The realistic baby dolls are sure realistic. Okay in photos, but in real life, when they wouldn't be moving AT ALL? That would be CREEPY. The article talks about how some women collect these dolls and treat them like real babies, carrying them around shopping and such, and what a capacity for love they have... Oh, how adorable, the love this woman shows for her... cold stiff baby...? Ugh.

My Editor in Chief seems to think that I receive information by magical osmosis. He surely doesn't think the process involves him ever telling me anything.

We're waiting to hear back from a client so there's currently nothing for me to do. So right now I'm doing a 3-D scan of a toy Volkswagen with my homemade 3-D laser scanner.

eta: The resulting data, when imported into Excel and graphed, doesn't really look like a Volkswagen. The windows on the car seem to confuse the laser rangefinder.

So, one of the things my boss said to me in a meeting last week was that I should speak up more, mostly in the context of the ongoing (but now just simmering) clusterfuck. So there were new messages about it just now. Granted, I was cc'd, and it's mostly an upper-level discussion, but I was going to write back with a couple of thoughts (mostly designed to make myself look On Top Of Things). But I thought I'd check in with my boss first. And she said not to! This is my problem -- my instincts are totally opposite of hers.

And I am re-reminded that the whole clusterfuck grew from a mistake I made last summer, that I TOTALLY could have gotten away with, since NO ONE NOTICED. I thought someone might notice, so brought it to everyone's attention, and now pretty much regret that, which is NOT the lesson I should be learning, as a person who tends to hope my screwups will go away if I avoid them long enough.

Last night at the Olive Garden, I overheard the bartender griping about how unfair it was that her insurance was so high after getting a DWI conviction. My heart bleeds.

Statement and question.

1. I am smelling like sunshine after bathing in Lush products today. Wheee!

2. Any of you couch to 5k? I am thinking about starting and would welcome suggestions/tips. BTW, I hate running.

le nubian, I have yet to finish (or even get past about week 3 before quitting), but the things I know about Couch to 5K: There are several handy apps for your phone/ipod/whatever, that are nice because they will show you and/or interrupt your music when it's time to run/walk. Apparently you may try to run fast during the run parts, but you should not, and should instead go slowly. And lastly....just go ahead and sign up for a 5k. Or two or three. Gives you something to look forward to, but even if you can't run the whole thing (or plan it for the middle of your training) you can still run and walk and get a perfectly fine race in. There are always walkers, so you won't be last.

My massage therapist was just telling me about Couch to 5K, and her only recommendation was to make sure you actually have the right amount of time in between when you start it and the 5K you've signed up for. She's a couple of weeks short.... BUT! Was thrilled with herself for running for five minutes in a row the day before.

Philadelphia I am in you! Or rather, I am in your international airport for the next 5.5 hours.

I have found a plug, figured out the wifi, and now I need to find these things were there is a comfy chair...

2. Any of you couch to 5k? I am thinking about starting and would welcome suggestions/tips. BTW, I hate running.

I concur with meara, although I don't do the formal Cto5K thing.

I will say that (a) most people start running far too quickly, and you should pace yourself really slowly, at least to start. Also (b) the best way to make sure you get out there regularly is to have a running partner. Anyone nearby who will be willing to meet with you a couple times/week?

I swear the only reason I'm not in therapy this year is because 3 times/week I meet with my sister for 40 minutes or so and slog up a bunch of hills. We get to bitch about work and our parents, and it's better than therapy because it comes with endorphins built in...

Also, if you hate running, consider trying something else? Bicycling (stationary or not), zumba, etc?

I swear the only reason I'm not in therapy this year is because 3 times/week I meet with my sister for 40 minutes or so and slog up a bunch of hills. We get to bitch about work and our parents, and it's better than therapy because it comes with endorphins built in...

That sounds so smart. I mean, I wish you didn't have to do it, but it's a great solution.

When we move into the new apartment, I'm going to be walking eight blocks to work and back every day, which is more regular exercise than I've had in forever.