There's a character called Jessica on the soap opera my two cube-neighbors are watching and she seems really evil and it is SO DISTRACTING TO KEEP HEARING MY NAME IN THAT CONTEXT OMG.

flea, that sounds like a one-time roommate of mine. Last I heard, he was in his fifth year of grad school, and his master's thesis was around 500 pages and counting.

Couldn't be the same guy. Mine would be closer to 50 by now. And too flaky to get engaged, much less married.

Did/Does your guy have a habit of walking around outdoor hallways in his underwear?

Are there certain classes I could take that would cover all three tracks: museums, government, and public

In public service areas, I don't think so, though the reference databases courses might. I think of museums as being more archive focused, while government and public might be more reference oriented depending on what government agency you mean.

If you were interested in technical services, like cataloging, there would be more carryover.

I noticed at the Library of Congress job listings that they also mentioned the Congressional Research Service, so I was thinking that working at either place would be pretty neat.

I've had to rearrange my I Have Seen Things That Cannot Be Unseen tasks thanks Bring Your Children To Work Day.

Dagnabbit, I was about to run out to Trader Joe's, but it just started raining. Tomorrow....

I think, like Perkins, that if you're going into public services then the reference databases might be on point, and collection development type courses.

I'd add that I'd still take a look at the professors, and take classes with those that teach a good class. There are lots of opportunities in various ALA groups to round out your interests, learn from others and network when you figure out where you want to take this.

LoC: awesome CRS: er, maybe not

Yeah, it looks like the CRS is composed of people like my company's analysts, and the CRS uses the LoC for their library references.

I did see something for which I am totally unqualified for (no science or engineering background), but if I was, I would flip out over the possibility of working there. It was for the NASA archives in Maryland--space geek wonderland to work on those!!

I've been wanting to try some beet dishes, but I've been nervous about the mess of peeling and cutting them. Do you have any tips, or is it just not as bad as I've been imagining? (which is pretty much CSI Veggie Tales)

Since I always roast beets, I don't have to worry about peeling them. After 45 minutes wrapped in foil in the oven, the peel just wipes right off.

I made red flannel hash with some just the other night.

More on Hulu's $9.95/month charge. They also expect to up the commercials to the same amount as broadcast TV. I would hope they don't mean that for paying customers. I just don't see the attraction.