Woo hoo! Today we are screening Igby Goes Down, White Oleander [because I just read the book] and Flashdance, which I, amazingly, have never seen.

Iain’s grading papers … dear god, but kids are dumb nowadays. Seriously.

Example from one lab paper: Q “Why should you be careful with the pipette?”
A “So the teacher don’t kno your high”

Dear God.

All right. I’m having a skinny day, so i’m gonna go work it now.

Mmmm… Olive Garden …

I may never eat again. I am so sated. I am so done. Foodwise, I am spent.

Good to see Lou and Natasha [Iain’s sis] tonight. Lou is pestering us for grandbabies so he has someone convenient to spoil. Iain asked, “Why can’t you just spoil us?” Lou laughed.

So Iain was especially antsy today. I won’t say too much, because I don’t think he likes his private life broadcast for everyone the world over to see. But I am concerned at his all-consuming anxiety … I think he’s too anxious and worrying for his own good. It can’t be healthy. I can’t get him to relax. I don’t know what to do: Because he does worry, he always gets things done on time, and done well, and done thoroughly. But I still think it can’t be all good.

Maybe that’s my inner Slack talking. I don’t know.

Anyway, there’s no one online, and i feel like a bit of a pariah, and all out of sorts, because I missed my Thursday night television — they call it “must-see TV” for a reason, in my opinion.

Gah.

So how long does it take for me to make work-friends?! I’m lonely.

Thanks to Mandy-sa for wakin’ my lazy ass up at 1 p.m. today. She is well on her way to having her first book published, and I’ll be able to say I knew her when.

So much to say, so little time:

1. Interesting thread on the old Newsers’ listproc — hotness of underage girls. I have so much to say and can’t even express it all.

2. I kicked way too much ass at the paper today.

3. Arlo Guthrie crankin’ on the stereo, wide blue Maryland skies, 60 freaking degrees … Goddamn, but this is a beautiful state.

4. Actually awoke at the appointed time today: 7:30 a.m. Five hours of sleep. Am now ready to begin my weekend and catch up.

5. Goin’ to see Papa Lou tomorrow in some town on the Eastern Shore, I think. PL is Iain’s dad. We’re going to Olive Garden, which is actually a treat because A. We never go out to dinner [hardly ever, anyway] and B. I love italian, even fake italian, and iain hates it.

6. Actually heard a Beasties “Anti-war rap” on HFS today … some weird fucking shit, man, when the Beastie Boys are rapping about oil families.

OK, that’s a wrap.

Calories: 1235. Cigarettes: 8, v.g. Alcohol units: 0. Excellent.

Holy crap. Just got home, and have got to be back up at 7:30 a.m. Truly nuts.

Vision has become fogged with fatigue. No shit. I’m blind! I’m blind!

Another good day. Third day on the job, and it’s so handled. Think, perhaps, may even make deadline tomorrow, just for giggles. Actually kind of surprised at how good I am … maybe job is too easy? Or maybe this is how work is supposed to be: Challenging, but not mind-numbingly, energy-sappingly, hysterically taxing.

Interesting thought.

Not much else on the menu: Was gonna work out this morning. Hah. Had to go shopping for emergency white camisole instead — discovered, en route to work, that blouse was too sheer for corporate dress-policy standards. Faced with “office slut” moniker or “terminally late” designation, so chose the latter.

Realizing that anticipation of a paycheck has unleashed the floodgates of three months of pent-up, voluntarily-checked shopping urges. Must tie own hands together and freeze debit card before acquire entirely brand-new, tasteful, size 4 Spring wardrobe.

Apologies to Helen Fielding for blatant copyright infringement of writing style.

UofMwriter (10:39p.m.): Mary Beth, I am in agreement with you completely, 100 percent.

An exoneration of Matt S. …. He does “get it.” Let’s all give him a hand, and welcome him into the flock!!

Phew. Made it to Towson Town Center [why, oh why, can’t Marylanders just call their malls “malls”?). An elaborate Habitrail of parking, levels, wings, the whole deal. But i made my way to A+F for old time’s sake (I used to be a Brand Representative before I smashed my face in and they fired me) for a new pair of jeans to fit my ample, voluptuous behind. (Voluptuous just sounds better than big fat ass).

Also visited VS for some undies to hide underneath said jeans. God bless low-rise bikinis.

Dinner: Satisfied iain’s urge for KFC by driving all the way out to Belair for a bucket and the all-important ‘slaw. I am the best non-cooking wife ever.

Today’s TV thought: “Date My Mom” has to be the funniest reality-show title I’ve heard all day.

Getting it: So i just tried to describe to Matt what he didn’t “get” about assault. Do you “get it” or not? E-mail me. This should not be such a taboo subject.

Kris had some points to offer about the impending war with Iraq, and a question I had:

“Food for thought in reply to does anti-war mean anti-american: Alexander Hamilton, way back in the day, said better a good man from an opposing party than a scoundrel from my own in response to the nomination of Aaron Burr for president. Interesting, who would have the balls to do that today. Also, in romanticizing the creation of our own republic many have forgotten that their were distinct and at times volatile difference of opinions among the founding fathers. Note to self: read about the federalists AND the anti-federalists. In my own research, some 250+ loyalists welcomed the British troops into Charleston during the Revolutionary War. Welcomed, i.e., rejoiced. ‘Liberty is the ability to disagree.’”

-the great Kristalyn Shefveland-Telenko, MA student, DePaul University, Chicago

It’s entirely too late to be awake. Some horrible action show is on FOX right now, and I should really get up before noon tomorrow, maybe go shopping — enjoy my last weekend day before work begins Tuesday and doesn’t stop ‘til Wednesday is over.

Revisited my college days today, in a way. Got into a “discussion” with Matt S. about rape, victimhood, man-haters, feminism. Reminded me of all the stuff I did in school with SAIN [Sexual Assault Information Network], the Take Back The Night march, The Clothesline Project. Was reminded that just because Iain is enlightened and “gets it” doesn’t mean everybody else does. Sometimes, I even forget there’s something “to get.”

I have to say, it feels good to remember that anger and that compassion. To get heated up about something I feel strongly about, and to revisit a culture I used to be very involved in. I wish there was still some element of college for us graduates, you know? The same sort of clubs and idealism, but no classes or tuition. I’m kind of sedentary and lazy without it, enclosed in my own world.

Not much happening today.

Slept late. Read the paper. Interesting feature spread in the Sun today: “Does anti-war mean anti-American?”

I don’t think it does. Exercising freedom of speech is one of the most American things you can do. Therefore, protesting the war on Iraq is just as patriotic as supporting it.

I oppose this war. I feel it’s inevitable, but I don’t have to be happy about it.

Okay, kids, that’s it. Gonna renew my library books now.

Thank you, and good night.