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I went to France and got VAT

Okay - look, I took a freaking vacation. I didn't cure cancer or anything. But I did see a lot of skulls. Seriously. Thousands, maybe millions.

The Paris catacombs are cool.

I also strongly recommend going to the Paris Sewer Museum. The displays are impressive - it's truly a very earnest museum. There's lots of good information, it smells pretty decent and the drippy tunnels are cool.

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By: Alyssa | Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at Wednesday, October 29, 2003 | |  

Travel size

You know, I love that sample size/trial size aisle. It's so good. I love to buy tiny tubes of toothpaste or shampoo. I have no idea why.

So this is what travel is all about. Last-minute trips to the drug store for something: batteries, deoderant, film.

Actually, that's what travel planning is all about. Travel itself is something different.

I'm trying to embrace French again. It's been a very long time since I practiced and spoke it on any kind of regular basis. I haven't been to French class in about a thousand years.

Still, the pate beckons and the catacombs await. Ready or not, here we come.

Trials of Dana Kitty

So we've talked our beloved friend in taking care of our place and the cat. He's graciously agreed to stay over and keep the cat and the cacti company. Sweet boy. I hope the cat remembers that we're her owners in a few weeks.

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By: Alyssa | Tuesday, October 14, 2003 at Tuesday, October 14, 2003 | |  

Lunch intersection

There needs to be a little electrical upgrade in the ol' office kitchenette. We have just the one microwave and it only works if no other electrical equipment in the room is in use (aside from the fridge).

We may also need some sort of means of managing the traffic flow into the tiny compartment that passes for a "kitchen". There's an amazing backlog of people trying to use the microwave each day.

Lunch usually goes something like this....
12:45 - Wander into kitchen, someone else nuking something. Decide to come back in a few minutes.

1:03 - Someone else nuking. Shouldn't be long. Decide to come back.

1:19 - Just a second. You might want to come back.

1:34 - Someone's got something in the microwave for 4 minutes, there are two more entrees stacked neatly on the counter next the microwave. The queue is now 3 entrees in total.

I think in the next 10 minutes I'll give up and go downstairs. I have a meeting 10 minutes after that.



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By: Alyssa | Thursday, October 09, 2003 at Thursday, October 09, 2003 | |  

California called

California called me last night. She's a little bummed. Her voice is tinged with regret - it's worse than the time she went on that three-day bender in Vegas.

"It seemed like such a good idea at the time," she said.

"I know - it always does," I replied. "You were in a bad situation. What could you do?"

"I know! Exactly! It's just - now I realize," she sighed. "I don't really know anything about this guy. You know... I was swept up. He had the charm and the charisma. I got sucked in by the style but now I realize there's not a lot of substance."

"So what are you going to do?"

She was resigned. "What can I do? I'm stuck with him now."

"Well," I offered. "It's only for a couple of years, right?"

"I guess..." she sighed again. "Hey did you see the Daily Show last night?"

"Absolutely. It was hilarious."

"I know! But what the hell happened to Marc Singer?"

"Only the Beastmaster can tell us."

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By: Alyssa | Wednesday, October 08, 2003 at Wednesday, October 08, 2003 | |  

...and then the Tiger said, well - I couldn't just eat him all at once...

So I learned the same thing that Pamie did about talking about Roy. You've got to mention the Siegfried or people look at you funny.

Also - no one knows the guy's last name, so the Reuters headline is weird.

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By: Alyssa | Sunday, October 05, 2003 at Sunday, October 05, 2003 | |  

Suddenly, winter.

I turned the heat on tonight. We returned from NJ to find the house at a balmy 60 degrees and the cat huddled in our bed. (She likes Deeps' side.)

What happened to fall? Why am I pulling out sweaters? I only wore my cute jean jacket for like 2 weeks and now I'm thinking about pulling out my winter coat - sure it's my level 1 coat, but still. Where are the warm days and pleasant evenings? It's like 40 degrees outside right now. (On the bright side, I haven't pulled up the shovel yet.) Cute jean jacket and fun scarf are not going to cut it.

Damn.

I hope Paris is warmer.

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By: Alyssa | at Sunday, October 05, 2003 | |  

I know a thing or two about dead bodies

The following is an actual discussion that took place in our house last night.

Deeps: Is that a meat thermometer?
ME: Well - it's for the liver.
Deeps: Huh?
ME: They check the temperature of the liver to determine the time of death.
(pause)
Deeps: You really know this stuff.
ME: My favorite show is Autopsy
Deeps: I'm going to leave the room now.

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By: Alyssa | Friday, October 03, 2003 at Friday, October 03, 2003 | |