I just got hit up by my alma mater's (my department, even) fundraising staff. That boy was good. It didn't even feel like a fundraising solicitation. I may send them a few bucks.

I just want to know when the Sierra Club turned into the Jehovah's Witnesses of the fundraising world. I think I'm letting my membership with them go. They were calling earlier in the year asking us to pre-pay for next year, or go on a monthly plan (now, but for next year) and all kinds of stuff. I don't know how man times they called. Drove me crazy(ier).

No news from the job that Dave interviewed for yet. He's all calm and laid back about it and I am the one who is going to be a nervous wreck until he hears something.

I went to Mom's house for dinner tonight. It was yummy and now I am stuffed and happy and my family didn't even try to drive me crazy. Mom and I went out afterwards to look for birthday gifts for Dave. I am trying to keep myself from going overboard on gifts for him because I know he doesn't want me to buy him too much. I want to make his birthday (Sept. 22nd if anyone is curious) as special as he made mine.

I need new address labels. I think I'll send ten dollars to the Fund for Animals or something.

I just want to know when the Sierra Club turned into the Jehovah's Witnesses of the fundraising world.

Oddly, the capstone paper I was referring to a few days ago ("Buffalo Grass Won't You Come Out Tonight?") was partially about how the Sierra Club screwed up getting a chunk of land preserved because the people in San Francisco didn't want to listen to what their local chapters in Oklahoma were telling them. The Oklahoma chapters had no problem with the Osage Nation continuing to extract oil from under the preserve so long as they didn't drill new wells; the wells would be played out within 20 years anyway. The San Fran folks refused to listen and wanted the wells capped immediately after the preserve was declared. Because of their rockheadedness, the Osage leaned on their congressman to pull his support for the project, and the preserve was spiked.

Cindy, join The Nature Conservancy. They leave the small time members alone. They really only pester people who donate $1000/year and up. The $50/year guys get completely left alone.

There were several times in high school when I remember crying and crying, and then being even MORE depressed and pissed, because then I felt physically ill, as well as all upset!

I swear I remember reading about how crying releases all kinds of bad chemicals in the body and is supposed to make you feel better. But it's possible someone was just trying to make me feel better after crying.

They really only pester people who donate $1000/year and up. The $50/year guys get completely left alone.

That seems backwards. (Northwestern has a rule for alumni that donating $1000 buys you the right to never be asked for money over the phone again.)

I swear I remember reading about how crying releases all kinds of bad chemicals in the body and is supposed to make you feel better.

I've read that too -- that crying releases "stress hormones" and is therefore good for you. But I don't think I've read it anywhere other than as hearsay on the internet, so...yeah.

Hello lovely Bitches!

I've been gone all day and what a day it has been. Ellie, who I hope is too young to be teething (14 weeks) is showing all the signs of a teething baby. She gets to re-acquaint herself with her daddy on Thursday and I am hoping she will be her usual pleasant self and not this new, previously unknown, cranky baby.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone!

Fred Pete, my job search is...progressing. It looks like they're going with a more senior person for this position, but they'll definitely keep me in mind for when they need people with my skill level...in three or four months. Meanwhile, I'm being thrust to a hiring manager in Charlottesville, VA, for a medical writing position in another branch. But that guy likes PhD's and shit. So...I hate everything. I need to find more options.

Stephanie, I'm sorry about the cranky baby, but I am so excited for you for Thursday.

Ellie, who I hope is too young to be teething (14 weeks) is showing all the signs of a teething baby. She gets to re-acquaint herself with her daddy on Thursday and I am hoping she will be her usual pleasant self and not this new, previously unknown, cranky baby.

Lillian started teething at about that age...

However, I hope it's not teething. One of us with an early teether is enough.

(And these next ones better hurry their asses up and erupt already.)