This picture just cracked me up something fierce.

I made Martha Stewart's spice cookies because: a) I really wanted to make them and b) our apartment manager died very suddenly a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to give them to her husband (who also happens to do all of the maintenance in the complex).

They came out really well! I highly recommend them - they're a lot like gingerbread cookies, but much softer. Usually my gingerbread comes out pretty soft, but these were a lot more manageable.

Warning: the recipe is for 9 1/2 dozen. That's a lot! I halved the recipe and it still made a ton of cookies ... not that anyone is complaining.

This picture cracks me up. I don't know where it came from but it sure looks like a lol to me.

I've been a business student for a long time now. Particularly in finance. I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I would like to think that I'm relatively educated. Here is what I think:

• You would be amazed by the difference in discussion between the media and my current finance class, which includes people who currently work in the banking industry.
  
• It's going to get worse before it gets better. Sorry.
  
• It's not the end of the world, or the end of the American economy as we know it. (Sorry again!)
• A "bailout" is a really, really bad idea. OK, that might be just my opinion - I'm a laissez-faire, pro-deregulation kind of person. Only because it's the better alternative. Have you ever worked under Sarbanes-Oxley regulations?? Pain.in.the.butt.
  

Things have been totally insane in my household the past couple of weeks. And are sure to be busy in the upcoming month as well.

We've gone from dream house to no house in just one evening. So much for my dreams of no more walking to the other end of the block to my car & having to wipe the windows in the morning ... a real kitchen with a full size refrigerator and room for a stand mixer ... or space to put anything for that matter ... a dining room and patio for having friends over ... non-communal washer and dryer ...

I know, I'm so demanding.

I looked at the bottom of the perfume I've been wearing lately. How bad can life be when you spray yourself with pure joy every day?

Today we stopped at the Target that could be our new neighborhood store. We had a little time so we perused the Halloween section, and who was there looking back at us?

Apparently, Domo-kun is Target's Halloween mascot. He's on displays, signs, toys, candy, everywhere!!!! We left with Domo-kun in a pumpkin costume. No, I really couldn't live without it. And no, he did not come house shopping with us (although he did an extensive amount of dancing on the way to our agent's office and on the way home).

Just in case, for your entertainment:

Last night I got an email:

Dear Emily:

During a routine review of student records for the MBA.PM program we discovered that you are likely to qualify for graduation at the end of the fall 2008 semester.

Best. Email. Ever.

Ah, if I had all the time (and money) in the world, I'd sign up for this.


You do three races: Surf City (Huntington Beach), Long Beach, and San Francisco, either the full or half marathons, within 2 years. Then you get some kind of finisher's medal and I think a jacket. I would just use it as an excuse to run officially and go to San Francisco.

I was thinking of doing the Surf City half marathon this year instead of the 5k. But at $80 for the half marathon, and $50 for the Long Beach half - seems like a lot of time and money I need to put toward all the other stuff going on lately...