Had a great time in Boston (So proud of you Manda!) despite the rain and chill...now must never take a vacation again b/c work piles up in my absence. Blarg.

This is a very sad day, indeed. My academic advisor, mentor, and a favorite professor has turned in her letter if resignation and is packing up her office. She will be moving back to NY and taking a research assoc. position at C*rnell. When an institution of higher learning denies tenure to an outstanding scholar and well-loved professor, it defeats its very existence as an instituion of higher learning. They should change the name from F&M College to F&M Money-Making Machine. That's how it seems to me. It's a very, very, very sad day....

Okay, no more complaints about my blog if no one is going to leave comments...This will be short anyway since I have yet to prepare for my monthly evaluation and I need to get crackin'...Work is good but busy, as usual. And I can't believe it's time for another evaluation. Time passes so quickly...I can't believe I have been here 3 months next week. Crazy.

Well, I am very excited about Amanda's graduation in 2 weeks--and not just because I get to go to Boston to see her graduate. An Ode to Amanda is forthcoming, I swear, but I just wanted to say how excited I am. Amanda, I am so proud of you! I am looking forward to time spent with my second family (Mrs. P included) and since this is really the only vacation I get this year, I intend to enjoy myself. And then, the following week, I have to help my mother move into her new apartment. While I am very excited about said apt. I am not looking forward to moving all this crap again. And it forces me to move out the rest of my stuff...even tho I have no place to put it...And not only that, but I have found that it is no longer practical to save childhood toys and whatnot for the imaginary future children that Matthew or I may have. I saved all my C*bbage P*tch dolls and furniture and the B*rbie corvette, etc. and now I am going to give almost all of it to G**dwill (a very fine UW agency). I am kind of sad at having to do that but I can't store it anywhere without paying an arm and a leg to do so, nor does my mother have the space to keep it for me, and who's to say any kid will want to play with this stuff in 10 years anyway? So, I picked out my favorite ones and will have to find someplace to hide them from dog-that-destroys-all-things-soft-and-furry. Suddenly, I find myself missing my 8 year-old self...

Alright. You complain that I don't blog frequently enough and then you don't even have the decency to come and comment. Darn you! Darn you!

Ahem...Ode to my dog on her 8th Birthday...I guess Shana can now be a member of AARD (retired dogs, get it?)...anyway...to my faithful animal companion who gets fur all over my bed and ocassionally gets in my hamper (little stinker)...who is always excited to see me even when I'm only gone long enough to take out the trash...who greets me with hugs and kisses when I come home from work...who loves me unconditionally and has outlasted a number of boyfriends (and even vomitted on one of them, hee!)...who never forgets to take me on our daily W-A-L-K (I dare not say the word)...who is so kind as to "help" me cook my dinner by standing under my feet and trying to catch anything that falls...who helps me spend my hard-earned money by eating foregin objects that force me to take her to the emergency animal hospital and pay to have said object removed or be forced to place a $30 phone call to animal poison control...who is a loyal, faithful and loving pet (kid with fur) who hates baths but loves to play and makes me the crazy dog lady I am so proud to be. Happy Birthday Shana!

Ahem...An Update by Kelly...well, you know who I am already. Yes, I apologize, I am a very bad blogger. Bad Kelly, very bad Kelly. Anyway, I will spare you the reasons for my poor blogger posting habits and I will now launch into my Ode to Angie and big, huge, enthusiastic congratulations to Alissa for a job well done. 3 more years to pillow hats. Sorry I couldn't be there:< I am so very proud of you!

Ahem...Ode to Angie on her 24th Birthday (are you really that old?) Happy Birthday to the person who: remembers every foreign object eaten by my dog...always helps me with the job application process...made pet resumes for Shana (loved those)...is a tireless cheerleader...talked me thru many a moving-back-to-Lanky strategy...remembers that I love yellow roses...whose *butt* calls my cell phone and leaves funny "ketchup, please"-type messages on my voice mail...is also a crazy dog lady like me...writes down predictions for the last 3 HP books and tells me all about them on a train ride to the F**ld Museum in Ch*cago...spontaneously decides she wants to make homemade soap in the Br*dy B*nch kitchen at 11:30 at night...shares almost all the same fun, fearless feminist values I do. Happy Birthday sister of the heart! I love you!

Bad Blogger Kel-ly. Durn it. Just been so busy. So, here I am on a Monday afternoon and seriously dreading the meeting I have to go to in an hour. I swear time stands still during those meetings. I wish I had some candy to make it better...left all my candy at home and now will have to purchase candy from evil vending machine upstairs...

So, if you are looking for something to do this summer, why not come visit me? There's tons of stuff to go see and do and besides you'd be spending time with me...Doesn't that sound like fun? But don't come after the 3rd week of July. This is a strictly first half of the summer kind of offer. I miss you all so much and wish I could have come to Lanky for the so-called holiday weekend. Instead I did a mountain, yes a mountain, of laundry and attempted to find creative ways to store things in my tiny storage-less apartment. Really I should just put in giant shelving units on all the walls and eliminate the storage problem but then I couldn't have furniture. R-Maid needs to come up with a line of storage couches/chairs and the like. At least I have a roof over my head...

It's good to be back in Cinti. Only have a second here but I had a great time in Nashville and hope to attend this conference again in future years. Very busy week ahead and to make it worse I rec'd the news that my academic advisor/mentor/favorite professor was denied tenure. Needless to say I am very upset by this and seriously considering a big F**K OFF to the Professional Standards committee. And to the institution as a whole that will not be receiving any more of my money if they do not repeal this decision. That being said, I need to go home now and start writing some letters.

Ah, the Fummer returns from a brief foray in the Windy...very busy weekend and very glad to be home. Esp. now that I have *my own place to call home*. Love that! I had a nice time helping my grandma with her show but I don't think I plan to do any more this year. I just dread the whole packing up and loading the van part that comes at the end. My grandma always brings more than she needs (or has ever used--at least to my knowledge) and insists on loading the cart so full that it tips in the middle of the street. And then we have to go to the storage facility and see the creepy old guy that works there. Anyway, I'm glad to be back although it was nice to see my mom and my friends.

I'm happy to report that I have not seen any bugs en mi casa lately. A little spanglish anyone? My supervisor is taking a spanish class and it is so funny to hear her speak--you know "hab-lo." Too funny. It makes my espanol sound close to fluent, I'll tell you. We went to Ch*potle last week and I taught her how to give her order in spanish. At least she tries. I keep saying that I will take a class one of these days. I'm settled in to the new job and apartment...I need to get my rear in gear. But there's always some reason to put it off. There's softball starting next week and book club and...crap. I'm running out of things. Maybe I could buy a CD and listen to it in my car. But that cuts down on NPR time. Well, I need to go home and starch/iron my blouses and pack my stuff. By goddess, I'm going to go see Minnie Pearl's hat on display if it kills me!

The bad blogger returns to make a short entry...it's Tuesday and I have a very busy week ahead. I'm going to Chick-a-go on Friday to help out at my grandma's quilt show, having brunch with friends on Sunday and then making a mad dash back to Cinti since I have to be at work Monday morning. At least I'll get to raid my grandma's huge stash of fabric. Time to start a new quilt. Except that I sort of didn't finish the last one so I better get my rear in gear before she comes to visit my in April. Must have a finished product. Really I have no excuse for not having it done.

Things are good here in Cinti. Nice weather and grass is a-growing. Of course, the bugs are a-coming in my house b/c of the warm temps so must take some extreme bug deterrent measures. Besides just squishing them on my wall and leaving a lovely brown streak on the white paint...Not a fan of those uninvited guests and my dad isn't around to kill/spray the critters for me. Now being the independent and self-sufficient woman that I am, I will squish/spray the critters and hang the art work and all the other stuff that dad's do. Much as I love my dad, and appreciate his help, I am glad to be 492 miles away:> And 280 away from my mom:> Which is almost, but not quite, as good as being in Siberia or something.

Yes, I am a bad blogger. I only have, like, 2 minutes and then it's back to work. I am suddenly very busy with work and starting some really exciting projects so things are good. I have made some friends and have been quite social. I have to make myself sometimes but it's just that I really enjoy time to myself in my BIG GIRL APARTMENT where I LIVE ALL BY MYSELF!!!! Hee hee. The weather is quite nice and I can't wait to put some potted flowers on my porch. I'd plant some but there are some tennants whose cats run loose and will trample my beautiful landscape:> Also, I booked my tix to Boston after 1.5 hours trying to figure out why I wasn't getting a confirmation. Silly me ended up with a total of 8 attempted reservations on D*lta flight whatever I picked. Oops. So, going to Boston and am so very excited. Must run but be sure to leave lots of comments...

Happy (belated) Birthday to Manda! I mean, I didn't forget but I am belatedly posting it on my blog. And Happy (very belated) Blog Birthday Posting to Alissa and Hef, for that matter! So much love to all of you and just remember that you will all turn *50* before I do, or Gwen, thus making G and myself the Blanches (think Golden G*rls) of the group. Without the gratiutious sex with many partners, serious denial about our age and no blue wrap-around dresses with huge shoulder pads. Hee hee!

Am a bad friend! Hee! Not much going on her in Cinti...I still haven't kept my kitchen table clear of clutter for more than a day at a time. I think I have turned into my mother and that scares the bejeebies right out of me. Hmm...I am fully insured now! That's reason enough for celebration in my book. I should have a party for myself. Maybe now I can afford some thera-pie;> Must run...be sure to make lots of funny comments!

Okay, blog is back to normal. Hee hee! I just read G's blog about the day she spent in my hotel room. Hee hee, testing fire alarm system. Guess I should have mentioned that to you...Except that I didn't know about it until the end of the day when I saw a paper shoved under my door advising of said event. Anyway...

Well, I am back in the world of work. So far there is no data entry and probably there will never be any for me to do (whew)! So much has happened in the 3 weeks since I have been in blogging-country that I am in a mad dash to catch up. Unfortunately I do not have the leisure to write a nice long passage about my exploits but I will say that I have been having a great time. With the exception of spending too much time with my family during the moving process. Def. too much bonding time. I think I might be ready to see my dad again in July. Not that anything bad happened, but it was 24 hours a day, every day for 4 straight days and I just can't stand being around anyone for that amount of time. So anyway, things here in Cinti are good. Big girl apt. is shaping up nicely. I am going to spend fab. gift certificate to P**r 1 this weekend and buy one of those nice dresser thingies that G has in her room. I still have a crap load of laundry sitting in laundry baskets. But they are NICE laundry baskets. The nice R-maid kind that you can hold against your hip and has the sturdy handles on them! Yay for laundry baskets!

Have already started making friends--v. excited about this! I will be going to an art gallery this evening with another intern (she's interning for credit) and her friends and we will be having dinner and then going to the gallery. I expect to see some other co-workers in attendance--some of whom I spent Wed. evening with at a happy hour, or POETS, as they call it here. Must go and prepare myself for a day of meetings. Meetings ARE good!

testing...

...Whew...in a terrible rush. Sorry my blog has lay fallow for a while. Hmmm..where did I get that choice of words. Will blog again soon. Cinti is good so far. Must find a pcp and a dentist. CANNOT fly to Lanky just to see Dr. G. Just not feasible. Also, cannot fly to Lanky to see Kim or Dr. W. Definitely out of the question. Bleah!

Big Girl apartment is good and Big Girl Cubicle is, well, good. It the first time that I've had a whole desk all to myself. No one to put their germy hands on my keyborad or mouse or to breathe their germs all over my phone. Ick! Must dash but love to all and please send lots of comments! Still don't have a new name for the fabulous blog!

Okay. Going to have to change the name soon...still no proper suggestions (no offense). Maybe Fummer Trying to Find Herself. Or Fummer who is about to take a blogging hiaitus. Did I spell that right? So, yes...Moving Day is fast approaching and will commence on Feb 3 weather permitting. I think I may have ironed out most of the wrinkles in the moving plan but it will all remain to be seen, huh?

But I am officially unemployed at the moment. I was given the boot yesterday after lunch. No more data entry and no more auditing. I remember when I thought I would never be done and then suddenly, it was finished. Now I can properly deal with the anxiety that accompanies the start of a new job. Yikes! Promise to blog again before starting hiaitus.

You know, I never REQUESTED that I get email solicitations for p*nis enlargement. WTF?!? Really. And since I'm on the subject of p*nises (is there a plural form, I wonder), this morning on my favorite morning show in Chicago (I can listen to it on the web) they had a guy on from "P*ppetry of the P*nis who can make his p*nis into different shapes. Now, how does one discover that he can make his p*nis into the shape of a turtle, hamburger, or Loch Ness monster? And I guess that the show is so popular that they are holding casting calls for men to be in the show in Chicago. I think he said that the shows have pretty much sold out world wide. He also says it doesn't hurt to perform p*nile manipulation. Not sure what I think about this. But since I'll be in that area in the next 2 weeks, maybe I should get some tix and see for myself...

I finally went. I saw it in real life. It was...beautiful. I saw the butter sculpture at the Farm Show. Hee! Actually, it was really cool and I had a good time with H. We had a baked potato and the best milkshake I've ever had. We saw lots of cows and horses and rabbits and of course, the butter sculpture. It was a cow this year and I got a picture of myself posing with it. We saw tractors and combines and horse pulling contests. Clydesdales are the biggest animals that I have ever seen in real life (not counting the elephant I saw at the Philly zoo when I was 12). It was so cool. I wish I had time to go back for "Sheep to Shawl" but I just couldn't make it.

And here I am in the Land of Data Entry with a stack of pledge forms 3.5 inches high...sigh...I think I'm only here for another week or so. I still haven't started packing or anything. I have so much crap to sort and put in boxes or throw away. I don't really like moving b/c it just involves so much packing and unpacking and it forces you to own up to your pack-rat tendencies. I guess it's a good thing in that respect. I should hear this afternoon if I'm approved for this apartment that I want. Keep your fingers crossed:> Yay! Big girl apartment for me! The imaginary apartment will finally be reality. Except for the decent furniture part but that will come in time. Besides, I'd just have to move it again in 11 months when I get relocated for a permanent placement. And next time, I'm hiring movers, dammit!

So much to do and too little time to do it all. Bleah. I'm still looking online for apartments and out of all the ones I've searched, only 3 are within 10 miles of my office. And I meant to start a little packing this weekend but I didn't get that far. By packing I mean dumping the papers out of my vegetable bin (soon to be a sock and underwear bin) and taking the bin to my dad's house along with the dog food and books and knickknacks, etc. Packing won't be so bad since I don't have all that much stuff here in Lanky and almost all the stuff at my mom's house is already packed in a box and taped shut. So I am leaving this week to go look at some places and hopefully sign lease by Friday pm so that I can head back to PA on Saturday. A big thank you to BANG! for the great pet resume for Shana:> Which reminds me that I have to call the vet. Gotta go!

Perhaps I should resolve to be better at blogging this year...I would like to note that I have successfully kept a resolution from last year and have continued into 2003. Brace yourself for this one: I floss regularly b/c of a resolution I made for 2002. I also made it in 2000 and 2001 but it didn't seem to stick. I am oh so proud of myself:> I'm still working on resolutions for this year, one of which will be to take more time for reflection which I am sucking at already...So, I guess I'll have to change my blog title now that I'm moving again. Any ideas, G? "Fummer in Cincinnati"? That's lacking some...punch, perhaps. It could be called "If Ya Smell What the Fummer is Cooking." Hee hee hee. I am so funny:> Well, back to work...

I.Finally.Got.A.Job. Wheeee!!!! Yay me! I am so very excited about getting a job and no longer being *second choice* for everything I interview for. La la la la la. And now that the waiting is over and I know that I am going to *Cincinnati* (yes, WKRP and all that) the panic has set in as I think about all that I have to do within one month's time. But I have health and dental insurance!!! So much to think about...And to think that I have to relocate within a year to a new organization is something that I cannot even begin to entertain. One thing at a time. Must find a new vet, bank, doctor, residence...whew...But first I must get back to work as there is trouble in the Land of Data Entry.