8.4

The last few weeks have been hell, but at least my classes are almost over.

Only:
2 4-6 page papers,
1 1-2 page summary,
1 self-evaluation,
1 1 page worksheet/bulletin board post,
and
1 10 page research paper (almost done!)
to go.

All by Saturday. Oy vey. If I seem sleep deprived, it's probably because I am. My body has decided that sleep is for the weak and refuses to let me have any. What an asshole.

Getting all of this done should make the celebration for Tim's birthday Saturday night that much more fun.

5-7

This is all over the place. Just a warning.

I had a lovely afternoon with my friend Dee, who hails from TN and has a fantastic little accent. An overpriced, mediocre lunch at the Phoenician (where she was staying), a sweaty hike up Camelback Mountain, and chocolate and espresso gelato at Arlecchino. Perfecto! (minus the lunch, if i'm being honest)

Never having been to the Phoenician before and only having seen it from the top of Camelback, I wondered- what exactly does one get for $400 a night besides a really neat pool and a bed? I found out today. $400 a night buys you real hand towels in the lobby bathrooms, with a little wicker basket to put them in after use. Oh, and a bird's eye view of the Red Hat society tea party. Hoo boy!

It seems as though the Man Flu has settled here again. May it pass quickly and silently.

Mom started radiation today. This will work. This will work. This will work. Come on, say it with me. At this point, that's all i've got.

She got a really random letter from this incredibly annoying former neighbor today. It blathered on about believing in God and everyone's limited number of days and all sorts of other depressing useless shit. Neighbor woman was always weird and oddly childish at inappropriate times, but the thing that got me was that the letter came at all. Mom's name was spelled wrong, the street name was spelled wrong, the city was spelled wrong, and the zip code was only remotely correct. (Hey, 3 out of 5 numbers isn't too bad- it would win you a buck or two in the lottery, I guess.) I know- lots of people can't spell. I shouldn't chide her for that, right? I'd agree with you, if she weren't a former school teacher. Seriously. The former 6th grade teacher couldn't spell the word Mesa. Good thing she doesn't teach anymore. Our schools are in trouble as it is.

In other news, a pleasant surprise came my way today- I have a week off between classes! This is great, because I thought they were back to back. A week is far too short, but i'll take it.

The Hard Lessons will be in town next Friday. Should be a great show!

Good god. Cary needs to get that dog a friend or give him Zoloft. Poor Brian.

Almost forgot- I have a question....

Why the fuck does the Olympic flame need to go to the top of Mount Everest?

4-10

I am shit at posting, which is probably a good thing given all that's been going on lately.


Bad things:

Shitty sleep. Nightmares.
Mom's medical drama that just won't end
burnout
The unknown.

Good things:

Grass in the front yard= finished landscaping!
Good beer for cheap at Costco
Sushi at Hana.
Successful picnic event.
No more friends in the hospital.
New music.
New evap= nice cool summer with reasonable electric bills
Adorable smiles from the niece.
Week 11 of Accounting= almost over!!
Supportive and understanding male counterpart. Very good thing.

I guess I can't complain too much, because the good outweighs the bad at the moment. Weighted, it isn't by much, but i'll take it.

Who loves ya, baby?

Lucy is Tim's favorite, and she knows it.