because i can now blog from the relative comfort of my own home, thanks to my brand new dell laptop, i am staying up past the allotted eleven o'clock hour. (yes, i'm trying to go to bed earlier in an attempt to not be so tired all the time. as you can see, it's working well.) tomorrow, the inquisition arrives... i'm part of this focus group to help evaluate partnership programs with one of our major agency partners. we're not being evaluated, but we have to be very politic about what we say, while at the same time being constructive critics. somehow i got placed on this particular focus group, and i'm somewhat nervous that i'm going to be put on the spot. plus, it's first thing in the morning (and we've been inundated with hours upon hours of meetings so far this week), so that's never good. *sigh*

oh! and i swear i've found wisconsin boy's biological father. it's freaky. our evaluation guy from the dc office not only looks like joe, he also has a lot of similar mannerisms. yikes! plus, he spent a good amount of time in madison, wisconsin. the eval guy is really nice, but i was trying really hard not to be slightly repulsed. you know, that pavlovian reaction you have to things of distaste? yes, that would be the one i was looking for. very odd.

i'm also inheriting about 40 grants from suzanne in the portland office, who is leaving the foundation in june for law school. that puts my grant load back up around 125, whereas it had been about the lowest it had ever been because i had been offloading in anticipation of inundation. wheeee. at least i'm not overwhelmed by the additions, as i know some of my other coworkers are. i've always had more work than i should have, and i work better under pressure anyway, so this will keep me more on task (and believe me, i've been wandering lately due to less pressure). i have about 20 new contracts to get out the door, and i'm ready! heh.

did i mention i'm going to half dome in two weeks? man, i really should be getting better prepared. i'm going to be seriously hurting. dare i suggest we try to do the yosemite falls hike too? no? well, it's just a suggestion...