Yeah, our guidelines are incredibly tough. And the way the scores are calibrated is competitive - your manager scores you out of 5, with 3 being a postiive meets expectations. But then the scores are adjusted in "calibration" meetings across your entire business line or segment. So for me, not just my actual department of about 20 people, but all of Communications, Marketing and Research across the firm. So my boss will give me a strong rating (I presume) but then that rating will be compared and evaluated against everyone else with strong ratings and adjusted against each other into some sort of ranking. And then that's what your eventual rating, as well as comp and bonus calculations, are based on.

Based on this week's conversations I'm expecting to go in with a 4.5 on at least two of three categories, which is really awesome to begin with. But god knows what will happen then. To come out of it with 4.5s would be kind of staggering. But I'm feeling pretty confident right now.

Also, we had two people from my group leave the firm this year (voluntarily), so the bonus pool we're working from should have quite a bit more play in it than usual.

But it'll be end of March before any of this is final, and I really need to stop thinking about it.

Megan, I definitely should have mentioned you in the going to Farmer Brown, whenever it happens

Cashmere, I bought a Big Easy Rollergirls calendar last time I was in NOLA, and thought of you last night when I was looking at it. There are a slew of great names, but my favorite might have been Joan Cougar Menstrualcramp.

ION, I'm watching my s4 FNL DVDs, and I swear, every damn person involved with this show deserves a mantelfull of Emmys. I just watched The Son, and cried all over again. How can a show be so real, so genuine? IDEK.

So I'm watching the Joan Rivers documentary (free Showtime weekend!), and I forget that I basically only watch network TV -- it's kind of shocking to hear all the swears!

thanks for all the support nice people.

wow Sue, you were linktastic. A couple of those have potential. I love the metal floral things, but as the garage is gonna be pink, I need it in something that would match that. So many swag lights from the 50/60s are colored globes, which are so pretty, but not great as the sole light source for a room.

So I'm watching the Joan Rivers documentary (free Showtime weekend!), and I forget that I basically only watch network TV -- it's kind of shocking to hear all the swears!

That's a great movie!

Avon is fucking diabolical. I've been waking up at 5:30 for work so this morning he wanted to make sure I woke up at 5:30. Purring in my ear-- not so bad, but hard to sleep through. Sniffing and licking my ear -- ugh. Biting my face and my hips-- obnoxious! Still slept in until 10, though, battling cats having decided to rest next to me until then.

Just woke up, after being up for 21 hours yesterday.

Today: brunch for 25, rehearsal, ordination, pub, after-party.

Tomorrow: three masses (one in Spanish), brunch in there somewhere, G. goes off to Israel, G&R go back to London, Pippin goes to the dogsitter, and T and I go to LA.

Calli, thanks so much for the Lulu-care! As always.

That's a great movie!

Yeah, it's great. I had heard some clips on Fresh Air.

I just had one of the Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants.

HOLY SHIT.

How can something I took out of the freezer, let sit overnight, and stuck in the oven be SO GOOD? It was flaky and delicious! WHAT THE FUCK TRADER JOE'S MAGIC.

Holy shit, someone shot and killed congresswoman Giffords. I interviewed her about ten years ago. This is unbelievable.