Looking at what their old supervisor wrote, it was very unspecific but very high praise and it suddenly struck me that maybe they'll miss that.

yeah, that's a problem. But, your way is better.

They're still getting excellents and outstandings in a general sentence, but I've been using the rest of the space to try and come up with some project to link to -- instead of a whole paragraph of how great they are without mentioning anything they actually did.

I think UCB programmed me to do it this way since we didn't have annual reviews, but peer (tenure) reviews where you actually had to come up with specifics or risk not getting bumped up.

Belated Happy Birthday, Pete!

Kristin, if Byron refuses his meds, you might want to ask your vet for a piller. Saved our sanity when Teddy was on multiple meds twice a day. Also, if he gets several very small pills, you might want to look into getting some empty gelcaps at your local pharmacy. It's easier to get one large gelcap down them than two or three itty bitty pills.

I think I may have sold my stage presence in a yard sale 5 years ago.

funny... I picked up a used stage presence on eBay a few days ago... It smelt of elderberries...

Scrappy, I am so sorry to read your post and wish you and your family much comfort.

Go you Sparky for getting evals done. Man, I hate those as much as I hated grading mid-terms.

I think Sox had some kind of encounter with Mike Rowe in Baltimore, but I can't think what the story was, now.

it is true. he was very gentle... [TOTALLY KIDDING].

He's friends with some friends, and they have a great Boxing Day party. We talked for a bit this year - he's very funny in person, and was still trying to finalize the title for his book [Sparky, I was cheeky and suggested "Shit flows downstream and payday's on Friday" in honor of Grandpa] - and I met his (very patient) girlfriend, who's pretty darn funny herself. (Not a lot more to tell - DH and I were swapping places every few hours between party and watching baby sleep). The best version of the QVC nun story is here: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine [link] (the right link, this time)

There's much more to write - suffice it to say that Mal and Iris tore up the National Aquarium and there will be photos (and several TWC posts) soon. Raq was an excellent swimmer and managed to pull both toddlers out of the tank before the sharks noticed...

OMG, that's so damn funny. I think I'd have ruined my future in television. I talk WAY too much when I'm nervous and have gotten too much praise for being "funny" and "natural". I'd so be gone forevah. And the hand model thing brought up Seinfeld, and how one fell in love with his own hand, got addicted to masturbating and ruined his career. GEORGE:
That's okay. I won a contest.

But I guess Larry David lied. They can make it with the humans. Periodically, my mother says I should be one, part-time. It's been a joke, but...

Dude! My dental appointment this morning involved fucking SURGERY! Shouldn't you warn a person??? I has stitches and everything! Called in to work. Ow.

Dude! My dental appointment this morning involved fucking SURGERY! Shouldn't you warn a person???

Yes - that should be a rule!

Definitely a rule. . I mean in addition to the whole letting a person prepare mentally - there could be insurance issues.

Skipped hundreds. How is everyone?

We just got the first They Might Be Giants album on CD (I had it on tape long ago) and every time I see this thread title I keep getting "The Rabid Child" stuck in my head.

Hammer down... rabbit ears! Hammer down...rabbit ears!