As I was going down the stairs, I saw someone who wasn't there. They weren't there again today. I hope that someone stays away.

(paraphrased)

I love the French Republican month names: Vendémiaire (from Latin vindemia, "grape harvest"), starting 22, 23, or 24 September; Brumaire (from French brume, "fog"), starting 22, 23, or 24 October; Frimaire (From French frimas, "frost"), starting 21, 22, or 23 November; Nivôse (from Latin nivosus, "snowy"), starting 21, 22, or 23 December; Pluviôse (from Latin pluvius, "rainy"), starting 20, 21, or 22 January; Ventôse (from Latin ventosus, "windy"), starting 19, 20, or 21 February; Germinal (from Latin germen, "germination"), starting 20 or 21 March; Floréal (from Latin flos, "flower"), starting 20 or 21 April; Prairial (from French prairie, "pasture"), starting 20 or 21 May; Messidor (from Latin messis, "harvest"), starting 19 or 20 June; Thermidor (or Fervidor) (from Greek thermon, "summer heat"), starting 19 or 20 July; Fructidor (from Latin fructus, "fruit"), starting 18 or 19 August.

These are the source of titles of some important historical works including Zola's Germinal and Marx' Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon. Also they are pretty.

Ah, yes, that's why Germinal sounded familiar, it's the one Zola I've read. I did not know it was a month, though. We probably talked about that at some point, but there was an awful lot to discuss and that was almost 20 years ago, amazing I remember anything.

I remember it from the dates on the letters Napoleon sent Josephine. Good lord, those letters.

This is the second time today I've been in the bathroom with a woman who didn't wash her hands. I guess it might have been the same woman both times.

So I guess you aren't working from home today.

I was going to comment on other stuff, but this made me laugh too hard to remember!

Timelies all!

I got one of the comic book boxes(and most of the comics in it) down to the basement. Nova is napping on the other one. (She's a cat. Anything that can be slept on, will be.)

Hah! My friend with the AirBNB debacle is on Gawker: [link]

Wow, new and exciting ways for roommates to fuck with your shit.

Unrelatedly: my office has ants.

I haven't seen any so I'm totally just hearing Archer quotes whenever someone talks about it.

On the flip side, we've got a bunch of new hires in our department, the most recent of whose last names are: Good, Bright, Smart. I'm starting to wonder how our HR group is sourcing these people.

That's hilarious! There's probably a study out there showing they've got better chances or something, too!

I finally heard SOMETHING back on my interview--it was just to say "thanks, we finally finished all the interviews and will discuss internally and get back to everyone in about 2 weeks". Which is better than no. But extends the agony period...

Better than no and better than no word at all. Continued good luck, meara!