Berkeley Farm Girl

So, the prof who gave me my First Computer Job back in the Dark Ages is retiring.

His Brilliant Plan (because he's a medievalist and that's How We Roll) is to gather a group of people and go serenade various campus entities who have helped him out over the years. Starting with the librarians, which IMO is Totally Awesome.

Since I'm working a contract and more or less have my deadlines in order, I am taking the day off to join these shenanigans.

The hitch in this getalong is that it might rain. In Davis. In June. When it is more likely to be 100 F and dry as the proverbial bone.

But I'll be there. I'm looking for my bright pink umbrella to go with my spiffy black-and-white paisley ensemble.

Wishing you a healthy, prosperous, and happy 2010.

I didn't do "year in review" things. (My short synopsis was that my health got better, Obama is president, and I finally got on Facebook -GOOD, but I got laid off and too many people I love died, which bites.) I also was not keen on the idea of "decade in review" because I started off 2000 (after the go-go-go of Y2k prep) basically having a nervous breakdown, although it does lend perspective to my current "meh" state. ("HEY! I'm not being screamed at, at home and at work!")

I need some advice from the camera-savvy on my list! My digicam seems to be dying - it worked fine in June, but when I found it again in the fall, its screen is streaky even after I put the newly charged batteries in. I have some Amazon.com gift cards (which I bought by pouring my change into a Coinstar machine - thank you Margaret for that tip) so I'm thinking it's time to get a new one.

I take "group shots", pix of my cats, landscape shots, and like taking photos of my food, so something with a good short-range capacity would be ideal.

If I can reuse anything from my Canon S410 Powershot, so much the better.

Ideal Price range: under 300 (I had a LOT of change and I've found more!)

Thanks folks.

Did not get the NOC job I did a lot of interviewing for.

Still in process some other places. Today seemed to be "Recruiters call Charlotte" day. Also, replacement EDD form is en route - lost one, and they don't answer their phones, but a "mail us" form on their website worked just fine.

I have an in-person at 9:15 in SF tomorrow. Prayers for timely rising and commuting and good talking appreciated.

for a Desireable Job at 8 pm Pacific. I am a bit technically short for this particular job (it's a new version of what I've been working with all along, but the specifics are different) so special prayers (or whatever you do to offer to the tech gods) requested.

At a couple of interviews, I seem to have been unprepared for certain types of questions. Am trying to think ahead on this.

Also learned that I was still a leading candidate for another job.

Best wishes of the day to cat_herder and elissaann.

diaphoni rescued a wee kitten from a bad situation and the little guy apparently has a crushed paw. They are on a very fixed income so are trying to raise the $800+ to have the leg amputated so he will be out of pain and danger and get on with the rest of his new life as a beloved house kitty (to which he is taking quite well despite his injury).

Local rescue groups have provided some of the money, but they are trying to raise more to at least get onto a payment plan with the vet so he can have his op soon.

Flyer here with pix of the cute little fella. Good thoughts and signal boosts are welcome if you don't have any spare cash.

May you all have a sweet and joyous year.

I haven't seen Miss Ruthie all morning. She likes sleeping late, but this is not like her.

I am thinking of running some errands and then padding up my knees and looking under furniture for her.

ETA: She finally emerged at about 4 pm.

Well, I don't know if she can actually catch anything*, but there was something small and dark she was chasing in the driveway tonight when I went out to get her.

* especially now that she has a new collar, complete with bell

No, I didn't explore further. And I won't be going out later to see if she's not busy. But at least the mystery of why she was not responding to "come here" gestures is solved.

Doing coffee hour at the church tomorrow. Currently at the halfway point for baking:

Apple-walnut bars with apples from my tree: done
Barb's Brownies - in oven

Taking a break because I mixed up the flours I was measuring for the brownies and the struesel for the blueberry buckle. Let's just say that I'm going to have a lot of struesel in the fridge. Also, the dishwasher is full enough to run.

Need to go to market because all my raisins were gross-looking and I want them to make Elise's (Simply Recipes) zucchini-pineapple bread. I also realized I was out of bacon. Will do a commando run to Berkeley Bowl West.