Sorry for the absense. I have a cold. And this morning I thought I better get some more sudafed before the storm hits this afternoon on the way in to work. Now, I understand the whys behind the rediculous rules to get cold meds around here, but for crying out loud, if I walk in with a nose running like a faucet, red cheeks, glazed eyes, and sneezing and coughing, can't I get away without having to fill out a ten page form in triplicate and signing away my first born? Sheesh.

Stay safe today everyone. It's the first round of winter weather and we all know what that means. People who live around here conveniently seem to have forgot how simple it is to navigate if you just slow down and stop being an asshole on the road.

Addendum: Good god, I think I just sneezed my brain right out of my nose.

Hope everyone had a nice turkey day. We have been (and still are) in Michigan with the parental units enjoying leftovers, a Pistons game at the Palace last night, some light Trader Joes and Whole Foods shopping and plan to return tomorrow afternoon.

I was tagged by Gnightgirl for a meme on listing 5 odd things about myself. Easy peasy, because I am one weiiiiiiiird chickorita.

1. In spite of my love of all things food, if I find something I like I will eat it over and over and over again. I sometimes have the same one to three meals repeatedly for months. I will order the same thing at restaurants every time I go for a long time. The repetition doesn't bother me a bit, I just love whatever it is so much that it tastes good every time. This actually applies to a lot of things I like. I will buy extras in case they run out and I have to find something new. This has happened with things including shoes, holiday candy, pants, perfume, and candles.

2. I really like to eat chocolate and drink Corona with a lime together. My good friend thinks this is disgusting and quirky. I pretty much have to take a sip, then a bite, then a sip, then a bite (balance of flavors you know).

3. I am a chapstick addict. I have a whole flower pot basket filled to the top with chapsticks of all kinds. Other than chapstick, I don't wear makeup. I always have at least two chapsticks stashed in each strategic place. For instance, there are currently two on my desk at work, two in my purse, two in a coat pocket of each of the two coats I wear most often and about four on my dishwasher. I don't put them in my car though, because I am worried they would melt in the sun and/or heat. I apply chapstick hundreds of times a day.

4. In spite of being far from wealthy, I pay a company to come and clean my house every two weeks. I would give up many things in life that I enjoy before giving this up because I HATE cleaning. I hate the time it takes, I hate what the chemicals do to my hands, I hate the physicality of the work. I'd much rather play than clean. But I'm not a total slob and do enjoy a clean house, so a portion of my paycheck will continue to go towards asking others to do what I don't want to (and really, isn't that the point?).

5. I can look forward with one eye and sideways with another. I'm ambidextrous (occularldextrous?) in this task. It's genetic I think, like rolling your tongue (which I can't do) because the kidlet is the only other person I know who can do it. I will sometimes look at the hubster or kidlet in semi-serious situations where a straight face is warranted and do it so no one else can see it. It usually results in attempts to stiffle a giggle fit.

I asked the hubster what his five were for me, so I'll update later if he has any. I'm sure he things lots of stuff I do that I consider normal are totally weird.

I think I'll tag Kimberly if she hasn't done this one already.

Amazing.

Dems nabbed Montana and Rummy is stepping down. This sure is fascinating.

Election Night Drinking Game

We were trying to come up with the Election Night Drinking Game phrases and words last night and the two that seemed to keep coming up were "tsunami/wave" and "lame duck majority". Chris Matthews couldn't get enough of either of them.

That said, for the first time in a long time I feel like the people have been heard and there is hope for the future. I never was good at hiding where I fall on the political spectrum and have many friends that are at the opposite end whom with I have fascinating (and respectful) conversations with, but I just have to say that I'm holding my breath on Montana. There seems to already be an unhealthy desire to try and determine what "illegible" absentee ballots were really trying to say (a practice frowned upon in research... if you can't make it out cleanly it's in the same boat as "missing data" or you're putting words in people's mouths).

Go Donkeys. Make changes that are positive for our children's and our planet's political, social and environmental future.

Lame Ducking in Progress?

I trust that you've all done or will be doing your civic duty today? By the way, I did notice a blip on our local ballots that could be somewhat misleading. I'll just say (as someone who writes surveys day in and day out), be sure to pay attention to the candidate order for each section as you vote today.

So Harold's Chicken on John Street (where Cafe Sarkis was previously) seems to be doing a brisk business since opening in the last week or so. My coworkers have brought in the tenders and breasts and they smelled fabulous. Every time I walk by the place, there is a line practically out the door. Surely says something for a little taste of Chicago.