so what songs should ND broadcast all over Beverly Hills for us this holiday season ... er, if he felt like making a statement/not getting paid - which of course he doesn't but still ?

Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg....

I have that entire section of I-94 memorized from all the trips back and forth.

Sorry to take so long, but tech glitch, now resolved.

Beloit and Janesville are along I-90 (the one that doesn't go through Milwaukee). Beloit is right along the Illinois state line (in fact, part of it is South Beloit, IL). Janesville is a few miles beyond.

I spent a few college summers working in a McDonald's on Route 26 in Janesville during the early '80s. Got a lot of travelers off the interstate until another McDonald's opened up right at the exit to U.S. 14.

grandma got run over by a reindeer (on repeat)?

Suzi, I don't know why you'd need to leave the Bay Area to find a job with your skill set. I would expect that somebody with your experience would be in demand.

I'm giving a test in four classes today. Poor little dumplings; this is their first in-class essay of the year, and they're freaking out. The first class has 15 minutes left, and they look like they're about to cry.

Thanks Hec. Just freaking out about looking outside my company. I had told myself I'd wait until January before going outside, but still.....accckkk.

I just don't even know what key words to search for...I keep finding things that seem below my skills or WAY above my skills. I need a job coach.

Blarg. So confused. Is it worth putting my resume out there even if I don't know what the heck I want to do?

Yes. Like Hec said, you're extremely qualified for a number of jobs. You've been at your current job for so long that they are taking you for granted and undervaluing your work; you deserve more.

Besides, if you don't look, you know exactly what you're going to be stuck doing. If you do look, you have options.

grandma got run over by a reindeer (on repeat)?

VW, I think you'd be a great teacher, but I also think from what I know of you that you'd be happier working with elementary school kids than older. I think you'd have a hard time with the cynicsm and apathy that so often comes with teenage territory since you are such a joyful and optimistic person. I can see you absolutely loving working with younger kids who are still excited about learning, though. Just my two cents; I might be completely wrong.

speakers get hung all over the palm trees around Beverly Hills so that holiday music can be piped in

Ooooh. That IS evil.

Wow, this is my first real "I'm up and at 'em early and...shit, the east coast it's almost lunch time already and y'all have been posting!" Huh. Well, I was never morning crew anyway. Night crew it is!

Am up and....well, not really "at 'em". Dealing with possible eBay spoofing, a bit of concern where THAT came from, and trying to decide what to do with my day! I wandered around a little last night (and it was nice), but feel obliged to be productive now. May go get coffee and breakfast and come back ehre and look on craigslist. Can't function long without coffee.

If I were in charge of programming Christmas music, I'd sneak in "Deck the Halls with Boston Charlie."