put a lot of distance between you and that asshat "adviser" of yours.

I still need him to sign one more form. As usual, he's not replying to emails. But one of his other students has a defense next week, so I know that he'll at least be there then.

The moving company is also not returning my calls. I got the estimate and contract from them, but wanted to talk it over with my parents before signing anything. So now I've signed it, and I need to know where to send it and what day to expect the moving truck to come, and I can't get an answer.

[link] too cute not to share.

If people are having those sorts of relationships with random famous people, they need balance in their lives.

This is exactly my point. The curiosity is what creates the circumstance, within which, they don't have that kind of balance...or control.

One of my favorite docs includes an interview with Bob Geldof talking about the 'streams of urine' that flowed across the floor during Boomtown Rats shows. The girls were in such a state of agitation/ecstasy, they actually lost control.

It's probably completely incorrect, but the answer I'm currently entertaining is that people want so much to be someone, or somewhere, other than who and where they are, that they give over their power to these symbolic icons.

Do we learn that from media and social expectation, or was there a Neanderthal Elvis?

I don't know. Back when I saw a lot of live music, it puzzled me how seeing the music made felt so different from just hearing it, even hearing it live (even the difference between being able to see the stage and having tall people in my way) and I don't have a better answer than something akin to darshan.

Celebrities not wanting eye contact, that's too far outside my experience for me to make any sort of judgment.

It makes total sense to swoon for something that really moves you. If Chihuly had been at the installation of his work I visited, I'm sure people would have behaved the same way. Sports figures, actors, authors...and these days, chefs and celebutantes, get the same reaction.

I haven't gone outside at all today, and I'm not planning to. 103 degrees is just way too hot. The radio said a little while ago that the heat index was at 116.

Hubby, re: gallstones.

He wanted to have his stones when they pulled his in the early '80s, but they had been pre-sold to China for "medical specimens." I hope whatever impotent Chinese gentleman bought them had good luck with them.

My stepmonster may have leukemia. Whatever she has, she is very sick with it and having tests I've seen on House episodes. But, you know, stepmonster is not me trying to be cute about about a fractious-yet-warm relationship...it's been terrible between us since I was about sixteen...I don't really have anything but generic woman-on-the-street sympathy. I mean, it's bad for anyone who has to lean on my dad, but I'm not a traitor to my gender if I don't want to swoop in and Make Everything Right. Right? Because I'm looking for guilt, or at least warm memories from when we got along, but I'm not finding much. I was a freshman in high school the last time we had a good day together and I'm pretty sure she's the one who encouraged my dad to cut me off. Not being shaken by this doesn't make me a sociopath, right?

When someone makes eye contact with me, they're not taking anything away from me.

I, uh, kind of avoid making eye contact with a lot of people (mostly in the halls at work), and I guess it's not that I think they're *taking* anything from me, but I don't really want to make any connection whatsoever with them, and it *feels* like they're taking something from me.

I know how hermit-y that makes me sound, or like "Honey, the Asperger's is getting worse." Or, uh, INSANE. And those might be true. I just know I don't like making eye contact with some people because it makes me feel oogy.

You may begin MARCIE-ing me at light speed now.

Erika, no. Jon has pretty much the same with his dad and step, and I am absolutely sure he is an amazing human.