Well, Dad, we made it to Home Depot last night but they were sold out of snow supplies. Apparently nobody else had to work in DC on Friday. So here are the steps into my apartment covered in snow. You were right.

As the ’00s come to a close, I’m looking back on the music that made my decade. These are the pop albums I listened to straight through the most…

10. The Postal Service, Give Up
09. Kanye West, Graduation
08. *NSYNC, No Strings Attached
07. Janet Jackson, All For You
06. Jason Mraz, Mr. A-Z
05. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP
04. John Mayer, Continuum
03. Justin Timberlake, Justified
02. Usher, Confessions
01. Michael Jackson, Invincible

Seriously, I have been updating that a LOT more than this website. I need to find a new purpose for www.rayharmon.com. Anyone have any suggestions?

At least for me! Since I signed up for a Twitter account, I have dramatically reduced my blogging here at my own website. It’s so much easier to convey a unique idea or perspective on a topic with 140 characters or less than it is to log into the admin portion of this site, then set up an entry, then tag it and save it.

For those of you reading this page on a regular basis (assuming you’re still around), I am doing quite well. I’ve got a new job, new apartment, new love, and new Macbook Pro. Things are good…and the semester is almost over!

Booyah. How are YOU!?!

I figured you might check here to see if I updated my blog today, so this one’s all yours!

I think I’m ready to start taking what I want from life again. Summer was strange but I learned a lot and the situation has made me more independent by necessity. I lost a hobby (stalking Michael Jackson’s every move) and a partner who does not really want to be around me just yet. Hopefully that one will resolve in my favor.

But Autumn is here and it’s my favorite season. The leaves are turning and peppering the street. There’s a stillness in the air at night. And the European tourists have vacated the city at last. October in DC is a wonderful–I suggest you try it out.

I have big plans brewing. There are places I want to travel and things I would like to see and do with the next couple months. I’ve already accomplished one goal by shedding 16 pounds. How are you planning to wrap your 2009?

I’m still consistently posting on Twitter. Follow me at ray_harmon.

…I have been battling a sore throat since at least last Thursday. INSANE! Nobody around me is getting it–meanwhile I sound like I’ve been screaming at the top of my lungs for hours on end. Quick, wanna hear my Kathleen Turner impression? Because it won’t last!

Moving! I now live in the District, in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. I love the new place, because of or in spite of the fact that I spent a TON of money furnishing it and buying all my kitchenware, bathroom stuff, etc. I’m thinking about having a very small housewarming dealio with some wine, cheese and friends. We’ll see when that might transpire.

School’s going as well as it can, given how much of a distraction work is providing. I am basically exhausted all the time right now, but I’m muscling through and hopefully after this semester ends, I will have some return to a sane lifestyle. At least I’m losing weight again…?

Other than all the upheaval and stressors, I’m actually in a fantastic state of mind. Things are pretty positive and I like where my head’s going lately. I am curious what’s around the corner, but I’m definitely ready to start making plans and doing new things. It’s been a life on partial hold in recent weeks as I make all these transitions.

I apologize for the near-silence from me this past month. When I wasn’t in mourning, I was stressing and dwelling, traveling with loved ones, and navigating towards a promotion. Some of the drama has subsided and I find recently I’m almost disconnected entirely from politics, and significantly separated from Hollywood. It’s been a Ray-oriented summer.

Something interesting needs to happen in LA or DC soon so I can write about it!

While in London on Monday, I wore my official tour t-shirt, mirror shades and Michael Jackson buttons to the O2 Arena to take part in a mass vigil by fans of my idol. I thought I’d share some photos of the afternoon and evening, including a shot of my message to Michael which I left on the white boards.

Alright, so I have actually been here since about 1 o’clock Greenwich Mean Time (heretofore GMT). That’s five hours ahead of the East Coast of the US for those of you keeping track. We spent another 45 minutes in the damned airport (Heathrow, you are now “Hate-row”) and then an additional hour getting to our hotel. Once we got to the hotel, we realized we couldn’t get any internet without paying 20 pounds a day (which is like 30 bucks, mind you!). So we crashed on the bed to self-adjust to the time change and the 7 hour overnight flight with little to no comfort.

Things I’m disappointed in: not having internet on the plane, nor the space to actually get any of my freakin’ work done like I promised my boss. And not having internet in the hotel room.

Things I’m surprised about: how beautiful it was today, how ill-behaved everyone’s kids are here, and how terrific “Thriller Live!” turned out to be. Everyone was crying during the ballads. There are Michael shrines all over town and every store is blasting his songs. It’s been tough but also nice to see the love.

I’ll fill you all in tomorrow night on what we accomplish during the day. But I wanted to let everyone know we made it safely and it’s been very cool.