Java...the beverage, not the script

Oy, this low-carb diet (ahem, not diet, more nutritional regimen, dear) is for the birds. Or maybe the bears, considering how much bread you see pigeons and ducks being fed. (Can you see a bird following the Atkins diet? I rest my case.)
I've had coffee (according to my nutrionist a no-no in my case - along with non-herbal teas and sodas. And just how does she expect me to wake up in the morning?)...and no muffin. Ahh, for the days of chocolate croissants or even a banana-blueberry muffin (my local bakery makes those - yummmmm)!
Anywho, the reason I'm waxing about just having coffee this morning (or would that be complaining? Well, you be the judge)? Too many people at work coming in and bugging me! Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that it's more to do with lack of breakfast.
My tolerance levels for apparent stupidity (ahem, no, not stupidity, just lack of common sense, dear) sinks considerably without a semi-decent breakfast. And today there seems to be soooooo much of it! ("Quick! Who has the key for the bulkhead?" Well, a: we usually call that the basement door, and b: it unlocks from the inside, and c: it's humid, so it's sticking, so maybe they should put their shoulder to it a bit more. "Knock, knock" [on my boss' hall door that he never, ever uses. Not to mention the nice, big sign stating that the office entrance is through my office, which would be the first open door you come to! After another series of "knock knocks," finally the scholar comes in. And, ok, maybe this is a little sexist, but the handshake brings new levels to 'dead fish' - and the scholar's male. I tell them I'll take them to our Scholar Coordinator. We get to her office, she's on the phone, I tell him 'just a minute', she's held up her hand in the universal 'just a minute' gesture, and he proceeds to shout "Hello [coordinator's name]! How are you?")
See? Some days, just java is just not enough!

Later all,
Kate :-\
(who's wondering how many more nitwits -ahem, that's visitors, dear - she'll have to deal with today.)
(she's now going off to plot against this clearly non-java drinking critic. grrrrrr!)
(just kidding folks - I think the caffeine buzz is finally kicking in now - Yippee!!)
;-D

End of summer

Hard to believe, but our Summer Session here at work is over today. The kids (oy, I can't be that old, can I - that 20-somethings should be 'kids' to me?) got their certificates. (Still blows my mind - "Ooo, can I get a certificate?" or "Oh! We get certificates?" - I print these things off as a Word document from my computer!)
We also handed out the 4 scholarship prizes (as in, best overall student - 2 for language, 2 for 'cultural' studies and in each category was 1 undergrad and 1 grad) and baseball hats (with our department logo).
The hats were supposed to be for sale, but our new faculty director decided, since no students were buying them (15 bucks for a really cool LLBean-worthy style baseball hat - in stone with crimson embroidery!), that we'd give them out at the ceremony today.

Now I've got to go and clean up the punch bowl and cookie platter (poor custodian is going to have enough on his plate tonight - we had to move our big-*** conference table out of the way - ok, I had to move it, and that thing is built like the Titanic - except for the gash from the iceberg part).
If all goes well, I'll have at least some Internet this weekend - once I get my OS 10.3 (Panther!) installed.

Catch ya round!
Kate :-)

Summertime!

Well,
Summertime is here (oh, it's close enough)! My best friend since nursery school is getting married on Saturday! YAY! I'm so happy for her, and her fiancee seems like a really nice guy.

Of course, it's strange. For me, I mean, it's like I've suddenly woken up to the fact that I really should lose some weight. (FYI, I'm about 200 lbs. and 5'5".) I was fine with being overweight - to an extent (when you've got an underactive thyroid and take another medicine that causes weight gain, thin is not a real option). But even though I'm in better shape than I was in high school, I'm a lot heavier than I was.
So, what does that have to do with my best friend's wedding? I finally caught up with her in person (you do miss something when you just e-mail). She and her fiancee go kayaking, hiking, camping...
We used to almost seem like twins in high school, we were so similar. Not anymore. Let's just say, she's given me some inspiration. Maybe now that I live in a building with a pool...

In two days, I'll be auditioning for Arlington Friends of the Drama production of "I Remember Mama" - Richard Rodgers last musical. I'm hoping to get in (especially now that I've taken some acting classes) - it'll be a good family musical. If I don't end up on-stage, at least I'll be able to help out backstage. AFD recently did "Titanic" (a wonderful Yeston/Kopit musical), and I helped with costumes (all those years of 4H came in handy)! Still, I would love to get on-stage again!

I just saw the closing performance of AFD's "Master Class" (Terence McNally). My friend Sheri performed the role of Sharon. And the actress portraying Maria Callas was amazing!!! If you ever get the chance to see the show - GO!

Still settling in...

Well, I'm still getting settled in to the new place. Right now I'm at work and on hold with my DSL service - it didn't get switched properly, and right now I can't access my e-mail for that account (and no one can send me anything either)!!!!
AUGH!!!

Don't you just love those helpful little hold tips when you're on hold to tech support? (Let alone the fact I'm not even in the same town as my home computer right now!)

Supposedly this'll only take 10 minutes. Ha! (I think it's the new "I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.")

Well, if I ever get finished with the call, I'll try and post an update.

Later all!
Kate :-/

Moving Jitters

Well, yes, at work & blogging during a break again!
I stayed up packing boxes for my move this Friday. (It's only about 4 blocks away, but, still, everything has to go!

There've been a couple people by to see the (soon-to-be) old apartment, but with all the boxes, I'm sure it's not really showing well. (Did I mention that it's a small studio?)

My parents are going to be here tomorrow! I can already hear my mom's "Oh honey, you've barely gotten anything done." (And just how many boxes do you think I can pack up and still leave enough room for anyone to move around?)
It's actually kind of weird, not having many books out, I'm so used to having tons lining the shelves. (Probably a left-over habit from my college days.)

Well, it's time to head off and grab a bite of lunch, before I use up my whole break blogging!

Ciao!
Kate :-)

My first blog

Hello!

Well, I'm finally trying out this blogging thing! I'm at work (it's my lunch hour, but - shh!).
My supervisor is actually giving me some more responsibility with our summer school program (at Harvard, and NO I can't help you get in. (Sorry about that, you would not believe the number of e-mails that we all get here asking for help in getting in to the university.)
Maybe she's hoping I'll be able to take over some of her job responsibilities when she retires (possibly in 1 to 2 years). Well, maybe.

Never thought I'd be working as a secretary when I got older. But, it's not like that's all I do. I also participate in community theatre and my church choir.

Well, I guess I'll leave the rest for later - my lunch break is almost over!

Ciao!
Kate :-)