Argh... sorry to hear about point #1, TrishaLynn. *hug*

1. We're supposed to be joining my partner's side of the family for an Easter lunch either tomorrow or Sunday, but we can't get anyone to return a phone call and tell us when, or where. This may result in us blowing the whole thing off, which would be okay, too.

2. Hoping to get some spring cleaning done around the house this weekend. Also, the blankets and stuff on the bed have GOT to go.

3. I've become a huge fan (what, 18 years late?) of The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. We're watching the whole series on DVD, binge-style, and I can't believe it somehow eluded both of us all these years. So much fun.

Trisha, I'm sorry to hear about your job, that really sucks. I hope you're doing okay.

I never remember to wear lipstick. My mother will ambush me if we're going to dinner and I'm not wearing any, though. Have you ever been surprise-lipsticked? It has never turned out well.

1. Going to finish my grad school app this weekend. I mean it this time.

2. Feeling full of ennui and quarter-life-crisis-ness. I have nothing specific to complain about, but I'm just so bored with life. (I realize this is a first-world problem.) I've been buying things to make up for the lack of substance to my life; it hasn't helped.

3. Working from home and I can't decide what to do during lunch. Go to the gym? Take a shower? Have a beer? The possibilities are endless!

Blecch, Trisha. Best of luck as you figure out where to go from here -- don't get sucked into that couch! (Speaking from experience here...)

1. I was very proud of myself for FINALLY figuring out how to set up my own website on a third-party host. I FINALLY installed WordPress on one domain and two subsites -- one for our wedding itself and one for the party in Iowa the next week. Apparently I like to do things the hard way.

And now... to actually do something with it. (Tomorrow?)

2. We're going to see the Pixies tomorrow in Milwaukee. I AM looking forward to it, but damn, it had better be good, because I'm kind of tired and cranky and the shows my fiance loves are not necessarily my cup of tea. But at least my awesome friend will be driving me and taking me on the customary pre-show trip to George Webb.

3. I am suddenly an international spokesperson (I keep hearing "spokesmodel"). I'll be shepherding around folks from one of the world's biggest news agencies.

I think it'll go okay, but I'm not so worried about them as the frantic guy I'm working with here on campus who seems to have no concept of the fact that this is what we do every day and it's going to be okay. Because dude, just because you don't like the fact that my colleague ccs everyone on his emails (which is necessary to actually understand that things are being taken care of) doesn't mean that I am your best friend -- and REALLY doesn't mean that I should keep things quiet and not "elevate" them. Come ON.

Bah. Sorry to hear that, T-Lynn. Best of luck on future prospects.

1) Making the final push for the semester. Just finished assembling a study guide for my Zo Lab final. It was like morbid arts & crafts project with diagrams of dissected fetal pigs and sheep eyes.

2) Leave for vacation three weeks from today. Can't wait to get down to Florida and just lay on the beach and drink beer and unwind for a couple of days. Need to get Coya's reservation made at the dog resort, which is the only downside. It's the only time of year that I board her, and from their reports she does just fine, but ughhhhh....the guilt.

3) Had to have some blood drawn today. The lady that took it was trying to be all jokey and whatnot, so I looked her dead in the eye and said "it's no biggie. I used to do a lot of needle drugs", which is patently false, but totally caught her off guard. The look on her face was priceless.

1. Costco was chaos today. There was a power cut, and everyone in the entire (packed) store had to abandon their shopping and leave. This is the Friday of a four-day holiday weekend, so you can guess how busy it was - I can't imagine how much money Costco will lose. I'd say they'll have to throw all the perishable and frozen food away - not just the abandoned stuff but everything in the fridge and freezer cabinets as well the produce. Without power or air conditioning and with temperatures in the mid-70s, it was starting to get uncomfortably hot in there by the time we left. I felt so sorry for the woman begging them to let her buy the cake she'd ordered, specially decorated, but nobody was allowed to leave with anything.

2. But sueinnyc and I had a lovely lunch - meat, lots and lots of meat, and pavlova to follow.

3. I feel so peaceful and content right now. I can hear a blackbird singing in the tree outside, and another a few trees away answering him. They're having quite a conversation.

Sorry to hear about losing your job, TrishaLynn!

1. My ankle hurts, for no apparent reason. This is worrisome, and TheDonF is making fun of my old lady hobble.

2. It's sunny out, for once, but I'm still grumpalicious because it's unseasonably cold. I'm tired of cold ears and sweaters and such.

3. Meetup tonight, and I get to meet Stewriffic!

Also, yeah, big commiserations to TrishaLynn. Something better will come from this, I'm sure.

1. Saw The Decemberists last night. Not really that big a fan (I like them but never paid that much attention to them) but they were great. Saw them in a big old ornate movie palace turned into a performance space that has great sound.

2. Vacation starting tomorrow!

3. If it's spring why is it so cold and rainy, I want to get out on my bike.

Oh, TrishaLynn, that stinks! Your immediate action plan (paperwork, then Mass Effect) sounds like a winner.


3. Apparently, a little bit of lipstick makes me look prettier. Must remember that.

I don't think I even own a lipstick these days. I wear lip balm or Burt's Bees tinted whatever-ya-call-it, so I guess that's lipsticky, sorta.

1. A family member clued me in to a position that might be perfect for me, at an area museum where she works part-time. After promising to keep mum and not to overwhelm the hiring dept with her usual... enthusiasm..., she DID. I had to face the fact that working with her would certainly be damaging to our relationship. So. Back to searching.

2. Had a check-up with my oral surgeon, who gave me a thumbs-up. I wish that soft pulpy feeling would heal up, though; I feel [warning: graphic] like my mouth is about to split open and start oozing goop. My speech is still pretty slushy, too.

3. I treated myself to some new boots and some new clothes (which I found on crazy sale, including a great pair of modal PJs) and also made myself a new double-length pearl necklace. Pearls and pajamas!

That sucks, Trisha. :(

1. The pdoc wasn't an ass today! I'm still calling around trying to find someone who will do a second opinion. She also suggested I find some sort of activity to do with people on the weekends. Yes, let me add something else to my busy ass schedule. That runs on the weekends. And is free (or really really cheap). :-/

2. Due to school scheduling fuckedupness, I now have a 2 month break before my next class starts. I plan to work on Survombie, do tons of reading for the ACA exam, and work on my language stuff (see also, #3).

3. I've decided that once I finish school, I'm going to take a 3 week backpacking trip in Europe. I've been trying to get a backpacking trip over there since Trinity (and that plan failed before it even got off the ground) and so I need to save my pennies, get some better language skills so I'm not completely lost, and make plans. And not breathe even a hint of it to my folks because they will go absolutely BERSERK.

Mega bummer Trisha, I hope everything works out well for you. Mass Effect sounds like a good outlet.

1. I am looking for a new PC game. Haven't played in a long time. My favorites have been Thief II, No One Lives Forever 2, and Deus Ex. Not sure what that means.

2. It's a day off today, so I'm enjoying a lunch cocktail.

3. Life is good.

1. A mama duck and her six ducklings have been hanging around our building. I made a pool for them out of a bus tub and built a ramp up to it. My coworkers must think I'm a dork, but I don't care. I haven't seen more than one duckling in it at any time, but it sure is cute when they swim around. They're like rubber ducks in the bathtub. Yesterday as I was leaving work they were all relaxing peacefully on the lawn in the sun. So cute!

2. This is the worst allergy year in two decades, according to a local allergist, and I'm feeling every bit of it. So tired of the fog.

3. Going hiking in Napa tomorrow. Looking forward to it. Everything's very green right now.

4. Coworker I talk to most has a sick cat today and it's really, really, really stressing me out. Vicarious pet stress is no good.

TrishaLynn, how totally sucky. On the lipstick front, I love the stuff and wear it daily. Yes, daily. I'm a very girly girl. I do like the way it looks on most women, too.

1. It is finally sunny outside and I am truly looking forward to long run OUTSIDE tomorrow, for at least the 1st 3 miles or so with my dog.

2. My husband returns from his business trip tonight. Hurrah! I seriously missed him, as I always do. Plus now we can go together to see Jane Eyre or The Adjustment Bureau this weekend.

3. Next week looks like it will be interesting which will be a nice change from this fairly boring one.

TL: Condolences
eeka: Portal 2?

1. Started my new job. The first two days, I had problems getting home on LIRR. Ended up throwing out some pork chops because I got home too late to cook two days in a row.

I'm exhausted. But I'm liking the job, and the people are all super-nice.

2. Went to see Local H last night. I've been a huge fan for ages, so I was really looking forward to this show. Got to meet Scott; he's a really nice guy. He still rocked my face off, though, unapologetically. They closed with a cover of Wolf Like Me. Really moving tribute.

3. Tonight is MEET THE LADY! YAAAY!

Sorry to hear you lost your job, Trisha!

Feeling full of ennui and quarter-life-crisis-ness. I have nothing specific to complain about, but I'm just so bored with life. (I realize this is a first-world problem.) I've been buying things to make up for the lack of substance to my life; it hasn't helped. = love this, I completely understand how you feel, punchtothehead!

1. Had the day off work, did some errands. Finally got a NY Driver's License! The DMV was not too painful, was only there for an hour and a half.
2. Church last night, church tonight, church tomorrow, church Sunday. I'm always a little churched out once Easter is over. At least Marc is in town for the week! We're not at the same church (because he works at a church in Manhattan) but at least he's here the rest of the time :D
3. Bought a nice straw hat for the summer months. I'm turning into quite a hat lady, I loooove it.

TL, that sucks. I hope a much better job is right around the corner.

1. At the beach for a few days to visit the in-laws. Took a walk on said beach this morning with husband and dog. Good thing we went when we did, because it started raining shortly thereafter and hasn't stopped.

2. Passed out cold for an hour this afternoon. Naps. Mmmmmmm.

3. Dinner at an excellent Italian place this evening to celebrate my MIL's birthday.

I'm sorry,TL.

1.Fed up with the incompetence in my building.
2. Discovered that a horrible woman who pisses on the seat and doesn't clean up after herself at the revival theaters is given special treatment at Lincoln Center.
3. Meetup tonight.

Sympathies, TrishaLynn. At least you're in the big city with more opportunities.

1. Glad for the weekend because I'm going through a phase where I'm really tired of my job (I do not live in the big city and there are no opportunities). Hopefully phase will pass.
2. Packing and sending wedding presents: a portrait for my niece of her grandfather when he was in the Navy, since niece married a Navy man, and an afghan I just finished knitting for my nephew, which he probably won't much appreciate but I'm thinking his fiancee will.
3. Also getting somewhat tired of cooking for myself night after night. Would love to eat out, someplace fancy with lots of sauces.

I'm sorry Trisha Lynn, I'm sure something better will turn up!

I love lipstick/lip gloss and I have tons...which I never remember to reapply or wear. Sigh.

1. Came back from Cape May with my kids and best friend. Wish we were still there! We had a great time visiting the zoo, the lighthouse, the shops, and an aviation museum. Must go back soon...but preferably after the summer crowd leaves.

2. Just picked up candy etc. for our annual easter egg hunt. Even though my sons are 17 and 14, they enjoy the egg hunt and request it every year. I really like my kids!

3. Not much else planned for Easter...I think I'd like to get some yardwork in, like mulching. But I'll probably just relax all day instead.

1. Sorry to hear, TL. I'm sweatin' out the rest of this year myself, with all the mayor's threats of lay-offs. I'm lucky in that so long as the state legislature doesn't change teacher seniority laws, with nine years, I'm okay. But I know the mayor's still pushing for a change. As his ads have said, they want to keep the "fresh" teachers. What's that make me, spoiled? What he means, of course, is they want to keep the "younger, cheaper" teachers. Students certainly benefit from teachers with more education and years of experience. Budgets, on the other hand, don't. (Sorry, I tend to get on a soap box on this.) Anyhow, sorry about your situation. That really sucks. You seemed really dedicated, putting in all those extra hours and all. I've been fired a couple of times, generally due to the insanity and/or fickleness of a particular employer at the time (I've had some doosies -- haven't we all?), and it really does suck. You're resourceful, though. I'm sure you'll work things out. Enjoy the unemployment while you can. (Hey, if you can afford it, gives you time to write, right? Maybe apply to graduate school? In New York, I believe, you can collect unemployment while you're in school, though I'm not sure how long.)

2. I have to finish these blasted online courses for my so-called "professional development" hours to keep my certification. The courses are sooooo tedious, but they were the cheapest way. Ah, well. Like I sometimes tell my students, just suck it up and do it.

3. I've discovered the live red tail hawk cam on the New York Times website. She has three little eggs in her nest at an NYU building. I can't wait to see the little beaks poke through!

Not good news, TL. I hope things turn around for you soon.

1. Wachovia screwed me one last time with NSF fees. If I had the energy, I could win this in court, but the collection of evidence and added stress would be too much for me. In the meantime, next month is going to be damn lean, cuz neither the son nor his girlfriend have any money whatsoever, and my disability check only goes so far.

2. I came up with a solid A-list direction for my current project. I have some good B-list side projects, but now the entire work has some focus. Never too late to send me your address for samples.

3. Gonna play me some gee-tar.

Mudpuppie: I love how the ducks go for swims and visits in the lawn puddles. I'll have to keep an eye out for this year's batches of fluffy yellow ducklings. That's pretty neat that you made a duck attraction.

1. The new hens started laying.

2. Made acquaintance with the neighbors when I had to go get my chicken who flies. She doesn't seem to know her wing is clipped. The neighbors ha named the stray cat "May ow" which is apparently Thai for "cat." I had named her "Cat."

3. Learning about 1920s Soviet Russia right now.