If I go through my entire graduate school career without a research assistantship or a fellowship, is that going to look bad when I go on the market? I've never applied for either one, the reason being that I enjoy teaching, and I don't think I'd be happy if I weren't teaching. In fact, I've been teaching year-round for two years now, and I'd like to continue doing so if possible.

I just found out there's going to be a movie, titled Serenity, which will tie up the loose ends in the series Firefly. It's scheduled to come out in late April, and I can't wait to see it. :)

I don't think it will fit the world's biggest head, so I'm offering this hat to others who might want it, who have medium or small heads:

After posting the circumstances under which I last gave blood, I felt like a heel, so I decided for the sake of my karma to give blood again. Turns out I have very healthy blood, so healthy and platelet-rich that they think I'll be a great candidate for apheresis donation:

The donation itself takes approximately 90 to 120 minutes. During this time, you can sit back in a specially contoured chair, relax, watch a movie or listen to music. While you relax, a small portion of your blood (less than one pint at a time), is drawn from your arm and passed through a highly sophisticated cell-separating machine which collects the platelets and returns the rest of your blood components to you. Your blood passes through a sterile, disposable kit that is used once -- for you -- and discarded. Your blood never touches the machine.

Regular blood donation is part of my initiative to be a better person. The other part is community service knitting, Sundays 12-2. Hopefully doing these things will make me happier as well as help others.

I'm the number one hit for "world's biggest head" and for intentional cuckold relationship. Excellent.

I went ahead and added a "Food & Cooking" category, since I appear to be in the midst of a cooking kick. Here's tonight's concoction: Shrimp, half a Vidalia onion, a pinch of red pepper flakes, a pinch of minced garlic, salt and pepper, and--on a whim--a handful of sunflower seeds, all sautéed in olive oil (until the onions caramelized). It might sound a little iffy, but it was great. As an appetizer, I had an Ataulfo mango, also known as a champagne mango. For dessert? You guessed it.

At the 4th of July barbecue I attended yesterday, peals of laughter erupted as we talked about taking prelims, passing prelims, and being ABD. One guy joked, "Yeah, there should be a title for someone who's ABD. Something between Mr. and Dr." We decided it would be "Dicter." I don't know what abbreviation would be appropriate. Dcr.? A woman who goes by Ms. would then become "Ds.," pronounced "Dizz." (I like to spell that with two z's.)

Can I just tell you how cool Krista is? She asked me if I wanted her to grab any southern food for me when she and Mister Boyfriend make the move up here. I requested a slice of country ham, but I hope she doesn't go to any trouble to get it. :o

I don't have a good 4th of July post for you, but Ginmar does.