OK on New Year's Eve we got a letter from the school district telling us the boundries had been re-drawn. Our 11-year-old 5th grader was now re-assigned, next year , to a middle school other than the one we'd been visiting and preparing for her to attend.
A few days later, we got a second letter, stating that if incoming middle school students in our neighbhood already had an older sibling attending the first school, then our child could attend.
A few days later, we got a third letter, clarifying that only if our child has an older sibling attending the first school, could our child attend it. Other wise we would need to present a "compelling educational need" to attend the first school, other wise she would still be assigned to attend this other school we know nothing about.
Finally, this Monday, we received a 4th letter stating that due to neighborhood parent demands everyone in just our neighbhorhood would be allowed to choose between the two middle schools for our child, but that we had only 4 days to make our decision.

Good news, the new computer we ordered from Dell arrived just 3 days after we ordered it. We ordered it last Monday afternoon, and it arrived yesterday afternoon, Thursday, via UPS.
The bad news, it is defective, no power to its keyboard or monitor ports. After 1 30-minute hold time; and an additional 30-minute conversation to a guy in India in which he had us reboot and re-cable the tower countless times, he agreed the'll just replace it. But it will take up to 10 business days.
Why does it take Dell 3 days to send out a new box & keyboard; but 10 days to replace it if it's defective?
It'll be good to have the internet at home again, and the kids will enjoy being able to play their software games, again , like Dogz and Nick-Toons.

I worked last Saturday, so I got yesterday off from work! I slept in late! My 5 year old son had no school; and my 11 year old daughter got out at noon. I don't know why.

WCAL radio will soon change its format, and they've already hired all my old Twin City radio superheros such as Mark Wheat, Steve Nelson, Thorn, and Mary Lucia!!

http://access.minnesota.publicradio.org/press_releases/releases/20041216_wcallaunch.php !!

My happy day!

It's been so great having my old friend Debi sitting right next to me, at work! Must resist urge to chat and gossip 8 hours a day. Someone might have to come separate us!

I spent the last 2 work-days in an orientation class where 3 representatives of the new company that just bought us showed us lots of power point slides about how great their building is in Kansas City, where I have no intention to visit; lists of euphemisms they insist one use , such as "partner" instead of "vendor", and "solution" instead of "product," ; and a diversity training class. At one point they pointed out how great it is that their founder arranged funding of a special playground ... at a Boy Scout camp, as a recruitment tool for the Boy Scouts of America, as he was concerned about their decline in enrollment. I filled out the seminar evaluation form and pointed out the irony of making people taking a diversity class, while contributing to the Boy Scouts of America, known for their discrimination based on religion and sexual orientation! I also had to point out how one of the presenters kept standing directly between the Sign interpereter, and the deaf employees. He would step between them, and the interpereter would move so she could be seen. Then he would move again and stand in front of her again. Ironically, of the 3 presenters, he was the one who did the presentation, later, about valuing diversity in the work place.

Both kids had a cold last week. First my son, then my daughter, so my husband was home with one, the other or both, every day but Friday. It was frustrating to him, because it prevented him from being able to put more time in to a job search.

For the first time in 3 years, I was willing to attend our company holiday party, held last night. They like to hold it in January, so people have time to go to it. Anyway, our good friends Dave and Tammy agreed to watch our kids so we could go to it. But both kids RELAPSED in their colds that same evening, and our friends ended up tending to two caughing sneezing kids, possibly exposed to the cold themselves, I just couldn't believe it! I can't believe I did that to my friends. The party itself was held in the basement of a German restaurant in Minneapolis, it was a modest buffet, and afterwards they had a live band that played traditional polkas and old standards like Help Me Make it Through the Night, and I Saw Her Standing There. Mostly it was just good to see everyone outside work. For once I am actually glad to see them! I didn't feel that way a year ago, or the year before that!