I'm Back :-)

Ok, let's see...

...the gazebo is finished, but you can't see a bit of the results of my hours and hours of painting because it was only a clear sealer.
...for better or for worse, my research paper was turned in last night. My study partner actually came through at the last minute, thankfully. He said he works well under pressure. I didn't tell him I think he gave me more gray hair.
...the house I was cleaning is now spotless (well, more or less) and on the market.
...I had to work the registration table at a one-day conference last week for work. It was good, except that it was on the other side of the city and I had to be there at 6:30 in the morning!
...I bought myself a new, fat, ultimate-support, side-sleeper pillow the other day. Next on my list is to get a box springs that's the same size as my mattress. Hmmm, I guess being so busy and wearing myself out made me more interested in having a comfy night's sleep.
...I got volunteered to lead the first part of a Greek dance at a performance this weekend. It's a little scary because the leader is supposed to do all kinds of extra, fancy stuff while leading the line. Thankfully, I only lead for a short time, then turn it over to John, who's much better at showing off than I am. ;-)
...the thin foam is already completely flat on the seat of the cheap office chair I got at Walmart. Should I buy another cheap chair, invest in a nice chair, or sit on a pillow?
...I found some buckwheat at a specialty foods store that I visited, and decided to boil some for breakfast one day. I cooked it up with some salt and molasses, and it was absolutely horrible. It smelled like Postum and tasted like something you'd feed to prisoners in Siberia.
...speaking of disasters, I decided to try cutting my own hair recently. The good news is that I lived to tell about it, and the better news is that my skilled-with-scissors mother was able to fix it. It's still a little different on one side than the other and quite short, but at least I won't look too dorky while my bad idea grows out.

No, I don't know how I get myself into all these things.