1. In rehearsals for two different shows, set in Burma 2007, and Germany, 1933-38. Makes my brain hurt.

2. Have an impending headache that might impair my day negatively. (Might be related to 1.)

3. Spoke with ex last night. Settled in with checking in every week or so by phone. Still figuring out how to be apart. (Might be related to 2.)

1. My computer died on me yesterday, and because I am a bad bad computer owner, I had nothing important backed up. Went out and purchsed a really cute portable external harddrive. We are now in hour 23 of the backup, and we still haven't gotten to 2 gigs. WTF?
2. My phone disappeared on Monday, off into the ether or secret dimension. It still rings, but if there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?
3. We have to go to bed early to get up at 4 grumble grumble in the morning to take the boy to the airport. He is spending two weeks with family in Wisconsin, and apparently the only flight available was at the asscrack of dawn.

1) got the the Blood Clinic to get a test done

2) go to the gym for long cardio session

3) come back home, have some Icy Cold Pear Cider & Lime and snooze the afternoon away

1. The flat is almost finished. The new mattress arrives on Saturday, and I have Friday afternoon off to buy curtains and a new duvet, so I'll be back in my bedroom on Saturday night.

2. But, happy as I am with my flat, I am happier still that the Neighbour From Hell has gone. All is quiet. My builder will be putting up a 6ft fence between my place and his, to make mine even more private, before anyone new moves in.

3. Next week I'm going back to my two days a week working from home. The five days in the office have been difficult, particularly on my tendinitis, doing so much typing and mousing in the office. I need the voice recognition software that I use at home, and the peace and quiet to get on with the big, complex cases. From next week I'll be mentoring three new starters, as well as handling a full caseload so I really need the two days a week at home to do my casework.

1. My week before the Tenth party I biked 23 miles. This week it's looking like a struggle to reach 16. My goal is supposed to be 35 to 50! Argh. Well, I was trying sprinting to increase my pace.

2. Criminal element down the street is now openly hostile to me. I rode past last night and a guy the size and general shape of a cliché tattooed 400-pound mook that the movie protagonist ends up in a holding cell with muttered "squawk squawk" as I rode by (most of my police reports are anonymous text messages or no name left on the 911 call, but I guess they know who is the calling-police type). I really want to get my mother out of this neighborhood and I'm not sure how we can swing that.

3. I wish I could get my cat comfortable over here in my Mom's house, because eventually I'm going to have to rent out the apartment that I'm living in for income -- if the bankruptcy doesn't take the building outright. A Feliway Diffuser isn't helping.

(((typewriter)))

1. For once, I'm grateful for the company's AC...it's so freezing in here that I HAVE to go outside for my daily walk/exercise, just to warm up. I probably wouldn't do it otherwise.

2. Except that it's only 65°F outside. In July. *whimper*

3. Tonight I'm going to watch movies and do some power knitting. Awesome.

1. The honeymoon is over: we wrapped it up last night with a leisurely day and then a romantic dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. We planned it that way so we can have a little taste of honeymoon anytime we want, just by stopping in for a drink and a plate of polenta fries at our neighborhood spot.

2. On my way to do some errands: farmers' market, library, marketing, like that.

3. WOULD YOU STOP THAT INFERNAL BEEPING?

1. a) My main VCR (den) failed last night. It just stopped producing video from the tape, though it plays sound and brings up the menu fine. b) My old-alternate VCR (living room) has been broken for a year or so. Still awaiting one more attempt to revive it. c) My new-alternate vcr, purchased at a yard sale last weekend, turned out not to work, and ate a tape. Bleah.

2. My new cassette/cd deck broke this week. The auto-reverse/auto-stop thing kicks in immediately so it can't play tapes. Guess I'll have to send it in for warranty repairs. Picked up a used cassette deck at a thrift store yesterday. It seems to work fine.

3. Thinking how much better a gadget-free life might be. Gadgets used to be my friends. Now they most often frustrate me.

1. I have too much to do today.

2. Should have done more yesterday.

3. Get on with it!

1. I made peanut butter swirl brownies with salted roasted peanuts added in to apologize to my boyfriend for an undisclosed reason. They are delicious, and I was forgiven.

2. I got contacted randomly by a producer/director working with a reality show. Actually, they found me through Metafilter. Maybe they read Mecha, too? Can I have more information, plz?

3. Got the final photo back from this shoot, rather pleased, it's pretty modest. Most definitely in the "art" and "fashion photography" section rather than the brown paper wrapped sticky magazine section behind the counter.

1. New job is cool so far. It's my third office on the 19th floor of a downtown tower which seems like a good omen. I can actually look out the window and see across the plaza to the 19th floor office that I sat in during the late nineties/early oughts.

2. I can walk to work again which makes me very happy and hopefully very thin. It's about 25 minutes from door to door and almost all through parks or on a bridge.

3. The only thing that I don't like about the job is that all the computers are named after guns which sort of creeps me out but this is Pennsylvania.

1. Work is quite slow today and since the boss isn't in, none of us are doing anything productive. Although I'm about ready to go do some of the work I need to do for the condo association, even though I'm really regretting ever getting involved.

2. Belly dance is tonight. I'm quite excited for it, even if it does involve the serious stressfulness of navigating Bethesda/Chevy Chase. Also, it means I'll be going to bed later than I should, but oh well, tomorrow's my short day.

3. I'm very disappointed in my local grocery stores. There's no good specials on my chicken and my freezer is starting to run low. :(

1. A door fell on my head last night. One of the sliding doors on our bedroom closet has never stayed on its track, so we keep it propped against the wall next to the closet, behind the bedroom door. Last night, I went into the bedroom, the room already dark (Jon had gone to bed about an hour before), and as I turned to close the bedroom door, keeping the air conditioning in, that tall blasted heavy wood door fell on my blasted head. I started cursing and crying and scared poor Jon, in deep sleep, half to death. Man, that hurt. I keep feeling the left side of my head to see if its bigger than the right.

2. I'm gonna do the dishes and go out for a walk and pick up some cupcakes (I never did get my birthday cupcake) and fruit and chinese food for a late lunch. It's a cloudy day, but I feel like getting out a bit. Summers I turn into a hermit crab.

3. I ordered a couple of swimsuits for our trip to Vegas next month. One's a cute little black swimdress with a flowered bodice, and the other's a full coverage two piece with dark purple swim shorts and a matching purple and white print tankini top. (Maybe I should skip the cupcakes.)

1. I am having a good gym week, which is good, as it improves my mood and my sleeping considerably. Except that I should be there now, rather than typing here.

2. For the last two Tuesdays, I have had a ridiculous number of clients cancel late (like, less than an hour before their appointment) or just not show up. I am considering doing the same next Tuesday and just letting anyone who shows up fend for themselves. Sigh.

3. I have started adding ground flaxseed and a hard-boiled egg (on the side) to my breakfast cereal every morning. I don't really like eggs, but, along with the gym, it seems to be improving my mood and energy levels. And now I am obsessed with choline, though mainly just because it is a fun word to say out loud.

1. Got my new work computer. Currently moving 10 years of emails from the old laptop to new desktop.

2. They moved my phone and I almost didn't find it. It was on top of the six foot bookcase.

3. Raining here today, so outdoor leisure pool (and hot tub) unavailable. Sadness. I really need to get my back unkinked.

1. I've been flirting with someone and it's fun, though not something that will actually lead anywhere. Still, it's fun. Very fun. Crushes are exciting, aren't they?

2. This weekend is my 20th high school reunion, and while I'm truly happy with who I am in most areas of my life, I am still feeling a tad insecure about it. I've considered making up wild stories just for laughs. Some of the better ones include mistress to a lesser known dictator or a former nun.

3. I'm really sick of the boxes from my move. The problem seems to be one of not knowing where I want to keep things. Oh, and not having much furniture will soon drive me to drink.

1. Found out Monday that my grandmother has been in the hospital since Thursday. (Thanks for letting me know, Mom.) Yesterday evening my mom called to tell me that they got in the car around 3 to start driving to Indiana. An MRI yesterday found a large mass on Grandma's liver. She's incoherent and very sick (and is apparently hell on wheels when she IS coherent), and the doctors have said that she's not going to come out of it. They're moving her to hospice today.

She's been in poor, declining health for several years now, and she's been depressed about it. (But she's also been hiding her anti-depressants under her mattress instead of taking them.) She's been ready to go since she turned 90. Hospice is the best thing for her. I only hope that it's not any more drawn out than it already has been.

It's hard, but it's time.

2.

3.

(((mudpuppie)))

1. Just did 3.15 on the treadmill. Yay, couch to 5k.

2. I was in a wedding about 5 years ago that has turned into The Divorce That Will Not End. It is nasty and way too public and everyone involved is crazy.

3. Class tonight. Need to get groceries soon.

1. my radio show Mundo Mondays is getting underwritten, which means I can stop feeling guilty about not contributing enough financially to the station.

2. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon to do more of the same at my last job.

3. Looking forward to celebrating great things this weekend around financial topics for both Miko and myself. (We both have interviews for good jobs this week!) Send us your whuffles, job karma, best wishes, and maybe even some champagne by 5pm Friday.

1. Supposed to be leaving the 30th to go to Mum's to help out with the family reunion stuff. Passport is not hear yet (my fault for leaving it to the last minute). I won't be broken hearted if I miss said reunion and this is not a good sign.

2. It's been too fucking hot lately. The new (portable) a/c unit helps but my office gets to 84F/29C in the later afternoons. This is not good for me nor the rats. Cool the fuck down already.

3. Not sleeping well lately. Hard to get to sleep then I sleep for 12 hours and have a nap later in the day. It's no wonder I don't have a life.

1. I am wearing contact lenses for the first time in years. Amazing how comfortable they are. But will I give up the ease of glasses for the pros of contact lenses (being able to snorkel, wearing cool sunglasses, etc.)?

2. I have sooooooo much to do at my two jobs - so much that I'm not doing anything.

3. I have a wedding on Friday to go to. It's going to be full of Beautiful Young People. And for the first time, I'm not going as the friend of the bride or groom, but as the friend of the PARENTS of the bride. Am I officially old now?

1. Kitten #4 turned out to be a carpet pisser (that's the thanks I get for dodging traffic to rescue her. Typical cat) so today a guy I hired off craigslist is replacing the hallway carpeting w/ maple colored laminate. The slick surface has excited all the cats and they spent much of last night using the hallway as a raceway, including several Big One style spinouts into the walls. Resulting in...

2. we didn't get much sleep last night. I'd take a nap but it would be awkward right now with Random Craiglist Handyman working on the hallway outside my bedroom door so I'm drinking a lot of coffee (I know, stupid idea but slightly less stupid than falling asleep with a stranger in the house) but...

3. I'm finally getting sick of using a French press to make coffee. I love the taste but all the fussing about makes me long for the days of just pushing a button on a drip maker.

mudpuppie, I'm so sorry.

1. This guy I don't even know at one of the schools is bugging the Superintendent and everyone else that *we* could be doing a certain thing (our radio system) a lot cheaper and "smarter." I am in charge of said radio system. He's been bugging me via email on a bi-daily basis, for information, so he can put a case together for everyone now having a two-way radio to get a push-to-talk cellphone. The guy is a fool, but I need to be civil to him.

2. Daughter is down for a few days. We are going to the Harry Potter movie (again) tonight so she can see it.

3. The letter to the editor that I got help on here a few weeks ago got printed. My thanks to soma2, rainbaby, occiblu, and others who helped.

(Hugs to pup.)

that sucks, mups. *hugs*

good luck to miko and LT!

((((((((mudpuppie))))))))))

(Stewriffic, it's my 25th high school reunion this weekend. Yikes. Should be fun, though.)


1. Just weeded my pumpkin/cantelope patch. The way the pumpkin vines are growing, they will be across the yard and onto the sidewalk in a week.

2. Looking forward to my high school reunion this weekend. We are having a very casual get together at a seaside restaurant/club, and from what I'm told about 100 people are expected to be attending already. Also just found out that a very old friend who now lives in Arizona will be there!

3. Too many dramatic issues going on at work - I can't wait for my vacation.

Well, update to my update is that there was a cop outside our house tonight -- I have a funny feeling one of our other neighborhood activists made a phone call that put him there. But nothing was going on then, and he was gone when I got back from my bike ride.

The ride went a bit better than the last two. I seem to need to hit my stride at about 2 miles in, then I can keep going (almost 7). I was trying to do some sprinting but maybe I need to perfect my pedaling and pacing first.

oooh, redvixen reminded me...

1. I harvested 4 pumpkins today! I had no idea they'd be ready so early (small varieties, admittedly, but damn).
2. We may or may not be going to adopt some new pets tomorrow. I may or may not be SO EXCITED. And somewhat not looking forward to the smells, ruined furniture, and allergies, but to hell with it, I miss having a pet.
3. We can't be outside without someone asking what the tobacco is. It'll be ready to harvest soon, how can we possibly top the interest these plants draw? On the other hand, do I want to?

1. New work boots! These ones have laces so my ankles should get less chewed up.

2. Started physical therapy for my sprained wrists and tweaked back. The nice physical therapist commented on the scabs on my ankles and the enormo burn on my calf. Hence the new boots.

3. I'm thankful for everything I have and wish the best for the folks that are having a hard time.

*hugs mudpuppie*
Pips, get that bump checked out pronto!

Elsa, we want pictures!

1.Am back from my trip; I had a good time at the tenth even though I wasn't feeling 100%. Wish I'd felt well enough to try several places to eat. The place in the French quarter that had calas on the menu had closed early when I went by yesterday.

2.It's been three weeks since I came down with the flu and I'm still coughing and voiceless. Two people told me that they think I have pneumonia.

3. The place I was staying in NOLA listed a washer and dryer on the premises,but the washer was broken the whole time I was there. I was able to wash my panties in the sink, had brought enough shorts and pants,but my bras and shirts are about to walk away by themselves. I'll have to send my laundry out because I don't feel up to schlepping my clothes down two flights of stairs.

(Thanks, brujita... I thought about going to the ER a couple times, just to be on the safe side. But I think I'm okay. Just a mild headache. I wasn't knocked out, no vomiting or confusion -- can you tell I googled head injury? Just a good klop. Appreciate the concern, though. Hope you're feeling better, too. Maybe get those lungs checked out? We missed ya at the NYC MeFi 10th, but I'm glad you had fun in New Orleans.)