Interesting dynamic on the news this morning. There's a horrid situation going on with a three-alarm fire where a brick wall collapsed and trapped four firemen. They got two of them out pretty quickly, then later a third, and it's unknown what's going on with the fourth.

But about ten minutes ago an ambulance left the scene and the two morning anchors have been speculating like mad that this means it's all okay. Finally, the traffic reporter broke in and is completely schooling them on all the reasons why you can't assume anything of the sort. Like, hard core. Now they're all "of course, you don't want to speculate yadda yadda". But seriously, they had the whole thing wrapped up and solved until she stepped in.

Fingers crossed that they do get him located and out. But it's been very interesting listening to someone actually speak knowledgably about what goes on at a fire scene while her colleagues just natter on about nothing.

Ugh. They've got the fourth guy out. But so far there's only word on the condition of one of them, and that is "grave". And all over a fucking abandoned dry cleaners.

(Also, today is the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Stockyard Fire, which was the biggest loss of life among firefighters ever until 9-11.)

Eek, brenda. That's awful.

In minor bad news, I can't believe tomorrow is a full work day at my job! They always close early before holidays! Possibly they don't realize that Christmas Eve is my big day, not Christmas, and I could really use the time.

Of course, I could be cleaning or wrapping now instead of just sitting here, but whatever....

Now that's just crazy talk.

This is what I'm saying.

My company crowds all our holidays in around Xmas/New Years. I have tomorrow, Friday, Monday, the following Friday and Monday off. But, both this year and last, I really should be working instead of holidaying! Last year I deferred one of the holidays and may do again. They are instituting a couple of floating holidays in the new year. Which is good because we have NO days off btwn new year's and Memorial Day!

We have full days both today and tomorrow but Friday off, plus Friday next week off.

I have full days through (and including) the 24th, and then am off until Jan. 4. Very strange. It is so dead here.

I have a day jam packed with meetings/stuff, including the team lunch for which I neither made anything nor donated money.

Office still smells like ass, so I'm just working from home. My boss will be pissed. But it smells so bad I don't see how normal people tolerate it. It's really nasty. The steering committee meeting will be just fine.

God, I'm nervous.