I have not yet received my “economic stimulus” from the government, but I am assured by a surprisingly lithe IRS web site that it should be issued by the end of this week. I am one of the lucky people who gets the full amount of stimulus. Shiver in your seething jealousy, lesser citizens!

My personal political contribution to our failing economic state will be — predictably, unless you’re atlking about me — to put it in the bank. I have several things happening in August and September that are going to cost painful amounts of money. Rather than try to use the money I know I won’t be able to save, I intend instead to put money I don’t want or deserve toward that end.

I’ll need airline monies, food and lodging for my New York trip in early August, money to hire movers and cleaners when I move to Glendale in September, and of course security deposits and first and last possibly for the new place. And Heaven only knows what else, since I won’t have the luxury of a woman’s touch in my home anymore.

Clare and I talked last night about making dates online, probably to play World of Warcraft or some other such thing. I am not sure how well that will actually work, since I know how fantastically busy she can get, and that’s before the added stresses and joys of living in a new city, and specifically New York. I suppose we will have to have even bigger talks as the date gets closer. As usual, I am avoiding that unpleasantness with cobra-like agility.

Last night, I lifted again and felt a little stronger, but I still feel like a mewling babe when it comes to simple things like a shoulder press. Parts of my arms that I don’t think should hurt scream with the pain of a thousand sinners in the hot place, and I tend to wuss out a bit when the strain feels like it is coming from the wrong place. Perhaps that is advisable, but my pride certainly gets stung.

Also, I remain frustrated at my plateau when it comes to fitness. I am doing more now that I have done in months to reduce my body fat percentage, yet I feel just as slobbish and ape-like as I did 35 pounds ago. I know that my definition has increased, but my overall goal — set and pursued for well over a year now — of being comfortable with my shirt off is far from reality. The next two months I will make a bigger push, ice cream cheats aside. It is summer, after all.

Oh, and beer. It’s a bit of a shame that now that I am health-conscious, I also am developing an unabiding love for beer. But, by the same token, the calories in beer fill me up so much that I don’t often eat along with it, which somehow makes me lighter after a weekend of drunkenness. I suppose there must be something in the party atmosphere that raises one’s metabolism. The trim people I know are always up for another. Strange and delightful.

I have been re-watching the original BBC Office at … well, the office. It does not hold the same identifying problems as I once had, since I am rather thrilled with the company that now employs me. We are easily the coolest company in the state, and possibly could compete with such national cool companies as Google and the like in employee satisfaction. The work is still the same in my eyes, but I do not awaken by choking on bitter spite like I once did.

That said, I think I have an opportunity today to make my workplace even more content. The IT fellow who sat behind me has moved to a different area, so the desk with the back wall enclosing it is open. I am easily distracted by passers-by, so with one less plane of entry to my desk, I think I could be even more productive.

There is one trouble with this, though. I don’t like to be someone who gets in the way of someone else’s job. I asked the office manager with due trepidation, and she said that the decision was really more up to the partners. I feel that this is a trifling matter to them, and not one worth interrupting their daily business. But, now I have to go up there and ask. What’s worse, I may have to explain my rationale, which only comes off as “I don’t do work, and I don’t want people looking over my shoulder so they can witness that.” It’s not true (mostly), but what other motivation could I have? Ah, well. I go now to face that challenge. Wish me luck.