Oh, *this* oughta be an interesting week . . .

Then again, I suppose that if your truck is going to decide not to start, across the street from the house is the best place for that to happen.

So, I had a flex day today, because I had worked extra hours this pay period.

I had a job interview scheduled for 11 a.m. for a really terrific job.

I was out the door at 9 a.m.

I then realized, "Hey, it's only an hour. I do not need to leave two hours early.

I went back inside, updated my references to add grant-related people, and went back out at 9:30 a.m., running early.

The truck would not start. Just the beginning of starting to turn over.

Fortunately, I have Triple A. My mechanic is two miles down the road.

[Interruption: The Triple A guy got here, and I had to go outside.]

I called the place where they are doing the interviews, and they have a 2:45 p.m. opening.

Now we just have to see what happens.

I wonder what the rest of the week will be like.

Meanwhile, back in New York, several interesting things are happening

A. Freshest news right now. 

ALBANY — A week after Republicans wrested power of the State Senate away from Democrats, their thin majority appeared to collapse.

Senator Hiram Monserrate, one of two Democrats who initially sided with Republicans to give them a 32-to-30 majority, has switched his allegiances again and plans to reaffirm himself as a member of the Democratic caucus, two people close to Mr. Monserrate said on Monday morning.

Mr. Monserrate’s switch would leave the Senate split evenly at 31-to-31, suggesting an era of legislative gridlock that would be unparalleled even by Albany’s notoriously dysfunctional standards.

Link.

B. Now he changes his mind?

ALBANY -- Former New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said he now supports legalizing same-sex marriage in New York, a change of heart that could influence the measure's chances in the state Senate.

The 80-year-old Republican, who retired last year as the state's most powerful Republican, tells The Associated Press he now sees the issue as a civil right.

"As a Republican, I believe in personal freedom," Bruno said in a written statement. He said support of the measure by Democratic Gov. David Paterson, a friend and longtime collegial adversary in the Senate, helped him change his mind about same-sex marriage. Bruno blocked an earlier version of the bill that the Democrat-led Assembly passed two years ago.

Link.


C. (This may be dated)

ALBANY — Pedro Espada Jr., the new State Senate president, said in a radio interview on Tuesday morning that he personally wanted to bring same-sex marriage to a vote, news that will give some encouragement to gay activists who read defeat into Monday’s Republican Senate coup.

Link.

My life is not like the other lives

So I am taking a break from my frenzied house-cleaning while I wait until it's time to walk to Frank's to borrow his truck to go to the job interview in Bennington because he's going to get to look at my truck today, but probably won't get to fix it.

Anyway, so then I get an e-mail from the guy who just won the Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing.

Does anyone else have days like this?

So Allison and I may need to file a FOIL (freedom of information) request for something.

I contact the editor of the local paper, because he'll know such things.

He passes it on to his expert, who sends me a personal note.

The paper's FOIL expert is the editorial page editor.

The guy who won the Pulitzer.

Yeah, OK. Not like the other lives.

NSTIW -- Photographic proff

From kiena_s we get a photo of the actual armor worn in the "You're So Cute! You're So Dead!" story.

The day did not get any more normal . . .

So I walked to Frank's borrows his Chevy Suburban and drove to Bennington.

Into one of the nastiest thunderstorms I have ever seen.

Did I mention it was sunny and warm in Salem when I left and when I got back? (It apparently rained a little in between).

I was sitting in the Suburban listening to the rain fall hard and watching hail -- looking like those white snow-melt pellets bouncing off the windshield.

I had gotten a good parking place and ran into the office, but still getting soaked, even during a lull.

Eight or nine people interviewing me, each with a specific question.

I think it went well. The job I have now has really prepared me for it.

Then, I got a 30-minute writing assignment. I like those kinds of interviews. ;)

Nothing eventful on the way home, but Frank had me watch him determine I needed a new starter and new solenoid, then gave me a ride home.

The cats did not take over the world while I was gone.