This 'n That

Last week's meeting of the Great Women's Dinner Group was a fabulous success. Dr. Maureen brought her 4 month old, Maggie, and she was the star of the evening. I discovered that nine people will fit comfortably around my new dining room table. Everyone loved the house and thought it was a wise purchase.

We didn't get in a lot of discussion about To Kill a Mockingbird, which was unfortunate. The food was good, though. I chose to fry chicken and discovered that my new stove doesn't get hot enough to heat the oil to a temperature that will give the chicken the proper scald it needs. I may have to look into getting a gas unit for things like frying.

Next meeting's book is The Professor and the Madman, by Simon Winchester. I think we're going to be out at Dr. Maureen's on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. Stay tuned...

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Found out yesterday that my cousin's father-in-law died in a motorcycle accident just west of the Caldecott Tunnel (Oakland, California) last week. He was only 57. Michael's wife, Aimee, is a delightful woman. I mourn tonight for her, her four brothers, and their mother as they mourn their loss. Though I only met him two or three times, Ron Claverie was a kind, gentle man.

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Even though I only hear in one ear--which means I don't hear in stereo--and I'm about three years behind the trend, I've discovered the beauty of Apple's iPod technology. (My thanks to my sister, Janeen, for lending me her iPod for a "test drive".) This puppy makes Sony's original Walkman seem like archaic technology, and it was merely 20 years ago that everyone had one of those.

What astonishes me most is the sound quality that comes out of those rinky-dink little ear buds. And the amount of data you can store on your 'Pod is something else. The iPod I'm borrowing has 10 GB and I've only used up 4.27 GB and counting ( = 1,139 songs, 3.7 days worth of music listening pleasure.)

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It's an odd thing about job searches. I have days--or, more like moments--where I get really, really psyched about finding a new job. I get online and search Monster and Indeed and CraigsList. I find all kinds of work I know I'm more than qualified for.

Then I sit down to personalize the ol' resume and write a cover letter and I get stalled.

I hadn't realized what a bummer it can be to job search, particularly when you weren't in job search mode and you've been laid off under--how shall I say it?--less than just circumstances. More than that, though, I'm gun shy about working in D.C. again.

Maybe it's a sign I'm supposed to look elsewhere...

Maybe I need to hire a headhunter...

Maybe I just need to freelance for a while and totally avoid coupling work with office politics...

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I haven't been keeping up on the news lately. That is to say, I don't watch t.v. as much as I used to. And I can't say I miss it that much. The house has cable, but I seem not to watch as frequently as I have in the past.

Could it be because it's summer and summer programming stinks? Or could it be because there's simply nothing on worth channel surfing for?

See, that's the part about t.v. that makes me avoid it. There are some good shows on, but I waste more time channel surfing and less time watching semi-worthwhile t.v. than it's really worth.

Now, I just Netflix everything.

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So, there you have it. Some random thoughts on Sunday afternoon as I edit tobacoo research and load up my loaner iPod.

Oh, and by the way, happy birthday to my long-lost friend and former pen pal, Gillian Firth Steedman. One of these days I'll get off my sorry ass and look you up again.