This list may get updated since I still have 3-4 to go through and decide upon (primarily the year books) but for starters:

Stargate:
#7 Nov/Dec 2005 (AT)
#11 Jul/Aug 2006 (TH)
#13 Nov/Dec 2006 (DH and AT)
#14 Jan/Feb 2007 (RL)
#15 March/April 2007 Atlantis cast

Starburst #339 MS and JF

SciFi
Feb 2006
Aug 2006

Prices and shipping negotiable - this is to fund my next con trip - everything is in good to excellent condition - they've been sitting in a drawer for awhile. 

Maybe it's the open houses with the staged homes I've been through, maybe it's watching 'House Hunters' and shaking my head at the room people think they need, or maybe it's just procrastination and stress relief, but I'm spending the long weekend cleaning and organizing.   

It may have started when I grabbed a few things out of my closet to take to the thrift store to add to my con fund, but it's kind of snowballed.  I actually put the wooden hangers I got as birthday gift last fall to use and my closet looks a lot better.  I'm not quite back to the days where my hangers were color coded, but there are a few less items hanging up since I've lost some weight and a few skirts and such don't fit (and there are a few more that will get consigned/donated when I lose a few more pounds). 

I've been meaning to do this for awhile, there are packrat genes on both sides of my family - I found my airline ticket stub and hotel receipt from the Bedford con.  I found a box of my research and papers from my masters thesis that I should go through.  I'm tempted to hit IKEA and the Container Store for some organizers, although I have one of George Carlin's monologues about boxes for your boxes running through my head.  I also should probably go through my books and CDs/

I do have a few Stargate and Scifi magazines I need to sort through and may sell some, for anyone interested.

Heard last night JF will be at the LA con.  Now I'm trying to decide if I want to spend extra and get a photo with him and Paul.  Maybe I can justify it as a belated birthday present.

Happy Birthday nakedwesley  Hope it's a good one! (JF is pondering what to get you...)

Yes, I am a geek (and so are my siblings and bil).  There's several tshirts on thinkgeek's website I want, including one from one of my favorite books.  However, last weekend I was discussing geeky tshirts with my sibs and I have a couple I'd love to get made (I do have a place that does custom tshirts nearby).

My first given my research: "I play with pathogenic fungi and gene expression."  Any questions?"  My sister recommended I not wear it when I have to go through airport security.

The second, which I'm guessing someone already makes: "Evil scientist in training."

I was reviewing a chapter on PCR protocol and saw that my old undergrad advisor had written it.  (I went to a tiny midwestern college)

Found a jury summons in my mailbox for city court next month - luckily it's right next to campus and its on a Friday, which means there's a good chance I won't have to show.

Participated in someone's research project for a couple extra $$$ to add to my con fund (an hour of speaking random phrases for a project on speech disorders.  I was part of the control group).  There's so many photo ops I want...
 

I spent the previous weekend in San Francisco as a mini-vacation and a chance to visit my siblings.  Not quite as relaxing as I would have liked, but plenty of good food and coffee, as well as lots of walking (why do I always forget about the hills) and beautiful weather - sunny and warm.

( Fun in SF... )

Trying to make some progress on my research this week - needed to order some primers and enzymes - $900 which is pretty cheap for a genetics lab - luckily my advisor has some money right now.

In other news I'm trying to pack and clean my house - leaving tomorrow for a long weekend in San Francisco to see my siblings.  Of course I'm hauling stuff for them - sigh.  On the bright side, I get to hit my favorite coffee place and eat out at some cool restaurants.  One of these days we're going to organize a 'Top Chef' tour.  My flights are a little funky - I had trouble getting a non-stop so I have a stopover in Vegas on the way to SF - luckily I don't have to change planes.  For those who have never been to Vegas, they have slot machines quite literally as you get off the plane - bad temptation!

I think Utah would be about the only state this could happen... seriously there are no Scots there?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_odd_kilt_controversy

I've seen guys on my univ. campus in utility kits (http://www.utilikilts.com/index.php?page_id=46). ; I should also that my undergrad college was the 'fighting Scots' so our band wore kilts - seriously - it was always fun to watch the guys figure out how to sit the first dinner they had to wear their kilts.  http://www.wooster.edu/music/band/index.htm

Got a very important piece of mail today - my original lender sent a letter saying my mortgage had been paid off.  I am so glad I don't have to deal with them anymore (if anyone on my f-list has a lender out of Ocala, FL - they'll know whom I'm talking about).  I think things will be much easier with my new lender, despite all the fun I had dealing with them during the re-fi.  Now I just have to contact the county assessor's office to make sure they know I'll be paying the property taxes.

I feel like I should be celebrating.

  As I'm scrambling this morning, trying to get ready to take Max to the vet (more on that later), my phone rings, which I ignore until it goes to voicemail.  When I do check it - I get a message in a very heavy southern accent from my mortgage lender saying I need to call them back.  I actually google the number to make sure it's legit before calling - my previous lender has rejected the payoff check.  Apparently there was a shortage in my escrow account and they simply couldn't take the money out of the $855 in extra interest I paid.  I basically get told to call my lender.  I thought everything was fine, because my rep told me they had double-checked the numbers, the new account was set up and I was essentially locked out of the account with my old lender.

So while I wait for the vet I try to make a few phone calls and wind up either waiting on hold or talking to voicemail.  Max is fine, his eear infection is gone, they apologize for not giving me the correct advice about his ear bleeding (I was supposed to keep him in the bathroom), and then I'm told his ear polyp (which is partially to blame for his recurring infections) will need to be lasered, which they don't do. 

Back at home I make a few more mortgage-related phone calls, including one to the troubleshooter I talked to before.  I finally make the escrow payment, then run to the bank to make a depost to cover it.  I'm waiting to here back on how the extra interest charged will be handled.  They were threatening if my previous lender didn't backdate they check, the might have to redo the refi.  The great irony is I got my customer satisfaction survey today.

Never mind he has two water bowls...Max decides drinking out of the bowl in the sink (probably my dirty cereal bowl) is more to his liking.

This past week was the last full week of the semester for me in regard to teaching.  My students still have one final lab abstract to turn in during the coming week, and I have stated I will not accept them via email, so it will be interesting to see who actually shows up.  I also have two students coming by this coming week because they want me to write letters of recommendation for them.  It's quite an honor.  

If the swine flu doesn't escalate, graduation should happen as planned, which means Obama will be showing up.  Will he actually get an honorary degree after all the outcry?  I just know I plan to be nowhere near campus that day - my parking garage is near the arena where they hold graduation - it's usually crazy for graduation, but it will be a nightmare with security!!

I'll be busy in the lab this summer - should finally be able to start getting some research done.  I ran my first DNA extraction yesterday with a decent yield, hopefully the PCR will work once we order primers.  I need to get on the phone with the USDA and try to speed up the permitting process so I can get the rest of my fungal strains.  My goal is to have publishable results by the end of the summer.

So far my big escape for the summer is a long weekend with my sister in San Fran.  I'l also be house-sitting for my parents once or twice (and making use of their cable and the flat screen).

I am also considering undergoing minor eye surgery if it can be scheduled before I need to teach after the 4th of July.  The puffiness of my right eye has always bothered me (the eye usually looks half-open in photos) and I think I found someone who may be able to correct it for me (I found a doc who's plastic and reconstructive practice is limited to eyes).  Insurance may pay for part of it if I can get the referral from student health (I have an appt. this week).  My mom may help if it's not covered.  I feel a little silly and vain doing this, but I think it's also worth checking into.

Everything with my house re-fi finally went through, although I'm holding my breath for the refund check and waiting to see if my former lender pulls something stupid.

I'm trying to save money for the LA con, ut am so tempted to go the Chicago con, given the line-up.  Sigh.  I just wish I knew the proposed lineup for LA>

Just got a call from my lender.  My loan funded.  Now all I have to do is sign the paperwork.

I just found out my re-fi will not close until April 30th.  WTF?!  I was originally promised Feb 27th, informed on the 24th that the loan to value ratio was off by a fraction - $112 to be precise.  Finally told me in March that I should pay down the principal - which took lots of screwing around with my current lender, then told the re-fi would not go through at the end of the month because they didn't get the paperwork soon enough.  I called this morning to see what was going on and found out that my latest payoff hadn't even been entered, I have been reassigned a new rep, and the loan will close April 30th.  This after repeatedly teling the old rep I didn't want to make a payment for April with the current lender and being reassured that I wouldn't have to. 

I've filed a complaint with customer service - we'll see what happens.  I feel I'm owed something more than a "I'm sorry."

I found out today I will be TAing one session this summer - the same class I taught last summer.  Hopefully I can re-use my quizzes and tests.  I'll be teaching for five weeks starting July 6th.  I have to teach three labs a week (T, W, Th), plus proctor exams.  I was a little nervous because there were a limited number of slots and a lot of people needed summer funding - as grad students we're generally guarenteed funding fall and spring semesters (about 40 weeks).

More info should be coming out soon about the other source for summer funding - fellowships from the grad college.  Usually they're good for another 1-3 paychecks, but you have to apply and they're awarded on a case by case basis.  (Summer TAships pay about 1.5 paychecks).

I'm glad part of my summer is funded - I could possibly afford to go the Chicago con, although it wouldn't be a gold ticket if I'm funded the entire summer.  It's just the university is in a budget crunch, so I'm taking nothing for granted.

Garage sale this morning, which unfortunately, began way too early - like 7AM.  Which meant setting up around 6:15 because the hard-core budget hunters are usually out early.  This year they weren't.  Sold maybe a third of my stuff and the things my parents contributed.  Not many people came by, there was some bad haggling (offering $1 for something reasonably priced for $10) and I closed up around 11 when people had not been by in about 30 minutes.  Still, I did about as I expected - worth it for the early morning.

The bulk of the bills I got were singles and fives and all pretty ratty - is this an economic indicator when bills are worn and people aren't even bargain hunting (the weather was not a factor).  I had quite a wad - a stripper wad as my sister would refer to it when I headed to the bank.  The clerk got a little flustered because she had to count the bills by hand - they were too beat-up for the counting machine.

In other news, my re-fi should be finished soon.  My new lender has all the necessary paperwork and the payoff amount is below the loan amount, thanks to plenty of time wasted on the phone (and I have a complaint filed with the BBB about my current lender).  Should close within a week or two.

Despite six weeks and multiple phone calls, my home mortgage re-fi did not go through last Friday like originally promised.  Luckily I haven't been turned down, underwriting is still 'reviewing.'  I went off to Bedford and London thinking I wouldn't have to make a mortgage payment in March and could use that money to finish paying for my trip.  Needless to say I'm not happy.  I was even less happy when I found out things were not quite as straightforward as I was led to believe - namely I still might not have enough equity. 

I was originally told I needed at least 20% equity - I've got fractionally more than that, but I was told I may also need 20% equity plus 1-2 months worth of interest.  So I sent off a check to pay down my principal to cover the potentail shortfall with interest since I can't bring cash to close.  I just hope the mortgage company doesn't screw it up (one of the reasons I'm refinancing).  It won't hurt me to pay down the principal, I'm just a little frustrated that I can't get a definitive answer out of my new mortgage company about the amount needed.

To add insult to injury I get a call from the same bank I'm refinancing, but different branch in regards to my checking account, trying to get me to open a CD or savings account (I love my online savings account with another institution and I don't need an overdraft account) or have I considered a credit card with them?  I nearly ripped the guy a new one. 

Sorry for the rant, but this is frustrating!  Hopefully everything will be settled before I have to pay property taxes and insurance next month.

This was from the start of their talks on Saturday.  Please do not snurch without crediting me.