I guess I can’t put it off any longer, so it’s back to work today. Not that I haven’t been working all weekend, of course. Construction is more or less complete, though, so it’s down to filling in nail holes, sanding, and painting. Hopefully before the cats have a chance to puke on everything too much. I really hate the thought of going back to work today. I’m really getting tired of it – it just screws up my whole damn day.

An emergency spending bill passed yesterday (late, not surprisingly, meaning pay for state workers will be at least a day late next week). The NY State budget is now 183 days late, with no resolution in sight. I think they should just start working on next year’s budget.

Speaking of days, it’s, what, 64 days of the Gulf oil leak? They say the rate is 60,000 barrels of oil a day, and, at 42 gallons to an oil barrel (why isn’t it 55?), that’s over 2.5 million gallons and counting. And who knows how many gallons of toxic dispersant used to try and hide it. Makes me glad I live up her in the hinterlands, where all we get is a little snow once in a while (and whatever acid rain falls, courtesy of our neighbors in the Midwest). Oh, and if you’re on a well and happen to live near where they’ve done some hydrofracking, you might be able to set your tap water on fire. But they actually decided to pretty much outlaw that up here. Funny, nobody seemed to complain about the dirty gubberment interfering with the right to make your water flammable. Fortunately, there’s a loophole that exempts it from the Clean Water Act.

Speaking of hydrofacking, ‘Gasland‘ premieres on HBO tonight. Make sure you watch it before you smoke around your sink.

Smoking in NY State will cost you, though, even if your water doesn’t catch on fire. As part of the last spending bill, they’ve added an additional $1.60 a pack tax on cigarettes beginning July 1st. That make this the most expensive state to buy cigarettes in (an average of $9.20 a pack). Holy crap, I thought it was bad when they hit a buck a pack in a machine. I’m sure glad I quit back, oh, must be close to 15 years ago.

Oh well, time to fly. If you don’t watch True Blood, you won’t get this. But if you do, it’s pretty gosh darn funny. Apparently Snoop is a big fan of the Sookie, too.