Gah. The specialist that my latest ophthalmologist (the cool one) wants me to see is booked up until the end of January. But the ophthalmologist said that if I couldn't get an appointment in the next few weeks that she would call them and try to get me in earlier.

More evidence that she is cool - when I first saw her, she asked me how to pronounce my last name, and then made a note of it (as my family pronounces it in not the usual way). Professional people rarely ask me how my name is pronounced, and never make a note of it (that I can remember).

Doesn't it allow you the opportunity to choose, from the jobs you interview for and are accepted to, which may be best for you? It makes it possible to not decide right now but on the better fit, no? At least, that's how it seems to me.

In theory that's true. But in practice, I've discovered that when all my energy is expended, as necessary, in my current job, I have no time or drive to really put forth the effort into finding a new one. OTOH, every time something particularly unpleasant happens at my current job, I suddenly get really motivated to get my resume out there.

It's not an easy market for attorneys without large firm experience right now, but I have a few leads out right now, so here's hoping.

tommy, I was glad to read your good-MRI-results post yesterday. I hope things will be sorted out as soon as possible.

every time something particularly unpleasant happens at my current job, I suddenly get really motivated to get my resume out there.

Hmm, so it seems like I should wish you the worst possible time in your corrent job for the most future improvement? I can't wish that!

everyone get better! Y'all reminded me that this was the beginning of 6 months of being sick for me last year. No germs.

I'm hoping David has a better commute, but not sure that it will work today.

I know Sara's day will be better.

and I have xmas shopping to do , but it is rainning and I'd rather not leave the house.

tommy, I was glad to read your good-MRI-results post yesterday. I hope things will be sorted out as soon as possible.

Thanks. I hope the next Dr. I see will be the one who finally sorts it out. This will be a neuro-ophthalmologist.

... and I just got off the phone after calling back and forth to three different offices. I get to see a neuro-ophthalmologist at the University of Illinois in about two weeks. As well as another ophthalmologist (one I've already seen) tomorrow.

After hearing all the assorted tales of Californians' maladies, I'm much less jealous about the spiffy Thanksgiving plans you all had. My holiday was largely annoying and unspecial, but aside from mild grumpiness over that I actually feel fine. (And seem to be resistant to the bugs that have my folks and co-workers feeling under the weather. Yay, personal bubble!)

I am personally not a fan of spiffy Thanksgiving weekend plans (for my own self), as they involve travelling by plane or automobile, which I'm not crazy about even on weekends that are not one of the most travelled in America.

Also, I see a four day weekend as an opportunity to sleep, not travel. I am very boring.

Half hour car ride, hour long boat ride, and then no other transportation for four days. Although others partook of the golf cart options, I demurred. I can't believe how light the traffic was.

I also can't believe I have a long black leather coat. Well, no I believe that. I can't believe I forgot I had one. That's so fucking wrong, in many ways.

In other first world news, I have decided to try all the tea lattes at Coffee Bean. I'm on Winter Spice this morning -- it's pretty good.

I'm on Winter Spice this morning

There's probably a Spice Girls joke in there somewhere, but I'm too lazy and tired to find it.

Ex-Powell aide rips Bush on Iraq, detainees

An interesting article on the behind-the-scenes stuff on the administration's approach to the war.

A top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday that wrongheaded ideas for the handling of foreign detainees arose from White House and Pentagon officials who argued that “the president of the United States is all-powerful” and the Geneva Conventions irrelevant.

In an Associated Press interview, former Powell chief of staff Lawrence Wilkerson also said President Bush was “too aloof, too distant from the details” of postwar planning. Underlings exploited Bush’s detachment and made poor decisions, Wilkerson said.