these days of leiderhosen

Once again, yours truly was called in yesterday for a bit of temp work at the Oakland Unified School District. No matter what superpowers were granted me at birth, I think OUSD might be beyond help. In reviewing registration forms for the upcoming school year I discovered that a few parents 1.) cannot spell very basic words, 2.) think that repetition and petulance will achieve their desired goals 3.) have the gaul to name their daughter "Phatima" 4.) think two year olds are plenty old enough for kindergarden. Oh dear god. Today I have a cold. ka-chew. Repeat, ad infinum. The other night I had a marvelous dream about FHCRC, the Yale building had been replaced by a very tasteful ivory castle; my office stuck out from the building like a tongue and had an enormus fluffy bed in it. Divine friends Carolyn and Lisa were there, running elegantly up and down the stairs, mid-earthquake completely unflustered.

Sorry for the broadcast silence these last few days; I was busy. During those days, Barbara returned from hip replacement surgery, kvetched about the water usage and then proceeded to set the house afire with a pair of misplaced hot mitts. Came home to the fire department leaving and, Barbara fretting, the apartment filled with smoke. Hum... BFF Mix up and left us yesterday after three solid days of fun, fun, fun. Movies were watched, Johnny Depp was oggled, yoga class was attended, SF was plundered and unladylike quantities of food might have been eaten. Oh, and she learned to knit and was forced to begin and complete her first project. Swell girl, that one. Today was the first sighting of the California Winter barbecue occurred this evening: Our neighbor Zack had a parka on as he grilled steaks. I am still horribly addicted to those silly pink & white candy covered licorice bits: (looks in waste basket for empty bag) Good and Plentys. Steven had the camera out while Mix was here ...

Well, Dick Cheney, you big schmuck. That Texas lawyer will look just great over your fireplace mantle. Good Lord, Man. Grandmothers Against War protested today at the Broadway Army Recruitment Center in Oakland, CA today, attempting to sign up for the armed services en mass. Their motto: "Take us instead." Bless, 'em. I swear, if this country had the to opportunity to send over Olive Story and Barbara Baughman in their prime, God help Iraq. A couple of crotchety Idaho farm wives would have put that country back in line mighty quick, using only pickled green beans, jigsaw puzzles and horded rubber bands. The availability of non-dairy creamer might be an issue, but at least it could probably survive desert heat. Today I had a bang-up yoga class. The teacher used me for a guinea pig twice and suddenly seemed inspired to encourage people to attempt the fully expressed poses. (My upper body is much longer than my legs and my family’s physiognomy gives the illusion of uncommon ...

uh, ma gawhd. Done the unforgivable. Forgotten darling Friend Mix's birthday. I utterly and completely suck. Am trying to figure out what to do to get out of the Bad Friend Box. I am a bad friend. Friday I had a good interview with UCSF with only one hour, fifteen minutes of commute (BART, bus). I felt kind of iffy on the bus back and came home to find the Steven at home, also feeling iffy. So now we both have colds. I had considerably more sleep than him, so I am running and fetching various liquids and soup for him. Any hot idea how I can get Mix to forgive me before she comes to visit this weekend? Let me know.

My favorite intimate meals seem to always end in a spirited food fight. (What else are steamed vegetables for?) Thank god we had already eaten the coucous and lamb stew. I am such the lucky girl to have a Marx Brother of my very own in residence. Am feeling that yoga class from yesterday. The itty bitty muscles between my ribs ache. When I breathe. Can't wait to go and do that again! The interview with ACS went really as well as it could have, although I found the Director a bit stiff. Kim Moreland and Ben Hippen have utterly wrecked my life; the bar for co-workers is really mighty high after knowing them for so long. Great, fantastic, funny, brilliant people, I tell you. I think my favorite interview answer to "What kind of work environment do you like?" is "With terrific, fabulous, world-class people." I have been so lucky. I love you . And you . And you .

It's early and I don't much feel like getting into the complete diagram-able sentences thang. So, my love, go get your beautiful sweet self another cup of something warm and tasty and consider the subject of my sentences implied. Go on. I'll wait. You know I love EBay. Looooove EBay. Love it. Fearless avid user, hap-hap-happy customer of the World's Most Unlikely Business Model. I have not bid on an EBay auction since my dough started running out in earnest in early November. Maybe even sooner. Please tell the adorable red flats, the ticky-tacky disco-happy gold platforms and those darling Frye boots I can't see them right now. Busy, broke, got interviews.... you know the drill. Thanks, Doll. I'll be in here, being very quiet. Love you. So fab. Today, I have an interview with American Cancer Society; Friday I have a second with UCSF. Totally prepped for this. Kim even sent on three adjectives, lest I lose my head again. The Steven (bless him) dragged me kickin...

Bear with me. I've found another glamourous photo of the Orinda Theater: Ah....now isn't that pretty?!