making words towards you

Gosh, I'm all bloggy today!

I wanted to tell you about a conversation I had with my friend Brain. (A little background: Early into our relationship, Brain and I noticed that we tend to say the same things at the same time and find the same things funny--so, we decided that we're the same person. I recently asked Dave and Ben if they're ever thought about WHY Brain and I are the same person. Maybe we have the same kind of brain damage? (No pun intended.))

Brain is also a former Nodakian and recovering English major, and we often talk about language. Recently, he wondered if there was a word for "becoming something you never wanted to become." He mentioned this to a girl in his class, and she posted about it in her blog. So, I asked Brain if there was a word for "a person who tries to get mentioned in other people's blogs so they can then post about it." Take a look at Brain's suggestion and see what you think!

yet another hobby

On our way back from Minneapolis last night, Dave and I stopped by our favorite book store. I found a couple of drawing instruction books on the clearance rack. They were super cheap and looked pretty decent, so I bought them. Dave didn't say a thing, even though we both know that it won't likely stick.

My most recent previous hobby was sculpting, but I'm at an impasse there. I really need instruction to get comfortable with the material, but I can't find lessons anywhere here in Rochester. Maybe in the Spring I can find something in the Cities that I can drive up for once a week.

The nice thing about drawing is that it's pretty cheap to take up. And, if it sticks, there are all kinds of places here that offer lessons. Anyway, it'd be a nice break from the computer.

outputs and inputs

So, Friday, I went in for my drug test. (I'm supposed to find out if I passed or not today or tomorrow.) Naturally, I woke up with a full bladder and figured there was going to be no way I'd be able to hold it, so I went. On the way to the testing facility, I slammed a couple of Diet Cokes, thinking that the fluid and caffeine (a diuretic) would work in my favor.

The lady gave me a cup and made a mark about 3/4" from the bottom. "We need this much." Okay. So, I go into the little bathroom and proceed to furnish them with a sample. I do what I can, and I check the cup. I've only got about 1/2" of fluid in the cup. Damn. So, I try again. Nothing. I'm like the Mojave Desert inside. Now, my usual trick when this happens is to run water--but I've been expressly prohibited from doing this because I might somehow use it to tamper with the sample.

I keep trying, futilely, until the lady knocks on the door and asks me if I'm done. I abashedly present her with my under-achievement. She looks and, to my relief, says, "Oh, that's probably enough." It was enough to get a temperature reading and to fill the vial to be sent off to the lab. Phew!

Naturally, when I got home, I went for what felt like a gallon.

Yesterday, we had lunch at Olive Garden with Ben and Brain to celebrate his birthday and my jobishness. It was good to see them, and we had a fun waiter. Then, we drove up to Minneapolis to go to our friend Ross's annual dessert party.

Now, Dave and I are trying a low glycemic index (GI) diet, and dessert parties are definitely on the avoid list. However, we decided that after a month of dedicated service to the diet, we deserved a bit of a splurge (and, the plan we're following allows for the occasional indulgence).

It was a very excellent party--lots of fun people and the desserts were boss! There was a lovely flan with warm caramel sauce, baklava, brownies, and chocolate chip & walnut cookies. Karla brought a severely tasty banana cake, and Sue brought banana bread worthy of a grandmother. (I guess they went bananas for the party! Ba-dum bum.) Someone even brought lefse, which Sue buttered and dusted with brown sugar. John brought a fruit and cheese plate. I noticed that the kids were helping themselves to the fruit and had very little of the desserts. Weird kids.

Anyway, it was a nice time, and we got to see the bar that Ross built in the basement. Most of the non-breeders hung out down there. I spent most of my time upstairs, though, so I could sit down and not aggravate my arthritic ankle. It worked out fine because all the kids are really well behaved. I don't really mind kids when they aren't screaming.

Checked the scale this morning, and it seems no damage was done. Yay! We might make it through the holidays after all!

paperwork

Got the first pieces of paperwork for the new job today. I signed forms giving my projected employer permission to violate my privacy in any way they see fit. I'm supposed to be getting my employment packet soon, and then I get to go pee in a cup.

I suppose I should feel all up-in-arms about the whole thing, but I don't really care. It'd be nice to get some dirt on them in exchange, but I figure I'll be finding THAT out soon enough--I interpolate well. :-) It's the pee test that worries me--not because I've recently consumed any illicit chemicals, but because (as my paranoid Nodakian self) I'm afraid I'll get a false positive, and then I'll have a hassle on my hands. There's nothing a Nodakian hates as much as a hassle. (The state motto is "Peace, quiet, and beer," although probably not in that order.) I think it's been at least a month since I had a poppyseed muffin. Haven't had any cold medication.

i can has job?

Well, it's mostly official. I have a job! It's at SPSS here in Rochester. They make statistical analysis software, but I'll be working on internal projects. They're planning to set up a lot of collaboration sites with Microsoft SharePoint. (Interestingly, my husband Dave is a tech sales guy for IBM's competitive product, WebSphere Portal Server.)

Anyway, I really wanted this job. It's like geek with social skills, so I get to use both degrees. (Yay me!) I was somewhat surprised they'd take me considering I don't have any experience with Microsoft technologies. I start Monday, November 26th. So, anyway. That's it.

catchup (and ice cream)

In December 2006, I quit my job at IBM to go back to school full time and finish my Computer Science degree. I graduated in May 2007. After spending the summer and most of Fall half-heartedly looking for a job, I think I may have finally found what I was looking for. Early days yet, but I'll keep you "posted" (ba-dum bum). My husband, Dave, still works for IBM (he's in technical sales).

Dave and I have a lovely house on the Zumbro River, about 10 miles north of Rochester, MN. We've lived here since September 1998. We moved to the area from Fargo, ND, in July 1996.

We brought with us two cats, Scottie and Trouble. Scottie died in December 2000. We got another cat, Mem, in February 2001. In the summer of 2002, a scraggly, half-starved, young orange cat started hanging around the yard. We took him in and named him Toby. Everybody tells me our cats aren't normal--I already knew that. Trouble is convinced he's human, Mem is pretty much a big dumb dog, and Toby is a complete menace.

Anyway, here's a good picture of them. (The only reason they're that close together is because they think they're getting catnip).

Trouble (15), Toby (6), and Mem (7)

manifesto

Lately, I've been spending my mornings (read "early afternoons") perusing my friends' blogs to see what's going on with them. One of these bloggish friends pointed out that maybe these people would be interested in what's going on with me. I realized that I was, in fact, interested in finding out what's going on with me--because I'm never really sure myself. I figured if I could read a blog about me, I would then know what I'm doing. (If this doesn't make any sense to you in the context of me, then you apparently don't know me very well, do you?)

So, that's what this blog is about.