Midweek Thursday fly -by

In a random order, some randomosity:

• The recall petitions collected in the effort to recall our governor have gone to the board to be counted. They keep extending the time it will take them to come up with a final total. It wouldn't take so long if they would quit throwing little parties every time they run across a signature from "Mickey Mouse" or "Adolf Hitler".
• It's four degrees. The windchill varies, up to minus twenty degrees. I will never, ever take for granted the luxury of underground parking.
• I'm still sleeping with the window open a crack, and still get hot enough several times a night to throw off all the covers for a time. Ah, the joys of peri-menopause.
• Our international students have a deadline of February 8th to come to our office for some annual paperwork and document verification. In spite of the temperature, I can tell you with 100% certainty that I will see several students from countries like Iran, Bangladesh and India this afternoon. The best and brightest from their countries, and they don't have the sense to stay in out of the cold?
• But they are the best and brightest - our home-grown scholars can't compare in diligence and effort most of the time.
• Based on a quick estimate, the condo purchase will double my usual tax refunds. Now the internal argument begins: Save it, use it to have the car preventive-maintenance tuned and serviced, or blow it all on creating the sewing room of my dreams? Bah. I hate being the responsible one.