A former CEO of Apple used to suffer from anxiety and/or depression (I forget which) - he would often hide under his desk to avoid dealing with people.

Hey, if it's good enough for the CEO of Apple....

I'm doing one thing I don't like very much (working diligently at my crappy job) and one thing I hate (going to the doctor) in a concentrated effort to avoid this thing. I think hiding under my desk would be going a little too far, since the meeting at least will have free food.

ita, how are your Legolas knives holding up? Do you use them for anything or just display them? I have a Sting from what I believe is the same collection as the knives, and I'm wondering if I can continue my habit of snowman-slaughter with Sting or if I should baby it and leave it on its hanger.

It's very exciting -- he's never had a gig this good, and he's like 50. ita and bon bon both saw him perform with a now-defunct band in Michigan with me a few years ago.

Neato!

ita gave me test anxiety dreams last night.

Did they ever figure out where that syrup smell in NYC was coming from? Well, in Chicago we have to contend with chocolate smell.

The sweet smell of chocolate wafting through downtown Chicago isn't fattening, but it could be bad for you anyway.

Considered by many to be an olfactory delight, the Blommer Chocolate Co. factory in the West Loop is being accused of releasing too much choco-pollution while grinding roasted cacao beans for 10-pound candy bars and other delectable treats.

Someone apparently isn't cuckoo for cocoa powder lingering in the air.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent an inspector to check out the factory, 600 W. Kinzie St., after a neighbor complained about the aroma of burnt chocolate. The unidentified person did not care for the powder-filled plume churning out of a roof duct, either.

Based on what the inspector saw during two mornings in early September, the EPA cited Blommer on Thursday for violating limits on opacity, or the amount of light blocked by the factory's grinder dust. The company later could be fined by the government.

...

But the EPA rarely cites companies just for violating the limits. The agency's decision to take action against Blommer comes amid repeated complaints that the agency has failed to address opacity violations at coal-fired power plants in the Chicago area.

So the EPA is taking action against chocolate, but not coal? I am living in crazy-town.

[link]

ita gave me test anxiety dreams last night.

I did not!

Connie, after a long-ago bad experience with beautiful knives rusting, I don't let any of mine get near moisture (mortal situations naturally excepted, they just haven't arisen...yet). So if you've been slaying snow with yours, you've road tested them way more than I have.

Neato!

It's true that Skeeto is neato.

I just quoted Spiderman in an email to my department chair. I think she'll appreciate it.

So now I'm at work, my boss is not, and the only task I have to do is large and unpleasant and I don't wanna.

choco-pollution

I love this word.

My city doesn't have any mysterious nice smells. There is the sulfur by the courthouse I pass every morning. And the glue factory smell right by the 83 overpass. Fells Point always smells of old beer, piss and fish, though that's less of a mystery. After it has been raining a few days, everywhere starts smelling like wet dirty dog.

I will say that in early June, the honeysuckle on the metro/rail fence by my apartment makes the neighborhood smell nice.