He was really appreciative of me coming in on the weekend to sort out my stuff and get it all organized.

I think the problem was, at JPL, my assistant role was completely different. My job was to deflect the bureaucracy and bullshit away from him and let him do his job in peace. I was running defense.

Here, he's not a group supervisor in an immense 5000 person strong lab, he's the CEO of a company that has grown 40% in the last year, and will double in the next 18 months.

His needs have completely changed, and my talents don't suit those needs.

He needs a sort of polished, calm, sweater-set and clicky heels sort who has his calendar open on a PDA all day.

I'm the jeans, nails bitten to the quick, on my hands in knees under a bench crawling through wires searching for a missing resonator while proofing a press release and dealing with the fire department about a missing bottle of hydrofluoric acid and trading mix CDs with the engineers-sort.

Whatever that means.

My hopes and dreams remain the same, though. I still want to get a masters degree from USC. And I really desperately want my new book to be good. Oh please please let it be good. And sell. Please. I want that more than anything.

Do they do digital photos? Maybe one of those frames that changes the photo every ten minutes or so?

A subscrption to Organic Living and an organic fruit basket?

I dunno -- my hostess gifts are usually limited to making my bed and helping with the dishes, and leaving whatever liquor I didn't drink the night before at the house.

Sounds like this wouldn't quite cut it.

Dana, sometimes some nice flowers (or a fruit basket, cookie basket, or whatever) with a thank you is wonderful--I often get caught up with wondering what someone likes or needs or wants but I've found that these things are always welcome and it's the thought that counts.

We just got a box of pears from Harry & David as a thank you gift for hosting some guests and we LOVED them. I often send thank you's via Cheryl & Co.

Oh, yeah, organic wines is totally a big thing now. there's a journal and everything evidently:

I didn't know they existed either until last night when I happened to see them drinking it on Alter Eco.

I have a hivemind question...about twitter? Is it something useful? Is it for teens? If you join, do you use your name like here or use your real name? I am so out of the loop on this.

That makes a lot of sense, Allyson. and I see no reason why your dreams shouldn't happen.

Dana --tickets to some thing they can do with their grandkids?

But , remember a thank you is just that, a thank you. The gift is the part that says "no really, thank you". it doesn't have to be grand -- just something nice. That's why flowers are often the best thing -- they say thanks , they are pretty and they don't clutter up the place forever. ( just no lillies -- they kill anyone with even vague allergies)

SuziQ, Karate Kid was on tv last night! I had fun watching "Sand the floor...paint the fence...wax on, wax off..."

Good luck on the new position, Allyson, and on any potential job-hunting in the future if you decide to do so. Oh, and definitely on the new book!! I saw you mention it was a kids book--what's the topic, if you don't mind my asking?

Dana, they are expensive, but I endorse Zingerman's gift baskets. No one's taste is so refined they can't enjoy it!

If there's anything I've learned from Law & Order (not to mention Criminal Intent), it's this.

I learned that from This American Life as well, so you know it's true.

I have a hivemind question...about twitter? Is it something useful? Is it for teens? If you join, do you use your name like here or use your real name? I am so out of the loop on this.

I don't know about twitter, but I just said something about Facebook to my new minion and I swear to god she looked at me like, "You're on Facebook? But you're SO OLD!!" I'm at least 10 years older than she is, but STILL.

Erin! It's been forever since I posted with you. How are you doing?

Frank, I hope the rest of the day works out fine, and that the coming night will treat you better.

I'm a fan of laundry. Folding is probably my favorite chore. And I enjoy making it all pretty and neat. My mom leaves heaps and heaps of laundry for me to fold (and iron), because she loves my folding (which is very flattering, in its way).