I'm around. I just don't have anything to say.

And it's very quiet here at work. Almost...too quiet.

It's so cold in my office I'm wearing a sweater and have a jacket over my lap to try to keep from freezing. Soon - a trip out doors for hot coffee.

Why is everyone not posting?

I'm just trying to make it through the next three and a half hours without stabbing anyone in the face so I can go home and watch the ten million hours of Wimbeldon coverage that have been sitting on my TiVo since Thursday.

I'm watching Slings and Arrows and procrastinating running errands.

I have something to say! Or something to ask. How many of you use the word "rook" as a verb, meaning "fooled somebody out of something"? Like:

Jeff rooked the table with that bluff.

Jenny should have been homecoming queen. She totally got rooked.

I'm on a 10-12 hour budget to figure something out. Actually, I have to try to come up with a demo web page and determine if the whole project can be done in a week or so.

This is all because there's an offshore oil rig in the North Sea that sinking. Actually, they've pumped out so much oil that the ground below is sinking (very unusual) which is pulling the oil rig down. Recently it had to be evacuated.

I'm building a simple project management website for the folks who are trying to fix it.

Exciting news! My Big!Boss has been offered a job at Harvard, and has been wavering for more than a week now. Word comes that they are flying him & the whole family up to check the area out. I think he'll take it. He was never going to be able to resist saying "I work at Hahvahd." He just wanted to be woooooooooed.

The plus: no more Big!Boss Golden Retriever Puppy! The minus: Wait. Who will they appoint as interim, and who will they ultimately hire!? Maybe it's better the devil you know...

Why is everyone not posting? Don't make me go link hunting again. That never ends well.

I just read an article (which I will NOT link to) about a woman who got a Brazilian wax, and because she had type 1 diabetes and herpes, her immune system was somewhat compromised, and the skin irritation from the Brazilian wax led to her getting an ABSOLUTELY nasty infection. Quote from the article: "In the days following her bikini wax, she came down with a fever, and had swelling and pain in the waxed region (along with a 'copious vaginal discharge.') Still, she didn’t seek medical attention for another week, when she was in really bad shape. She presented to the ER with not only 'grossly swollen' external genitalia, and pain so extreme that she had to be put under general anesthetic just so her physician could perform a gynecologic exam. She was so swollen that, according to the legend to Figure 1, 'she was unable to pass urine, and the vaginal space was obliterated by edema.' "

Holy moly. That kind of thing, you feel sorry for her.

....until 6 months later, she did it again, only this time she used a razor instead of wax: "Six months later, the patient again attempted to remove her pubic hair by shaving herself; however, she had difficulty visualizing the area. She subsequently developed a recurrence of herpes and cellulitis of her vulva. She was readmitted to the hospital and was treated with valaciclovir and penicillin, and her condition improved...Despite her traumatic experiences, the patient was keen to undertake further removal of pubic hair."

At that point, I feel less sorry and more want to ask her how she could even *see* to shave her goolie, since her head was so clearly ALL THE WAY UP HER ASS.

I have something to say! Or something to ask. How many of you use the word "rook" as a verb, meaning "fooled somebody out of something"?

I do, though not very often. I'll try to use it today, and will verbally footnote you, Nutty.

Dear Steph,

I hope you read this article for work at your medical-y place, and not for any type of FUN.

love, flea

ps who needs ita's links when we can have Steph's recaps?