Happiest birthday thoughts, consuela. I hope that your next year is filled with all of the wonderful things you deserve.

I have a paper set to grade before I sleep. I also have a wedge of Delice De Gourmet Cheese. Which will win out?

Thanks, Kat.

Can you grade while nibbling cheese?

I hadn't even realised there were adult L'Engles. Where should one start?

I just realised I have *1* more thing to get for my sister for Christmas--I have to learn the Troy+Abed handshake thingy. This might kill me, though. I have high five anxiety, for fuck's sake. But she's really OCD about it, and I know she'd really like someone in real life to do it with. At least I know the episode to start off with.

I remember when Melrose Place spun off of 90210 it was interesting because they were just enough older to be my age, and it was one of the first times I watched TV characters my age since I left high school, so I could see what TV thought was my parallel.

I'm trying to work out who the FUCK parallels the new 90210...but I can't stay away, even though every pitfall is telegraphed like Samuel Morse having an orgasm.

I totally can. But I'm also backing up my computer, which I accidentally launched from a desk today and now am afraid to shut down. So I'm being like liese and backing up all 91 GB of crap. I really really really don't want to grade. I'd much rather write essays than score them.

Linda Holmes wrote a lovely piece on feeling upset when your show t insert show here jumps the shark. [link]

She's so smart and so lovely and this is so so true. Well worth the read.

And better than my stack of papers.

I hit the jackpot for the 15 yr old on the way out of the store with The Art of Discworld. He'll totally be into that.

I've also got an 18 yr old boy on my list (Birthday and Christmas) but I don't think reading is much of a priority for him any more. 18 is probably a good time to move to gift cards, right?

happy birthday Consuela

Thanks, beth!

And now to bed...

Right. I get why no one does the dork handslap with my sister. Boobs! She's got a rack--why is she gung ho about smacking them?

Happy late birthday Suela!

I know I complain about this every year, but I get so annoyed at the idea every year. This is our "Holiday Offering" to the housekeeping staff. Every year we are solicited to give cash, which is divided amoung our 3 housekeepers and the facilities worker. Because there are so many people in the building, they usually get around $400 each. Except I think it is kind of insulting. I think it implies we think these poor housekeepers need charity in the Christmas Season. But they make the same as the secretaries and they have a union! No one gets us a cash "offering"! And we are expected to give at least $40 to the offering Also I hate that we call it an offering.

ETA. I think it also bugs me because all of the housekeepers are black, and none of the professors and only 2 support staff members are not white. It just seems icky and condescending and more about making us feel good and better than them through charity