FSOT

So... slight annoyance. I took the new and revamped Foreign Service Officer test the first time I could feasibly take it in December. We were supposed to receive results early this week. However, I received word from someone on the message board I belong to that the results won't be available until March 17. So, more waiting. I'm told this is an implied factor of the test - the patience and perseverance it takes simply to get through the entire process.

I figure it takes the average candidate 3-5 tries to get in. I'll give it five tries and if it's still a no go, I'll know it's time to give up. In the meantime, I'll continue as I am, making money to pay off debts so that I can make a decision about my future without my debts making up the largest portion of my decision-making pie chart.

Awesomest Politician EVER

In response to Georgia's attempt to get water from the city of Chattanooga, the Mayor posted this proclamation:

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, it has come to pass that the heavens are shut up and a drought of Biblical proportions has been visited upon the Southern United States, and

WHEREAS, the parched and dry conditions have weighed heavily upon the State of Georgia and sorely afflicted those who inhabit the Great City of Atlanta, and

WHEREAS, the leaders of Georgia have assembled like the Children of Israel in the desert, grumbled among themselves and have begun to cast longing eyes toward the north, coveting their neighbor’s assets, and

WHEREAS, the lack of water has led some misguided souls to seek more potent refreshment or for other reasons has resulted in irrational and outrageous actions seeking to move a long established and peaceful boundary, and

WHEREAS, it is deemed better to light a candle than curse the darkness, and better to offer a cool, wet kiss of friendship rather than face a hot and angry legislator gone mad from thirst, and

Whereas, it is feared that if today they come for our river, tomorrow they might come for our Jack Daniels or George Dickel,

NOW THEREFORE, In the interest of brotherly love, peace, friendship, mutual prosperity, citywide self promotion, political grandstanding and all that

I Ron Littlefield, Mayor of the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee,

Do hereby Proclaim that Wednesday, February 27, 2008 shall be known as

“Give Our Georgia Friends a Drink Day”

Caucuses and what not

Because I'm lazy, it's taken me this long to send my picture to myself and upload it here of the madhouse that were the caucuses in Washington on Feb 9.

This is a picture of the crush of people way over to the side of the church who had already registered their support of a particular candidate. What you can't see is the line about three to four people wide still going into the church to sign up - a line which stretched around the end of the block.

The organizers apologized for not having enough space, said that the venue wasn't large enough. That was rather an understatement. I think it speaks to the amount of excitement this primary campaign has generated that many first time caucus goers made the effort and stuck around to figure out how the process works just so they could have a voice. For once.

When a Hummer just won't cut it....

Because sometimes... you really need a badonkadonk.

Best part - a random sampling of items customers who viewed this item also viewed:

• Dr. John's Famous PeePee
• Tickle His Pickle: Your Hands-On Guide to [sic]
• SILK Micro F-String Thong
• Wedding Chapel - 10 x 18 With Wood Roof
• Solid Gold S.E.P. (Stop Eating Poop) (3.5-oz container)
• The George W. Bush Voodoo Kit
• Inflatable Party Sheep
• Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix
• Heinz Spotted Dick Pudding, 10-Ounce Cans (Pack of 6)
• Sprinkler Nipple Extractor - 1 / 2"

Cooing is optional - but encouraged

I spent yesterday with K. and T. and their new little one, C. He's absolutely adorable! And, when he did spit up, as babies are wont to do, he got my head in a direct hit, but didn't get my jeans or shirt at all, so cleanup was a breeze. I do realize I was lucky.

He is just absolutely a gorgeous little baby, though. He's probably going to have thousands of pictures taken of him, at the rate we're all going. :D

of books, movies, and work

Recently, I spent too much money on scrapbooking supplies. So, while I'm scrapbooking, I watch my netflix movies. I just finished Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, both of which were awesome, and am getting La Vie en Rose for tomorrow. I still have Das Boot, but it's so long, I've been saving it.

I also just read The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri, and it was excellent. However, I was rather depressed and unhappy about the state of the world and life in general after reading it. So... I guess that's a point in its favor, that I was so invested in the characters I really had a an emotional reaction. But I doubt I'll be reading it for fun anytime again soon.

Lastly, I saw There Will Be Blood and In Bruges in the past few days - if you can see either of these, go for it. In Bruges is meant to be a dark comedy, but There Will Be Blood often crosses that line without even seeming to mean to. Both truly excellent movies.

And, yet again, I am working six days this week. So, it's good for my wallet, no so good for my sanity.