The Evil Bunny of Doom!

How's this for proof that all bunnies are trying to take over the world?

After travelling for 3.5 hours to a destination that should have been a 45 minute drive, I was undaunted by snow, broken monorails, or driving 35 mph down the freeway. Movement was consistent, if slow, until I reached the parking lot of my apartment. Then, lo a behold a cute little bunny hopping around in the snow, so of course I had to stop and coo at it, stupid thing. After it hopped merrily along it's way, I tried to complete the last 30 seconds of my journey, but my wheels spun in the unpacked snow on a tiny grade hill that was no problem before I stopped. Argh, bunny! I tried backing up a little and starting over, no go. Backing up a lot, ran into the curb in front of the mailboxes. I finally pointed myself down an exit, got on the main road again, reentered the complex, and drove resolutely past the lair of the evil bunny genius trying to strand enamoured passers-by.

Continuation of the Seattle Snowpocalypse Saga:

I walked to work today because I didn't want to risk skidding out. It took me 45 minutes. And man, am I out of shape. I stopped being cold (except for the tip of my nose) about 5 minutes in. I was actually damp from sweat when I got to work. Now I am determined to get a bike and use it once the snow is gone.

The office closed at 2 this afternoon because all the support people (myself included) wanted to leave with plenty of daylight left to get them home. Unfortunately for me, I have an interview tomorrow that had to be finished. I ended up with overtime, while everyone else has to use vacation time to cover their extra hours. If the interview team gets snowed in and can't make the interview, I shall be very displeased.

Once the announcement was made that our office was closing early, we proceeded to be razzed by all of the other offices for being wimps. Apparently someone from the other side of the mountains made a 4 hour trip at 6:15 in the morning in 15 degree weather. And then the photoshopping started. So not only were we not working because we were talking about people abandoning their cars on the freeway, driving the wrong way down the freeway, spinning out in front of us, etc., we had to abandon even the pretense of working and respond to vicious attacks via email.

I think I'm the only person in the company who managed to get anything done today. And how much you wanna bet tomorrow will be more of the same. Except I think I'm going to brave the car tomorrow.

It just took me slightly over an hour to get home. Normally it takes me 8 minutes when traffic is heavy. We had to sit there for 20 minutes and watch a car spin out trying to get up a hill with 1/4 inch of snow on it.

Seattle and the surrounding area is such as wimp! All the school districts in King and Snohomish County cancelled school today because it was scheduled to start snowing at 5 pm! My and my tiny car slipped a tiny bit once and I never lost control. Seeing big trucks inching along because it's hailing is disheartening.

Update:

Apparently the SGI-recognizing dude doesn't feel awkward, he keeps trying to speak to me in Japanese...grrr.

I didn't kill my boss, though it was a close thing. Instead I fantasized about the retirement party that I'll hopefully be throwing soon. I've got the guest list made and everything, and he's not on it.

I'm worried about my head. I've been having really bad headaches behind my eyes. Naps don't make them go away, which is my usual medicating techinque.

I'm thinking that next month might be a good time to make large electronics purchases, seeing as there are supposed to be good sales to lure shoppers. I realized that I'll buy a jacket for close to $500 after thinking about it for 5 minutes, but I'm not willing to drop a couple hundred for cell phones or the like. Now that I think about that, it doesn't make sense. Hopefully my jacket will still be around in a couple years...

Time Off for Good Behavior?

I may have to commit boss-icide.

Why me?

My hair actually hurts.  Is that even possible?  Every time I run my hands through my hair (a lot), I feel like I'm being scalped.  The only thing I can think is that I have a sunburn, but I haven't seen the sun in over a week.

 

I gave my whole spiel about SUA today (again). This person was one of the few who connected Soka Unversity with Soka Gakkai. He almost knew Daisaku Ikeda's name - he had it on the tip of his tongue "Daisu..." I'm not really sure what he thought about the whole thing, since we both sort of wandered off after that (me because I was feeling awkward). Me and my paranoia thought that he was avoiding me, but I don't think that really happened.

Why am I still awkward about this?

Why did the salmon cross the road?

Duh, to get the other side!

Fabulous happenings today:

Yummy Chinese food with Grandma for lunch, with leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.

12 new books reserved at the library. Will disappear now as I try to read them all before they are due back.

Excellent salsa dancing = squealing, sweat, and a new move called "the rainbow (in Spanish)" learned from Hong Kong Chinese East Coast transplant.

Messages from old friends.

From the Onion - and you thought they only publish fake news

Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job

November 5, 2008 | Issue 44•45

WASHINGTON—African-American man Barack Obama, 47, was given the least-desirable job in the entire country Tuesday when he was elected president of the United States of America. In his new high-stress, low-reward position, Obama will be charged with such tasks as completely overhauling the nation's broken-down economy, repairing the crumbling infrastructure, and generally having to please more than 300 million Americans and cater to their every whim on a daily basis. As part of his duties, the black man will have to spend four to eight years cleaning up the messes other people left behind. The job comes with such intense scrutiny and so certain a guarantee of failure that only one other person even bothered applying for it. Said scholar and activist Mark L. Denton, "It just goes to show you that, in this country, a black man still can't catch a break."

Tonight's the night of truth. Do I stay in Seattle or emigrate to Canada. A coworker thought she'd try Africa if tonight doesn't work out. Kenya might take us.

The map barely changed colors betweeo 4 and 5, but then I drove home and like 10 new states declared. Nothing surprising, but couldn't they have given me hope in my last few minutes of work.

My cousin IM'd me at 4:30ish all worried that McCain was ahead. It's his first election and he was raised outside the country, so I had to explain how it could still be all right. Funny how I can explain it to others, but I can't get a handle on it myself. Probably not healthy to watch the returns all night long. If we lost, I'd sleep better not knowing until tomorrow morning.

I've got the nice little cheat sheet open so I can pay attention to the states that matter. For once I'm hoping that everything is decided before the polls even close in Washington.

Random: I know it's not going to stay this way, but Alabama is reporting 92% for Obama right now (with 0% of the precincts). I wonder where that is.

I hate waiting. The cheat sheet says that if Obama takes Indiana, the race is over. But that one's too close to tell still.

I got packages in the mail. That makes me happy (even though I had to pay for them). They are the offical beginning of my Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, now I don't want to give them away. I went online to buy more, but I'm trying to stop myself. Bad Myself!

Why don't I have any interesting emails to tide me over while I wait? I'm supposed to be going to dance class tonight, but my friend I go with is sick and I don't know if I have the energy to go without her when I can sit in front of the computer and fret all night long. 45 minutes until I have to decide. Am instead reading about the "Races to Watch." Washington's got two, but I only got to vote in one. I have a feeling both are going to go for the Republican. Oh well, we already have the highest minimum wage in the U.S., Idiot won't be able to bring it down too much. At least the other guy caught the Green River Killer, I guess he'll keep me from being killed in my bed.

95 Electoral votes to go. You know, I'm all about getting rid of the Electoral College and all that, but it certainly does make it easier to figure out who the winner is. 270 and you've got it.

Wait a minute. Obama got Pennsylvia and Ohio. According to my cheat sheet, he could lose Indiana, Florida, Georgia (which he did) and Virginia, but still win with Ohio and Pennsylvania. Does that mean it's over?

I really hope people aren't disappointed with Obama if (when?) he wins. It's not like the president has that much power really, except maybe to do bad things. I feel like it's much easier to screw things up than to fix them. That's why we've had so many more bad presidents than good.

200 and counting.

Looks like the Senate might break 60. I'm not so sure that's a good thing, but it'll be different. I doubt it will last long anyhow. Is there a filibuster-proof number for the House?

Apparenly Indecision '08 is going live at 7. I think I'm going to have to miss dance class. Their blog called it when Ohio was called. See how smart I am. Still watching though. Looks like Chicago's going to be a nice party. Wouldn't that be fun. Washington is so removed from national politics I feel like. The best we did was when Locke spoke at the Democratic National Convention. I wonder what it's like to feel like a central part for the campaign. Maybe we should go swing so we get a visit every now and then.

Okay...apparently you can't stream Indecision '08. Hmm, there's gotta be a way. Found it, kinda...

Eh, getting tired of the whole thing. Probably should have gone to dance class.

West Coast closing in 6 minutes. If they call 'em right away, Obama officially wins (well, I suppose they have to finish the count). I wonder how long the Governor's race will take this time?

They say the Republicans have lost all their seats in the Northeast. That's kinda weird. Maybe we can have a third party emerge and make the Republican's obsolete. That'd be nice.

Apparently they've finally called it for Obama. Seemed to have missed the announcement, but people are cheering and crying. Finally. Not that I didn't call it at Ohio. Good thing his name lends itself to chanting so well. McCain wouldn't have worked. Can I breathe now?

Dude, MSNBC is so biased. Not a problem for me, but it's a bit shocking. They're tearing up.

Ha. Florida and Virginia finally joined the ranks. For states that were supposed to be so integral, turned out that they weren't. Other battlegrounds beat them out. Guess you gotta be on your toes.

I kinda liked McCain's speech. The audience was dumb, but McCain handled them well, even seemed slightly annoyed by their booing. Got a little tedious at the end. But it was pretty gracious over all. I'm just glad Palin didn't get to speak. The McCain crowd seems to have anticipated the chanting problem and come up with their own (can't understand those).

Why is Jesse Jackson hanging out in the crowd? Couldn't he be backstage?

I haven't seen Bush's face in awhile. Do you think the Republicans are keeping him out of the spotlight so everyone can disavow their relationship?

Maybe it's my curse to be cynical, but how is Obama going to do all the great and wonderful things he talked about when currently 47% of the population voted against him. I really hope he can do all the things he said. The historian lady was saying she envies the young people for whom this is their first foray into politics. I wish that was me. I never learned how to trust politicians or the political process, and I'm afraid it may be too late for me.

Okay. Life goes on. Maybe a little more hopefully. It least less guiltily than the last eight years. I can show my face outside the country again.

Good night.

I got an "I voted" sticker! Who knew you could get them voting absentee? Not me! It's one more reason to go to the drop box (1. being that it's one more reassurance that your vote will actually be counted and 2. being that you save 63 cents, or whatever ridiculous amount stamps are these days). It's my first real "I voted" sticker.

Now, should I wear it today (even though I actually filled out the ballot last week) or should I wear it on Tuesday. I think Tuesday. Oh why didn't I get TWO stickers?

I saw a "Republicans for Obama" sticker today. It was odd. Unless I missed the fine print?

This is going to sound weird, but it's been bugging me for a couple days now. There's always the time travel paradox problem where you'll destroy all of existence if you touch your past or future self. But don't they say that every molecule the human body is switched out every seven years or so. So your seven years in the past self has no physical relation to your now self, just some shared memories. There really shouldn't be any problem with a person sharing the same space as a future self, because they aren't really the same people. So what's the big deal? Bring on the time travel.

My car was frosty for the first time this morning. Oh the horror!

I should have seen it coming. The sniffly season has begun with relish and people are dropping like flies around me. It should really be called the season of the sanitary wipe.

http://www.slate.com/id/2201158/

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year old Texas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President.

The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Palin is a post turtle.'

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.

The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road andyou come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle.'

The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. 'You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with.

I am about to embark on my birthday day. Last night I did some cleaning so I could start my 26th year without a mess to worry about. I'm pretty much treating this whole day like New Year's, resolutions and all. Here's hoping it goes well.

Answer me this: Why is budgeting so impossible for me? It's a simple concept, add up all your expenses and hopefully you have something left over at the end of the month. Arithmetic! I've been doing it since elementary school, right? Then how is it that my numbers never match up? I went on a mini spending spread at the beginning of this month and have been worried that I'll be behind, but I seem to have way too much money. But last month I swear I didn't spend very much extra and I barely came out even. Why can I count things that don't even exist, but I can't keep track of my own money?!?!

Compelling reason to have family dinners: I hate the sound of people eating, and at least if I'm eating at the same time, I can focus on how disgusting I sound as opposed to how the other person is driving me nuts by slurping or chewing too loudly.

Funambulist!

My new goal!

Tonight, a co-worker introduced me to a co-worker from another office as "the nicest person you will ever meet."
...

Dis-dress

I must have the weirdest body image ever.  I have this dress that I like wearing because: 1) it's a one-piece, pull-it-over-my-head-and-I'm-dressed number that doesn't gape or fall apart; 2) it's suitable for work; and 3) it doesn't wrinkle.  It's also red, which suits my desire to be dramatic.  My problem with it seems to be that I get too many compliments on it.  Every time I wear it to work (like today), my friend the receptionist comments on how good it looks on me, and I've gotten compliments from random strangers.  Maybe I'm perverse, but it makes me look at myself in the mirror super critically.  It's most likely something like, "this is the best I can do?"  Not that I think I look bad in it...but why is it this dress when I think I look better in other clothes?

 

I blame Carson.  Have you seen the show How to Look Good Naked?  He basically takes women with major body issues and tries to help them overcome it.  I've been watching the past season episodes and they just started the second season.  Stupid thing has me thinking.  Thinking is never a good thing.

He sits on my couch on his stupid computer using my table ALL DAY LONG. He was gone when I came home ONCE and I snagged MY couch to read on, but when I got up to grab a glass of water, I LOST MY FREAKING SPOT. Are we on a school bus?? And then I sit in my corner on my computer, download an interesting video, and he comes and watches it over my shoulder! Queen bees have it right, SIBLINGS SHOULD NOT BE SUFFERED TO LIVE!

I seem to have an issue with the grocery store. I hate to go! I was supposed to go yesterday, and then I was supposed to go this morning. Ann, you may have to come over and force me to go again.

However, not all shopping is hopeless. I bought some cute heels yesterday...while I should have been at the grocery store.

You know what I miss about living with other women? Getting a considered opinion on an outfit!

Controversial Court Ruling Upholds Homosexual's Right To Prance Around Demanding Attention And Being A Drama Queen
June 9, 2008 Issue 44•24

HARTFORD, CT—The Connecticut Supreme Court on Monday upheld the right of individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, to engage in any number of "grandiose behaviors," including, but not limited to, sashaying across the room "like a hussy, yelling 'Oh my God!' at the top of their lungs while hopping up and down, and generally acting like Miss Thing."

The court ruled 5-2 in favor of the plaintiff in Carmichael v. State of Connecticut, a landmark case overturning a lower court's decision against homosexual Michael Carmichael's right to excessive theatrics. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers argued that "although the loud and emotionally over-the-top behaviors of Mr. Carmichael may be considered annoying by the community standards established by both his heterosexual and homosexual peers, the question of whether or not an individual is acting overly queeny is not a matter for the law to determine."
The ruling, which effectively affirms the right of all attention whores to make a complete spectacle of themselves, is already being contested by conservative groups and is expected to be appealed.

Carmichael, who also goes by the stage name "Lotta Menn," made a tearful, half-hour-long finger-snapping statement to the press following the historic decision.

"This is the most wonderful moment of my life, and I thank you all!" Carmichael said while wearing his trademark purple-sequined jacket, oversize Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, and short shorts. He then blew kisses at the assembled reporters, twirled for photographers, and lifted his arms several times above his head in the late-'80s "raise the roof" triumphant dance move. "I only hope I can recover from the living hell I've gone through these past four months—living hell! I am so serious, you guys!"

Flanked by his lawyers, Carmichael thanked his mother, quoted from Gloria Gaynor's anthem "I Will Survive," insulted several reporters' shoes, and called the members of the Connecticut Supreme Court his "bitches."

The legal battle for gay rights began in 1972, when a Manhattan court granted homosexual couples the right to stand next to each other in public places "as long as they don't make a big deal about it." In 1981, 1983, and 1986, similar rulings in Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco granted gays the right to attend movies, take walks, and tickle each other while cooking dinner together. Monday's ruling represents the first time that homosexuals' legal right to openly act "as gay as gay can possibly get" has been affirmed by the courts.

"Carmichael's is an extreme case, but the precedent is far-reaching," legal analyst Jameson Drury said. "This decision protects not only full-blown flamers, but all homosexuals, even those swish enough to let their hands flutter occasionally during a season finale of Project Runway."
Although some acquaintances of Carmichael's, including Matthew "Paris Swillton" Freiberg and Edward "Dame Ed" Anders, have called him shameless and claim the ruling will only make his head even bigger than it already is, others have dismissed these remarks as catty or jealous. Many more have applauded the decision, calling the high court's jurisprudence "way fierce."
"This is a major triumph—not unlike Divine's performance in Pink Flamingos, god bless her soul," said noted gay-culture commentator Mario Loyola. "The white gloves are off, and it's time for Miss Lotta to strut her stuff all the way to Washington if need be."

"After all, it's not like anyone is limiting heterosexuals' rights to, you know, just sit there in beige," he added.

Members of the Christian right, among others, have decried the decision as a dangerous step backward for moral standards in the judicial system.

"American family values are under siege," said T. Herbert Rosch of the American Family Values Coalition, which has protested the ruling. "If gays are granted state approval for prancing, what's next? Gallivanting?"

Civil rights organizations have reluctantly supported the decision, saying that the right of the individual to act like a flaming prima donna, however irritating it may be, is supported by the Constitution.

"Plain and simple, the state cannot decide which bombastic, drama-generating behavior is deemed patently offensive," said the American Civil Liberties Union's Tom Gregor, a member of the legal team who represented Carmichael. "Although, to be honest, I am personally going to think twice before taking on any more pro bono cases for someone as high-maintenance as Mr. Carmichael in the future. Talk about your vampy divas. As happy as we are to have won the case, the afterparty was a nightmare."

5-Year-Old Wants To Be A Tractor When She Grows Up
July 11, 2008 Issue 44•28

AKRON, OH—In a statement delivered to friends, family members, and household pets, Kendall Garretson announced Monday that she would like to become an 13-ton, 275-horsepower John Deere row-crop tractor when she grows up.

Garretson, who turned 5 in May, developed an interest in becoming the powerful motor-driven vehicle during a recent trip to her grandfather's farm. According to sources, the young kindergarten student made her decision based on a number of key factors, including her desire to have "big wheels," make holes in the ground with "a digger," and chase birds and butterflies through fields of sunflowers.

"I'm gonna be a tractor," Garretson said. "Tractors are fun."
Although Garretson does not have a six-cylinder diesel engine, independent-link suspension, or a comfort command seat with air-suspension swivel, the 5-year-old said she was excited to be both red and shiny someday. Garretson added that as a tractor she would sleep in the barn with the cows and the chickens, but not with the pigs, because the pigs make too much of a mess.
"I'll drive around in the dirt, but I won't get stuck," Garretson said. "Because I'll spin my tires lots and lots."

Since making her intentions known, Garretson has set about preparing for her career as the hauling vehicle by talking about tractors, coloring in drawings of tractors, asking her parents where tractors come from, and walking around her house making "VROOOOM, VROOOOM" sounds.

In addition to performing her regular tractor duties, such as "mowing all the corn," Garretson said she plans to give rides to every one of her friends, even Brian Waldie, even though he is sometimes mean.

Although Garretson clearly stated her future goal of becoming a tractor, the unexpected announcement left a large number of adults feeling confused, with some assuming that the 5-year-old meant she wanted to be a farmer instead of a piece of agricultural equipment. In response to the off-base remarks, Garretson accused the adults of not paying attention, jumped up and down while shaking her head violently, and called everyone a "bunch of sillies."
"A tractor," Garretson continued. "Trrraaaaaccctooooor!"

Before settling on tractor, Garretson is said to have contemplated a variety of possible career paths, including a professional great white shark, a bouncy trampoline, "a doctor nurse just like Mommy," and the pink ballerina inside of her music box. Garretson went on to say that she would like to someday eat cookies for breakfast and be a mother to 17 infants, all of them girls.
When asked how she envisioned a typical workday as a tractor, the 5-year-old claimed it would begin with her mother waking her up early in the morning with a kiss. After driving into the farmhouse for breakfast, Garretson would rouse the horses, ducks, and flowers, and play with them until lunchtime. The rest of her schedule would reportedly consist of driving up and down the fields and skipping rope.

Despite having chosen tractor as a career, Garretson has shown little interest in soil cultivation or, at the very least, the hydraulic requirements for maintaining a properly functioning front-end loader. Instead, the 5-year-old has spent most of her time deciding which of her toys she will bring along to the farm.

"When I'm a tractor, I'm gonna pull a wagon, and then I'm gonna put all of my stuffed animals inside the wagon," Garretson said. "And my dollhouse. And a bunny. And maybe a Halloween pumpkin. But I won't let spiders on it unless they promise not to bite anyone."
During several other statements about her future, Garretson maintained that upon reaching adulthood she would cross the street by herself and marry the family's English bulldog, Rutherford. Garretson also stated that her cousin Madison could not come to her wedding if she kept chewing on her crayons.

Representatives from the John Deere Corporation told reporters that Garretson was a "promising candidate" for the company's annual $25,000 scholarship aimed at helping young people become tractors.

This hasn't happened to me since middle school! I'd be at school, all happy as a clam can be when said clam is an 11 year old at school, and then I'd be changing for PE and realize, oops, not wearing a bra. I was wondering why I was feeling more, comfortable isn't the right word, maybe free. I'm definitely enjoying the texture of my clothing more today. At least I'm wearing a camisole.

Did you know? Epinema is a neighborhood in Rio, on the beach. And there is possibly a THE Girl from Epinema.

Never underestimate the importance of good speeches at a graduation. The dean at my brothers school quoted Dr. Seuss and the Navy dude rambled on about life-long learning. I suppose it's asking for the moon to expect tech students to have grammatical and speaking skills, but at least use proper grammer when you are thanking a teacher for correcting your grammer. Fortunately for my sanity, there were only 12 people graduating, so it went pretty quick. Then I just had to deal with the brother's geek-aspiring friends ogling me. And really, that had to be the saddest indicator of the whole event.

Question

How does the desert miss the rain?  Is it a yearning, waiting game, like everything is dead and dormant until the rain comes?  Or is it more of a good riddance, who needs you anyway, I've got my own way of doing things and it doesn't include you?  Or is it it's nice when you're here, but I'm okay on my own too? (Bahamas)

This is the beginning of a beautifully annoying relationship between me and my blog. (Bermuda Solid)

Sweet, it works. I wonder if I can mess with the font and coloring? Meet Space Toaster.

Did you know that you could email blog entries? Well, I don't actually know it yet, this is a test. I wonder if it's going to post the company confidential information disclaimer...

This is the reason for having a Word of the Day Calendar:

Chopstick - In some dialects of Cantonese, xiap, pronounced "chop," means "hurry." The reduplicated phrase xiap-xiap (sometimes spelled ciap-ciap), which has also entered Engish, thus means "hurry hurry." Westerners who saw Chinese eating speedily with their wooden kuai za, which, curiously, means something very close to "hurry sticks," coined "chopstick." (They are very comma happy)

Apparently I'm dumb for nevering having realized that "chop chop" comes from Chinese, but it still blows my mind.

The University of Washington is pretty smart if you ask me. They start in October and get off in late June. Thus, UW students get to experience Washington's summer, such of it as there is, instead of having to head back to school just when the sun starts to come out, as WSU students do.

I don't mind (well, not much) if you have to cut me off a little in order to get on the road. But, if there is a wide open space me behind me and you cut me off anyway, I am going to tailgate you.

Kickball is not a sport for wimps. So why, you are asking yourselves, is Jessica playing? Because it is a sport for dummies. My kicking muscles hurt.

I can hear the trees screaming.

Yea for attending graduation. Good thing Ann convinced me to go, but bad thing that she pulled out and didn't go herself. Heroes of the event: Uyen who drove about a million miles to see me (twice!) and Andy who suggested I grab some food before flying out (and did a bunch of driving himself).

I wonder if people know when I don't like them. Usually I think that they do, that I'm pretty obvious about it, but every once in a while someone does something that makes me wonder.

I just met a little boy named Joshua who had a lollipop flavored lollipop that tastes like a lollipop.

I hope that the piglets a couple posts down are never released into the jungle. They'd never survive! They'd go right up to the nearest tiger and by like "Hey Homie!" and then they'd be eaten.

Have you ever had a movie stuck in your head?

Is this disturbing or what? Do they think that the tiger costumes make her think that these are her children? Even weirder is that the tiger's cubs are being raised by a pig (it didn't say if they are being raised by these piglets' mother). Talk about trauma to accidently eat the person you think is your mother!

And we have a new record! The latest in the year it's snowed. The previous record was April 17. And maybe tomorrow will be another record, we're supposed to have snow through the weekend.

Another interesting record. Mount Baker (up near Bellingham) has the record for most snowfall in one year: 1,140 inches in 1998.

Wow, Japanese cheerleaders are way more accomplished than the ones I remember.

New pet peeve of the moment: "Founder" is not a title.

Someone tell it to stop snowing!

There is an engineering firm in Colorado called Kumar and Associates.

I just went to Home Depot. When I went in, there were three guys out front, looking for work according to Andy. When I left, there was only one guy! I guess it's not just the hip new place to hang out.

On a side note, it's really annoying when you can't see because the sun is in your eyes and you need new windshield wipers. Double whammy.

It's nice when people notice new things about you/comment on old things.

I hate that I am always looking at my calendar, waiting for some circled date weeks or months in the future. (Actually, I don't circle days in my calendar. If I even use a calendar, I highlight special things or write them in difference colors. But I'm trying to be dramatic here, and it's not particularly dramatic to say that I'm always looking for the thing that's written in red ink, is it?) Where was I?

I want to look forward to every day. I don't really care what I'm doing as long as I can look forward to the day. Not to mention, no event can stand up to the expectation built up over weeks or months of waiting and watching that circled day (see above) get closer.

This is my most disgruntled complaint. Unfortunately, it's pretty much a self-fulfilling prophesy.

My boss thought I was a vegetable-eating vegetarian. She was slightly concerned that I would be upset that she had "stereotyped" me. On the contrary, I find it complimentary.

What did my hand ever do to you? Before 10 this morning I had already sliced my hand up 10 different ways.

Ann's and my heathenisms (plural because they are certainly different) plunged into even more heretical waters last night. Someone else had better move to Seattle because Ann and I enable each other like nothing else.

I am, at this moment, eating a grape that looks like a small plum!

Bad news people: I've become addicted to poppy seed salad dressing. Next thing you know I'm going to be squishing it up, sniffing it, frequenting opium dens, and being made fun of by real opium addicts for not knowing how to abuse poppy seed juice.

Work is so totally not fun right now. I'm so crazy busy that they gave me about half of another girls day to help out, but I have to train her before she can be productive. So I'm quietly (or not so quietly) sufficating under my workload, and then she comes along with a question or it's time for me to check her work. And it's not her fault that she doesn't know how to do it right the first time, but I'm still annoyed when it creates more work for me. And she's my friend, which doesn't help the situation. Then I wonder if it would be easier if I just did it all myself.

That was longer than I wanted it to be. The point is, the stress from work is staying with me wherever I go. I brought work with me to class the other day! I can't relax at home. Even now, I worried about what I have to do on Monday. I can't do anything but worry, which means that my whole life right now is work, which is just depressing. Compounding my whole breakdown are the 15 things that are due while I'll be at Cassie's wedding, so I have to get it all done ahead of time.

Taking a moment out to breath only helps for so long.

Getting old is dumb. I went to the eye doctor today because I've...been having eye issues. He was way knowledgable; if anyone wants to know why I tilt my head or why my eyes go wonkie, now I know. Anyhow, I'm going nearsighted it seems, so he made me get glasses for driving and nighttime (okay, he asked, "do you want to get glasses now?" and I said, "might as well"). The only upside is that I got the coolest pair in the universe and everyone will be way jealous of me while I'm wearing them in the car and in the dark... Downside of finding the coolest pair in the world is that they were roughly double what my insurance wanted to pay for them.

I'm so tired of politics. I would say that I just want to get this whole election thing over with, but then there will be more annoyance and discomfort and divide. Is it really worth all this? Normally I would say yes, but I'm just in the mood to say NO. Get over it. Nothing is going to change dramatically. We'll still be dooming the Earth just by living the way we do. We will still look the other way while millions of people die of things we could prevent. And we yell and scream and hate each other for one candidate or the other when they and we are all just the same anyway.

Darn it all to Heck! And sometimes I mean that literally.

Do you ever forget English? Sometimes I can't understand what people are saying to me. Or I start out understanding but I lose it. I suppose it must just be that I lose concentration, but I let my mind wander because I figure that I can understand by absorbing the sound. Sometimes it makes sense to me a couple minutes later, so I have this habit of nodding even though I don't understand because I figure it will come to me. Is that better or worse than stopping my question in the middle because it is all suddenly clear?

Also, I think I may have to start comparing myself to other people for my own sanity. You know how you shouldn't care what other people do, just go for your own personal best? I have this crazy high standard that I pretty consistently fall short of and I get all guilty about it. Yesterday I was a little aggressive about getting around a bus that was stopping in front on me and I worried about it for the rest of my drive. And I've been worried that I becoming a mean person because I don't always speak against other people's rude or insensitive comments.

I had a long-standing question answered yesterday. Manila envelopes and the city of Manila were both named after a flower that grows in that area! So now you know. It's been plaging me on and off for a couple years now.

I had my job review yesterday and sort of committed to staying for a while. Depending on the direction my job takes in the next couple months, I think there could be some good opportunities for me. I just have to reconcile myself to the fact that I won't be single-handedly saving the world. I suppose there is always time for a career change later. Plus, I started my 401(k), so I suppose I should stay awhile and let it grow (that's right, I'm still obsessive about my retirement).

They are advertising paternaty tests on the radio. Where is my social contract, because I want out! I don't care if I have to pay early withdrawal penalties, I just wanna be somewhere sane.

It's freaking snowing outside (good thing it's not snowing inside!) It's so pretty, but it's so destructive. If we could all just sit in our houses watching the snow fall and not have to slog out to the car, dig it out, and slide our way to work, I'd love snow. There was a metro bus stuck sideways on 405 this morning, and the police were stopping people and making them put chains on (we are nowhere near the mountains, by the by). It's the pretty, fluffy snow too, but it's been melting little by little as the little flurries that have continued throughout the day can't keep up with above-freezing temperatures. And tonight it's going to freeze and then snow again, making tomorrow's commute doubly dangerous.

I just participated in the changing of my car's blinker! Mostly my contribution was missing a step and almost breaking the thing, but I handed the screw driver when it was needed!

Also. "I don't want to start any blasphemous rumors, but I think that God has a sick sense of humor, and when I die I expect to find him laughing."

I have the craziest aunt in the world people. We every once in a while talk about our differing religions and last night was one of those times. She thinks that Buddhism can't be a religion because there is no belief in God; not a god, God. And she shuttered when I told her that some buddhisms worship Buddha like a god; she shuttered like it was unclean. The idea that crack babies are born for a reason that occured in a past life (something that my SGI aunt told her) is "too convenient," whereas God having his own mysterious plan is okay??

She told me that Islam means "surrender" and that's the hardest part for her, to trust that Allah loves her and that if she follows his will, everything will be okay. Sounds to me like she's pretty much put aside all reason to believe what she is told.

One more thing. She said some have told her that an illness in old age is Allah's way of helping a person out. The illness or pain washes away the sins that have accumulated throughout the person's life so they don't have to do (for lack of a better term) purgatory time when they die. She thinks that may be what my grandfather, her father, is going through.

She doesn't even believe in evolution. But at least she was angry with my mom's side of the family, which has let religious intolerence come between us.

Small world time: my work's temporary secretary went to high school with Mike Arden.