::alio!::

Shock and Awe

Things have changed since my last post. It has been eventful. Sorry for being cryptic, but if you know what I'm talking about, then you'll know what I'm talking about, and if you don't know, then it's n.o.y.b. and I don't want to talk about it.

I emerged, semi-shell-shocked, but otherwise unscathed, and clutching . . . a CELL PHONE. It's pink. I bought it to cheer myself up.

Re-evaluation of some of my priorities. I chose the sanity option, and so I prepare now to go back to reality tomorrow (for the next four months, at least), and pretend nothing ever happened. Apparently, I'm a better actor than I thought.

Planning . . .

I've had NOTHING to do at the office today, so I've been very productive. I have picked out a cellphone, selected a package, and re-thought my plans for a laptop (Apple has stopped selling the 15" PowerBook, so I'm going with a MacBook Pro). I should have my laptop in a month or so, and the cellphone in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted.

If only to interrupt the tedium of this day!

Did you KNOW?

Two hockey fun facts for you:

1. The goal scored by Antoine Vermette in Tuesday's game against the Lightning was assisted by Vaclav Varada and Anton Volchenkov. This is the first goal in NHL playoff history to be credited solely to players whose surnames start with V. (Ottawa Citizen)

2. Crisobal Huet, a mystery goalie from St. Martin D'Heres, France, who has taken Montreal by storm, is far too polite to tell the world that his name is actually pronounced "Hu-ETT." (The Hockey News)

Second Contact

Starting to freak out about the lack of word from Mr. Big's lawyer. I've decided to send this:

"Dear Sir:

I was advised a few weeks ago by a member of your organization that my letter of request and accompanying documentation has been forwarded to you for your review and approval.

I am perfectly content to wait until the end of the postseason to discuss the details of this project; however, if you would, at your earliest convenience, furnish me with a brief yes-or-no answer, it would greatly set my mind at ease.

My contact information, as before, is below. Beginning Monday, 1 May 2006, I will be at work from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM every weekday, and can be reached there by telephone or facsimile, and I am at all times reachable via email.

Thank you again for your time and consideration in this matter. I wish you and your organization all the best in your postseason campaign, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Me"

missing him

Still no word.

D'you ever get incredible urges to do something that is impossible?

My mother's father died when I was ten, but I later learned that I was his favourite grandchild, and I wish he'd been around longer to see me grow up. The memories I cherish most about him were the ones where we would talk about anything -- anything -- and nothing was too silly or too juvenile for his conversation. I have the impression that, were he still alive, I would have been able to continue these sorts of conversations, and talk to him about everything.

And I would kill to find out what he thought of this whole endeavor I'm involved in right now. He was one of the reasons I became an anthropologist, and I wonder what he'd think of my evolution in the field.

So right now I have this overwhelming urge to call him, or email him, or something.

Very strange.

preparing for war

Still haven't heard from Mr. Big's lawyer yet, but I'm a-waiting. My students write their exam tomorrow afternoon, so at least I'll be distracted for a week.

In any case, I want to thank Chel for being the first to inform me (long distance from TO, no less) that Satan's helper (Pat Quinn) GOT FIRED. Bless this day oh Lord.

I would just like to keep the hockey theme going here for a bit and test my powers as a Seer (although the first round matchups are pretty much a given, anyway).

Ally's Preliminary Playoff Payoffs:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Ottawa v. Tampa Bay --> Ottawa
Neither team has any goalie worth much of a stink, but Ottawa's got a bit of momentum behind them whereas Tampa has been stuck in the swamp all season.

Carolina v. Montreal --> Carolina
As much as I'd like to see Montreal win, it's probably not going to happen. Carolina has a very dominating style that will work well in the playoffs. They also have Gerber. Who knows, though? With Montreal's stunning play this season, we could be seeing the beginning of another dynasty.

New Jersey v. New York Rangers --> New Jersey
This will be an interesting rivalry series, but New Jersey will win, no question. All the Rangers have is Jagr, whereas New Jersey, while they've lost Stevens and Neidermeyer, still have Brodeur, who's playing like his old self again.

Buffalo v. Philadelphia --> Buffalo
Remember when tickets to Buffalo games were super cheap because they were super boring? No more. I've been seriously impressed with Buffalo's style this season, and I think that they'll give Forsberg and the Flyers a serious run for their money.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Detroit v. Edmonton --> Detroit
Alas, another blow to the Canadian Cup hopes. But Detroit didn't win the President's trophy for no reason. Nor all those cups of theirs. Edmonton is not the team that missed the playoffs two years ago when all other Canadian teams made it, but it's a slow climb to the top, and Edmonton isn't there yet.

Dallas v. Colorado --> Colorado
This is where the pundits and I disagree. I know that Dallas has some serious skills this year, but I think that Colorado's band of merry men can make for a good underdog story. This is my wildcard pick.

Calgary v. Anaheim --> Calgary
Pffft. Please. If this isn't over in five games I'll be very surprised. Anaheim is definitely not the Cinderella team it was three years ago.

Nashville v. San Jose --> San Jose
San Jose, like Buffalo, is one of the most impressive teams this season. With the addition of Thornton partway through the season, they've been tearing up the offensive scoresheet. There will be California dreaming, and Tennesee blues in this series.

Off

GOOD MORNING!

It's been a relaxing few days. I went to the game on Thursday night. Yes, I know they lost, and yes, I know that Morrison SUCKED ass. But what an exciting game! I was literally fifteen feet from Alfie when he took the shot that scored the tying goal with 3.2 seconds left on the clock. Wow.

Friday was spent with the Pie. My body kind of let me down yesterday. It took all the saved up exhaustion from the past three weeks and turned me into a sloth. I barely had the energy to slouch relatively upright on the couch. It was crazy. A bit better today, but I'm still pretty lethargic.

I'm so happy to be done everything, but handing it in was super-anticlimactic, alas. Ah well. At least it's done.

Easter preparations are going ahead half-steam here (because my mother doesn't have a lot of energy, we do as much as we can in advance). Cait and Dr. Fantastic will be joining the usual entourage this year. I'm just waiting for the dogs to return from their walk so we can prepare them for BATHTIME. They have no idea what's coming. I love to torture my hounds.

Three.

*DING!*

Done like dinner.

Wait until tomorrow afternoon when I've finished editing and have handed them in, and then BRING ON THE CrAzY FuNNNN!

Two and a half . . .

Still working on the third one (it's slow going), but this deserves a quickie post.

So I'm at Bloblaws to pick up some chips on my way home from work. I'm dressed like a BUM: glasses, hair untidily pushed back, bright blue tacky skater tshirt, black Senators sweatpants with a huge gray stripe up the side, and beat-up brown suede mules. Not exactly coordinated, but who am I trying to impress.

It's six in the evening, so the place is PACKED, and we all know how I hate crowds, so I was trying to get out of there as fast as humanly possible, and I'd adopted my "don't fucking talk to me" scowl as I did so.

I have my basket o' chips and I'm heading down the main aisle to the cash, when I notice that there's a guy coming towards me who is deliberately trying to get in my way. I move to one side, he moves to the same side. What's worse, is he's STARING at me, the wide-eyed intense gaze of a MADMAN. Finally there's ten feet between us. Seven. Avoiding his eyes I move again to one side, to hear him mutter as we get ever closer, "do you work here . . ." then louder, to me, "Do you work here?" I look at him like he's the crazy maniac he could possibly actually be, and not stopping, continue past him. At this point, his eyes become slightly less maniacal and he says, "I'm sorry, it's just that you're wearing a blue top . . ."

I give him a half smile, like "okayyyy buddy," and keep going. As I continue down the aisle, the following occurs to me:

EVERY SINGLE BLOBLAWS EMPLOYEE IS WEARING PLAIN BLACK PANTS AND, GET THIS, A LONG SLEEVED *RED* SHIRT.

So he was a maniac.

Two . . .

Two down, one to go. I'd say it was about eight hours of work, if you factor in the dinner break, and peeing, and going to work, and pacing.

I AM A MACHINE.

One . . .

Six hours from start to finish, including breaks for bathroom, dinner, and to water the plants. Twenty pages, not including bibliography. I think that's a personal record for me.

One down, two more to go. I'll keep you posted.

"soon."

QUICKIE POST:

I've finished all the research and more or less organized all my notes for each paper. I will start writing the first one tonight. I'll let you know how that goes.

More importantly, I received a telephone call from an administrator at the team today. I think her name was Carol. She wanted to let me know that they'd received my letters, and had passed them on to the assistant GM (who's also a lawyer), and that they were aware of the time-sensitive nature of my proposal.

So hopefully I'll get a response in the next two weeks.

My only worry is that I sounded like a retard on the phone. Sheri says I didn't, but I'm not sure if I should believe her, because she's crazy.

moving and hockey

*phew!*

I'm back from my self-imposed confinement (read: moving Andy). The new place is pretty sweet. It's a total bachelor pad, though -- really ugly sparse furniture facing the largest TV you've ever seen in the living room. That'll be fixed soon enough with contributions from various womenfolk in their circle of friends. But enormous amounts of space, and storage, and the kitchen is all tile with a million cupboards.

Cracking down this week -- everything is due in twn days and I haven't done anything of note for the past three. Tonight I'm going to see Marian Hossa with Caitlin, so that's another day gone. Luckily school is over so I can use that time more productively than filling out dumbass and pointless assignments.

So you're not going to see me much until 13 April. After that, all bets are off!