*Insert protracted sigh here*

If only I could be paid to babble on about ponies and burble baby-talk to cats...

GERMS!!!

There are now signs on the restroom doors reminding all of the adults who take classes here (not to mention the ones who teach and work here every day) to wash their hands. There are step by step instructions on how to conduct proper handwashing plastered to the mirrors over the sinks. And in case the OCD-afflicted amongst us aren't sure our hands are quite clean enough after multiple applications of self-foaming atibacterial soap, they have installed hand sanitizer dispensers next to the paper towel machines. All in the name of guarding against the spectre of H1N1 influenza. I'm guessing that it's a self-protective measure, so that when someone does, inevitably, develop the sniffles, Helicopter Dad and Extra-Umbilical Mom can't lawyer-up and claim that this place didn't do enough to protect their precious little Suzie Snowflake from the big, bad, virus filled world. In an even more amazing step, the mother-ship has publicly announced that in the event of a flu "pandemic" (which is defined, how, exactly?), all classes will be taken online in a "virtual" campus setting. Which leads me to one question. If it's that freaking simple, what exactly is stopping legitimate online colleges from replacing the traditional brick-and-mortar university experience?

Hey! Have I mentioned it's the first day of school?

Empire waists and getting wasted

I'm ready to blow this popsicle stand.

M: The sangria is fermenting. (I'll have lemonade and unsweet tea in addition) Snacks have been procured. (a variety of veggies and veggie dip, and maybe chips) DVDs are ready for viewing. (I was thinking last night that a John Hughes marathon would be really appropriate, but I'm looking forward to those Victorian-era costumes...men in dusters, rawr!)

I'm going to try and get out of here a little early because we spent more time at the gym yesterday setting up the membership (and chatting with the girl who works there) than I would've liked, and so dinner ran really late, so I didn't have as much time to tidy up as I would've wanted.