They're talking about creating a dress code here at Cadence. Everyone is getting immensely stressed about it, and I can hardly blame them. This code would, apparently, force me to wear one of the following exciting clothing combinations:

• Tailored slacks, a blouse, and blazer
• A skirt, blouse, and blazer
• A dress

Appropriate foundation garments are expected at all times. If a dress or skirt is worn (acceptable so long as the hem no more than three inches above the knee) then nylons are not optional.

I feel it is quite safe to state that, should this dress code go into effect, I will leave.

(I know I'm over-reacting a little. I do. But there are eighty trillion system administration jobs in the Silicon Valley, and I see no reason to put up with a dress code which will make doing my job more difficult.)

I got to sleep late again last night. My original noble plan upon getting home from class was to go to Trip's, grab some fried chicken, and then do homework and study for my exam. This failed pretty immediately, as Trip wasn't home when I got in. I settled down to study anyway, with Fiona Apple's Tidal on the CD player. About fifteen minutes later people were at the door. As it turned out, Marith and Chrisber had stolen Trip away for dinner.

I shoo'd them off, did some more homework, then got fed up and went to find people (and fried chicken). I spent the rest of the evening over at Marith's, eating chicken and admiring the new game she got for her Macintosh. My desire for something to play games on grows ever stronger. A playstation would be nice, but the games are expensive, so it seems more likely I'll buy Jim's old Mac off of him when he gets a new one. If I can afford it.

Like I have time before next year to play computer games.

The conversation was amusing, though. Marith and I ended up talking at length about when manipulation is ethical and when it isn't. We reached very few conclusions, of course. Marith and I are good at talking to each other, but our worldviews are vastly different. There are things that seem obvious to her that I just don't get -- and vice-versa, of course. It makes for brain-bending talks, although occasionally I get terribly frustrated.

Exam tonight. Oh, boy. I can't wait for this class to be over. I like what I'm studying, and I like the instructor, but he does _not_ like me, and that makes the class sessions very nerve-wracking. Plus there's always something really weird on the exam that the entire class gets wrong... but even though everyone gets it wrong I still feel like an utter idiot for being unable to figure it out. Gah.

I'm glad I've got a good month to figure out what I'm taking next quarter.