I'm reviewing a manuscript written by a whoooooole bunch of authors for whom English is not a primary language. I had dreaded this, but I'm finding it unexpectedly amusing. Witness the following actual excerpt, which I swear I have not edited or modified in any way:

As it was mentioned earlier, when one is trying to learn it is inevitable that he is going to make some mistakes. But, as one keeps trying, mistakes are diminishing and finally he masters the skill. So, what's the use of mistakes? Do they mean that someone is stupid or incpable of learning? Of course not! If the question is to asses him only for the academic season, then it's OK. But it is to asses him for the rest of his life, then the answer is obviously negative. It is obvious that everybody needs his time to learn. This means that EVERYBODY CAN LEARN IF YOU GIVE HIM TIME.

It is obvious that my favorite part is the misspelling (twice) of "assess." Followed closely by the shouting at the end.

I freaking love the Internets.

Hooray for sweets!

I really tried not to be all gluttonous yesterday about breaking my fast, and I did all right--a big hunk of German chocolate cake after lunch, then a few of those dumb cheap wafer cookies I love at night along with one of the Reese's eggs that have been sitting in my kitchen taunting me for weeks.

The weird thing is, as I ate the Reese's egg, I...well, it wasn't like I didn't like it, or even that I was disappointed, just...I dunno, I guess it wasn't as sublime as I expected. Maybe that's because I built it up too much, or maybe my sweet tooth lost a little of its power. Who can tell.

All I know is that if you'd have told me three months ago that in three months' time I'd enjoy yogurt and be underwhelmed by a Reese's egg, I'd have punched myself.

Oh Peeps, oh Peeps, my heart's delight

You see me through the stormy night

Of my heart's discontent and dreary whine

For all of the year that's not Easter time

Your arrival, like spring, brings new life to me

I gobble and gobble your small beaks with glee

Till sugar and marshmallow make my teeth ache

And my poor tummy screams, "STOP! Give me a break!"

They make you in various colors and shapes

White, pink, yellow, and purple like grapes

There are birdies and bunnies and sweet little chickies

The endless variety gives me lots of kickies

And cheap! Oh Peeps! You can be had for a song!

I buy by the barrel and bring you along

In my purse and backpack, and pants pockets too

Even though the washing machine turns you to goo

I love you for always, my sweet mallow friends

I proclaim a devotion that shall never end

To the tooth-numbing treats wrapped in sugar so fine

Peeps, oh Peeps, my candy divine!

All right, fine, you three loyal readers of mine can stop whining: I'm updating!

But you can go ahead and start whining again in about 30 seconds, because I don't have anything interesting to say. I just wrapped up a review at work, but I have to start another one this week. Oh, and then when that one's done, I get to jump right into another one. This freaking sucks because reviews are sooooo draining. It's my favorite and least favorite part of my job, the part I'm best at and the part that is the most stressful. Basically, it's my first and best chance to fix the POS manuscripts that are assigned to me; I read through the manuscript when it's assigned and not just identify what makes it a POS, but figure out how to nicely tell the author how to fix it. It's just a long, drawn-out process that I do like but I never feel like I've done it as well as I want to.

Anyhoo, yeah, tomorrow morning I've gotta find a way to recover from the past month and generate all the energy and excitement needed to start a review. Should be good times.

In other news, just one week from today, I'll be able to enjoy any ol' sweet treat any time of the day. I've got three six-packs of Reese's eggs waiting patiently for me in my kitchen. Man, 40 days is a REALLY long time. I'm proud to say I've spared you a bunch of goofy and/or self-satisfied posts musing on fast-related crap, whether that be garden-variety whining or deep thoughts about the global implications of my resisting a piece of birthday cake at a family party. I can't promise you I'll stick with that trend, though, as I'm thinking about maintaining a permanent limited fast. I'm already kicking myself for even thinking about it.

I finished physical therapy a couple of weeks ago. Huzzah! My back still hurts. Boo-urns! It doesn't hurt as much when I do my exercises, though. I need to get my act together.

It's supposed to be in the 60s and 70s this week...thinking about busting out skirts and sandals. Yay!

See, told ya I didn't have anything interesting to say. :) I should be able to get back to regular updates now, though.