When I had sore throats that would not go away but were not strep as a kid, my doctor recommended gargling with a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and mouthwash (specifically Lavoris for the strong flavor to mask the taste of the H2O2). I can't remember if it actually helped but it gave me something to do rather than just waiting. Anecdata for Hec's home treatment plan.

getting my NEW TAT TONIGHT!!!!

Whatcha getting?

My weekend will be a mix of cleaning, babysitting, and karate. Maybe a movie on Sunday.

Saturday: skating, getting hair cut and colored, going to see JoCo and They Might be Giants! Sunday: skating, gardening, buying stuff for new puppy, maybe working.

Last year we joined the Instant fan Club for TMBG (75 bucks--a total deal), so our name is on the newest CD and we get special seats for the concert. Can't wait!

I have to buy a fucking car. I'm fucking pissed. I've been in the office all week today, and that's run me ragged because of my delicate flower nature, and now I have to do that Saturday? Shopping on the web is frustrating me, and I don't feel like I'm making any progress. And I'm *way* behind schedule. Bitchy bitch bitch.

And we can't get this new code into QA because of DBA issues, and we were supposed to have been live last week, so I've been clear with the developers that I hate them all, and one of them apparently told his boss when the glitch showed up "Okay, I'll be ready to take her calls every hour on the hour, then." No fucking shit, Sherlock. Don't you remember I have to represent you to both QA and the PMO? I'm your public face, and I don't want to tell them this news.

Sorry. I'm not mad at him, I just want this project done with, and I think people are unduly exploiting the *business* mandated two week slip in schedule.

I am getting "eligere" which is the Latin infinitive "to choose" on my right inner wrist, in a simple, elegant script. About 1.5 inches long, in blackwork.

I AM JAZZED!! It's my Xmas present from Dan.

going to see JoCo and They Might be Giants

SO JEALOUS.

It is wrong wrong wrong that two of my favorite local bands are touring together EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT BROOKLYN.

They have 1 NYC show but it's not until March. (At a venue less than a block from my office. If I had windows I could see it from here!)

If you are shopping in person can you get someone to go with you? The reality is that a lot of car salespeople will try to push the price up on the grounds that you are both A)a woman and B) Black and thus must not know anything about the cars or how to bargain. And that shit means you have to bargain harder and spend more time to get a fair price. Not universal, but so common that one way for any periodical with a slow news day and willingness to actually spend staff time to generate an instant story is to send reporters of various genders and colors to shop for the same car with the same credit score.

Also part of the bargaining process for car salespeople is to sap your energy so you will give in. Support is good in the face of that for anyone, especially for someone with your health conditions.

Shopping on the web is frustrating me, and I don't feel like I'm making any progress.

Have you tried truecar? I can't say I've used it personally, but my friend Deb works there.

A great picture from the set of Star Trek: the Wrath of Khan...

[link]

Drew has been helpful so far, but the schedule stretched way out. Colin's offered to come in once I've picked a car and test it, but I haven't discussed actually shopping with him.

I'm good at negotiating merely because I'm not particularly concerned with reality and have a very tight window of what's acceptable. Which works against me in some respects (like, you know, actually compromising and finding a car), but makes my poker face pretty good.

I think I met Deb, right, bon? I will look there too. Carmax and Autotrader have me frustrated.