Thanksgiving came and went; turkey was served and eaten; babies were snuggled and nibbled; mothers drove and were driven slowly insane. It really is the same every year, isn't it?

This has been a horrible week at work.

No, I really don't feel like elaborating.

Well, okay, it's not horrible as in I'm getting fired or anything. It's horrible as in it's been ridiculously busy and we're training a new person.

I'm taking Friday off, though, so the week's almost over.

There's a photo project I've been trying to put some time into and it just seems to keep falling to the bottom of the pile.

It's an ugly pile.

I really hate it when the days get so short like this and it's dark by 4:30 in the afternoon.

There's so much jumbling around in my head lately but I just can't sort it out into anything resembling organized thoughts that would mean anything to anyone other than myself.

That's why you guys get this post.

Which, I guess, is better than the big fat nothing you've been getting up 'til now, so keep your big fat mouths shut about it.

Have a lovely evening now, won't you?

Me: I'm so going to hell.
Him: Hey, we're all going there eventually. It's just that some of us are taking the local and some are taking the express.
Me: And which one am I taking, exactly?
Him: *crickets*

Happy Thanksgiving, all you little devils!

Despite having taken Monday off, I never thought Friday would hurry up and get here. Now that it's here, I still have so much to do that I wish it was only Wednesday.

(Okay, not really. But how the f*ck am I gonna finish all the piles o' work on my desk by 5?)

Also, it's only the 17th and I don't get paid again until the 30th, and I'm pretty much broke already. Seems I was a little overly optimistic in paying a few of my bills at the beginning of the month (again).

I haven't heard back officially about a job interview I had over a month ago. Unofficially I heard that I'm being asked back for a second interview, but it would be wicked nice to know for sure one way or the other.

The crush was unexpectedly (in place of his boss) in a meeting I was at this morning and I suddenly realized I am wearing the same outfit I wore Saturday when he and I and a few other friends went out together. At first I felt embarrassed, but maybe I shouldn't be so worried that he may have noticed I was wearing the same clothes again: Saturday I was showing cleavage, whereas today I was all buttoned up, and today I noticed he kept looking at where the cleavage should have been. *ahem* I guess the power of suggestion is almost as good as the real thing.

Tonight I'm going to a high school production of Seussical starring the granddaughter of family friends. Allegedly this young lady is earning big kudos for her performance, but I can't say I'm optimistic about the whole thing. I mean, I like Dr. Seuss books as much as the next person, but I don't know that I need an Ice Capades version of them, minus the ice.

Tomorrow night I may go to a musical theater production at the college where I work. Most of the productions here are pretty good quality so my hopes are high. I'll let you know how it goes. What are you up to this weekend?

And we sure got one.

Here in Massachusetts, we got our first black governor, only the second elected in the nation.

Here, here, here, here, and here, it's clear that the people have spoken all over this country, in local and national races. Now it's up to those in whom we've put our trust to show us we haven't done so in vain.

[M]y masculinity is real, no matter how invisible to people unaccustomed to acknowledging masculinity in people with vaginas, especially those who are not polarized in their maleness. Beneath that, however, is a person who seeks and craves and feels within themself a blending of masculine and feminine energies, if you will, or traits, or values, such that they meld into a new single whole, that is both and neither and something else all at once.

My friend Educand is sorting out some major life questions. The above is just a small excerpt from the most recent post in a series about the author's evolving gender identity which is so exquisitely written and thoughtfully rendered that you really must stop by and read it all.

Last Monday, Christine e-mailed me to see if I was interested in joining her and a few others for the Barenaked Ladies concert in Boston on Wednesday night. It was a great price, good seats, nice company, and an easy-to-get-to location, so of course, I said yes. At lunchtime on the day of the show, I happened to be walking right by the arena where the concert was to be held that night and saw singer Steve Page wandering around with a book in his hand, looking for all the world like a geeky college kid. Truthfully, I wouldn't have even noticed him if it wasn't for the friend I was with who grabbed my arm and said, "OH. MY. GOD. IT'S THE BNL GUY" just after he passed within 3 feet of us in a crosswalk near the venue.

I, of course, went back to the office after lunch and told everyone that I had just seen a bare naked lady at lunch. Naturally, my colleagues were intrigued. :o)

The concert? Rocked the house! Those guys put on a great show and DAMN, they sure did seem to be enjoying themselves, too. It was very cool to hang out with Christine and to meet several of her friends as well as her very cool daughter, and I was totally psyched that she thought of me when she ended up with the extra ticket. I had seen BNL yeeeeeeeears ago at some free Mix concert at City Hall Plaza, back when they were just hitting the charts in the U.S. I had been a fan for several years already at that point because a Canadian friend of mine from college had sent me their first CD long before most folks here had ever heard of them. I remember being pleasantly surprised when I wasn't the only one in the Boston audience that day who knew the words to every one of the 5 or 6 songs they played way back when. Nowadays, I'm not so up on their stuff, but I still enjoy them and am VERY glad I went to the show this past week. The guys were freaking hilarious, seemed to be having a fantastic time, and I enjoyed their old stuff as well as lots of their more recent stuff, even many of the songs I hadn't heard before.

What else? Ah. One of my friends from law school will be in town for the next few days while her husband is here for a conference. I haven't seen them since their wedding in Chicago 8 or 9 years ago, I think, so I'm very much looking forward to catching up with them and snorfling their 15-month old baby girl this weekend. I'm terrible at thinking of things to do with people who've never been to Boston before, though. Any suggestions?

Apropos of nothing: In other news, I may be developing a small crush. Nothing major to report yet, but hopefully there will be more to say in the (near?) future.

And what else is new with *you*?

P.S. Click here for Christine's awesome pictures from the BNL show -- taken from our kick-ass 3rd row seats!