Just had my annual review for my new job and they like me. They really like me. Lots of positive comments and challenging work for next year. They like my attitude and my ability to jump in and make things more efficient.

Now if only their affection would equal more cash. The company is tightening down on raises this year, so who knows what I will get raise-wise. I'm just happy to have a job I enjoy, working with good people who keep me challenged. (Though more money is ALWAYS welcome).

Ya know, a job with good people is worth a few quid/hr. I've found the higher the pay, the more stress there is, and knives find ways into backs.

meara, I have to ask - are people in Washington the state any better with snow that in Washington the city?

Um, no. Definitely not. Though admittedly, they have even fewer plows and more hills here, and get less snow. So there's a certain amount of sense to why they're worse, but...

And unless you're only making one trip over the driveway, no, don't NOT shovel it! You're going to drive over it, pack down the snow, and THAT will turn into ice. Unless the temps are forecast to melt it darn quick and NOT go back down to freezing. Shovel it, and salt it, unless you're really super good about scraping all the way down to the surface.

I was walking up the hills yesterday and annoyed because (a) only a few people had shoveled the sidewalks, and (b) those who had, only like, two knew how. Most people had vaguely shoveled, and not gotten down to the ground, and it was worse than if they hadn't, because now it was a solid patch of ICE. Only a few people had scraped down and/or salted. Those people I blessed.

That skirt is lovely, Fay. Do you know what you'll be wearing it with? Would it be possible to find something backless to wear with it, so you could show off your peacock feather tattoo? Because that over the gold taffeta would be lux and delicious as hell.

Oooh - interesting thought! But, alas, at this time I don't own anything backless - I'd like to get something made, but it needs to be something that includes some kind of support structure for boobular containment purposes. Um. There being entirely too much boobosity for blythe abandonment of bras.

t /tmi

Aaanyway, I have now purchased shoooos which are both gloriously comfortable AND pretty, and they co-ordinate beautifully with the skirt. Indeed I am wearing both, with a simple black sweater and a long gold chain with a sort of filigree gold leaf pendant thing on the end of it - it looks for all the world like an actual leaf that's been dipped in metal, all fine mesh of veins. Like this. Hmm. Maybe it really IS a leaf! That would be nice.

t /sartorial trivia

Going to see Inkheart tomorrow with my parents! Hope they like it - I'm fairly sure I will. I liked the book lots, and I'm well disposed to Brendan Fraser.

SNOW DAY!! YIPPEE!!

Ahem...so, we got a little snow and ice last night, so my winter break starts a day early. Not too shabby. But, today was a fun day, so I'm kinda missing that. We were going to have a staff breakfast with the honor choir from the high school performing. I was going to show Simpsons Christmas episodes to my classes. Oh, well.

Just posted the cast lists for the play on my web site so the kids can see their parts before January.

Yay, Zoe! I am so happy she's okay.

Going to see Inkheart tomorrow

aww no fair! We don't get it 'till January.

Mmmm B-B-Q lunch! Hickory smoked pulled pork sandwich. I am stuffed.

Yay! for Zoe's good news! Kristin, you surely deserve some good news at this point, and we are all happy to help you bask in it.

Great news about Zoe!

My exciting news -- possibly meaningful only to Perkins and Nora -- is that I have achieved the Magic Beer(TM)! I would open one up right now if I weren't about to go back out to the pharmacy and then the gym, where I am going to test out my back with a walk around the track, speed somewhere between "sedate" and "brisk."

meara, I have to ask - are people in Washington the state any better with snow that in Washington the city?

HA. Seattle drivers are notoriously scatterbrained and easily confused/distracted by changes in the weather. "Oh my G*d, a giant bright thing in the sky! What does it meeaaaaan? Oh my G*d, water from the sky! How should I drive?"

(I say this as a Seattle native. My people, sometimes not good drivers.)

Anyway, combine that with lots of hills and very few snow plows/sand trucks, and it adds up to the city pretty much shutting down in snow.