I bought a coat at the post-Christmas sales, and then realized it was just a little more than my grandmother gave me for birthday + Christmas, and she would be thrilled to know I actually bought something specific. Also, we love coats. So I'm glad I remembered to tell her that!

Speaking of my grandmother and coats, she could not be cuter -- she was asking me how "they" are wearing coats now, because she's concerned that hers are now too long, due to her shrinking. Aw! I told her "they" are wearing them all lengths, and she should not worry about the styles! Due to being 91 years old.

Oddball job interview questions:

I want a job interviewer to ask me what is the philosophy of martial arts. An interviewer for a job I don't want. Because that's a really stupid question.

Your grandmother is quite adorable!

I had one of those job interviews once. Got asked why manhole covers were round, and how I'd go about estimating the number of gas stations in the city.

I think those types of estimating questions are called Fermi problems. Fortunately, I had learned about them in physics class. Less fortunately, I forgot why manhole covers are round.

[link]

Dana, I think they are round probably for many reasons -- tradition at this point. Also, you wouldn't have to orient them a specific way when you put them back in so it would be easier. I've also heard that they don't fall in on themselves.

But I'd guess that the question is designed to show how you think more than whether or not you know the right answer.

I would assume because the lack of corners reduces the formation of cracks at the edges of the hole in the pavement.

I've also heard that they don't fall in on themselves.

Yeah, that was the answer I couldn't remember.

I don't even remember what that interview was for now.

For Jesse's grandmother: [link]

But I'd guess that the question is designed to show how you think more than whether or not you know the right answer.

The one I heard in an NPR story about -- I think -- interviewing at Google was "What would you charge to wash all the windows in downtown LA (or other big city)?"

Their example of a "good" answer was something like "Ten bucks a window," instead of trying to think of a ginormous amount for all the windows, inclusive.

I would never have thought of that.

I forced myself to go to the gym. Now I'm tired and ravenously hungry, and yet curiously I'm not in the kitchen making dinner.

I could heat up vegetable barley soup. I could cook some pasta and top it with already prepared bolognese sauce. I could make caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes. Or a salad. Or roast some brussels sprouts.