Plans for the weekend all involve the word "finally":

• Take down the damned Christmas tree and put away the rest of the decorations (finally)
• Unpack (finally)
• Go grocery shopping so that there is actual FOOD in the house (finally)
• Get the new hard drive installed so that my laptop won't move at a snail's pace (finally)

I also need to fight off the Plague. I am right on the brink of it getting a lot better or a lot worse. I'm really hoping I wake up feeling great in the morning.

Oh lord. I have to take down my tree, too.

Jesse, my sistah in procrastination! There are few things I enjoy less than taking down the Christmas tree. I'm not sure why, exactly.

Also, I ordered Indian food, and it's not going to be here for another 45 minutes. I want it NOW. Now now now. Hungry. Indian food yum.

broke down and drove across town for pho. Clearly, it was meant to be, since I found a parking space within a block. I have just inhaled their incredible spring rolls. And am waiting for my soup, which will be excellent. I was going to turn my sweater inside out because I am a slob and WILL get it all over me, but there's a great honking tag that will make it very obvious. Sigh. I'd hoped to wear it more than once before the cleaners

This is one of the reasons I don't put UP a Christmas tree--I know that the week or so I had it up and it was makign me happy would be negated by the three months I would have it up after Christmas with me going "god, I need to take that down"

Java, you are welcome up here!! I would take you dancing, and the pho comes with a cream puff! And we could explore.

I procrastinated putting the tree up, too, and it's fake, so I figure it's all good?

and the pho comes with a cream puff

Oh, I know where you went. They have good Pho and FANTASTIC cream puffs.

Now I want cream puffs. This is going to end badly, I just know it.

Java, you are welcome up here!! I would take you dancing, and the pho comes with a cream puff! And we could explore.

Yes. I shall not come up while I am a coughing queen, but I shall come up sooner than you think!

I just had to say goodbye to my nephew. He doesn't really get the distance and time thing, and I'm pretty temporary in his life anyway, so he's cool with it.

My heart is so broken, though. Trying to keep a stiff upper lip. I got him some Hot Wheels trucks and a coloring book, we made a last batch of cookies, and he showed me the chimney sweep dance from Mary Poppins (complete with somersault).

Was an awesome day.

I'll be back in LA tomorrow. The first few days blew, but now I don't want to leave. I want to stay and hang out with my nephew and niece, and start looking for jobs in the college/uni system here.

I've been giving it a lot of thought, and I think I'll be happiest in an academic setting. Plus, cheaper Masters Degree.

I have a lot of research to do to figure out if I can afford to work at a place like USC, though. I'm unsure of the pay range for administrative staffers.

Plus, cheaper Masters Degree.

Huge plus!