{{{quester}}} I'm sorry that you are facing such a tough time. It really is crappy.

I hope it's OK to vent on tiny, tiny misfortunes. I know a lot of Buffistas are dealing with huge issues, and my thoughts are truly with you, so just tell me if I'm too petty.

How come the guy-I'm-working-for and the guy-I'm-working-with got misplaced in the great nexus of social schemes? With one I don't want anything but work relations, with the other I don't mind to go and have a drink with and bitch together about life. Somehow, the guy-I'm-working-for convinced we're friends, and guy-I'm-working-with is all sensitive about "not taking too much out of my time". Can't they switch roles?

(I warned you it was petty. I just haven't seen guy #2 in a while (no project in common) and miss him, while guy #1 feels the need to be in touch every few days, even if we didn't schedule to work).

Funny how that works out, Shir. If I could find the control knobs for the Universe, I have that and a few other things sorted out right away.

Say, has anyone heard from billytea? I misremember if he is located near where all the flooding in Australia is.

erin, I've traded the sore throat for snot. I just wasn't hungry earlier so I had little dinner. I just got up and ate some string cheese.

Shir, this place is for the whole of experience; good, bad, epic, petty. Here's hoping your guys get their roles right.

Slept for a while, awake again. Spent too much time in one position today, apparently, and now every way I try sleeping makes something else hurt. Stoopid joints.

WindSparrow, he just posted in Goodbye and Good Riddance.

Oh, thanks, smonster.

Wishing you feel better soon, sounds like a heck of a virus you've got.

billytea has been posting in Gaming. I asked him to stop by here.

Say, has anyone heard from billytea? I misremember if he is located near where all the flooding in Australia is.

That's good of you to check. I'm fine, the flooding's in Queensland, up north. (And is indeed pretty dreadful, the worst floods I remember.) I'm in Melbourne; we've had a bit of rain, but nothing too dramatic.

quester, your doctor situation sounds difficult. I hope you can get it sorted soon. This is when I feel very grateful for the NHS - they mess us around and specialists make us wait forever for treatment, but I can always see a GP. I hope you can get docs and meds arranged very soon.

Less-frustrating-co-worker-relations~ma, Shir!

Health~ma, smonster. Your virus sounds like a doozy.

I'm playing 'let's just get through the day' at the moment. The govt agency is still asking me questions. The Girl phoned the office and talked to the manager, who said that the agency's approach is perfectly reasonable. And that if they turn me down for help, there's no right of appeal. I've decided to focus on how great it's going to be to be lecturing at college level for the first time, and try to forget the rest for the moment. I get to prepare more materials on the history of the women's movement today - it's fun! Anyone got any ideas for initially engaging students with feminism? The exercise I was given by my co-lecturer is a bit dull, about stereotypes of men and women. I'll try it, but I think I need a couple of more exciting discussion points too.

If I could find the control knobs for the Universe, I have that and a few other things sorted out right away.

FWIW, I vote for you controlling the knobs of the Universe.

Seska, I'm sorry you're going through so many hoops and loops. As for feminism: Bell Hooks?