It's not just me being bitchy. While scentedwoods might be right about booze and meds, I don't think I'm all alone in the bitchfest. It just feels that way cause I get mad and Jeff gets martyred.

Last night Jeff and I got into a tiff over a dirty feather pillow he decided to wash and then abandon in the washing machine for a day. Despite repeated reminders, there it sat. It was late, we were grumpy and it was fast and dumb, 5 minutes tops--whether to toss the pillow or rewash it, whether he should put on a robe and toss it down the trash chute 15 feet from our door or whether it could wait in a plastic bag till the next day. I wanted now cause I didn't want the pillow to sit in a bag for two days by the door, he wanted tomorrow cause he was tired. Instead of just letting it go as a no biggie, we fumed, and Jeff decided he was too upset to go to bed and sat up till 3 AM reading.

I don't think it's just me here having the big reactions and loud anger. It's him too. But instead of being super mad about stuff, he gets upset, hurt and pulls back--while still not doing the stuff I want him to do, which fuels our cycle where no one is nice and everyone is put upon.

Jeff is trying to get back into night school mode while he contemplates buying property with his mom; I'm feeling strange leaving Stanford and clearing out my office, starting a new career and a new job while also wrestling with changing banks, changing my name and completely revamping my life. Neither feels well supported by the other and both of us feel stretched and resentful.

When we first moved in together, we had this weird month of being miserable. There was no reason, no rhyme, we just didn't get along and everything felt disastrous. We even looked at each other one day and asked aloud if we made a mistake. It was the growing pains of moving in together and then one day it was gone. I think we're doing that again. But this time it's growing pains of being married. I have no idea how long this will last, but it is not pleasant. I am jealous of people who got married and just fell into bliss--but I know plenty of friends who didn't have that experience. So, I'm not surprised. Just grumpy.

Reading over what I've written I know I need to pull back a little, take care of myself, and be a little less demanding of Jeff and myself. My goal is to be kind and positive to both of us. Let shit go and fume a less.

Lately, I have been a total bitch to Jeff and I have no explanation for why. Things aren't exactly stressful right now as I have an impending break between new and old job that should last 2 weeks. We're doing well financially. I am well fed and somewhat exercised. I'm medicated properly for all my illnesses. I can't figure it out. I have a sinking suspicion it might be booze related. I'd been drinking a bit lately--and when I say 'a bit' I mean a glass of wine with dinner, 2 weak cocktails over the course of a 6 hour party, etc. I have been drinking almost daily for the last few days and I wonder if the grumpiness is some weird withdrawal. Maybe I'm just nervous about the new job? but that seems so far away. In any case, I can't believe how sharp I am with Jeff, who is nothing but sweet to me, and that I don't even notice it. Even after the words are out of my mouth I don't realize it. Everything he does (or doesn't do) is so damn annoying and I just pick on him.

This weekend was lovely, but Sunday I stalked around the house unable to relax in my own home. It was just weird to be so amped up and angry about nothing. This despite adventures at the fruit market that included fresh kumamoto oysters, an amazing clam pasta dish, super fresh tomatoes, a birthday party for a beloved friend with awesome pasta, and a day at the beach followed by grilled mackerel and unbelievably tasty grilled Moroccan style veggies. And I worked out! And I went to a beach burn in honor of the Man. And it was all fun!

Still, feeling like an awful nasty person.

I just called the hiring manager at feds to take back my acceptance and got the hard sell for the position, the agency, and the federal government itself as an employer. I also heard a mild smack down on the city as an employer. Damn it. Why am I finding this so hard? I made my choice, but I just need to exorcise my regret demons. I realize that the minute I said 'yes' to them the feds started spending money on me in all sorts of retarded ways--scheduling training sessions, crazy back ground check stuff, and IT set up. I KNOW this woman really likes me and sees me as her replacement in 7-10 years. It's in her best interest to get me in the door, even with my regrets for other opportunities missed and salary lost.

I heard the whole spiel of how the feds will be a stable employer even as local government tanks. She explained how this is a wonderful and rare opportunity with the feds fast-tracking me to a very senior level position in no time at all. And, she went on, the work I do has broad influence across many agencies while encompassing a variety of topics. And then there is the travel. And, not to worry she assured me, GS-14 positions will open up (she didn't say that a travel eastward wouldn't help). On one side of her mouth she said San Francisco is a desireable place to work and everyone wants to be here and on the other when I asked about competition for senior positions she said no one would move here cause of the locality pay.

Then the smack down on the city. She pointed out how they are in serious financial crisis and when they think lay offs, they usually toss the most recent hires. The work itself, she explained, won't really have broad reach--it's just San Francisco concerns. The city itself, she intoned, is a much smaller employer than the feds and there won't be much of a chance to move up. And the competition after you hit step 5 she implied, good luck finding that next promotion.

Then she played on how there is movement between levels and hinted that it would be easy for me to go from fed to city if I wanted later in the future.

She really laid it on me and it was TOUGH resisting (so I stopped trying and told her I would email her with my final decision). All these points she made are ones I debated myself--she is totally right. The bottom line is, both opportunities are freaking awesome for the different paths they offer my career. There is no way for me to really KNOW which is better. So, I'm going for the obvious variety of experience, the riskier work setting, and the big bucks. No more regrets. Well, some when I whine tonight to Jeff about the phone call, before I send the 'no thanks' email.

Jeff just called me and I announced that tonight is SNACK ATTACK. I explained I am hella menstuatey and stressed and require many snacks of tasty things tonight. And, that he is required to join me in SNACK ATTACK night. And we need pizza. The "and we need pizza" part caused some protest, but I explained there was no room for debate. I need salty things, sweet things, and cookie things that are of the chocolate chip kind. And I require so many I can alternate bites of each. And there should be Venture Brothers, Eureka and Project Runway. I might offer that Jeff drink beer so that he has some 'in' for enjoying SNACK ATTACK. Maybe.

Last night my mother's nose started bleeding profusely starting at 9 PM. At 10 PM we called 911; at 11 PM we were in UCSF hospital because she had been told there are PH specialists there; at 4:45 AM we were discharged with her nose still bleeding, no PH consultations, and poor medical attention at best. We spent most of those wee morning hours WAITING.

Waiting to find space in the ER, waiting for someone to look in on her, waiting for an ENT to cauterize and treat the bleeding, etc., etc. They didn't have any pillows, were unwilling to get her a new cup of water (despite the fact that the one she had was covered in blood--apparently the water was clean), and just generally 'humored us' when we talked about our concerns for her health. I'm grateful Jeff stayed with me as we waited and fumed and worried interminably.

My mother didn't help matters (for me) because, as she seemed to get better, her complaints grew more vociferous. I suspect as she got better she noticed her poor condition (she had two big packs in her nose and was told she has to mouth breath for two days straight--through the groom's dinner and other family events) and was feeling her exhaustion (they were on East Coast time after all). I found myself worrying about everyone: Jeff missing work the next day and being stuck with my family, my dad for being exhausted himself, and of course my mom--myself included as I haven't been getting sleep and was counting on at least a full night on Tuesday before family arrived. Lack of sleep and stress do no good for my various health conditions either.

Despite a sneaking desire of my mom's to stay in my house, at 5:30 AM I put her and my dad in a cab and sent them to their hotel in Marin. My place is too small, I have too much stress already, and I need my mental space to get through the next few days. I feel guilty for shunting them off in a cab, but there was no way we could have driven them after the night we had and no way I could have them in my house. At 6:00 AM I was wiping gobs of my mother's blood off my bathroom and that was as much as I could manage.

I called her at noon today and she tells me her nose is still bleeding. Maybe they can get better care in Marin than in San Francisco. I'm heart sick over her health, angry that this is happening right now and running on 4.5 hours sleep.

As I was walking out of the Dean's Office around noon today who should I see but my cousin Shivram and his wife Sujatha. It was a total fluke--they had no idea I worked at Stanford (I guess my mom never told them) and I had no idea they would be visiting that day (or that their son was attending summer camp on campus this week). It was a shock and the bestest surprise. I haven't seen them in 8+ years! They are planning on attending the wedding, but it was really fun to end up snapping shots of them in front of the Memorial Church and then go to Burmese cuisine in downtown PA for lunch. They were so nice and the pleasantest part was hearing Konkani spoken.

Konkani (or sometimes spelt Konkanee) is the native tongue of my family (English is my native tongue, although I was taught both languages at the same time as a child). I don't speak it anymore and I'm not sure I can. When I tried at age 12 during a visit to India, my cousins all made fun of my accent saying I sounded like a christamanchi (literal translation is "like a Christian person"). It was like music--the sound of chattering family. My parents rarely speak it to me now and I only hear it when there are enough Konkinas around to make it worth their while. Shivram and Sujatha happened to be sightseeing with two older, parent-age Konkinas on their first trip to the US--so speaking the native tongue or Amchighela (literally means 'our language' in Konkani) was a given.

I'm getting a good feeling about this wedding business and family invasions. What luck seeing them! Seriously, I never leave my office during the and according to Sujatha, Shivram had resisted walking down toward the Church as they were all so hot.

My parents land in SFO in about 3 hours.

The wedding is days away. Days. I'm finally starting to get excited and even a little nervous. My family starts arriving tomorrow. There are small items to be done, but basically everything is ready; we even packed our honeymoon bags. Finally, my to-do lists seem to be getting shorter!

This weekend I actually socialized in large groups for the first time in what feels like forever and even got to speak with people! We went to a BBQ for the Ambient Mafia (a DJ group) and the music was fabulous; then we went to the Mission for Rue, Gabe and Cyrelle's BBQ party where I saw illegal fireworks shot way too low in the sky and ate brownie flag cake covered in whipped cream and strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Mmmm.

Saturday and Sunday I spent loads of money on lingerie, travel underwear for Jeff (quick dry and light), presents for the bridal party, a crazy halter bra and fakey suck-that-gut-panties (cause I don't really need to struggle to get into and out of my underwear--thus the fake part) and ridiculous eye shadow. Tomorrow and Thursday I will return some of it, but I'm probably keeping the fur lined white, sheer baby doll nightie and the string thong with butt veil. BUTT VEIL. It's too hilarious not to. I don't think any of it is sexy.

Sunday, I gave Saman a 'bridal party' gift because she has been an amazing bridesmaid without having the title of bridesmaid. She went dress shopping with me, bra shopping, make up shopping (and is even lending me what I'm missing make up wise cause when will I use that stuff again anyway) and made sure to come over for every zappos shoes order that came through my house (for the laughs at the very least). Oh yeah, and she edited my resume and cover letter to perfection for the fed job. And shopping with me is HARD cause I hate it so bad and whine a whole bunch--but she took it like a champ.

We both seemed pleased with my choice--a turquoise eel skin (she knew it was eel right off) mini-clutch. A little bigger than a wristlet, smaller than a clutch but big enough for her phone, ID and money. I hope the other ladies in my party like what I got them--or at least fake it as well as Saman.

This weekend baby sister James is coming to town. WOO-HOO! I LOVE HER! She's coming tomorrow afternoon to help host my bridal shower on Saturday. Another WOO-HOO! There are something like 5 co-hosts(you might say 5.5 as Kameya, my flower girl, is also working on this party)for this thing and all seem super enthusiastic. Originally, James was ditching me Friday night and Saturday morning to help with cooking and set-up--leaving me on my own. With Jeff out of town all weekend for his bachelor party in Las Vegas, I was feeling a little deserted. Here my sis is in town, but not to hang with me! She hasn't been to CA since 2005! So, even though they wanted to keep the theme a secret, I have weaseled my way into hanging with them while they prepare on Friday night. My sister called me a stinker, but with much affection. Jeff has decided to call me weasel. And gucky basically called it when she laughingly pointed out that the minute I heard a bunch of people are getting together and I'm not invited I think it must be fun and NEED to join in--even if everyone is just cooking (which I hate to do). It's true. I'm a joiner. But what can they expect, when 5 of my closest friends and my favorite kid are all getting together on a Friday night without me to celebrate me! how can I stay away?

And, I also organized a Girl's Night out to see Sex In the City on Saturday night. A few short hours after I sent the evite I already had 9 RSVPs with a yes. Fun.

I'm having difficulty focusing. I think it's Ok if I goof off a little as I've been on the ball and getting enough done up till this point, but I could be lying to myself. Sigh. Fingers crossed it's the former and not the latter.

Lunch time has become a boondoggle in my brain because I suddenly have too many options all which appeal and not appeal for contradictory reasons. ( Choices A-C )

Last night I walked out of my last class after turning in my final assignment for my Masters in Public Administration. I am 100% sure I finished this degree and 98% sure they will award me the actual piece of paper with my name and MASTERS across the top in two weeks (the 2% is for paper work snafus). It took me 4 damn years of working full-time and being in school part-time. I'm not as elated as I would expect but I guess it's just going to be one of those summers where so much good is happening my overwhelming happiness turns into blase. Shit, I hope not. I had thought to skip the final hooding ceremony and save my money (renting a damn robe costs $65! LAME! Not to mention the trek to and from the bookstore across the city), but given how unimpressed I feel about completing the degree I think maybe I need the pomp and minor circumstance, as well as the cheap wine included in my $25/per person ticket.

Last week was weirdly hectic. I found myself running around every evening and not quite being able to figure out how to slow down. Part of it is my insistence on being social while also trying to maintain my work out schedule. Of course, even with that focus, I only exercised a few nights last week--thank goodness for the lunch-time work out classes (which even then I often forgo due to meetings and such). Part of it is feeling the pressure of wedding planning but not quite being able to figure out what I should get done next. Part of it is trying to wrap up my MPA and get those last assignments for my class and pieces of paper to the registrar. Part of it is money pressure and trying to figure out how to live within my means and not seem like a cheap bitch. I always feel so awkward when people treat me to stuff cause I'm not good at being gracious about money and I worry if it means they think I'm stingy which seems worse than cheap.

And a huge part of my brain is preoccupied worrying about being bipolar. II. ( Not a relaxed mindset )

I'm feeling a little closed in today.

I wish I could say it was just because I got trapped in an elevator for nearly two hours last night. Yep. Got trapped in an elevator from 6:45 PM to 8:30 PM. At first, I wasn't too worried cause it was a very gentle stop and I thought maybe it had some elevator hiccup or something. When I used the call button they told me don't worry, they'd get me right out. So I believed them. 10 minutes passed and I realized I was going to be late to meet gucky and called her. She didn't seem to think it would happen as quickly as I thought it would, so I called again, same reassuring response. Then I called my sister at the 20 minute mark and she told me to call again and ask WHEN I'd be out. So I did and they said the would call me back. They called me back 5 minutes later to say the elevator guy would be there in 55 minutes! That's when my sis suggested I call 911.

The fire department came 15 minutes later (even though they are 2 blocks away). They fooled around with the doors and told me they wanted to wait for the elevator guy cause they didn't want to break the doors. Damn. I probably should have acted like I was in a panic or something. So instead I texted 25 people and got a flood of texts and reassuring phone calls--all of which freaked me out more because of weird comments about how someone was stuck in an elevator for 48 hours and how the fact that it stopped and held means it wouldn't plunge. You know, useful comments. Finally, the elevator started moving and when I emerged, everyone was gone! Seems the elevator guy sent everyone packing, including Jeff, and somehow not being greeted with a parade of reassuring strangers made me more annoyed than being trapped in the first place. Silly, I know.

The other things closing me in? Well, that's another post I guess.

This weekend I sat around feeling unusually grumbly. Friday night when all should have been good cause it was Friday and everything was possible, I felt grumptastic and despite my best efforts remained in a foul state. As a result, an incendiary comment I made during the new Battlestar Galactica caused a fight with Jeff--marring a nice evening. No sex was had.

Saturday Jeff went off to try on suits with his groomsmen and then spent the rest of the day playing video games and drinking beer at his buddy's. This was good for me as I woke feeling like crap--my RA was acting up and my whole body hurt. A hot shower, plenty of advil and laying around feeling sorry for myself helped clear some of the pain, but not my mood. So I went and got my toes done and my brows waxed. That was sort of nice and not too pricey either.

Lucky for me, gucky had agreed to venture down to Santa Clara to meet a mehndi artist, so I had something to look forward to doing. We braved the 101 and my stick shift driving to reminisce over the Lawrence Expressway. Kamala, the henna lady, seems very talented. We talked designs, prices and driving distances. She did a test design on my hand (as well as gucky's) so I can compare two dye-lots. So far no difference (can you see the R and J?), but pretty nonetheless.

The bridal mehndi will be more intricate on both my feet and the inside and outside of my hands. HOT.

Sunday I did a little shopping and remembered how much I freakin' hate shopping. But damn it, I want stuff. When I have to pay, shouldn't it be easier? I walked away with 2 button down shirts for $20 and $25 respectively (one I may return) and a ridiculous cap sleeved jacket from Banana Republic I have no business buying cause it is so expensive and so silly and not versatile at all. But I really like it. I noticed online it was about $15 cheaper so I'm going to take it in for a price adjustment. Or maybe a return.

to never have to leave my house. Despite the fact that my home is covered in cats and super disorganized, I can't help inviting people over. It's my ploy to never have to leave the house and have a constant parade of people to spend time with me. Jeff noticed that I am someone that never 'needs' to be alone. I suspect I do have my solitary times and I'm realizing that inviting people to work out with me is actually cramping my exercisey style. I love continuous company, but somehow working out I prefer to be quiet, watch lame TV or pretend to, and move my body. Unfortunately, I recently committed myself to working out with people many days a week. I'm adjusting to the people contact, but I think it would be better if we were doing all this moving outside my building's tiny gym. I'm going to work on that--luckily, people are flakey about exercise so I do get to work out alone most of the time. And, as I'm still in flakey mode myself, the company keeps me moving as well.

Last night I left my house with Saman and went to see Firebird at the Crucible. I got lucky as Ari's girlfriend gave away the tickets day of and I know I wouldn't have spent the $55 to see it. Cute gimmicky things, mediocre dancing (for the most part) and of course, the fire was the star of the show.

Somehow I survived my Microeconomics midterm. It's worth 50% of my grade and yet I felt super calm about the possibility of screwing it up royally. Maybe the lithium isn't quite out of my system after all. It was a crazy thing because, not only had my brain not been working quite right for the last few weeks (of class), but I haven't sat down for an exam that tested me on memorizing of theorems, graphs, and concepts in over a decade. Maybe longer! I no longer understand how to rote memorize a damn thing. Whatever I remember how to do I remember organically--through pure repetition. I am pretty good with maths of the budget variety, but MC=MR and all it's implications, well, I get some of them anyway. My confidence in my abilities wasn't exactly boosted by the fact that I finished the exam first. I looked up and everyone was stills scribbling away. Walking to drop my paper at the front of the room I saw folks hadn't even gotten to the last essay question.

Ah well. It's done and after I walked home to watch the last episode of the Biggest Loser. I love that show and I know it's trash and I shouldn't but I don't care. Watching all those people lose weight and cry about it makes me happy.

Although, this season's folks seemed a lot fatter than previous ones. Some didn't lose all that much at all in fact--I suspect because it was couples one person was highly motivated and the other was highly not. And, it was a shorter span of time. The show lasted 20-22 weeks I think? Hardly any time.

Despite my whining about meds and weight gain, I just want to say all is mostly good in Poodah-land. This weekend the weather was gorgeous and I started it volunteering at NASA on Friday night. Saturday I went to a birthday party on the patio of Il Pirata with a group of fun folks where I got to eat a cupcake baked in an ice-cream cone (what a great idea!). I then spent the rest of the day and into the late at Yuri's Night at NASA Ames where I saw airplanes doing tricks, pretended to interact with science, listened to the tail end of an Amon Tobin live set, and hung out with good friends. I also acted as DD and got to watch Jeff get drunk and silly. He wasn't so very drunk as I managed to walk away butt unscathed by drunken slaps. Sunday was study day and I managed to get some studying done at the Mission Bay library near my house. And in the evening I slapped together some sort of pasta dish, did laundry and cleaned the kitchen--all of which made a very hungover Jeff exceedingly happy (mostly that I didn't ask him to help me with any of it). Notice how your home is the cleanest right before something is due? For me it's a Micro midterm on Tuesday.

And this morning I feel clearer in my head than I have felt in weeks. I think the lithium is working itself out of my system.

162.4

That was the number on my scale this morning. Last Thursday the number was 158.6. The week before 157.6. The week before that 157. Back in January after I got back from Cancun it was 155-ish. At the end of Janny Craig in December it was 152. Before I started Jenny Craig it was 167. After New Zealand it was 169 (Jan 2007) and after Alaska it was 173 (August 2006). When I met Jeff and for most of 2004-2006 (before Alaska) I was around 150.

This little history lesson in weight is just me airing out some frustration. For my height, the max I should weigh is 132. I'm about 30 pounds above that and for some reason, the 10.4 pounds of the last few months are really bugging me. I felt the extra 4 pounds from this weekend and could notice being bigger in the mirror before I saw them on the scale--it's why I weighed myself.

The crazy thing is, I'm still on Jenny Craig. Sorta. I've been doing weekday breakfasts and lunches with a smattering of dinners. Discussing it last night, Jeff and I agreed that clearly JC wasn't working for me, part-time anyway. Jeff suspected having the JC meals led me to overeat at other times and I think he's probably right. Of course, like many fat people, I don't recall overeating enough to gain 4. Sure, I know there is water retention and salt and whatever, but seriously people I can gain 4 pounds in 4 days and have it not come off. I have gained 13 pounds over 7 days with only 3 coming off within the first 2 weeks and the rest holding on for dear life.

I'm not in a metal state to commit to JC full-time, so I'm quitting the program for now. It is expensive and like so many diet programs I have regained the weight faster than I'd have liked. But that leaves me treading water trying to figure out how to lose the weight I find so irritating. Aren't brides supposed to lose weight before their weddings--not gain it?

Any suggestions? I know all the portion size, healthier choices, avoid certain unhealthy foods stuff from years of Kaiser Permanente classes, nutritionist appointments and behavior modification programs--but I'm thinking any other group program? Looking into my past success I seem to lose weight very well when I'm hypo-manic--but as I'm not looking to get back into that right now, I'm trying to examine other successful techniques. I noticed working on weight/exercise with others works well. Single-minded focus works really well, but I need some suggestions on how 'normal' people maintain that mindset.

I've officially given up on lithium. Last night was my last taper dose. I'd been struggling with the stuff for a month and a half and the side effects were just too intense. Being foggy-headed and cognitively impaired has created a number of problems at work--mostly from me screwing stuff up when the dose was too high a few weeks back. The loss of short term memory is also pretty scary in hindsight--Jeff once told me an address three times and I still couldn't keep the number in my head. Of course, I was so doped out these numerical mental problems didn't bother me much.

Off lithium and on to...? I finally picked up a book on bipolar disorder and started reading--and then promptly put the book down. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis I find myself vacillating between shame and denial and dismay. I'm so embarrassed by my diagnosis I want to keep it a secret even as I'm telling everyone. I'm frustrated by the need to manage it. Sure, it's a lesser form of bipolar (II) and when close friends hear about it they are surprised cause I manage myself so well. But, it's still broken in the head.

When my previous medications were working Jeff tells me the difference on vs. off meds was only about 5%--we fought less when I was on them. But internally--it's a 150% difference. Suddenly I had so much less to DO in my head. My feelings and related ideas didn't have to spiral out and then get reeled back in before I opened my mouth. A disagreement with Jeff could just be a disagreement--easily resolved with a 5-10 minute conversation instead of my usual spiral into we're doomed and about to break up so I should lay down on the bed and cry reaction which I then need to reel back in before I actually lay on the bed to the point where we can just have that 5-10 minute conversation. I would react like this to everything--good or bad--I'd go to the extreme where the reaction was so far beyond the stimulus it's hard to tell what had happened.

Things went really sideways when I was depressed or manic--or lately both at the same time. But, my manic is very productive and my depressed oddly invisible. I guess this is how Ari can advise me to use the meds to stabilize and then get off them. It's upsetting to me that no one else really understands what's happening in my head--not even me really. And I'm afraid of needing to take meds forever and even more afraid of not finding ones that will work. I admit it, I'm lazy and don't want to spend so much time coping with my reactions--I'd rather leave my head and get some shit done.

Last night Jeff brought home a pear ginger from Mission Pie and it looked awesome. He even snuck some cream to whip for it. Unfortunately, the guests he and I thought we were having did not materialize. Audrey went straight home after our run and Saman was too ill to come by. So, I persuaded him to 'save' the pie for tonight's guests--Joe and Kris.

I'm nervous about the Cheat seeing them again. He's been so weird since they first came over--last night he hid behind the TV again when Audrey came over and wouldn't come out till we left. Then he was all weird and reserved for the earlier part of the evening and slowly became whiny and needy. Then at 5:15 AM he stood and cried at the door for food. They never do that! They usually wait patiently till 6 AM when I wake up and don't make noise until well after (in case I over slept).

Beyond Cheat concerns, it will be great to have Joe and Kris over. They're going to cook red curry duck and regale us with tales of Thailand. Monday I forbade them from talking about it because I wanted Jeff to be in on the happy travel tales. I'm hoping their experiences help inform how we decide to plan our 3 weeks. I haven't done much follow-up reading and with 3 months to go I think I should probably pick up the travel book (well, after my Microeconomics mid-term on 4/15). ( In anticipation of the trip, I've started working out again too. )