The Ankle Biter @ Quibbling.net

• Kingsley’s Blog: How to Calculate Your Base Hourly Rate
  specifically for design freelancers, but an excellent article for ANYONE considering freelance/consultant work
  (tags: business howto money rate hourlyrate freelancing career mpoj design developers tips tools guidelines salary pricing)

…but I’ll stash it behind a cut. (more…)

Yesterday when I left work, my XM unit had trouble maintaining a signal.  I’ve had issues with the antenna before, since I’ve got a Roady and the wire runs out through the passenger door.  So I fussed with it, and fussed with it, and then after pub quiz I messed with it some more, and couldn’t maintain a consistent signal.  I was a little concerned that it was the actual receiver and not the antenna that was the problem. 

So I walked into the house and remarked to Tom, “I’m having some kind of problem with my XM…”

And he said, “You’re dropping signal left and right, aren’t you?”

“Are you having the same issue?”

“XM lost a satellite today.”

“Oh good, it’s not my equipment.”

In a software upgrade gone awry, one of XM’s satellites stopped transmitting yesterday, so now the signal is screwy everywhere.  Very frustrating for my commute.  I am spoiled by having non-shitty music and good standup comedy while sitting in traffic.

Clearly, this is the curse of Opie & Anthony.

• Joelogon’s Theorem of Avatar Attractiveness
  I met Joe at Tech Cocktail. I liked him instantly. I liked him even more after reading this.
  (tags: avatar web attractiveness theorem joelogon)

For the second time, Timbuk2 announced some limited edition bags, and for the second time, I am in serious lust.

I am prevented from purchasing the perfectly adorable, purse-like Eula bag, however, by the fact that the teeniest bag costs $175!

It’s cute, but it’s not that cute.

• Debating Connected: 24 Hours in the Global Economy. - By Daniel Altman and Daniel Gross - Slate Magazine
  This sounds like it’s going to be an interesting series. I should pick up the book
  (tags: globalization economics industry industrialization trade)

• The Subjection of Islamic Women and the Fecklessness of American Feminism
  no, I really don’t think that liposuction is morally equivalent to a burqa, thanks.
  (tags: women violence islam oppression misogyny feminism america)

In the car, on the way home from Pittsburgh.  Tom is on the phone with his mom to wish her a happy Mothers Day.

“…and hug Tiff for me too.  After all, she IS the future mother of my grandchildren.”

“Yeah, okay… will do…”

“I bet you heard a lot of that this weekend.”

“No, actually, we had managed to avoid it completely until just now.”

“Oh, and then I ruined it!  Sorry!”

“Quite all right, Mom…”

(For the record, I’m pretty sure we had only avoided it that long because my grandparents weren’t home when we stopped by to see them.  We had been bracing for the full-court press.)

—-

And a special bonus, “How’s married life, visiting-the-parents edition!”

Saturday morning, sitting in the living room in my jammies, talking to my brother.  Tom is asleep downstairs in the guest room.  My parents come down from their room.  Dad wants to know if we’re still planning on all going to DeLuca’s for breakfast.

“So, what’s the plan for this morning?”

“Well, I was waiting my turn in the shower, and then Tom will shower, and then we’ll be ready to go.”

“You could shower together to save time.  You can do that now.”

“Um, yeah, but it’s weird to do that here.  At home, you know, sure, all the time… but it’s still a little weird to do that here.”

“Sure. I was just trying to save you some time.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

My mom shrugs as if to say, “What’s the big deal?”  My brother looks vaguely uncomfortable.

—

I really should make a category for these entries… I have a lot of fun writing them.

Teh Ladies! LOLOL!

Originally uploaded by tiffany bridge.

This is me with my mom, Tom’s mom, and my grandma Baxendell.

This officially my first Mothers Day where I have an additional mom and grandma- a veritable wealth of mamas!

Tom and I came up this weekend to hang out with my mom for Mothers Day, so we’ll be participating in the Baxendell Family ritual for the occasion- making breakfast for Mom, some little gifties and suchlike, and then we’ll head up to visit Grandma this afternoon before Tom and I take off again for home. In the midst there will be phone calls to Tom’s mom and the other grandmas, so it wil be a day full of mom-ness.

Primanti Bros.

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

I don’t know if we’ll have time for this while we’re home this weekend, but it’s nice to be back home, where potatoes are considered a sandwich ingredient.