Love the haka vids!! Loads of fun. All we get in baseball is Ichiro dropping f-bombs to rev up the AL squad at the All-Star game and occasional football players screaming in each other's faces to get everyone in the appropriate fighting spirit. (At least the Bears got rid of the cheerleaders decades ago.)

Work at the bookstore was boring as all hell today, and nobody was buying membership cards. Feh. Also, we were out of the books I was going to pick up for my nephew's belated high school graduation gift ("Where's Mom Now That I Need Her?" and "Where's Dad Now That I Need Him?")--guess I'll call the Joliet store and see if they have them in stock on my way over to Dad's tomorrow to see brother and nephew (in town for college orientation).

I've finally opened up the bottle of Smithwick's I've had chilling in the fridge for the past month--yummm, so smooth! Also got caught up on my DVR'd eps of America's Test Kitchen and put some of them on tape, especially the Beef Carbonara (beef and beer stew), which I definitely want to make ASAP. Looks great!

shrift - way to go with the multiple job offers!! (I thought I had posted before but I m ust have had some sort of posting malfunction - because my post disappeared.)

Also - someone just set off fireworks of some sort. . . I wish I knew why.

Some people think this is a big deal:

Iraqi PM says US should leave as soon as possible

BERLIN - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says U.S. troops should leave Iraq "as soon as possible," according to a magazine report, and he called presidential candidate Barack Obama's suggestion of 16 months "the right timeframe for a withdrawal."

In an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel magazine released Saturday, al-Maliki said he was not seeking to endorse Obama. The Illinois senator and likely Democratic nominee has pledged to withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months if he is elected.

"That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes," al-Maliki was quoted as saying. "Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of U.S. troops in Iraq would cause problems."

Asked when U.S. forces would leave Iraq, he responded, "As soon as possible, as far a we're concerned."

What does this mean for McCain?

Via e-mail, a prominent Republican strategist who occasionally provides advice to the McCain campaign said, simply, "We're fucked."

[link]

Congrats on the job offers, shrift.

hey ita, did you get that discharge?

For ita: [link]

ita, I hope you home

yay for shrift

chili crab and pepper crab. I'm just saying.

nom nom nom.

"Tech Support With Dad" is totally on the "How To Drive Your Daughter Insane" book, or: Why I stopped wondering years ago why the computer at my parents' home needs serious fixing every 8 months, part 46:

Today's unlearned lesson was "Where To Save An Important File To Attach" (not that he can attach a file to an email without a blow-by-blow guidance from me). He still can't find it, though now it's on two different locations on the computer. I suspect it's because he doesn't scroll to look for the file when he opens the folder to attach from from his email account.

AHHHHHH.

Edit: also, happy-late-birthday. SA!

I am very proud of myself today. I got up early, and rather than just staying in bed and reading until I actually had to get up, I did one of the ten-minute Pilates segments from a DVD. Sure, it's not really a full workout or anything, but it's ten minutes more than I usually do.

Yay Hil. As a "workout? what's this thing you're talking about?" person, I can appreciate the mental effort it takes.

Now, why 1. I'm not hungry at lunch?, 2. I'm not showing any love to the sweet potato quiche I have right here next to me?

All I want is a fruity shake now, honest.