Mommy wow, I'm a big kid now

Strangely impressed with myself tonight.

December is always an expensive month, that's no secret. Extra expensive for me this year because my cousin Loren is getting married on New Years Eve, and that's costing me a fair chunk of pennies. I hate being broke.

Tonight was my friends 23rd birthday. We went to hibachi for dinner. I was literally a penny pincher at that place. Ordered iced tea instead of alcohol, and got just chicken (instead of steak, shrimp, or anything else expensive). But that isn't what impressed me.

Everyone went out to a bar afterwards. Naturally I would have loved to gone. I don't want to be home at 11pm on a Friday night, sitting alone in my basement, writing a blog. That's pathetic.

But, as I said before, I'm broke. And this bar had a cover charge. And drinks are probably unreasonably expensive. So, like a big boy, I passed, and saved my wallet probably 75-100 dollars. Now I get to watch survivor re-runs on DVD while all my friends have a blast in Old Bridge -- whereas old me (and by that, I mean younger me) wouldn't have even thought about his financial situation, would have just gone to the bar and spent an inordinate amount of money, and in a few days would have complained about how broke he really was.

I miss old me. Growing up sucks.

Christmas Time Is Here Again

Started my holiday shopping - online - today. I've never started before December. Ever. Only bought one thing, but still, that's better than most years. Got some decorations down from the attic, too. This is how I know the holidays are approaching.

This, and I went to the Jester last night, and they had the lights up in the front room. As soon as this happens every year, that's how I know Christmas is actually upon us. Not sure why something at the Jester signifies the start of my holidays, but it does.

Broke out the Christmas CDs today, too. I can't listen yet, but that doesn't mean my family doesn't want to listen. A Very Sharkey Christmas is now available, again. If you don't have a copy of it, IM me, and I'll send it to you.

H.H. Holmes

I'm no historian, but I do consider myself fairly educated in this department, especially when it comes to things within the U.S. But I just finished reading Erik Larson's The Devil In The White City. To say that I was unfamiliar with the "serial killer" H.H. Holmes is an understatement. I never knew such a demon could exist.

Here's a man who was married multiple times (legally 3, upwards of 6 or 7 total). Fathered one child. Aborted at least one other. He owned a hotel on 63rd in Chicago in the early 1890's, the World's Fair Hotel (the Chicago World's Fair was open from May 1893-October 1893). He killed at least 3 spouses. At least one sister-in-law. At least 2 other "companions." A co-worker. At least four children (not his own). He admitted to killing 27 people. The remains of 9 of them were discovered. But during his reign in Chicago, estimates have placed the number as high as 200 people, as there were countless disappearances of young girls-- fitting the description of what Holmes craved-- never to be solved.

The fact that he had an incinerator built in his basement may have something to do with that.

History fascinates me. I won't say murder fascinates me, because then you'll all think I'm some kind of crazy. But that a man this horrific, and this nationally known in his time, could be so disregarded by our generation today blows my mind.

I'm not telling you to go read this book. Most of the people I associate with would probably find it boring and unreadable.

I'm just saying, there's so much more out there than what we've been told, it's unbelievable.