Deadlines, what deadlines?

Been in my own little world. Took a few weeks off to cool off the brain and figure out some other areas of life. Put school on the back burner and focused on the home life for a bit, which was prudent and necessary and absolutely worth it given the much improved state of things.

Now it's time for full on panic as I realize just how much I dropped the ball on my prep for the research project. The IRB application is due next week - I'm supposed to get this in for October, so I can get me some subjects in Nov. Scrambling badly and the Prof knows it. Not good. Can she pull of another 11th hour victory, you ask? Probably yes. Will she learn her lesson this time? Probably not.

In other news, Tall Guy's one man show went fantastically well. I really hope he does it again! The moms were in attendance, as were his co-workers and some friends. He received rave reviews all around. Other happy news: my extended family is celebrating a new baby boy, a friend is due next week, and another friend is surprisingly pregnant. Everything's coming up babies. I suppose this is how the next 10 years will be? Kids and weddings popping up all over the place?

The cats have avoided any further peril for a good week now and our bank account sighs in relief. Now that we're recovering from the financial blow of kitty medical bill hell, I suppose the universe thought it was time to suck money from us in other creative ways. This is, of course, punishment for our spend-happy decision to go away for a long weekend, money gods be damned! We planned an idyllic little jaunt upstate, with a stop at the Culinary Institute for lunch and baked items, then a quiet weekend holed up in a beautiful cabin complete with satellite cable. We load up our bags and head out to the car...



I admit, I winced and almost started crying. Oh, the carnage! Mothers were shielding their children's eyes as they hurried past. The speculation is that another SUV swooped in and clipped us some time Friday evening. What is not evident from this view is how the headlights are dangling by their wires and how the front corner is smushed in. The good news: No damage to the engine or expensive new tires - phew. There is an auto parts store on our block, which means there are a minimum of 11 freelance mechanics hanging out on any given Saturday. One of the regulars came to our rescue and fastened everything back together well enough to get us on the road. This was accomplished primarily with plastic cable ties from Tall Guy's monstrous bucket.

(Kudos to Tall Guy for not commenting, "See, I DO need everything in my office just in case there is an emergency and we NEED 2,000 plastic cable ties.")

We made it to the heavenly cabin - complete with hammock and babbling stream - and the weekend served is restorative purposes. I heartily recommend The Bear Cafe and Little Bear in Woodstock, NY for good food in a great setting. I savored a delectible roast pork loin studded with cracked pepper and caraway seeds served on a rhubarb coulis with a side of roasted brussel sprouts and chestnuts. Sweet Sue's in Phoenicia was good for breakfast and lunch, but go early to avoid the line. I do not suggest the blueberry pancakes - too much berry and too little pancake - they were actually better the next day - kind of muffiny. Everything was delish.

On Monday we said farewell to Suzi, Josh and Maddie. They are moving West to bigger and better things. Which calls to mind Oregon Trail (minus the dysentery and Indian raids, of course), which cracks me up to picture them in a covered wagon cruising past Graceland, Chicago and the Corn Palace.

Some things to scream about inside your pretty heads...

Sin Tetas - If only my gangster boyfriend had gotten me a boob job when I was 15, I wouldn't need a degree!

Moms officially paid less in UK - did I take a wrong turn and miss civilization somewhere back there?


And a little balm after all that chafing...

The student loans were definitely worth it

Embrace your freshman 15 - Seize the Weight from the NY Times