We're switching over to electronic pay stubs for those who have direct deposit.

This makes sense. I actually agree with it.

What does NOT impress me is the fact that each person needs to register individually.

If this is a forced change, and everyone needs to register, do the darned registration for them. Don't make the user jump through the hoops of entering the SSN and copying info from the paystub. Do it for them, include the login information and a randomly generated password with their last paper paystub, then force a password change the first time they log in.

As I am leaving the subway station this morning, I see an unattended bag. Hm. Probably nothing to worry about, but I should report that. Wanna get to work first, though.

Get to work. Look at Metrocard. Si ves algo, di algo. 1-888-NYC-SAFE. Perfect.

So I call. The phone rings. And rings. About 20 times. I hang up and try again.

The phone rings. And rings. At 20 rings, I hang up.

The bag is probably nothing to worry about and others have probably reported it. But it's not reassuring when there's no sign of ANYTHING within 20 rings.

One chance to make a first impression. 1-888-NYC-SAFE has blown it with me.

I'd been hearing people noise outside for about an hour, but I couldn't quite place it, and when I looked out, there was no one there.

I just noticed that the noise had gotten a lot louder. And there were people on the bridge. With signs. One of which I could see.

http://www.ncadd.info/ - a recovery rally. They started gathering about 1.5 hours ago, and it's time to head across the bridge.

They're doing a pretty good job slowing things down for the people who are trying to get OFF the bridge. There are cops out there, but I'm hearing enough honking horns to let me know that traffic is definitely being disrupted.

Not sure why I hadn't read it yet.

And the books have been on my shelf for several... years?

I'm about halfway through the second book. And when I'm done with that, I'll read The Left Hand of Darkness. Which has definitely been on my shelf for years, because I bought it at Borders store 142.

In the meantime, I think I need to find a new hosting area for my mood icons. Because wherever I have them right now isn't working consistently.

Poll #1250649
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

"It's not worth arguing about" means:

I've discarded 80lbs of paper (that's about 35kg for those who think in metric), and the remaining papers take 1/4 the space they used to.

Next step will be to work on the papers that couldn't fit into my filing cabinet before. And purge the useless stuff. And get the good stuff filed.

And then figure out if anyone wants cross-stitch magazines from 1998. Or if those should just go into the recycle bin, too.

8:30 - I present myself for jury duty. I have my juror card and some yarn.

The courthouse is fairly new, very near to where I live.

We are told about jury duty. We are told how to fill in our cards. We are told that after our cards are filled in, we will be allowed to use the computers in the lounge. And if need be, we can sign ourselves out for 5-10 minutes for a cigarette or to get coffee at the Starbucks across the street.

11:00 - The juror card has long since been collected. I finish the square and think for a moment. I go online, find my notes for the blanket, and jot down the important details. I sign myself out, and return 11 minutes later with the other 24 squares.

I start assembling the blanket.

11:30 - Names are called.

More assembly.

11:45 - More names called.

More assembly.

12:00 - Many more names called.

At this point, the waiting area is noticeably emptier.

12:15 - The clerk comes out and announces that all the scheduled trials have full juries. The people remaining in the waiting room will be discharged from jury duty.

12:45 - I am back at my apartment with a half-finished blanket.

And one civic duty is fulfilled for the next 8 years.

Monday, I sent estimated tax payments to New York State and to the US Treasury. One month late. Oops.

Yesterday, I got my 2008 Economic Stimulus check.

Today, I deposited it into my checking account.

Tomorrow, I will send estimated tax payments to New York State and to the US Treasury. Two months early.

And I will transfer the balance of that check into my savings account, where it will sit until I am ready to put a down payment on a home.

Increased spending? Not so much.

I bought lamps. Four of them.

And tealights. 100 of them.

Fiat lux!

Makes me feel that I should be wearing a black hooded cloak, and carrying a jewelled dagger. And an amulet or two.

And why the first two doors say "Desi" and "Lucy".

From: CT
To: Sui Degeneris
Re: Me, me, me. You, you, you. Weeeeeeeeee.


If love is a moldy apricot pit...I eat you!

She is walking toward the elevator bank. She sees a door and pauses.

Ladies' room. Yes, a toilet would be good.

Push-button lock on the door. Hm. She tries the knob. No luck. And no one nearby to enter the code.

She sighs, and heads once more toward the elevators.

Three steps away, she stops, purses her lips, and turns back.

1
2
3

She tries the knob again, and enters.

When did that happen?

We reviewed julienne (matchsticks) and brunoise (cubes cut from matchsticks), then we diced and sliced (émincer) onions, and turned celery into julienne and brunoise. (This was a lot easier than last week, even though I certainly hadn't practiced in the meantime.)

( After that... )

So I now have a container of soup in my fridge.

Next week is chicken and fish... I'm looking forward to it, since one of the recipes calls for capers, and I've had a jar of those lurking in my pantry for a few weeks now.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches to go.

Today, I would be happy to find a village that needs an idiot and apply for the position. I think I can be trusted to carry a basket.

Or perhaps to sit in one.