Saturday: It was the first weekend of Girl Scout Cookie sales. Only 2 of my girls showed up. :( But we had a good time selling cookies and I think we did really well cookiewise. I'm not sure what we have left but we are definitely not in the same place we were last year. We are only going to do 2 site sales because I'm on vacation the 3rd week, but that's okay. We're not saving up for anything big. We had so much money last year that we got tto do some other activities with the girls on the troop's dime. There was a funny little incident where a woman asked if we could make change for a 20 and my little one announced rather loudly that we could make change for anything. So this older gentleman comes up and talks about 'thugs ears' and the neighborhood we were in isn't safe blah blah blah. It is true, this Walgreens is in a less nice part of town, but one of my kids knew about 1/2 the people going in so this was not an entirely unknown area to us. So then later my other girl points out that nobody else batted an eyelash when little girl 1 said that out loud so then she says "He must have noticed because he has thug's ears." Totally cracked all of us up. We cleared out 5 cases of cookies so that's good I think.
Sunday: Sunday was the Firefighter Stair Climb at the Bank of America Tower. I have done this the past 3 years. In years past, I did the registration table. Encouraged by Isa and her roommate, I decided to sign up for equipment removal. You get a lot more interaction with the guys and it seemed like a good change of pace. Holy crap it was hard work. Those tanks they carry weigh A LOT! Basically the guys fully uniform up and put on oxygen masks. They then run up all 69 flights of stairs to the top of the Bank of America Tower... Some of them twice. They do this to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma society. (Which is the reason I first signed up to do this as Leukemia is what my sister had.) Working at the top was so amazing. These guys would come off the stairs, some of them exhausted and barely able to move, and it was my job to strip firefighters. ;) Ok really I pulled their helmet off and gloves and helped with their coats. And then I carried all their gear for them over to the first stop where they sat and caught their breath and waited for buddies all that.
I'm really glad I did it. I really felt like an important part of the process and the way some of them would thank you... It was just a nice feeling. I was called an angel by the guy whose water got spilled and I went and fetched him another one. And I'd get choked up by the guy who had ribbons with people's names on it that he was racing for or the guy who had a picture of a little girl pinned to his sleeve. And then at the very end was a woman with her team who had just walked up the stairs... no full gear. From the turban on her head, you knew why she was climbing. It was very intense. One guy collapsed at the finish line and they had to get medics for him. I got some strange guy's sweat in one of my ears as I was taking his jacket and it spattered. But it was all very good to do.
So after the climb was done, Isa's roommate gave me a ride home and I showered and put on clean clothes and the boot (I had done without it all day yesterday something I'm regretting slightly today). Then we headed down to Fados. It was crowded but we found coworker and coworker's roommate. We sat with them the whole evening and just had a really good time flirting with the firefighters. I smacked more straight guy ass than I have in a long time. :) There were several who were very cute (several who am I kidding, almost all of them were hot). I flirted a lot and got flirted with.* It was very nice. :) I got a whole lot drunker than I thought I would. I think it was mostly because I had only 2 little pieces of chicken and a small bowl of left over Chinese food & rice to eat all day long. I did keep drinking water both during the climb and at the bar so I'm not hung over today. As I was walking out of the bar this guy was out there and he asked me what happened to my foot. I told him I have Achilles tendonitis in my Achilles tendon which made them laugh a lot. I also called one of them cute which also made them laugh. Isa was drunker than I've ever seen her which was kind of funny. This morning she apologized for anything she may have done and keeps asking our coworker if she was too obnoxious. It was an incredibly good time and I'm totally doing it again next year.
*The married guy that was heavily flirting with me had early on identified himself as married (as though the wedding ring wouldn't have tipped me off) but said "If I weren't married... I'm not going to finish that sentence." And I said "If you weren't married... I'm not going to finish the sentence either, but you are and I don't cheat so there you go." He was actually very sweet talking about his wife and how when you know you know and he spent a lot of time having fun and when he met her he realized she was the one he wanted to change with.
Monday, March 06, 2006
incohetent
Holy crap I'm drunk and typing this one handed because the other is currently on ice. I will be able to post more about my weekend of volunteering in the am when I am less drunk, (although I'll be more hung over then). Is it bad that I am drunk at 10:45 on a Sunday?
My fingers are on ice because 3 of them got slammed in a car door. You can tell how drunk you are by your reaction when you have 3 fingers caught in a car door. If you just say open the door while laughing but you have tears running down your face... you are druhuhunk. I'll let you figure out how I reacted. :)
I had a good time at Fado's. I was flirted with by straight men. Unfortunately several of them were married straight men, rendering them almost useless. (Except for the slight ego boost to flirting with attractive firefighters part.) :)
I'll post more in the am because I am tired now.
My fingers are on ice because 3 of them got slammed in a car door. You can tell how drunk you are by your reaction when you have 3 fingers caught in a car door. If you just say open the door while laughing but you have tears running down your face... you are druhuhunk. I'll let you figure out how I reacted. :)
I had a good time at Fado's. I was flirted with by straight men. Unfortunately several of them were married straight men, rendering them almost useless. (Except for the slight ego boost to flirting with attractive firefighters part.) :)
I'll post more in the am because I am tired now.
Friday, March 03, 2006
And the debate rages on.
I went with Big R & Isa last night to a Town Hall debate between Ron Sims and the Reverend Ken Hutcherson over Gay Rights. The Rev. Hutcherson is the pastor at a large church in Redmond and is opposed to the comparison of gay rights to the civil rights movement of the African Americans. The basis for his argument is of course the Bible and the fallacy that gays choose to be gay and that he did not choose to be black. It was somewhat interesting watching them debate, though, because Ron Sims is also an ordained minister so the challenge there is how does Ron Sims reconcile his Baptist beliefs with his political wranglings. The question was asked, and not answered which was one thing that bugged me about Mr. Sims, he didn't answer several of the questions. At least he didn't answer them in the context that the question was being asked.
Rev. Hutcherson also brought up a couple of points that I honestly have a difficult time reconciling in my own mind. One is that if you are a person whose belief happens to go against the current tide, you're a hate monger or an ist or whatever and your beliefs aren't worth someone elses because they're 'wrong'. Those who were opposed to war in the early months after September 11th can certainly understand what that feels like since during that time Patriotism was running high. If you were against war, you were against America. It is funny how quickly we forget this fact. So what I have to believe is that it is his right to believe this way and not necessarily my duty to 'correct' his thoughts, this guy's mind is not changing. It is my duty, though, to fight for what I believe to be right and hope I can convince a few on the fence people along the way.
Another point Rev. Hutcherson brought up was that democracy is I believe something, I get enough people to support my beliefs, I'm going to force my beliefs onto you, whether you believe them or not. The audience booed him for this statement, but I don't know that he is entirely wrong. If you look at the smoking ban in the state. There were a lot of people with a belief (based on medical science, I supported the bill) and we managed to get enough support and we pushed our belief onto another group. Now, are smokers an oppressed minority, not really. They're definitely not a protected class. :) But his argument was that democracy is flawed in this respect. Mr. Sims countered, of course, that's the whole point of civil rights. You can't trust the rights of a minority to the majority. Which I also agree with.
Some other random notes of the evening:
In a debate setting it is counterproductive for the opposing group to shout at the person speaking. It just makes that side look bad. And this guy behind me embodied that so much because he shouted the whole time and was quite rude.
I never like the way the gays hiss when something gets said that they don't like. It just annoys me.
Rev. Hutcherson also brought up a couple of points that I honestly have a difficult time reconciling in my own mind. One is that if you are a person whose belief happens to go against the current tide, you're a hate monger or an ist or whatever and your beliefs aren't worth someone elses because they're 'wrong'. Those who were opposed to war in the early months after September 11th can certainly understand what that feels like since during that time Patriotism was running high. If you were against war, you were against America. It is funny how quickly we forget this fact. So what I have to believe is that it is his right to believe this way and not necessarily my duty to 'correct' his thoughts, this guy's mind is not changing. It is my duty, though, to fight for what I believe to be right and hope I can convince a few on the fence people along the way.
Another point Rev. Hutcherson brought up was that democracy is I believe something, I get enough people to support my beliefs, I'm going to force my beliefs onto you, whether you believe them or not. The audience booed him for this statement, but I don't know that he is entirely wrong. If you look at the smoking ban in the state. There were a lot of people with a belief (based on medical science, I supported the bill) and we managed to get enough support and we pushed our belief onto another group. Now, are smokers an oppressed minority, not really. They're definitely not a protected class. :) But his argument was that democracy is flawed in this respect. Mr. Sims countered, of course, that's the whole point of civil rights. You can't trust the rights of a minority to the majority. Which I also agree with.
Some other random notes of the evening:
In a debate setting it is counterproductive for the opposing group to shout at the person speaking. It just makes that side look bad. And this guy behind me embodied that so much because he shouted the whole time and was quite rude.
I never like the way the gays hiss when something gets said that they don't like. It just annoys me.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Wednesday evening cheese
I'm watching the Karate Kid 2 on ABC family channel this evening. When I was younger (and still now) it was my favorite of the Karate Kid movies. I don't even think I've ever seen all of Karatie Kid #3. I remember the first time I watched it. It was after I had already been to Okinawa, Japan. As I watched part of the movie with Kadena Air Base and Naha, I thought that's totally not right. As part of my trip, we had been to both Naha and Kadena Air Base. I think that was one of my first times really understanding the difference between movies & real life. You know when you're a kid you know that movies are pretend, but I don't think you really get it. It didn't diminish my love for the movie though. I always loved the Japanese dancing. That's my favorite part.
I also really dug the tea ceremony.
I also really dug the tea ceremony.
Speaking a different language...
I always find it so funny to listen to people speak in their own language and then hear them drop in a phrase or word that is distinctly English. I had 2 employees from Vietnam in my office doing some paperwork. One got called on the radio and he answered in Vietnamese and then I heard very distinctly "Benefits office" and then the rest. It made me chuckle inside a little.
This is kind of fun in a twisted way...
I've been looking for airline tickets for the vacation from hell. My sister may be getting me flight benefits with her airline, but I'm feeling a bit of anxiety over the fact that I haven't heard from her that yay she did get a ticket so I'm scoping the fares out. I have absolutely no comprehension about how airlines come up with their rates. I also find it funny (or freaky) that the airlines in the worst shape have the most outrageous fares. It is no wonder no one will fly Delta when the best rate I could get with 3 stops was 400 bucks. If I wanted only 2 stops it jacked the price to over 900 bucks. And these seats were all coach. WHAT?! Continental airlines still apparently serves you food (which I typically can't eat because of the whole gluten free thing) but they want almost 700 bucks and 13 hours. Why 13 hours one may wonder. Because apparently in order to fly Continental you have to fly into a hub (which is typical). Their hub options... Houston Texas (which brings the trip down to only 9 hours but jacks the price up to almost 900 bucks) or... Newark. On what planet is it at all logical to send a person on the west coast to the east coast just to bring them back to the west coast. It just gets better as I scroll down their page. For over 2k, I can fly to Hawaii and back to LAX or for over 3k I can fly to Houston to San Diego to LAX. This flight I'm looking for is a 2 hour and 45 minute flight. Maybe these prices exist to remind me that really relatively speaking $360 isn't that bad for a flight to LAX. (Or maybe it is another sign from above I shouldn't go on this trip.) And although priceline seems like it could be a good idea, I just don't know if I can give up the control they want me to to get that 40% discount by naming my own price.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Day to think...
(completely unrelated to Thinking Day but why can't the ferrets be trained to bring me a soda? They're supposed to be smart & shit.)
Today was Thinking Day so the girls & I went to a Thinking Day event. Basically each group picked a country and had to do a little presentation of something either from that country or a dance or a story or information about that country. Then we also put up a little display and gave out fortune cookies. I had originally thought of doing more Chinese food wise, but the more I thought about it, the more expensive it was going to be and I just couldn't cope with that. I frequently go to these things and feel like I'm inadequate as a leader. Mostly because I tend to put off until the last minute. In fact for our display, the colored pictures I put up were not done by the kids, but by the cult of the virgins today at lunch. I typed out the story of Lon Po Po (Chinese Little Red Riding Hood) into parts and the girls got to "perform" it. They had a good time and a lot of people complimented them on it. We were really no better or worse than any of the other groups that went up. My girls are hams, what can I say? :)
To suck me further into the world of the Girl Scouts, I've told 2 of the moms that if they can find enough girls, I'd take on their younger daughters in a Daisy troop. It would have to be separate from my current group because of the age gap between my oldest and these little ones. It is way too wide a spread. It takes a minimum of 5 girls to have a troop.
Finally, a cute little tale to end the evening... When I walk home after work, I walk past Lifelong AIDS Alliance. On the block just past their building in the late evening is a van that does needle exchanges. Every year I think that I should stop and give them (the volunteers) a box of cookies. They're stuck out there in the cold for hours exchanging needles with the local junkies to prevent the spread of AIDS. Every year (ok I say that like it has been a lot, it has been 2 years) I don't do it. Tonight as I was dropping off my big display board (which we will reuse dammit) I grabbed a box of mints from my stash (I ordered 10 boxes some of which to give away like this). When I got to the van spot, I walked up to the 2 kids in it and offered them the cookies. At first I didn't say anything just offered the box like a dork. So I told them they could have it and they were both excited. Apparently they're the girl's favorite kind. It was nice. :)
Finally (I know I said finally a minute ago) i just read in the PI that the smoking initiative that passed in November includes the bus shelters. YAY! There's little as obnoxious as trying to stand under one of the little bus canopies and breathing in a lungful of smoke.
Oh finally finally... The Amazing Race is back on! YAY! Although it is currently on against Supernatural which I also love so I missed the first hour. But Supernatural is moving to Thursdays so YAY! :)
Today was Thinking Day so the girls & I went to a Thinking Day event. Basically each group picked a country and had to do a little presentation of something either from that country or a dance or a story or information about that country. Then we also put up a little display and gave out fortune cookies. I had originally thought of doing more Chinese food wise, but the more I thought about it, the more expensive it was going to be and I just couldn't cope with that. I frequently go to these things and feel like I'm inadequate as a leader. Mostly because I tend to put off until the last minute. In fact for our display, the colored pictures I put up were not done by the kids, but by the cult of the virgins today at lunch. I typed out the story of Lon Po Po (Chinese Little Red Riding Hood) into parts and the girls got to "perform" it. They had a good time and a lot of people complimented them on it. We were really no better or worse than any of the other groups that went up. My girls are hams, what can I say? :)
To suck me further into the world of the Girl Scouts, I've told 2 of the moms that if they can find enough girls, I'd take on their younger daughters in a Daisy troop. It would have to be separate from my current group because of the age gap between my oldest and these little ones. It is way too wide a spread. It takes a minimum of 5 girls to have a troop.
Finally, a cute little tale to end the evening... When I walk home after work, I walk past Lifelong AIDS Alliance. On the block just past their building in the late evening is a van that does needle exchanges. Every year I think that I should stop and give them (the volunteers) a box of cookies. They're stuck out there in the cold for hours exchanging needles with the local junkies to prevent the spread of AIDS. Every year (ok I say that like it has been a lot, it has been 2 years) I don't do it. Tonight as I was dropping off my big display board (which we will reuse dammit) I grabbed a box of mints from my stash (I ordered 10 boxes some of which to give away like this). When I got to the van spot, I walked up to the 2 kids in it and offered them the cookies. At first I didn't say anything just offered the box like a dork. So I told them they could have it and they were both excited. Apparently they're the girl's favorite kind. It was nice. :)
Finally (I know I said finally a minute ago) i just read in the PI that the smoking initiative that passed in November includes the bus shelters. YAY! There's little as obnoxious as trying to stand under one of the little bus canopies and breathing in a lungful of smoke.
Oh finally finally... The Amazing Race is back on! YAY! Although it is currently on against Supernatural which I also love so I missed the first hour. But Supernatural is moving to Thursdays so YAY! :)
Monday, February 27, 2006
4 years
That's how long legally your employer has to keep your employment records after you are no longer employed there. Now thanks to computers, a hire date and a term date for you can probably be found fairly easily. But, as I tried to explain to a very nice much older woman, it is impossible for me to truly verify that she worked here in 1977 - 1979. She wouldn't have been entered into any computer programs since they weren't around then and once there were finally programs, why bother entering info on a person who had been gone that long. She seemed to find it a tad disturbing that there was no longer any record of her employment here. Which got me to thinking...
It has been 4 (more like 7) years since I worked in Indiana. Since I never rented or bought property there or paid any bills to utility companies. There's no real record of me living there anywhere anymore. It is like my whole 9 month life there is gone. As is the year I worked in Arizona and we're almost to the point where the 3 years I worked in California are expunged. (I know the CA years won't be because I'm in their databases but you know what I mean.)
It has been 4 (more like 7) years since I worked in Indiana. Since I never rented or bought property there or paid any bills to utility companies. There's no real record of me living there anywhere anymore. It is like my whole 9 month life there is gone. As is the year I worked in Arizona and we're almost to the point where the 3 years I worked in California are expunged. (I know the CA years won't be because I'm in their databases but you know what I mean.)
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Another Adventure
I headed over to the Girl Scout office today. That office, to me, is a lot like Target. I can't leave the store without spending 70 bucks at least. At least this time it is girl money and not my money. :)
On my way (2 busses I might add) I stopped at this health food store that advertises Gluten Free food. I've stopped there in the distant past but all it had were like 2 different varieties of Pamela's cookies (which I don't find go0d.). But today I found something so wonderful I was very happy. Amongst shelves and shelves of Ener-G foods (which I also generally don't like), was a couple of bags of Kinnickinnick Foods' fried chicken stuff. I am so excited! I love the fried chicken coating stuff! That's totally what I'm having for dinner tonight. :D
On my way (2 busses I might add) I stopped at this health food store that advertises Gluten Free food. I've stopped there in the distant past but all it had were like 2 different varieties of Pamela's cookies (which I don't find go0d.). But today I found something so wonderful I was very happy. Amongst shelves and shelves of Ener-G foods (which I also generally don't like), was a couple of bags of Kinnickinnick Foods' fried chicken stuff. I am so excited! I love the fried chicken coating stuff! That's totally what I'm having for dinner tonight. :D
Friday, February 24, 2006
Jodi Picoult
So awhile back I professed my undying love for an author (Jodi Picoult) I had just started to read. (Ok I liked one of her books...). I've started reading more of her books and I'm finding that while I like some of the book, I tend to not like the whole thing.
Perfect Match: I started to read this one and then jumped to the back (I tend to do that.) and didn't like where it ended up. The heroine's son is molested and he claims his priest did it. She, in open court, shoots he priest. She is an ADA, she should know better. So more of the story actually centers around her trial and the justification the heroine feels over shooting the priest. So I didn't finish it. It just pissed me off too much.
Salem Falls: I liked this one actually.
Mercy: I'm currently slogging through this one. Due to Picoult's tendency to write prologues that give away more than you know, I already know the police officer is going to have an affair. I don't know if I'll be able to read this whole thing. I have a pretty strong stance against reading books whose sole story is the affair (hence I won't read Horse Whisperer or that other one, Bridges of Madison County). The story is SUPPOSED to be about this guy (A cousin of the police chief) who has killed his wife who is so riddled with cancer that she is going to die anyway, he just speeds up the process for her because she has asked him to.
I have several others at the apartment to read. We'll see if I actually get to them or not.
Perfect Match: I started to read this one and then jumped to the back (I tend to do that.) and didn't like where it ended up. The heroine's son is molested and he claims his priest did it. She, in open court, shoots he priest. She is an ADA, she should know better. So more of the story actually centers around her trial and the justification the heroine feels over shooting the priest. So I didn't finish it. It just pissed me off too much.
Salem Falls: I liked this one actually.
Mercy: I'm currently slogging through this one. Due to Picoult's tendency to write prologues that give away more than you know, I already know the police officer is going to have an affair. I don't know if I'll be able to read this whole thing. I have a pretty strong stance against reading books whose sole story is the affair (hence I won't read Horse Whisperer or that other one, Bridges of Madison County). The story is SUPPOSED to be about this guy (A cousin of the police chief) who has killed his wife who is so riddled with cancer that she is going to die anyway, he just speeds up the process for her because she has asked him to.
I have several others at the apartment to read. We'll see if I actually get to them or not.
A myriad of things
I receive an email of comics each day. In honor of yesterday this one cracked my shit up.
I look cute again today. That makes me happy.
I didn't make it to the gym this morning. I went out to wait for the bus at the appropriate time according to both my cell phone and the time thingie on one of those parking ticket machines. (Instead of parking meters we now have these ticket dispensers that you put the ticket in the window of your car.) I waited and waited and waited. I hadn't seen the bus go by when I was on my way. If it had gone by, I would've seen it. So after I stood outside in the freaking freezing cold shivering for about 15 minutes I gave up and decided this was a sign I was to go back to bed and be warm. If I had waited for the next one, it would've been a 30 minute wait and by then I'd have only enough time at the gym to shower and I may as well do that at home. But this afternoon my cookie mom is coming to pick up the boxes I'm holding so that'll be my exercise for the day.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Yay panties!
I couldn't do it. I couldn't go the whole day without them and just wearing pantyhose so I went home at lunch and put on panties. Clearly I am not a person meant to ever go commando. So then since the weather was so rainy and blustery and cold I couldn't convince myself to put back on my skirt that I love (which is dry clean only and probably one of 2 articles of clothing I actually dry clean) that might get damaged by rain so I put on pants. And that made me even happier. :) I wonder how many people (if any) will notice I went from a dark red skirt with embroidery to khaki colored pants.
It was bound to happen sooner or later
Warning... this post may contain more information on my panties than you need...
This morning I got out of the shower at the gym at about 7:40. I went into the locker room to change. Sweater, check. Skirt, check. Tights, check. Bra, check. Shoes, check. But wait, that's the bottom of the bag. That's right... no panties. Ok, not my favorite thing ever but I can put on the tights with no panties. Life goes on. Except... as I struggle to get into them... these aren't tights. They're black pantyhose. Who in the hell owns black pantyhose? Me apparently. So I struggle into them. And I mean STRUGGLE. Clearly these were from a time when I was a size or 2 smaller than I currently am. And now they're killing me. But I head to work. (I know you are thinking why doesn't she just go home and change? It is an hour for me to do that. If I walked it is 20 min minimum and if I bussed it would be wait for the bus 5 min ride.. home & change... wait for the bus 5 min ride.) Once the bookstore opens I pop in to pick up a pair of tights or at least a pair of pantyhose that isn't black. I'm cornered by my least favorite bookstore employee and now have to have a long convo about crap I don't care about and answer questions my boss has already answered for her once. And of course the bookstore only has pantyhose for girls who are this big... :) I did find a fatchick sized pair which I am now wearing. But at lunch I am soooo going home to put on panties and proper tights.
This morning I got out of the shower at the gym at about 7:40. I went into the locker room to change. Sweater, check. Skirt, check. Tights, check. Bra, check. Shoes, check. But wait, that's the bottom of the bag. That's right... no panties. Ok, not my favorite thing ever but I can put on the tights with no panties. Life goes on. Except... as I struggle to get into them... these aren't tights. They're black pantyhose. Who in the hell owns black pantyhose? Me apparently. So I struggle into them. And I mean STRUGGLE. Clearly these were from a time when I was a size or 2 smaller than I currently am. And now they're killing me. But I head to work. (I know you are thinking why doesn't she just go home and change? It is an hour for me to do that. If I walked it is 20 min minimum and if I bussed it would be wait for the bus 5 min ride.. home & change... wait for the bus 5 min ride.) Once the bookstore opens I pop in to pick up a pair of tights or at least a pair of pantyhose that isn't black. I'm cornered by my least favorite bookstore employee and now have to have a long convo about crap I don't care about and answer questions my boss has already answered for her once. And of course the bookstore only has pantyhose for girls who are this big... :) I did find a fatchick sized pair which I am now wearing. But at lunch I am soooo going home to put on panties and proper tights.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
McDonalds Brouhaha
(Side note A - I love the word brouhaha. I learned it from my friend Shelley when I was in college. I had never heard it before. She used to try to fight me and call it a brouhaha. Awww... now I miss Shelley. I just heard from my college friend Kate that she had a baby... I miss old Shelley though because after she had to leave college for $$ reasons, she got a little crazy... Also she decided that she would cure me from being tactile defensive by hugging me randomly until I would hug her back. I don't know that ever worked...)
(Side note B - Robin, the fancypants pasta is Bionaturae pasta. I thought it was good, but upon reheating it wasn't great. It got squishy. That could be a pasta thing and I just don't know it but it is a celiac pasta thing.)
So on with the McDonalds brouhaha...
McDonalds Brouhaha:
For many many years McDonalds has claimed their french fries are gluten free and many many celiacs have believed them. Suddenly there is a report that there is a flavoring that has been derived from wheat. The response from the celiac community has been mixed. There have been 3 lawsuits filed. I've spent some time after work today reading a couple of celiac forums and the response is not what I expected. Instead of everyone jumping on the class action lawsuits, most people are deriding the suits, which gives me a tiny bit of hope for the celiac community as a whole.
The wheat in question... it is in the oil that is used to parfry (pre-fry) the french fries before they are shipped to the restaurants for real cooking. Further, the wheat in question has been processed so that the offending protein has been removed. (All the protein has been removed which means the offending protein, gliadin is also gone.) This is scientifically possible. Vinegar is processed from wheat but the protein is pulled out during the distillation process making vinegar safe for celiacs. Now there were some people in the forums that I read (specifically looking for info from the celiac community, I generally don't read the forums because I mostly think the celiac community is a bunch of freaks...) who are wanting to do a class action suit. There are also some who are cracking me up who claim it all makes sense now and this is why they were always sick after eating McDonalds food. But the bulk of people are against a suit and some have said they've never had a problem... others say now they're concerned.
The reasons most say they are against the suit is the same reason I'd be against the suit. This kind of thing does not help our community. It totally is bad for us since when a restaurant makes an honest effort (which they were. They didn't know about the stuff in the oil. It is only since the new labelling laws started that they found out) and they make an error they are going to be sued. If these suits go through, this could set the celiac movement back years, which is a depressing thought. At least now, I can get a list from a few restaurants and know what's safe and what isn't. If restaurants shy away from that, where will we be?
There has been a test done by a fancy pants doctor who is the head of something or other but allergins is in the title at the University of Nebraska. He has tested the fries. (There is a gluten test that can test up to some nano bajillionth ppm of the protein). There is no gluten in the fries. He has come out and said so. Again I go back to the boards to see what those who want to sue are saying and to see what the general reaction is. Again it is interesting. There are still some who claim they will sue (no case but whatever...). There are some who criticize McDonalds for using fancypants doctor, or who claim fancypants doctor is in the pocket of McDonalds. It is just so weird to me. My thought is simple... Fancypants doctor says fries are okay. Tests prove fries are okay. Where's the question.
(Side note B - Robin, the fancypants pasta is Bionaturae pasta. I thought it was good, but upon reheating it wasn't great. It got squishy. That could be a pasta thing and I just don't know it but it is a celiac pasta thing.)
So on with the McDonalds brouhaha...
McDonalds Brouhaha:
For many many years McDonalds has claimed their french fries are gluten free and many many celiacs have believed them. Suddenly there is a report that there is a flavoring that has been derived from wheat. The response from the celiac community has been mixed. There have been 3 lawsuits filed. I've spent some time after work today reading a couple of celiac forums and the response is not what I expected. Instead of everyone jumping on the class action lawsuits, most people are deriding the suits, which gives me a tiny bit of hope for the celiac community as a whole.
The wheat in question... it is in the oil that is used to parfry (pre-fry) the french fries before they are shipped to the restaurants for real cooking. Further, the wheat in question has been processed so that the offending protein has been removed. (All the protein has been removed which means the offending protein, gliadin is also gone.) This is scientifically possible. Vinegar is processed from wheat but the protein is pulled out during the distillation process making vinegar safe for celiacs. Now there were some people in the forums that I read (specifically looking for info from the celiac community, I generally don't read the forums because I mostly think the celiac community is a bunch of freaks...) who are wanting to do a class action suit. There are also some who are cracking me up who claim it all makes sense now and this is why they were always sick after eating McDonalds food. But the bulk of people are against a suit and some have said they've never had a problem... others say now they're concerned.
The reasons most say they are against the suit is the same reason I'd be against the suit. This kind of thing does not help our community. It totally is bad for us since when a restaurant makes an honest effort (which they were. They didn't know about the stuff in the oil. It is only since the new labelling laws started that they found out) and they make an error they are going to be sued. If these suits go through, this could set the celiac movement back years, which is a depressing thought. At least now, I can get a list from a few restaurants and know what's safe and what isn't. If restaurants shy away from that, where will we be?
There has been a test done by a fancy pants doctor who is the head of something or other but allergins is in the title at the University of Nebraska. He has tested the fries. (There is a gluten test that can test up to some nano bajillionth ppm of the protein). There is no gluten in the fries. He has come out and said so. Again I go back to the boards to see what those who want to sue are saying and to see what the general reaction is. Again it is interesting. There are still some who claim they will sue (no case but whatever...). There are some who criticize McDonalds for using fancypants doctor, or who claim fancypants doctor is in the pocket of McDonalds. It is just so weird to me. My thought is simple... Fancypants doctor says fries are okay. Tests prove fries are okay. Where's the question.
Peevery
Aww... It isn't as though all of the peevers have suddenly gotten wonderful, special, joyous lives... the peevery is sick. That's why nobody has had a peeve in 3 days. :( We at Joanne's life hope it has a speedy recovery.
(You know, or the webhosting is having issues. Damn webhoster...)
(You know, or the webhosting is having issues. Damn webhoster...)
Bark Bark
I have a cough. No sneezing. No aching. No stuffy head. No sore throat. Just a cough. A deep, periodically barking as though I'm coughing up a lung, cough. I wonder what the hell that's about.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Cupcakes
Dammit. Setting the kitchen timer only works if you actually turn it on. I now have slightly cajun cupcakes. I'm sure once I slather on chocolate frosting they'll be fine. :D
I just frosted the cupcakes with the most divine dark chocolate frosting. (The recipe for Stephen who always asks me... 1/2 cup butter, 2/3 cup cocoa (I used dark cocoa), 3 cups powdered sugar, 1/3 cup milk, and 1 tablespoon vanilla. Mix the cocoa & melted butter together first. Then alternating mix in the powdered sugar and milk. At the end put in the vanilla.)
I'm eating pasta for dinner. I bought this fancypants pasta (more expensive by far than my usual quinoa pasta) that is supposed to be 'just like the real thing.' And 'so good your non-celiac friends won't know the difference.' Now Michelle & Matty & Kate will all say that that is rarely ever true. There's always this texture or taste that is just slightly off. (Or in some cases, completely off.) So I'm always tentative about anything that is just like the real thing. I will say this new fancypants pasta rather different than the quinoa that I usually eat. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say it is just like the real thing, but it is good. That's always exciting to me.
I just frosted the cupcakes with the most divine dark chocolate frosting. (The recipe for Stephen who always asks me... 1/2 cup butter, 2/3 cup cocoa (I used dark cocoa), 3 cups powdered sugar, 1/3 cup milk, and 1 tablespoon vanilla. Mix the cocoa & melted butter together first. Then alternating mix in the powdered sugar and milk. At the end put in the vanilla.)
I'm eating pasta for dinner. I bought this fancypants pasta (more expensive by far than my usual quinoa pasta) that is supposed to be 'just like the real thing.' And 'so good your non-celiac friends won't know the difference.' Now Michelle & Matty & Kate will all say that that is rarely ever true. There's always this texture or taste that is just slightly off. (Or in some cases, completely off.) So I'm always tentative about anything that is just like the real thing. I will say this new fancypants pasta rather different than the quinoa that I usually eat. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say it is just like the real thing, but it is good. That's always exciting to me.
Cookies, cookies everywhere and not a box for me.
Yesterday I picked up our Girl Scout Cookie order. I checked out a Honda Element. It is a funnish car to drive. I was so good, I walked over to the car wearing the boot like I'm supposed to. And then realized I forgot a 2nd shoe so I could drive. So I had to just drive barefooted. Not all my parents showed up so I had a lot of cookies left over to store until they pick them up. I was exhausted and had to get the flexcar back so I just loaded all the boxes into the main part of my work and left them until today. I went back this morning and luckily one of my moms who has a lot of cookies picked hers up. I have one more mom coming tomorrow after work time and hopefully my cookie mom will pick the rest up this week. That would be nice.
James Blunt
I really like his song "You're beautiful." That's the only song I've heard of his but so far so good. I have to say, though, I disagree with the VH1 announcer guy. I don't really know that I'd call his slightly gravelly voice "Angellic."
Hmm... Vaguely interesting...
| Your Five Factor Personality Profile |
 You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations.A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you.You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness.You're generally good at balancing work and play.When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness.You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism.You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium.You are generally broad minded when it come to new things.But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it.You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue. |
Saturday, February 18, 2006
No words on asses!
Matty & I went to the UAF vs my employer basketball game today. Now we went last year and I was appalled at the fact that the women's basketball team had the word "Nanooks" scrawled across the ass. Words on asses are my 2nd biggest pet peeve (right behind random stoppers) and so I emailed the coach and got a response blah blah blah. This year I was thrilled, THRILLED I say, to see no words on asses. The coach was true to her word. Now it doesn't change the fact that she is either a bad coach or they are a bad team or a combination of the two, but still. No words on asses. I consider it a moral victory. :) The Nanooks were not so lucky, they lost. It was a close game, though, and somewhat exciting. If they hadn't made a bunch of bad passes and errors they may not have lost.
On my way home, I witnessed an accident (fender bender type not call an ambulance type). I didn't go over to the people though. I never know what the proper thing to do in the situation is. There were a lot of people around, though since it was at the corner of Pike & Broadway.
On my way home, I witnessed an accident (fender bender type not call an ambulance type). I didn't go over to the people though. I never know what the proper thing to do in the situation is. There were a lot of people around, though since it was at the corner of Pike & Broadway.
Weird...
Three times I have put up a post, and 3 times it has disappeared all of its' own accord. I guess I'll leave it like that because obviously that's a sign.
Disappointed
I think I've mentioned that my favorite restaurant is closing for a short while. Even though I knew they would be out by the 28th of Feb, I hadn't realized how soon that meant they'd close their doors. So today I headed up there for lunch. They're already closed and shut down and they are cleaning the place out. :'( I'm a bit bummed about that. I headed over to Baja Fresh and got tacos instead but I was really looking forward to GF cupcakes. I may have to make some myself this afternoon.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Thunder stolen
So tonight was supposed to be the big smackdown of the girls post 'bathroom incident.' I was all ready. I was planning on what I would say. It was on...
Except it wasn't. Only 2 girls showed up. I was 100% positive these 2 had nothing to do with the whole bathroom thing. So no lecture occurred. I did tell them what happened and they were both suitably grossed out. Although 1 girl thought maybe her little brother did it, but seriously, he didn't go into the girls' bathroom so how could that happen? We have no meeting next week due to the kids' mid-winter break. The following week we have Thinking Day so it will be awhile before I have the chance to lecture.
The boot is proving to be problematic. Not the walking part, but it is too narrow for my fat little duck foot. I am going to have to go back to Rick the cast guy and let him know. I'm blistering on the outside of my foot.
Except it wasn't. Only 2 girls showed up. I was 100% positive these 2 had nothing to do with the whole bathroom thing. So no lecture occurred. I did tell them what happened and they were both suitably grossed out. Although 1 girl thought maybe her little brother did it, but seriously, he didn't go into the girls' bathroom so how could that happen? We have no meeting next week due to the kids' mid-winter break. The following week we have Thinking Day so it will be awhile before I have the chance to lecture.
The boot is proving to be problematic. Not the walking part, but it is too narrow for my fat little duck foot. I am going to have to go back to Rick the cast guy and let him know. I'm blistering on the outside of my foot.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
So sleeepy
I could so fall asleep right now but I'm waiting up to watch Veronica Mars. It had better be a new one or I'll be so pissed.
Apparently in a weird balance in my life whenever I do something good I do something bad. I went to yoga today. It was just me there so I had the instructor one on one which was nice. :) She managed to do a lot with just me. So the bad part, I picked up a Cadbury Creme Egg on the way home. Now I only ate 1 so that's good. :) I also picked up juice for the girls for our meeting tomorrow. Is it bad that sometimes I buy the snack juice based on what could be a good mixer with my cherry rum? I at least cut open the juice box and pour it into the glass rather than mix it in the box directly. Isn't that good? :)
Apparently in a weird balance in my life whenever I do something good I do something bad. I went to yoga today. It was just me there so I had the instructor one on one which was nice. :) She managed to do a lot with just me. So the bad part, I picked up a Cadbury Creme Egg on the way home. Now I only ate 1 so that's good. :) I also picked up juice for the girls for our meeting tomorrow. Is it bad that sometimes I buy the snack juice based on what could be a good mixer with my cherry rum? I at least cut open the juice box and pour it into the glass rather than mix it in the box directly. Isn't that good? :)
Why yes I AM stubborn, why do you ask...
So yesterday picked up the boot and was given some vague instructions about it. I should wear it if I'm going to walk long distances. I have chosen to reinterpret that phrase as a permission to walk long distances provided I wear the boot. So this morning I set out on my way to work. WALKING! I haven't walked to work in months. I prefer to walk because I'm free of the time constraints the bus requires. I have to say, the boot really helped. I can't believe how much a difference it made. Usually when I walk the pain starts up my heel, through my calf and eventually a bunch settles in my lower back. With the exception of the 2 rubbing spots on my foot (which I have purchased moleskin for and apparently will put another layer) I was completely pain free while walking to work this morning. PAIN FREE. This was very exciting and opens a world of possibilities for the return of the Sunday Adventure! (Although not this Sunday as I will be picking up boxes and boxes and boxes of Girl Scout cookies! :)
Scaredy Cat, Scaredy Cat
I have finally discovered that the hospice behind me is closed down. I noticed something was off when I discovered that the parking lot was closed off but I figured that the employees were parking somewhere else. Then one day I noticed the bottom floor windows are boarded over. Now here's the thing I've recently noticed that has me a little scared. There are some lights lit. It may have been like that for awhile and I just wasn't aware because I didn't realize the hospice was closing down, but now I make a habit of checking each night to see if different lights are lit than usual. You know, it was a hospice... Who knows what kinds of ghosts are wandering around in there. (This is a true sign that I watch too much Supernatural on the WB.)
As of today I am now the wearer of a boot. Well only when I'm walking a lot. I don't have to wear it around the office or around my house. I did walk home today and discovered that it is difficult to get on and off the bus, it does make walking in general a bit easier. I think it is the significantly curved bottom. (And yes, Matthew, you told me so. Happy?) I think I might decorate it with some of my fabric paints. A few daisies might brighten it up a little. :) Also, the boot guy was kind of pissy. At first I felt bad about bothering him. And then it dawned on me, this is his motherfucking job! This is what Group Health pays him the big bucks to do. I am not inconveniencing him. Sometimes I'm silly.
This Valentine's day was not great but not bad either, so I guess technically that makes it great. :) Nothing exciting happened but at the same time nothing bad happened so I think that makes it a perfectly balanced day. Ooh I did get a cool Valentine's day present from Michelley and 2 cool Valentines from my coworkers and that's more Valentines than I received last year. Maybe next year I'll get a Valentine from the cute boy in the bed next to me. (A girl can dream can't she?) :)
As of today I am now the wearer of a boot. Well only when I'm walking a lot. I don't have to wear it around the office or around my house. I did walk home today and discovered that it is difficult to get on and off the bus, it does make walking in general a bit easier. I think it is the significantly curved bottom. (And yes, Matthew, you told me so. Happy?) I think I might decorate it with some of my fabric paints. A few daisies might brighten it up a little. :) Also, the boot guy was kind of pissy. At first I felt bad about bothering him. And then it dawned on me, this is his motherfucking job! This is what Group Health pays him the big bucks to do. I am not inconveniencing him. Sometimes I'm silly.
This Valentine's day was not great but not bad either, so I guess technically that makes it great. :) Nothing exciting happened but at the same time nothing bad happened so I think that makes it a perfectly balanced day. Ooh I did get a cool Valentine's day present from Michelley and 2 cool Valentines from my coworkers and that's more Valentines than I received last year. Maybe next year I'll get a Valentine from the cute boy in the bed next to me. (A girl can dream can't she?) :)
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Today's going to be a great day!
Do you know how I know? It was SNOWING as I left for the gym this morning! Snowing at 5:55! And it was beautiful. I love the snow. I miss the snow. I should move somewhere it snows more. It was so peaceful and quiet and beautiful while waiting for the bus. It made my ride on the methadone bus so much better this morning.
I feel now that I've mentioned the methadone bus I should explain (although it is kind of obvious). The bus I ride goes right past the methadone clinic. There are always between 5 and 10 people riding that bus that are going into the clinic. A couple of mornings ago there was this older woman and she made me sad because she was clearly needing a fix by her behavior. She was jittery and unable to really sit still on the bus. She made me sad because she looked like she should be hanging out with her grandkids on the porch, not riding a bus headed to the heroin addict's next fix.
Finally it is Valentine's Day. I do not have a good track record with the day although there is no dead ferret in my bed so already I'm doing much better than 2 years ago. :) (Seriously for those who have read this a long time, I know the story is getting old but come on, there's very little that can top finding a dead pet in your bed and getting bumped into by a car all in the same day. Plus now that it is 2 years later I can laugh about it.) Isa put up a little envelope and wanted Valentines so I bought some Bratz ones. Somehow these Valentines are not appropriate for a Human Resources office yet are appropriate for 6 year old girls.
Oh also, I have put on a new necklace. It isn't the same as the old one but Isa has a theory that maybe letting go of something that was very precious to me will allow something new that will be precious to me into my life. One can hope. :) Anyway, I strung 2 fish beads on a leather strap and now have a new necklace on. I had to. I really felt weird without anything around my neck.
Have a great day!
Ooh one more thing I almost forgot... Matty thinks that I shouldn't discount potheads because clearly they love me- the 2 that hit on me and Jeffy my gay, pothead, bartending husband. I commented that my non love for the potheads is not really what is keeping me from a relationship since those 2 people had far more to be rejected about them than just pot. That was the tip of the rejection iceberg. So I'll just say that... yeah, I'm still rejecting potheads. :)
I feel now that I've mentioned the methadone bus I should explain (although it is kind of obvious). The bus I ride goes right past the methadone clinic. There are always between 5 and 10 people riding that bus that are going into the clinic. A couple of mornings ago there was this older woman and she made me sad because she was clearly needing a fix by her behavior. She was jittery and unable to really sit still on the bus. She made me sad because she looked like she should be hanging out with her grandkids on the porch, not riding a bus headed to the heroin addict's next fix.
Finally it is Valentine's Day. I do not have a good track record with the day although there is no dead ferret in my bed so already I'm doing much better than 2 years ago. :) (Seriously for those who have read this a long time, I know the story is getting old but come on, there's very little that can top finding a dead pet in your bed and getting bumped into by a car all in the same day. Plus now that it is 2 years later I can laugh about it.) Isa put up a little envelope and wanted Valentines so I bought some Bratz ones. Somehow these Valentines are not appropriate for a Human Resources office yet are appropriate for 6 year old girls.
Oh also, I have put on a new necklace. It isn't the same as the old one but Isa has a theory that maybe letting go of something that was very precious to me will allow something new that will be precious to me into my life. One can hope. :) Anyway, I strung 2 fish beads on a leather strap and now have a new necklace on. I had to. I really felt weird without anything around my neck.
Have a great day!
Ooh one more thing I almost forgot... Matty thinks that I shouldn't discount potheads because clearly they love me- the 2 that hit on me and Jeffy my gay, pothead, bartending husband. I commented that my non love for the potheads is not really what is keeping me from a relationship since those 2 people had far more to be rejected about them than just pot. That was the tip of the rejection iceberg. So I'll just say that... yeah, I'm still rejecting potheads. :)
Monday, February 13, 2006
I rock!
I packed my pack last night. I checked and rechecked to make sure I had everything I needed. I bought bananas just for the occassion. I was up at 5:30 this morning and on the bus at 6:10. I hit the gym by 6:20. Yay for me! It has been almost a year since I've last been to the gym. They have new elliptical trainers! Yay for new elliptical trainers. (And yes, skinny people everywhere claim the elliptical trainers are like a magnet for fat people. They burn a huge amount of calories and are kind to the knees, what more could I want?) I only went for 20 minutes (and a 5 min cooldown) because I didn't want to die my first day back in the gym, but I'm psyched and ready to go again tomorrow. And for the record, Pearl Jam's Release Me is probably the best cooldown song I've ever found. It is either right at 5 minutes or just under (like 4:30?) and it provides a kind of trudging beat that I find good to slow down to. Plus I just love the song. :)
Edited to add this picture of an elliptical trainer. I love it because it is a gentle gliding kind of thing rather than picking up your feet. I never use the arm option because that's just too much for me to manage. I usually don't hold onto the handles at all. I only will hang on a little bit when I'm doing reverse motion because it helps keep me from falling off the damn thing. It looks kind of intimidating but really when I was going regularly I could burn like 600 calories in just 30 min of working out. How can you not love that? Plus once you get used to it, it actually feels really good to me. Like a treadmill it has various levels (or heights I guess) so that it simulates either running (lowest setting) or stairclimbing (highest). And according to sports medicine guy it is good for my achilles tendonitis so I'm all over it.
Edited to add this picture of an elliptical trainer. I love it because it is a gentle gliding kind of thing rather than picking up your feet. I never use the arm option because that's just too much for me to manage. I usually don't hold onto the handles at all. I only will hang on a little bit when I'm doing reverse motion because it helps keep me from falling off the damn thing. It looks kind of intimidating but really when I was going regularly I could burn like 600 calories in just 30 min of working out. How can you not love that? Plus once you get used to it, it actually feels really good to me. Like a treadmill it has various levels (or heights I guess) so that it simulates either running (lowest setting) or stairclimbing (highest). And according to sports medicine guy it is good for my achilles tendonitis so I'm all over it.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Devastation...
For the past 14 years I've worn an aquamarine crystal around my neck. I bought it when I was a freshman in college at the annual holiday fair. I almost didn't buy it but it spoke to me. I had to. I went back 3 times to look at it before commiting to the purchase. I've been wearing it on a leather cord for the past several years because the chain broke and was unrepairable. I've looked for another silver chain, but finding one that was fine enough to fit the necklace and yet still long enough to surround my fat neck was impossible. Today represents the last day I will wear it. It's gone. I pulled off my jacket after going to the library and noticed a black string hanging off my t-shirt. It wasn't a black string, it was my leather cord. The crystal is gone. I walked back to the bus stop head bowed trying to find it, but I didn't. It could be on the bus or at the library and I'll figure out how to submit a lost & found item but in reality, it doesn't look good. I feel weird without it now, like something's missing.
What is it with me & potheads? Do I give off a pheromone only they can smell and thus must come hit on me? Does something on my back scream please rub your potheaded hands on me?
Friday's Pothead Experience - I went out kind of late and joined Big R at a gay bar. We sat down at the bar and Big R went to the bathroom leaving me alone. The guy on my other side introduced himself and asked for my name. He chatted with me telling me I was really pretty and asked if I was waiting on someone. All the while rubbing my back. I told him I was waiting for my boyfriend who just went to the bathroom. He gave me one of those "hey I tried" looks and just chatted some more with me. Big R returned and I turned back to him to chat. When Big R went to get a 2nd (or 3rd I'm not sure) drink, the guy tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to him. I heard him say something about a bull and said "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're asking me?" Apparently what he said was smoke a bowl, pot. I declined and he said there was nothing wrong with smoking pot he's been doing it for 50 years... and that the offer still stands if I wanted it. Luckily Big R returned and I didn't have to chat with old man pothead.
Tonight's Pothead Experience - Isa and I went to listen to some live music. We had a good time. During the last band I felt a tap in the middle of my back. I was hoping it was this one guy, heh, who am I kidding. My life never works that way... It was this shortish guy who REEKED of pot. He told me I was beautiful, multiple times and that he was glad he came over to see me and he gave me his number. The whole while he's rubbing my back. The smell was overwhelming. He gave me his card and asked for my number. I tried to get out of it claiming to have no pen or paper, of course he did. So I fake numbered him. It is such a rite of passage, fake numbering someone. I've never done it before. :) Finally he left and I felt briefly nauseus. We left shortly after that. I did look cute in a purple tank top and black jacket. :)
Friday's Pothead Experience - I went out kind of late and joined Big R at a gay bar. We sat down at the bar and Big R went to the bathroom leaving me alone. The guy on my other side introduced himself and asked for my name. He chatted with me telling me I was really pretty and asked if I was waiting on someone. All the while rubbing my back. I told him I was waiting for my boyfriend who just went to the bathroom. He gave me one of those "hey I tried" looks and just chatted some more with me. Big R returned and I turned back to him to chat. When Big R went to get a 2nd (or 3rd I'm not sure) drink, the guy tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to him. I heard him say something about a bull and said "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're asking me?" Apparently what he said was smoke a bowl, pot. I declined and he said there was nothing wrong with smoking pot he's been doing it for 50 years... and that the offer still stands if I wanted it. Luckily Big R returned and I didn't have to chat with old man pothead.
Tonight's Pothead Experience - Isa and I went to listen to some live music. We had a good time. During the last band I felt a tap in the middle of my back. I was hoping it was this one guy, heh, who am I kidding. My life never works that way... It was this shortish guy who REEKED of pot. He told me I was beautiful, multiple times and that he was glad he came over to see me and he gave me his number. The whole while he's rubbing my back. The smell was overwhelming. He gave me his card and asked for my number. I tried to get out of it claiming to have no pen or paper, of course he did. So I fake numbered him. It is such a rite of passage, fake numbering someone. I've never done it before. :) Finally he left and I felt briefly nauseus. We left shortly after that. I did look cute in a purple tank top and black jacket. :)
Friday, February 10, 2006
Night Brace 3 days so far
Every night I dutifully put on my night brace. Every night about 2 hours after I put it on, I take it off. That's it, in the picture. It kills my foot to sleep in it. My toes go numb. It is somewhat heavy and my foot always feels so weird in it. I will keep trying it. Maybe I can keep it in for like 15 minutes longer each night until I'm sleeping a full night in it. Damn tendon.
Also I've inquired about getting a boot for my vacation. Only because we are going to be walking a lot since we're going to Disneyland, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. So yes, Matthew, I'm getting the boot. You don't gotta be all Mr. Smugpants on me.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
They're lucky they're not dead!
I went into the bathroom after the meeting tonight and somebody had locked 4 doors from the inside and crawled out underneath. Now since the building is essentially empty after 6 PM (our meeting time) and really college girls wouldn't crawl around on this disgusting public bathroom floor I can only imagine it was MY girls who did this. Had they all not left already I would've lit into them immediately. Instead I crawled around on the disgusting public bathroom floor and unlocked the 2 locks I could and tried the other 2 but since those 2 stalls have doors that actually extend all the way to the floor I couldn't crawl under the side enough to get them. I had to go get someone from public safety to use their little tool to open the door. (He used a flat tool on a leatherman type thing to scrape along the top of the sliding lock until he had moved it enough to open the door.) Next week there will be a lecture to end all lectures. This is just completely unacceptable.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Hysterical... just hysterical
Ok maybe it is only hysterical to me, but I don't think I've laughed as hard as I did today at lunch in a long time.
I was eating lunch today with the cult of the virgins. There are only boy virgins in the cult these days since Isa's roommate doesn't join us anymore. Anyway Harry Potter has been seeing this girl and the Italian Guy questioned him how things were going which prompted a discussion of how far HP & girl have gone. Which then somehow melded into a convo between HP & I about things like one night stands and sex with out the a regular relationship. Harry P & I talk about his theories a little bit. He doesn't want to be controlled by the more base urges and he thinks he is above all of that. I said I wasn't discounting his beliefs, but once he actually has sex he may feel different but that I can respect that he doesn't want to be led around by Little Harry Potter. He looked at me dead on and said "How did you know that?" And then he got really red and embarrassed and started to laugh at what he just shared with me and so I started to laugh and neither of us could stop it. And neither of us could even look at each other because every time we did we just laughed harder. And neither of us could explain to the other 3 at the table what was going on. We were dying.
I went to see the doctor that I was finally referred to today. He was really nice and I liked him. He asked me a bunch of lifestyle questions. He did a bunch of checking and I really got the sense he knew what he was talking about. He did not boot me (as Matthew seems positive will happen) although he did offer me one if I wanted to do it. He says wear that for 6 weeks it may help. I am going to try 3 other things first. He gave me a night splint to wear (which looks like a boot without the traction on the bottom actually). He suggested accupuncture and suggested I up my Aleve dosage. I'm hesitent about the boot for many reasons. There's no guarantee that 6 weeks will be it. And I really think the size and weight will make my commute to & from work more difficult. I'll give it more time and see. The very exciting, though, about this appointment is that I'm released to hit the elliptical trainer again. I'm heading back to the gym next Monday morning! :) (Of course I'm still not allowed to hill climb so I'm heading back to the gym next Monday morning via bus, but whatever).
I was eating lunch today with the cult of the virgins. There are only boy virgins in the cult these days since Isa's roommate doesn't join us anymore. Anyway Harry Potter has been seeing this girl and the Italian Guy questioned him how things were going which prompted a discussion of how far HP & girl have gone. Which then somehow melded into a convo between HP & I about things like one night stands and sex with out the a regular relationship. Harry P & I talk about his theories a little bit. He doesn't want to be controlled by the more base urges and he thinks he is above all of that. I said I wasn't discounting his beliefs, but once he actually has sex he may feel different but that I can respect that he doesn't want to be led around by Little Harry Potter. He looked at me dead on and said "How did you know that?" And then he got really red and embarrassed and started to laugh at what he just shared with me and so I started to laugh and neither of us could stop it. And neither of us could even look at each other because every time we did we just laughed harder. And neither of us could explain to the other 3 at the table what was going on. We were dying.
I went to see the doctor that I was finally referred to today. He was really nice and I liked him. He asked me a bunch of lifestyle questions. He did a bunch of checking and I really got the sense he knew what he was talking about. He did not boot me (as Matthew seems positive will happen) although he did offer me one if I wanted to do it. He says wear that for 6 weeks it may help. I am going to try 3 other things first. He gave me a night splint to wear (which looks like a boot without the traction on the bottom actually). He suggested accupuncture and suggested I up my Aleve dosage. I'm hesitent about the boot for many reasons. There's no guarantee that 6 weeks will be it. And I really think the size and weight will make my commute to & from work more difficult. I'll give it more time and see. The very exciting, though, about this appointment is that I'm released to hit the elliptical trainer again. I'm heading back to the gym next Monday morning! :) (Of course I'm still not allowed to hill climb so I'm heading back to the gym next Monday morning via bus, but whatever).
Brief political interruption
Y'all know I very rarely speak of anything political. I'm completely liberal on social issues, well and just mostly completely liberal. I read with interest about the president's new budget plan. I find it most interesting that even his fellow Republicans are against this. He's managing to piss off some very powerful lobbying groups, such as AARP. As shocking as this is, I don't know that I 100% disagree with him on his stance about entitlement benefits.
The other thing I read was the justification for eavesdropping power for the president. Now 99% of the time I don't care about what the president is up to with regards to these types of things. If the president wants to listen in on my phone conversations with the Chinese food place that's fine. If he wants someone in the CIA to monitor my IM chats with Michelle, whatever, I have nothing to hide. They can know about my scandalous emails with my coworker about one of several coworkers we find attractive. But now that I've thought about it further, I should care. It isn't just about me and that I have nothing to hide, but anyone who could be unfairly targeted because of their race or religion or their political ideologies. I also found it interesting that there is a special court to decide these things. If the administration isn't doing anything wrong, why hasn't this gone to that court? Why do they balk at it going there now? The whole thing troubles me for many reasons. I don't ever want to be one of those people who believes the government is out to get us or that big business is inherently evil. I know my govenrment does things that I don't approve of and most likely does things that I have no knowledge of. Things that we (as a nation) hate when another country does them. I'm not so foolish to believe everything is rosy and peachy, but I'd like to think that my elected leaders do have the nation's best interest at heart. I suppose it is a matter of whose best interest we're really talking about. And that's where things get dicey. This is an interesting article about the issue (seemingly) free of bias, just outlining the facts.
Now I'm not necessarily a fiscal conservative, well maybe I am. I am in the sense that I'd much rather see the money going to support the people it is supposed to support and not just for more layers bureaucracy or to make benefits excessively complicated. (Medicare Part D anyone? I work in benefits, I have to know these things, it is ridiculous.) If we were able to simplify I think the budget cuts would work so much better.Bush, not on the ballot, took a different view. "Unconstrained spending in the nation's large entitlement programs poses a serious threat to the federal budget and to the health of the economy," the budget said. (Ok that's a direct quote from this article, but interestingly enough I'm pretty sure the budget didn't actually say anything.)
The other thing I read was the justification for eavesdropping power for the president. Now 99% of the time I don't care about what the president is up to with regards to these types of things. If the president wants to listen in on my phone conversations with the Chinese food place that's fine. If he wants someone in the CIA to monitor my IM chats with Michelle, whatever, I have nothing to hide. They can know about my scandalous emails with my coworker about one of several coworkers we find attractive. But now that I've thought about it further, I should care. It isn't just about me and that I have nothing to hide, but anyone who could be unfairly targeted because of their race or religion or their political ideologies. I also found it interesting that there is a special court to decide these things. If the administration isn't doing anything wrong, why hasn't this gone to that court? Why do they balk at it going there now? The whole thing troubles me for many reasons. I don't ever want to be one of those people who believes the government is out to get us or that big business is inherently evil. I know my govenrment does things that I don't approve of and most likely does things that I have no knowledge of. Things that we (as a nation) hate when another country does them. I'm not so foolish to believe everything is rosy and peachy, but I'd like to think that my elected leaders do have the nation's best interest at heart. I suppose it is a matter of whose best interest we're really talking about. And that's where things get dicey. This is an interesting article about the issue (seemingly) free of bias, just outlining the facts.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
The return of the Sunday Adventure!
Today when I was sitting on the sofa, I noticed how sunny and glorious it looked outside. I had to get up off the sofa and go and celebrate the return of the sun! After looking at the different park options on the Seattle Parks website, I decided to head to Discovery Park. That was such a good idea for me! It was so rejuvinating. I didn't hike the entire loop trail (which is 2.8 miles) but I walked most of it. 
I liked this little teeny path through the tree. Like something a fairy would use. :)
I think when the leaves are all on these trees this is probably a perfect little secluded grotto like I love. The potential is definitely there.
Just a crane in a field, but on the other side of the field was another crane. I don't know anything about cranes, but I wondered if there was a little flirting going on? The other thing (that I didn't take a picture of) was that these 2 guys were standing there looking at the crane. They were rather butch looking, I initially thought they were just standing next to each other, then I noticed the hands. They were holding hands. It was so cute.
This cute little chapel was on the bluff. I don't know if it was still in use, but I liked its colors and how cute it looked.
This sign made me laugh.
This cute little old couple (which you can't see the other person is a guy) was sitting on the log watching the water. I think it would be nice to have someone to sit on a log with on a cold February afternoon.
I liked the shape of this tree overlooking the water. If you look carefully, you can just see some Day of the Dead banners hanging in the tree. I don't know why they are there or how they got there but there they were.
The sky was so clear today that I could see Mt. Rainier from the bluff. It looked so cool like it was floating in the sky. It made me think of Bob Ross' the painter, the mountain just looked like it was painted on the background.
I liked the dark water/sunlight combo.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Shopped 'til I dropped
I went to 2 of my favorite places today. Baja Fresh for lunch and Fred Meyers for shopping! So while it was cold and blustery outside, I was safe and warmly ensconsed on a bus and in the most beautiful Fred Meyer in Seattle. I bought some completely frivolous things. It isn't often I get to do that! I bought a new lavender tank top to wear out (tank top, excessive boobage showing, it will need a different bra than what I own), a white shirt (that may have to go back actually) and a toasty, fuzzy fleece jacket. I'm most excited about the fleece jacket. It is so soft and warm. I can't wait until the rain stops so I can just wear this in the cold. :) I also got some craft stuff to make felt finger puppets. Although, I couldn't find any googly eyes. Do they not make those anymore? :) I'll have to field trip to the sewing store down the block to see if they carry them.
One other thing I want to get, a new video game. But I hate shoot 'em up kill things type. I like either go on a long quest to solve puzzles and find the ultimate answer or key to the treasure. Or I like simulation ones like the Sims or Age of Empires.
I looked at movies to go watch tomorrow instead of the Super Bowl. There is nothing out that I want to see that I haven't already seen. I hate it when that happens.
One other thing I want to get, a new video game. But I hate shoot 'em up kill things type. I like either go on a long quest to solve puzzles and find the ultimate answer or key to the treasure. Or I like simulation ones like the Sims or Age of Empires.
I looked at movies to go watch tomorrow instead of the Super Bowl. There is nothing out that I want to see that I haven't already seen. I hate it when that happens.
Friday, February 03, 2006
So cute, yet so evil...
Tess has shared her toys with me! Tess does not usually share these little fuzzy balls that she loves desperately. She carries them all around the apartment with her and hisses if I try to take one away.
(Yes I sleep on bear sheets in the winter. They're flannel)
This is Tess & Rigby sleeping in my sweater in the dirty clothes pile. Rigby is the one whose face we can see. You can just see her little pink tongue poking out of her mouth. What you can't see are her blood dripping fangs. She and I still can't come to an agreement on whether or not it is appropriate to bite my feet in the morning. I'm still against it. She seems to still be for it.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Thank goodness the week is almost done!
Popsicles - I wish I had some popsicles. I have to make due with a fun size Snickers bar that's been in the freezer for months.
Biggest waste of an afternoon - In the continuing saga of the achilles tendon, I made an appointment with a sports medicine doctor. I tried to make an appointment with the one my physical therapist recommended to me. I was told that I couldn't go to him because I had to have a referral from my doctor, which I didn't have and so they set me up with an appointment with a different doctor but who is in the same group. So I go to this other doctor this afternoon. He looks at my heel. He has me stand up and go up on tippy toes and says he can't do anything for me since he is a surgeon but he wants me to go to a different doctor who specializes in non surgical approaches to my tendon problem. The doctor he sends me to... the one I wanted to go to in the first place. I tromped all the way up there in the pouring rain to be seen for 5 minutes and then go back out and stand in the rain for 10 minutes waiting for the bus to take me back to work. Sigh. BUT I do have an appointment with the appropriate doctor next Tuesday so we'll see what happens.
Crochet - I tried to teach the girls to crochet tonight. Please notice the word TRIED. I only know the weird complicated way of doing things so I was not succeeding. Luckily, 2 of my moms had an easy way to do it and they showed the girls the better way. That made us all happy. And the 2 who really got it were so excited. I think this weekend I'm going to get some felt so that we can make felt finger puppets for one of their badges. :)
Biggest waste of an afternoon - In the continuing saga of the achilles tendon, I made an appointment with a sports medicine doctor. I tried to make an appointment with the one my physical therapist recommended to me. I was told that I couldn't go to him because I had to have a referral from my doctor, which I didn't have and so they set me up with an appointment with a different doctor but who is in the same group. So I go to this other doctor this afternoon. He looks at my heel. He has me stand up and go up on tippy toes and says he can't do anything for me since he is a surgeon but he wants me to go to a different doctor who specializes in non surgical approaches to my tendon problem. The doctor he sends me to... the one I wanted to go to in the first place. I tromped all the way up there in the pouring rain to be seen for 5 minutes and then go back out and stand in the rain for 10 minutes waiting for the bus to take me back to work. Sigh. BUT I do have an appointment with the appropriate doctor next Tuesday so we'll see what happens.
Crochet - I tried to teach the girls to crochet tonight. Please notice the word TRIED. I only know the weird complicated way of doing things so I was not succeeding. Luckily, 2 of my moms had an easy way to do it and they showed the girls the better way. That made us all happy. And the 2 who really got it were so excited. I think this weekend I'm going to get some felt so that we can make felt finger puppets for one of their badges. :)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Best mail ever!
Yay! I got the most fun mail ever today. I'm ever so excited. :) It is about the only thing that is going to make the great American family vacation tolerable.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Testing a theory
Dear Universe,
Thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed upon me so far.
Eternally grateful,
Your humble servant, Joanne
Thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed upon me so far.
Eternally grateful,
Your humble servant, Joanne
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Schlumpy
Can someone tell me when I turned into a 45 year old Iowan PTA mom? I was walking up the hill to get the flexcar to go to my favorite restaurant and I couldn't believe how OLD my outfit was. I'm wearing a warm green sweatshirt, blue jeans and my old lady tennis shoes. My jeans aren't highwaters, but they aren't quite as long as I like them to be. It was a horrifying realization. 'Tis no wonder I'm still single when I go out looking as hot as this.
My favorite restaurant is moving. They don't know where they are moving yet. I'm hoping that the move doesn't translate to permanently closed. I would be sad if that happened. Although, if they move further north than Edmonds, I think I won't go there as often as I go now. They had a new, to me, waitress today. She was not good. I hope my usual waiter still works there. It makes me wonder if they only hire staff from the celiac community or if they pay so little only inexperienced wait staff are willing to work there. I remember when the guy first started he wasn't that great, but he got good fast.
My favorite restaurant is moving. They don't know where they are moving yet. I'm hoping that the move doesn't translate to permanently closed. I would be sad if that happened. Although, if they move further north than Edmonds, I think I won't go there as often as I go now. They had a new, to me, waitress today. She was not good. I hope my usual waiter still works there. It makes me wonder if they only hire staff from the celiac community or if they pay so little only inexperienced wait staff are willing to work there. I remember when the guy first started he wasn't that great, but he got good fast.
Who am I? (again)
I keep writing posts and setting them to draft. I just don't have much to say these days. But here's something vaguely interesting. I borrowed it from someone or other.
[X] I've run away from home (Didn't succeed. I was 11)
[X] I listen to political music (What's political music? Sinead O'Conner then I do I guess.)
[ ] I collect[ed] comic books.
[X] I shut others out when I'm sad
[ ] I open up to others easily
[X] I am keeping a secret from the world (Aren't we all?)
[ ] I watch the news
[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs (only 4)
[X] I own something from Hot Topic (Does Torrid, Hot Topic's fatchick sister store, count?)
[X] I love Disney movies
[X] I am a sucker for hair/eyes
[ ] I don't kill bugs
[X] I curse regularly
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name
[ ] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation
[ ] I love Spam
[X] I bake well
[ ] I would wear pajamas to school
[X] I have a job
[ ] I love Martha Stewart
[ ] I am in love/like with someone
[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS
[X] I am self conscious
[X] I like to laugh
[ ] I smoke a pack a day
[ ] I loved Go Ask Alice
[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick
[ ] I can't swallow pills
[X] I have many scars (How many is many?)
[X] I've been out of this country
[X] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room
[X] I am really ticklish
[X] I love chocolate!!
[ ] I bite my nails
[X] I am comfortable with being me
[X] I play computer games/video games when I'm bored
[X] Gotten lost in the city
[X] Saw a shooting star
[ ] I had Surgery
[ ] Gone out in public in your pajamas
[X] I have kissed a stranger (Not voluntarily, he kissed me)
[ ] Hugged a stranger
[ ] Been in a fist fight with the same sex
[ ] Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose
[X] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator
[ ] Made out in an elevator
[X] Swore at your parents
[ ] Kicked a guy where it hurts
[ ] Been skydiving
[ ] Been bungee jumping
[ ] Broken a bone
[X] Played spin the bottle
[X] Gotten stitches
[ ] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour
[ ] Bitten someone
[ ] Been to Niagara Falls
[X] Gotten the chicken pox
[X] Crashed into a car
[X] Been to Japan
[X] Ridden in a taxi
[X] Shoplifted (I was like 10 and it was a pen.)
[ ] Been fired
[X] Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back (Story of my life)
[X] Stole something from your job
[ ] Gone on a blind date
[X] Had a crush on a teacher/coach
[ ] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans
[ ] Been to Europe
[ ] Slept with a co-worker
[ ] Been married
[ ] Gotten divorced
[X] Saw someone/something dying
[X] Driven over 400 miles in one day
[X] Been to Canada
[X] Been on a plane
[X] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show
[ ] Thrown up in a bar
[X] Eaten Sushi
[ ] Been snowboarding
[ ] Been skiing
[X] Been ice skating (Took a class in college. I got a P)
[X] Met someone in person from the internet
[ ] Been to a motocross show
[X] Going to or have gone to college
[ ] Done hard drugs
[X] Taken painkillers (I'm wildly allergic to the good stuff. No vicodins for me)
[ ] Cheated on someone else (NEVER, although came kind of close once)
[X] I've run away from home (Didn't succeed. I was 11)
[X] I listen to political music (What's political music? Sinead O'Conner then I do I guess.)
[ ] I collect[ed] comic books.
[X] I shut others out when I'm sad
[ ] I open up to others easily
[X] I am keeping a secret from the world (Aren't we all?)
[ ] I watch the news
[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs (only 4)
[X] I own something from Hot Topic (Does Torrid, Hot Topic's fatchick sister store, count?)
[X] I love Disney movies
[X] I am a sucker for hair/eyes
[ ] I don't kill bugs
[X] I curse regularly
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name
[ ] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation
[ ] I love Spam
[X] I bake well
[ ] I would wear pajamas to school
[X] I have a job
[ ] I love Martha Stewart
[ ] I am in love/like with someone
[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS
[X] I am self conscious
[X] I like to laugh
[ ] I smoke a pack a day
[ ] I loved Go Ask Alice
[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick
[ ] I can't swallow pills
[X] I have many scars (How many is many?)
[X] I've been out of this country
[X] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room
[X] I am really ticklish
[X] I love chocolate!!
[ ] I bite my nails
[X] I am comfortable with being me
[X] I play computer games/video games when I'm bored
[X] Gotten lost in the city
[X] Saw a shooting star
[ ] I had Surgery
[ ] Gone out in public in your pajamas
[X] I have kissed a stranger (Not voluntarily, he kissed me)
[ ] Hugged a stranger
[ ] Been in a fist fight with the same sex
[ ] Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose
[X] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator
[ ] Made out in an elevator
[X] Swore at your parents
[ ] Kicked a guy where it hurts
[ ] Been skydiving
[ ] Been bungee jumping
[ ] Broken a bone
[X] Played spin the bottle
[X] Gotten stitches
[ ] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour
[ ] Bitten someone
[ ] Been to Niagara Falls
[X] Gotten the chicken pox
[X] Crashed into a car
[X] Been to Japan
[X] Ridden in a taxi
[X] Shoplifted (I was like 10 and it was a pen.)
[ ] Been fired
[X] Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back (Story of my life)
[X] Stole something from your job
[ ] Gone on a blind date
[X] Had a crush on a teacher/coach
[ ] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans
[ ] Been to Europe
[ ] Slept with a co-worker
[ ] Been married
[ ] Gotten divorced
[X] Saw someone/something dying
[X] Driven over 400 miles in one day
[X] Been to Canada
[X] Been on a plane
[X] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show
[ ] Thrown up in a bar
[X] Eaten Sushi
[ ] Been snowboarding
[ ] Been skiing
[X] Been ice skating (Took a class in college. I got a P)
[X] Met someone in person from the internet
[ ] Been to a motocross show
[X] Going to or have gone to college
[ ] Done hard drugs
[X] Taken painkillers (I'm wildly allergic to the good stuff. No vicodins for me)
[ ] Cheated on someone else (NEVER, although came kind of close once)
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Long day into night
This morning I had to get up at the crack of dawn because I was going to the Pacific Science Center with 3 of my girls. We had a scheduled junior activity with several other troops where we earned the Sky Search Patch. I think their favorite part was the planetarium part. It was very cool. The guy was really entertaining and they enjoyed looking at the stars and having the constellations pointed out to them. We officially finished at noon, but one of the girls & I hung out until 1. She liked that part I think because I mostly just let her go wherever she wanted to go. All the girls want to go back so I'm going to try to find some time for us to go in May or June.
After that headed to Center House for lunch. I was STARVING. Then it was off to the library. Since I found those 2 new authors, I put a bunch of books on hold by them. Six of those books came in. How is it always feast or famine?
After that I came home and sat on the sofa for a few minutes. I was so tired and totally didn't want to get up. But I had to send a copy of my birth certificate and driver's license so that she can add me to her flight benefits. She works for an airline and I think in an effort to allow for domestic partnerships without saying so, they just allow 1 adult on the flight benefit with her. Since my parents are already on there by virtue of being her parents and she's single that leaves me! Yay! :) But she had to get the paperwork in by the 31st so I overnighted her the copies. I know that in the normal world I could've just faxed them but she's worried about the fax machine at the place she works at. How can I complain about spending 23 bucks to ship a package when this means I may not have to pay for my flight for the Great American Family Vacation that I May or May Not Survive. So I was off to the UPS Store to ship that. Got home at 4:30 and flopped down on the bed for a nap. A 3 hour nap. I'm never going to get to sleep tonight!
Oh and my tendon is killing me again but I have a doctor's appointment on the 2nd with a sports medicine guy to see if he has any suggestions.
After that headed to Center House for lunch. I was STARVING. Then it was off to the library. Since I found those 2 new authors, I put a bunch of books on hold by them. Six of those books came in. How is it always feast or famine?
After that I came home and sat on the sofa for a few minutes. I was so tired and totally didn't want to get up. But I had to send a copy of my birth certificate and driver's license so that she can add me to her flight benefits. She works for an airline and I think in an effort to allow for domestic partnerships without saying so, they just allow 1 adult on the flight benefit with her. Since my parents are already on there by virtue of being her parents and she's single that leaves me! Yay! :) But she had to get the paperwork in by the 31st so I overnighted her the copies. I know that in the normal world I could've just faxed them but she's worried about the fax machine at the place she works at. How can I complain about spending 23 bucks to ship a package when this means I may not have to pay for my flight for the Great American Family Vacation that I May or May Not Survive. So I was off to the UPS Store to ship that. Got home at 4:30 and flopped down on the bed for a nap. A 3 hour nap. I'm never going to get to sleep tonight!
Oh and my tendon is killing me again but I have a doctor's appointment on the 2nd with a sports medicine guy to see if he has any suggestions.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Naked
My backpack is still full of crap from last night's meeting with the girls and I ran out of time this morning to clean it all out so I left without it. I feel so weird without my pack on my back. In the winter it holds my lunch and breakfast for work (which I had no food in the house so no breakfast or lunch from home for me today). I cart all my girl scout crap around with me in it. It holds my yoga clothes on Wednesdays. In the summer since I don't carry a purse it holds my wallet and my cell and my mp3 player for me. I take it to the store and use it to carry groceries. I take it when I'm walking downtown just in case I see something interesting. It goes EVERYWHERE with me. Today I didn't need it so I left it. Now I feel weird, like there's something missing. I also notice that my back aches when I don't wear it. I think I've gotten so used to the weight of the thing on my back that I don't know how to stand or walk properly without it. It being at home will trouble me much of today I think.
We played with bubbles last night at our meeting. It was so much fun, although the bubble solution I made didn't bubble as well as I wanted it to. We ended up adding more from the dish soap I had purchased some time in the past. But I showed the girls how to make a square bubble and they were so excited to try to do it themselves. It was totally awesome! (In my head as I typed that I thought, Radical dude!) The most exciting part was that unlike the last science experiment we did where I couldn't make it work, this one actually did! :) (Actually last time we were trying to float paperclips. It is possible. I did do it for about 1.3 seconds until the table shifted and the clip fell. The girls saw it though.) And it was something they could do as 2 of them accomplished this. (I only had 3 show up.) This weekend the 3 older girls & I are going to the Pacific Science Center. I'm excited about that. This weekend I also need to come up with what badges we are actually working on (I have a general idea) and plan on going to buy them the next Saturday the Girl Scout office is open.
We played with bubbles last night at our meeting. It was so much fun, although the bubble solution I made didn't bubble as well as I wanted it to. We ended up adding more from the dish soap I had purchased some time in the past. But I showed the girls how to make a square bubble and they were so excited to try to do it themselves. It was totally awesome! (In my head as I typed that I thought, Radical dude!) The most exciting part was that unlike the last science experiment we did where I couldn't make it work, this one actually did! :) (Actually last time we were trying to float paperclips. It is possible. I did do it for about 1.3 seconds until the table shifted and the clip fell. The girls saw it though.) And it was something they could do as 2 of them accomplished this. (I only had 3 show up.) This weekend the 3 older girls & I are going to the Pacific Science Center. I'm excited about that. This weekend I also need to come up with what badges we are actually working on (I have a general idea) and plan on going to buy them the next Saturday the Girl Scout office is open.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Namaste
Today I took a yoga class. This is the first class I've ever taken and I kind of liked it. Some things were really hard for me. I can barely do the downward dog. I just don't have the upper body strength and abs to hold myself up like that. There was one other pose that I had a hard time with, but mostly because my fat belly got in the way. That is, I noticed, a problem. I also had a harder time breathing upside down. The other bad part, afterward I felt a tiny bit nauseous. That was a little unpleasant. But I'm determined to keep going with it. I think it will help me strengthen my body a lot.
Apparently it was a good thing I went, though. The class I'm taking is free because it is part of the Academic Salons we offer. I figured it would be crowded, but it wasn't. In fact they were getting ready to cancel the classes altogether because for the past couple of weeks only the person who organized the Salons and the instructor were there. She was thrilled that I had shown up and then 2 more people came so that was even more exciting. Now they will keep the classes going, which is good for me since the price is right. :)
Apparently it was a good thing I went, though. The class I'm taking is free because it is part of the Academic Salons we offer. I figured it would be crowded, but it wasn't. In fact they were getting ready to cancel the classes altogether because for the past couple of weeks only the person who organized the Salons and the instructor were there. She was thrilled that I had shown up and then 2 more people came so that was even more exciting. Now they will keep the classes going, which is good for me since the price is right. :)
Tag I'm it no tag backs!
Peanut tagged me so I'll do it. It's interesting because this is actually requiring a lot of thought from me. :)
The rules: The tagged victim lists 8 different points of their perfect lover/partner, mentioning the sex of said partner.Tag 8 victims to join this game & leave a comment on a post letting them know they've been tagged. If tagged before, no need to contribute.
Target of my perfect partner: Male
1 - Good with finances. (It isn't that I'm incapable, I just don't enjoy it so I don't do anything.)
2 - Volunteer minded. It is important to me to get out and do good work. I would hope my partner would want to do the same.
3 - Makes me laugh.
4 - Has a good stable family. Mine's chaotic if I were to have kids I'd like them to at least have 1 set of grandparents that aren't completely batshit.
5 - Kind
6 - Intelligent
7 - Compassionate, considerate, caring, fun
8 - Great Eyes ;)
I'm not really a tagger but if you want to do it, consider yourself tagged. :)
The rules: The tagged victim lists 8 different points of their perfect lover/partner, mentioning the sex of said partner.Tag 8 victims to join this game & leave a comment on a post letting them know they've been tagged. If tagged before, no need to contribute.
Target of my perfect partner: Male
1 - Good with finances. (It isn't that I'm incapable, I just don't enjoy it so I don't do anything.)
2 - Volunteer minded. It is important to me to get out and do good work. I would hope my partner would want to do the same.
3 - Makes me laugh.
4 - Has a good stable family. Mine's chaotic if I were to have kids I'd like them to at least have 1 set of grandparents that aren't completely batshit.
5 - Kind
6 - Intelligent
7 - Compassionate, considerate, caring, fun
8 - Great Eyes ;)
I'm not really a tagger but if you want to do it, consider yourself tagged. :)
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Hmm could this be my destiny?
So at lunch today with the cult of the virgins one of the things we discussed was Darigold milk. Harry Potter drinks chocolate milk almost every day at lunch. (He's 19 give the kid a break, it is cute.) We were talking about how Darigold has the longest shelf life of milk and they were wondering why that is and I knew the answer. I emailed them like a year ago asking that question beacause it freaked me out. So Isa said I should go into Information Service since I like to find the answer to things. She cited the fact that I emailed Dansko about my new shoes that squeak even though I just bought them like 2 months ago. The funny part is that I have actually been pondering this myself but Isa didn't know that. So we had a brief discussion of my graduate school research.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Taxes are done!
Yay! And as always I'm getting a refund. Double Yay! Of course that money is going towards the Great American Family Vacation Which I May or May Not Survive (heretoafter known as GAFVWIMOMNS) Hee. I'm feeling silly and accomplished because I've gotten 2 things done already today. Now I need to do dishes and bake today so that's on the dockett for the afternoon. And maybe clean out the fridge and take out multiple trash bags. (After I clean out the fridge). I used H & R Block's free tax return service and it worked out well for me. I looked at the list of the sites the IRS partners with and some of them just seem so not on the level. I would like to believe that since the IRS partners with them the sites are legit, but I dunno, some just seem fly by night. Not my concern, though since I used H & R Block. I can trust them. :)
According to the mensa test, I am a genius. :) I got 24 out of 33. I found this thanks to Poppy & Peanut.
V & I went to see Hoodwinked yesterday. I really enjoyed it, in spite of myself. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it, but it was really clever and funny. And, bigger shock, V didn't stand me up.
What a great weekend so far!
According to the mensa test, I am a genius. :) I got 24 out of 33. I found this thanks to Poppy & Peanut.
V & I went to see Hoodwinked yesterday. I really enjoyed it, in spite of myself. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it, but it was really clever and funny. And, bigger shock, V didn't stand me up.
What a great weekend so far!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
A Friday Night adventure for a change
Last night it was Amy's (she's Isa (coworker)'s roommate) birthday so I went over to Isa's house to celebrate. That was less than fun so we decided to go out. First we headed to the Crescent and watched Karaoke for quite awhile. The Crescent is a gay bar, but I had never been there. It was pretty fun. I ran into one of my favorite gays, Shannon. He & I go way back (I met him one time when I was visiting V but before I moved up here). We haven't seen each other since New Year's Eve 2005. That's the way it is, we randomly run into each other in a bar and chat. That's his bitchy hag Heather in the pic who poured the alcohol on me. (I've said it before that I hate the term fag hag for the girls that hang with the gays, but in Heather's case it is totally justified. She is just freakin' unpleasant. She's bitter and resentful and rather bitchy. She can't be fun and just exudes 'I'm a bitch' vibe).
While we were there one of Michelle, (Isa's roommate who went camping with us) got to sing her karaoke. She was thrilled. We waited for HOURS though to be able to do that. But we had fun anyway. We danced and sang along to all the singers. Big R was there with us. While she was up on stage I was stanging at a counter guarding all the coats (everybody else who was with us went up to the front) and I got chatted up by a nice enough guy. He then shared that he was bisexual. I have a firm no bisexual rule. We actually left shortly after that and headed to another bar.
We went to Clever Dunnes, which is across from the Crescent. Holy cow, I didn't know there was a fun straight bar on the hill! It was full of beautiful men. While we were sitting there this extremely drunk guy came by and Isa cleared a chair thinking he wanted the chair to take away. Nope, he sat down and joined us. He was EXTREMELY drunk and didn't make a lot of sense. I think he wanted us to buy him more booze since he kept opening his wallet and pointing out that there was no money and saying he forgot his money at his room. Luckily he left us but it really felt like it took a long time to do it. While we were there Amy went up and chatted up this extremely hot guy. EXTREMELY. He invited us to this after hours place and feeling full of adventurous spirit (or alcohol you decide), I decided to go with them. This was at 2.
So Big R, Amy & I headed down to La Corizon which is a venue just off the freeway, but it was within walking distance. The after hours thing was actually above it in what looked like it could've been a beautiful apartment except it was apparently regularly used for these after hours house parties. (well and it was right next to the freeway above a bar). There was a rather eclectic group of people, hip hoppers, dreadheads, etc. The music was rap but was pretty fun. I didn't talk to a lot of people, okay any but that's not uncommon. Amy didn't get a chance to talk to hot guy again though. Big R was not having fun and somewhat uncomfortable (Big R is gay and that wasn't really what could be described as a gay friendly crowd). When the chick on the stage lit up a pipe and I could smell the pot really strongly, I was glad when Big R convinced Amy to leave. But it was an adventure and I had fun in my own way. I finally stumbled home at 3:30. I haven't been out that late in a really long time! :)
While we were there one of Michelle, (Isa's roommate who went camping with us) got to sing her karaoke. She was thrilled. We waited for HOURS though to be able to do that. But we had fun anyway. We danced and sang along to all the singers. Big R was there with us. While she was up on stage I was stanging at a counter guarding all the coats (everybody else who was with us went up to the front) and I got chatted up by a nice enough guy. He then shared that he was bisexual. I have a firm no bisexual rule. We actually left shortly after that and headed to another bar.
We went to Clever Dunnes, which is across from the Crescent. Holy cow, I didn't know there was a fun straight bar on the hill! It was full of beautiful men. While we were sitting there this extremely drunk guy came by and Isa cleared a chair thinking he wanted the chair to take away. Nope, he sat down and joined us. He was EXTREMELY drunk and didn't make a lot of sense. I think he wanted us to buy him more booze since he kept opening his wallet and pointing out that there was no money and saying he forgot his money at his room. Luckily he left us but it really felt like it took a long time to do it. While we were there Amy went up and chatted up this extremely hot guy. EXTREMELY. He invited us to this after hours place and feeling full of adventurous spirit (or alcohol you decide), I decided to go with them. This was at 2.
So Big R, Amy & I headed down to La Corizon which is a venue just off the freeway, but it was within walking distance. The after hours thing was actually above it in what looked like it could've been a beautiful apartment except it was apparently regularly used for these after hours house parties. (well and it was right next to the freeway above a bar). There was a rather eclectic group of people, hip hoppers, dreadheads, etc. The music was rap but was pretty fun. I didn't talk to a lot of people, okay any but that's not uncommon. Amy didn't get a chance to talk to hot guy again though. Big R was not having fun and somewhat uncomfortable (Big R is gay and that wasn't really what could be described as a gay friendly crowd). When the chick on the stage lit up a pipe and I could smell the pot really strongly, I was glad when Big R convinced Amy to leave. But it was an adventure and I had fun in my own way. I finally stumbled home at 3:30. I haven't been out that late in a really long time! :)
Friday, January 20, 2006
Blog etiquitte
Here's a question... If a person gives you their web address, and they know you have a blog, is it bad manners if you don't give him yours? Especially if you did means there would have to be some editing of posts?
It's going to be a great day!
This morning as I was got off the bus at my office, I happened to look up and see the church spiral for this church that's up by my house and I had this feeling of deep contentment and kind of surprise. In that moment I couldn't believe that I lived here. I am so lucky to get to live in a place I really like (29 days in a row of rain notwithstanding). I have a job I enjoy with people I like. I have remade some friends and made some new ones. This morning I really felt like life was good.
Matty don't read the next part (the blue text). (But FYI I've just realized another reason to never date or sleep with a bisexual man, I wouldn't be able to donate blood ever if I did.)
I'm warning you.
You won't like it...
I donated blood this morning with my coworker. I used to do it all the time and then I moved up here and stopped. And then I got a tattoo and couldn't because you can't do it for 1 year after getting one. So now I'm donating again. It makes me very happy to donate blood for 2 reasons. One, I'm glad I'm doing something for others and I know how important blood is. My sister donates platelets whenever she can and in that, they take her blood out, whip it around to its separate parts and then put the plasma and red blood cells back without the platelets. I've found that when you have had someone in the past who was really sick with a condition that required a lot of treatment, you find yourself wanting to do more to give back because you realize on a different level how important it really is. Like I've always known it was important and I used to do it all the time, but now I have a different understanding of the importance, but I digress. The other reason I like to donate blood... I have an unholy fascination with blood. It is amazing stuff to me and I like to watch the bag fill up and I like to watch them fill the vials for testing of it. Seriously, sometimes I think I should go back to school to be like a phlebotomist or something like that. I like to look at it under microscopes. I just find it so fascinating! You have to consider, it is so amazing, it courses through your entire body and does all these neat and wonderful things. Maybe blood is my religion. :)
MATTY, You can read now! It is safe!
So so far today has been a great day! I have to go to the library after work to return and pick up some books. I am going to a party this evening which I hope will be fun, although several members of the cult of the virgins will be there. Including the Italian guy who I ate lunch with all by myself the other day and I didn't kill him and that's progress.
Matty don't read the next part (the blue text). (But FYI I've just realized another reason to never date or sleep with a bisexual man, I wouldn't be able to donate blood ever if I did.)
I'm warning you.
You won't like it...
I donated blood this morning with my coworker. I used to do it all the time and then I moved up here and stopped. And then I got a tattoo and couldn't because you can't do it for 1 year after getting one. So now I'm donating again. It makes me very happy to donate blood for 2 reasons. One, I'm glad I'm doing something for others and I know how important blood is. My sister donates platelets whenever she can and in that, they take her blood out, whip it around to its separate parts and then put the plasma and red blood cells back without the platelets. I've found that when you have had someone in the past who was really sick with a condition that required a lot of treatment, you find yourself wanting to do more to give back because you realize on a different level how important it really is. Like I've always known it was important and I used to do it all the time, but now I have a different understanding of the importance, but I digress. The other reason I like to donate blood... I have an unholy fascination with blood. It is amazing stuff to me and I like to watch the bag fill up and I like to watch them fill the vials for testing of it. Seriously, sometimes I think I should go back to school to be like a phlebotomist or something like that. I like to look at it under microscopes. I just find it so fascinating! You have to consider, it is so amazing, it courses through your entire body and does all these neat and wonderful things. Maybe blood is my religion. :)
MATTY, You can read now! It is safe!
So so far today has been a great day! I have to go to the library after work to return and pick up some books. I am going to a party this evening which I hope will be fun, although several members of the cult of the virgins will be there. Including the Italian guy who I ate lunch with all by myself the other day and I didn't kill him and that's progress.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Not quite as secret as I thought...
I was just in the bookstore buying cheese sticks & a pepperoni stick for my girls for tonight's meeting. I mention to the student worker behind the counter that it isn't for me, it is for one of my girls and she says "Oh you're the one with the troop." Whoops. I'm supposed to be kinda sorta keeping it on the DL since we don't pay for the room. (or as I've learned for the parking but that's a whole other thing). It is a non-reservable room which is how I've gotten around the room fee issue, but still. My biggest boss approved it over a year ago and he consulted the general counsel and she said it was fine, but still, I don't like to advertise our presence. Apparently, though, we've bene outed. :)
Another new author for me!
Yay! While in the library recently, I happened across another new author for me to read. I picked up two of Katie Fforde's books (Similar to how I couldn't find Jasper Fforde's books in my public library, for some reason I couldn't find any of Katie's books in Amazon US so this link is to Amazon UK.) I picked up Artistic License and Paradise Fields. I really liked them both and look forward to reading more of them from my library. Luckily she's been writing for awhile so I will have a lot of books to chose from. (I hate it when I pick up a novel and love it and look for more to discover this was the author's first novel so I have forever to wait for another one.) She writes essentially chick lit, which I adore. They're fairly quick reads but for both books I've found myself utterly engrossed. I think I also like the fact that the main characters in both were 'quirky.' :)
Monday, January 16, 2006
Portland Pics #1
Our room at the Days Inn in Portland. 
Matthew likes this sign for some reason. I think it is kind of funny. Also we liked the fact that it is right next to a Flexcar. There were Flexcar's available all over the place. Even more than I'm used to seeing in Seattle.
Matthew finds this bar sign disturbing. I can see that although it is also kind of funny. The place that I didn't take a picture of but that amused me was Club Portland. Apparently it is a sex club for the gays, the sister club to Club Seattle. I was rather alarmed by the sign advertising that young guys (18 - 25) got to only pay $5.00 to get in and $5.00 to get a locker. That's kind of creepy. 
The entrance to the Chinese Garden.
Matty being contemplative on the Moon Viewing Pavillion. I've always rather liked Moon Viewing Pavillions.
Also at the Chinese Garden. Off to one side on the right is a little enclosed place that is kind of hidden and cute. I like little hidden and cute areas.
Portland Pics #2
This is at the Chinese Gardens.
Mill Ends Park. It is listed in the Guiness Book of Records as being the smallest park. It is only 24 inches in diameter. I tried to get a better picture by standing on the other side of the street but you see that puddle in the middle left? Yeah, cars kept driving through that fast and splashing the crap out of me.
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. I liked it. It was peaceful. The black rectangles you can almost see in the background, are memorials to the soldiers who died and they also talk about various things that happened during that year.
This tree was on the path in the Hoyt Arboretum. I liked its coloring.
If there weren't so much cloud coverage you are supposed to be able to see several mountains, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens and one other one.
My sister's keeper.
While at Powells, I bought a lot of books. A LOT. Honestly I think I bought more in one day than I've purchased in the last year. The one I just read that I can't help but recommend highly was My Sister's Keeper. In a nutshell, a family has a son and a daughter. The daughter, Kate, is diagnosed with a rare leukemia at age 2. They needed to give the sick child a tranplant but there is no family donor that matches enough so they decide to have another child. They do in vitro and manage to have a 2nd daughter, Anna, who is a perfect match. The geneticists picked the egg to implant to ensure that she would be. Thus begins Anna's life as a donor for her sister. She ends up donating various fluids (leukocytes, platelets etc) several times in her young life. She eventually donates bone marrow, but Kate keeps geetting sicker. Finally when Anna is 13, Kate needs a kidney, and naturally the parents go back to Anna for it. And Anna has had enough so she sues her parents for medical emancipation, so she can make her own medical decisions. The whole concept is fascinating. I was intrigued from the first page. Even the 'twist' at the end was excellent. The only thing I really didn't like was the very end. I felt like it was a cop out. But otherwise, excellent. And now I've found a new author to read. :)
Portland!
Greetings all! I'm back from Portland. It was a lot of fun, although next time I go, I want to go when it is warmer. :)
We drove out Friday night. Since the 5 looked so bad, Matty decided to take the 99 to get past some of the worst of the out of Seattle traffic. In theory this was a good idea. In reality we got lost. We spent between an hour and an hour and a half just driving around Burien. Luckily, though, the detour got rid of the worst of the traffic and we made it down to Portland by like 10:45.
Saturday we got up and ventured out. It was rainy and we wandered around downtown Portland. Unlike downtown Seattle, there weren't a lot of people about. We stopped at a used music store and grabbed a couple of tapes for the drive home. We also went down to Powells bookstore. Matthew LOVES Powells books. I did not show enough of my love for them, though. I did like it. I bought a buttload of books.
After lunch we went to the Chinese Garden. It was gorgeous. I really liked the peacefulness of the place. I really enjoyed it there. I took a ton of pictures, which I'll post in a 2nd post. I want to go back when the flowers are in bloom.
Sunday morning, we went to Washington Park. Although now that I looked through the website and description of the park, I think we were mostly in Hoyt Arboretum. This also seems to be a place I want to see in the spring or summer when the flowers are in bloom. Mostly we just tromped along in the cold until we were freezing. Then we headed home.
All in all it was a good trip. I saw a bunch of cool things. And I want to go back. :) Although if I do, I won't stay in a Days Inn.
We drove out Friday night. Since the 5 looked so bad, Matty decided to take the 99 to get past some of the worst of the out of Seattle traffic. In theory this was a good idea. In reality we got lost. We spent between an hour and an hour and a half just driving around Burien. Luckily, though, the detour got rid of the worst of the traffic and we made it down to Portland by like 10:45.
Saturday we got up and ventured out. It was rainy and we wandered around downtown Portland. Unlike downtown Seattle, there weren't a lot of people about. We stopped at a used music store and grabbed a couple of tapes for the drive home. We also went down to Powells bookstore. Matthew LOVES Powells books. I did not show enough of my love for them, though. I did like it. I bought a buttload of books.
After lunch we went to the Chinese Garden. It was gorgeous. I really liked the peacefulness of the place. I really enjoyed it there. I took a ton of pictures, which I'll post in a 2nd post. I want to go back when the flowers are in bloom.
Sunday morning, we went to Washington Park. Although now that I looked through the website and description of the park, I think we were mostly in Hoyt Arboretum. This also seems to be a place I want to see in the spring or summer when the flowers are in bloom. Mostly we just tromped along in the cold until we were freezing. Then we headed home.
All in all it was a good trip. I saw a bunch of cool things. And I want to go back. :) Although if I do, I won't stay in a Days Inn.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Pack light?
I just watched the queer eye guys pack more for a GUY for a weekend than I am packing for my weekend in Portland. Really, don't most guys need like a bankcard for a weekend and that's about it? Maybe a toothbrush too. Especially when the men in question are just going to a bachelor party weekend at a casino.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
She represents the lollipop guild...
Once upon a time Sara Rue was not thin. I really liked the fact that she played fun characters and on Less than Perfect she ended up getting the cute guy despite not being a size -2. In fact it was HER show and she wasn't, unlike most fat chicks on TV, the comedic side kick. So I was shocked when I saw these pictures in People Magazine. While I would never say that a woman shouldn't do with her body what she wants and that includes lose weight. And as appalled I am when Hollywood 'pressures' a woman into becoming a lollipop, I would similarly be appalled if I were such a fair weather fan that I would lose respect for an actress who decided to lose weight for whatever reason. It makes me sad, though, to see Sara as a new member of the lollipop guild. (For those of you who don't know what I mean by a lollipop, it is the trend of actresses to become so super skinny that their heads look massive on little stick bodies. See also recent pictures of Lindsay Lohan, Lara Flynn Boyle, Courtney Cox (pre baby, post baby she seems to be more normal.)) I thought she was pretty before and there was a time on her show when she had slimmed down and looked healthy. Now I think she looks too skinny. Really, collar bones aren't supposed to be able to cut glass.
On being single
I can admit it, sometimes it would be nice not to be single. I know we always talk about the grass greener and all that jazz, but seriously, sometimes it would be nice not to just be an island all the time. Somehow, though, whenever I get to thinking this way too much, fate reminds me that it could be worse. I've been talking recently with someone I know we'll call Jane. Jane has a boyfriend we'll call John. Jane & John haven't been together that long I don't believe. John was recently away for a trip and Jane commented that she missed him etc. We were talking about their relationship and Jane let it slip that she and John weren't that compatible in bed. So then I say "Oh well you must have great conversations." "Not really," is her reply. So now I'm at a loss. So I say rather exasperatedly "So is he just a warm body?" There's no answer to that question. "He is interesting," she offers. Now I realize there are many other facets to a relationship than sex and conversation, but if you don't have at least one of those what's the point? Well and really in the long run you need both of those to work out to make the relationship work. The yeti & I had neither, and he was 'interesting' and we all know how well that worked out. So I guess what I'm trying to say with my long winded story is that I would rather have no one than someone I'm just sticking with because he is there and I don't want to be alone. Because that's just the wrong reason.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
To Quote Ralph Wiggam "I am smart, S-M-R-T"
This morning I was buying 2 cent stamps from my boss. (He had purchased a ton of them I don't know why). I knew I needed 20 of them because I had a full book of new stamps to buy the extra for. So I hand him $2.00 because in my mind that was the amount I had to pay. Coworker asked me how I came up with 2.00 because even with my bad math that added a decimal place, 2*20 = 40... Here's how it came about. When I had been thinking about buying stamps I had it in my head that I needed 10 and that would cost me $1.00. So then by this random logic if I needed 20 that would be double and be $2.00. Clearly not smart.
This story gets worse though, (as if that was possible.). I had purchased a Thank You card to send to Michelle's mom for a Christmas Present. (The Fabulous Fraggle Rock DVD's). It is all sappy and she'll appreciate it. I have written in it. I put the stamps on it. I put my return address label on it. And I dropped it in the box. Now if you read the list of things I did, there is one glaring omission. I never addressed it to her mom. Luckily I just tossed it in the bin in the office and the mail guy had just picked it up so I managed to get it and put the address on it but man I would've been pissed if it had been returned to me.
This story gets worse though, (as if that was possible.). I had purchased a Thank You card to send to Michelle's mom for a Christmas Present. (The Fabulous Fraggle Rock DVD's). It is all sappy and she'll appreciate it. I have written in it. I put the stamps on it. I put my return address label on it. And I dropped it in the box. Now if you read the list of things I did, there is one glaring omission. I never addressed it to her mom. Luckily I just tossed it in the bin in the office and the mail guy had just picked it up so I managed to get it and put the address on it but man I would've been pissed if it had been returned to me.
Monday, January 09, 2006
A good conversation with a credit card company??
Who knew that was possible. So after I had a mini panic attack over some news about minimum payments going up. Which in retrospect I realized that they have to alert you to these changes like a month or 2 in advance. Although, honestly, I never look at those little things they send me in the mail, but I digress. I started looking into what was really happening with my credit card accounts. I discovered a couple of alarming things, the first being that the card I always thought had the lower interest rate has a freakishly high interest rate. That's 100% my fault, I confess. The payment is due on the 28th usually and I don't get paid until the last day of the month, you can guess the rest. So I'm always like 2 days late with that one which means they've jacked up my rate. I also looked at my other card and realized it had a higher credit limit than I previously thought. It also has a lower interest rate, so I figure I'm going to transfer Card 1's balance to card 2. (And obviously stop using card 1, except this weekend and only for the rental car because Card 1 gives me car insurance protection that I don't get with Card 2 and that I don't have because I don't have a car, but I digress. I'll pay that 40 something bucks off at the end of the month.)
So I called Citibank (I'll plug them because I had a good experience) and ask to lower the interest rate. He can do it! He lowers it to like 15%. So then my 2nd question is can I change reward programs because I'm currently on the car reward program and I never will use that, I think I ended up on it by accident. So he asks what program I'm interested in and signs me up with one of those cash back programs. Yay! AND (can you believe it gets better?) my interest rate lowers to 13%! Holy crap! He said that by changing programs I give up like being a 'charter member' of the Driver's Edge program (like that does anything) and the diamond designation (like that means anything either) but whatever in 1 phone call I lost 5% of interest for this card and when I switch over Card 1's balance I cut my interest in 1/2. These are all good things.
Oh and originally was going to bitch because the guy was not American so I was thinking that it is just awful that Citibank has outsourced their customer care and I should be against that. But after he was so helpful I can't be upset about that.
So I called Citibank (I'll plug them because I had a good experience) and ask to lower the interest rate. He can do it! He lowers it to like 15%. So then my 2nd question is can I change reward programs because I'm currently on the car reward program and I never will use that, I think I ended up on it by accident. So he asks what program I'm interested in and signs me up with one of those cash back programs. Yay! AND (can you believe it gets better?) my interest rate lowers to 13%! Holy crap! He said that by changing programs I give up like being a 'charter member' of the Driver's Edge program (like that does anything) and the diamond designation (like that means anything either) but whatever in 1 phone call I lost 5% of interest for this card and when I switch over Card 1's balance I cut my interest in 1/2. These are all good things.
Oh and originally was going to bitch because the guy was not American so I was thinking that it is just awful that Citibank has outsourced their customer care and I should be against that. But after he was so helpful I can't be upset about that.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Out of sorts
I'm feeling restless lately. Not my usual restlessness which results in moving across the country. More of an 'I want something to change' feeling. I want something to happen. I want something to be excited about. Well, I do have something to be excited about. Matty P & I are heading to Portland next weekend. We'll drive down Friday night and come back sometime Sunday. I have to be back on Monday to do the Martin Luther King Jr. March with my girls. But that's exciting. I've never been to Portland. I don't know what I want. Maybe I have too much optimism for the coming year.
Today I flipped my mattress and did some cleaning under the bed. I discovered that Rigby is terrified about the vacuum cleaner and Tess is merely ambivalent about it. Although they both are traumatized whenever I do something weird around the house. I could tell it was agood thing I finally did the mattress. When I moved everything that was next to the wall and laid there I could totally feel the difference. Apparently it is a good thing I sleep alone considering what I found in my bed while taking everything off it to flip it. I found 7 library books, 6 regular books, 1 notebook, 1 pen, 1 hat that had 2 fingernail clippers and 1 Christmas ornament in it. There were 3 pillows in addition to the 2 I usually use. I found 2 catalogs and a magazine. Where the hell do I manage to sleep in all this? Tess was also traumatized because I took away the box that had been at the foot of the bed. It was the box Sampson came in and I need to take it down to storage. I have a weird thing about boxes, probably from being in college and moving so much, but I save all my bigger boxes. You never know when one may decide to move.
This weeks menu:
Sunday dinner - Sherried chicken & Rice.
Monday lunch - Sherried chicken & rice
Monday dinner - Either chicken tacos or a pork chop.
Tuesday lunch - Sherried chicken & rice
Tuesday dinner - Either lesbian tacos with Matty or something vague with chicken.
Wednesday lunch - Sherried chicken & rice
Wednesday dinner - Chicken & garlic sauce (So I have some for lunch the rest of the week.)
Thursday lunch - Student center food. (I have $$ put on my campus card so I can eat on campus once a week as a 'treat'.
Thursday dinner - Chicken & Garlic sauce.
Friday lunch - Chicken & garlic sauce.
Friday dinner - depends on what time Matty & I leave but most likely tacos.
(Yes there's a whole chicken and rice trend. I eat a buttload of chicken and rice cooked in various ways.)
Today I flipped my mattress and did some cleaning under the bed. I discovered that Rigby is terrified about the vacuum cleaner and Tess is merely ambivalent about it. Although they both are traumatized whenever I do something weird around the house. I could tell it was agood thing I finally did the mattress. When I moved everything that was next to the wall and laid there I could totally feel the difference. Apparently it is a good thing I sleep alone considering what I found in my bed while taking everything off it to flip it. I found 7 library books, 6 regular books, 1 notebook, 1 pen, 1 hat that had 2 fingernail clippers and 1 Christmas ornament in it. There were 3 pillows in addition to the 2 I usually use. I found 2 catalogs and a magazine. Where the hell do I manage to sleep in all this? Tess was also traumatized because I took away the box that had been at the foot of the bed. It was the box Sampson came in and I need to take it down to storage. I have a weird thing about boxes, probably from being in college and moving so much, but I save all my bigger boxes. You never know when one may decide to move.
This weeks menu:
Sunday dinner - Sherried chicken & Rice.
Monday lunch - Sherried chicken & rice
Monday dinner - Either chicken tacos or a pork chop.
Tuesday lunch - Sherried chicken & rice
Tuesday dinner - Either lesbian tacos with Matty or something vague with chicken.
Wednesday lunch - Sherried chicken & rice
Wednesday dinner - Chicken & garlic sauce (So I have some for lunch the rest of the week.)
Thursday lunch - Student center food. (I have $$ put on my campus card so I can eat on campus once a week as a 'treat'.
Thursday dinner - Chicken & Garlic sauce.
Friday lunch - Chicken & garlic sauce.
Friday dinner - depends on what time Matty & I leave but most likely tacos.
(Yes there's a whole chicken and rice trend. I eat a buttload of chicken and rice cooked in various ways.)
Friday, January 06, 2006
That's the way to spend an afternoon
When I got home from work today, for some reason I just randomly lay on my bed and started to read my book. I read for the next hour and a half without any distractions, just me and my characters. I finished the book. It was blissful. Usually I read either right before I go to bed or while I have the TV running. It is a pretty rare thing for me to read with absolutely nothing else going on.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Let go.
I don't know how to let things go. I'm well aware of this. It sometimes bothers me too. For instance, today I got an email from my biggest boss because a bigwig hadn't heard back from me on an email from December. Ok I know better. I should've responded right away, especially since she is high on the food chain and all that. Her 2nd email came in and said, I'll interoffice the form to you today. So that one requires no response on my part as far as I'm concerned, although I suppose a "Thanks, I'll look for it" would've been nice. So when her email to my boss came about me never answering her emails I was a bit surprised and looked back and sure enough I didn't answer the 1st one. So now I'm bothered by a stupid error and I don't know how to just let it go.
I could go on and on with examples of stuff I can't let go. Any ideas on how just to let things go? I've tried to think "Ok let it go" but somehow that doesn't work...
I could go on and on with examples of stuff I can't let go. Any ideas on how just to let things go? I've tried to think "Ok let it go" but somehow that doesn't work...
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Ugly new shoes!
Actually I don't think they're ugly, but they are kind of weird looking. I went in search of new tennis shoes so that I can support my tendon better and because of my crazy feet*. I ended up at Shoes n Feet where I was helped by this nice lady to pick out a pair of shoes that will be good for my issues. I definitely like them though and they are so freaking comfy. I dare not share how much the damn things cost, but I just feel like apparently once you turn 30, your shoes go up exponentially compared to what you spent on them when you were in your 20's. I think it is the new math. *Crazy feet - among other weird issues about my body, only one foot bends at a full 90 degree angle. The other does not, like only 84 degrees. Neither of them will bend back further. That's why the hill climbing is an issue and probably since I used to either drive or live in flat places, it wasn't ever noticed before.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Articulation
I have just received yet another plea for money from America's Second Harvest. I'm now forced to write to them. This is a minimum of 5 pleas for money in the last month and a half. This annoys the crap out of me and makes me not want to contribute to them anymore (I presently do a monthly contribution to them directly from my bank account). My problem is I can't articulate why this annoys me so much. It just does. Any ideas?
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