It's a good thing I've got Law & Order

Because there's no Alias tonight. They're having 2 episodes of Criminal Intent tonight, since ABC is having the AMA's. I am desperate to know what will happen next week - how could they do this to me. It's worse than when they postponed Beverly Hills, 90210 because at least then I had a million reruns to watch on cable while I waited for the new episode. Why isn't Alias in syndication yet? Even Full House has made it to Nick at Night.

Since I can't spend my entire life watching TV, I've been devoting a considerable amount of time to staring off into space trying to decide what to do with my life. I can't be the storytime lady forever. I'm not sure why, but a lot of people have been asking me about this lately, even people at work, since, when asked why I work at Barnes & Noble, I say, I didn't know what else to do, and they hired me. I definitely need a bigger place before I can stay home and let the husband earn the big bucks. Not that I'd be able to do that anyway. It's fine for people like my grandma who can actually be creative and make things while they're at home. I took it upon myself to make Christmas stockings for us this year. So far, I have one piece cut out, but that's only thanks to Andy, who sat down and helped me make a good pattern after I tried and tried unsuccessfully. So, if we had this huge house, I could keep myself occupied by painting all the rooms. I'm pretty good at that, thanks to my dad, so that would be something. Otherwise, I think I need a job to keep me occupied, which, frankly, I don't really want, unless I suddenly discover my dream career. Until I guess I'll keep working 4 days a week instead of 5, giving me enough time to do all those things that other people must do on their hour long lunch breaks. Oh, and going to the grocery store in the middle of the day - I highly reccomend it - the lines are so much shorter. I've even had people come out into the aisle to push my cart into their checkout line. I guess people in retail always get bored when there aren't any customers.

You're the storytime lady!

I was greeted by a small child (and by small I mean shorter than waist height) who is a regular Barnes & Noble storytime customer as I perused the aisles in Michael's. Fortunately his mother was nearby to prevent any sort of mass hysteria that might have resulted from the recognition of "the storytime lady" outside the protective walls of Barnes & Noble Brier Creek. I wouldn't want them to have to close off aisles so that I could escape my adoring fans. All right, that would certainly be a little extreme. I just never would have imagined being recognized as "the storytime lady." Maybe someday when I write a fantastic book I can be the storytime lady and the lady who wrote that book with the shoes on the cover. Until then I guess I'll just have to be the storytime lady.

I'm beginning to think that it's harder to get a job than I thought

When we first moved here, I got 3 job offers in the span of about 2 weeks, and I think I only applied for 4. Granted, I had applied for a lot of jobs at NCSU before we moved, but I thought maybe I just needed a Raleigh address and the jobs would start pouring in. Or at least someone might call me for an interview. Well, in 7 months, I've been called to interview for 2 jobs at NCSU, both of which I didn't really want. I don't even remember how many I've applied for. And don't get me wrong, I'm not out there applying to be the director of the library. I'm applying for jobs I'm completely qualified for, at least in my opinion. Well, in any case, if you work in the NCSU libraries, please give me a job, and if you don't, any ideas for a new career would be greatly appreciated.

We laughed harder than we had in a while... and it was almost 80 today

So this week's Ed was, by far, one of the best I've ever seen. We couldn't stop laughing, especially when they were in the pool and Shirley was wearing the flowered bathing cap. Only Phil would have a bathing suit like that... If it wasn't for the whole Ed and Carol romance dragging the show down, I'd say we're in for a few more great seasons, but I have to agree with Vikki that it looks like they're going to live happily ever after, meaning the end of Ed as we know it. I swear, practically every show I've ever watched is ending this season, except Alias and Law & Order, which unfortunately means I'll live the rest of my life gripping the edge of my seat, looking out for terrorists, and expecting to get murdered just when I least expect it. I can't take the pressure. NBC isn't doing so well on the new comedy front, and Will & Grace seems to be on its last legs as well. Whatever happened to Must See TV? They need to find themselves a winner and soon! Otherwise I'll just watch Law & Order every night of the week (TNT, starting at 7 pm, if you're interested). Or I suppose I could read a book, since I do work at a bookstore....

Oh yeah, and it was almost 80 degrees today. The last time I wrote it was about 50, and that's about what it's going to be tomorrow. Apparently we were "unseasonably warm" as the weather people like to tell us. The record high for today in Raleigh was 79, set way back in 1989. I haven't heard yet if we broke that, but I had a warm, sunny, outdoor lunch today, so I don't care. Of course, the nice weather drove away our customers, so it wasn't all good. Please come back, or they're going to stop paying me...

It's cold

Ok, so I know I shouldn't be talking because it's at least 10 degrees warmer here than where any of our friends and family live, but wow does it feel cold when we had 80 degree weather last week and then wake up to 50s this weekend. It hits you like a slap in the face when you open the door if you aren't expecting it. You look outside and see the blue, cloudless sky and think "wow, it looks so nice outside," and you are fooled into thinking that a jacket is optional. Well, that little blue sky trick is just nature's way of lulling you into freezing your cute little (or big, depending on who you are) nose off.

On the bright side, we tried out the heater today, just to make sure that it works, and boy does it ever. You feel warm in about 20 seconds. That's one plus for forced hot air, it's speed, although it's noisier than the good old steam radiators we have at home, and it definitely doesn't have the nice humidifying factors that I greatly appreciate when it gets all dry. Time to turn on the humidifier full blast and get a good night's sleep before I tackle another day at the big Barnes and Noble. We've had some customers lately, so keep up the good work.

Hot Now

Last night, when our friend James (not Jimmy, but the one who lives here in Raleigh), suggested that we go to Krispy Kreme, I was unimpressed. We had just had Krispy Kreme doughnuts from Harris Teeter the night before, and they just didn't seem to warrant a trip downtown. He assured us that there was no comparing doughnuts in the supermarket to "Hot Now" dougnuts from a shop. In case you've never been to a Krispy Kreme, let me explain, they actually make their doughnuts in the store, and customers can watch as they ride by on a conveyor belt, beginning with their dip in oil, followed by a waterfall glaze. Finally, they cool and are boxed or put out in the store. If you go to Krispy Kreme when the "Hot Now" light is on, it means that they are making doughnuts. We ordered some Hot Now doughnuts, then watched as the guy walked out to the conveyor belt and picked up the doughnuts just after the passed through the waterfall. These doughnuts were the freshest you can buy, and they were the most amazing thing I've ever tasted. They melt in your mouth. James said "they're like a drink," and we agreed. So, if you ever drive by a Krispy Kreme (check here to find one near you), and the "Hot Now" sign is on, stop everything and ask for a hot now doughnut. I promise you won't regret it. Apparently, here in the south, Krispy Kreme Hot Now doughnuts are so popular that there is a joke that if an ambulance driver was driving by a Krispy Kreme when the Hot Now sign was on, he would have to stop and get one.

It was broken

Finally the internet is back, but for how long. Road Runner wasn't running too fast the last couple of days.