I have the impression you're also thinking "OMGWTFPHD."

Uh huh. This puts me pretty much on schedule for graduationg next May. Which means I've got to write my thesis. And find a job. Yikes.

Raq! Welcome stateside! I think I speak for all the D.C. metro area when I scream, "WOO!" And if you feel like lisah's band and roller derby Sunday early evening in Baltimore, we can find room for you and Mal in our car and I know one other toddler who will be attending. My profile addy is good.

This puts me pretty much on schedule for graduationg next May.

Yay, Hil! That's very impressive. Jobs aren't too terrible -- no homework and larger paychecks than grad school.

::squints painfully at the sun::

Out! Out, damn sun!

Going away party was lots of fun and we have so much leftover beer. We made a contest of sorts that whoever showed up to the festivities last had to take home the sofa and loveseat.

Didn't work.

Anyone wanna come over for eggs and beer?

Anyone wanna come over for eggs and beer?

I'll come over for eggs. Someone else can have the beer...

I am being so productive in my procrastination, it's almost unbelievable. Suddenly things I haven't wanted to do for weeks are getting done, so I can avoid this horrible school to do list.

Mmmm, eggs.

Raq - welcome back to the US of A!

Hil -- congratulations on getting really close to the end!

And I'm having a stellar morning: I slept in, watched c.s.i., threw on some clothes, went out to pick up coffee and a bagel and came home to realize that my shirt had a giant disgusting stain on it!

Sigh.

Yay for having Raq closer! Best wishes for settling in. How do kids do with jetlag?

I have trimmed the dog. That was a project. So much to do. I need to go over to the other coast to see my family. My sister's birthday is Monday. Then leaving for Atlanta on Wednesday. There is about 3 weeks worth of stuff I need to do this weekend. I haven't even made solid plans for the kids while I'm gone. If I leave them home alone I should hide the duct tape. (kidding, don't call the authorities)

I got up at a decent hour (for me, for a weekend) and then went and met a personal trainer, and he tested and stretched me. And lo, those pinchy caliper things were eeeeeevil answers. And he did weird stretchy things and informed me my hips are not stretchy. Huh. Anyway, here's to hoping he'll guilt my ass into gear so that when I turn 30 at the end of the summer, I"m lookin' goooooood.

Raq, you poor thing!! Yay for not-locked-down internet though!!

Ok...just finished the baby hat (except for pulling in all the ends):

[link]

[link]

I'm so pleased with how it turned out.

What a clusterfuck. Since my PHX-DCA flight was direct and terminated in DC, there was no way for them to lose my luggage. (It was, of course, quite unable to follow me to my connecting flight in Paris. Fucking Charles de Gaulle fucking airport).

So instead, because I always have to trade something for a safe flight and a beautifully behaved baby, we arrived after the rental car place had closed. I got a taxi to my corporate housing, where they were supposed to leave a key under the mat for me. No key. After many calls and discussion, it became clear that they couldn't do anything. No lockout services.

It's now 2:00 am. Mallory is asleep inside my big suitcase with clothes piled over him.

I try calling nearby hotels, but at this point my crappy laptop goes dead.

I strap the laptop over my shoulder and scale the outside of the building, getting to the balcony of my apartment. The lights are on inside, the table is set, I can hear the radio...and I CAN SEE THE FUCKING KEYS ON THE COFFEE TABLE. (And yes, I tried the door to see if it was unlocked. Then I lamented my sad lack of anything to pick a lock with. Oddly, neither pacifiers nor sippy cups are good for this task).

However, I did find what I was looking for: electrical outlets. I got back online and called a taxi and get a nearby hotel room.

By the time Mal and I fell into bed, it was 4:00 am.

On the plus side, the hotel had a car rental place on site, and they rented me a lemon yellow PT cruiser for the compact rate, or half the weekly rate of the other car I'd reserved. (However, if I'd had a rental car, Mal wouldn't have had to sleep outside in my suitcase).

Anyway, I hope that's all the drama for a bit. Mallory just literally passed out on the floor watching me type, so I'm going to leave him there and get a nap myself.

Otherwise, it's nice to be back.

Oh, Raq. That is insanity. I'm glad you're safe in the hotel. Take it easy today.