The conference ended successfully earlier this evening. We are each at our respective homes, completely exhausted. There was no going out, sadly, due to massive 2-hour traffic and the coworker falling fast asleep in the passenger seat.

After almost falling fast asleep myself, I regained some energy long enough to unpack my cellphone charger and check my email. And now, just realizing I must leave my bed and go find my brace (carpal tunnel—lovely job I have).

Argh.

So I am slightly inebriated. Yes, I have partaken of the wine. And the vodka. Large quantities of the vodka… and sushi. Ahhhh… sushi. What a wonderful, fabulous, nummy (Shut up, it’s my word. Deal.) meal.

Day 1 went pretty well. There were a few glitches, but alas, not too bad.

We went to dinner (at 8PM, following cocktail hour where I got a job offer… 🙂 ) with a friend of the coworker. Sushi and vodka… yes, there was overwhelming joy. Much celebration. Dancing in the streets.

Then there was pool playing and we were soundly beat. Annihilated even. Sad, sad, sad.

Now we are back at the hotel, checking the presentations for tomorrow. Which, in all actuality, is probably not so good, as I am looking at this computer screen with one eye shut… and the coworker is mumbling behind me, incoherently, about a presentation.

But you must be impressed that I can still spell. While wasted.

I should get paid for that.

It’s way too early. We are getting dressed and ready to head down to start this evil bitch. Hopefully food and, god-willing, coffee will be entering my bloodstream soon—very, very soon.

Argh. There’s no way this day is going to be a good day. So I am only hoping for it to be a short day.

From 7:00AM to 8:00PM—’cause you know we have to do dinner with the Boss.

I was going to write about something else, but I don’t remember. Mainly because it is the crackass of dawn and I haven’t had my coffee. So yeah, no more from me this morning.

Yes. The conference is upon us. We are leaving in about 45 minutes to be gone for three days. 🙁 I will have limited access to the Internet, so I might not be posting or replying as much. Very sad.

On a lighter note, these conferences normally cater to people who drink like fishes! Yay. 🙂 I will be getting wasted with old, rich men. Half of whom are German. Yeah. No idea. Should be a tale to tell later, though. 😉

UPDATE, 2:30: Boss is being a giant asshole. I am two fucking seconds from quitting. Must find cigarettes and vodka now.

One of my favorite things to have for breakfast is peanut butter and banana toast. It’s one of my dad’s favorite things to eat and he’s been feeding it to my sister and I since we were babies—well, the peanut butter at least. He eats peanut butter right off the spoon, and when my sister was a baby, he fed it to her that way. Apparently I was a little less enthralled by that concept, so I stuck to the toast.

Moving along. Anyway, so last night I had a discussion with a good friend of mine regarding which was better: creamy peanut butter or crunchy. Mind you, he also refrigerates his ketchup. Sigh. Fortunately we came to the decision that if we ever decided to hook up, we’d buy two bottles of ketchup. One for the fridge, one for the pantry. (Compromise—the bedrock of our relationship. :P) I don’t remember how we got to peanut butter, but he’s a crunchy fan and I prefer smooth.

Fortunately, our kids (if again) will eat non-refrigerated ketchup and creamy peanut butter. Why, you ask?

‘Cause momma’s always right.

Seeing as how the ketchup question sparked such a debate (yeah right, all of you loonies refrigerate—:P)…. what say you? Creamy or crunchy?

Four years ago I was still in Washington. My grandmother was living with us and after my mom woke me up, I went downstairs and sat with her on the couch, watching the news.

Three years ago I was in Bennington, VT. I had left NYC the day before. It was just too crowded and heartwrenching. Bennington had a tribute that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Two years ago I had just moved to the Northeast. The memorial on campus was moving and as I heard the stories of friends who had lost loved ones, I cried—it was as if it had happened all over again.

One year ago I was late to class.

One day ago I forgot that today was that day.

“We must never forget… I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. ” —Winston Churchill

Cellphones
Vodka
Cigarettes (yeah, yeah.. still trying to quit)
Email
Etc.

I found this through goldenfiddle.

It’s 197 pictures that chronicle Hurricane Katrina, from boarded up windows in the French Quarter to the immediate aftermath of broken windows and downed trees to the floodwaters rising to him stealing a truck and fleeing the city. It’s phenomenal and to me, it explains why so many people stayed as long as they did.

Check it out.

My parents are coming to visit in a few weeks—a little under five, to be exact. Every time my mom calls, she tells me how excited she is and how she just can’t wait. They’ll be here for 10 days. The first four we’re planning to spend in Pennsylvania for a festival that my mom has wanted to go to for years. She grew up there and we haven’t been back in two years, since my grandmother passed away. We three are going to drive there. Together. In my Jeep. Eight hours one way. Yep.

My dad and I have been on a couple of road trips together, and it went remarkably well, so I’m not too concerned. It’s the actual being at my apartment—together, staying here 24/7—that freaks me out a little. I think Goose and I will get much cozier in October. 🙂

Anyway, in other news, the O.C. premiered tonight. It was good, but not what I expected. And they added a new character and I am not a fan at all. Reunion then debuted… it seems kinda interesting, but mainly TV shows like these two drive me nuts. Why, you ask? Because while suspense is fabulous and all, I’d really prefer to just hear the whole story. This is why I love books—and get irritated by series’ of books. I can sit and read an entire book in just a couple of hours, and I will. Every time. But if there is a series of books, I will hold off until the entire series is written and published, that way I can seamlessly flow from one to the next. (Or rather, I try to. But if it’s a good story—TV or book—I just can’t help myself.)

Yes, I have issues. What can I say? I like to know everything and I’m all about instant gratification.

Seriously. Read this.

Quote of the Day: “I’m quite adept at going from Zero to Bat-Shit Crazy very quickly.”

Thank Grampa for this lovely little treasure.