I hope nobody is trying to call us or something silly like that.
Our office phone system has been crashing and reloading since I arrived this morning. Heard David cursing earlier. Just guessing that was his not-so-private reaction to the situation.

Fortunately, there's nothing wrong with the university servers, so email continues to trickle in, but ( Read more... )

"Please continue to hold for the next available staff member..."

After twenty minutes on hold, I'm beginning to think they don't really exist, these staff members. I bet there's just one of them trying to deal with a half-dozen frazzled patients.

23:56 - "Your call is important to us."

Nope, I don't believe that one either.

( Ah-rahrah-rahrah... (rant ahead) )

The new spectacles have taken some getting used to. I still only wear them behind the wheel or watching television, but those situations are significantly clearer than before. I'm finding a greater appreciation for my Blu-ray movies. I watched Star Trek (the 2009 version) on Wednesday night. Fantastic to begin with, but still better when everything ( Read more... )

While on hold for Brighton Marine (forever and ever), the FedEx in North Billerica called me twice and left a message on the second try. They're coming between noon and four o'clock on Friday, and I need to be there "to help them offload." I'm not sure they'll want my help, but um-kay ( Read more... )

We have a Northeastern student named Phillip observing the study. He's a fine specimen. I think we're all a bit distracted.

Or maybe I'm just speaking for myself.

What? He's much too fit and good-looking to be studying public health!

I think I'll shut up and go away now...

Spent the weekend in hiding mostly. I think the previous Monday through Friday, 07:00 to 19:00 bumping of shoulders with other human beings just wore me too thin to be companionable to anyone else by the time Saturday came. It didn't help that I forgot to turn off my alarm clock on Friday night and was woken bright and early the next day. No, no, ( Read more... )

( snip-snip tweet-tweet )

Matthew Pearl has it.

And a sense of humour, too.

Huzzah!

And I'd already sort of figured that out (Dante Club has its funny moments), but I also think my tone is hard to gauge in a measly 140 characters. Actually, it's difficult to gauge in person, too ... of which I've had recent proof ( Read more... )

( snip-snip tweet-tweet )

I'm here for another three hours thanks to my alarm-clock FAIL and resulting late arrival to work--so I'm taking a break to share music and remark on PR.

The music--

[And I'll grant you that my taste is somewhat melancholy at the moment, but I think I'll blame the rather sombre symphonic tracks of Muse's The Resistance, which I've been listening ( Read more... )