It's all in the reflexes.

The main reason for this post is to gloat. And to record for posterity (or at least until this blog gets deleted) that I managed the near impossible today. I actually finished every single item on my "to-do" list at work. I'll just politely wait for the applause and epic fanfare to die down before continuing...

I got so much done today I amazed even myself. And the last couple of days were actually - surprisingly - not bad. Yesterday I sent a budget update to the boss, and he came out of his office and thanked me. Seriously. I'm just as shocked as you are, trust me. I was really caught off guard, so I couldn't quite revel in the moment like I should have. But it's nice to reflect on, anyway. Of course, those good vibes are tempered by my work load (it's increasing exponentially...like something else I can think of...), and the mass of rumors swirling around in the last couple of weeks. And they are comprised of the following: Budget cuts. Meaning additional cuts. We already had a percentage excised so far this year. Now the rumor has been circulating that there will be another round - anywhere from the same percentage to over double. No one knows for sure (those who may know aren't telling quite yet), and I refuse to have a knee-jerk reaction to what amounts to scuttlebutt. There was a story in the paper today on the effects of the potential cuts on the "system", but it didn't really clarify what my branch will face. It was infuriating having to suddenly be reading about it in the paper - sometimes I feel like management likes keeping us peons in the dark on purpose. Whatever for, and how it accomplishes anything except making us bitter and resentful, I'll never know. The other rumor that's been getting a lot of mileage is that there is an audit coming...

Serious, indeed, Ming-Ming!

I do my best, but even I have to readily admit that some of my records are a mess and the organization of some of the files leaves something to be desired. However, in my defense, it is awfully difficult managing millions of dollars in expense and income budgets, various projects, and providing coverage - uncompensated and mostly undocumented - for three other positions that will be vacant for the forseeable future. All the while unflappably maintaining the role of Answer Girl, solver of everyone's else's petty problems, holder of hands, wiper of chins. I'm only one person, damn it! And if you knew some of my co-workers you'd understand why some of the administrative pieces have to suffer. It's impossible to get all of the departments to be doing the same thing, and providing the same documentation. No matter how many times I've said "If it affects your bottom line, I need a copy for my file", I always get either a blank stare or the passive-agressive act from someone. Take, for example, my experience yesterday with the boss's former assistant Barbie. It just reinforced the countless reasons why I am ever so thankful that she is no longer the cohabitator of my office space. She dropped by, unannounced, and proceeded to effectively grill me on the how's and why's of the aspects of one of the budgets she uses (uses, mind you - not manages or oversees, in any capacity), rolling her eyes and huffing in condescension about the difficulty and beurocracy of working within the system. As if she even has to think about it, let alone be immersed in it, day in and day out. Her exasperated tone as I patiently explained the answers to all of her inane questions actually started to amuse me. I think the whole pretext of the visit was that she wants to act like she understands how things are actually done, even though she doesn't really want to be bothered to have to understand it (or do it) at all. The girl is all about ambition - without enough professional experience or the subtlety and social skills to know when to temper her willingness to be a bitch to get where and what she wants - and is as transparent as plate glass.

But enough about all that. Lets talk about fun stuff now: Science! Oh yeah!

We all know that the dinosaurs died out because of an asteroid strike. It's something that our American public school educations begin indoctrinating into us at a very early age. Cretaceous period. Iridium layer. Massive global cooling. Rise of the mammals. Yadda yadda.

But a couple of new theories have begun making the rounds, and I, for one, am kind of partial to at least one of them. The authors of What Bugged the Dinosaurs (I know - ignore the ridiculousness of the title and bear with me here), propose that the evolution of insect species (including internal and external parasites) brought new diseases that dinosaurs had not developed immunities to, making populations weaker and more succeptable to the affects of other global events. You can read about the ongoing debate in paleontology circles regarding the true cause of the demise of the dinosaurs in a really interesting Time magazine article from a couple of months ago.

A co-worker gave me a page out of a magazine with some still shots of scenes from the upcoming season of Lost and I finally watched the sneak peek for the *sadly truncated* 4th season. omg. OMG. OMfreakingG!! This is going to be awesome. Islanders are going to die! Jack will have his crappy flash-forward beard! Kate gets to be conflicted in her feelings for both Jack and Sawyer! How did I even manage to survive while this show was off the air?! When will I just calm down and type less excitedly!!?

Now. That's when. Sorry. I'm a little hyper today.

So here's the theater release promo:

And, the extended one, wherein we see Hurley sitting in a circle of graves: