one bonus thing about having amostly empty department. I am playing holiday music on Pandora (after checking with my cube neighbor). Not as good as just using my iPod, but I'm getting mostly good stuff.

welcome Shane. And stay away from the farmers. They'll only break your heart.

M Hugh Jackman mmmmm, I still have a crush on him after all these years.

Also this?

C Hayden because she's 12, F Lamarr because she's not Mirren, M Mirren because she is.

Clearly the right answer because it's Helen Mirren. My dad had such a crush on her.

msbelle, I'm facing a similar conundrum with the cleaning lady. GC to someplace, or cash?

Finally, how do I possibly find the energy to face Costco today? Is there enough coffee in the world?

I give my cleaning lady a second check because I relly know that is what she needs the most. There are financial control issues with the man she lives with, she has some health problems and no health insurance through her home halth care aide job n- so yeah, cash to her. The babysitters being kids I thought cards might be more fun, but I am not invested enough to go out looking again, he'll get cash.

The Gollum/Smeagol updates are awesome.

Thanks msbelle. Cash it is then. I'm sure she could use it, because I know I sure could.

Oh, that reminds me. I am out of cash. Need to drop by a bank or an ATM today.

Need to drop by a bank or an ATM today.

Costco will give you cash back, won't they?

Ralphs and CVS obviate me of the need to go to ATMs. It was horrible when I needed to deposit cheques. Messed with my rhythm.

Ugh, I have a check I have to remember to deposit, and have to go out of my way to go to my bank. Actually, that would have made sense on a trip to get my mother one more present, but I just called my father and told him to get it, since I really have enough for her.

I gave our cleaning lady cash.

I always thought that the amount of stupid in Blazing Saddles outweighed the funny.

We had a long conversation one night about Which Mel Brooks Movie Is Your Favorite? For me, Young Frankenstein always wins, but just barely.

ION, I'm on day 4 of a really bad cold (although the porcupine that was living in my throat seems to have departed), and it looks like I'm not going to make it in to work at all this week, between being sick, using vacation time, and the holiday.

I'd normally call that a win, but I'd definitely trade this cold for a day of work. Bah. We're supposed to go out to the jazz club tomorrow night with out-of-town friends, and I keep trying to make bargains with my immune system, like "Just let me feel well enough to go, and I promise I won't hang out with smokers and I'll get more sleep!"

I don't know how open to bargaining my immune system is, though.