Oh, God. He's going for brute strength. My only hope is to lay a pit trap in the lobby of our apartment building, carefully concealed with scattered leaves and old Warrior comics, and baited with an original lineup New York Dolls bootleg CD.

Then while he's climbing out, I can snatch the car and book down the 5 to hide behind ita.

You can still win. Remind of how fast hair grows and that the Gypsy Kings made five albums.

JZ, at this point I think your plan is sound (plus a bonus visit to see the LAistas - F2F YAY!)

Y'all Golden State folks and having your f2fs... huh. Maybe I should start freetheliberal.com too.

Wally Report! You know you want it. ...Actually, that would make a great Wally Report. Um. But anyway, latest doings. Yesterday a woman in my office left to take up a new position elsewhere. I asked her out for something to eat sometime. Didn't get quite the enthusiastic response I was looking for, but she said yes, and I'm feeling good about having asked her.

Actuarial student has sent me an email every day this week. (Of course, I've been keeping up the same pace.) I shall take this as a Good Sign. However, I must regretfully conclude that she really is tone deaf when it comes to flirting; my attempts - which I thought were reasonably charming, myself - have been treated as misunderstandings. Me, misunderstand! Can you believe it?

Anyway, I have decided on a slightly different tack. We'll see how that goes.

...so I've got an official email re the situation with the new school. Their explanation of the whole electric cable thing convinced me, actually. My options now are:

To spend the year doing preparatory work for the school's 2006 opening, under the direction of the school's Principal. The salary and benefits would be the same for 2005-2006 as if I were teaching.

Alternatively, they can offer to pay me three monthly installments of the starting annual salary under my contract to agree to rescind the entire contract, or to rescind only the first year of the contract. The choice would be mine. This payment represents 50% more than the amount the contract requires.

They're being pretty decent, as far as I can see. I guess I'm going to go back to Egypt and take the non-teaching job, then. Probably. Need to think this through, because I'm loath to lose a year's classroom time. But on the other hand I've got a flat full of stuff and a lonely and puzzled cat and my life in Cairo.

bangs head on desk.

Congrats, Allyson!

They're being pretty decent, as far as I can see. I guess I'm going to go back to Egypt and take the non-teaching job, then. Probably. Need to think this through, because I'm loath to lose a year's classroom time. But on the other hand I've got a flat full of stuff and a lonely and puzzled cat and my life in Cairo.

Ugh. I'm sorry, Fay.

Susan, my friend is emailing you for resume services! She's cool. Help her.

Hola Bitches! I just got back from an hour-and-a-half walk with Stephanie and wee baby Ellie, who is adorable and cute and was very well-behaved our entire walk. We strolled around Lake Of The Isles and discussed many fun things. Stephanie is lovely and quite intelligent, and I do believe I managed to convince her that I'm not an axe murderer. It was a lovely time.