Feed A Cold

Picked up a spring season cold from PDM this week. Ah, the joys of marriage.

Sneezing, sniffling, and coughing this particular week make me feel like a leper. I get sideways looks from people as they sidle away from me. It's a COLD, people. Get a grip. I haven't been to Mexico in years.

Apparently this cold is a hungry bastard. I've been eating everything in sight. Can't really taste any of it, but I scarf it up anyway. I eat three breakfasts, get up in the middle of the night to make toast, and have eaten a ton of chocolate while working, then I come home hungry. Very strange.

Anyway... due to illness, tiredness, studying, working, eating (hah!), and travel over the weekend, catblogging just ain't gonna happen. I know LL will be crushed.

Over and out.

Five More Weeks

I finally got the official invitation for my third and (hopefully) final board exam -- May 31. Five more weeks. Let the countdown begin. It's crunch time.

Eating Mr. Jones

Moxy gets her greens.

Deferential Equations

I have been reading an online discussion group for people who are preparing for the radiological physics board exams, and happened upon a post complaining about the physics educational requirements. Imagine that? They actually want you to have a physics background before they will certify you as a physicist. The nerve! Anyway, this person said that she is good in the clinic but doesn't think she would be able to pass a Quantum Physics or Deferential (sic) Equations class. Of course I could not resist the urge to mock this (for those who were not forced to take advanced math, the subject is Differential Equations). Instead of doing it on the public discussion group (because I am not a complete ass), I send PDM a snarky email quoting this comment. I knew he would be sure to appreciate the humor of it all. And indeed, he did. This is what he sent back:

"Well, wasn't that the most well-mannered 2nd order inhomogenous equation? Always saying 'no, sir' and 'yes, please'. So agreeable when I required it to have constant coefficients. And not the slightest peep of complaint when I changed the initial conditions of the problem."

"Oh, you're so right. Most inhomogeneous equations nowadays are so disrespectful, requiring you to use the Method of Frobenius--or even numerical integration, for Heaven's sake! But that equation was so courteous--it even offered to transform itself into an integral equation and solve itself using Green's function techniques. Talk about good upbringing!"

"No doubt, no doubt. I've never known an equation so willing to go out of its way on my behalf. Manners will show."

Gold vs White

Went to the annual "T-Day" game for a football fix. Yes, I am hard core.

My observations? I feel better about the defense (we lost a lot of starters); the running game has improved; O-line is a question mark; we should see more passing next year; the #3 quarterback might be #2 before the first game (#1 did not play due to a shoulder injury); there were still way too many fumbles; and we have NO kicking game... none (heck, Coach Paul Johnson himself blocked a punt, I kid you not). But a lot of good players were sitting on the sidelines, and I am optimistic about our next season. It should be a lot of fun.

How many days until September 5th?

Truce

The skirmishes pause for WET FOOD!

Helpful Household Hint #101

Did you know that the outer diameter on a cat food can is almost exactly equal to the inner diameter of a standard sink disposal opening? I didn't know either until I dropped one just now and it got stuck. It's out now, but damn, it's been a long day.

Moxy Down Under

Wireless?

I'm convinced that the thermostats at work aren't hooked up to anything. They're just there for the placebo effect. My office, and the entire physics hallway, is a meat locker all year 'round. I pried the cover off the nearest thermostat and turned it all the way up, and... nothing. The only place in the whole department that is warm is the breakroom, which is practically a sauna.

In my employer's defense, they tried to do something about the situation. They gave all of us polartec jackets and blankets. I kid you not. And space heaters for all of the offices. They could save so much money if only the climate control system could be brought under control.

Splat!

In the wee hours of Friday night, I got up to get a drink of water. I didn't bother putting on my glasses. Sure, I am blind as a bat without 'em, but it isn't as if I don't know my way around the house. On the way back to bed, I stopped to use the bathroom. In the dim glow of the nightlight, I saw what appeared in color and size to be a rather healthy-sized roach on the floor by the toilet. EEEK! I am not fond of bugs crawling on me. Roaches creep me out. There was no way I was gonna sit on that toilet, half blind, and have a big roach bug wandering around my feet. I was wearing slippers, so what the heck... I stomped that sucker HARD. Except it didn't make that satisfying crunch noise, nor did what was left have the appearance of a smushed roach. It looked more like a puddle of liquid roach. In fact, one whiff confirmed my sinking expectation: I killed a cat turd. A really mushy, stinky cat turd. *sigh*

Rage Against the Machine

I hate my vacuum cleaner. Yes, it was highly rated by a certain consumer magazine. Yes, the suction is excellent and it is quite good at removing dirt and cat hair. It is "self propelled" if used on carpets. But I don't have carpets. I have hardwood floors and the occasional area rug. The vacuum is big, and bulky, and weighs a metric ton. It gets an "F" for ease of use. The attachments don't stay attached. It is difficult to maneuver. I can barely carry it up and down the stairs. My use of it never fails to elicit a flurry of obscenities that would make the saltiest of sailors blush. I growl and grumble and scowl. I hit stuff in frustration. I grit my teeth and roll my eyes. I dread having to use it, because it always pisses me off and wears me out. Which is why I let the floors get so dirty before I take action. I HATE vacuuming. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

If they ever do invent that self-cleaning house, I am all over it.

The Antidote For Yesterday's Foolishness

The Cats Have Been Replaced

Fermicat would like to announce that she's traded her three cats in for a new pet. Although she loses fifty IQ points every time she looks at his sweater, she thinks he's just the cutest little thing she's ever seen. The lolling tongue, the reek of dirt and old sweat caught in all of those skin folds, the underbite, the bow legs, the constant slobbering, the leg humping... what's not to love?

Cats, schmats. I'm done with them.