Organization is a Curse

If I make it through the day, I'll be grateful. I'm in a computer classroom all day without:

• cell phone
• mechanical pencil (pencil of any kind)
• electric fan
• remote desktop access

It's mostly my own fault (well, not the last two). I switched from my RRB (regular red bag) to my CRB (capacious red bag) this morning, and carefully put all my writing instruments in their cute red pouch, which I apparently then threw in the RRB by mistake. Luckily, I found a (lousy) pen, highlighter and Sharpie in the CRB, so I'm not completely bereft.

The loss of the pencil is keen, since it's practically an appendage of my hand, and without it I can't do a crossword puzzle or write in my calendar. I'm going to have to make do with a dull golf pencil or the (lousy) pen.

That aside, the Nashville Public Library is beautiful, and I'm still planning to stop at TJ and WHM on the way home.

Road Trip

Tomorrow I'm going to the Nashville Public Library for training. So of course, my thoughts are turning to food. No, not because the library is known for exceptional food (though I have scoped out the lunch possibilities), but because driving to the big city means I'll be minutes away from some unique opportunities.

So, if you were making a biennial trip to Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, what would be on your shopping list?

R is for...

I have a cute new refurbished Sansa Clip. My other mp3 player works just fine, but it doesn't play Audible downloads. So, the refurbished Clip was an inexpensive way to remedy my situation (a cheaper fix would be to cancel my $14.95/mo Audible subscription, but we won't go there).

I own a refurbished Makita drill (thanks, Dad!), and if the IRS ever sends me the money for my first time homebuyer credit, I'll spend some of it to buy a refurbished Makita saw. Also on my want list is a refurbished G2 iPod Touch, once it's no longer the current model.

This all got me thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice if i could send MYSELF in for refurbishing?" It's often difficult to tell you're holding a refurbished item, unless you look at the paperwork or in the case of the Clip, if the mfr has marked the item. I'd be OK with an R somewhere on my body if I could send myself in for a thorough inside and out cleaning, face-lift, and general tune-up.

Alliteration Alarm

A coworker has the book Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work on the bookshelf in his/her office.

Should I be worried? Is this coworker trying to mask his/her own personality, or does he/she suspect someone else of being a psychopath?

Puppy Days

I suppose it's too early to complain about the dog days of summer, so I'll complain about the pre-dog days of summer. Hot weather is starting to move in, there are no holidays to look forward to this month, I need but don't want to get serious about my summer work agenda, and it all seems a little dreary.

On the other hand, my reading life is looking up these days, so I'll try to not complain too loudly.



photo: Rhoads, Harry M. ca. 1920-1930. Female with puppies [photograph]. Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library. Available from Library of Congress American Memory at http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hawp:@field(NUMBER+@band(codhawp+00186544))