That's awesome, Strix. And for the record, my autocorrect would really prefer to call you Astrid.

Anyway, since I was in Indianapolis with the journalism students from Thurs - Sun and then immediately went back to school yesterday, I still haven't had a chance to process any of it. I've been teacher-me since the election. I have nearly destroyed my cuticles and have been sleeping like crap, though, so I've got no illusions about what's happening under that layer of denial. I have a feeling when I get home on Friday I may have a bit of a meltdown.

I have been eating comfort food. Lots of chicken tikka masala, which does nothing for the other layer of stress, which is that I've gained 20 lbs and don't fit into half my wardrobe.

Blah. Sorry. This is suddenly very much me me me.

Ha, last person to judge on mememe, doll!

Wow, a journalism conference at this moment in time...and the gross Bannon stuff has got to be very immediate for you and your colleagues. I can't imagine.

I have gained back every pound I lost, but since I lost most of it through being really unhealthy, I can't be too fussed. I'm starting yoga back up; I have gone from pretty flexible to rusty, frozen bolt.

From the time I left the office, through my pedicure, through stopping at Ulta, up until I reached my hotel room, I had a raging debate in my head whether or not I was going to hit the treadmill. The con-side wanted me to focus on school work and just taking a freaking break while the pro-side kept whining about packing my workout gear and wouldn't I feel better and I haven't taken a good walk for a long while. The pro-side won. Per my PT, I kept a slower pace that I've become accustomed, but I got two miles in before my hip started hurting.

Then I got back to a smoke alarm with a dying battery. And somehow the hotel doesn't have a spare 9V battery. How is that possible?

I didn't realize how much I've been isolating myself from news and commentary until hitting the airport yesterday and overhearing conversations I'd just rather not or having to flip through a zillion tv channels to find something that didn't make my brain fry. I guess I've been living off of Netflix for the last week.

Wow, a journalism conference at this moment in time...and the gross Bannon stuff has got to be very immediate for you and your colleagues. I can't imagine.

Yeah. I can't speak about any of that specifically with this being a public forum and me still working at the school in question, but I will say that my first and secondhand knowledge of that man make the horror of his appointment even worse.

Anyone else want to go to Mexico during the inauguration?

I'm torn between heading out of the country that week or going to the march in DC. Some of my co-workers have asked if I want to go.

Anyone have ideas what I should get for my Trump-voting dad for Christmas?

A lump of "clean" coal?

I very much want to get in the car and just drive away with no set destination.

Head north.

Then I got back to a smoke alarm with a dying battery.

Oh, thanks for the reminder. I need to take a 9v home.

First day of tech for A Christmas Carol and so far the quote-of-the-day has been "Can we hear the poop music again?"

Well, I was trying to do homework for my class, but Stanford's website is down. I guess this means it's time for vodka and TV.

Did they give you a new room, Suzi??

Pix, dang.

Irish bakeoff?? Ooh. Is this on YouTube or some piratical site, or what?? I dig Irish accents...not as much as Scottish ones but still!

Did they give you a new room, Suzi??

No the hotel is full. I'm in a mini-suite and there is a detector in the "living room" in addition to the one in the bedroom. But you can bet I'll be talking with a manager in the morning. I should just start packing spare 9Vs with me but then again, I shouldn't have to.

Irish bakeoff?? Ooh. Is this on YouTube or some piratical site, or what?

I found it on a piratical site, yes. Could be on Youtube, too, I suppose.

Wait, they just left you in a room with a beeping smoke detector??? No. someone's ass can go buy a battery. Fuck that.