The good news is that my beta reader said my personal statement is really good overall. The bad news is that she confirmed my fear that I need to rewrite my intro to shift the focus a bit. I have been staring at a blinking cursor for a half hour. Not good.

Also, I am trying really hard not to be annoyed that despite the fact I asked one of my coworkers six weeks ago if she would write me a recommendation and she agreed, she sent me a frantic email that she isn't sure if she can get it done today because she has been sick. Isn't six weeks' notice a way to avoid these types of last-minute snags? I need to mail this packet tomorrow, so this does not bode well.

Ok, I'm somewhat amused.

On Monday, Daniel and I were really industrious, and planted a bunch of seeds in Jiffy peat pellet greenhouse thingy. Some of the seeds have sprouted, but more importantly, there is a lot of mold growing too. Google-fu led me to a forum discussion of other people who had that problem. After I joined them in their conclusion that Jiffy peat pellets were crap for starting seeds, I then noticed exactly what kind of gardening forum it was - a marijuana growers forum.

Heh.

Also, I am trying really hard not to be annoyed that despite the fact I asked one of my coworkers six weeks ago if she would write me a recommendation and she agreed, she sent me a frantic email that she isn't sure if she can get it done today because she has been sick. Isn't six weeks' notice a way to avoid these types of last-minute snags? I need to mail this packet tomorrow, so this does not bode well.

Oh, Kristin, I *hate* it when that happens. That happened to me two summers ago with a scholarship application. Well, kind of. Turns out the professor actually did write the letter. He just forgot to mail it to me before he left the country for several weeks. I hope you're able to get it worked out. I know how important this is to you.

Sox! How lovely. Despite the negative realtor experience...wow...what a lovely place and years and years of comfort and graceful living. I like the paintwork and to be a block from the water is like unto heaven to me. Good on ya!

I'll be teaching here in October: [link]

I missed this news! Congrats Sparky. What a fun opportunity.

Hey, when the time comes, let me know if you need Sassy care. Not only do I know the very best (and ridiculously inexpensive) pup care person, but if it were a for a couple of overlap days while DH is with you, I'm sure I could talk Bartleby into helping out.

KristinT, I think you have to send her a gentle email that reminds her you've counted on her doing this (for the past six weeks) because it sort of sounds like she's passive-aggressively hoping that you'll tell her that she doesn't have to do it.

My DH told me this morning that he hadn't gone to the Post Office with something like he'd promised me (two weeks ago) because he's "been busy." I called BS on this excuse, he whined, fumed, and finally sent it off today. He just sent me an email to apologize for being an arse since the task took him seven minutes.

Hey, when the time comes, let me know if you need Sassy care. Not only do I know the very best (and ridiculously inexpensive) pup care person, but if it were a for a couple of overlap days while DH is with you, I'm sure I could talk Bartleby into helping out.

Thanks! Don't think I won't remember your generous offer! Sass came home so wonderfully sleepy from our visit . . . and a sleepy puppy is a puppy who isn't eating my shoes.

Sox, that house is gorgeous! Thanks for putting the link back up.

Kristin, good luck getting you letter in time.

Kristin, I had the same experience with my letter writers and it was v. annoying. You might want to draft a letter for her that she can tweak and sign. I did that with one of my people and it seemed to light a fire under her. I was just talking with classmates yesterday about how the application process (GRE, statistics class, programming class, letters of rec., personal statement) was way more difficult than the program is.

Sparky, thanks so much for your feedback. Normally I would agree, but she knows that I'm counting on her, and I do think she'll pull through. She is the head of the history department (higher up on the food chain), and someone I do respect. She got frantic this past month and forgot about it entirely, but I know she is determined to write a great letter for me. That's why I'm trying not to be annoyed, because I really believe she's going to make this right. It's just nerve-wracking--you know how it goes.

Anyway, trying not to think about that. I'm going to throw myself into re-writing my introduction and assume that the recommendation fairy will bring me the letter later today.

ETA: GC, I can't. I have to sign a waiver that I haven't seen the letter when I send this packet.

I need to get in the shower. I have plans in 45 minutes with a friend I haven't seen in ages. I want to see her and have some social time (because, really, I haven't done that with ANYONE in weeks), but I just can't seem to find the energy. For some reason a day at home sounds fabulous.

ETA: GC, I can't. I have to sign a waiver that I haven't seen the letter when I send this packet.

you won't have seen the letter. She's not going to just sign what you send her, you are providing her with a draft, which she is free to use or not. You will have no idea what she's done.