No, not posting (though that is becoming a rare thing)… I got all 43 presidents!  Twice!  Today!  And with a large gap in-between (as in, I took a break to go get boxes from the basement, picked up my dry-cleaning, and read some emails, among other things).

I’m feeling pretty good about that.

I can also name all 50 states and put them on the map with decent accuracy (last time it was 6 miles and 3 errors).  If pushed, I think I could get most of the capitols.

I might become a social studies teacher yet.  If I can pass my classes this semester, that is.  I will be quite proud if I get A’s - geography and politics/economics/social sciences are not as straightforward as history.  We’ll see how homework goes this weekend.  Also, my classes this semester are not really lecture-based.  I’m not sure how I’ll do with that.  I mean, that’s the way I’d prefer to teach, but I’m not sure if that’s how I learn, if that makes sense.  On the plus side, that should mean my arm, elbow and hand won’t hurt as much from note-taking.  On the negative side, it means I won’t have notes to study from.

Also, the two classes I will be missing while we’re on our honeymoon… some of the best classes, or at least the ones I’d want to attend.  In Politics, Markets and Civil Society, that class is the first of three with a guest lecturer who will be giving us the down-and-dirty version of economics.  And in Geography, the case study we will be looking at is the spread of AIDS in the US.  While the economics wouldn’t actually be interesting to me, I don’t actually know any econ and would benefit from being there.  I’ll just have to borrow notes from someone, and read the book carefully.  The case study on AIDS would definitely be interesting to me, though thinking on it now, it’s quite possible that the discussion would become heated and I wouldn’t necessarily enjoy that.

Don’t be confused.  I’m not actually complaining.  I’m quite sure that whatever I’m doing will be much better than being in class.  Much better.

popularity: 34%

1. Underwear: Pull up your pants or else! That’s the sentiment behind efforts in cities across the U.S. to ban droopy trousers that reveal men’s boxer shorts, and baggy sweats that reveal a women’s thong. In just the last seven days alone, city councils in Shreveport and Alexandria, Louisiana, and Atlanta, Georgia, have taken up measures in favor of banning fanny-flaunting pants. Do you think it’s okay for cities and towns to legislate apparel?  I spent most of my summer in Arizona telling teenage boys to pull up their pants.  I think it’s a stupid trend that has gone on far too long.  There are quite a few other trends that I’d love to legislate away, but I’m actually kind of opposed to that.  I’m very cool with schools having dress codes and uniforms, but I think legislation of apparel should be focused on indecency (though the definition of that could be… anything).
2. Compensation: Richard Jewell–the contract security guard who was falsely accused of planting a bomb at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and who despite never being charged with any crime underwent what was considered by many to be a “trial by media” that took a great toll on his personal and professional life–died earlier this week of what appear to be natural causes. Nearly 10 years after his ordeal, in April of 2005, Jewell was completely exonerated when Eric Rudolph pleaded guilty to carrying out the bombing attack at Centennial Olympic Park, as well as three other attacks across the southeast portion of the United States. Considering Jewell’s situation, do you feel people who have falsely been accused of major crimes should be entitled to compensatory reparations, or is having to deal with such situations simply the cost we must pay in order to live in a society that affords us with so many freedoms? In my understanding, most of the pain caused to Jewell was from the media, not the police.  Granted the police were the ones responsible for falsely accusing him, but I think that happens far more often than we know.  And he wasn’t actually charged with any crime, so I’m not sure what they should be held responsible for.  Isn’t that their job, to figure out who would be responsible?  Perhaps if his character was actually slandered by the media there would be a case for that, but against the media, not the police.  I don’t think it’s the cost we have to pay to live in a free society, but the cost we pay when we are a society so focused on celebrity and gossiping and are generally media whores.  That has nothing to do with our freedoms and everything to do with… us.
3. Make Room: What particular item of food, regardless of how stuffed you may be, can you always find room for?  Chocolate.  Perhaps only small pieces if I’m really full, but nonetheless I could always find room for a Hershey’s kiss or a Lindt truffle.
4. I Insist: Growing up, I had a neighbor who was rumored to wear a brand new dress shirt each and every time he went to work. Never would he wear the same dress shirt twice. What is one thing that you are absolutely particular about? Clothing-wise, I’d have to say socks with athletic shoes.  Or really socks with any kind of enclosed shoe.  I recently had to wear a pair of enclosed dress shoes without nylons (due to poor planning) and I wasn’t a big fan.   Not nearly as horrible as being barefoot in sneakers though.  Ew.  The other thing that comes to mind would be shoe-wearing while riding a bike.  Closed-toe shoes, to be specific.  There was a traumatic childhood incident.  ‘Nuff said.

popularity: 50%

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but that little count-down on the side of my blog says 7 days. 7! 7 days until very publicly and very permanently making a big commitment. Which I’m totally cool with, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes, I have to pause a moment and reflect on the magnitude of this. It’s not as life-changing as, say, giving birth. But getting married has to be up there on the list of life-altering experiences.

Last night went much smoother than I thought it would. It took almost no time at all to take stuff to Goodwill and drop stuff off at ’s. I even stopped at the gas station on my way back (first time in over two years that I’ve been the one at the pump instead of just waiting in the car), which was made slightly confusing by the fact that I had cash and was on the phone the entire time, first with and then with the girl who was coming to get the couch. Trying to give directions while going inside to pay in cash in a gas station I hadn’t been to in a long time when there’s a long line… I don’t advise it. But it all turned out fine. And the girl picked up the couch at a decent time, just after I was finished eating dinner but before I started packing my car.

I filled up my car and was on the road by 7, which seemed like a miracle. I went tanning, which didn’t go as well as usual, but whatever. and I unloaded my car, and then amazingly enough I got to relax on the couch and watch TV for a while. Definitely that was the idealistic way for things to go.

I’m going to grab a few more boxes before leaving work tonight so I can pack up the random stuff that’s hanging around my house. I think I can get the kitchen done and probably the bedroom too before comes over. The fifth person who contacted me about my chairs is actually supposed to come over tonight, unlike the other 4 who have ignored me since their first “I’m interested” email. 7:30 she says. I might need to put her in the trusty hands of , because I would like to be done by then. We’ll see.

Once this moving part is done, life will be a breeze. It probably would have been better to be moved out at the end of July instead of August, but then I would have been homeless for quite a long time. And I didn’t have a car until last week, so that would have been terribly problematic. I don’t advise moving and getting married all at once, but I’m pretty sure that most people don’t do it that way these days anymore, so I guess that’s pretty worthless advice. Plus, I’m still not believing in the whole living-together-before-marriage thing, so I guess it’s the only way to do that. And, much to the delight of and , I’m sure, none of my friends have been solicited to help in this move, though I’m sure they would have been more than willing. However, there’s a bit of a trick in that, because we will definitely need their help to move out of ’s into a different house, when the time comes. And that will be a bigger deal. And will happen over a weekend instead of a three-month period. So… they won out temporarily.

Work is mostly set to be without me for two weeks. I just have a fax to send (I’m waiting on a form to be filled out) and the vacation-response to set for my email. I’m sure some other piddly little things will come up in the next four hours.

Really, I can’t tell you how thrilled I will be to have the moving done, and how thrilled I am at the smoothness of last night. I realize that there’s an entire bedroom chock-full of boxes at ’s house that will have to be dealt with, and so in that sense moving isn’t done. But… it is. All my stuff will once again be united, and in two weeks I will be re-united with it. And we’ll figure out what to do with all of it and… life will be good. Life is good now, barring the fact that I have been getting crappy sleep and have had a terrible crick in my neck since last night. The heat pad I put on it is helping dramatically - just poor timing to have neck/shoulder/back pains. And I can get caught up on sleep next week, right? In-between all the homework and last-minute wedding stuff. Right. I’ll at least get caught up the following week, when we’re on our honeymoon, in-between all the sex. Was that too private a comment to make on this blog? Like y’all didn’t know that was what was going to be going on. Like everyone doesn’t know.

And, to leave you with completely different thoughts than that… my Starbucks has been out of white chocolate for the last three days. Consequently, I have had several mediocre experiences. Today, however, I ordered the Cinnamon Dolce Latte (instead of the Caramel Macchiato that has been disappointing), and it’s pretty good. I’m not exactly in the mood for cinnamon, but it’s definitely more satisfying than the macchiato.

popularity: 88%

I was watching “The Closer” last night, trying to get caught up before having to return my DVR to the cable company, and last week we learned that Brenda was going through early-onset menopause (I figured it was either that or she was pregnant). This week, her doctor told her she thought that it was probably because she has PCOS. Always nice to identify with a TV character, even if it isn’t for the best reason. Anyways. [Editor's note: warning to the boys, girl parts are going to be mentioned shortly, and you may not want to read if you're squeamish about that sort of thing.] There’s this funny-and-horrifying scene where the doctor says that the method of treatment is… ovarian drilling. Brenda of course freaks out over this (it goes all slow-mo and the doctor repeats it like three times and it really is funny). And who wouldn’t? Those words should not be used together. I don’t care what they mean. That sounds freaky.

Last night, I learned an important lesson. Do not attempt to go to Target and find school supplies the night that most of the local colleges started classes. You won’t find anything, and you will be reminded that you are old. You may also have to deal with parents of kindergarteners attempting to decipher the school-supply list they’ve been given. And it will take you 45 minutes to find yellow Post-Its. I never did find the folders I was looking for, even after stopping at Office Max. Guess I didn’t need them.

It was a whole new world opened to me last night, when I realized that I needed Post-Its and it was after 8:30, but I could still leave my house and get them, because I owned a car. Being limited by the bus meant that trips to Target after evening rush hour generally took at least 2 hours, with the time in transit, shopping, and waiting for buses. No longer. True, I was still gone for an hour, but because I was trying to find Post-Its, not because I was waiting at the corner of University and Hamline at 9:15 pm. (No good can come of that.)

I also learned last night (from ) that bachelor and bachelorette parties are for the friends of the bride and groom, not the seeming-guests-of-honor. That kinda clears things up for me, though I am still confused about… why again? But whatever. I’ll just accept it at face value and move on.

Class tonight. Class yesterday afternoon went well, and we got out early, which meant I could file for our marriage license and get a student ID made. Right now, I’m going to pick up the Scrabble boards for the reception centerpieces.

popularity: 37%

My office smells like Taco Bell.  And not in a good way.  (Is there ever a good way for something to smell like Taco Bell?  I mean, I love the Bell, and have eaten it quite a few times lately, but that doesn’t mean I want my world to smell like it.)

popularity: 30%

Spammers are killing my love for my blog right now. I get at least six email notifications a day that I have a new comment waiting for approval. How many times are those real comments and not spam comments? Rarely, as you could tell by browsing around for a while. It’s making me sad. I no longer get excited about emails that I might have a comment. This used to be a thrilling thing, you realize.

I can’t imagine that my blog is any higher ranked now than it used to be, so why the increase in spam, I’m not sure. They do all get deleted - it’s just a hassle, that’s all.

And what are all these spam-comments about? Mostly viagra. Sometimes about… enhancing or enlarging things. Or prescription medications. Boo.

Classes start today. In an hour and a half, actually. So in an hour, I’m leaving work, hopping a bus over to the Metro State Library (where my class will be held, oddly), and eating a Snickers bar I found for lunch (I’ll plan that better in the future). Two of my textbooks are in my bag (of 3, for today’s class), and I’m hoping I won’t have to carry them around with me. My shoulder hurts. I know, I’m wimpy. My shoulder is particularly sensitive to that. Can’t be helped. I’m also supposed to get my student ID today, so and I can go get a computer with the student discount.

And then I’m getting a haircut and highlights.

Posted my couch and the gold chairs on craigslist last night, and I’ve had a ton more people interested in the chairs than I thought. I really feared that… I’d have to figure out a way to get them to Goodwill on Friday night. The couch I wasn’t worried about, since I think I could probably leave it at the house if all else failed. Apparently, really ugly upholstered chairs for free are a hot commodity.

popularity: 41%

I could have quickly and easily described my entire weekend with a few well-thought-out photographs. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any, so you’ll have to suffer through my wordy description of my weekend instead.

Friday night, while was out getting drunk with his friends (Editor’s sidenote: can someone please explain the idea of bachelor and bachelorette parties to me? I mean… guy proposes, so clearly he wants to get married. Girl accepts, so she probably does too. So why the need to celebrate singleness one last time? Is marriage really such a hideously awful idea that drunkenness is the only way to cope? Do most people foresee marriage as giving up all of their freedoms so that they’ll never be able to go out and have fun with their friends again? I just don’t get it.), I went to ’s to help her paint. She detailed that experience on her blog, so I’ll just let that be. (Editor’s note to : thinks perchance primer would have prevented peeling. I don’t have any solutions for peeled paint patching, however. Can you sand it down (once dry) and then you wouldn’t have the 3D thing going on?)

Then I went tanning, or rather got some fake tan sprayed on me (it was very cold for some reason, which is quite unpleasant when you’re already buck nekkid in a tiny booth with a woman’s voice talking loudly to you). And bought some chocolate at Target. And… watched some bad TV and crocheted a really ugly purse (that I took apart the next morning) and… probably some other boring things that I can’t remember because… they were boring.

A large portion of Saturday was spent waiting for to recover from his previous night’s activities. I kept busy with crochet/knitting projects, more bad television, and unpacking some boxes. There are now photographs on display in two whole locations. Still no candles, because, well, I don’t actually live there yet, and marriage is a stipulation for candle placement in ’s house. So I refrained. Oh, I also spent a large amount of time cleaning the fish tank. It was gross. I took a shower shortly afterwards to remove said grossness because I didn’t even want to touch myself.

Another large portion of Saturday was spent loading most of the rest of my possessions into ’s dad’s Bronco and then unloading them into the spare bedroom, which is now very full after the addition of my twin bed. What’s still at my house? My mattress, laying on the floor. My television, also on the floor. Five outfits for work. My computer, on the floor. Two under the bed storage boxes, two other shelf-organizy-type-things, my jewelry, my wedding-day supplies including reception decorations, some files, my bedside table, and some bathroom and kitchen stuff. And .

Sunday we spent a lot of time (some would say too much time) at Ikea, and considerably less time putting two of these together (in black-brown, the wider version). also bought me a step stool for the kitchen so I can reach things on top of the cabinets. And he’s nearly done fixing my dresser. (It’s amazing how much time it can take to fix something that I lived with in its broken state for so long.) It’s quite wonderful, all the work he’s put into it.

So, yeah. See, wouldn’t pictures have been better? And much shorter. Oh well.

Classes start tomorrow. And I have a hair appointment, which will be sad because I won’t go back to my stylist after this, and I liked her. But she wasn’t like the world’s best hair stylist or anything. And Kari is now back in my neck of the woods, instead of being up in Rosedale (plus I have a car), so maybe I’ll go back to her. I never had any complaints with her, and trusted her implicitly with my hair. I’m sure I also have many wedding related things to do. That’s what I’m doing next, looking at my checklist.

popularity: 62%

1. Uneven :: — (I’ve got nothing)
2. Wonder :: Stevie
3. Spider :: Man
4. Emma :: Thompson
5. Swing :: Set
6. Orbit :: the sun
7. Flirt :: -atious
8. Donation :: jar
9. Veil :: -ed, thinly
10. Atmosphere :: -ic content

popularity: 51%

Last night, as I was loading up my car with things to take to Goodwill and ’s, came home and announced that she’d just been fired. Being fired always sucks, but this was a particularly hideous situation. Why, you ask? Well, you see, she’d already given her notice, 20 days ago, and next Thursday was supposed to be her last day. So, essentially, they robbed her of the right to say goodbye to everyone. And got to pull a little power trip. Bastards.

I got all of my Goodwill stuff out of the house, as well as the last of the things I knew had to live at ’s. I also set aside my work clothes for next week, packed my honeymoon luggage, and watched several episodes of Star Trek Voyager. And did 3 loads of laundry (which is impressive since I was gone from 6:30-10:00 taking stuff to ’s and Goodwill). [Editor's note: Let's pause for a moment and take a little bit of joy in 's praise for the necklace I made her, and that her co-workers all loved it and were impressed that I made it, and told her that she should have me make more of her jewelry. Bask in that feeling for a moment. OK, I'm better now.]

Tonight, after helping will be out having his bachelor party, and I’ve been instructed to go to bed with my cell phone, lest the designated driver forget and I need to come and safely drive them home.

Our receptionist has been particularly nice lately, telling me stories and asking questions about the wedding. It was revealed by yesterday why - she set her retirement date. October 2nd. This, of course, fills me with mixed emotions. On the one hand, she has several habits that annoy me greatly. But on the other hand, her being gone means I have to answer phones more. reassured me that she’s going to fill the position, potentially before it’s actually vacated, and told me I don’t need to worry. She doesn’t actually want me answering phones, since it takes away from my other responsibilities. Since the new people we’ve hired lately have been efficient and competent and computer-savvy, this is an exciting time. Our receptionist can basically only use Word and Excel, and only in limited ways.

Anyways, I got a call back from a co-worker regarding an Access database question, and so I’m going to go try the solution she gave me. Such an exciting life, I know.

popularity: 46%

Last night I sanded the patched spots on my walls and painted. And you know what? The color I got, totally isn’t right. And you know what else? I decided I didn’t care. I mean, I did a good job of patching and painting, and so if someone wants to come in and paint it a different color, it’s all set. And if they care enough, well, they can fix it. I’ve done enough. Plus, the light in that room is not that good, and so if you don’t know where to look, it might take you a few minutes to figure it out. Just a few, but that’s something, right? This is one task I can no longer expend any mental or physical energy on.

Also last night, told me that he finished fixing my dresser and hung up the wall-candle-decor thing I have and was next going to hang one of my framed art prints on the wall. Wasn’t that nice of him? I didn’t even ask him to do it, he just did it so I would feel more at home. So sweet. And then I told him that Friday night I’d probably move over a bunch of little and awkward stuff so we didn’t have to deal with it when we had the big vehicles, and that he might just start randomly running into my things wherever I find homes for them. You know, so when he opens a cabinet in the bathroom and sees a bunch of strange stuff he’s not scared, or when all the surfaces in his bedroom are covered in candles. (That last part was a joke. And it was meant in the “psycho-killer” sort of funny way, not the “Monica proposes to Chandler” sort of way. You know, if I had to explain it, it probably wasn’t that funny. Oh well.)

I was just on phones for the last hour, and it didn’t ring a single time. Wow. However, Rude Co-Worker was here and telling me “news of the weird,” so I wasn’t completely un-annoyed. He seems to only be able to re-tell weird news that either 1) I could care less about (they discovered a new species of frog in the rainforest!) or 2) annoys him and he feels the need to have someone share his annoyance (a kid got kicked out of school for having drawn a picture of a gun). This, of course, is highly obnoxious, and far more painful than having to look at pictures of his horse.

Also… in response to the energy crisis, my skin has decided to triple its production of oil. Seriously, I have no idea what I did to offend it, but I am shiny-face girl. Not acne-ridden-teen-girl, but still less than desirable two weeks before my wedding. I haven’t changed face products or my diet and my hormones seem to be normal… so I have no clue what’s going on.

Taking stuff to Goodwill and to ’s tonight. That will feel incredibly productive, even if it’s not checking anything off my list, because it will mean piles of stuff leave my house. Always helpful when people are coming over to help move this weekend. Plus maybe I can get the couch cleared off enough to be able to take a picture of it so I can put it on craigslist. The chairs too. I really need to do that. I’m hoping my kitchen table will fit in my car so it can go to ’s. The chairs are going to be annoying, though, since they don’t break down and just take up space. They’ll have to wait. I figure there’ll still be at least two more trips of bringing stuff to ’s for storage, but I could be wrong. Another Goodwill trip too.

I’m kinda antsy for classes to start. I want the syllabuses and to be able to plan out the semester and be totally a freak about that. (It’s part of my natural charm.) But unfortunately next week when classes start I have… a lot of wedding related things to do, so I don’t know if I’m going to have time to be a huge dork. It may have to wait. So sad. I suppose that’s OK. I mean, I think I’m out of Post-Its anyways. Or if I’m not, I have no idea where they are right now. My house? ’s? (And if they’re at his house, which box are they in?) Who knows.

popularity: 39%

This is the sort of thing that makes brides cry, in case you were wondering.

So my aunt and uncle on ’s side cannot come to the wedding because my aunt is doing chemo right now. She wrote me a very nice letter about it, and I totally understand. I know she wants to be there, so that’s enough for me. (Sidenote: I need to stop being sad on behalf of people who want to come but can’t. It’s not helping.) Well, emailed me and said that a friend of hers from back home said my aunt isn’t looking good. She asked if I would write her a letter, saying it would probably help her spirits, from her favorite niece and the bride (which is what my aunt called me in the letter she wrote). Initially I was frustrated that I was being asked to do something else. And then I was just sad about the whole thing. More motivation to go home for Christmas this year. After all, I can see any time I want, right? And I wouldn’t get to see him on Christmas day anyways. We’ll see how my grandpa looks at the wedding, and that could cinch the deal. But it means missing ’s family’s Christmas Eve celebration.

Back at work for the rest of the day. Not much exciting going on there.

popularity: 39%

I know it’s so very wrong of me, but this email gives me great satisfaction.

Kelly:
I wore the necklace you made for me yesterday and I just loved it! I kept looking in the mirror at it and couldn’t believe you had made it. It does look nice with my dress yet I like the one I bought, too, so will wear them both over the 2 days of rehearsal and wedding. Thank you so much and please forgive my initial reaction, yet they did look very orange are LARGE in the photo you sent (what’s with that?) but were so small and pink in real life. I should have trusted you; thank you for not hating me.

Love,

I know, I know, I’m a horrible person.

In other news, I now own a car. Well, it’s not official on paper yet, but I am the sole owner of all of the keys, so that counts, right?

Everything is off of my bedroom walls, and all the holes are patched. Tomorrow night I’m going to sand them down and spot-paint. Hopefully the color I bought is the right one.

To try something new, I’m going to ’s house tonight after work (driving there instead of taking the bus) and spending the night. Ooh, on a work night! And then I get to get up bright and early and drive from Eagan to Roseville. Whose idea was that? Oh well. Yes, I know that pretty soon I’ll be spending the night on all the work nights and weekend nights. I’m aware that that is how marriages work. I’ve been trying to spare the pain of dealing with me in the morning on work days. Hopefully, the name brand drugs will arrive from Canada shortly after we get back from our honeymoon, and that should definitely help.

I am an official student (though non-degree-seeking and not actually admitted to the University) of Metro State. And I registered for classes. Several times, actually. I’m glad I thought to look back on the spreadsheet of required classes before I took two classes that would have fulfilled one goal. Thankfully, several of the required classes that were previously full were no longer, or they opened up other sections, or something. So I ditched Macroeconomics (which had expensive textbooks anyways) and am taking Intro to Geography. Exciting, I know. It is a required course, however. Have I mentioned how bad I am at geography? Maybe this class will fix that. I have finally learned my 50 states (again), so that’s good. I could probably tell you where most of the countries in Europe generally were, but South America and Africa would get me into a lot of trouble.

This course introduces students to the methods, themes, theories and techniques used by geographers to understand where things are and why they happen in particular locations. Students examine the relationship between humans and their environment and how humans organize their actions in space. Geographers use this focus to answer contemporary questions of political, economic, social and environmental concern. This course is designed to help students think critically about the role human and physical geographies play in shaping individuals’ experiences and understanding of the world.

And instead of Macro, I’m taking Politics, Markets, and Society to fulfill that requirement. It sounded much more interesting and much more relevant to teaching Social Studies to junior high students.

This course explores the contrasts and inter-relationships between three approaches to organizing our public life: democratic politics, economic markets, and the multiple associations that make up civil society. Students will investigate the basic characteristics and underlying principles of each approach and apply what they learn to an analysis of contemporary public issues. Students will evaluate the basic strengths and limits of each approach to civic engagement and public problem solving, and reflect on the ethical dimensions of their roles as citizens, consumers and members of civil society.

So, there ya have it. Assuming my head doesn’t explode over all that knowledge, it’s all good. There were some others that I would have wanted to take, but they required that I have taken a certain number of credits at Metro first. That’s what next semester is for, right? I have 7 more content courses to take after this semester, and then however many for the degree. So I reassured my boss that I would be here for quite some time still. Oh well. Knowing there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, even if I can’t see it yet, is reassuring.

popularity: 48%

My weekend was… long, and resulted in many aches and pains (but still a good weekend, not to give you the impression that it was bad or I’m complaining non-stop). Saturday we helped one of ’s friends move into his new house. Then we took a car full of stuff up to ’s for storage, gave her birthday present, make faces at , and had hot fudge sundaes. Then we went to another of ’s friends and babysat until 3 am. Sunday we went to Home Depot for supplies to fix my dresser and patch my walls, Circuit City, and the pet store. At the last stop, got two Dalmation Mollys, and I got four Neon Tetras and a tiny plecostamus. The nice lady there told us they do fish adoptions, so back at home we took the big huge plecostamus out of the tank, put him in a bag, and took him back to the store. They were happy to have him, and I’m happy to have him gone. We also hung out with ’s dad for a while, and then went to the Muddy Pig to hang out with friends who are moving to Korea today.

Today I’m leaving work early to [hopefully] register for classes and then bus over to Highland Park and meet the Korea-going friends and go with them to the airport, and then take their car home and call it mine for awhile. There may also be random Target trips, just because I can.

This is, of course, if I can survive the next hour and 15 minutes without killing the receptionist co-worker who apparently has decided she just doesn’t want to do her job anymore. I was on phone duty more than half of last week, and this morning she has been away from her desk so many times, including just now when she walked by to “go get a drink of water.” The best example of ridiculous avoiding-work was on Friday:

2:19 Her: I’m leaving today at 3:30.
Me: OK.
3:21 Her: I’m going to get a drink.
Me: OK.
3:22 Her: I’m back. I’m leaving now.
Me: [grumbles]

I will be glad for my two week vacation, which is coming up in two weeks. So I’m trying to keep it under control. But seriously.

I’d like to note that the host of Declutter It! liked my idea and posted it on her site. I am such a dork. And now, a dork with internet presence.

Hopefully this week won’t be too busy, since I’m still tired from this weekend (the 3 am part was a little rough - I’m not 20 anymore). But here’s my lists for the week:

Wedding To-Do list:

• Call or email wedding party to relay critical information related to rehearsal and wedding. [One five-minute email, coming up.]
• Book rehearsal dinner site ()
• Work out wedding day timing and details, draw up schedule [Schedule already partly done]
• Print Scrabble boards [Boards already designed, ready to be printed, price quote requested. Must take flash drive over to copy place.]
• File for marriage license [Unless there's a long line, another 5 minute task.]
• Whiten top teeth [Yes, this really is on my to do list. It's important! Shut up.]
• Print bulletins [Partly completed]

Moving To-Do list:

• Pack under the bed [Not much to do but go through the two containers and check to make sure nothing needs to go to Goodwill or to 's]
• File change of address [I could probably do this while out over lunch. It's not exactly hard. Just have to get the form.]
• Patch and paint walls [Not too many holes, but still a two night project. OK, like 15 minutes on two nights, just because the patch needs to dry before painting.]
• Pack hammock [So sad....]
• Pack pantry items [I already did the sorting and tossing of this two weeks ago, so this should only take five minutes, plus maybe five to wipe down the shelves]
• Pack toiletries (plastic drawers) [Not sure if there's actually any packing involved, since they're basically ready to go. Maybe put some tape on the front so they stay shut?]
• Pack kitchen table and chairs [This involves... removing the legs from the table. Done.]
• Pack lamps [Um... unplug one lamp. Unplug other lamp and disassemble into three parts. Shouldn't be too hard.]
• Pack plants [Already went through the porch stuff last week, so more or less just have to move them into a vehicle.]
• Pack desk [Already cleaned this out months ago. Probably pretty ready to go, except for the computer on top. Haven't figured out what I'm going to do with that yet. Do I need to keep it for that last week? I don't think so. But maybe....]

Sounds reasonable, right? I think I can get it all done. We’ll see.

And some randomness to leave you with….

When making a non-personal phone call, some things to keep in mind:

• Have a pen and paper nearby. It’s highly probably you’ll have to write something down.
• You should also have key personal information nearby, like your insurance card if you’re calling your doctor’s office.
• If you’re aspiring in any way to make a positive impression, be generally prepared, don’t “um, ah, well….” and for Pete’s sake don’t ask someone else to hold if you’ve called them (unless you’re really, really important, in which case you’re probably not reading this blog anyways).
• Unless someone asks, you most likely do not need to tell them your life story, or even your name. If they need your name, they’ll ask for it. If they want to know why you’re calling beyond the one sentence you gave them, they’ll ask. Don’t just start talking nonstop when they answer the phone. People who answer the phone all day get really annoyed by this, especially if they’re just the receptionist or other person who routes the calls.

Just had to get that off my chest. Not like any of you would need to know that, because I’m sure you’re nothing if not professional and courteous when making business phone calls. But since I have to answer phones all day at work, it’s on my mind that… there are a lot of people who don’t know these things.

popularity: 58%

1. Darling :: Dear
2. Majesty :: Your
3. Pebble :: Rock
4. Fate :: -d
5. Instant :: Gratification
6. Screen :: Gems
7. Unplugged :: Network
8. Dairy :: Queen
9. Benefactor :: Benevolent
10. Market :: Place

popularity: 41%

Micro-managing quasi-boss: Did you take attendance?  (Did you send out that email I was too lazy to, but instead decided to spend ten minutes explaining to you what I wanted so you could spend 30 seconds on it?)

Me: Yes.  (Yes, I did do your work for you while you were gone.  You’re welcome.)

Her: You’ll need to call that in for the meal count. (Why haven’t you done this already, since I told you to get this done next Monday?  I’m panicking about minor details like this all.the.time.  Why don’t you understand that and cater to my neuroses?)

Me: Yep.  It’s on my to do list.  (Yeah, I’ll get right on that.  By the way, talked to the meal count lady and she asked me to call her by today, so you probably should be panicking more than you are.  And I was going to call her in a few minutes, but now that you’ve come over here and bugged me about it, I don’t feel like it anymore.  Oh, and I could give a rat’s patookie.)

Her: OK.  You should do that.  I’ll want to see that list next week.  [Walks away.]  (I should ask her about that again on Monday.  And Tuesday.  And send her an email about it.  And then ask again.)

Me: (Whatever.)

popularity: 36%