Right here at the office. Earlier today we were waiting for a well-respected client/activist to come speak to us about social justice issues. She was running a bit late so, in the interim, one of our higher-ups thought it would be a good idea to pop in a tape someone had sent him. The main highlight we viewed was: “A quiz show in which if you answer a question wrong, you are catapulted via bungie off a cliffside. Many of the contestants do not leave the ramp with their clothes intact.” It was freaking hilarious, and thoroughly unexpected. However, at the beginning of the tape we fast-forwarded through a questionable sequence…especially so considering the upcoming, and mandatory, sexual harassment training. Doh. Luckily the culture here is so laid-back that most seemed amused rather than offended.

“TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. (Reuters) - An 8-year-old Florida boy drove himself to school in a stolen car after missing the school bus, police said this week.”

And here I was, mistakenly thinking I had another twelve years or so…before I had to worry about my son driving a motor vehicle. Come to think of it, the past few days he has been lunging out of his carseat before I can get him harnessed in and trying to get into the driver’s seat to play with the steering wheel. At least he doesn’t have any uncles into grand larceny. That I know of, anyhow. Hmmm.

Ok, more with the exclamation marks…I apologize. But it is freaking 86° out right now! I thought it felt warm out, but this is insane. It’s like July, without the mosquitoes.

That’s right, comic books. Took my lunch break with a friend. Had beverages and strolled down the Nicollet Mall. It’s gorgeous out! Then I was lured to our beloved Big Brain Comics. Though I work nearby, I try to avoid visiting often…so that large amounts of cash-money won’t flee from my checking account. And Big Brain is dangerously close to Let it Be Records. It’s no Amoeba, but it’s one of the best record stores this city has to offer. Thankfully I managed to avoid Let it Be entirely, but didn’t escape Big Brain so freely. Bought a graduation gift for my babydoll (can’t say what yet, in the unlikely event she may read it here). That was a planned purchase. The unplanned one was too cool to pass up, though. “Hong Kong Comics: a History of Manhua” by Wendy Siuyi Wong. I can’t wait to dig into it after work. Also picked up Mike Mignola’s B.P.R.D. issue #1, which, from the sounds of it, more closely examines the inner workings of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Detection. A must-read for Hellboy fans, or so I’m told. Will also read that tonight, I suspect.

Didn’t mean to get so happy with the exclamation marks, but at least they’re just in the headlines. And I didn’t write ‘em anyhow. But I am excited…we’re having the most amazing weather of the year. The weekend was beautiful, and busy. We were outside so much I barely saw my computer.
Friday :: bailed outta work early to see the hilarious black comedy, Scotland, PA. Picked up two -count ‘em, two- different flavors of freshly made vegan ice cream on the way home. Spent the evening outside with the boyfriend and the little man…even ate dinner on the deck. Lovely.
Saturday :: aforementioned vegan ice cream for first breakfast (mmmmm) then birthday brunch for a friend, at Seward. Later, hung out with the boyfriend. We took the little man to the the controversial playground at Lake Calhoun. Made pizza from scratch. Played Scrabble. Someday I’ll acquire the dreamy deluxe edition. But, as it is, I don’t get to play often enough to justify the purchase. {hint, hint}
Sunday :: ran errands in the morning. Went to boyfriend’s. Blew bubbles off his deck with the little man. The three of us went to the recently remodeled Pasqual’s. Strapped the little man in to his stroller and cruised Uptown with hordes of likewise sun-starved urbanites. Headed home for naptime, followed by several more hours of play in the backyard. Little man was in dire need of his bath afterwards. In addition to having gotten generally filthy, he managed to saturate his hair with bubble liquid. Heh.

A woman in Venice (the one near L.A.) puts cards on SUV windshields that say:
“Road-Hogging, Gas-Guzzling, Air-Fouling Vulgarian! Clearly you have an extremely small penis, or you wouldn’t drive such a monstrosity. For the adequately endowed, there are hybrids or electrics. 310/798-1817.”

She got phone calls and wrote a column about them. Perhaps a bit vulgar and immature, but entertaining. Thanks go to Jym for finding this one.

Coincidentally, I was reading Lacey’s weblog this morning…and found that she’d also posted something about troublesome SUVs.

Especially in and around my head. Used the alarm clock for the first time this week. At least it woke me from nightmares about giant wasps and other mutant bugs invading my house…slithering in through the front door. Eww.

At the office I keep a little black cardigan. To throw on if the heating system goes wonky, as it invariably does. This sweater has served me well for years, following me from workplace to workplace (four jobs in all, I believe). As I pulled it on today I noticed just how dilapidated it has become. One of the underarms is nothing but a gaping hole, and the collar is pulling apart at the seams. It may be beyond repair…and will likely need to be retired and replaced. How sad.

I love Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day. How else would I know what triskaidekaphobia \triss-kye-deh-kuh-FOH-bee-uh\ was?

Dr Leons is a parody site designed to provide a forum for commentary on the irrelevance of psychology in a modern society. To quote the good doctor: “If even one psychologist, psychiatrist or mental health therapist quits their profession because of this site, consider that my contribution to society. If ten or more have heart attacks, that’s a bonus.” Check out the Psychobabble Glossary and Famous Quotes for extra laughs.
Thanks to A.Sessions for that one.