Ack. Today is ex-roomie's birthday. I didn't get her a card. Must call her. Now. Before I forget.

Find a cabana boy to bring me coffee every morning?

Cashmere, so glad to hear your mom is doing better.

I have a rush job I have to do, but need to vent first.

The client tells me that he needs a letter to one of his existing clients that will convince her boss (the implication being that she's already convinced) that they need a more expensive service than the one they're currently using. He asks that I take the 40 page standard proposal and boil it down to 3 pages, with research that will support his point. Previously, he told me never to lead with the price.

I get it done at 2 and 3/4 pages. I end with the price.

He just called to tell me me that my research is sound but the letter is much too long, that I should have led with the price, and that it reads like "a marketing piece". He wants it rewritten within the next half hour, taking out all the research and making the research a new document he can enclose, lead with the price and a simple explanation of the service. Oh, but I can give her a 10% discount.

Lee, how's your coffee maker? Is it, perhaps, getting on in life? Lacking the fancy bells and whistles of younger coffeemakers? Is it time for it to head for the old coffeemakers' home for a well-deserved rest?

(Suddenly I feel sorry for the coffeemaker and as though I'm recommending Lee leave her devoted wife for a younger bimbo. Let the record show that I am not. Please?)

I skipped. A lot. ~ma to all what needs it. The GF and I are supposed to go to Disneyland tomorrow but it's supposed to rain :( We'll prob go anyway, but damn.

Emily, I believe Lee's coffee maker is both shiny and new. A trophy coffee maker, if you would.

Ack! Deena's stolen my job. And possibly my boss.

[No givebacks]

Deena, that's CRAZY TALK! I'm so sorry! And you worked SO hard on that letter.

Lee, how's your coffee maker? Is it, perhaps, getting on in life? Lacking the fancy bells and whistles of younger coffeemakers? Is it time for it to head for the old coffeemakers' home for a well-deserved rest?

Ah...Emily has a good point. I could pimp our coffee maker if you decide you're in a market for a new one, Lee.

So, I'm typing up the assignment sheet for this last paper I have to write for the last incomplete I have. (I always type the assignments...that way I can e-mail it to those who read my papers, and also, then I forever have it.) Anyway, the paper only has to be 8-10 pages. I thought it was 10-12. I have WAY too much info for a 10-12 page paper...I can't imagine how too much info I have for an 8-10 page paper.

Fortunately, the prof and I are going to sit down and talk about this problem next Wednesday. I may write a simple, very toned-down paper for this assignment then turn it into an independent study or my honors' thesis.

Unfortunately, Brenda, there are far too many out there just like this. I bet you still have yours.

He apologized for being unclear when he first gave me the assignment, but damn. As I'm forever telling Kara, sometimes an apology just isn't enough.

Okay, back to it. Thanks for letting me vent.

That's what we're here for, Deena.

OK, I figure I'm about to reveal just how very vanilla I am, but what exactly was Jon Stewart implying with all the talk about a "reach-around" on TDS last night?