Not that I have really thought too hard about the '08 election just yet...

But I really enjoyed this article about Chelsea Clinton. I have never known too much about her, and I didn't realize how close we are in age (2 years is a bigger age difference in grade/high school I suppose).

Anyway, just thought it was interesting. I admire her intelligence and understated demeanor.

And I thought I was a procrastinator!

I was given the insanely wonderful gift of going home early this afternoon from work (after a tasty, 2 1/2/ hour office birthday lunch out at Copia).

As I walked up to my apartment door, I immediately smelled fire. Not just smoke, but the smell that an actual fire makes. I sniffed the hallways up and down, and put my hand on my door (ha! just like they tell you). I opened it slowly, expecting to hear a crackling noise or see flames or something just like when I was home watching the girls when we were little and Maggie told me Brendan's room was on fire and I walked up there and cracked the door and sure enough, flames shooting off the desk!

I didn't see anything, or hear anything. I walked through my bedroom and saw Dave the maintenance guy's truck out in the backyard. Weird, I thought, I better go see what burned.

Luckily everything seemed to be under control. Dave was just burning yard waste in a barrel in our backyard, right outside my back door. I didn't go out there, just watched for a minute, and then realized that it was the pile of brush that had been sitting in the corner of the yard after he cleaned up all the stuff that fell when the apocalyptic storm hit last summer. A year ago this week actually.

I figured it'd never get done, and who cares, really. It was just ugly. But at least I know that there are WAY worse procrastinators than me. I've let dishes and laundry pile up before, many times, but NEVER for an entire year!

Well, I'm off now to enjoy my slightly longer weekend. Oh, but first, I finally got a new phone so if you could please email me phone numbers (or just text them to me, the number is the same), that would be fantastic!

Happy Weekend!

Christmas in July

Today at work I got a nice little present (besides my boss coming back after nearly two weeks of vacation - I was BORED). What did I get? A heater. In July. That's because it FEELS like Christmas time over in my corner of the office. It's regularly 62 degrees when I arrive in the morning, and it gets to be no higher than 66 in the afternoon. My fingers turn blue, I shiver (though I wear three layers, closed toe shoes, long pants, etc), and I can't concentrate. I drink hot tea but it gets cold in no time, and it just makes me have to pee which means I leave the office only to dread walking back in because as soon as you open the door you are blasted with the arctic air.

The guys in my office, and anyone with actual windows doesn't think it's so bad. I am clearly at the bottom of the totem pole, so they won't turn the thermostat up for me. But they gave me a heater, and thanks to my walls (which I love so much), the little thing actually worked. I had it on the lowest setting possible and there was a noticeable difference immediately. I still need to layer my outfit, but no more shivers.

Now maybe the "Christmas" theme can continue, with Sprint delivering my new cell phone (old one has been broken for a week and a half), and my car door maybe magically finding its way open for a low low price, and limited time in the shop. We'll see.

Briefly

• My car door lock is still broken, and I am increasingly annoyed at having to climb in from the passenger side. I'm becoming quite stealthy at it, but that hasn't completely stopped the occasional odd look from bystanders.
• My cell phone is broken. Just as it hit the two year mark. It's like they have an internal timer. Sprint won't rush ship the new one, and I refuse to step foot in their stores, thanks to a mildly traumatic series of visits LAST time my phone died.
• My teeth/mouth/the gaping holes in my jaw STILL hurt from getting my teeth yanked Friday. It gets minuscule-y better each day, but I had to stop the vicodin if I wanted to drive above-referenced car to below-referenced job.
• I'm increasingly bored at work. I think I have learned everything that they want me to learn, and even when I vocalize my feelings ("hey Amy, I am seriously bored out of my mind"), I am more or less brushed off. It makes the days go slow. Nothing I do really takes that much mental capacity, either. No good. I'll keep at it for the paychecks, though, don't worry.
• Over the last two weeks though, I have been able to see and spend time with some of my favorite people ever (not all, but lots of 'em), which is sort of surprising considering how crazy things have been. It is always nice to hang out with the girls, catch up, and reminisce. I am lucky to have so many really sweet and fun friends.

That's all for now. I am going to change and head out to 33 to enjoy an evening on their patio during the most beautiful night of the month so far. Never thought I'd say that about July in St. Louis, but this is some fantastic weather.