4th of July

We had a pretty good holiday. I hope you all did too.

Michael got into the mood for pizza for lunch. Normally we go to one of the local places for that or to one of the two Greek places listed on our mutual blog because they just simply have the best pizza. I love Greek pizza. Well, we ended up going to try Uno Chicago Grill. I'd passed by there a couple of times and heard they had good pizza. Well, they sure as heck do! The deep pan is just the best crust ever. We think it's actual pie crust because it's so flaky and yummy (like a biscuit). They were running a special where we got a free personal size so I ate a piece of the larger one and one of the smaller. Michael polished off the smaller and had one of the larger. We were both stuffed because they don't skimp on the toppings and the crust is nice and fulfilling. I can't remember the last time I felt full through the half of a second slice of pizza. The larger size is not as big in diameter as most places but because it is denser, we figure that it all works out. We reheated the leftover pizza for lunch today and it was just as delicious. The crust was not hard at all. So, if you have one near you, try it out. We plan on going back because they have a huge menu. This one may just end up pn our favorites list!

After lunch we came home and chilled before going to Jon and Heather's (they live with her mom) for a bbq. They live way up 77 from us at in the middle of nowhere. Two others joined us, Corinna, who works with Jon, and Trevor, a regular customer at the store. I know the latter from my days of working there. Before they arrived, Jon lit the grill (he just bought it on Wednesday). The flames were impressive. And showed no signs of slowing down so they (he and Michael) decided to close the lid. Well, the top vent was still open but the bottom was closed off. Michael had the bright idea after about two minutes of checking on the charcoal. Yeah, I think the flames were just waiting for such a move because they backdrafted out in such a rush that Michael's arm was singed and even Jon (who was further away) lost a few ends. Michael's response to our concern, "Do you have any idea how many times I've lit myself on fire?" He kept thinking it was cool while the rest of us were like, "Holy crap!" In hindsight, I think we should have known that would not be the end of the fire excitement.

Trevor and Corinna arrived and we all ate and chatted. Afterwards we went inside and started a game of Indiana Jones Monopoly. Jon and Heather will be quite the easy couple to buy for because they both think kitschy stuff is cool. Michael and I consider ourselves easy to buy for though that's not what we get told. Hey, you want to spend money on us? Go ahead. We will like whatever it is. But I digress. Jon started out strong and buying up stuff. Heather and I had a hard time landing on anything we could buy. In the end it was a race amongst the guys to see who could buy what. But before we got too into it we went outside to do fireworks.

Good God, Jon and Heather had bought an arsenal! Actually, they said that most of them were buy 1 get 1 so I didn't feel too bad about not putting any moolah into that pot. Michael ended up taking over the lighting from Jon (just like he did the burger flipping) because, well, Michael loooooves boom booms. I swear, I don't know how his mother survived his childhood. The more I learn the more I wonder at his intact existence. Give Michael fire and he's a happy boy. Maybe he was a pyromaniac in another life.

Anyway, all was going well until Michael tried lighting two multi-shooters off at the same time. We think one bounced into the other and they fell over. Next thing we know, we have fireworks going off in all sorts of unpredictable directions. One flew straight down the road like a roadrunner. A few shot up in the air. Another went towards the field and woods across from the house (that had a potential for disaster trailing after it). But the two "best" ones came right after each other. The first headed towards the cars but safely landed behind Jon's car. The latter dove into a bush and promptly lit the thing on fire. Jon yelled that we had a fire and Michael yelled for water. Heather headed for a bucket of water while Trevor found some kind of tarp. Michael grabbed a bottle of water and I'm not sure what Jon went for. I'd been too far back in the bed of Michael's truck to move quickly so I stayed where I was. I don't know where anything is at their house so I figured it best to stay out of the way unless more help was needed. Corinna was probably in the same thought. Michael doused it first with the bottled water but Trevor got it out with the tarp. He was the hero of the moment. They poured some water on it from Heather's bucket just to be sure. Trevor said he felt bad about silencing God by putting out the burning bush. lol

The rest of the fireworks went off without a problem. They were very pretty. We retired to the game but Corinna bowed out to go home. It was 10:30p so I didn't blame her. The rest of us stayed another hour. Just before we getting ready to leave, Heather's mom comes into the living to say that she smelled smoke and we better check for a fire. Jon thought that she was just smelling the air that had gotten into the house from him bringing in the outside furniture. I said that we had better listen to her and check on the bush. Sure enough, Trevor no sooner leaves than rushes back in to say that the thing is on fire again. Michael and I went for the bucket again. I found a pitcher while Michael grabbed the bucket. I ended up filling that thing twice just to make sure. We doused it damn good this time and I stamped out an ember that tried to escape. And no, it didn't light up again. Let me tell you, that was fun. They don't have a hose which would have helped stop it completely the first time but I guess we needed the extra adrenaline rush for the ride home.

Overall, it was a good day. We made it home just before 1am. As Jon says, "Good times."

Busy Busy

This week went fast. I got a decent bit done though so that could be why.

I finished up with the FJ class. The students wanted to go to dinner last night so we went to Miyo's on Forest Drive. They wanted to buy me dinner. Isn't that sweet? Michael was able to join us and we had a good time. They're a great group of people. I still need to turn in my grades but that won't take long.

I made up the Summer II syllabus and posted it for my class. I also emailed them and sent a list of people who are selling their book. Go me. That class starts next Tuesday.

I did get some writing done on the dissertation. Val, Andi, get up off the damn floor. Smart alecs. I essentially have the next segment of my theory chapter down. I need to look into a few things to see if I want to add anything but I think it's fine right now. 3 more to go once that's tweaked.

Michael just splurged (on credit) for a 32" LCD tv for the kitchen. See, we have been rearranging stuff. We broke down the kitchen table (because we never use it anyway since we don't have the chairs anymore -- we've been planning on replacing them for ages but keep putting it off) and the living room table and put the pieces in the spare bathroom (until the attic is no longer an oven or someone wants them). We moved the treadmill from the spare bedroom to the kitchen because Chug's crate takes up too much space for me to use it in there. Now, we do have a perfectly good older tv dinosaur but since those are quickly going the way of the dodo and way a freaking ton, Michael wanted us to get a new one. And wouldn't you know, Best Buy was having a sale on their already low priced Dynex. We looked at them on Monday for the hell of it and they were the normal price of $379. But right now they are $300. Pretty good freaking deal and the picture quality is decent. So, while I am writing this, Michael is setting it up. This means I will be able to get back on the treadmill with something entertaining to look at. I can start catching up on all of the tv shows I've been wanting to see. Yay! Seriously, I can get back into the walking routine cause it is way too freaking hot outside.

So, now the kitchen has some space. The spare bedroom is a work in progress but that's only because there's room for bookshelves. lol Seriously though, I have been tweaking it as much as possible. We'll eventually get it together. . .and then we'll just want to change it again. lol Isn't that how it goes?

Have a good 4th!

People Are. . .

You get to fill in the title as we go.

So, I got to work a very long shift yesterday for my new Hallmark job. That was fine. We had a ton to do. Believe it or not, Father's Day is huge for cards. Of course, the whole card dept. being stuck in the middle of a Walmart helps a lot. Oh, and we're not talking piddly fixtures, we have nice big wooden ones that are almost a store unto themselves. But I digress.

Anyway, the day after a holiday the plan is to take down all of the leftovers and then either put up the next holiday or something else. Since the next one is Halloween, we put up "summer-flex" until the company says it's time the holiday. Let me tell you. . .that Father's Day cards were decimated. Oh, yeah, we have about 2-3 boxes left of cards to send back but that is but a small percent. And the bargain gift bag section? Poof!! It's like a hoard of locust swarmed the place. Well, I suppose that's an apt analogy for shopping mentality.

Liz and I got there at 7:30a to get at least the card part of it looking good on that side. Btw, don't judge certain parts of a big store like Walmart. Cause if they have a section that is a "brand" name, chances are they have merchandisers who are expected to maintain it. There were a lot of vendors listed in the book so I now have a new perspective on this. Liz and I are the only two Hallmark employees for our Walmart so that could be the case for yours.

Now, I make no bones about the fact that I dislike Walmart about as much as I love Hallmark. Which is to say, a lot. I figure the two balance themselves out. The good thing is that I am not expected to do customer service though I have been a little. That suits me fine because I can ignore people and not feel guilty about it or I can help people if they need it. Mostly I just want to make everything look pretty and get paid for it. lol But helping someone find a card when they are at a loss has been rewarding already.

Which leads me to a major point: don't get upset if you go somewhere the day after a holiday and they have already removed the cards for that holiday. No one did but that was mainly because we happened to have a box of FD cards handy that I offered to let various customers throughout the day look through. I don't think it occurred to Liz to do that until I did and we made about a dozen or so people very happy. One couple even told me that I deserved a raise because I helped them find the perfect card in like two minutes (something told me to suggest a particular one because mostly I just let people paw through the box). lol And, of course, we had people looking for "sale" cards.

Ok, listen up, folks. . .since when have cards been discounted? I mean the single ones, not the boxed cards. Yeah, you can go to the Dollar store and get cheap cards that aren't too bad but that's about it. I have honestly never seen Hallmark or any other store that sells single cards sell them at a discount. Unless they were in some kind of bundled deal because they were leftovers. And I can't remember when or if I have ever seen that. So, when I get asked that question and get looked at like I'm nuts and only saying it because my name tag says I work for H., well, give me a break. Oh, and please, all card companies sell cards for a variety of prices but for the most part they are in the same general price range. The average card has gone up to between $2.49 and $4.99. I know this as a long-standing customer of greeting cards and not as a merchandiser. Mom was a card person and she definitely passed that on to me.

Second thing. . .yes, Walmart has an overall "brand" that they put forth. But that doesn't mean that every individual store has the same products. The majority of stuff, sure. However, as with any other store, there will be differences. Hell, the one I work at doesn't even look like the typical Walmart store because they just built it, like, two years ago with a "new" color scheme: creams and browns. And the layout is different (actually none of the Walnarts here are exactly the same layout as the others anyway). So, I can't help it if I want to bite my tongue when someone says something like, "Well, my Walmart has. . ." or "The other Walmart sells. . .". It makes me want to ask them why they don't just shop there. Sheesh

Oh, and for God's sake, do not EVER talk on the phone in the bathroom! If I'm on the phone and you do. . .don't tell me. I so don't want to know. It's bad enough that I would have the image of you in the stall. I realize that you can't actually hear anything but it's the thought that creeps me. I'm sorry, I have never heard a conversation in the bathroom that was life and death for that. Do you know how many students I've had tell me they've lost their phone to the toilet? Sheesh. You're just asking to drop it somewhere icky.

Anyway, I worked a lot but I enjoyed it for the most part. Liz does good work and I was pleased to keep up with her. We did a decent job and that row looked awesome at the end of the day. I know it won't stay that way but I am not letting it bother me. So, when you go and see cards out of place, there's a good chance it was because people just didn't care. I always moved them when I shopped before, now it will probably become just one more thing for Michael to pick at me about. lol

And so. . .

Let me see if I can sum up the year thus far:

Taught nine classes this past spring. Yeah, you heard me right. Doesn't matter that they were all the same course, it was very busy.

Was sick twice: once in January when that nasty bug was going around and then right after Easter. The second time lasted longer with me hacking for a month. That was because I got hit with the worst allergy year to date. March and April were soooo much fun. I hate this stupid state.

We are new parents of a bouncing baby horse. Well, not really a horse though he's big enough. 84 pounds of whipcord and muscle. His name is Chugalug (that was so not our idea) and he's a 4-year-old brindle rescued greyhound. I'll post pics later. I wanted a dog and Michael kind of did too but agreeing on one was a chore. He was going for either a greyhound or a dacshund. How's that for size difference? Me? I was fine with either though I would love another German Shepherd puppy from Char-Will Kennels up home in PA. Charlotte is still breeding them.

Anyway, Chug's been a handful to get used to. Most of them are big couch potatoes and have two modes: full speed and sleep. lol Chug turned out more energetic than we had first expected but he's a pretty good dog most of the time. He was way too interested in the cats when we brought him home and they hated him (of course). Now they all just ignore each other. He sleeps well in his crate at night and loves playing with his tennis balls in the backyard. I've never seen anything love to run as much as he does. Yes, I know that's what they're bred for but that doesn't mean they have a joy in it. He just seems to love it.

As for work, right now I am triply employed. I have a class at USC, I'm doing independent contract work (merchandising) and I just started working for Hallmark as a Retail Merchandiser at one of the Walmarts here. Why? Cause we need the money. Why else? The summer is the lean season for me and what I did save up went poof in bills already. (sigh) Also, my fall session is two classes shy of the spring and I started paying back my student loans this past March/April (don't remember exactly which one).

The Evening School created a new position in the fall that is temporary right now but may go tenure track next year. I applied because it was half the classes for better pay (though I still would have needed at least one or two more to balance it all out) but they went with someone else. Someone not as experienced as me. Very nice person but still. And why this other person? Oh, the reason I got was because they want me to finish my dissertation. Uh huh. Yeah, I told them that it was obvious they weren't math majors when saying that I needed more time to do it was off by not the position since I will still be doing 7 and not 4 or 5. And I lost two of "my" sections to the new position. I've been doing the Saturday class and the Fort Jackson ones forever. Nobody else ever wanted them so I have. I've even done the oddest hours for them too. I don't mind the Saturday one so much but I really like my FJ groups. So, to say I am peeved. . .well, yeah. I think the real reason is that they didn't want to try and find someone to cover my daytime sections (the person they gave it to has a newborn and help in the evenings).

So, yeah, so much for loyalty. But I still have classes and all. And yes, I have been given an incentive to get the damn thing written but not for the reasons they want. I was told to apply again for the position next year and that the PhD would help. uh huh So, that is why I started adding extra jobs. But it means I gotta get my rear in gear and get the diss as done as possible this summer.

(sigh) All of this means me still being a phantom of your imagination unless you call or whatnot. I'll try and be in touch via here and online but I've been slack on the emails. Just don't feel like writing much when I'm doing that with the diss, ya know? But we're usually home on Sundays so that's a good time to ring. And some of you have been slack there too. lol Oh, and I may just do Facebook and Myspace more. No promises but that stuff can eat up so much time. You know who you are who spends a lot on there.

Well, I'm typed out. Gonna let my brain chill. Many hugs.

Just a Little Something

See more at I Can Has Cheezburger?

Back Again

Ok, I know I keep teasing you all with promising to post but summer is almost here and I have time to catch up on lots of things. I think. Well, going to try to anyway. So, once I have caught up the other blog, I will post more on here. Oh, and I will be getting into doing more book reviews too.

I should just make a list of all of the things that I need to do so you could see that even when I "have time" it's a relative term.

Hugs.

So. . .

Well, the semester has been hectic as all get out. Let's all just face it that I like to stay busy. It keeps me out of trouble. My fall classes are already set up. I have one less than this semester but it's still a busy time. Which means I need to haul butt on the dissertation this summer. I have finally started it in earnest so that's good. And I have just been given an incentive to get the damn thing done asap.

See, the evening School -- excuse me, the Extended University -- has created a new speech position. It requires teaching four classes in the fall and then four in the spring. Well, this coming year it is a temporary position with no benefits. But I applied anyway. I mean, I do the work anyway so I might as well. They decided to give the position to someone else because they want me to focus on my dissertation. That means that my Saturday class is no longer "mine" because they've made it part of the new position. When I first learned that I was hurt because it was the first one I had ever taught on my own but then another part of me was relieved because it gives me free weekends. So, there is a silver lining.

I may not have gotten the position this time but there is a chance that I could get it next year. They are going to try and make it a permanent tenure track position. That would be good for me to have because that means benefits, etc. Of course, I need to get the PhD done because that will put me in a better position to get the job. No guarantee that I would be given it but there is the underlying suggestion that I would be a major front runner if I had the degree.

So, yeah, I have more incentive now. I said a carrot has been dangled in front of me. Michael said it was more like a piece of Godiva Chocolate cake. lol

This Sucks

I like reading the news on AOL while I eat lunch, dinner, whatever. Lately the news has been shocking grim for the most part. I don't think that's it's because more such things are happening but that we are hearing about them more.

Anyway, I end up finding out that one of the actors, Andy Hallett, I liked best on Angel died yesterday:



Lorne was an awesome character. And Hallett has always reminded me of the southern Kyle in both looks and temperament. I knew that Hallett had been seriously ill back when Angel was nearing its run. I didn't know it was something lasting that would kill him.

So, I am very bummed right now and had to share. And you know what? The title of this entry doesn't even begin to sum it all up.

Yeah Yeah

So sue me for being a slackard with the blog. There have been moments over the past few weeks where I've wanted to write but didn't have time. Isn't that how it always works? But we are still alive.

I can't believe that the end of March is almost upon us. I just picked up two more classes so I'm even more swamped. Currently in the office for my hours right now. Have a student doing make up quizzes. Ah, such is my life.

More to follow as soon as I can. . .

Bwah

And no, I didn't spell that wrong. Just a form of saying blah. I've been sick now for over a week. Stupid weather and being around too many different germs. Actually, it hit my chest which is why I'm having trouble getting rid of it. I rested all last weekend but went to school on Monday and Tuesday even though I sounded like a frog. I did go to the doctor's on Tuesday between classes. Gaye gave me an antibiotic to take only if I didn't get better through taking Mucinex D. Well, I haven't filled the script yet cause the sinus stuff is better. . .it's just lingering. My right ear is clogged now. (sigh) The damn cold keeps changing what it's doing to me.

I actually canceled classes on Wednesday and Thursday if that gives you an idea of how I felt. I ended up with the most horrendous sinus headache on Wednesday. Or as I said to the students online, it felt like my eyeballs wanted to melt from my skull. Plus, I could barely talk. Fortunately, the daytime Thursday people already had off as part of a deal for getting a two day assignment done in one day. But I though I would be able to go in the evening cause I was feeling a little better. Right. Only when I didn't move. I went out for the mail and the cold air hit my lungs and they wanted to jump out of my chest. Real hard to listen to stuff when you're trying not to hack up a lung. So, that one was canceled too.

Since then I have been pretty much home. I went out briefly on Friday to go to the store and yesterday Michael took me for some Mexican since he figured that I could taste. lol But today is all home stuff. Right now I'm writing this to you as a break from reading some of my dissertation work. Yes, you read that right. I got behind again because of the damn cold. But am making a point of reading something today even though my head feels swimmy. No excuse not to read. Besides, I'm simply refreshing myself on stuff I read eons ago so I figure that won't be a problem.

Ok, enough babbling. Time to get back to work. Hope all of you are feeling well. Michael opened up the windows to let some fresh air in since it's like 75 degrees outside. Maybe that will help. Hope you all get some nice weather soon too. Hugs.

Just Peachy

So, once again I have run into my dissertation profs. well, the ones I consider the two biggies anyway. I was happy to see both this time. lol Why? Cause I finally have a direction. Anyway, I found out Dr. Miller's office hours and they work with mine so that's all good. Gonna push to get him a chapter draft next week.

But running into Dr. Geckle (pronounce like the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde dude) has really pushed things into perspective. See, two of my four committee members are retired. And well, normally, they would be allowed to still teach a class every semester if they wanted to. Not anymore. Seems that the university has told all of the retirees to go bye bye. Well, you can imagine why because that is an "easy" cut to the budget. Especially if you have people drawing some kind of pension already. I honestly don't know how much retired professors get payed for a class but I doubt that it's much. Still, it is a cut.

So what does this mean? It means that I don't know if the two retirees can sign off on my diss. Yeah, yeah. All my fault for not getting it done sooner. Whatever. I know someone in the French department who I can ask and would probably be cool but I can't imagine replacing Dr. G. I mean, he is one of my most favorite teachers ever and this is his thing. My topic is just his cup o' tea. So, yea, as he said to me just a few minutes ago, light a fire under it.

(sigh) And if that turns out to be the case that I have to. There goes the promise to myself that I would be more available to you all for chats and what not. Cause if I have to do some pressure writing (which, I admit, is how I work best). . .everything else is gonna go poof but for the teaching. So, be warned. (sheesh)

Really? That long?

Well, whataya know. . .been over a month. Wow. Well, I must do better, eh? I promised a wedding overview, etc so I better deliver over on the other blog. Not tonight though. It's late and typing is not my strong point. Plus I have to get up hella early and walk in the cold. Shut up, northern friends. 20s is col dammit, by anyone's standards. Well, unless you live in the arctic and those are your summer temps. Still. . .brrrrr. Ok, I am making too many typos. . .gonna shower now. Will type this weekend. Hugs.

Erg

So. . .catching up is hard to do. But I should be able to between the two sites after all of the finals madness. Most of my grading is done but I am (really) trying to get something banged out on the dissertation. I actually have an opening for the theory chapter. Go me. Now I need to do more with it.

Anyway, I'll update you all on that as well as other stuff as soon as the madness eases a bit. Should be some time next week. Hugs.

I'm So Sorry

Last night Michael's second family, the Seibert's, lost their matriarch, Miss Johnie. She'd been sick for years but it was still a shock as no one expected her to go as quickly as she had. I think everyone thought that this was just a "routine" trip to the hospital. After years of someone having declining health you get used to the pattern that happens.

I feel so bad for them all. Even though they knew it was coming, there really couldn't have been a true preparation. Vern and Kathy are like Michael's second parents. Miss Johnie was Kathy's mother and, I guess, like another grandmother for Michael. I spoke with Jennifer a few minutes ago and she gave my standard answer when I'm just existing and someone asks me how I am, "I'm here." I wish there was something that I could do. And her poor sister, Kristen. . .ugh. . .she is going to be an absolute mess. She was terrified that this would happen because she just last week moved to Hawaii. Her husband, Mike, is in the navy and that is where they will be stationed when he gets back. The navy said that was when she needed to move to get settled. So, now she has to fly in. She'll be here tomorrow. As Jen weakly joked, looks like she'll make the wedding anyway. (sigh) I really wish that hadn't been why.

This so sucks for them. And what really sucks is that they will all try and put on happy faces for us on Friday. I suppose having something good happen right after can alleviate the pain but. . . . The whole thing brings tears to my eyes. I feel so bad for them because they have all been nothing but accepting of me into their family from the start and I've been feeling like they are a second one for me too.

Michael's mom said last night that God will be smiling down on the wedding because the weather is supposed to be perfect but I guess none of us could have seen the cloud that would be hanging out there as well.

Let There Be Air

When last I blogged. . .

I was behind in my work. But no more! I actually managed to get ahead in my work for my students. I just plugged away after my blog entry and got everything set up (including quizzes) for the semester so I don't have to worry about them. Yay!! I am taking over some classes for one of my peers tomorrow because she has to be out of town so I'll get my grading done then for my students and be on track there too. I know, gasp. More icicles in hell! Yay!

As for the title of this entry. . .we lost our AC last week for a few days. It was hell cause the humidity was up past 80% and the temps were hovering at 90 degrees. Blech. See, earlier in the summer I complained about how I thought the air wasn't as cool as it should be. I mean, when you get 100 degrees outside, it is hard to keep the house below 80 inside but the night air just seemed not to be cooling as fast as usual. But when Michael checked, it didn't seem odd to him. So, we just dealt with it.

Well, last Wednesday night, the AC was definitely having problems. I spent a very sweaty night. By Thursday afternoon, it was obvious that the AC had gone kaput. The fan would still run, but no coolness. Michael's brother, Philip, works in AC repair (mostly commercial now) and so we called him for help. He walked Michael through looking at it but, in the end, it was obvious that we would have to call somewhere.

Philip's recommended place doesn't service our area so I called 2nd Wind because they have great reviews and have consistently gotten the Best of Columbia award. Hey, there are worse ways to pick a business. Well, they came out Friday night and, because Michael was able to eliminate a lot for them, after only a few minutes the guy was able to tell us that our compressor had gone kerplunk. Michael was hoping just a freon thing cause that wouldn't be too bad in cost. Nope, we had to end up with a $1500+ repair. We don't have that. Obviously. The guy left and said he would be back in touch on Monday to let us know the specifics. (sigh)

Well, we had already had two restless nights so we decided to buy a window unit for the bedroom. The good thing is that they are all on sale. We got a good small one for $130 and Michael managed to jerryrig is so that it was an inside unit. See, our window screens run the entire length. We have great windows and didn't want to mess them up. So, Michael made it so that the condensation would leak out the back properly. It was great. And would do for the winter until we could save up for the repair.

Still, the rest of the house remained 80+ both night and day. It made us both grumpy especially as I had given Michael my cold.

On Monday, 2nd Wind called Michael. Turns out that our former landlord/person we bought the house from had bought the unit from them to begin with. I hadn't been sure who he had. I did know that he had a service agreement with someone and had been expecting them to contact us to see if we wanted to continue that but never heard anything. Well, along with the unit, Hite bought a ten year warranty with it and 2nd Air said they could transfer that to us for $150!!! (happy dance) I swear, I almost cried. I mean, how great is that? Yes, we can live without AC. But if I don't have to, I don't want to. So, thank God for the break, Hite for the foresight, and 2nd Wind for their honesty. Cause they sure didn't have to tell us. We would never have known. Then again, what would have happened if we had asked Hite? Yeah, well, they could have just claimed that the time for change over had expired. But they were nice and honest and so getting plugged to people. They truly deserve their status as Best of.

So, Tuesday night we had the right temp in the house and it felt great. Sorry, Jim and Cynthia, for roasting you while you were here. But now we know why. And this way when other peeps come to visit, we won't roast them either. Cause, even though winter is coming, in SC summer hangs on for a while. The nights might drop slowly but the days can stay hot and humid into December.

It feels good to be able to sit in my chair here in my office without sweating. Ah, I am spoiled.

Back in Session

Well, school is back in for me. Last week was the first full week of classes. I think that between running around a humid/hot campus and being around tons of people again caused me to get the cold I have now. I almost talked myself hoarse on Tuesday. Had a sore throat on Wednesday but was hoping that was because of Tuesday. Thursday the throat was worse and I felt like I might get sick but I hoped not with some sleep. Nope. I didn't feel well on Friday but went out and got some stuff done.

Michael kept waking me up Friday night because I kept snoring. Excuse me for drippy sinuses. I finally gave up at 6:30a and did some work in my office. I grabbed breakfast and headed to class. I gave the lecture even though my throat was still blah. I had scheduled us a couple's massage and that helped.

Michael and I did some errands. At that point it was just my throat and not my sinuses being too bad but as the day progressed, they went down hill. Probably partly because of the massage. They tend to get things moving along when I am even close to being sick. Helps to push it out of the system.

I ended up spending part of Saturday night on the sofa because Michael kept waking me up again so I gave up. I was so out of it. I went back to bed before 10a and told him I wasn't going to church. He got up. I fell back to sleep. Finally I got up and he made me some soup and I had a pb&j sandwich. The latter actually helped with getting rid of the last of the throat scratch. Jonathan had wanted to go see Hamlet 2 yesterday and we'd been planning it for a while but I wasn't sure. So, when he called I said we'd see for the evening. But I ended up falling back to sleep some time around 3:30p and didn't get up until 8p.

It's amazing I slept last night. And so, here I am, behind in my plans for the weekend. Oh, well. I will work on the invitations after I do some stuff for school. I've got to get some things together for that so they're out of mental need to do pile. Once tomorrow comes, I'll be off and running on my usual schedule until the wedding with only AWA as the blip. Gonna be busy. Two months to go and a ton to do. Yay!! lol

Another Politician Has Lied About An Affair

Oooo, stop the presses. Really? Ok, so I'm being sarcastic. I must admit that I was a little shocked to see that the current adulterer is John Edwards. After all, he seemed like the all around family type with a wife of 30 years and 4 children. But then again, what can you say for appearances.

I don't so much care what foibles the politicians commit in their own lives. Nobody is perfect and it really is between him and his wife. If they get caught, I do think that they should just own up to it and move on. You would think that people would know by now that once they are in the spotlight for something (politics, arts, etc), they are analyzed to the nth degree. Fair? Nope.

What is ironic is that, during his run for the Democratic bid, Edwards talked all about how we need to have someone lead us who has a strong moral compass and whatnot. Okie dokie. I don't disagree with that but I'm thinking that's just a bit hypocritical.

But that's not what gets me about this whole thing. What sticks in my craw is that he had an affair while his wife of thirty years is dying of cancer! Did you get that? All the responses I've read so far have spoken about him as another lying bastard/man/politician/white person. . . . But is that really the point. Not to me. I admit to not knowing much about Elizabeth Edwards. But I do know this much: she has incurable cancer (which has spread to her bones) and has been dedicating her time and energies into her family and John's campaigning. I don't care what their life is like behind closed doors. It could all be a farce. But let the woman die with some dignity in public. And how stupid can a person possibly be to have an affair under such a circumstance (public or private).

No doubt the media will twist this to make her out to be a victim (which she kind of is). Watch. . .she'll handle it with grace and dignity. She won't leave her husband but will do all she can to smooth everything over.

More on the Media

I was going to respond to Natalie herself when she sent me a very nice little message about the last blog entry but I wanted to share the article I just read with all of you. So, here's what I was writing. . .

I was just reading an "Entertainment Weekly" article where they speculate that Katherine Heigl could be killed off on "Grey's Anatomy" for being outspoken. She refused to run for an Emmy this year because she didn't feel like she had any material worthy of such an honor (she won one last year anyway). That could be a jab at herself but it's being taken as a stab at the writer's of the show. Well, one of the regular columnists, Mark Harris, wrote about the incident later in the magazine and said something like I did about Britney. About how the internet is dragging down the media into the gossipy pits of hell from 50 years ago. Not that they ever completely pulled out of it but at least it was mainly trashy tabloids who stuck to that stuff. Now it's every where. Harris mentions clicking on some of the same links I have (he didn't say if it was via AOL like I do) and just rolling his eyes at the articles. The title's catch our attention so we read. For me, it's my version of a car wreck, I guess.

But yeah, they attack everyone so I guess they see it as fair.

If you want to read the article (and it really is a good one) go here:

Katherine Heigl's 'Grey' matter - EW.com

A Burst of Britney

Ok, stop reading if you don't want my brief rant on Britney Spears. No, I am not a huge fan though I do like her music (what can I say, it has a good dance beat). Yes, I am sympathetic towards the famous twit. Only to a point, mind you, but people do stupid stuff all the time (maybe not shave their head and bash at a car with an umbrella but, well, we're past that I hope). Normally I just roll my eyes at the media coverage of her. But, well, their latest take is just too ridiculous. Poor woman can't do anything right. Granted, they have a point to a certain extent but they make the incident seem so tragic.

In case you didn't catch a blurb on it, here's the summation: Britney was in her L.A. home hanging out on her balcony talking on the phone and smoking a cigarette. Her 2 year old (I think he's the youngest) grabbed her cigarettes and lighter. She rushed to stop him like she should.

Horrible, non?

Stupid is what it is. No, she shouldn't be smoking around the child (that was the main argument the article had). Heck, she shouldn't be in general (but that's my view and some of you smoke and I love ya so we'll leave it at that). But she's trying to get her act together so if that is the worst thing that happens around the kids right now. . . . I have to wonder if the writer of the article smokes or ever has. Hell, I haven't and I say knock it off. Yeah, yeah, I know that they have to have someone to pick on but I thought we were past the Britney phase. Apparently we never will be. And they wonder why she went nutso. Sheesh

AOL should have headlined something else.

Flying With Carry Ons

I just read an awesome article while I was eating lunch. Well, it's more of a flight attendant's rant than an article but it was still very informative and interesting:

Flight Attendant Pet Peeve

I skipped over some of the description of the hypothetical passenger's trip to the airport but it was amusing. I have to say that I can see the woman's point. Heck, back in October (the last time I flew), I saw too many people bringing on big bags. I can only imagine how bad it is now with the new price guidelines for luggage.

Michael and I think that, while annoying, the luggage cost thing is fair. Yes, they pack people in as much as they can and, yes, there are other ways that the airlines can cut back in order to save money but what do you do with the one person who brings five bags to someone else's one? Of course, it all also depends upon how high they start jacking up the prices on tickets too. And they need to stop having the corporate mentality that multi-leg tickets should be cheaper than straight flights between major cities. I have never been able to figure that out. The only reason I can see is to show justification for flights between certain destinations. Oh, you have to love corporate logic. Sheesh

Anyway, I hope you like the flight attendant's blog entry (I think that's what that is). I did.