8.23.04 Hallelujah, we have found a house to live in! In less than a month I will be calling Hampden, a magical part of Baltimore, my new home. Tacky Christmas decorations contests? Porches, trees, indie art kids, Cafe Hon, city living! Can't wait! Will I get everything I need to get ready in time for SPX?? . . . Possibly!

8.7.04 Ok kids, my horrible week is over and I am off to the big apple for some training for work, some schmoozing, some cafe sitting, some drinking of apple martinis, and most of all for some fun! Catch y'all in a week . . .

8.2.04 I just had the oddest weekend ever. Not sure if it was because of the full moon or not, but some very good, very bad, and very surprising things all managed to happen in the span of two days. I should've known what I'd be in for when Friday I was a total wreck. By the end of the day I had spilled part of everything I'd eaten onto my pale-colored ensemble. I topped it off by seeing The Village, and went to bed feeling vaguely confused, impressed, and frightened all at the same time. The rest of the weekend just went downhill from there. My high hopes for Monday have plummeted, and losing the playoffs in volleyball notwithstanding, I think I'm ready to call this whole week as "done". I'm finished, get gone ye first week of August. I will have none of you!

7.27.04 All the signs in my life are pointing to my name being Michelle. Apparently Monica is not who I'm meant to be (which on the one hand wouldn't be bad because then I would never be called "Harmonica" or "Monica O Monica Come Light the Menorah" again). Nope, it's Michelle. In middle school, the most popular girl in our class was named Michelle Colucci. She was pretty and busty and everyone thought she was the coolest. That was the only time in my life I ever wanted to be named Michelle, and it's over. I guess it all started when the captain of the new volleyball team I joined thought my name was Michelle and referred to me by that for a while (later it became a fun joke -- "Oh that play sucked! Must've been Michelle, not Monica"). Then when a guy was hitting on me at volleyball (different time), he asked my name, I told him, and no more than two seconds later he asked, "So what do you do for a living, Michelle?" No one, not even me, could have forgotten my name that quickly. It must be fate. I answered the phone at work " . . . This is Monica, may I help you?" "Hi, Michelle? Is that you?" came the reply. The final straw was an email I got from someone at work, who I'd been emailing back and forth to for a while. Every time I'd sent a message to him I included my full name. The last time he addressed it "Hi Michelle, ...." even though you didn't even need to scroll down to see my name was clearly Monica!! Grrrr! So anyway, that's it folks, from here on out, I guess (regrettably) . . . call me Michelle. That's obviously my name.

7.26.04 Only a wee update today as my wrist is killing me!

7.5.04 MoCCA fun!

6.23.04 Who knew golf could make a person so sore? Yesterday was my company's golf tournament, and if you've never golfed before (like me) make sure you bring plenty of snacks along with you when you go. Because let me tell you, riding around under the hot sun and hitting a teeny ball for five and a half hours can truly wear on you. The high point was my friend (and coworker) Kim getting to yell at the owner of our company, "Put some stank on that ball, Mike!!" I mean really, when are you gonna get another chance to use that? In other sports news, I participated in some Family Pool Volleyball on Father's Day last weekend. Apparently being on my mom's team means you will get socked in the head by her serves at some point. But don't worry, I got her back, oh yes. And boy did her sunglasses go flying! . . . So sad, but no update this week. Too much running around pre-MoCCA! The ever-lovely Tim Fish has saved me some space at his table, so this weekend there will be some Gods & Undergrads trinkets for sale. (And by trinkets I mean postcards, stickers, a few books, and some posters) So come on out to the Big Apple and stop by at my measly display, while you're busy gawking over the huge mass of quality items Tim will have for sale! In other news, my uncle Tom's campaign website is up, so feel free to visit and support his wonderful cause! Go Gallagher 2004!

6.17.04 Happy Birthday to Kerry, who's old enough now to know to avoid the tequila ... Welcome to the 24 Club, Kez!

6.9.04 Et voila, the comic has finally appeared. And the cicadas are dying off, but they aren't quite gone. This was proven when one flew straight into Lauren's forehead, and then one angrily landed on my shoulder, chirping away. Back, ye bugs! Will I get something ready in time for my appearance at MoCCA? This remains to be seen ... but nontheless come find me at the convention and offer me a seat for I have no table ... *sniff* ...

6.6.04 I feel obliged to tell everyone I have not died or been waylaid some strange anti-comicking disease. No, instead I was house-sitting again for my ever jet-setting parents. Where I enjoyed some cold swimming on an overcast day, cicada volleyball, horrific encounters with bugs at 2 a.m. while cleaning out the pool filter, seeing my friend get randomly doused with water by an angry umbrella, and getting to watch Down With Love as often as cable permitted. But now I am back, bigger and stronger than ever! Plus -- Prisoner of Azkaban -- Alfonso Cuaron is god!