1. So I’ll be paying around $1k to the US Government in taxes for last year. I think I’ve mentioned that before. It turns out, on my W4, I put down single with 3 exemptions. 3 exemptions. WTH? I can’t think of any reason why I would put down 3 exemptions, unless I was thinking of my sister, and both my parents. But considering I’ve never declared them as my dependents in any of my previous W4s, I consider that highly unlikely. If, for some reason, there was a mistake in record-keeping, why would anyone put down 3 exemptions for me? Geez. Considering that I can’t vote, I can’t stay here indefinitely, and, I don’t get any of the other privileges US Citizens get, i.e., no visa requirements when visiting other countries, giving up my hard-saved $1k really, really blows.

2. TB apparently got spam from accounting @ dsdeeds . com. And I’m not even using dsdeeds . com yet! I still need to edit my either zoneedit or namecheap settings. I forget which one. Then, I also need to move my blog somewhere because otherwise, my current server, 1and1 is going to start charging me big bucks. I hate doing stuff like that. I just want to be able to have it already. I might just end up doing a free WordPress one. It’s either that or shell out $7 a month, and that’s just ridiculous at this point. I can see it being a reasonable expense for someone like TB, but not for me, baby. I like them freebies.

3. I’m moving to a new cubicle that’s oh, about the size of a bathroom cubicle. Yay*.

4. The arctic ice is about 60% of what it was 20 years ago. At this rate it’ll all be gone in about 2100. I should be good and dead by then, but can you imagine the years coming to that? We have some rough times ahead of us. But then again, we brought it on ourselves. Polar bears see less and less ice cover every year, making them go hungry an extra month. Species of frogs are fast disappearing because of the changing temperatures. Global warming. Yay*. Go bike.

*, in case you missed it.

OK, I’m not in Philadelphia anymore, but I think the title’s catchy. It’s chilly there too anyway, and I was there for the week, so there. Right now, I’m in DC, with the TB. We’re being such bums though. Woke up around 10-10:30, grabbed breakfast at the Silver Diner, went for donuts at Krispy Kreme, and are now taking turns showering. I’m done, but TB’s still attempting to wash the stink out. Last night we had dinner at this Vietnamese place, stayed there for a while until they brought out some dish in fish sauce broth. Ugh, it stunk so bad, we just had to leave. But we weren’t being snobbish or picky or anything. The table next to them packed up to leave too. After that, we went for homemade ice cream at Lazy Sundaes. Good stuff. So, so far, all we’ve been doing is eating and catching up.

Public apology to TB who’s had to sleep on the floor even with his bad knee. Thanks, TB. I’d switch with you, if you’d let me.

Tonight we’ll try to conquer Chinatown.

Their buglist is full. And to answer your question Casey, no, it never works. It’s gotten a lot worse now too! I had just written a longish reply to Daisy’s last post only to have it be lost after sending it. Geez. I tried going back which used to work before, but went back with a blank edit screen this time. Ugh.

Anyway, Daisy, I will try to post my reply again later.

For now, I have to do my painting homework. Freak out.

I’ve been wanting to write about random stuff, but I’ve been tired lately. There’s a stomach bug going around, and the weather’s been dreadful. Anyway, I always seem to start these things off with excuses lately, so let’s just move on.

Last weekend, I drove up to Rochester, NY, to visit Andy, and to take a mini-road trip. The drive was long, but I surprisingly, didn’t have trouble trying to stay awake behind the wheel, which usually happens on longish drives. The whole way I blasted music and sang until my throat hurt, and, munched on my baked Cheetos now and then. Rochester at this time of year was kind of bleh, with hardly any people out in the city, but I still had a good time. Andy’s roommates were so geeky, it was nice. I’ve never seen people like them work so hard and actually enjoy it, except maybe for that Russian kid I was grading and who later on became a classmate in HCI. I forget his name. Anyway, we ate a lot that weekend – starting with a garbage plate (i.e, home fries, two cheeseburgers, macaroni salad, all topped with meat sauce – disgusting, but not bad), Krispy Kremes (warm, right off the rack!), Dinosaur BBQ ribs and pulled pork, and, delicious brunch at the Country Club with Andy’s family. Fun times.

On that note, I’ve been eating salads a lot lately. I got this really, really good salad sauce. It’s organic, and it’s called Goddess. The name itself was enough for me to not buy it, but I don’t know what possessed me, because I still got it and paid for it. And it’s good! And I put walnuts, craisins, grilled chicken, and romano cheese. Mmm.

Someone: “Mmm, D, this salad is good, what sauce do you use?”
Me: “Oh, it’s organic.”
Someone: “Yeah, what’s it called?”
Me: “It’s got Tahini in it.”
Someone: “What’s it called?”
Me: “I got it at Hannaford’s”
Someone: “What’s it called?”
Me: *cringe* “Goddess”

Last week, I made braised short ribs, in an attempt to re-create Daisy’s yummy beer braised short ribs. But I didn’t have the recipe, nor the ingredients. And since I was too lazy to get the missing ingredients, I put some of the then unopened Dinosaur BBQ sauce that Andy’s mom had given me last year. And it was GOOD.

Lastly, I have to end with a dessert story. It’s actually TB’s story, but I don’t think he’s gonna write about it, so I will. So, I get a text yesterday afternoon saying he has a funny story to tell me. Last night I found out what it was. He got me chocolates for Valentine’s, because he knows I kinda sorta like Valentine’s day. It was all fancy and was supposed to be delivered to me at work. Well, he forgot that I was going to be in Philadelphia that week for training. So, the next day, after realizing it, he cancels it.

So, get this, in 2004, he ordered flowers for me for my birthday to be delivered to my apartment because he never got me flowers when we were seeing each other. The flower shop screwed up the order, and it never got to me, so he just cancelled it. This time, he sends me something for Valentine’s because we never celebrated it when we were seeing each other, and it still gets cancelled! Darn! Good thing it’s the thought that counts. That was sweet, TB, thanks! Funny though. In any case, you shouldn’t have bothered. A card would’ve been nice. Once it’s in the mail, there’s no cancelling that, they can screw it up, but you can’t cancel it! *hint*hint*

Okay, I said that was the last of it, so, good night world.

PS: Finished reading Pride and Prejudice (loved it!) now reading Rule of Four (going okay so far, but I’m not a big mystery fan). Harry Potter Half Blood Prince is next! Woo!