I love my cats. I really do. I love them so much that I didn't strangle whichever cat ran across my face at 4:30 this morning as I slept, putting his full weight into the one paw that landed in my left eyeball, which was exposed thanks to me opening my eyes and moving my head at just the wrong moment. Thank heaven his claws were sheathed, otherwise I could have gotten a nasty scratch across my cornea.

However, I'm trying to figure out why it's my right eye that aches. My eyes are really puffy today. I think it's my sinuses. *shrug* Oh well.

There's nothing like walking into your place of business first thing Monday morning to find it crawling with security. Especially when no one is entirely sure why said security is stationed near the bank of elevators and on several floors.

That's what I walked into yesterday morning. There were big signs in the main lobby/atrium warning people to have their employee IDs ready for viewing. There were confused looks on the faces of the employees as they displayed requested IDs..

I suppose I could have asked one of the security guys what was going on, but apparently I have difficulty even thinking about such a direct approach. Naive person that I am, I merely thought that maybe a high profile celebrity was in the building. Certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.

Later I asked a co-worker (our new coordinator, M., who is taking over my old position) if she knew anything.

"I heard disgruntled employee," she said. Oh great. Nothing like worrying if you're going to make it home alive to brighten up the day. Something else that, quite frankly, is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Turns out it was just the rumor mill working over time, since my boss, D., says it was related to some recent laptop thefts. Of course, he could be wrong, too. But the security is gone today, so maybe it was something relatively harmless after all.

Car shopping.

Were there ever two words that struck more fear in the hearts of meek, non-confrontational types like myself? I think not. And yet it is a reality that many of us have to deal with several times in the course of one lifetime. Several times too many, in my opinion.

I've been very lucky. I've fought through that fiery gauntlet but once in the past, and managed to exit the other end, bruised and battered, but possessing a car with which I eventually fell in love, despite (or perhaps because) of its little mechanical quirks.

But here it is, nearly twelve years later, and I have finally bid my beloved Pony a fond, yet all too hasty, farewell. For a month ago today I braved that gauntlet and emerged with a car that I am proud to own and drive.

I was intending to purchase a gently used Saturn, '97-'00, preferably a coupe, since I've been hankering lately for a sporty car. I walked into the local Saturn dealership with my folks and talked to one of the salesmen. A low-key fellow, he was exactly the type of salesman that could actually get me to lease something. And he did.

Despite his suggestion that an SL1 sedan would be more practical and cost me less, I nearly drove out of the dealership that night with a pretty blue, three door, fully loaded 2001 SC2 coupe. The only reason that I didn't was it was a Saturday and he had to check with the bank on Monday regarding my credit. By the time Monday rolled around I realized the coupe, with its higher insurance, would have been a little too pricey for me, so I called him up and told him I wanted the sedan after all. I picked it up that night.

So I am now leasing a dark, dark, dark green, fully loaded 2001 SL1 sedan, four door, with an automatic transmission. It's very pretty, drives really well, and is definitely winning me over.

The nice thing is when my lease is up I have the option to finance the buy-out, or if I can afford the coupe I longed for, I can switch to that. I like that option. And the lease will force me to be better about servicing my car. Since I purchase Saturn's Car Care Plan (which adds $20 a month to my payment), it won't be too difficult, because I never have to worry whether I have enough money on me. I just drive the car to the dealer, they service it, and I drive it out. It's a very good thing.

The only downside is I can't dress up my car in anyway that could screw up the end of the lease, so I'm trying to find non-permanent ways of decorating the fellow (I must find a name for him, suggestions are appreciated). Currently there's a nice little blue plastic moon air freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror and a strand of alien head Mardi Gras beads wrapped around the clothing hook in the back seat.

BTW, I'm currently working on a new site. I know I've stated that I've worked on this site or that site over the last few years, but this one I seem to have a real passion for and, once I finish it, I may be inspired to finally move this site over to my domain name, which I've had for over a year now.

Once I'm finished (or mostly finished) with the site, I'll post the URL here. It's just a fun little site, but it also promises to be quite extensive and will require a great deal resarch. I can't wait 'til it's ready to go live.