melodrama. These credulous dramatizations, I believe, simply enable pathological people by giving them a forum to share their delusions (or lies) with a gullible audience. What a waste.

Im totally stoked - I am the only one at my store totally fabulous enough to be instantly approved for a RadioShack credit card. Associate Training rocks!

Nessa thinks its probably the transmission. No tranny jokes please.

I believe my car aka the clown car aka the tomato may be headed to the junkyard. :-(