1. I bought a sofa today, to be delivered when the renovation of my flat is complete. It's in a lovely dark aubergine colour.

2. I'm dreading next week - a heatwave is predicted, and the London Underground is barely ventilated (there's no air-con). I hate hot weather, I get very distressed, like a puppy that's been shut in a car.

3. Living in one room is driving me nuts, but I know it's short-term pain for long-term gain. The cats watched, aghast, as I threw their old beds away today. They can have new ones when the work is finished.

1. Was taken out last night for a low-key pre-wedding celebration by some female friends: just four of us drinking pretty drinks and eating fancy sandwiches and laughing like drains all night. Lovely, and so sweet of them to think of it.

2. Must tidy the apartment for an 8 a.m. maintenance visit tomorrow. This coincides, unfortunately, with the need to spend the day cooking catering-sized batches of food.

2. Two weeks from this moment, we'll be speaking our vows. Golly.

Crunch workweek ahead, seeking people's tips on how best to maintain high productivity all week... (not used to this!)

A few of mine:
- Have easy healthful food ready to grab, and give special thought to easy breakfasts so I don't skip it.
- Get my laundry done ahead, so I'm never scrambling around for a clean towel, appropriate garb, whatever.
- Feel fine about saying no to requests external to my chief task.
- Know what I can reasonably delegate and what I must attend to myself. Be willing to change this assessment as time goes on.

Having said that, I think I'll now go follow my own advice --- this promises to be a busy coupla weeks!

1. It's supposed to get to 100 degrees farendheit today. Ugh. (ej, I feel your pain. My car's AC doesn't work that great and I feel a mite trapped when in heavy traffic in this kind of weather.)

2. Too. Much. Eating. this weekend. Hubby seems to be sabotaging me with goodies. This has to stop.

3. I am NOT going to the store NOR am I going to the gym today. I am going to REST.

1. Yeah, not liking the humidity. It doesn't interact well with my diabetes, at least in terms of comfort. I have to lose more weight, but exercise and work make me hypoglycemic in no time.

2. My niece is recovering from her eye surgery (injury story here). She had a new plastic lens implanted, basically, and has gone from seeing shadows and lights to being able to distinguish numbers of fingers at a reasonable distance.

2a. Unfortunately, probably mainly because school is out, she's completely bored. Her sister moved out to their mom's, so even though they get on each other's nerves, they always had something to do. Result: Nasty, nasty name-calling whenever I ask her to do a chore, and today, a knife wielded in my general direction (probably just a gesture), so maybe she has to go back on psych meds.

3. Fry the cat is getting slightly more used to being next door at my mom's place, but still gets into aggressive play with me at times. Got a new scar on the back of my hand to go with all the others.

1. I'm making plans to take two mini vacations in the next 2 months because I'm really starting to feel burnt out at work, which is a shame because I love my job.

2. I thought I'd made a huge fuckup in the stats and I deleted a few hours worth of work to realize after I'd done that that the error I thought I had made wasn't actually an error. I'm pissed and now am going to have to spend a good chunk of time replacing all the info that I deleted and these stats are due on Tuesday along with the quarterly report and ARGH WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID SELF?!

3. I really need to get off my ass and call the craft store about this cake decorating class that they're offering, considering it starts next week.

1. In-laws were visiting for the weekend (not staying with us though) which was lovely, but I really REALLY need a weekend where I have no obligations (next weekend is shaping up to be pretty close to that, yay!)

2. Baby is thisclose to crawling. We need to finish babyproofing the apartment.

3. Two more days of work. Boss emailed me yesterday to ask if I could do a journal club tomorrow so I have to spend the rest of the day working on that as well as a paper that I'm writing

I feel ej's, dhartung's and bunnyfire's pain - I hate the heat too (though a basement office helps a lot) and my husband has hollow legs and loves creamy sauces. As I'm 15" shorter than he is and can put on weight extremely easily, I have to plead with him not to feed me so many calories.

gaspode, I hope you get your obligation-free weekend.

Elsa, good luck with the rest of the party-planning, and thanks for the tips.

sperose, did you hear from the library school?

1. Took advantage of the rain to edge my lawn and swale. Muscles are sore but getting used to the work.

2. Getting distressed about not being able to afford plane tickets to FL - backup plan is to drive. Don't know if I can take 24 hours in a car with two kids

3. I think something may be wrong with my cat. He was yowling and peeing all over the kitchen and living room and dripped all the way to the door where I tossed him out of the house. He's got a litter box but has been peeing and pooping outside of it which is driving me insane.

bonus 4. Kids are out playing with a neighbor. I sure needed the quiet.

1. Sitting here studying C programming for a second technical job interview on Tuesday. I hate this whole process but if I can get out of my current job, it will be worth it. I've got another potential job that's at the point of asking for references too so it's looking good for getting out. I took the job I have out of desperation but I'm just not suited to working for a giant 110 year old corporation. Both jobs that I'm up for are with <100 person startups which is much closer to the type of company that I like working for.

2. Going to see The Old 97's tonight at a free concert at the county amphitheater. We'll pack a picnic dinner and a some bottles of beer, hopefully it won't rain.

3. If I do get a new job, I'm hoping to take two weeks off in between and go work on my Mom's house to make it more sellable. She moved into a managed care home a year ago but we haven't managed to get anyone to buy here giant crumbling victorian house yet.

1. As of Friday, I have a new refrigerator. Frost-free! I have joined the twentieth century! (just in time for the twenty-first!)

2. Monday morning, I'm getting a new sink for the bathroom.

3. Spent the first part of the week going out, spending five-ten hours a day outside. Spent the second half of the week holed up inside the apartment, with occasional half-hour grocery expeditions. Need to emulate the first half, not the second.

altolinguistic: Still no word. I'm planning on applying to Drexel too since they have a 100% online program and accept applications until September 1st. I've been drafting a pissy letter to the state governor, for what good it will do, since UMD is a state school.

Lysdexic: That sounds suspisciously like a UTI for cats. :-/

1. It's supposed to be 108 here today. So I feel all y'all's heat-related pain. But I also feel more of it.

2. Working on a freelance project this morning in a coffee shop. Using their A/C instead of my own, which is nice. However, am starting to feel like I'm coming down with something. There's been a nasty bug going around work and I don't want it. Therefore, I'm going to pack up, head home, and rest on the couch in hopes of fighting it off. We're going camping next weekend and I really don't want to be sick...

3. ...because I think it's already going to be a difficult camping trip physically. Am going to the dermatologist tomorrow morning to have the offending new mole removed from my foot. (The ominous, official purpose of my visit, listed on my referral, is "Rule Out Malignant Melanoma." I wish they'd just put 'mole check' or something, so that I could pretend that it's not a big deal.) Anyway, because of where it is, I expect that the aftermath of the removal will be a little more painful than usual, and that I'll have a wounded foot during the camping trip. Thought about putting the visit off until the following week, but I'd just rather get it over with. Whatever. It'll be a good excuse to sit around and read during the whole trip, which is what I'd usually rather be doing anyway.

1. Today I went to the beach with my kids, sister, nephew, and parents. My dad brought his kayak and I paddled around for a long while. It was wonderful.

2. Now I am showered and feeling refreshed and wish I had some sort of junk food to snack on. Chocolate covered pretzels and ice cream would hit the spot.

3. After the beach I ran into the store to pick up something to make for dinner. Every time I go to the grocery store I spot so many magazines that I want. They are so expensive! Back in the day I used to buy whatever appealed but now I am trying to be more frugal.

1. After all the rainy days, you'd think I'd be glad to see the sun? I am, but not the humidity (I am so picky!)

2. Trimmed more of the young trees by the corner of my yard. Took them to the neighborhood brush pile, and noticed, in clumps of decaying leaves, seedling pumpkin plants, just like the ones I planted. So I took them carefully home, and planted them near my other seedlings. Hope they take!!

3. My stepson taught my son how to mow the grass, and use the weed whacker and blower. Yay, more help in the yard! Not that my son did it without grumbling, however. Oh, how I love the teenage years. :^?

1. My arms can barely reach the keyboard because they are shaking so badly.
2. They shake so because I foolishly went outside with my new clippers and went to town on the ivy, bamboo grass, and general bush manicuring.
3. I realized too late that I have no upper body strength. When I came inside after an hour of punishment, I could barely raise my hands to me head to wash my hair. The q-tip on the way to my ear shook the whole way up. I had to hoist my hands onto my laptop. Making dinner tonight should be fun.

1. Thank you for all the nice birthday wishes. I had a great time visiting college friends in Washington D.C., and watching my Red Sox get clobbered. I went to see Mt. Vernon too, which was really neat.

2. The British are far better at celebrity tabloidism than the Americans. The BBC, we noticed, scooped the American channels on Michael Jackson by at least a half hour.

2a. I feel really, really sorry for Farrah Fawcett and her loved ones.

3. Thank you also for the whuffles during my zoloft withdrawal. That whole experience was really, really not fun. For some of us, our mental/emotional problems cannot be solved with medication, self- or otherwise.

1. Interviewed yesterday morning for a p/t gig doing some weekend work for a small vet's office nearby. I'm supposed to find out by mid-week whether they want me or not. It wouldn't be a great amount of money, but it would be some great experience and relatively easy work.

2. Went out to a classic car show this morning. It was mostly Shelby Cobras, but there were several Fairlanes, Galaxies, Cougars, etc. I have a fetish for vintage auto badges, so I spent about an hour walking around taking pictures of all of the different badges I could find. It was hot, but a lot of fun.

3. Now doing laundry for the week and tidying up. I have "Waltz with Bashir" from Netflix to watch tonight. Up at 5:30 in the morning to start the work week all over again.

1. Walked to the new Sunday farmers' market in our neighborhood and discovered a good number of my favorite vendors from Saturday go to this one too. It's an incredibly beautiful day for a walk and I'm having to remind myself that I am walking to meet a friend for dinner so no, I cannot spend the day walking around.

2. Bought blackberries and blueberries while there. After walking them home, discovered that the blackberries were pretty soft so made a new agua fresca: blackberry cucumber. My theory was that I get two huge cucumbers in my CSA each week and don't like cucumbers that much so I might as well combine. The result was a little odd but very, very refreshing. I don't think I'll repeat it but I'll have no trouble drinking what I made.

3. Have decided to give full-time freelance a shot until I see more jobs in IT here that I want to go after. My partner has been doing it for four years and is drowning in work so should be able to pass more my way. I'm a little conflicted on it because I really like working with other people and am worried about staying in the house too much. Boyfriend laughed when I told him that because I go exploring and out on the town more than most of our friends, and he pointed out I can always take my laptop to a coffeeshop. Hmmmm. Would be nice if we were able to both do this and call the shots for vacations and such.

jason's_planet, I am still laughing about your frost-free fridge.

• Currently sitting on the back porch eating ciabatta, smoked mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil sandwiches, accompanied by a Flemish Sour Are.

• Next up is some final prep work on my bicycle to get it ready for my upcoming trip. Gonna rewrap the handlebar tap, mount a different light and adjust the fenders.

• Then I gotta do some work around the house I won't be able to get to next week what with it still being busy at work: mow the lawn mainly but also some general cleanup.

Busy weekend all told.

The left side of my head is twinging.
The only things I can keep down are vile tasting phlegm and liquids.
I need to do laundry before I leave for my trip.

1. Getting over the flu. Nursing the boy's pulled back muscle. Ignoring pile of dirty dishes. Dinner was damn, fine, though. Watching the Glastonbury festival on the BBC.

2. Anniversary weekend: one year since TheDonF and I eloped! We went out to dinner after having a leisurely afternoon in the allotment with a picnic and a nap in the shade. Heavenly. Wedding rings have been picked up: ring exchange ceremony in three weeks.

3. Black current jam from scratch coming soon. As is more rhubarb ginger relish.

1. My dog sprained his front leg yesterday. Still gimpy today so he'll be going to the vet in the morning.

2. Meat chickens have been moved to pasture at 3-and-a-half weeks of age with all 26 (I think, they hop around a lot) intact and healthy.

3. One of the turkeys escaped the brooder in the shed and made her way across the yard, through a non-energized electric mesh fence, and into the chicken coop, where my wife found the poor critter surrounded by staring, freaked out, and confused ducks, hens, and pullets of two different ages.

Oh, and I named my tiller "George" in tribute to the late doctor and humanitarian.

1. It's only a few degrees less hot here than it is chez mudpuppie.
2. I'm not getting very much of anything done at all, though I need to head out and do a few errands soon.
3. I have reasonable internet access again.

1. I am falling in love with Gordon Ramsay the more I see him on BBC America. If I ever visit the UK, I would want to try like gangbusters to visit the place where he films "The F Word." As I noted on Twitter, I am now wondering what he's like in bed. Clearly, I need help.

2. It's very hot in here, and I wish I didn't have bills to pay so that I could buy an air conditioner with my next paycheck.

3. Yesterday, I cleaned my couch and cleared away some paperwork that's been piling up on my table. However, I wasn't able to do laundry because I don't get paid till Tuesday and even though I do have money in the bank, it's money my mom had given me to pay back the IRS. So I actually don't have money, and I've run out of laundry detergent, and can't buy anymore for two days. This is what I am telling myself: I am making a responsible decision by choosing not to borrow against my "credit". I hope my therapist agrees that it was the right decision to make.

3a. I also hate having gotten my period this weekend. Stupid woman-parts.

1. Beautiful weekend - sunny, not too warm, a bit more humidity than I'd like but hey

2. Shopping errands yesterday, laundry and other household chores today

3. Cleaned the rat cage today (way overdue); so fun to watch them explore and have fun afterwards

1. driving
2. took pics of hometown
3. driving

(Why, thank you, Sil.)

1. Said goodbye and OMG THANK YOU to my mom and stepdad, who leave tomorrow to drive back the almost 800ish miles they came to help me paint the new house. No longer are there lavender walls. We did five of the 6 main rooms, leaving only the guest BR, hall, and two baths unpainted. We worked basically nonstop from Wednesday to today. I stepped in a pan of cobalt blue paint with my bare foot on Friday. I managed to clean it mostly off. Move date is July 10th. I've not begun to pack. Whoa.

2. I've unexpectedly lost about 5 lbs. I love summer, with its increase in activity and decrease in appetite!

3. Just finished depilating the legs. Found a spot that I'd apparently neglected before, and am glad I no longer have a leg beard.

1. Friday night - I packed up my now ex-partner's clothes and put them on the porch when I called his phone and a woman answered. Stayed up till wee hours on the phone with him.

2. Saturday - I worked and made it through the day. Rewarded myself with a nice dinner at a northern Italian restaurant since I knew I was going home to empty house.

3. Sunday - I waited and fumed and fretted until ex-partner emailed. Then I sent him this email:

Please don't come to {Award-ceremony, Monday evening for which I am nominated} I don't want you there.

I will ask someone who:

Does not make me cry
Does not lie to me
Does not make me feel fat
Does not make me feel insecure
Does not make me feel lonely
Does not listen to me sobbing with indifference
Does not drag me down into addiction
Does not have to fake smiling
Does not shut me out
Does not steal from me
Does not cheat on me

I will ask someone:

Who makes me laugh
Who makes me smile
Who respects me
Who listens to me
Who makes me feel light
Who makes me feel safe
Who knows the meaning of courage and spirit
Who is not insecure
Who appreciates my company
Who will enjoy the evening
Who will have fun
Who is my friend
And loves me for me

Anyway, not a great weekend for me bunnies.

((((((typewriter)))))))

((typewriter))

1. Had a great day in the park yesterday, went on an unintentionally hilarious boat tour, met some friends of a friend who I liked a lot.

2. Finally booked my trip to Italy today. My best friend and I have been planning it for 6 months but couldn't find flights that fit our very specific dates and itinerary. We found some eventually that were not as crazy expensive as others (but still not cheap enough for my tastes) on europebyair.com.

3. Helped a friend ask out a girl he likes who works at a clothing store downtown and he bought me a beret there as a thank you present! He's also going to lend me his e-book reader for when I go to Italy. He's a good friend.

4. Mad at a close friend for having a party the same day I told her I was going to have a party (that she said she was coming to) without even talking to me about it first. It's not a big fight, but I am mad that she's not acknowledging it at all and I'm upset that we'l now be competing for our friends' attendance.

(((typewriter)))

1. I am no longer worried about paying for school. I got the financial aid package based on my old income friday. It included a FOURTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT. Indeed. It can only get better from there!

2. From one side of the house I can hear heavy metal outside. From another, Michael Jackson. From the third, an apparently-live rendition of Scotland the Brave- on bagpipes.
In my head? Single Ladies. Please to be killing me now.

3. I could never live near some of you. It's all of 85 here now and I haven't slept more than a couple hours in the last two days because of it.

awesome email typewriter!

and well done kellydamnit!!

Yay Kellydamnit!!!

((((typewriter))))

Kellydamnit, I am now going to be forced to kill you for getting Beyonce stuck in my head, too. Grrr. ;-)

1. I had a relaxing weekend, which I think was mainly due to my consciously deciding to let go of the "MUST DO SOMETHING FUN AND/OR PRODUCTIVE!" pressure that I recently realized I had been carrying into weekends. I hung out in the garden, went to the gym, finished reading a really good book, cooked some good food, and got enough sleep. It was nice.

2. Last week had been a hideously stressful week, so it was good that it was a relaxing weekend.

3. I have noticed a distinct correlation between my good moods and my regularly doing at least an hour of exercise every day. That seems like a lot of time at the gym. Boo.