I agree, Shir. I've asked people seeking references to just write something up for me to sign, then added a bit to it. It is a lot easier than having to compose the letter. When seeking testimonials from customers I have provided samples from other customers as an example of what I need. If you make it easy for her she may provide what you need.

These are good suggestions!

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it. I'm a bit better now - I'm trying to do Onerous Tasks Weekend (starting today), and that was a very bad start to it, with a roommate who suddenly got cold feet about something (I had to talk her through our decisions one by one, once again, during work, to see where the problem was), and I ended up doing some of her tasks (because Onerous Tasks Weekend isn't enough, apparently).

The background of the person to recommend me has to be quite specific, I'm afraid. Due to the nature of the internship and the second letter I'll get, they have to have both technical (at least technical-theoretical) and humanist/critical thinking background, preferably academic one. They also have to know me, or worked with me, in the past. My choices are quite narrow - it took me three weeks to think of the person who eventually couldn't do it.

In the meanwhile, I'm happy to say that Nilly said she might be able to write it for me, if I won't find anyone else by Saturday.

Your advice about writing the letter myself is a good one, but it'll be my first time trying this. I'm quite worried. Any letter I got until now colored me, in my eyes, 800% better than the way I see myself. As an example, yesterday I got the grade on one of my seminars. It was 98%, but when I opened the file and saw all of the notes, all I could think that if I'd really, really like myself, I'd give myself about 90% with these notes. I'm just very strict. But if that what it takes to complete the application, I'll try to write one. Possibly while using sentences from other letters I received before.

This day, so far, has been a roller-coaster of mostly not-fun. Thank you for your help.

If you write a draft, some of us will be happy to edit it to your actual awesomeness, Shir.

I just got this fundraising letter, from an organization I've never heard of before called "Israel Special Kids Fund."

Dear Friend,

They hide in their homes. Afraid to be seen.

Embarrassed, even in front of family and friends.

Unable to look at themselves in a mirror.

Who are these children? And why are they hiding?

What could cause such fear? Such pain?

A burn victim whose features are cruelly distorted.

A disabled child with muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis or cerebral palsy.

Who has the courage to help these children? Who volunteers to visit with them?

Who treats them with the love and care they so desperately need?

Israel Special Kids Fund

I think this is even worse than Jerry's Kids. (The rest of the letter goes on to describe what the Fund does, which is provide volunteers to help at home and with therapy stuff, and run summer camps.)

yep, it's right up there.

Oh god I'm so miserable. I forgot to take my Pristiq this morning and have been having horrible brain zaps all afternoon. I feel awful.

Eyugh, Pix, that sounds miserable. I hope you're feeling better today. (What exactly are brain zaps? I know people have mentioned them here before, but I just can't quite imagine what they would feel like. Apart from, you know, Not Good.)

I know what I think of when I read "brain zaps". I don't remember which medication it was that caused it, but it felt like I could *feel* the neurons firing in my brain. It was a really distracting, disturbing tingling feeling in my head (and sometimes my face) that fired intermittently. I'm glad I'm off whatever that was. It really made me feel like I was going nuts.

It's hard to describe, Kate, but once you've had it you'd recognize the term immediately. It's like, your whole brain freezes up. It's not painful, exactly, but it's a disturbing physical sensation.

So, I gotta say, getting threatened by crackheads is one of my least favorite parts of my job. It happened again yesterday - everyone's fine, we left and won't be working on that property. But uggh.

So, I gotta say, getting threatened by crackheads is one of my least favorite parts of my job.

understandably!

I do not think I've had brain zaps, at least nothing that fits either of those descriptions. I've had my brain empty out unexpectedly, but that's not at all the same thing. More like a brain drain.