I've woken up at 5:30 for the past three mornings. Not awake-get-up-woken, just, oh hell, I have to get up in 90 minutes, why am I awake now woken. It's tiresome. I think I'll blame one of the cats. She was being an asshole this morning. At 5:30.

Miserable outside. I think we need to cancel the cold rain and wind now, thanks.

What drew you in? Was it the pretty?

I think it was the tattoo and the Joliet building.

I have some caffeine-free green tea - would that be good for my throat?

It certainly won't hurt. Tea is generally a good thing.

I think it was the tattoo and the Joliet building.

It's a very nice tattoo.

Damn. Just got a hundred-dollar gift card for Lettuce Entertain You restaurants from Crazy CEO. (Despite the name, those are some of Chicago's really good restaurants.) Was not expecting that.

Also, I got sucked into that show last night too! Would've been more convenient to happen before the marathon they had this weekend, but what the hell.

very late for work. slept through 2 hours of radio alarm, woke up crying from awful nightmare involving a cousin being killed and reliving several other family funerals. WTF?!?

Poor msbelle. That's no way to start the day.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I'm glad I saved them to read until this morning, so it's like my birthday is still happening. Also, unless I'm misremembering, today is brenda's birthday, so happy birthday, brenda!!

Well, drat. I've been drinking tea at work lately. I just poured hot water into my mug and a big ol' crack zigged down one side and water started coming out. So much for tea today.

Happy birthday, brenda!!

Unless it's not your birthday. Well, even if it's not, happy birthday anyway!

The White House wants The Onion to stop using the Presidential Seal:

"It has come to my attention that The Onion is using the presidential seal on its Web site," Grant M. Dixton, associate counsel to the president, wrote to The Onion on Sept. 28. (At the time, Mr. Dixton's office was also helping Mr. Bush find a Supreme Court nominee; days later his boss, Harriet E. Miers, was nominated.)

Citing the United States Code, Mr. Dixton wrote that the seal "is not to be used in connection with commercial ventures or products in any way that suggests presidential support or endorsement." Exceptions may be made, he noted, but The Onion had never applied for such an exception.

The Onion was amused. "I'm surprised the president deems it wise to spend taxpayer money for his lawyer to write letters to The Onion," Scott Dikkers, editor in chief, wrote to Mr. Dixton. He suggested the money be used instead for tax breaks for satirists.

"is not to be used in connection with commercial ventures or products in any way that suggests presidential support or endorsement."

Has my brain turned to mush? or has satire always been considered to not suggest support or endorsement of the entity being satarized?