I thought I knew how many perm employees had to be reduced from our dept in 2009, turns out it is 3 times what I thought. I no longer feel secure for this year.

Sweet Jesus, when will I learn? Our surprising liberal Republican governor has just said that the draconian anti-gay-marriage constitutional amendment that was passed here a few years ago doesn't clearly rule out civil unions. (I think it does, the weasels put in as much weasel language as they could think of to make sure that those icky gay people never get to live together in any kind of legally recognized way.)

So, like an idiot, I clicked on the comments section of the local news station. And read for five minutes before the bile that was churning in my gut got to be too much.

Never, never, never read the Utah comments on a culture war issue, Constance. You know what these people are like!

I feel you, Connie. Arizona isn't much less scary. A little, but not enough for my taste.

OK, we don't have to worry about those glow-in-the-dark puppies suddenly turning evil and trying to take over the world. Not when Intelligent Robo-Penguins Take To Seas, Skies

Using their flippers, the mechanical penguins can paddle through water just like real ones, while larger helium-filled designs can "swim" through the air. The penguins are on show at the Hannover Messe Trade Exhibition in Germany.

Pakistan Nearing Collapse

"The move by Taliban-backed militants into the Buna district of northwestern Pakistan, closer than ever to Pakistan's capital of Islamabad, have prompted concerns both within the country and abroad that the nuclear-armed nation of 165 million is on the verge of inexorable collapse."

Uh-oh.

I GOT THE JOB!!!!

Back home to JPL!!!!

Lunches with lori!

HOORAY!!!!

That's great, Allyson!

Good luck, msbelle!

I hit the Target nearest the house and got stuff. I've got to pack box or two tonight. Will take over cleaning supplies, cat stuff and probably some groceries from the fridge and freezer tomorrow. And all my towel racks. After I buy a trashcan and hit the dollar store for cheap sheets to use as a curtain in the main bedroom ( that's the one room that needs them sooner than I will get shades. I'm hoping once I'm in there, facing all the blind choices won't send me into blind panic as it does now.) Then I clean like a maniac. And then I come back here and pack up the last, pack my overnight bag, pack everything else, make a to-go stack to take with me in the morning. God.

Oh, CONGRATS ALLYSON!!! Such a relief!

Congrats Allyson!