I will be so happy when I wrap this project up. I'd like to burn it to the ground.

This time, the problem was one of our own making But it wouldn't have happened if they didn't have so many exceptional cases not designed for an automated system.

God I hate this project.

And supposedly I'm being issued a new credit card and account # (citibank security issues), but it hasn't gotten here yet and I'm paranoid.

And stupid SF hasn't acknowledged my request to enroll in the low-mileage program and it had been almost 3 weeks. I don't know if I need to fire my agent or wonder if the device was stolen from my mail. I think it might be the former. How do you fire an agent, but keep the insurance? (I inherited him when my old one retired.) Why do I even need an agent in this day and age???

Nibbled to death by toothy ducks.

I am in agreement on the duck nibbling thing.

So today's weird moment -- I was at a teacher workshoppy thing for the teacher of the year stuff. Everyone who spoke talked about how the essays had to be deep and personal and how they had to make people cry.

Dude. That's not my wheelhouse at all. Maybe I shouldn't bother with the next step.

Jesse, did you end up getting flowers for your mom?

Also, I did NOT do a swell job dyeing my own hair. The back of ear is black.

I dye with a washcloth nearby for my ears alone. They actually get more slop with short hair than when it was shoulder length.

Kat, ignore them. You do your thing, clearly that has a noteworthy impact.

Everyone who spoke talked about how the essays had to be deep and personal and how they had to make people cry.

Good grief, I can see why you would be discouraged by the process.

You know, I did read quite a lot of previous posts, but I am so tired I can't remember what I read. I think I should close the laptop and give up for the night.

They weren't their usual Hollywood pretty, but they were incredibly compelling. And Elijah Wood, Nick Cave and (of all people) Flea seem to have absolutely ideal faces for tintypes; I wouldn't have been a bit surprised if the photographer had added a note at the end saying, "Oh, yeah, I threw those three in because I found them in a box of tintypes in someone's attic and they were such great vintage celebrity doppelgangers I couldn't resist."

I was so confused! wondering how our flea ended up on a tintype!

My mom had her surgery yesterday for a stent in her carotid. So far so good. They've scheduled the cancer surgery for June 5th, and will know then whether they need to do anything else. Trying to figure out when/how I can go home. I'll be in Detroit for work--why is it $400 to fly Detroit to Indianapolis??

Would it be cheaper and just as fast to rent a car when all airport shenanigans are taken into account (I don't know that distance)?

It probably would/will, Sara--it's about 5 hours. I just hate driving long distances, but even though greyhound is only $30, getting to/from the station to the airport might be more hassle than it's worth. And amtrak doesn't go between the two. Boo!

It's weirdly cheaper for our family to DRIVE to Ohio than for all of us to fly.

The tintypes are cool. Everyone's nose is jacked up, though, and it does weird things to skin. I thought Anne Hathaway looked great.