They are closing down a large chunk of the local freeway here for 5 hours Wednesday afternoon/evening due to the Presidential Debate. It is being held at Denver University, which is right next to the freeway.

Our office has already sent out an e-mail reminding people and suggesting folks who travel that route to work from home or expect a super long commute taking the detours.

I have a meeting I have to go to during the debate, but luckily it is in the opposite direction.

could not log on AGAIN tonight. emailed the service desk. no response. so much grrr.

emailed the boss and said I would get him what I promised in the morning.

That sucks, msbelle!

I had a work thing backfire on me- they wanted an Admin representative on the online task force and I was the natural choice. I declined because I KNEW the AA would get stuck taking minutes (which I hate) and scheduling (which I hate). So now there is a different Admin rep, and I just got asked to attend to take minutes and do scheduling, so she can participate!

I spent 4 hours on a project today only to discover that I was using some flawed logic. My own fault but I need some input from the PM to apply the correct logic and he hasn't responded to my message. I was hoping to get some of the rework done tonight but it looks like that isn't happening.

Instead, I'm watching the A's. Hoping they get their post-season clinch tonight. GO A's!!!!!

Am back from an emotionally exhausting, but at the same time encouraging, 3 hours of The Stoop [link] Between the heartbreaking story of the scars left and fairly recent coming to terms with said scars from 11 years of Scientology starting at 3 from a guy I know, P (4 cocktail napkins for 7 minutes of story, 6 if you count the ones I handed to K, who is his good friend who was just bawling and had to be hugged throughout- he's not spoken of this much,) to a former freedom rider's faith path, to the 3 audience volunteers who just had the audience in their hands, it just...guh. They closed out the first half with P's story, and the hostess just walked to the mike and said, "OK, now we all need a drink. Go." Yeah.

K stayed to see if P needed her to go home with him, since his wife is out of town. He's an improv performer known for keeping his cool, and he did lose it on stage a couple of times. Sobs. It was hard to watch, but you also knew you were seeing recovery and freedom. That was probably at least half the napkins.

It was good. And now I will fall down.

I brought "Chinese sweeties" into work to share with people, since they often bring in Indian sweets. As far as my memories go, we call these preserved plums Chinese sweeties whether they're preserved the sweet seedless way (no, not quite prunes) or the sour way with a seed.

One of the guys was just not taking me seriously enough. Kept telling me to relax when I needed everyone to panic like me. He was enjoying the sweet ones, and coming back for more, so I stuffed a sour one in his hand and he snarfed that--it was weird. Took a minute (literally) for it to hit, but yowza! I got what I wanted. I mean, I told him it was sour. That'll larn him. Boosted his heart rate for a couple seconds.

I did a search online to see if I could find out what they really are, but mostly I get a poem by Nicola Karesh with this verse:
Parties spilling over into the morning.
Mackerel rundown , a local dish.
Remembering coolie and paradise plums,
Chinese sweeties, Port Royal Jack Sprat fish.

DON'T IMAGE SEARCH IT.

Ordered True Orange and True Lime. We'll see if they're as tasty as True Lemon, although they'll not be as handy.

Aaand, my Awesome Uncle Frank (of motorcycling fame) had a massive heart attack and stents put in the l&r arteries this weekend. Oy. But my mom's brother talked to him last night and he was good, if annoyed at all the fuss.

Localistas, they're closing the Michigan Ave onramp to LSD at Oak Street today until mid-November: [link]

AND the northbound red line isn't stopping between Berwyn and Howard. I'm hosed either way. I think I'd rather walk the 2 miles from Berwyn (or catch a Broadway bus from there) than go Howard to get on a southbound train.

That's good, sara. Annoyed is really good.

I just caught an ad for Androgel 1.62%, and--is it really worth the risk? Like, take it for low testosterone, but it might cause enlarged or painful breasts, and call your doctor if children nearby go through early puberty or women have changes in body hair. Some of the most disturbing side effects since "this anti-depressant may cause suicide."

I wonder if Androgel 1% has the same risks, and if the benefits are worth it. I mean, I guess they have to be--it must be effective, otherwise it would be unmarketable. It sounds terrifying.

Hubby has 5 stents. All things being equal, Awesome Uncle Frank should be just fine.

edit: And Androgel has been miraculous for Hubby. Everyone who knows him can tell when he hasn't used it. If he's particularly growly or snappy, we ask if he's taken his testosterone. Weird stuff, lack of it can make men mean.