Below are the 25 most recent journal entries.

	2004.08.29  15.38 Like Warren Says, "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead." My fabuolus briefcase did not sell. The Veg-o-Matic did. Go figure. I have been too busy screwing up at work to call and see how much money was directly deposited into my checking account from some work I did for the Frick. If only they had late evening hours. I could make some serious money if they stayed open 24 hours. I don't see why they shouldnt: HISTORY NEVER SLEEPS, so why should I? Credit card companies never sleep either but I can't blame them. If every minute I was alive translated into millions of dollars I, too, would be to full of glee to ever close my eyes. TAKE: $14.00 TOTAL IN THE TILL:$406.56 Mood: awake

	2004.08.19  10.23 Ebay Ethics Its been awhile since I've busted ass for free money and I was starting to feel like my eyes were off the prize. Yea, I don't even know what the prize is anymore--I guess I just want to keep making free money for that bright shiny day when I get to take a vacation to a place that is NOT where my folks are (love them as I may). So I gave Mike some things to put on Ebay. Mike has been using some of his unemployment time to post stuff on Ebay. He's siphoning off some of the more collectible records he has that he doesnt listen to anymore. He ended up getting over $100 for a 5 song Gun Club EP--its made me heady with anticipation/avarice. Also, the whole Ebay thing plays into my desire to GET RID OF SHIT NOW! I had him post the Veg-o-Matic that my Aunts forced on us as well as the most fabulous briefcase in the world (curious? Go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11512&item=6702218238 and tell me what you think). I got this briefcase at a rummage sale. I either paid $1.50 or $.75 for it, I forget which. I love it to death but I just can't use it. It's too small for my needs and my dusty dirty archives job would ruin it. Since I was ambivalent about getting rid of it I posted it high, with a starting bid of $75. Today, Mike forwarded me an email from a gal who wants me to make it a "Buy It Now" at $100. Dang. I want the money and a bird in the hand and all, but we posted it as ending in 5 days and I kind of feel it would be bad form to change that now that its been posted. And I'll probably jinx it by saying so, but, deep in my heart, I know its worth alot. It has to be. I know that Ebay is not the proper forum for getting what it's really "worth" but I feel like I have to and should wait. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR--I want that Cnote! Dammit. On the bright side, the Veg-o-Matic is up to $15. Mood: anxious Music: midival punditz "insite"

	2004.08.02  00.08 "Mmm Mmm" My Ass My Aunt Rose was known as The Coupon Queen of Colgate Avenue. When I was growing up, she would send away for anything that was free. The downside of this hobby was recieving Campbell's Kid's ornaments as christmas gifts. The upside was having a Bubble Yum French Cut T-shirt when I was in 4th grade (ironically, the butchest tomboys of them all, me and Karla, were the first to "develop." God is Cruel) and, my all time favorite: clear vinyl inflatable kites shaped like Heinz Ketchup bottles and Pickle jars. Did I mention Aunt Rose is also the person who taught me how to fly kites? And how to swing a bat? When I went to college, more often then not, the package slips I would get in my mailbox would be for the free Meow Mix catfood bowls (one per household, use Jen's name to get another!) or those goddamn Campbell's kids on mugs, calendars, tshirts--oooo, that was bad. That all being said, I'm expecting about $5 from Gillette from Razors and $3 from Tums for their new Quick Dissolve tablets. The apple doesnt fall far from the Aunt. Mood: drunk Music: Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby

	2004.07.21  16.46 I Did It, See? And I'm GLAD, I tell Ya, GLAD! Mike gave me the $7 I got on Ebay for my U2 45s. Maybe someday they would have put my yet-unborn kid(s) thru college. I just sold my daughter's Presidential bid for $7. I don't care--it had to be done. Those records were taking up space. It was them or me. Not a jury in the world would convict me! TAKE: $7 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $392.56 Mood: restless Music: Young God Radio--Sounds like Swans

	2004.07.16  09.30 Is That All There Is? Last week I had a great time reading cards at the Ladies Bar. I made a lot of money but, more importantly, the Tarot Spirit was upon me. For whatever reason, I was in the zone, whippin' those cards and channeling the advice. It was an evening of people's jaws dropping with the wonder that is Me. Then there was last night. I went back to read cards again and I did read for alot of nice people. But instead of the shock of recognition, my readings were greeted with looks of puzzlement. "Welllllll...I guess I can see that." Not a good response. And then there were the 3 or 4 people who, after I gave them their free 3 card reading said, "Oh! That's it?" YES THAT'S IT. Anyone who buys the full size eyeshadow to get the Free Gift knows--Free never equals "Full Size." Besides, its a FREAKIN'BAR! The tables arent big enough for a ten card reading. I don't think I'd be nearly as grumpy about it if the very sweet bartender had'nt been so trigger happy with the DMX. So it was an OK night--I was'nt the Peerless Oracle I was last week but that's alright. I'm OK--You're OK. TAKE: $48 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $385.56 Mood: busy Music: Peggy Lee in my head

	2004.07.09  00.05 Oh Yes, Its Ladies' Night/ And the Feelin's Right! It's midnight and I just got back home. I did that Tarot gig I was moaning about doing and, of course, it went well. In fact it went better than well: it was really good. The gals who own the bar and the people I read for were all very nice. I'd forgotten that Tarot is a great way to meet people, and in a lesbian bar, there is what my lesbian sister-in-law refers to as "instamancy": that feeling of friendship that happens faster than normal, if that makes sense. The readings went well, too, with a few of them being those "that makes too much sense" readings that are so amazing. I love when people tell me afterward what it was I was talking about. The one reading I feel rather odd about was a woman who asked me, after my interpretation, if there were any health issues in her reading. I didnt see any and, thoughtlessly, I looked harder and ended up sounding stupid. What I realize now was going on was that it was a reminder that she is not her illness even tho its a part of her. Gah--I HATE screwing up readings! That was one out of a whole night of good ones but, just watch, that will be the one I remember! Anyhow, it was alot of fun and they asked me back again. I will probably go back next Thursday. This time I will plan to stay till midnight instead of telling Mike I would be done by 10. I've learned my lesson. TAKE: $61 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $337.56 Mood: bouncy Music: Kool and the Gang in my head

	2004.07.08  09.45 I Miss my Carrot So waaaaay back when I thought I was going to Montreal, I rather brazenly asked some ladies I don't know very well at all if I could read Tarot cards at their bar. I got a call last week saying I could and I thought, "Hooray! More Montreal Money!" Now its the day of, and I'm thinking, "Ugh. Can't I just go home after work like a normal grown up?" With no carrot at the end, a stick is just a stick. Still, I'm hoping it will be fun. This is a small, cozy bar in Shadyside. I think it's a "Ladies" bar, if you know what I mean. Two "Ladies" run it and the clientele seems to be of the "Lady" persuasion. I am 50% of the "lady" persuasion, which means I'll feel sort of comfortable there but I'll need to watch my manners. Which I need to do anyhow, since I'll be working. No Drinking on the Job! Back when I first moved to Pittsburgh, I read cards at a ladies bar called "Bloomers." That was alot of fun, but I met a couple gals there who proved to be very problematic. One used to call all the time (thank goddess this was before cell phones!) and wait outside of the Frick for me so she could berate me, "another hunky girl" for working there. Puh-leez. Who DID she want talking about the maids and the chef? Elsie Hillman? Some people. Also I met a woman there who was my friend (and who I shamelessy called all the time...)until I actually stood up for myself. I never did get my books back. But back then I was in my 20s. I'm less vulnerable now, right?... Mood: grumpy Music: Netscape Gothic Station

	2004.07.07  09.31 Apparently, You CAN Fall Off the Floor I just called the Montreal Museum of Art to get details on the Khnopff exhibit. Mike and I have our anniversary coming up in a couple of weeks and I want to start planning our trip. There wasn'nt information on the museum's website so I thought I'd talk to a real live bi-lingual person. A real live bi-lingual person who told me, with her charming accent, that the show has been cancelled. Quoi? Non--vraiment: QUOI??? I'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION TO FUND A TRIP TO SEE THIS DAMN SHOW! 280 works by my favorite artist! From 280 down to 0, zed, zilch, none! Christ. There is a smaller version slated to come to Boston in the fall. 70 works on paper. No photos. No sculpture. No statue of the head with one blue wing. 70 in and 210 out. I don't care if you are cooler than me, Montreal: You can kiss my ass. TOTAL IN THE TILL: $276.56 TOTAL GOING TO THE CANADIAN ECONOMY: $0, also known as "Rien" Mood: angry Music: Lycia

	2004.07.01  16.53 Pennies from Ebay Just spoke to my currently unemployed husband. While I was at work accomplishing little if anything, he set up our computer, vacuumed the house, did laundry, and is about to make a meatloaf. Dang. He just called to tell me the ebay money for my Who 45 came in. $4.50. See? I just sit here and the money rolls in. Still, I need to do some more experiments or cards or something. Winning the Uncle Sweepstakes temporarily blew me off course. I need to get back to pinching my pennies, pinching them as hard as I can. TAKE: $4.50 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $276.56 Mood: sleepy Music: Young God Records Radio

	2004.06.30  15.46 P.T. Barnum was Right I got my money for the Nico CD. I almost feel bad. TAKE: $8.51 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $272.06 Mood: devious Music: Joy Division "She's Lost Control"

	2004.06.28  12.58 Old News or My Ass Is Saved Again In looking at my previous entries, I realized I had not followed up on what happened after we hit the $2 mark in our checking account. The day after the $2 reality check, Mike and I were to go to my folks place in Ohio. My Dad had been acting rather odd about us coming down, to the point where he used a word I don't recall ever hearing from him: "Imperative." From his tone, it didn't seem like anything was wrong, but with his health on the decline, I wasn't sure what to think. He certainly was'nt going to tell us what was up. So all the way there, I'm obsessing: are we going to get money? My folks dont have any but maybe the aunts? No, I saw my uncle's will--I'm not in there. When you love your family, inheritance issues can make you feel compromised. I mean, we had $2 in the bank, how could I not hope for the best? But I love my family--how could I possibly think about MONEY? It made me feel dirty--in the pejorative sense. Long story short: My Uncle Julie did not put me in his will. His estate reverted to his two spinster sisters for their own well-being. This is as it should be. BUT, he apparently had 4 life insurance policies no one knew about. The aunts divided it up between my Mom, my sister and I. And I'm not telling you how much, which should, in itself, give you an idea. I can't tell you the relief: going from not having the money to buy stamps to send your bills to having the money to pay your bills in full. Bless you Uncle Julie, you goofball, and thank you very much. Mood: surprised Music: Cruxshadows, "Marilyn, My Bitterness"

	2004.06.28  12.45 Devil Cards In A Wicked Tavern About a month ago, I made an appointment with a gal I know from the Frick who wanted to have her cards read. We arranged to meet at Kelly's, which is a great bar that boasts large tables and dim-but-not-too-dim lighting. I'd had a nice re-entry into the Tarot Card Realm with the event at my friends art opening but that was all about quantity. It has been quite awhile since I did a longer, 10 card reading for one particular person. Luckily, the cards did not let me down. Seriously, I don't know how the right cards always show up. Before I left work to go to Kelly's, I spoke with the family of a gentleman whose papers are in the archives where I work. He was a Nobel Prize winning scientist who, among other things, did alot of work on game theory and artificial intelligence. It made me wonder what he would think of Tarot cards. It also made me glad he never thought to experiment. That would have been 40 more boxes of stuff I'd have to deal with. TAKE: $20 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $263.55 Mood: sick Music: Dead Can Dance, "Ulysses"

	2004.06.23  11.27 How the Rich People Eat On Monday, I got an email from a gentleman at a local cemetery. He was checking in to see if I had figured out how I was getting out to Shannopin Country Club to deliver my talk on preservation of Cemetery archives on Tuesday. Oh. Yeah. That. Suffice it to say that it had completely slipped my mind. That meant I had to come up with my talk that night AND go thru my closet and try to find grown-up clothes. Ron, the gentleman who called me, was kind enough to pick me up at work and arrange a ride back home for me. I got to sit at a table full of nice strangers and eat some of the best prime rib I have ever eaten. I will be dreaming about this prime rib like Tannhauser dreams of Venusburg. ANYhow, I got up, and gave my talk. Granted these are all cemetery people, but they had very little reaction while I spoke. Even my joke about how both archivists and cemeterians put dead things in boxes for a living—that went over like a fart in church. Despite all that, I got a lot of compliments and, as I was leaving, Ron slipped me a check for my trouble. I didn’t know I was going to get paid! Hell, I would have done it for the prime rib. But I’m not complaining. TAKE: $35 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $243.55 Mood: anxious Music: "Friend or Foe" Adam Ant

	2004.06.18  16.05 Duh, already. "SATURDAY, JUNE 19 Until July 4th you're apt to be highly focused on - and discoursing at some length about - your cash flow, assets, investments, etc., and your comfort level with your alternatives for improving same or otherwise capitalizing on your talents and skills. Why? Your leader Mercury in Cancer is all about money talking and being fun to have, too." I found a nickel in the copier change slot. TOTAL TAKE: 5 cents TOTAL IN THE TILL: $208.55 Mood: irritated Music: Morrissey, "I Have Forgiven Jesus"

	2004.06.18  12.43 Wolves at The Door There is a LUPEC party tonight, for which I had to pick up propaganda from Kinko's. My original thought was to use my lunch hour to go to the drugstore, buy candy for the party, use my debit card and get money back for the propaganda. And my debit card was refused. I thought we had about $60 in the account. We have $2. Sigh. Siiiiiiiiiiiigh, sigh, sigh. But at least I feel less conflicted about the study I signed up for at Magee. I had made a deal with myself about this money-making thing I'm doing that I would not schedule my real job around anything--any study or the like would have to be after work or on the weekend. But when I saw Magee had a study that pays $450 for 5 visits--I'm sorry, but this is war. I had to. 5 visits and no bloodwork. Plus, its a contraceptive study. Color me self righteous, but I want to help with that. I want the damn money, sure, but I also believe in safe, affordable, effective contraception. So sign me up! Luckily, my first appointment is next Friday, a day I have off anyhow. I also signed up for another CMU study. Something about wages or something. I had tarot business cards made. I knew the gal at kinkos so she cut them for free. My pal. $2. Oh, Lord. Mood: frustrated

	2004.06.17  16.41 Mending the Nets Yet again I forgot to bring in the cache of beads I want to try and sell to that little bead shop on Craig Street. Tomorrow is another day... I don't have any moneymaking schemes currently in play, but I'm mending the nets, so to speak, and getting ready for the next few rounds. I finally set up an email account for my Tarot Company--that way people can contact me without contacting ME, if you know what I mean. This is not a dig against my current repeat Tarot Customers, all of whom are wonderful partners in Tarot Interpretation. I just want to make sure that, as I expand my horizons, I don't get emergency tarot related calls at 4 in the morning. ANYhow, now that that is done, I can print up my business cards. How I Love Microsoft Publisher. Oh yes. Through a combination of low-level nagging and persistent bad example-ing, I got Mike to sign up for some experiments here on campus. $15 here, $20 there, but it all adds up. Still, I feel like a Psych 101 Pimp. Is this thing on?... TOTAL IN THE TILL: $208.50 Mood: optimistic Music: "Black Cat Bone" Laika

	2004.06.14  17.43 Selling Nico I checked the Mike's auctions on Ebay. He put two things up for me--one is a lot of 3 U2 45s from back in the day. Yeah, I went thru that phase but now I'm over it. Also, he put up a Nico 45. This single was apparently from a dark and murky time when someone thought a tall, glamorous, blond German woman with hollow cheeks and a thick, thick accent might be able to break into the American Country Music Market. Is it any wonder the poor woman became addicted to Jackson Browne? I remember being really excited when I got this 45 and halfway thru the first listen realizing "Oh. Oh, oh, oh. Oh dear..." $7 for the U2 records and $8.51 for Nico. Once the money is in hand, then I'll laugh maniacally. ON THE WAY: $15.51 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $208.50 Mood: hopeful Music: Johnny Cash "Mercy Seat"

	2004.06.14  09.33 Selling Off My Misspent Youth So far, this unemployed husband thing hasnt been too bad. Mike's been fairly upbeat about the whole thing, though I'm sure part of that is reality has yet to sink in. Still, it's meant we've gotten to hang out more as he doesnt have to run into work to meet a deadline or go see some band I'm not interested in. It also means he's had time to weed the garden. That, in and of itself, is glorious. Another thing he did was take a stash of CDs to sell. Even before I knew he lost his job, I had gone thru my collection to look for sellable items. My deaccessioning criteria was simple: Do I listen to it? I surprised myself by coming up with about 14 items, not all of them sucky, that just never ended up in my personal rotation. I could have taken them into the CD store myself, by why not let my husband who not only has freetime, but who knows the guy that owns the store. They took all but 3 of my CDs, including a Jonathan Richman CD. I know I was getting rid of it but why not Jonathan? There's always some hippy kid looking for Jonathan CDs--and this one is in Spanish! TAKE: $55 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $208.50 Mood: sleepy Music: The Goth Station on Radio Netscape

	2004.06.10  12.16 There Is No Such Thing as "Getting Ahead" Just yesterday, I was thinking how remiss I've been with my Stated Financial Mission. I have not made any free money in well over a week and have not written about any of my thwarted attempts to do so. I was gearing up to get back on track--sell the stash of beads I have, try and get a regular Tarot Gig. I got my first check from giving Cemetery Tours (a gig I do on Saturdays in the summer and fall) and I was considering putting it in the stash. And then I found out my husband lost his job. I took $20 out of the till last night to get him gin and wings. Sometimes, you have to dip into the till for therapy. REMOVED: $20 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $148.50 Mood: disappointed

	2004.06.01  11.03 All Those Cups Are Making Me Thirsty... I don't have alot of marketable skills, but one I do have that has served me well is reading Tarot Cards. I try to be a responsible reader and, in my book, that means being straight forward and not flakey. It also means being honest about what I see in the cards, even if it means making myself vulnerable to being wrong. What I will say; I don't know how the cards work, I just know they do. I've been looking for a place to read cards and my friend Sharon suggested I read at her art opening, which was at this very shwanky restaurant. I was grateful for the offer but a bit nervous--it had been awhile since I'd read cards for strangers. Plus, this was right after going home and finding out my Dad has cancer. Suffice it to say I was not feeling particularly omnipotent. I set up shop near the bar, cursing myself for not making a sign, cards or anything. I did, however, wear one of my two new pairs of 1940s Hungarian slippers. Gotta dress the part, after all. I worked for 2 hours and I'm not sure how many people I read for. 10? 12? However many it was, I kicked some serious Tarot ass. Most of the people I read for were first timers and it was great to watch their faces change when they realized "Shit. This is REAL." I pride myself on not being scary or flakey, so I'm always glad to break people's Tarotcherries, so to speak. I also did well with folks who have had their cards read before--this is good because alot of folks who get frequent readings also get alot of new-age psychobabble baggage ("I can't touch your cards! That would ruin them!" Puh-leeez). I'm glad I did these readings. After feeling powerless and buffeted by the Cruel Fates, it was good to feel tapped into that Tarot Pipeline. It was also very theraputic to help people which, in at least a couple cases, I think I did. Plus, I made some serious tip money. Where ever you are, Pamela Coleman Smith, I love you. TAKE: $42.50 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $168.50 Music: Nick Cave "The Boatman's Call" Over and Over, And Over...

	2004.05.27  17.22 Am I Racist if Everyone Looks Alike? Just finished the 2nd half of the Amish Leather Priest Porn Screen Test Study. Of course, that is not what its called, but they would probably get more sign-ups with a title like that. This part was trickier--I had to look at photos and decide which people (not which photos) I had seen before. Dude, these days I'm lucky if I remember to put on PANTS before I leave the house, much less tell people apart as individuals. The photos were all the pre-requisite undergrads, tho there was one striking young man with burgandy red hair. Ah Spring--Ah, youth... And I got paid. The bad news: the EBay person who bid on my Who 45 spit the bait. Rat Bastard. TAKE: $7 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $126 Mood: chipper Music: The Teardrop Explodes "Reward"

	2004.05.27  15.54 Bait and Switch! My Uncle Julie died recently and his two sisters, my Aunt Rose and Aunt Carolyn, wanted Mike and I to come home and "bring a truck. We're getting rid of everything!" Understand that my Mom was the only one of 5 kids to marry and the other 4 have lived together in the same home all their lives (my Uncle Vic passed on last August). "The Aunts," as all 4 of them were always called, have all the supercool stuff: my grandmother's trunk from Budapest, prayerbooks and cookbooks in Hungarian, costume jewelry from the 1940's. They also have lovely furniture which, if they were getting rid of it, we were going to be first in line. They get me every time. Much as I love my Aunts, they are the Queens of the Bait and Switch. The usual routine is: AUNT: You really like that [ring, clock, radio, photo, etc.]? ME: Yes, its great! I've always liked it! AUNT: (flattered and surprised) Really? ME: [trying not to sound frustrated but, for the hundredth time,]YES! AUNT: Really? Oh, honey, you can have it! Not now, though... So we looked at the cut glass iced tea set and the ceramic chickens, and the Hungarian 78's and the working cabinet radio. We came home with a framed photo of a B15 bomber, 6 pyrex custard cups and about 20 packages of Christmas candles Compliments of Marathon Gas. So you understand I consider my birthday money from them to be well earned. TAKE: $50 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $119 Mood: grateful Music: Nick Cave "The Boatman's Call

	2004.05.20  17.19 Hot Amish Leather Daddy Priest Action! I signed up for another University Psychology test--this one is a two parter that will pay a whopping $7 after the second installment. I ain't proud--$7 is $7 after all--but I think I'm getting a little too jaded for these undergrad psych experiments. I just got back from installment one and, I'll be honest, I forget exactly what this is supposed to measure. Memory? Perception of Stereotypes? Whatever its supposed to do, I watched a series of photographs of people's faces and I was supposed to hit a key (yet another laptop-in-an-empty-room experiment) to register how extroverted the person was. 1 was the lowest and 5 was the highest. All the people were men wearing white buttondown shirts. They were either black or white and the photos flashed up for about 3 seconds. The difference between the photos was the the "costume" each was wearing. All the guys in the photos were obviously other undergrads inexplicably wearing strawhats, clerical robes, leather motorcycle jackets, hardhats--I felt like I was looking at screentests for a Gay Porn movie. I kept hitting 3 because I was indignant--I felt like they were trying to gage my reactions to race when, honestly, I found myself responding to the hats and jackets instead ("He's supposed to be Amish based on that hat. Or shipwrecked on a Hawaiian island: 3"). I think I gave a 5 to the one guy who forgot he was'nt supposed to smile. On a different note, it looks like my Who single is going on Ebay for $4.50. Lucky bastard. WILL GET: $7 for the study, $4.50 for the Who single TOTAL IN THE TILL: $69 Mood: amused Music: Belle and Sebastian

	2004.05.18  14.25 Shootin' Blanks For truth in advertising, I suppose I should mention all my moneymaking schemes that have come to naught: ·Trying to sell a lot of vintage glass beads to a lady who makes beautiful bracelets and earrings. She was very nice, but she spit the bait. DID’NT GET: $30 ·Tried to sign up for as a non-smoking subject in a nicotine study. Couldn’t get past the 6 blood draws. DID’NT GET: $150 ·Had my husband put a few of my rarer 45s on Ebay. Doesn’t anyone like the Yeastie Girlz? DID’NT GET: $9 ·Tried to get a Tarot gig at my friend’s restaurant. She liked the idea, one of the other three owners liked the idea. The third owner “doesn’t like Tarot cards.” Well, pardon us. DID’NT GET: $30-75 Every Tuesday Night ·A local cemetery took me up on my offer to do research for them at$10 an hour. Felt I had to prime the pump by doing a few initial searches for free to show them what I’ve got. NOT GETTING: $50 to date On the upside, I do have a tarot gig at my friends art opening on the 28th, my Ready Steady Who! Cd has at least one bid, and the cemetery research is fun. I JUST WANT SOME DAMN MONEY. I was starting to despair last night but, as many of you ladies know, the Darkest Hour Is Just Before Menses. Now I just need to protect the job I have and work on my dossier. It’s due June 1. I would rather swallow hot coals. I think I have an attitude problem. Mood: cranky Music: Luna "Superfreaky Memories"

	2004.05.11  17.41 "Who's the New Hoochie?" I just got done with the final part of a 2 installment experiment. This one was about memory. The first day, I stared at a computer screen as it flashed pairs of words, one in Japanese and its translation in English. After about 1/2 an hour of that, the Japanese word flashed on the screen and I had 10 seconds to type in the English word. If I got it right, I earned a point. If I got it wrong, I lost a point. If I just passed on answering, I neither lost nor won any points. Once the scoring part started, I felt like I was in a high stakes game of solitaire. I would NOT be beaten! I started coming up with mnemonic devices which, as you may know if you use them, work best when they're stupid: "Secretaries always say 'Yes Sir' when asked to FILE," "Who's the NEW Hoochie?," "He got hurta by the KEGA," "A calm kitty is a GOOD kitty," "The MIKONs are a wild band." Yesterday was fun and, when it was over, I was admonished by the young man with the earring to NOT study any Japanese between then and today. He obviously did not know the power of my Memory Tricks. When I went in today, it went even better--I even remembered the devices I kept forgetting yesterday--the word for "belt" and the word "san" in it: Sansabelt pants! I was on fire! Today's installment was supposed to take an hour and I was done in 40 minutes. I thought that maybe earring boy was impressed. He did say "I heard you typing away in there." He gave me a questionnaire to fill out which, unfortunately, did not ask me to explain how I ever was able to score 174. As I was filling out the form, earring boy said "You qualified for the $24 level." "Really? What levels are there?" "$20 to $25." He could'nt be serious. I mean, I was LITERALLY ON FIRE in there. I WAS Japanese, damn it! They must not give anyone the $25. Maybe they figure if they did, no one would keep their Eyes on the Prize. TAKE: $24 TOTAL IN THE TILL: $69 Mood: confused