Late to bed, early to rise

So the alarm rang out at 5:45 this morning. Blech. I snoozed it till 6:15, but still, that's just gross. There was a conference call in the UK I needed to be a part of, so dutifully I hopped out of bed and got to it. Of course you know, no one ever sent me the info about the call. So there I sat, waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Nuthin. I sent the project manager for EMEA an IM, asked him what was up, and he said he hadn't heard yet. What bullshit. I wake up for what? Yeah, nuthin.

So there's another call, at 7:00. Fine, then, I'll be a part of that call. This one I actually have the number for, so I dial in. There's the obligatory "enter this" and "say your name at the tone", in both English and German. And I wait. And wait. And wait, in bilingual silence. I send that other guy another message, asking what was up with the second call. He said he was waiting as well, and couldn't reach said person on the phone. Now, two hours later, I still haven't heard anything. Time wasted on absolutely nothing.

However, in this morning's paper was a refreshing wake-up! Two, really. I don't know what I'm more excited about. It could either be the recipe for Gorgonzola cheesecake or the freshly minted lineup for this year's Jazzfest. Now, I'm not particularly pumped about Harry Connick, Jr. being the closer (I'm a staunch believer in the tradition of the Nevilles closing out), but elsewhere in the lineup: Jerry Lee Lewis, Rod Stewart, ZZ Top, Steely Dan, Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Taj Mahal. Even George Thorogood, who I've never ever seen. I Drink Alone is a guilty pleasure. And this year two posters are featured, a first. They're not as good as the Michaloupolis series, in my opinion, but I'm jaded since we have all four.

Anyway. I'm off to do menial spreadsheets task until some exec calls me at the eleventh hour asking me to save a server from backup woes.

In other news, all three kids are home sick. It's been a gradual peak of illness, starting with a light cough, working up to a disturbing hack, and now the trio are all having fun with it. I'm miserable, not from being sick, but from having to listen to Dora in the background when I'm working, and deal with kid problems while I'm talking backup consolidation statistics. I love them dearly, but OH GAWD, I need a break from being cooped up in the house with them.

I have to get back to work, but consider this:


Komodo dragon virgin birth



This story is incredibly reminiscent of Jurassic Park. We are merely witnesses in the spectacular game of evolution.




And finally:




"Who cut the cheese? That's gross, Kathleen! Awwwwwwwwwwww!"