Well, the upshot of yesterday's meeting, to make a long story short, is that the Consultants From Hell came in here breathing fire and fury about how badly we were treating them and how it's none of our concern how they run their business. And then they bitched Alvin out for taking the print job to a company that would do it right, rather than letting them "fix" it by taking it back to the same place that wasn't able to offer what we wanted in the first place.

Oh, and they also both made it clear, yesterday and in a phone call today, that I owe both of them big time and that I'd better remember that and in the meantime, they're both pissed off at me.

Ah well. That's two names I can strike from my Christmas card list. A clear 74 cents in savings on postage alone.

I may wind up having to strike off Alvin, too. He got a little pissy with me this morning when he wanted to do a post-mortem on yesterday's meeting and I refused to join him in ragging on the ConFroH. At this point, he clearly thinks it's an "us against them" situation and that I'm being one of "them."

The heck with them all. I am so over working with children. I blame the ConFroH mostly, because they're taking everything personally and getting all emotional and failing to act professionally and all of the other things that women are stereotyped as doing in business. But I blame Alvin a little. At least, today I do, now that I have the feeling I'm becoming a ping-pong ball between the three of them.

On the bright side, I've started having panic attacks again. If they keep up, I can go back to the doctor and get the little, pink pills and I won't care about anything any more.

Anyhow.

I got my hair cut on Friday. Rather dramatically. I took off about six inches. It's a nice change. (I was more enthusiastic about it before the Weekend From Hell followed by the Monday From Hell.)

(Hell figures largely in my life right now.)

On the other hand, last night was weigh-in night, and I lost another pound (since last Thursday), so it looks like all of that celery and tuna fish are paying off! Hooray! Only ten pounds to go!

But I've decided to hold off on dissing the appalling plan they have to add a right-wing perspective to West Wing until after I've seen a few episodes. I mean, it's already bound to suck to a certain extent, what with being taken over by someone who came to fame writing Law and Order or whatever show that guy used to write. (Well, maybe it's not guaranteed to suck, but I'm in a pretty bad mood today and I still think John Goodman was an appalling piece of misplaced stunt casting although I do know people who rave about his acting ability so I could be wrong but I don't care at the moment.)

What else?

I've lost 10 pounds in the last five weeks, which is pretty darned good. Check.

I chopped off 75 percent of my hair and now bear an appalling resemblance to Annette Funicello. Check.

West Wing is gonna suck and I'm not happy about it. Check.

The next person who offers to help me find a job is going to get punched in the nose. Check.

Mitch Pileggi is going to be on the new Tarzan show (as the bad guy) and not even that is enough to really convince me to watch it. (Well, I hadn't discussed that before, but I don't see there's much to add to it.)

Much to my dismay and irritation, Nick Lea has been cast with a recurring role in that piece o'sloppy crap, Andromeda so now I have to decide whether or not to start watching it again but, again, I don't think I have much else to add to that sentiment.

I'm in a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad mood.