I received a phone call tonight from an unidentified number.  Andrew's calls come from unidentified numbers, so I picked up.  Disappointingly, this was not him, but a woman with the exciting news that I had been selected to possibly qualify for an exciting exciting paid exciting destination vacation. It was so exciting.

First some questions. Married or single?

Not married.

Ooh, not married. Okay, then. Gainfully employed or successfully retired? I asked if those were the only options, because, you see, I'm a student. I'm not retired. But I'm certainly not gainfully employed, either. She then--with concern--asked me if I was twenty-five years of age, in such a way that I assume year twenty-five is a requirement for qualification. More than that, I assured her.

She let me down gently. I did not qualify if I was neither retired nor gainfully employed.

"But hopefully," and her tone expressed her sincere desire that this would be the case, "the next time we call, you will, you know, have a job."

The picture-taker within me has broken free of its chains.  More importantly, the picture-editor and high-contrast-putter has also broken free.  Discover them in their glorious liberty at http://picasaweb.google.com/e.marieness.