I haven't said anything yet. I want to wait till they get in.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Answers

Makes sense.

God. The crazy people I work with are in panic mode this morning. Thank god I have a door.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Do it this morning, though, because if you do it before you leave, they might not feel like they have to say anything.

I did a whopping 10 minutes on the elliptical yesterday. Hopefully I'll do better today.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

At least you worked out. I haven't worked out in forevah.

I'll do it now.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

No, I can't do it. Keli is going to VISIT Anna. Read her latest if you at all care.

MATH is dead.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Oh, lord. I still think you should do it. If MATH is going to die, everyone should at least know why.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

What?? For heaven's sake.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

But see, I think they're waiting for me to say something. Because either they think I'm too stupid to realize that it was AB or because they think I must still trust her or something. I don't know. But I'm no better, I suppose, as I'm being just as two-faced.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Oh fuck it, I'm saying something.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

You know, from what Allison has told me (that AB drinks a. lot.), and from what I've seen/heard of AB, I seriously think she is an alcoholic. (I'm not using that term lightly.) For real, y'all. Allison is always like, "Yeah, she drinks. And Lin Chao more or less bought their house for them, and I don't know. She just seems really irresponsible. What does Madeleine do at night? Does she go to bed at like, seven, so AB can start the drinking?

Hell, for all we know, AB is making a brand new best friend so she can make Allison feel all bad about moving to Atlanta.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

There should be a closed-quote after drinks.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I always wondered how they afforded that house. I know Vince's family has money.

And she wonders why she's not getting pregnant? HelLO? You smoke like a chimney and drink constantly.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

How can you drink and smoke when you're trying to have a baby? How?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

When you're dumb. Clearly.

And that's the thing - they've gone to doctors. They know not to smoke. Yet they both do.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Seriously, when I am trying to get pregnant, I'm quitting the drinking, the smoking, and the caffeine a good six months in advance. I don't need that kind of worry.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I was about to say the same thing - they wonder why they can't get pregnant?

It's called natural selection, jag.

Joh, I just responded on the MATH board.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

We'll see if anyone responds. I'm not counting on it.

Why is it so hard for people to step up to the plate and REPLY for crying out loud.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

What did y'all say?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Okay. I did see that entry. I didn't say anything, as I was sort of under the impression that the ruckus had been put to bed (for all fronts, Pam's included). I did vaguely reference it in my notify email yesteday, though, just because really, I thought it was a mean, mean thing fo Keli to do, and as Keli is on my notify list, I knew she'd probably know what I was getting at.

Joh, I imagine she didn't get in touch with you to say, "Hey, bitch, I heard this - is it true, because if so, I hate you." What I'm confused about, though, is how she knew about the whole thing to begin with. It seemed like all involved parties more or less did a good job of keeping the whole thing out of the OL world, and I know that probably no more than a half-dozen people even had the slightest idea who Keli was talking about. How did Keli know? I'm not on her notify - did she say anything more specific in that?

Maybe it's not you, Joh - I don't recall you ever staying with Pam. I don't know, though. I just can't get past the mean-ness.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

ooh,good. You play dumb well, Ms. Lippincott.

H - I just said like, I'm sure y'all have seen this. I haven't said anythign because I dont' care as it was mostly conjecture. But I didn't want you to think I'm so naive I didn't recognize it as being about me.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Where did you guys go?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Working. Crazy people. Trapped in this job.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Who are the crazy people?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I went off to read sperare.com. Go read her gym entry. It's cracking me up.

And waiting to see if you get a response, obviously.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Well, it's only 9 a.m. in Dallas. I'm sure AB is too drunk to get up.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I'm actually tempted to email Keli something similar to what I posted on the MATH board.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Do you really think AB won't pass it on once she sobers up?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I mean, she might reply to you, but you'd have to be an idiot to not gather that we're good friends.

Ah, she seemed so very normal. No necessarily stable, but at least normal.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Hmm. I'm tired. More coffee is needed, I think.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Oh y'all, the AB is a drunk jokes are making me laugh.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

If only you could see my "drinky-drinky" hand motions - then you'd really be laughing.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Seriously, though, who makes Madeleine breakfast in the morning? I bet AB is the kind of person who didn't think the Ya Ya books were sad, at all.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I bet she sees the mother as a role model. "Damn, it sucks that I have to stick to wine. Why can't I live in a generation that received rampant prescriptions for Miltowns?"

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I didn't even read those books, so I have no clue what you're talking about.

No response yet.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

The mother, Vivi, was a raging alcoholic. Semi-functional. She thought herself to be hilarous, though, when in fact, she was really, really ill.

It doesn't matter if you do or say funny things if at the end of the day, you're a drunk who neglects her children.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I really don't know AB's story. I know that she says home, and I think when Mad's at school she must drink and stuff, and she clearly does at night, but that might be after Mad goes to bed. I really don't know. I'm just truly frightened of them both. Especially Keli as she's said she doesn't want full custody of her boys and that she hates other kids.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

She was in college, I guess, when she got pregnant with Mad? It's great that she finished college, and all, but...

It seems like she drinks during the day, and definitely at night. I'm all for personal responsibility, but it seems like once you've crosed a certain threshold - you're a college graduate, you have a child, you're married - you need to stand up on your own.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Yes, she did finish college. She was 19, I think, when she got pregnant and she did marry the father. If she and master V have been married about 2 years, then she moved on fast.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

All these people and their crazy lives.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Have I told y'all lately that I love being normal? Seriously. I meet these people and I embrace my average-ness full on.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

You're normal, you're not average.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

It's not average, it's just not crazy.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Well, I'm thankful that I'm well-adjusted, then.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I just finished this amazing book, All Souls, that really drove that point home. I mean, this guy's life was even worse. No father, 11 kids by 3 different absent fathers. 4 brothers lost to the gang/drug culture of South Boston, and a younger brother erroneously sent to jail for shooting his best friend- gripping and horrible.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

This morning I saw a woman walking her 2 kids (to school I assume) and the're walkign down teh entrance ramp. Hello! I've seen them a couple other times. And it just got me thinking - what's different abuot me that I wasn't born to that poor, single black woman or born in Calcutta or something. It's unexplainable.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I am like Typo Typerton.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

We're damn lucky. It seems like such a trite sentiment, but really, every day I am thankful to have been born where I was. Not only in America, but my specific circumstances.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I wonder what I should eat for lunch today. Hmm.

I think I'll make tacos for dinner. They're not all that bad for you, what with making them with turkey and no-fat sour cream and fresh salsa, and such.

I did the elliptical for about thirty minutes last night - I was late for the spin class. And I did my arms, too. I love that I can see little muscle outlines in my arms now. If only I could get rid of their lunch lady-ness.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

You don't have lunch lady arms. I think I'll have a bad lunch, because I'm mad at WW. But then I have a Mid East feast from Trader Joe's I can have for a healthy dinner.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Hmm. Maybe I'll go to La Madeleine. I could get a fat-free caesar and a cup of onion soup.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I think I am going to hire a trainer, though. I'll say, "Okay - this is the deal. I want to lose 15 pounds, I want to reduce my body fat percentage, I want to tone my arms and my legs, and I do not, under any circumstances, want to broaden my chest or my shoulders. Can we do that?"

Seriously. The one part of my body that I love is my narrow, narrow shouders. They must not leave me.

Joh, how did you find a trainer that you like?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Lunch lady-ness. That makes me laugh.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Just through my gym.

You can't broaden your shoulders. You'd have to do serious, serious weight-lifting. But they will have you do shoulder exercises and tone them up.

A trainer is expensive, that's why I quit.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

What are y'all going to eat today?

I wish there were a meat-and-three nearby. I'd love a vegetable plate with collards, black-eyed-peas, and macaroni and cheese.

Oh, and someone to eat lunch with. That would be nice.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Oh man, that sounds good. Yum. Now nothing will match that.

How far away from you is Chris' office? You could always call Allison.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I may call Allison - I need to call her, anyway.

I really should just get something that I can eat at the office. It's a busy day, and I need to call caterers.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Why do you need to call Al? I'm intrigued by her saying Anna Beth can "drink"

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

To say hey, how are things going.

I imagine that Al would do plenty of tlaking about AB if given the chance.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Oh, I imagine too. I had a burger but I only ate 1/2 of it. And five fries. And a large beer. I have no "work" work to do. So it seemed reasonable.

There is allegedly a public pool around here- I think I'm going to start swimming on my lunch hours.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Al just responded. I'm impressed.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

With?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Uh, yeah. That was about the tackiest shit ever. Since she doesn't even know you or Eric or Pam or anybody, I can't imagine why she'd feel the need to weigh in on something she has no business being concerned with.

There's no accounting for some people's lack of taste, or judgment. Evidence of this lies in the strange choice made by Name Stealer to wear a big beacon of ugly on her head on her wedding day.

I hope you let it ride, and understand that her entire readership has no idea what she's talking about. Meanness is sometimes awarded with attention, but that's about it, and it passes. Her attempt to vaguely air the dirty laundry of people she doesn't even know (not that she should have done it, had she known you) was rude and pointless.

I don't know how she found out, but I hope she doesn't start spreading the news. I would hate it if people though pamie quit because of you and E. Clearly, she's pretty much over it.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Who is Name Stealer? Do you think Allison really does not realized that AB told her?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Name Stealer is Chris' ex-wife, Kathleen. She's the name stealer because Allison's grandmother's name is Kathleen, and Allison always wanted to name a daughter Kathleen, but if she married Chris, it might not be appropriate.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Uh, y'all? I know her. And it's not about Hannah. I sort of thought it was too at first, but it ain't. For real.

-- AB (anna@annachao.com), July 11, 2001.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

See, at first I thought it might not be about Joh, but then I remembered that Joh had written something at one point or another about the finger-tracing.

-- T (tlippincott@hotmail.com), July 11, 2001.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

So is AnnaBeth going to tell y'all who it allegedly is about? Who else would cause such a stir in the OLJ community if found out?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Seriously, I don't buy that for a second. Has AB been hitting the drink so early to think y'all will?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I don't necessarily buy it, either. I do think, though, that Al had no idea that this was going on.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

I noticed that too, and that's why I thought it was about you, H. But I am here to assure you that it's not. And in the context of it not being about you, it's not such a mean entry, now that I read it again. I mean, it's clear she's really fucking mad at somebody, that's for sure, but maybe she's talking about herself, and I could see why she'd be pissed off.

-- AB (anna@annachao.com), July 11, 2001.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

It must be a similar situation, then. Day-um. When I first read it, I thought, "Gee, this sounds a lot like a conjecture of the P/E/J situation. Except, Joh has never made a habit of stealing other people's boyfriends, and she never stayed at Pam's, and I didn't think she and Pam were *that* close - but ooh, this finger-tracing thing..." And then I thought that the whole thing inexplicably pissed Keli off to the point where she was all, "Fuck it, I'm going to make her sound as heinous as possible."

-- T (tlippincott@hotmail.com), July 11, 2001.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

Well, good. I was gonna get mad. She's extremely funny sometimes, so I was disappointed. And the Barbie thing, well... I have to say, AB, the recent splash page was highly inspired. The little ruler was my favorite part.

And that is an old school Barbie, because I have some. I love how she looks all askance like she's about to steal something from her hostess at a cocktail party. When I saw that, I almost wrote an HYD about it, but I didn't want to belabor your genius. You really should photograph the naked Barbie basket, next time, because it is brilliant. Aw, that makes me very nostalgic for the bathroom recording studio...

Did you and Mad get your package, by the way? I sent one Saturday via regular mail to sweet old Marshalldale.

-- Al (aloe_texas@yahoo.com), July 11, 2001.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

I know. There are a lot of similarities, but then, there were some discrepancies that didn't match up, like the staying with the friend, and all that. But then again, Keli kind of likes to stir up trouble and arouse suspicion, so I'm sure she used a little, uh, "license" when she wrote it.

-- AB (anna@annachao.com), July 11, 2001.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

No! We no get package yet! Aw, I can't wait. Yes, I was pretty proud of the jailhouse Barbie. I wanted very badly for her to be smoking a cigarette, but I couldn't make it look real. As far as the copyright stuff goes, I made one with a fake Barbie and sent it to Keli, but she doesn't want to use it. She said she will take down the original when lawyers are knocking on her door. Hee.

-- AB (anna@annachao.com), July 11, 2001.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

I wouldn't worry about the Mattel goombahs until they're at the door. That's what I thought, AB - that she wanted to stir up trouble, so she used license.

And now, see, I'm all curious as to who the entry is really about. Like Al, I was all set to get mad.

-- T (tlippincott@hotmail.com), July 11, 2001.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Did Joh leave early today?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I have no idea. I didn't think she was leaving until tomorrow. She must be at lunch, or something, because she hasn't posted at the MATH board, either.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I want to know who else it could possibly be. No one, if you ask me.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

My email is whaaaack. Could you send me an email so I can see if I'm actually receiving any of them?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Done. To both accts- I wasn't sure which one you meant.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

thanks

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

So where is H? I need entertainment.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I'm here, I'm here. sorry, I had to run errands.

Y'all, either AB is covering herself or Keli is lying to AB. That is so CLEARLY about me. Otherwise, Keli would've responded to my email and she wouldn't have taken my link down.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Are you going to post that? I really, really want AB to have to come up with who else it is allegedly about or 'fess all.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

AB said Keli won't tell her who it's about. I did mention that she took my link down. No response.

This sort of pissed me off: I don't know how she found out, but I hope she doesn't start spreading the news. I would hate it if people though pamie quit because of you and E. Clearly, she's pretty much over it.

Her main problem with it? That people might think that's why pam quit Squishy. Not becuase someone said horrible, malicious things about her supposed friend.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Oh, right. "I know this isn't about you because she said so, honest." Blech.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

She did say "But then again, Keli likes to stir up trouble and arouse suspicion" so I'm taking that as an admission on AB's part that it very well could be about me.

But at least now AB knows that her precious Allison thinks her new friend is trash. That's good enough for me.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

True, true. And I can see how SOME of it was written with someone else in mind. But not all of it.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Y'all, I'm out. This morning, they decided to consolidate the company into just governmentbids.com, and move forward with that, with only Pierre doing government consulting on a retainer basis.

That means that I no longer have a job, as what I do no longer exists.

I'm pissed, and I'm shocked, as I asked several key people here, months ago, about where my job stood in relation to the company's new direction, and they told me that I had nothing - nothing - to worry about. Well, they lied. I'm furious. And you'd better believe that when I meet with them tomorrow morning to discuss any additional severance, they'll be paying for my COBRA until I find another job, and they'll be buying my options out for a dman steep fee.

Fuck them.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Ohhhh, mayn. That sucks. Royally.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

oh no! Bastards! But at least you get out of that evil job and get paid to do so, right?

Have you talked to Cynthia?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Just called her. She has a line on a job, and she has my resume. She's talking to a guy who is looking for someone right now.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

It was an evil job, but y'all. $55K. I'll never see that again.

I still need to call Chris.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

That's good.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Good! You get severence even if you have something else lined up, right?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I still get severence, but I need y'all's help in reseraching what common packages are, these days. They gave me the shaft, in terms of no fair warning, but they will NOT give me the shaft in terms of my package.

I don't think it's unreasonable at all to expect them to pay my COBRA.

If only I could find my damn option letter.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

No, and three to six months pay is a mediocre to good package, last I checked.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I would have no idea, except I do know that Eric and Pam's friends in Austin that got laid off in dot.com downsizing all got 6 months pay and like 3 months benefits.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Really?

Then fuck them and their three weeks pay.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Oh, three weeks pay is the total shaft.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Well, then I asked in chat, and they said 2 weeks is standard. Who knows.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

oh hell no on the 3 weeks. That's like what you get if you get FIRED. Get AT LEAST 3 months. Especially since they assured you your job wasn't in danger.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I think two weeks is standard if you're being fired, but I'm not being fired. Well, I am, but it's a "we don't want to have this part of the company any more because there's no market for it." Not a "you suck" one. And besides, I'm pissed.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Michelle got 6 months, and I think Trejo got 3. But maybe that's because of the rash of severences in Austin. I don't know. 3 weeks is crap.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I hope Chris can understand the language of my options, because I certainly can't.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Are you going home now? Will you come in tomorrow?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001