Spent the weekend sulking. Didn't have enough ice cream in the house to do it properly, but I gave it a go. Got a rejection letter Friday from the company I thought probably most closely synched up with the skills gained at my former employer. It was polite: a "we don't think any of our openings match up with your skillset right now," which is palliative until you realize that they have 406 openings right now in Northern Virginia. So what they really meant was, "We don't like you." Which hurts. I'm smart. I'm a really hard worker. I have all sorts of mad skillz, including the ability to spell "skills" appropriately in context.

But I think everything happens for a reason, so I'm hopeful that it's so that I get hooked up with The Right Company and not just another place to work. Noticed ThinkGeek is hiring and threw them the resume. I'd *love* to work with them, but so would half the D.C. area, I'm sure. *crosses fingers*

So... anybody know of a job opening in Northern Virginia where I would fit well? Resume here, just in case.

(Unidentified fuzzy tree captured in Occoquan and provided for your enjoyment.)

Metroed to the Folger tonight to catch Marjorie Garber's lecture on Quotable "Shakespeare." Her Vested Interests guided me on my thesis work.

Amongst many other brilliant insights, she stressed that when someone uses an excerpt from Shakespeare's plays out of context, the listeners lose not only the speaker and immediate context but the dialogic process that's inherent in Shakespeare's plays.

And now, I'm hungry. The only thing open on Pennsylvania Avenue were the bars the Congressional staffers hang out at. And all I've eaten all day was a Lean Pocket for lunch. *tummy grumbles*

I finally got around to meeting Mike, Amy, and CiCi. I knew I was headed up to the Montgomery County Humane Society this morning, and they suggested we meet at the Nutella crepe place -- Mosaic. Wish I hadn't had a stomach virus a few days ago. The Nutella looked delicious, but I stuck with some basic starch and fungus. Cianna's quite the little lady, holding up her end of a conversation and saying "thank you" for her stuffed "tiger" without a bit of prompting. She's dangerous to be around; I could start wanting kids. Come to find out Amy's as much a gadget fiend as Mike -- it was nice to find another double X our age like that. (Wow. I make us sound old. But we're not. We just grew up with C64s and Ataris instead of Nintendos. Is that old?) Anyhow, I'll leave you to Mike's account of the meeting now. We're definitely doing this meeting thing again. :)

I was expecting Amazon, so when I opened the door to Calyx and Corolla from UPS, I was surprised. Pam got me these gorgeous orchids that go so well with my decor. Love them.

Spring shows up in Mom and Dad's yard.

During a shopping run at Potomac Mills today, Mom and I took a break at Starbucks for lunch. Tres good.

I'm quickly finishing off a cider before heading to my seat at the Lansburgh production of Richard III. I'm prepared to be disappointed; nothing can top the Stacy Keach production I saw at the Folger almost 15 years ago now. But Nick Knight as the bad guy? Had to catch that.

Spent 2 hours scooping poop this morning. So glamorous. Best Friends sent out a call to help a lady in Oakton who rescues ferals. Has 40 of them. In a townhouse. I do not envy her, but they were very sweet. And there was some head scritching involved with the braver ones. As I left, I notice this was the cross street. I think she approved.

Got to see Amy and Zoe last night. They came in town to see her relatives. We had to settle for Virginia Grill, because Garden Kitchen and Blue Arbor were both closed. It was great to see them again. I miss them both.

Having three friends over this weekend, and I realized I don't actually have seating for four people in my living room. $45 of Ikea later, there's a new cozy nook between my entertainment center and my computer desk.

*giggles* My cousin Deb claims that's what this book screamed to her. She knows me so well.