I wish the people calling in for help would realize that we are computer people not landscape contractors. I'm very sorry that I'm not familiar with the construction of French drains, but if you need help with integrating SQL Server with our program, I'm your woman.

Ugh. I am having weird symptoms and I don't want to go to the doctor but I probably should. Pins and needles yesterday down my arm and today on my back/neck (but not really my arm anymore). Probably I have weirdly irritated nerves or something?

Or a pinched nerve. A massage or physio might help. If not, then the doctor?

THat doesn't sound like something to ignore, meara.

I know a little about French drains, surprisingly. Not likely to come up in my job, though. Possible, I suppose, but not likely.

There's a job about to be posted at my place of business, and the person handling the posting thinks I'd be great at it. It would be a pay bump of 50%, so it's really tempting. I know I've been talking about moving up north for a while now, but honestly--I can be bought. Time to update my resume, I guess.

Ooh, interesting, Calli! Good luck with that.

Yikes, meara -- it does sound like something to address in some way. (Although I am one to talk.)

In re: weird callers, my assistant is taking her turn at the front desk while the receptionist is at lunch today, and the main thing the receptionist told her was not to answer any of a string of phone numbers, because they are all one mentally ill person. My team member didn't think much of it, but he called five times! Yikes.

I'm tired of wondering how well my car is going to start every time I turn the key. It's a '96 Jeep Cherokee, and I've put two starters and a new fuel pump into it in the past six months. It starts, but it makes noises that make me unhappy. I've got a garage I trust, but I don't like the anxiety.

So, I'm selling some mineral rights and should have a fair chunk of change in the next month or two. I'm looking at cars from not only the same century I'm currently living in, but maybe even the same decade. Such decadence! I'm looking at small SUVs, mid-sized sedans.

Are there models I should avoid like the hounds of hell closing in when the devil's contract has just come due? Are there models you'd trust your sainted Granny in? I have time to contemplate, so I'm going to use it.

Connie, it's worth checking out Consumer Reports' annual car issue - they always have a section on which models are the best deal/most reliable used.

IME, Subarus last more or less forever.

Good luck, Calli!

My Performance Appraisal is due on Friday. I really have no inclination to work on it. Sigh.

Time to update my resume, I guess.

Indeed. Good luck!

meara, if you have a Chiropractor you should get there. Sounds like a pinched something.