Whoops, sorry! Mods, you can kill my post.

a. I'm mourning my office. Such as it was. I have had a steel box with walls that didn't go to the ceiling, but I had a door and window shades and a good mix of isolation and socialization.

Now I'm being stuffed into an already crowded room with people who already annoy me when I don't see them face to face. With about a quarter of the room that I used to have, maybe less.

b. My husband finally starts a new job today, so that's happy. This time he was only unemployed for three months instead of 15.

c. My kids are plotting their Halloween costumes. Earlier they wanted to be Phineas and Ferb. Now they both want to be Mario.

When I was cleaning out my desk drawers I found the teeny bottles of whiskey and cough syrup sized cups that I was keeping there as a joke. The new desk has no drawers so I'm going to have to be creative.

Here is a pic of my favorite part of the office.

I am glad that you are safe at home again, Senyar. Yes, Costco is sort of a guilty pleasure. But if you live in NYC without a car, it should be self-limiting. I mean, how many frozen lasagnes can you carry on the train?

1. We start interviews for my replacement today. My work style is so idiosyncratic that whoever fills this job will have to start from scratch, regardless of how well I try to prepare them. All applicants (in-house only) are male, which is a shame.

2. Going to the symphony tonight. Our tickets have been in the front row just in front of the basses, by some quirk (they are cheap). One of Daughter's old youth orchestra conductors is the principal bass of our orchestra and I always threaten to heckle him. Never have, though. It is nice to live in a city large enough to have decent culture, but small enough to be on a name basis with a lot of the cultural and political people.

3. Must get going on cleaning office, along with keeping up on day-to-day stuff. There is stuff at the bottom of piles that has not seen the light of day since the past presidential administration.

1. I have 4 missing boxes from a collection I am supposed to be processing. This displeases me. (Our office is only so big, where they hell did they go? In reality, they were probably never sent out to us in the first place, but I'm trying to avoid sending that email because there is always tons of wailing and gnashing of teeth.)

2. I am still sore from Tuesday night's dance class. Today's slow jog in the park is going to suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Also, I'm not sure if the water restrictions mean I shouldn't take my typical Thursday bubble bath. I didn't shower last night. (But I do have to do laundry and run the dishwasher.)

3. I'm feeling a bit more confident about the choreography for Shimmy Mob. I've been teaching it to 2 of my troupies on Tuesday night who signed up for it, but never really got around to actually practicing it. Guess that whole 'you remember 80% of what you teach' thing is actually accurate.

I feel like Costco is one of those places I should like but I cannot stand that many people that close to me without freaking out. (Of course, my mother has that perversion that she likes going to that place on Saturday morning. Along with Walmart and Target. Yecch.)

I hear you, danf. You find that people are so used to what you did that they don't consciously remember it, so they can't pass it on. I had that same situation when I got moved to this job. I spent a month training my replacement (I had no input into her selection - so stupid) and she left after another month, saying she hadn't been trained enough.

And it is a little fun coming across the pile o' stuff that I leave around deliberately so I can run into it every so often.

I love love love big box warehouse stores. I just don't have the room for all that stuff anymore.

1. My daughter got full tuition to her first-choice college. Our college fund should cover the rest.

2. I meet with my soon-to-be ex and the mediator Tuesday to sign off on our divorce agreement. In addition to other things, I was to pay a certain amount of money over the next two years. Because of #1, I can now just write a check for the whole thing, which is sweet.

3. Got the perfect entry for the Peeps show--a bunny with one ear cut off. Peep-questration, don't you know.

1. This was a crazy busy week, both good and bad. Started with a sushi class with my favorite fishmonger and a chef from my favorite local sushi place. Learned a lot and left with all my fingers, great. I'd made sushi before but the next round should be much improved. They are giving another class to teach more complex rolls, sauces, and fileting the fish.

2. Ichabod, our black and white 14 year old cat, is hanging in there. Last month, he stopped eating and appeared to be on the brink of death. The vet we had been using did some pretty rotten things to him due to ineptitude, but then we tried a vet who is blocks from our house. The new vet confirmed that it is likely cancer and advanced enough that we should make him comfortable rather than try to fight it. She gave use anti-nausea pills, tons of suggestion on how to tempt him to eat, and steroids. Ichabod bounced back! He is still a bit skinny, but his nose is pink again and he appears to be pretty happy and comfortable. It's a matter of a few months at best, but as long as he's happy and comfortable, that's all I can ask. So grateful to the new vet (who has bent over backwards to get him in each time we needed something) and need to think up something nice to do for the entire office.

3. Other than those things, every minute I've been awake has been devoted to working (tons of late hours) or taxes (seriously, even when eating dinner). It is not making me a very friendly person or very happy about my life right now. Tax appointment is tomorrow though, and I'm writing out lists so I can start planning a life that is more inline with what I want. I seem to have become nearly everything I didn't want, and I'm not wearing that too well. I am counting all of it as progress though because I am actively working on it.

1. Delivered the kidlet at 2a last Friday. So far it's going well.

2. Pets are curious but unsure about her. Lots of sniffing and cocked heads when crying is heard. Surprisingly kitty cat is still sleeping in the room with us.

3. College roommate & husband sent a small box of dipped fruit from Edible Arrangements, which was sweet of them. I'm attempting to not inhale it in one go.

Congratulations, bluesapphire! What's her name?

Oh, seconding the congratulations to bluesapphire, how exciting!

Congratulations, bluesapphires!

1. Came back from a lovely trip (mountains! hot tub!) to a sick dog - throwing up after eating, and the vet doesn't know why. Bloodwork/urinalysis are both fine, xrays don't show any obstructions, but they can't see the heart clearly, so they are worried about that. We have pills that are supposed to help with not throwing up, and are feeding him moist food, but the next step, if he doesn't stop, is crazy ultrasound/echocardiogram at a specialized vet hospital. I'm hoping he feels better soon - he's around 10, and a pug.

2. Also, I'm either sick, or have crazy allergies. I'm betting on sick, since it's worse today that it has been yesterday or the day before.

3. All of the other pets survived the weekend away (we have my dad come and check on the bird and the bunny, but I'm always worried the bunny will get sick as soon as I walk out the door, and be too far gone by the time someone checks on him).

Congratulations, bluesapphires!

1. I sprained my ankle about two weeks ago, gave it a week to heal, and have been semi-gingerly returning to the gym this week. The swelling and pain are pretty much gone, but the bruising is still kind of spectacular.

2. Made Easter brunch plans with my dad and aunts, and I'm looking forward to that. Apparently there will be oysters, at a buffet! I love oysters at buffets, because then I can eat as many of them as I want.

3. There's a developmentally delayed man who works at the health food store I've been going to, and it's stressing me out a bit figuring out how to interact with him, because the combination of his asking slightly intrusive but well-meaning questions and my not knowing how much he understands ends up with me responding to him as I would to a kid -- respectfully but a bit simply, and with possibly too much smiling -- and I worry it's coming off as condescending.

Mazel tov, bluesapphires!

Occhiblu, your approach sounds entirely appropriate.

1. I'm feeling generally cranky this week. It is partly that my home bathroom is currently in our basement, and has been for a couple of weeks, because the one that attaches to the bedroom is getting a new shower stall Yesterday my Bear announced yesterday that he might not get around to the new floor he insisted must be installed at the same time until, like, a month from now. Rats. Want to use fixed up bathroom as planned, by the end of next week.

2. Also, have to get taxes and some other stuff done and get packing planned and then pack for upcoming trip. Double rats.

3. As long as I'm complaining, got some remarkably itchy insect bites in Mexico that still itch a bit, and one of them on my foot isn't healing well so of course I'm fantasizing about losing that foot to sepsis. I miss my younger days when I healed fast and didn't have stupid medical fears like that.

Nthing the congratulations, bluesapphires.

1. The weather outside is delightful, forecast high 72-73° (F) and low 43-45° for the next five days. One of my guilty pleasures is bragging about the San Luis Obispo weather, which I have no responsibility for. Everything else in my lifestyle is sunny and mild. Finances solid (for being on a low fixed income), health good (and getting slightly better), enjoying living alone more and more (not like THAT, you pervert), being 'car-less' is far more manageable than expected, and even the 'inherited cat' is working out well. And did I mention the weather?

2. I'm planning on divesting myself of a large quantity of unneeded 'stuff' but I'll probably keep the on-site (right next to my triplex building) storage shed the landlord is charging me $25 a month for. It's a bargain, especially compared to the $100-a-month storage space that was maybe 50% bigger I used to have in L.A. I'm still threatening to paint it Tardis Blue just to see if it gets bigger on the inside.

3. My cartoon blog, Tooned.In is taking shape as something a little different than originally intended. I'm going to use it to make long rambling review/commentaries (breaking every rule all past editors imposed on me) about very light entertainments and as an excuse to do 'photoslop' stuff like my MODOK March Madness Memes and Square Root of Minus Garfield strips. But also to keep my absurdly long list of Webcomics, which is my most serious issue with the shutdown of Google Reader, since they are most of my 1000+ RSS feeds... I'm currently 'testing' TheOldReader, NewsBlur AND RSS handling in Thunderbird (which is a total bandwidth hog), but thinking longterm for integrating some RSS fetching into a webcomic list IN the site (which will involve 'testing' several WordPress plugins). Some of the most interesting on-line nonsense I've 'worked' on in a longtime.

3.5 Re: Costco, when I moved here in '05, it was the closest "big" store down here at the south end of S.L.O. (since then, Target moved in across the street) and the closest cheap gasoline, so I joined up. When I became car-less, I decided not to renew (take away the gas and I couldn't spend enough to save enough to justify the $55/year) and went without for a year. But when I got a little 'mad money' recently for 'retiring' a near-dead car, that was the first place I went 'mad'. They gave me a new card with a new picture - and, I noticed after I got home - somebody else's name. The Membership Desk clerk was on her first day, with a long line and TWO supervisors tutoring her but not helping... can't blame her. Anyway, I was happy to find that ALL the food goodies that I couldn't find anywhere else were still there (I worried that without my support, they'd be discontinued) so my refrigerator, freezer and pantry are now overloaded... which just adds one more area to the #2 excess stuff issue.

1. Congratulations to everyone on everything.

2. Was having the same issue with the Bees as Lucy until I TURNED UP THE HEAT. Poor thing seems to only be able to communicate all things to me one way: something that looks like smothering affection. Must remember to self-flagellate as I double check that her food bowl is filled, water changed and litter is clean on the way out in 20.

3. Will continue to be a horrible person for at least the next five hours.

1. Went to an info session Tuesday night that sealed my desire to go back to school for an MPH in healthcare management (the program is part-time, and tuition exemption through work will cover most of the cost). Full speed ahead on the application, which is due April 15. I feel like I'm a shoe-in for admission, but who the hell knows.

2. Sick. The baby gave us both the plague. He recovered in about 2 days, this is day 4 or 5 for both of us. I've taken all sorts of drugs. Feeling a little dizzy at the moment.

3. Stynxno has a service tonight and we're on our own for dinner. I'm frying up some matzo and I think Oliver will have some pureed apple with blueberries (Gerber, naturally). Last night I was feeling in the mood for a laugh and gave him some mashed avocado to feed himself. He was green from head to toe! It was cute.

Mazel tov, bluesapphires!

1. The bf, who I broke up with last Thursday after 6 years together, is vacating my apartment today, so I can quit being cooped up in a hotel.

2. I got my badass tattoo today.

3. I'm going to go buy a new duvet cover so the bed will be "mine" when I get back.

Twiggy, photo of said tattoo???

Sorry about the breakup, Twiggy. I, too, want to see the tattoo!

Photos will be taken and posted as soon as the bandage comes off, once I get my frigging apartment back. :)

Video of my little green monster!

Congrats bluesapphires!

TPS - that is like a full body avocado mask! Bet his skin was lovely after the (inevitable) bath!

It sure was! Highly recommended spa treatment!

1. People are coming up to me in the hallways at work and complimenting me on my work!

2. Got to have brunch with Jan and JanetLand!

3. I actually feel happy and self-confident for possibly the first time in my (adult) life.

Thanks y'all! Her name is Vivian.

Yay, Vivian! I love that name.

TPS, he looks so much like Stynxno right now! (I mean, in the face. I cannot vouch for any avocado body mask similarities.)

Warmest congrats, bluesapphires! Twiggy and mrmoonpie, I hope that you both have some peace and happiness. . .

Congrats, bluesapphires! Great name.

mrmoonpie, congrats on your daughter getting in and with so much tuition!

Twiggy, I hope your new duvet is a crazy color you always liked but didn't think you could decorate with.

1. Things are going great at work and I am also feeling my confidence come back (glad you are too, Eid). I was asked to be part of a special secret project and I feel like it's a real vote of confidence. Also they keep saying how great it would be if I would move to Seattle and be there in person more, which is nice.

2. Don't think we are moving any time soon, but Seattle is tempting. I like it there! Plus I would have real live coworkers again which I miss. I've been a little lonely at home.

3. Wedding planning is eh. We have invitations! We have a plan for the rehearsal dinner! But I am dreading meeting with our rabbi again. She's not my style, but she's a family friend of fiance so I am going to try to suck it up. We are going to talk more about it when he gets back from his work trip on Sat. At least fiance's mom has not been "helping" as much after I asked him to talk to her without me.

4. My mom was disappointed at first when I told her that no, I didn't want to meet up with her and her bf for a few days during our honeymoon. But now we both find it funny and she is joking about all the great romantic things we can all do together.

Viva Vivian!

Can't wait to check your video tomorrow on my snazzy new retina screen, TPS. The green will pop!

Rmless2, fingers crossed you come to Seattle.

TPS, he looks so much like Stynxno right now!

Oliver is a clone of Stynxno, I've never seen a baby resemble his dad so much at such a young age as Oliver does.

Sorry to hear your news, Twiggy. Can't wait to see the tat.

And I love the name Vivian (usually spelled 'Vivienne' in the UK).

I heard rmless2 talk on the phone to a client on Monday when I was at her apartment (where I met her bunny!) and she sounded so confident and professional and utterly impressive that I have no doubt she is kicking ass at work.

And yay, giant pancakes at brunch with Eideteker and Janetland on Sunday was awesome.

Here it is guys...

≡ Click to see image ≡

1. Still digesting those yummy giant pancakes, I think.

2. I have a dreadful cold and painful sore throat.

3. My planned weekend work has been mercifully cancelled, so hopefully I'll be recovered in time for a deadline-filled week next week.

OK that is one fabulous tat. Congrats, Twiggy!

Thanks, bearwife. I'm looking at it eveytime I get especially weepy, cause I need to remember I AM A BADASS!

Mazel Tov bluesapphires!

Whuffles to those who need them.
Still in Boston,made some day trips.

Ran into a friend on the Common.

Looking forward to the Bowie exhibit.

Wow, that's an awesome tattoo, Twiggy. I have one small tattoo that's very meaningful to me. I love it.

Thanks Senyar and bearwife!

Congrats on the tat, Twiggy!