Diary of a Cereal Killer

Too late for a refund?

2012-02-16T14:36:00.001-05:00

I openly acknowledge I've had a pretty awesome life, so far. Things have not been overly difficult and I've been cradled in a spectacular luck pocket that has dropped some fantastic shit in my lap and kept me out of any serious trouble. All in all... I can't complain, which is why I'm pretty sure the last few years are karmic tuning, because OMGWTFBBQ?

I have a lot on my plate, right now. I'm stressed and very tired because of it. One might say I'm quickly running out of candle.

I've now been divorced for a year, and I'm mostly over it. I still get twinges of remorse for how terribly I handled a lot of it, but I don't think there's any good way to really tell the person you've spent a decade with that you're done and moving on. Especially when they aren't and don't want to.

I don't regret leaving. I'm happier now, for sure, but I do wish I'd gone about some things differently.

Things with my parents continue as they have. My mother still refuses to let anyone other than myself in to help and it's wearing her out. Stubborn Irish.

My dad has had a couple of falls and I've had serious issue with how my mother has handled the situation, but I think she now understands that trying to take care of it herself and not calling me immediately is foolish and she needs to cut the shit and let me handle it. I also need to have a talk with her about meeting with a lawyer to discuss important things like getting my name on accounts and the like. She just doesn't grasp what a nightmare it's going to be if something happens to her and I'm left with my father and no access to anything, except through him. Whenever I bring it up, she acts like I'm out to rob them blind, which is insulting on a level I can't even properly express.

The coup de grâce was dealt on K's birthday, when he found out he has skin cancer that's spread to the lymph nodes in his left leg/hip.

Late last month he had the melanoma removed from his leg, which left a crater in his calf, and they biopsied some of the lymph nodes in his left hip. The good news is that it hasn't gone anywhere else (*knock on wood*), but he has more surgery coming up, next week, to remove the affected nodes, and there's at least a year of treatment ahead of him to try and stave off a reoccurrence of it. Which they estimate has at least a 40% chance of happening.

It's fucking balls... seriously.

In all this there is one bright spot and that's the fact I've been approved to convert to FT at work, which means healthcare and PTO and 401k (not that those are worth shit, right now) for the first time in years.

I'm hoping the conversion will somewhat coincide with the start of K's treatment, so I can have some paid leave to get him over the initial hump, when he'll be the most ill, but I'm guessing that will depend on where I am in the karma regeneration...

So, all in all, this year is not off to a stellar start. I'm really hoping it perks up, because I'm running out of room on my shit list.

Just say No to SOPA/PIPA

2012-01-18T11:39:00.001-05:00

Think of it as a conversation piece at the next PTA meeting...

2011-11-15T13:57:00.001-05:00

Of Govt. hackers and just plain hacks...

2011-08-09T15:16:00.001-04:00

I don't post much on Livejournal, anymore... for the most part I only come here (go there) to read the few remaining people left on my friend's list (y'know, when the Russian government hasn't brought the site down) and then I venture back into the ether from which I materialised (aka: Facebook).

I dupe my blog on blogspot now (which you're probably pretty aware of, if you're actually reading it there... here... OMG WHERE AM I!?!?), and would probably move it there altogether but for the lingering sense of loyalty I have to LJ and the tattered remains of what was one a really solid community of people, who I still enjoy keeping tabs on.

I mean, ten years is a long time to just throw something away... my marriage aside...

I really need to look into acquiring a backup of my posts here...

While we're casually mentioning government hacks... anyone looked at their portfolio lately?

Don't look... seriously...

Utterly random aside:

I posted this on teh book of face, but figured I'd drop a plug here, as well. A friend of mine has been working on a creative writing exercise dubbed: The Prose Project.

Basically, it's a choose your own adventure style story that's posted in weekly chapters, every Sunday evening (PST), until story completion. He's currently on chapter four of the second story and it's an interesting ride, thus far.

I read it every Monday morning, over breakfast. I recommend checking it out, if you are looking for a brief diversion in your day.

Things with me are basically business as usual.

Work has been steady, dogs and cats are learning to live together (TOTAL ANARCHY!), I'm broker than broke, but not altogether unhappy, so I'm just riding the wave and hoping to stay above water until finances smooth out. Car is still randomly exploding out of various areas... which isn't helping the financial issues, but what can you do?

The important thing is that I'm seeing longer periods of happy and shorter spurts of mind-blowing stress. I'm working towards getting back into yoga and other exercise, which will help with the freak out moments, when they come. One day at a time and all that...

I have some vacations coming up, which is exciting! Holly and I scraped and saved and got a beach house for a week, end of this month. My plans for that include getting some sun, eating a lot of burgers and s'mores and drinking fruity drinks whilst doing both. It will be good. Then, in October, I'll be back out to LA for a long weekend of utter dorkitude at Blizzcon 2011!

So yeah... for once I can honestly say that I can't really complain. Maybe that's why I haven't been on here as much? I'll take it.

Harvey, you cad...

2011-03-22T13:00:00.001-04:00

(Un)surprisingly, it's infinitely more difficult to get back into the swing of writing on a regular basis than it was to fall out of the habit. I'm going to assume this is due to the fact my life is so 'wash, rinse, repeat', right now, that I've reached a point where even I'm tired of hearing myself talk about the same shit over and over.

It happens.

On that very note... The Mini has been having a bit of fun at my wallet's expense, lately. I'm not terribly shocked that it's being tempermental; after all, it's almost 10 years old, with just over 120k miles on it. Foreign auto or no, that's as good a time as any to start messing with your owner's mind and oh, but he is.

Yes, it's a he. I'd named him Harvey before I'd even gotten him into the driveway. I know it's more traditional to name these things after women, but personal experience has taught me that men are just as prone to tempermental fits as women are, so there's no reason my little rat bastard of a car can't be one.

So there.

I don't even know if I ever mentioned the problems I've had with him, which started from the word: go. Apparently, at some point in his existence, the windshield had been replaced and not by a Mini dealer. Not a big deal in most cars, but there's something about the way the windshield on a Mini is sealed that makes it a wise idea to pay the extra and have the dealer do it.

I learned this first hand the first time it rained and I opened the door to about four inches of water in the back seat.

There's a drainage duct from the sunroof that filters down the front frame of the car and this was somehow messed with during the replacement, leading to the bugger leaking like a sieve. Several hundred dollars later, he's water tight, but clearly some internal issues exist, because anything involving electricity on the driver's side of the car is... wonky.

The driver's heated seat, for instance, only works if you're not sitting in it. Though the last few weeks I've had toasty buns, which is greatly appreciated at 5am, before the heater has warmed itself up. It was back to being a jerk, this morning, however.

The driver's side window will occasionally decide it no longer wants to work. Thankfully, it has made this decision while rolled up, but as I park in a garage, it makes entry and exit from work a bit of a bitch.

The driver's side headlight went out, awhile back and didn't come back on after a bulb change. This morning, to my great amusement, it was working. I'm wondering if the seat gave itself up so I could actually see the road, for a change.

Please pray to whatever gods of good humour you know of that the lights stay on long enough for me to get my car inspected, because I'd love to not have to shell out a fortune to fix the wiring at this particular moment.

Quirks I can tolerate... living in a box I'm less enamoured with.

The best part of all this is I took him to Mini for diagnosis (which is $130 for them to just LOOK at the car) and they told me that they couldn't see any issues, but the window's motor was likely bad.

I argued, that the motor works fine when it wants to! It's not making any noises indicating strain, it's not showing signs of slowing, which typically happens before one burns out, it just... stops, usually when it's raining and then starts again, suspiciously after the world dries out.

How am I the only one who sees the pattern here?

So now that the issue has spread (I don't have a backup light, either, but that might be unrelated... might) down the length of the car, perhaps they'll...

Nah. Screw them and their $130. I've got the name of a couple of local mechanics I'm going to chat with. Right after I hit the lottery.

Yeah, whatever...

2011-03-14T09:37:00.001-04:00

I suppose that, in the greater scheme of things, my personal issues are pretty insignificant, but I'm not just an only child, I'm an American Only Child, therefore the world revolves around me and my problems... the rest of the news be damned.

I keep trying to motivate myself to write here; to write in general, because I have been keeping things bottled and it's taking a serious toll on my health, both mentally and physically.

I honestly don't think I've been this depressed in a long, long time. I don't know what to do with it or about it. I feel like I'm in this automated daze and there's no light at the end of the tunnel... oncoming train or otherwise.

Really looking forward to the endless rains of Spring... cuz boy do those perk me up...

/sarcasm

My parents are not in good shape. My father can't remember what he had for dinner, even if you ask him right after he's eaten it. His physical stability is shot... he fell in the driveway trying to go to lunch with a friend, last week... and this was using his walker.

My mother's health is deteriorating and she persists in her refusal to seek medical opinion on the matter.

My father was called to court for arraignment regarding his little accident in October. After the police assured me we could work something out, regarding my going as proxy, they issued the summons to him directly and the courthouse told me I have to take it up with the cops, who apparently don't answer the phone or return messages when you call, so I have to go to the station after work and see if someone will friggin work with me on this, cuz my father does not need this stress and is physically incapable of walking down the hall without nearly falling over, nevermind maneuvering through a courthouse at an ungodly (for him) hour of the morning.

I hate this like you cannot believe.

I feel like a selfish prick, but my greatest fear, right now, is losing my mother and having to take over care of my father, which I honestly cannot do alone and the financial ramifications of having to either look into a home or in-home care makes my hives get hives.

I keep telling my mother that she needs to transfer things into my name and she needs to tell me where their accounts are and where she keeps all the files, etc., but she keeps putting it off and refuses to even put my name on their accounts, nevermind transferring the house in my name, etc...

I sometimes want to shake her and make her see that I'm not a prick 15 yo kid, but their 36 yo daughter trying to save them from having the government take everything they ever worked for in order to pay for their care, because that's how it works and she has no bloody idea, because she refuses to believe anything other than her own opinions.

As if this isn't enough fun, my personal life is a bloody fucking mess.

I'm still battling to get copies of my car titles for transferring my registration to RI. I finally got the copy for my truck, but the bank that holds the lein on the Mini just sold the loan (again) and the title is in limbo. I have to call today to freak out and get that expedited, because I received word, on Friday, that my registrations in MA are being cancelled on Thursday, due to "no insurance".

I have insurance... it's in RI, because I didn't expect it to take a bloody MONTH to get this process completed.

I then get to figure out how I'm paying to fix the electrical issue in the Mini, because it has a headlight out and it's not because of the bulb, because I replaced that.

Can't get the car inspected with one headlight, so...

Oh and now the oil pressure light comes on whenever I'm idling... I get to yell at Pepboys about that, since it was fine before they did the oil change.

I'm in the red nearly every month, because I can't catch a fucking break on finances. Just when I get to the point where I have more than $20 in my account, prior to payday, something happens that require I throw cash at it.

Did I mention I have to pay around 1500 in taxes, this year?

I'm looking for a rock I can squeeze some water out of...

I keep saying I need a vacation, which is hilarious, since I can't afford one in any scheme of reality, but in all honesty, I don't know if it would help.

I'm a pretty laid-back person, naturally. I have always considered myself pretty good about rolling with the punches, but I've officially reached a point where I cannot relax.

I'm sleeping like shit, I really am breaking out into hives, the muscles in my lower back are so tight I feel like my spine is made of iron, I'm having panic attacks...

I suspect this is karmic payback for how easy I've had it, which is fair, but holy hell... Why does disaster always come all at once?

State of Being...

2010-11-30T12:27:00.001-05:00

Mother of god... is this year over, yet?

I just finished filling out an application to refinance my truck. The current monthly on it is reasonable, but I'm hoping that, with interest rates being even lower than when I bought it, I'll get an even better deal. Right now I'm acutely aware of how much money I do not have... and it's a lot... so every little bit I can squeak out of the budget will help.

I also petitioned the company I'm contracting through for a small hourly increase. I'm not expecting more than a buck... two tops... but I'll take it. It's a bit more towards the gas fund.

Needless to say, Christmas is going to be lean. Anorexic lean. Starving child in a third world country lean. One might go so far as to call it skeletal.

As of right now, the only people getting anything material are my parents and K. Everyone else... I hope you like baked goods, cuz that's where it's at.

Adding to the fun: my dad had another fall.

I really, really, really wish they'd consider getting some help in there. Even just one or two days a week. They don't need full on care, just someone to come in and force my dad off his ass to walk around a bit.

The main problem with his balance being so shot isn't necessarily that he falls, though obviously that's bad, but that he doesn't have the wherewithal to get back up. His muscles are so atrophied from not exercising enough that he doesn't have the oomph needed to haul himself back to his feet.

It's a worry... and between my own shit and concern for them I've broken out into friggin' hives. I've officially located my breaking point and it's not pretty.

That said... and this probably sounds funny, but... beyond everything else, I'm not doing too badly.

No, really.

I'm stressed, dealing with the usual seasonal/holiday/my life is insane depression, have crazy PMS and cramps, but I'm not unhappy. That's saying something.

I'm not sure what, but definitely something.

Asleep at the wheel...

2010-10-04T12:00:00.001-04:00

Last week was difficult and it trickled into the weekend.

On Thursday my father, who should not be behind the wheel, nevertheless was backing the car out of the driveway when he planted on the gas, shot backwards across the street and launched the car into their neighbour's house.

He's ok. My mother has a goose egg on her forehead from hitting the dash (don't get me started on seatbelts...), but is otherwise fine. Neighbour's rhododendron didn't make it, but it seems as though the damage otherwise is negligible...

Their car is pretty much done. (Anyone want a slightly used 2001 Ford Taurus? Low miles! Compacted rear end!)

Their neighbour decided to call the cops, which led to my mother being yelled at by the responding officer and an ambulance being called, because my father's BP was high. Thus, I spent Thursday evening in the ER, so I could make sure they were okay and then drive them home.

Yesterday afternoon I received a call from my mother informing me that they have to go to court to answer criminal charges for the accident. Great. Lord only knows what's going to come of this.

My mother's convinced they're going to take her license. She wasn't driving, so I don't see why they would... it's my father that's in trouble, though he'll forget what's going on before it's even finished, so there's that.

Second half of the phone conversation, yesterday, was my mother having me explain to my father that he no longer has a license, why he doesn't and that he'll never again have one. I don't know if he believed me (he was convinced he'd gone, on his own, to get another license...), but he proceeded to burst into tears while talking to me, so I can only assume it finally sunk in.

There are no words to describe how painful this is.

My father is a man who exercised well into his 70s and could tell you the history of countless things off the top of his head. Now he can barely walk down the hall and doesn't even remember my birthday.

I spent much of yesterday moping and cooking, because that's what I do when I'm upset. Had a good cry, made pulled pork and apple dumplings, then crashed on the couch with K to watch the Bear's lose to the friggin' Giants (embarrassing game, truly).

My dad always tells me to not grow old... oh if only it could be avoided.

One thing off the bucket list...

2010-09-28T18:17:00.001-04:00

A side effect of moving back to Rhode Island was taking a six mile commute and adding a zero to it.

Time-wise, I really only added about fifteen to twenty minutes (which is ridiculous, by the way... I'm looking at you, downtown commuters), but the extra mileage means I went from filling up my truck once a week to every other day. At nearly sixty bucks a fill that's... retarded expensive.

The answer to this dilemma became the acquisition of a commuter car.

I spent a good couple of months scouring craigslist for VW's, Honda's... anything that gets more than 16 mpg, which is about where my truck is on a good day.

Eventually, after numerous interactions with people that left me wondering if giving them my money was a good idea, I decided I would go for something a little different...

This isn't an actual photo of my car... but I keep forgetting to take one, so this stands as a reliable facsimile.

I'd always thought the buggers were adorable, but assumed they were out of my price range. Further proof of what happens when one assumes...

I got a 2002 that admittedly has a chunk of miles on it, but the things run forever and it was meticulously kept, so I have faith it won't conk on me in a few months. It also gets 35 mpg (roughly... depends on how I end up driving it, when I get used to it), which is glorious.

The only snafu in the plan was... well... have you ever tried finding one of these in automatic? Go on... I'll wait...

Yeah, so... this presented me with a choice. Keep looking for the white whale or suck it up and finally accomplish something I've been saying I need to do: learn to drive a stick.

I stared at this painfully cute automobile for nearly a week. Terrified to repeat the failures of learning attempts past. Then I finally pulled up my big girl panties and went for it.

Either standards have come a long way or Mini has perfected the idiot proof stick, because this thing is ridiculously easy to drive and oh good lord it is SO FUN!

My first attempt at driving it was really just around the block a bit and even in that short a period the difference between it and my Acura was startling. When I went to move the truck into the driveway it was so loosey goosey in comparison.

I've always been a sporty car driver... I have the truck for the boys and lord knows it handles beautifully when I push it to the edge, but there is nothing like sitting low and wide on a stiff suspension in a tight curve...

If that made you feel a little dirty, my job here is done...

So yeah... pleased with my purchase and pleased to finally be able check "learn to drive standard" off of my bucket list.

Next year: motorcycle!

On the mend

2010-09-14T15:11:00.001-04:00

De Quervain syndrome it is!*

Doc recommended I get a brace for it, but I'm so friggin' tired of wearing something on this hand I'm holding off. I've been resting it and trying to be extra attentive when I use that hand for anything, so it's been feeling much better. If it acts up again, I have the little piece of paper telling me what to get at the supply store.

Oh old age... you sucketh!

In house news... I have more projects than time or hands.

The painting of the rooms has yet to happen. I have the paint. I have the time. I lack the will.

K likes the bathroom colour, so he's no motivation. I don't hate it, but it's so... periwinkle, which only sorta works with the decor accoutrements I have and you have to turn your head sideways and squint for "sorta" to even apply.

I really want the light green. I just have to summon the desire to do it. While I'm at it, I need to continue that streak into the kitchen, where the trim cries out to become bright, clean white.

Bisque, as a colour, needs to be stricken from the face of the planet. Seriously.

The problem with attacking the kitchen trim is that it's going to lead me into the... I guess it's sorta a butler's pantry. It's the room off the kitchen where the counters, cabinets and sink live, which, according to Wikipedia, who would never steer me wrong, qualifies to fall under the definition of such... but I digress.

That room is the one spot in the house I desperately want to gut and I cannot possibly afford it, right now.

The countertop is atrocious. The cabinets are old and have been repainted one too many times, so they don't close well or refuse to open altogether without a séance and the brute force of twenty men. Speaking of paint... they're beyond bisque; they're baby shit brown.

WHO DOES THAT?

I know what I want to do with it. I want this. Just with a bit more colour in the walls and backsplash.

I need to work on acquiring that sugar daddy. Or hitting the lotto. Or both.

This weekend, come hell or high water, I'm putting up the temporary fencing, to keep the boys from bolting through the shrubs and into the wide world and then I'm pulling the hydrangea in the backyard. I feel bad about the project, but it needs to happen.

I hate hydrangea. I don't find them attractive plants, in the least, and I have four of them. The problem is they're perfectly healthy and it pains me to pull living things from the ground without replanting them. Unfortunately, short of plopping them on a highway median somewhere, I have nowhere to relocate them to.

Kel's brother was going to take them, but that may have fallen through and while part of me rather hopes he still will, the lazy side freely acknowledges that it'll be a hell of a lot easier to cut them to stumps and rip them out of the ground than to try to root ball them and transport them somewhere. Conscience be damned.

I also need to lure K outside and get him to help me empty and cover over the "pond", as it was referred to in the real estate blurb. I guess "mosquito breeding ground" wasn't as alluring. The dead frog I saw lingering at the bottom, the other day, rather ruins the effect, too.

My goal is to open the area, so the pups can romp a bit more than is currently feasible. It'll never be a full on zoomie space, but a bit of fetch and running amock is possible if I clear out some shrub and the like. I appreciate the secret garden effect the previous owner was going for, but it just ain't my world.

Tomorrow I have to pop over to a used dealership and put a deposit down on a used MINI. It's a 2002, it's adorable and it's cheap as hell. It's going to be my little commuter car.

I could pay for it in a chunk, but I'd rather finance half and keep my savings moderately intact. I'm paying off the last of the furniture, this week, so that will free up a chunk of change every month, which will allow me to restock my funds and double up on payments, as necessary.

I'm not going to feel even remotely comfortable until I have at least half my previous savings back. It's going to take a bit longer to accrue, since I'm not making nearly the same salary as a year ago (God I miss that...), but I need a bigger nestegg, just in case.

It's been awhile since I was this happy. I'm leery of even saying that aloud, lest I jinx it, but... there it is.

*knock on wood*

*Of particular amusement is the note that the condition is being dubbed "Blackberry Thumb"... I plead the 5th...

A Rhode Islander Once More

2010-09-02T16:50:00.002-04:00

The hullaballoo... she is done.

Tuesday was anarchy... I had no bloody idea when we were closing or how much the bank check was supposed to be until a half hour before. Thankfully the lawyer's office was a hop skip and jump from the house, because the movers showed up shortly after the closing was completed.

K's mom was a peach and supervised the move-in while I drove back to the apartment to get K and the last of the crap.

It's amazing how you can have empty furniture and a million boxes and there is STILL a truckload of shit left behind that needs to be hauled.

It's even more amazing how I managed to leave one picture on the wall, which I now have to go a half hour out of my way to fetch before heading home.

Sigh.

If it had been anything other than my Olivia print, I might have just said screw it... but it was my GD Olivia print and I can't abandon her. Here's hoping the new tenants didn't find it annoying that I left behind some misc stuff: mop, broom, dish strainer, orange juice and cheese... a small pile of kitty litter because the dust buster had already been packed before I realized how messy the cat area was... oops...

I'm annoyed I have to add the extra time to my commute home, but realistically I'd just be sitting in tunnel traffic, so whatevs.

The move was also made more difficult in that I gave myself a stunning case of heatstroke by not eating anything other than a breakfast sandwich and coffee all morning. By the time the million degree heat settled in, all the water in the world wasn't fixing me. I ended up drinking a bottle and some of the aforementioned OJ and napping on the way back to RI.

I'm not very bright when I'm preoccupied, alas.

So I have a house. Woot! Now begins the projects...

This weekend I'm painting the bathroom and possibly the livingroom. It depends on how motivated I'm feeling and how my wrist feels after all the edging in the bathroom. I edge free-hand and naturally I do it left handed, so I may very well say screw it and leave the livingroom for another time.

Or I'll be my typical stubborn self and do it regardless and then bitch that I reinjured my arm. This is the more likely scenario.

I also really hate the colour in the livingroom, but I digress...

Said arm is feeling a bit better, but it has moments.

The good is that I can go for longer periods without wearing the brace. The bad is that any sudden movements can recrack my thumb and holy f'in hell that hurts something fierce!

Doctor appointment is next Wednesday, so we'll see if I end up forwarded over to an ortho for further inspection. The ortho I saw for my knee was a hoot and told me to come back with something he can fix. Let's hope this is that something.

So how about that Earl?

I've been blissfully ignorant of the coming hurricane; knowing little more than it existed and may or may not blow stuff around when it gets up here.

Turns out it may well blow stuff around quite a bit, depending upon how its path goes. If it veers out to sea, then I don't think we'll have much to deal with, but if it heads inland things could get interesting.

Right now we're looking at potential winds of 50-70mph, depending upon how close to the coast you are. I'm not exactly on the beach, but I am on one of the higher points in the state, so I'll be interested to see how that translates in terms of epic crossbreeze.

Regardless, I'm working 7-4 tomorrow, so I can not be driving home in the thick of it. Of course, this also means I'm going to have to leave my house before 6am...

But hey! Early start to an extra long weekend!

I took Tuesday off, because I'm already going to have the world's smallest check, this period, so I figured screw it, I'll treat this as the vacation I've been saying I desperately need. Painting my bathroom isn't exactly pina coladas in Aruba, but it's better than traffic and work, so it'll do.

I can haz moar stress?

2010-08-26T13:55:00.002-04:00

Holy mother of...

Either I donated all my good karma to K, to iron out his VA/school BS (long story), or I'm getting punished for all the bad karma I've built up over the last year or so... all at once. Either way, I'm very close to burying my face into a pillow and screaming bloody murder for an hour or so...

Yesterday, exactly 2 days from the date we've been trying to close on the house for the last month, I received an email informing me that the relocation company the seller is going through will not have her moved out until Saturday, so we need to close on Monday or Tuesday.

Now, this wouldn't be a huge issue except the end of August is when all the students move in and therefore if you didn't book your movers a month ago, you are essentially SOL.

I happened to have booked movers a month ago... but for the 28th. The day after the date we are no longer closing on.

So I tell my broker that I need the 27th and can we close that date and I'll just let her move out on Saturday. Not a big deal... lawyer draws up an agreement of sorts and we move on with our lives.

Nope... relocation company won't allow it, because apparently the move is tax free only if she's out before I'm in. On the off-chance she gets audited, it has to be their way or the highway.

About an hour or so ago I got another email saying the lawyers for said company are also not ready for Monday, so we have to do it Tuesday.

So this leaves me... well it leaves me having a bloody breakdown, is where it leaves me, but beyond that it has put me in the position where one of the following needs to happen:

Either the moving company can make my millenium and swap my move date to the 31st or I have to shell out around $250 for a POD to be delivered on Saturday, so the movers can move me into it and I get to haul everything into the house myself, a few days later.

Shit happens, I get that, but I told these people a friggin' month ago that I needed the 27th and was told, "No problem!"

No problem my ass...

I swear to all that's holy... if this job ever goes full time I am taking prorated PTO and drinking pina coladas on a beach somewhere for two friggin weeks...

TWO WEEKS!

*Edit*

Moving company finally called me back and they can swap my move date to Tuesday.

Hallelujah and praise the great wombat... I may yet survive this...

Ow... quit it...

2010-08-16T14:11:00.001-04:00

With all of the typing and texting and video game playing I do, it was inevitable that I'd eventually contract something akin to carpal tunnel. What I didn't expect to be my utter undoing was sleeping heavily...

A month or so ago I woke up from a corpse-like slumber to realize my left hand was tucked under my chin... bent at the wrist at a very severe and not entirely natural angle. Since I hyperextend at pretty much every joint, I knew bad things were going to come from this and so they did.

For about two weeks after I worked through what Google explained was clearly an annoyance of my carpal tunnel... sore wrist joint, burning sensation in my thumb and forefinger, numbness/tingling in the other fingers...

I did what Dr. Google told me to... kept it relaxed, prone and in a relatively natural, flat position; using it minimally. After awhile the symptoms abated and I went about my life.

This weekend I squished GD thing in my sleep again...

This time no amount of resting is working. My arm is on fire from the elbow down and the wrist joint aches like it wants to be cracked, but I assure you... cracking it is a poor decision. Poor enough it landed me in a brace, because last night I slept like utter poop from the burning.

Nerve damage is insidious. It's not enough that it's painful, it has to burn, too? Evil.

The brace is a cheap, but sturdy and supportive Ace and it's really been a marvelous thing. It supports the hell out of my wrist and puts pressure where I need it to keep the wrist from catching fire, which it does pretty quickly after said brace comes off.

I'm figuring I'll keep testing it without the brace at night, when I don't have to do much more than flip a magazine page. I have an appointment with my primary doctor on the 8th, for my yearly howyadoin?, so I'll mention it then and see if he wants me to have it looked at or just call it a day and stop sleeping on it already. In the meantime... ow ow ow ow ow ow ow!

Random aside... I move in 2 weeks... *freaks out*

I should probably consider packing something, huh?

Lettuce, turnip and pea...

2010-08-12T18:03:00.002-04:00

Things I don't recommend doing at the same time: getting divorced and buying a house. The sheer amount of paperwork alone will send you into fits...

Actually, with the exception of having to dig out documentation from places I'd forgotten I'd stored it, the divorce paperwork wasn't tough. The house, on the other hand... gods alive.

I have been on a merry-go-round of chasing people for information and I still don't have everything.

The commitment letter deadline was yesterday. It was pulled and submitted by the skin of the bank's teeth, but with something akin to five pages of conditions...

I roared at the bank and was told to ignore all but a few, most of which... you guessed it, requires other people to provide me things. It's an endless loop of red tape.

In order to finalize the loan, I have to finalize the insurance, which requires the bank finalize the appraisal and the city either provide documentation stating when the plumbing, electric and roof was updated or the insurance send out their own inspector (if I have to pay for this, you will hear me screaming bloody murder from wherever you are, I promise you). I also need the seller broker to cash my GD deposit check so I can show the canceled statement to the bank.

What else...?

OH! I still don't know my closing date... it's technically the 31st, but I've been pushing for the 27th and since I have movers booked for the 28th it damn well better be or... or I'm moving my furniture to the corner and sleeping on the lawn, I suppose.

August 31st is a prime moving day. Everyone's already booked for it. Further, I have to be out of my apt that day, because the new people, who may or may not exist, will move in on the 1st. So if I don't close on the 27th and can't move on the 28th I'm up a creek.

Are we having fun yet?

So yeah... If I seem preoccupied or especially frazzled it's because I am. Work has been busy, my personal life is insane and this house purchase thing is driving me to the brink. So it's safe to say I'm a bit... stressed out.

(just a bit)

One of these days I'll learn to not bite off more than I can chew...

(not likely)

It's never too early...

2010-07-27T16:38:00.001-04:00

Dear Santa,

I know I keep asking for a bunny; I know this (A mini-lop, please... any colour). I just wanted to point out that if you were feeling especially generous and thought I was extra deserving of presents, I would also be 100% okay with the following:

Just sayin...

But wait! There's more!

2010-04-07T13:40:00.001-04:00

Senior tech forwards me an email asking what the resolution to another problem was...

In this email was the client thanking him, God and country for fixing the issue correctly. No mention of me, the asshole who actually took the call and was ripped from said call after the client didn't like the answer provided to me by the tech whose dick he sucked after the fact.

What was the resolution? The issue I identified when another identical call came in. Same behaviour, same errors in the logs. When that was resolved, so was the other guy's issue. This was confirmed after escalation.

I...

GAH!!!!!

Not pregnant... just fat.

2010-04-06T10:24:00.000-04:00

I'm cranky today.

It's going to be near 80 and I'm cranky. That's just not right.

There's a power dynamic at work that annoys me. There are two seniors (as in longevity, not age) who are the go to for questions. One is OCD and the other... not even close.

Normally I don't give a shit, because I manage to get my answers one way or another (either by asking separately or doing my own research), but yesterday I only had the one option and I didn't like the answer I received, so I did what I thought was right vs. what I was told to do.

I can feel the animosity creeping through the cube walls because of it.

It just didn't make sense. I'm not going to send what might be a high priority into the equivalent of a black hole when there's someone a room over who will answer me in a more expedient manner.

Also, for the record? My vagina and I were right.

Sometimes I hate being 'the girl' working in technology...

Without order nothing can exist. Without chaos nothing can evolve.

2010-04-02T12:28:00.003-04:00

Have I told the mattress saga story yet? I can't remember, but I don't want to bore you, so I'll briefly recap that which I've been not so fondly referring to as my Goldilocks experience:

Bought a mattress in plush
Had a mattress delivered in firm
Called store to inform of the mistake, then slept like crap for the week I had to wait for another delivery, had new mattress delivered... in ultra plush
Sighed
Decided I'd deal with it, because at least it wasn't a brick
Realized in short order that ultra plush and my back are never to be friends and called store again for a swap
Have slept like crap for another week, as they only deliver to my area at the end of the week
Am waiting anxiously for what I hope to be a plush mattress that will not suck

I'm really hoping this new delivery turns out to be "juuuuust riiiight".

Yesterday Tucker ate my couch.

Ok, in fairness to him, he only ripped open a cushion. Unfortunately, he also ate the zipper pull, so I cannot close up said cushion. I'm really adverse to the idea of ghetto sewing it shut, so I'm going to seek out a tailor and have them put another zipper on it.

Theoretically, I *could* try to do it myself, but... see: ghetto sewing. I only do a whip stitch and it is ugly and crude. I fail at home ec.

In direct relation to the above, I was awoken at 5am to the dulcet tones of a cavernous chest horking up his dinner in my kitchen.

Actually, I was awoken by the 162lb owner of said chest leaping off my bed and storming downstairs to hork, which makes me think perhaps my lifelong claim that I could sleep through a tornado may not be entirely accurate.

To add a bit of irony to the intro topic, the squish mattress has broken in to the point where it's almost tolerable, so I was pretty dead out when the horking began. This means it took me a second to collect myself enough to realize I no longer have the option to open the back door and toss him into the yard to do his puking; I have to actually go out with him, lest we repeat the event of the other day, where he takes a stroll down the street and gives me a coronary.

Normally this wouldn't be a big deal, but at 5am, after being ripped from a dead sleep, it means I find myself halfway through the kitchen before realizing I'm starkers and while the folks on the bike path might get a kick out of that, I'd rather leave something to the imagination.

So I hauled my sleepy ass back upstairs to find pjs, which means Tucker had already spewed all over the kitchen by the time I finally got him outside; where he ate some grass, horked a bit more, then trotted back into the house to curl up in my warm bed while I cleaned up his mess.

Sigh.

TGIF... seriously.

I Can Haz Attention Span?

2010-03-18T15:20:00.001-04:00

Sleep eluded me longer than normal, last night, so I'm a bit of a zombie, today. Even the espresso shot didn't cut the fog. Urgh.

Bedroom felt like the surface of the sun, so I opened the windows a bit and hoo boy did things cool off overnight. This morning I was doubly disinterested in rising and shining, simply because blankets and pets were far warmer an option.

As a result of iffy rest, I'm less into the whole productive workday mentality than normal. The brain, she is unwilling. Though I do seem to be capable of trying to devise ways of finding myself home early for a nap.*

I shouldn't be surprised about the Jesse James/Sandra Bullock situation, because this is sorta his MO, but as a diehard Bullock fan, I'm disappointed, dammit!

I was watching Miss Congeniality over the weekend (yeah, yeah) and actually commented on what an unlikely pair the two of them were, but that they seemed really happy and to be doing well and now this... Jesse, Jesse, Jesse... tsk!

That's your celeb drama of the week. You're welcome.

So how am I doing? Fuck if I know. I'm here... I'm working... I'm hovering somewhere between not miserable and pretty happy... It'll do, for now.

I'd be better if I wasn't missing a chunk of wall in my bathroom and experiencing water pressure fluctuations the likes of which leave me worried I might be rinsing off in the kitchen sink.

It started with the bulk of my hot water spewing out of the knob (Spigot? On/off thingamabob?). I told the landlord I wouldn't be signing the lease (and therefore stating I was satisfied with the state of the place and willing to take on the cost of any repairs henceforthwithetc) until it was repaired, so he brought in a small contingent of people he hoped would get the job done in the cheapest fashion possible, finally settling upon a guy I'm guessing has done a bit of this work in the past, but you wouldn't really call him a professional in the strictest sense of the word.

So it was discovered that the wall beneath the tiles consisted of plywood or some such and hadn't been even remotely sealed in a fashion necessary for existing in a high moisture area. As a result, the tiles were pretty much the only thing holding up the wall, because the wood behind it is all but disintegrated into mush. Awesome.

They proceeded to demolish the soft portions of said wall and install a new spout and on/off thingamabobs. They have not, as of yet, returned to replace the actual wall. It's currently covered in saran wrap, which lends to a rather... rustic appearance.

So I guess the good news is that my hot water is no longer spewing down the wall at an alarming (and expensive) rate. The bad news is it will randomly barely spew forth at all. Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the drop in pressure, either.

/sigh

Also, my face can stop breaking out at any point now. I'd be fine with that, really.

Seriously. For reals...

I need a vacation.

I'd like to plunk myself on a beach somewhere, but looking at the price of doing such a thing, coupled with the knowledge I do not, as a contractor, receive PTO, I'm thinking perhaps I'd be just as content to sequester myself away at home for a couple of days.

I'd really like those days to be on the warmer and less damp side, but spring being how it is, I might have to just settle for sleeping a lot and doing a ton of nothing. Think I'm going to look into that post haste.

Scuse me...

*Not happening, alas. 3 remote techs means I'm it until after 10 and then the guy next to me is it from 5 on, so I have to sit put until at least 4:30ish... bugger.

busy signal

2010-02-15T17:06:00.001-05:00

Can't talk... moving to Arlington...

Another year gone... Good riddance!

2010-01-18T13:03:00.001-05:00

2009 was The Year of Epic Fail. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, buddy.

2010's starting out with some baggage, but I'm working on it.

Today started out with my rolling into the office rockin' 5 hours of sleep and promptly being told I'd been called and told to stay home*, due to 'inclement weather'. I thought the roads were fine, if a bit slushy, but apparently we've all become big sissies. New England, you disappoint me!

That said, who am I to argue with working from home and catching a nap for lunch? I'm packing up this pony and going home to work for the rest of the afternoon. Ciao!

*I still haven't received the supposed message. Verizon Wireless? Yes, I'd like to have a word with you...

Thanksgiving's grave isn't even cold...

2009-11-30T18:44:00.002-05:00

Christmas is such a bossy holiday. Barges right in and acts like it owns the place...

Anyway, this was forwarded over to me and amused me enough to share. Enjoy!

Happy Stuff Yourself Until You Pass Out Day!

2009-11-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be busy grumbling and groaning over having to put on pants YET AGAIN and go up to visit family tomorrow, so I'm getting this out of the way now.

We'll say I'm being proactive. I hear that's a good thing.

Have a good Turkey Day!

Or Tofurkey Day, I guess... if you're a COMMIE! ;)

...

2009-11-17T18:41:00.002-05:00

Day 12: Still ~~not king~~ no email.

This has progressed past amusing and into frustrating. I'm all fine and dandy with the concept of getting paid to do nothing, but I prefer to do that from the comfort of my couch. This whole having to get up early, PUT ON PANTS, sit in traffic and rot in an office all day thing really takes the fun out of it.

Equally annoying is the circle of fail I'm trapped in. No one seems to know who handles what, so the ticket is being rerouted all over Hell's half acre and nothing's being accomplished on it. Doesn't help that I'm dealing with outsourced support in India, so it takes a full day for the fail to be noticed.

The incompetence, it is staggering.

Oh Friday the 13th... You devil, you!

2009-11-13T13:43:00.001-05:00

This is less about the date and more about what happens when red tape enters your life...

So... I accepted this position in what? Mid-October? My start date was November 2. It is now November 13 and I JUST got the password to log into my company issued laptop.

Y'know... the one where all my WORK is?

The new hire request went in 2 weeks prior to me even starting. It took over a week for my domain account to be created and then no one even emailed when it was done. I had to call the helpdesk for the password.

I was informed that, upon first launching into Outlook, that my account would have to finish setting up and then I'd be good to go. Well that would be true, if I had a mailbox setup. I apparently don't. There apparently needs to be an ADDITIONAL request for that.

So what I've learned so far is that a new hire request apparently doesn't include a domain account or a mailbox setup. So... yeah... um... what?

I guess I'll be doing my work with pen, paper and carrier pigeon?

I can't even be angry about it... that would require I stop being amused and I'm not ready to do that, yet.

Of course, things might be different if I didn't have my own laptop and the ability to connect to the internet through the old network.

Ah... the stench of bureaucracy!

Ok... So now what?

2009-11-11T10:48:00.002-05:00

I usually leave for work around quarter to nine and get into the office just before ten. Not a bad commute, overall, since I'm riding the coattails of rush hour and don't typically deal with an excessive amount of stop and go.

This morning I left a bit earlier than normal, because I was up and ready and had nothing better to do, and found myself in the parking garage at just after nine... Oh right, it's Veteran's Day.

Judging by the utter lack of traffic, one can apparently surmise that apparently 90% of the commuting workforce of Boston is public sector... since it's only you hacks that get the more subtle of holidays off*.

Damn you all with your ten million vacation days and bloated, collectable at age 50 pensions.

Also, thank you to all who have served and are serving in our nation's military. You're good folk, you are. Appreciate it.

I've now been working back in the "real world" for a week, but I'm not getting any actual work done, because I still don't have a domain account with which to log into my computer.

Ah, red tape. Due to bureaucracy, my company laptop is a paperweight I dust off and pet every morning.

I called the helpdesk yesterday afternoon and the guy I spoke with told me that, because I'm a contractor, it will take three business days to create my domain account.

Three. Business. Days.

I'm out of practice, but I'm pretty sure it takes about 10 minutes to create a domain account. I realize I'm not likely to be the only ticket in the queue for a creation, but since my new hire request was sent in nearly three weeks ago...

I talked him down to EOD today with an exclamation of incredulous surprise. We'll see if it actually gets done.

I've been here for a WEEK, people. I'd like to actually DO something!**

Dragon Age = bestest game in a looooong time.

Bioware, how do I love thee...?

So this is the exciting state of my life. Sad as that is.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hover at other people's desks and work by proxy.

*Ok, so it's not ONLY they who get these days off... but it's MOSTLY they... Leave me to my bitterness, dammit!
**Mark the date, people. You won't likely see me begging for more work again any time soon.

Deja vu...

2009-11-09T18:41:00.003-05:00

Remember this?

Yeah... just forget that ever happened. The last three years? Naught but a strange and vivid dream...

Yes, it's true. I'm back to being just another brick in the wall... just without the hallucinogens (fortunately, since I had to take my first ever drug test for employment... quite the process, that.).

Given the way things were going with the self-employment stability, I did the ~~desperate~~ responsible thing and ~~begged~~ networked my way into the position I probably should have accepted 2 years ago.

I was young and foolish then.

It's not quite as profitable as doing my own thing was, but since said thing is circling the drain, it's better than nothing... which is possibly what I'd have in Q1 2010 anyway.

So here I am... in a cube... collecting a biweekly paycheck... I spend half of it on gas and the other half on parking...

In all seriousness, it's good. I like this company... always have. I also like the people I work with, which is key. I was here for five years before they let me go (and then had me doing the same damn job as a contractor, because they realized the people who suggested I be let go were incompetent and incapable of picking up my slack - yay, vindication!) and would have come back when they offered me a different role, but for the fact it was the same pay, but with the aforementioned commute and parking expenses.

This also brings me back into support, where the whole mess started (*cue Elton John*).

Call me crazy, but I like support. I like solving puzzles. I also like being the only estrogen in the immediate department. It makes being good at the job just a fraction more satisfying (I like winning. I like winning over boys even more.). I find it greatly amusing.

So yeah... that's the state of the economy in my life. Everything else is still in a bit of flux, but financially things are stable for a while. Woot.

Severe Brain Trauma

2009-09-24T09:43:00.001-04:00

The place: Conference Call

The perps: Marketing people.

The offense: Barely audible on VOIP connection. Unable to use the telephone dial-in option.

The claim: There's no US number.

The response: "Yes, they labeled it wrong. It's under North America."

I think my brain just exploded from extreme dumb.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear...

2009-06-25T14:16:00.000-04:00

CUT THE CRAP!!!!

Are you f'ing kidding me?

2009-06-17T14:25:00.000-04:00

Ok, see this? This is not okay...

I did not buy a hammock so that it could sit on my deck and rot in it's cover...

I have not moved to Seattle, last I checked.

I am no longer amused!!

Nature's Alarm Clock

2009-06-12T16:41:00.004-04:00

Baby birds are very cute... once they get their feathers on.

But nothing is cute at 5am, which is when these little buggers start shrieking right under my bedroom window:

O HAI!

A bit ago I noticed an immaculately created nest in one of the front bushes (Seriously, this thing was perfectly round and nest-like. These birds are experts of their craft.), but didn't know who the occupants were going to be until just today, when I saw mama robin doing her dinner rounds.

So to all my neighbours who are cussing me out because my front shrubs look like utter hell... Take it up with these guys:

That's four, four leetle robin beaks... ahahahahaaaaahhh

I'm not trimming nuthin' 'til they're all growed up and flown the coop.

Lemmings

2009-06-08T12:03:00.004-04:00

You click... I get points... I spend points on silly nonsense that will please me. The End!

LOLOMGWTGDAIRYQUEEN

2009-05-30T16:00:00.001-04:00

Purdy, ain't it?

*runs off to plan kickass vacation*

Random meme is random...

2009-05-16T10:45:00.000-04:00

...it's also rather fun:

1 – Go to “wikipedia.” Hit “random… Read More”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2 – Go to “Random quotations”
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
3 – Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
4 – Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

I give you Edward Hine's new album: Talent Instantly Recognizes Genius. Steal it from your favourite P2P, today!

Stay behind the yellow line...

2009-05-14T17:18:00.002-04:00

This just in...

What possesses strangers to think it's okay to touch you, simply because you've got something novel going on?

Pregnant women are often victims of this invasion of personal space and I'm here to tell you that being heavily tattooed, yet fairly non-threatening in appearance, will spawn similar results.

Gods, I wonder if getting knocked up would double my bubble breaking? *ponders*

Here's the deal, world... I don't particularly like it when people I know paw at me, so it's safe to say that if this is the first time I'm laying eyes on you, I sure as hell don't want you running fingers down my arm and going, "Oh look at that!"

That's right, lady... LOOK at it, but don't touch it! Did your mother teach you nothing? *twitch*

In unrelated news...

Don't ever let me buy a tub of Moose Munch again. You hear me? Never! Again!

*urp*

Following up on our story from last week...

House ain't got nothin' on me, yo. Well...with the possible exception of a friend who can prescribe him refills...

I'm unsure of the exact details, but age and a Wii were definite factors. All I know is my lower back hates me with the fire of one thousand suns and the feeling, my friends, is pretty friggin' mutual.

Three weeks I've been in pain. Three!

Ignore, for the moment, the fact I was definitely on the mend until last weekend's wedding, when beer and a dance floor came into play. Just focus on the fact that direct pressure on the base of my spine sends me into a diatribe that would make a seasoned sailor blush and usually ends with me in the fetal position, hissing through my teeth.

Yesterday, x-rays were had and vicodin was prescribed, so my weekend's looking up, but when it even hurts through the pain meds you know you have a problem.

I do so hate wasting good pain meds on pain...

We're hoping it's unrelated to the numbness in my left knee and chronic pulling of my left shoulder/side of neck, but now that I'm reading that back... left, left, slightly left of center... Crap.

Tomorrow I need to call the ortho and get back in there. Bastard had better have more to tell me than just 'go to physical therapy, fatty', cuz I'm thinking numb = slightly bigger issue.

Though I'd take numb over the OMFGOW my back is tossing out...

Feel good story of the week...

I can haz hammock*. Bring on summer!

*Not me. Merely a representation of the style I purchased.

Ritualistic Posticide

2009-04-11T01:14:00.001-04:00

Every morning I start my day with Duncan's cold nose air blasting me between my shoulderblades. He's either trying to keep his shnoz warm or launch me off the bed from the shock of it. Bets are on option 2... especially if you've seen how quickly he moves himself into the cozy spot I leave behind, when I finally get up.

Out of bed, I zombie walk to the pile of clothes in front of the bureau and locate my pjs and socks, then release the hounds upon the rest of the house as I tromp to the cats' room and bestow upon them the glory of kibble.

Mewling furbags sated, I meet the mutts downstairs and let them out the slider so they can do whatever it is they do outside that insures they'll be covered in mud when they return to the deck and demand to be let inside to cover my carpets in paw prints. I then trudge to the sink and stare at the mess of dishes for a moment, determining just how badly I really want coffee.

I always want coffee, so I wash just enough to get at the coffee pot and filter bits. Even if I don't drink the whole cup I have to make coffee. It's as much about the ritual as the beverage, for me.

Coffee perking, I feed said muddy mutts and alternate between getting my computer woken up and yelling at Tucker to stop trying to shove Duncan out of his own bowl so Tux can gank his breakfast. When that song and dance is done, I rinse the bowls, give them water and park myself in front of this monitor for the rest of the day.

Wash, rinse, repeat... It's not exciting, but it's how I get rolling.

How do you start your day?

Your Tuesday...

2008-10-14T11:55:00.001-04:00

Now with More Puppy Pictures!

You're welcome. :)

Pimpin' Ain't Easy...

2008-09-30T15:03:00.001-04:00

For my friends out there with puppies:

Gracie's Gourmet Goodies:

Gracie's Gourmet Goodies is dedicated to making the best tasting All Natural treats for dogs!
You will not find any by-products or over processed ingredients in ANY of the treats.
All our treats are made with ingredients humans eat... some of the treats you may want to keep for yourself!

All treats are made to order especially for your special puppy!

If you have a special concoction you would like us to make for you, please suggest it. Our goal is to make you and your puppy happy with all our treats and cakes!

I can personally vouch for the time, care and quality put into these things. My boys love them.

Small business owners unite!

It's that sort of weekend...

2008-09-27T23:48:00.000-04:00

I'm a friggin' idiot...

2008-09-14T12:51:00.000-04:00

Last week I did a veggie cleanse...in that I lived more hardcore than your average vegan for five days. No dairy, no meat, no carbs, no sugar... No fun, really.

I subsisted on a bit of fruit in the morning and then veggies, tofu and nuts for the rest of the day. Felt pretty good, considering. Alas, it's a GD boring way to live, so I called it quits after five days and ate rather normally, yesterday. Turns out that was a stupid, stupid thing to do.

I really need to learn to remember that I'm highly susceptible to attacks of hypoglycemia. This morning I woke up and seriously thought I was going to have to have T call 911. I was fine until I got downstairs, then I had to sit because I was so dizzy I was sure I was going to pass out. Then the nausea hit me; that tight throat feeling that is just absolutely no fun. Yeah, not good.

I literally crawled back upstairs to the bedroom, where T was buzzing his head in preparation for his business trip, this week, and told him something was *very* wrong. He helped me back into bed and ran downstairs to get me a glass of juice (thank GOD we had OJ in the house). That helped.

I stayed in bed petting the dogs for another twenty or so minutes, then came back down and made myself two eggos (since when do these things get so squishy in the middle? Ew!). I am still a bit nauseous and jittery, but improving. It's utterly fantastic that I'm going to be alone for the next four days. I wonder if I can teach the animals to use the phone?

I know my body very well. I can tell the difference between being cranky and needing to eat and holy shit, call an ambulance. The latter is a feeling I've never had before and it scared the jeebus out of me.

I've been a medical nightmare the last few months. Between my father and myself, we're a myriad of issues that I won't bore you with, but I'm wondering if I need to have my bloodsugar looked at again. Diabetes would be a fabulous way to round out the year, I think.

So that's been my adventure. For now I should look into getting dressed so I can take him to the airport. Whee!

7 year itch...

2008-09-11T14:07:00.001-04:00

Public Service Announcement

2008-09-06T09:07:00.000-04:00

For folks in the NYC area and thereabouts, who may not read Neil Gaiman's blog (and why don't you? it's delightful!):

Please Help Find A Missing Person in New York City

Oh God...the funny...

2008-08-07T04:08:00.000-04:00

Oh...it hurts...it hurts!

I think I broke something laughing...

Inventing Swear Words

I don't think you have to be a WoW player to find this funny, but it sure helps.

Auntie Em?

2008-07-23T13:37:00.001-04:00

What is it they say about ignorance being bliss?

I never watch television, but a storm was rolling through and we'd had a power flicker, resulting in my pc shutting off, so I figured it was safer that way and I'd catch up on some recorded shows.

No sooner had I turned the thing on when every channel went to an emergency broadcast about a tornado warning in Bristol County.

I can never remember which county I'm in, so I flipped open the laptop and, sure enough...

So... I just spent the last forty five minutes in my basement, with five very confused animals...

Yes, I'm an alarmist.

If I were in a horror movie, I'd be the girl freaking out until someone slaps her across the face. It's fortunate we have a tv downstairs or I might have had a stroke.

All in all, the worst of the storm missed us. There was some wind, rain and thunder; the power flickered a few more times, conveniently while I was scrambling to get my startled and howling cats out of the closet and into their carriers, but it was a lot better here than in the surrounding towns. About twenty minutes south they had funnel clouds and a waterspout.

Of course, it's heading north east, so I've had to call my parents and tell them to watch the news and start moving towards the basement, cuz my dad's not very quick on his feet lately and I don't want them waiting until the last minute...

Nature's a good time...really.

My Kingdom for a Salt Lick

2008-07-16T18:51:00.000-04:00

Y'know...it figures that the month I actually get a real period is also the month I talked myself out of buying a bag of thin pretzels, when I went to the market, last week.

*craves*

Monday? Is that you?

2008-07-16T10:03:00.003-04:00

Gods alive...how many days in a row can I possibly be so discombobulated?

Well, thus far three...I'll get back to you on the rest, if I survive.

The problem with summer is my workload drops to nearly nill, which, aside from being broke, means I've got a LOT of time off. Most people would probably think: "Oh, yay! I've got most of the summer off!" and trust me, I do think that way, but beyond that...well...

You know how you feel when you get back from vacation? You're pretty relaxed and it's hard to get back into 'work time' headspace, so you're a little off kilter for a few days, until you readjust to the pace?

Yeah...that's where I'm at for THREE MONTHS. Three months of not knowing if I'm coming or going, because I just had a week or two off and now I'm trying to keep up with my calendar, which is suddently triple booked for two weeks, until it isn't for two more, but then it is again and...urgh.

I know, I know... Shut up, you whiny baby. You have most of the summer off. Your life rules. Stop complaining or we'll hit you with a stick. Blah, blah...

Listen, I try not to complain, really I do, but this week warrants complaints, so bugger off.

Yesterday was a bit of a cluster, but today just got off on the worst possible foot, so I'm really out of whack and trying to regroup, which I almost have, but again...ugh.

I overslept, this morning. I really need to learn what an alarm clock is, because counting on Tucker's stomach only seems to be reliable on days when I don't have somewhere to be.

So, my schedule this morning was a bit like this:

9:35am: Wake up, look at clock and freak out because I have an event at 10am.
9:40am: Fall down half the stairs, because my eyes aren't open yet, my brain's still asleep and there are three cats winding through my legs begging for food.
9:42am: Toss dogs outside and run/trip/fall into office to check email and send out invitations for the event we're all supposed to be in already.
9:45am: Invites sent, materials uploading, calendar checked...oh...the event's at 11?
9:45:45am: Breathe sigh of relief.
9:55am: Log into event early only to see one presenter and half the attendees waiting.
9:56am: Check event system and realize I was right the first time...my calendar was off by an hour.
9:56:35am: Freak out, because no one else is in the event, no sound and materials checks have been done and we kick off in 4min.

I'll spare you the rest, but I assure you it was the most disorganized experience of my last two years in this business. Chaos like that was commomplace when I wasn't the one running the show, but I'm anal to a fault when it comes to my work, so when shit like this hits the fan, I beat my head off a wall for the rest of the day. Doesn't help that yesterday was a bit messy with the same damn client.

*exasperated sigh*

So far the second session is going a bit smoother...in that I'm actually on time, the materials have been reorganized in the actual order of the presenters (novel idea, that) and all but one presenter is logged in, but we don't necessarily need her, so no loss there.

*fingers crossed*

When this is over, I'm having a beer...I don't care what time it is here, it's five o'clock somewhere.

Just a Phone Call Away

2008-07-01T14:23:00.002-04:00

I can't believe this guy is single. I mean...he says it himself...what a catch!

Adventures in Hair Removal: Part 3Waterboarding is for sissies...

2008-07-01T09:59:00.002-04:00

If you really want to extract pertinent information from a suspect, strap them down and use an Epliady on them.

Name Withheld to Protect the Unfortunate

2008-05-30T07:42:00.000-04:00

If this person is an editor, then I have lost much of my remaining hope for the written word...

I'm seeking an individual with the following skills for immediate employment, through the summer months and hopefully to continue thereafter. Someone highly organized, experienced with paperwork, billing, websites, computers, filing, telphoning and making appointments; working quicking with me on lots of documents, advertizements and mailings and creative work Re my Editing Business and my Home/Office billing and appointments. I will need someone able in web research and Excel. Applicant should be literate, care about words and write well for correspondence, e-mail and in the support staff issues. A willingness to attend to mundane billing issues. Versility in day to day assignments in household of child, pets and varying projects a must. Car a plus. Job is two afternoons a week, about nine hours.

One out of two dogs agree...

2008-05-11T08:03:00.000-04:00

...that my right foot is far tastier than my left.

My question is: What does one do with two left sandals? *sigh*

Testing...

2008-05-11T07:55:00.000-04:00

This is only a test...

Bloggity Blog Blog

2006-06-02T20:09:00.001-04:00

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