My Car Loves Me

I mean, it REALLY loves me.
It loves me so much it doesn't EVER want me to leave it.

So it has fardleschnockered up it's locking mechanism on the driver's side door.

At first, I could jiggle the handle and it would release me. No more.
Then I could use the tab toggle thingy that locks/unlocks ALL the doors in the car to unlock it - No more.

Sometimes the pushbutton on the remote-entry thing would work. Not now.

No - the only way I can guarantee I can get out of the car is to lower the window, take the key out of the ignition, use the key from the OUTSIDE to unlock the door, then put the key back in the ignition and put the window back up.

I tried to take the car to the dealer yesterday morning to get this fixed, but without an appointment they're all swamped to shit and can't get in - so it has to wait for Monday to get settled.

I suppose it is ok. I really should NOT be spending any money just now, (although likely this will cost me to the teeth) so I can just stay home for the long weekend and only have to deal with getting out of the car 3 more times before I take it to the dealer again on Monday to have them perform an automotive divorce (so it won't love me QUITE so much...)

19 days

Untitled

I tried really hard to think of a title for this post, but words failed me.

What is the very LAST thing you would ever expect to do first thing in the morning at work if you were an accountant. Besides installing an elevator in a single-storey building, of course...

Call the bank? Bah, that's S.O.P.
E-mail the bank and bitch about problems with some banking issues from Dec. 23? BORING DULL NORMAL.

Have the bank person send you a phone number to call for more help? Normal, normal, normal.

Call the number - and find out it's a phone-sex hotline?

Now THAT is one of those last things you'd expect. At least it was the last thing *I* expected when I called to get some additional assistance with our banking issue. I was - to say the least - surprised. So I checked the number and carefully redialed... and got Suzy Hotpants again.

*ahem*

So I had my boss call - just to make sure I hadn't been hallucinating....
Within seconds he had hung up and was calling the bank. He wasn't so much angry as... disappointed? confused? laughing his ass off without making noise? All of the above? Heh

Sometimes I think I've seen it/heard it/experienced it all. And then I have a day like that.

20 days

Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who you callin' a Ho?????)

Merry Christmas

Happy Chanukkah

Blessed Yule

Screw Kwanzaa - it's a pretend holiday

26 days

Sewmouse talks economics

There's an awful lot of talk about how to fix the economy. Throwing money at it seems to be the government's solution. Charles Osgood on CBS yesterday chastised Americans for not spending, because hording our money just worsens the situation. The Federal Reserve thinks the answer is lowering interest rates so banks can get easy money that they refuse to lend.

I've thought about this a bit, and I think there is merit in all the above, but that each and every one of them misses the boat because they leave out the KEY element. The connection between Consumers and Markets.

Consumerism drives our economy. People make things, people sell things, people buy things, people fix things, people buy things to make things... nice little circular "ecosystem",(Let's leave those asshats called "speculators" out of this for now - that's a whole 'nother ball of wax) and it all works.

Until some idiot comes up with the bright idea of outsourcing jobs to 3rd world countries.

Laying off people who make things.Laying off people who fix things.

Which means there are less people who can buy things.

So nobody buys things.and nobody can sell things so they lay off people who sell things.

Which means even MORE people cannot buy things. so nobody makes things.

So they lay off MORE people who make things...

Not to mention that all these people are now collecting Govt. benefits because they don't have jobs and NOT paying taxes because they don't have jobs... And of course, they only spend their benefits on the BARE ESSENTIALS, because they don't have jobs...

Clearly anyone with 1/2 a brain can see how this turns out. Laying off people clearly is the prime reason why the economy sucks tepid pond slime and will continue to do so as long as Corporate America decides that their dividends and profits can be saved by "cost cutting" measures like downsizing workforce, outsourcing and layoffs.

Put people back to work. Now there would be that many more people who CAN buy things. So you'll need even MORE people to make, fix, sell, etc. things.

Really - I'm fair certain even a 10 year old could grasp this...

Hello, WallStreetMCFly???????

32 days

Holy Refridgeadeezer, Batman - it's COLD

With wind-chill figured in today it feels like 14 BELOW zero F. Fortunately, the car's battery works like a champ and I got going fine this morning, only to run into traffic while people gawked at 2 cop cars having stopped someone on the OTHER side of the road. *sigh*

Progress is being made in the great 2008/2009 decluttering. Another 2 trash cans full of I never use it and nobody wants it is ready to be dragged to the curb on Thursday nite. I still have a pile of "I need to hang this up but the farking closet is not properly insulated and freezes my whole room if I open the door" stuff sitting on an end table, but that's not too bad. I really do need to cut back on the dust-collectors, however. Some of this crap I've had since I was a kid. Maybe I should take a big box out to the Garage and have a driveway sale next spring.

Dad got his christmas present box. I'm glad of this. I hope they didn't put a receipt in it. I need to get Amanda and her hubby's presents mailed off this week. I need a box. GAH - so much to remember. I need a secretary. And a maid.

I tried making bratwurst in the microwave. I'm thinking it wasn't too successful. I may try again some time, however. I just need to figure out a good time/power setting ratio, I think.

Thanks to Enigma 4 Ever, I now have a new recipe for butter cookies to try out. *cross fingers* I hope it's as good as the recipe looks - go check her out, she's got all KINDS of Xmas spirit going over at Watergate Summer!


35 days

It's later.

The governor thing really threw me for a loop, and I'm not sure why, because I've never really liked him all that much - but for some reason, having the feds swoop in and grab the Guv was upsetting.

Maybe it's just too much focus on Illinois right now. First my Senator wins the Presidential election, then everybody and his 1/2 brother Duane with a lisp is sneaking around here looking for stories on the "President Elect", and then the whole thing with Republic Windows and Doors and Bank of America and that is the bank that bought out the one our company used to do business at, and now THIS...

Too much news. Too much! Slow down and let me absorb ONE crisis before ladling on another, not to mention another 1-3 inches of sn*w and I really need someone to slow down the planet for a few eons, please.

Dick Daley (Mayor Richard Daley to the rest of the world, but it IS fun to say "Dick Daley", as that would be a nice xmas present.... shaddup Mouse) was saying that people should not judge Illinois by this scandal, and that this is NOT what Illinois and Illinois politics are all about and I about to spit my pepsi out my nose because he is SOOOOOO bullshitting - That is EXACTLY what Chicago and Illinois politics has ALWAYS been about, Mayor Dick! C'mon! Your FATHER was the Godfather of Illinois Politiking.... And people wonder why I'm cynical.

Gotta go scrape car windows. Ugh.

40 days

Oh My Goodness!

They just arrested our Governor.

The feds took Rod Blagojevic into custody this morning!

Oh my!

Lt. Gov. Quinn is not yet acting Gov.


More later....

41 days

Snipshots

Young lady in the Pharmacy on Friday nite... sobbing into her cellphone to an obviously unresponsive boyfriend "All I wanted was a hug..." Didn't have the guts to tell her that most men are scum and she'd be better off losing his ass on the side of a freeway than trying to get him to "care". Those kind of guys DON"T care - ever - except about getting their hoses polished.

More Sn*w over the weekend - my little walkway lights have nature-made snowmen on top of them. All I'd need to do is put out some mini carrots and tiny hats. *giggle*

I have discovered holes in the Veggie quilt. This distresses me. I like it the best. I hope I have some of the same fabric left so I can patch it.

Earworm of the day: Jimmy Buffet singing about a pencil-thin mustache. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr
George, george, george of the jungle..... IT"S NOT WORKING!!!!

Bathrooms went out again on Friday afternoon. The water situation at work is depressing.

Finished my xmas shopping. Except for Susan. She's usually first, but this year I've not found anything that screams her name at any of the stores. Bleh. I DID, however, find my Dad's present. FINALLY

In the "funny things" category - I discovered someone from the FAA has checked out my blog. *chuckle* Yes, Houston, we DO blog.... WTF would the government be interested in ME for - especially seeking out SPTLM's shenanigans from childhood? *shrug*

42 days

Roger, Houston - we have Potty

Well, not that Houston cares, but our water is back on (for now). Yay.

No more unauthorized and expensive trips to McD's to use the restroom. Not that they charge, but it seems very tacky to walk in, do a poo, wash up and then walk out without buying anything.

Rude at the least.

So it's been an expensive 3 1/2 days.

46 days

Pickin' on Librul's Day

Mine is an Equal Opportunity Blog. Everyone has the opportunity to annoy me, and my self-determined appropriate ridicule will follow, regardless of gender, race, creed, color, national origin, political affiliation or choice of anti-perspirant spray, although refusal to use ANY anti-perspirant may be used against someone in a blog post. /fakeMiranda

So!A little over a month from now, barring any last-minute coup attempt by the Axle of Evil (Dunno about an "Axis", but an Axle has only 2 ends - Bush-Cheney), a new President of the United States will be sworn in on a chilly January day and history will be written about it, because Mr. Obama has a perma-tan.

So why, pray tell, are the Lib'ruls having convulsions and shitting themselves, going all right-wing-loonytunes because of what he has "failed to do"???

Helllloooooooo? Buehler???

Yes, he has selected his "first round draft picks" for cabinet positions - but each and every one of them needs to get past the approval process yet. Sure, we can ASSUME that with a Democratic majority in the Senate that this will be roughly a "rubber stamp" issue - but we could very well be WR... WRO... Wrrrrr..... Less than Correct - as Arthur Fonzarelli (sp?) would stutter.

No, he hasn't signed anything yet. Damn the man! Oh yeah - he hasn't taken the freaking Oath of Office yet!!! *SLAP* MCFLY!!!!!!!!!!

There are things I do not agree with that Mr. Obama has done. I'm not thrilled with the idea of Senator Clinton as Sec of State. From what I've been able to read, I do not agree with EFCA as currently written (I don't like the idea that 1/3 of the workers in a plant can essentially make the decision to unionize over the objection of the other 2/3 of the workers - and that there seems to be no provision to keep huge unions from destroying small or slowly growing companies.)

Mr. Obama didn't get elected by the Lib'ruls or the Progressives alone. He got elected by being a candidate who appealed to a LARGER audience - and to paraphrase something President Lincoln said "You can please all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time."

Unless you are talking about ALL of the 22%'ers, whom Shrub has pleased ALL of the time - but they only count as SOME of the People - so there, neener neener neener Phlllhhbbhhhtt.

In other news.

A water pipe under the street got broken because a semi-truck hit a fire hydrant about a block away, and it rocked the world out of a big chunk of the system including a part that runs under the sidewalk in front of our building which is STILL bubbling up a little bit (although the LAKE from yesterday is gone!), but we still have no water here at work.

We have a couple of water coolers, so we have drinking water - but no potties. We have to drive to McD's to use the bathroom. They're giving us extra (paid) break times to go out to McD's - which is nice, and they are supposed to be getting a "porta-potty" sometime today but if the guys are all supposed to use it too, I think I will just campaign for us 4 girls to still get to use the McToilet.

47 days

The dreaded "S" word

3-5 inches.

Sn*w.

Driving to work was not as hellish as I'd anticipated, but I still got there 12 minutes late, which bites, since I left over 1/2 an hour earlier than usual. Sn*w is fecking COLD, btw. (In case you didn't know)

I got some up my sleeve while I was brushing off the windows and I thought my wrist was gonna get frostbitten. Almost 50 years I've lived here near Chicago, you would think by now I'd be done bitching about it. HAH! I have not yet BEGUN to bitch!

Although the radio kept reporting 100's of spin-outs and fender benders, the traffic was not ill-behaved (except for the occasional SUV who did not realize that 4-wheel drive does NOT negate the laws of physics). I saw no accidents, and there was only 1 spot where traffic was so slowed and creepy-crawly that it was miserable (that's where I lost the 12 minutes, I think)

Actually, if the sn*w would just only stay on the grass and the trees it would be rather pretty. I just don't like it in my shoes, or my sleeve or on the road or on my car windows or on the sides of my car making it hard to open the doors, or on top of my mailbox and falling onto my hand when I try to get the mail, or on the sidewalks or...

Really - there need to be sn*w laws. Damn things think they can just go anywhere they please!

48 days

Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Holiday in the U.S.

Traditionally a time to reflect on all of our blessings and give thanks to the Deity of our choice for all his/her/their largesse.

For the following, I am truly grateful:

1) Amanda. Without qualification, the most wonderful, challenging, fantastic, beautiful, aggravating and delightful person and experience in my life. We do not always see things the same - but my life wouldn't have been as full, and I'd have missed out on so much without her. I'm so proud of her, she's become such a fine woman.

2) Having the ability to associate a number with an object or action. In my job, it is a major asset. "$875.05? That's the line-of-credit interest payment" - for instance.

3) My fellow Americans who finally got their collective heads out of their collective asses and told the GOP where to shove it sideways.

4) Polyester low-loft fiber batting.

5) My Neon. 35+ MPG on the interstates, and damn reliable. Built sorta kinda near my house too. I hope Chrysler doesn't have to go out of business.

6) The fact that there are only FIFTY FOUR more days....

54 days

Oh TGIF and all that rot

The first week back after a week of frivolous vacationing is always the worst, I think.

Seems like Friday will never come, and when it finally does, it seems to go slower than a snail stuck in molasses in January.

And now I have a headache.

Meh.

59 days

Legislating Morality - the biblically founded case against "Pro-Life" and Anti-Gay legislation

Driving over 2400 miles in one week gives a person a long time to listen to Aerosmith CD's, marvel at how cows can eat while being rained on, and think DEEP THOUGHTS©.

This one has been rattling around in my head for a while now, and last weekend I tried it out on my (oxymoronic as it sounds) open-minded conservative fundamentalist christian friend. Even she said that the logic has merit, so here goes:

I believe the Bible supports "Pro-Choice", and most other liberal "agendas". First off - I choose to say "PRO-CHOICE" deliberately, as Pro-Choice is not "Pro Abortion" - nobody I've ever met who is Pro-Choice believes that the ONLY choice should be abortion, and that anyone who gets knocked up should ride the rusty coathanger, but that the CHOICE should be available to and ONLY between the family involved and their medical professional. That said, let us start first in the book of Genesis:

Genesis 2:9 tells us:
And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.


Note that God did not place these trees in the far corner of the garden, covered up and inaccessible. No, they were planted SMACK dab in the center where they were visible and easily accessible.

Now moving along, Genesis 2:15-17 says:
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."


Ok, note again - it isn't the TREE OF LIFE that is going to be a problem. The tree that will cause problems is the tree of THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. And God did not take that tree away and put it somewhere that was hidden and unreachable. No, he put this tree in the CENTER of the garden.

Take a minute here and think about this. God did not make this decision FOR the man. He told him not to do it, but He didn't make it impossible to do. He gave the man FREE WILL to obey or to make his own mistakes. To CHOOSE.

God already knew how the humans would choose. God knows all - the Bible says, "Lord, thou knowest all things." (John 21:17) and "God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things" (1 John 3:20). The writer of Hebrews teaches that "All things are naked and open unto his eyes" (Hebrews 4:13). Didn't God tell Jeremiah "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee" (Jeremiah. 1:5)?

So He knows beforehand that they're gonna screw up. He knows before He even plants the trees - and yet He goes ahead and puts them RIGHT where they can be seen and touched. Even conveniently puts a snake with a contrary agenda into the garden.

But it is obviously ENTIRELY important to God that the humans have free will. That they are given the right to CHOOSE whether to do what He tells them, or whether to do as they wish, or are persuaded to do by snakey acquaintances.

Adam and Eve had no prior experience to tell them that God would toss their butts out of the garden and make them work for a living and all that. They had to take His word for it that eating from that tree would be bad. There was nobody shown as an "example". God seems to have felt that these choices need to be based on trust and respect and free choice - not based on fear.

We also note that God did not decide to allot the punishment to other humans - he banished the pair from the garden on his own. Deuteronomy 32:35 says:
"Vengeance is Mine, and recompense."

It is also notable that God did not set Himself up as the government. (John 18:36 - Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”) While He gave rules to Moses and others, He didn't put Himself in the place of the rulers of the government. Matthew 22:21 - "Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

So if the Bible itself preaches against a Theocracy, and God Himself has decided that even given the possibility of a less-than-desireable outcome it is MORE IMPORTANT that men and women be given Freedom of Choice - then how can the Fundies possibly go so far wrong by trying to enforce their morality through legislation? And if (as the Fundies believe) homosexuality is a CHOICE rather than a genetic "feature" - then where do they get off trying to deprive those people of their right to choose their gayness?

Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

John 12:47 - And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

61 days

Hi Honey, I'm Home!

Argh. I really am getting too old to do this road-trip thing in only 2 days.

I can't show you a picture of the Manatees, because it was overcast and dreary and all my photos came out very poorly. The manatees live in warm swamps, and the water is dark and they are kind of a brownish grey - so probably wouldn't show up too well anyhow. This is a picture from the web:



Had dinner with Susan (yes, I did give her hugs from y'all) and got some incredible blueberry muffins at a place called "Mimi's Cafe" in Murfreesboro, TN (in case any of you wanna stop in for a blueberry muffin.)

The cats pretended not to know me when I got home, but then when I went to lay down they kept maowing and hurling themselves against the door. *chuckle* I guess I called their "we don't know you, go away you stranger" bluff.

Amanda - I showed Dad the pictures I took at your wedding, but I don't have your new number to give to him - please E-MAIL it to me (do NoT post in comments, PLEASE... ) and I'll get it right off to him. He can't stop saying what a beautiful lady you have turned out to be. Maybe you and Brad can get a portrait of the 2 of you to send to him?

It rained all the way thru Tennessee, Kinfucky, and Indiana on the way back home. Driving in rain is ok, but I need to get new wiper blades, the ones I have now squeek every time they go up the windshield. SQUEEK, thunk. SQUEEK, thunk.

Tomorrow is back-to-work. I dread the pile of stuff waiting for me!

64 days

Mermaids

We went today to someplace called "Homosassa Springs" and saw manatees. They have mermaid tails. They are, however, considerably larger than Disney mermaids - considerably larger, in fact, than what I had imagined they were like from the photos I had seen of them in National Geographic.

They're like.... Hippopotomus Mermaids. Ginormous suckers, they be. The tails are cool, though, they slap them around in the water and they make whirlpools that last a rather long time after the manatee has moved on.

We drove through my favorite Florida town (because the name is fun to say) - Okahumpka. Oh-Kah-HUMP-kah....

Just say it. It is fun to say. Just like Ypsilanti and Muskegon.

One more day here with dad, then I'm driving home starting Friday morning. Will have either lunch or dinner with Susan in Nashville, depending on when I get to Nashville. I've been so relaxed these last couple days have sped by like a Japanese commuter train.

68 days

Live from Florida - It's Monday Afternoon!

Honestly, that line is SOooooo much better with New York and Saturday Nite...

Well, obviously I got here. Yay me. Drove ok, only one "iffy" moment, I started to get the white-line hypnosis thing and weaving a bit in the traffic. Pulled over at the first rest-stop and took a 1/2 hour break and was just fine afterwards. The days are gone gone gone gone when I used to be able to pull 1200 miles straight through, for sure, you betcha!

Comfort Inns get my recommendation. I am not getting any cash from them for this, but damn, they have nice rooms. The sheets in this one were even so nice and soft and cozy that I wanted to abscond with them (but they were the wrong size for my bed, so I left them.)

Even the stretch of 80/294 through Southern Chicago and eastern Indiana was a breeze. This area (known as the "Borman Expressway) is notorious for being continuously under construction and the place where I have honed my feelings about Indiana drivers. Quaylesque is my usual word for them (Sorry John!). But this last weekend they were actually behaving responsibly and not worshiping the large orange traffic cones. Perhaps it was the proximity to the Obama campaign? Or is this part of the change we need actually taking effect? (/snark)

So here I am, down in the land of sunshine and palms and orange trees, orange trees, orange trees everywhere. Daddy lives in a gated community near a small town in Central Florida, within driving distance of the mouse and the area of insanity surrounding the mouse's acreage, but the area is still pretty rural and "open" feeling. I have to hijack some of a neighbor's bandwidth to get online, (he has not wifi) but I can read the news and it is just a joy to spend a few days with him.

Even if he DOES insist on watching Faux News!!!



70 days

On the Road Again

ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually I'm not all THAT excited about driving to Florida again, but such is what I am doing next week. Visiting Dad, who has been kvetching at me about waiting to come down for so long.

Oy, and indeed - vey.

I love seeing Dad - I am not so loving all the driving anymore. I'm old. But TSA is still being stupid about things like shoes and nail clippers and bottles of Terrahist Shampoo - so I'm gonna drive.

As long as the weather holds up, I'll be fine. Tired, but fine.



73 days

Cliche's Abound

The end of an error.
Yes, we can.
Yes, we DID.


Thank you, America. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope Leandra knows, wherever she went - she's smiling from ear to ear, no doubt.

Change is coming. Hopefully it is the change we need, the change we deserve, the change the world needs.

Don't let them change you, P.E. Obama. Don't let them turn you into just another presidential asshole. Remember, WE THE PEOPLE are sending you in as our front line defense against the fascists who want to turn this country into a theocracy or worse.

Help us bring back the America we grew up believing in. The America Dr. King dreamed about.

75 days

My Voting Day

Yes, I did!

I got up in the dark, and made myself a cuppa tea, fed the cats, threw together my lunch, tossed out the tea as it had gotten cold and I wasn't in the mood, took my bloodsugar reading and ate my meds, then hit the trail.

Stopped at Star$$$ for a latte, since it was still 5dark30 a.m., then drove to the parkinglot of the local Lutheran church and sat in my car listening to the news on the radio and drinking the latte. About 10 to 6 a few folks started to get into a line, and I decided I wanted to be near the front of that line, so I joined in. I was 5th or 6th in the line.

A very nice young lady came up to us and introduced herself as being from "Election Watch" or something like that. She was going to help with any problems. Well, the first problem was that nobody inside seemed to have any idea what time it was. Poll opened 5 min. late, and the Election Watch gal was on that like white on rice, I tell you.

Except for the lady in her pajamas who was freezing her toes off, the rest of us were pretty much not too concerned.

So I got inside, and they had 4 people verifying registrations, each with a section of the alphabet - last names starting with A-E, F-J, etc. Amazingly, many of my fellow voters did not really know what their last name started with.

"What is the first initial of your last name?"

"H".

"And your last name is?"

"Rodriguez"

Ooooookkkaaayyyyy.

I was the first person in the "A-E" line, and I helped the girl find my name, as she was apparently alphabetically challenged - and so I was the first one in my precinct to get a ballot.

I voted. I voted first.

I got a sticker similar to the one shown above - it is on my shirt as I type this.

I have now done all that I can do except one last thing:

I will watch the results tonite and pray - and sing:

76 more days till the Shrub goes home

76 days till Cheney leaves

They be followed by ROWS and ROWS of the flunkys hired by Rove

And the Regent College gradueeeees

76 more days till they kick Shrub out

And no matter who gets in it is true

That the country that used to be first in the universe

Is much worse off than under "42"

76 days

I'm gonna go vote tomorrow

bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow,
I will vote.
Just thinking about tomorrow
Makes my inners clench cause' I have to get out of the house by 5:30 am
so I can vote

Tomorrow
Tomorrow
I'm VOTINGtomorrow
You better be voting too!



77 days

You Heard it Here FIRST

I've stayed mostly out of political commentary except for a few backslides over the last 6 months, mostly due to my desire to exercise some adrenaline-rush control over my angry emotions regarding a party I used to think was honorable and had some redeeming value.

However, I wish to be the first to put MY sincere support behind what I think is the PERFECT G.O.P. ticket for 2012.

Palin/

Quayle

2012

The Moose Potatoe Ticket!

88 days

I am in the "dog house"

Mindi is rather put out with me.

First off, she does NOT like being on a "diet". Not that I blame her. But I'm inordinately fond of the silly little critter, so I'm trying to keep her healthy as long as I can.

This causes an early-morning PITA, however. Since the cats chew my computer cords, they're no longer allowed into the bedroom under any circumstances. So in the morning, one or both of them begin bodyslamming themselves up against the bedroom door demanding breakfast.

Meh. They get fed right before I leave for work every morning, they KNOW this - or they freaking SHOULD know this, as it's been the case for several years - but the heartrending maowwwwwww-ing of starving cat is my morningsong every day.

This morning I was a bit ahead of schedule (HUH???? THIS NEVER HAPPENS!!) and so I fed the whiney ones and grabbed the bowl for water and dumped out the old and refilled with cold fresh water. Came back to put the water bowl down and Mindi the Fatass has her brisket parked right where the water dish goes.

"MOVE, Mindi"
"Stupid - get out of the way!" *small shove with foot*
*Push with free hand*

Nope. She wasn't going anywhere.

So I watered her.

I stuck my fingers into the water bowl and dribbled water on her back until she moved. Took THREE waterings to get her to move!! Mindi was Not Happy©.

I am, therefore, in the dog house. Oh well. Move over Rover.

90 days

Wealth and Politics

The very rich are not like "us". They don't think like us, they don't act like us, and they don't understand us. They float through life handed things without ever considering the price and don't realize that it is not the "norm". They have no idea how much a gallon of milk, a can of tuna or a dozen eggs cost.

But when it comes to campaign issues, they know how to "spin" things so that their differentness is percieved however they wish.

Senator Obama has one house, one spouse. He's referred to as "eliteist" by the man who has so many houses he can't remember them all (seven?) and is on his 2nd trophy wife. Why? Well, because he has the AUDACITY to be well-spoken, educated, intelligent, calm and apparently interested in actually HELPING his fellow-man, not just mouthing platitudes and then partying with his cronies using money garnered from taxes on those who are too stretched to even eat healthily, much less party like an AIG exec.

So if Senator McCain is NOT an eliteist (despite the 7 houses, 13 cars, wife with an inherited beer-fortune, &etc), then what exactly IS he? Well, he's a self-proclaimed war hero, certainly a decorated veteran. He favors continuing to give tax breaks to the uber-wealthy. He pals around with convicted criminals (G. Gordon Liddy and Charles Keating...). I'm not entirely sure I'm comfortable with someone like that as President, however.

Caribou Barbie complained that Senator Obama had been "paling around with terrorists" by going over to the Ayers residence for a meal - "You don't just invite strangers into your house to eat" (I paraphrase, I think) - but Winkie Palin is wrong - the very rich DO do that very thing. They invite people into their homes for dinners all the time, for "philanthropic" reasons. I know this! I have first-hand knowledge - I worked for about a year for a not-for-profit "community foundation". The very rich will gladly pay a LOT of money (that they can tax-deduct) to host lavish dinner parties at their country-club of choice as fundraisers for various causes. They will have small, intimate dinners with potential donors - and politicians if they can get them - in their own homes.

Just a bit disingenuous on her part, I believe.

Senator McCain thinks that giving tax breaks to the very rich is a way to help rebuild the economy. He espouses the Reagan "Voodoo Economic" theory of "Trickle Down" - except he doesn't realize that the trickle isn't enough to fund the "American Dream" for even .01% of those who would NOT be affected by his policies. The very next time I see a Republican claiming that they're philanthropic and doing things to help the poor - I shall spit at him/her.

96 days

Double Digits!!!!!!!!

So over this weekend, the amazing happened, in addition to our being finally into double-digits...

Bush finally unsurpassed (<--new word I just invented)Nixon - his approval ratings are lower than Tricky Dicky's!!

I got polled last nite. I sure hope my voter registration doesn't get purged because of it.

So - Weekend Wonderfulness Quotient = Not So Much. I need to get myself to finish up all the laundry so I can get myself to turn off the farking fan in the bedroom early enough so I don't keep falling back asleep. I got SOME stuff done - but NOWHERE near enough. *bleh*

Tonite I go get drugs and pay the ASSociation and maybe look at some books (like I need more...)I may also stop off at the fabric store just to oogle.


98 days

On Being a Cubs Fan - and Spies at the *$

Now that for many the pain is over, I reflect on their agony and share the one thing that being a Cubs fan has taught me over the many years.

NEVER celebrate before you win. NEVER anticipate you will be the victor. Strive for victory, fight to the end of your endurance - but NEVER assume you will land in the winner's circle covered in roses and acanthus leaves. Prepare for the worst - then EXULT if the best happens.

Wait until next year.

Ernie Banks (pbuh) - MR CUB, and Ron Santo - a man who should know better, stood in Daley Center Plaza and proclaimed "THIS is the year". Ernie, Ron - NO! Do not celebrate the victory before the battle. Go grim to the fight, prepared for the worst in war - do not savor the sweetness of success, lest you blow your playoff chances in THREE STRAIGHT LOSSES.

The hubris of man allows the gods to mock. Fuck the billygoat.

Wait until next year.

1969
1984
1994
2008

Wait until next year.

*sigh* Sometimes being right isn't all it's cracked up to be. Won't get fooled again.

So. I stopped at Starbucks (*$ - get it?) and there was a spy in the parkinglot. HONEST! Sitting in a plain, unexceptional unmarked black sedan with tinted spy windows, checking out all the cars driving through the *$ driveup.

Why would someone spy on the Starbucks??? Maybe it's those damn Neocons checking out the "Eliteist Lib'ruls"? *snort*

105 days

Howdy There, Dontcha Know - you betcha!

Sarah Palin.

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah...

*much headshaking and closed-eye deep breathing*

Yeah. Ahem.

When my daughter was very small, I made her a bunch of crocheted play-pillows for her bedroom. A big yellow sun with a happy face, a pink and grey ruffly one with pink ribbons, A white lacy one with multi-colored shapes on it, a big orange VW-car one, and two that looked like clowns.

Now, when I grew up, clowns were funny and happy and positive and able to fit 20 or 30 of themselves into a small sedan. I thought clowns were terrific.

Little did I know as a young mother, that (probably thanks to John Gacy) clowns would become horror movie fodder - and that ICP would eventually replace Bozo and Cookie as the stereotype of clowns. Clowns are scary now.

(I'll never forget the day I pissed off 2 yr. old Amanda and she ran into her bedroom and grabbed the clown pillow and came out with it over her face, declaring angrily: "I WILL BE A CLOWN AT YOU" - even then she was way ahead of me and I was clueless.)

I also when young had to deal with the hubris and taunting of the "Cheerleader" crowd. Those "popular" kids who made a point of making everyone else feel dumb or outside. Never mind that I had more brains in my pinky toenail than any of them had in their entire extended families - they had CONFIDENCE!! They had PERKINESS!! They were CHEERLEADERS!!!

Cheerleaders are scarier than clowns.

So what could possibly be scarier than a clown cheerleader running for the 2nd highest office in the land? A perky, twinkly, winking, posturing airhead who has 1/2 dozen little catchphrases in her head and plays tiddlywinks with them instead of actually answering the questions posed to her? Winking at the men through the camera and betting that they'll vote with their "little head"? Someone who doesn't even know the meaning of the phrase "Achilles heel" - but cha know, darn it, that was a trick question, you betcha!

So what could possibly be scarier than a clown cheerleader running for the 2nd highest office in the land? Having her win.

108 days

12-Grain Bread. And Sox.

In my continuing battle to do something POSITIVE with my eating habits, I've gone looking for high-fiber, low-fat, low cholesterol, low sodium and did I mention high fiber - foods.

I read the label on this "12-grain bread" and it looked like it was something that might be both tasty and healthier than Wonder© Bread, so I bought it.

I didn't bother to think at the time "WTF is this 12-grain bit?" But today while eating my 12-grain bread and sliced turkey sandwich for lunch, I decided to count the number of grains that I could see/identify/remember from biology class.

I could remember very few. Barley, wheat, rice, corn, oats (all the chex cereals, with the addition of barley), rye, .... and then I petered out. That's only 6. So I looked at the bread.

I shouldn't have.

Apparently SEEDS count now. There were little brown seeds that looked something like small bugs on it. I think they MIGHT have been Flax seeds. There were other seeds too - in fact, I'm fair certain I recognized some of those other seeds from bags of birdseed and hamster food I've bought over the years.

Great.

I'm eating gerbil-food sandwiches.

Meh.

Congratulations to the White Sox. Great game last nite.

110 days

Security

Yesterday the "financial bailout" bill failed. While I'm not unhappy about this, it has gotten me to thinking about financial/economic security - mine, and that of others. Not to even MENTION how much I'm glad that Social Security did NOT get privatized like Shrub Boy wanted.

On my lunchtime drive, I heard someone on CBS radio making a very astute comment. I paraphrase:

GWB is telling the country that this is serious - deadly serious. However, this comes from an administration that has had us at Terror Threat: Orange for over two years! No wonder people aren't taking it so seriously.

The fear tactics of the Bush Junta have finally come to bite them in the ass. WOLF... AL QUEDA!!!... WOLF!!! AL QUEDA!!!!... WOLF!!!!... and now when there really appears to be a (self-inflicted due to deregulation) crisis, nobody is listening to the Frat boy who cried Al Queda.

I am, naturally, concerned about my IRA - although it is with one of the banks that so far has weathered the storm. My savings is at my local credit union, and they're doing fine. My mortgage company is hanging on, although they're rocky - but that should be OK too. As long as my job stays safe, I should be OK through this.

I'm pulling back on spending starting immediately, however. My "consumer confidence" is tanking. My $600 "economic stimulus" is in savings, and will REMAIN there. I remember my mother washing and reusing plastic bags and aluminum foil. My sister-in-law used to laugh at my mom about her recycling wrapping paper. I grew up with Depression-era parents. I know how to economise, although doubtless not as well as they did.

Hang on, folks. It's gonna be a bumpy ride - but we WILL get through it.

111 days.

OMG - WaMu???

I was 1/2 asleep still when I read the Yahoo News.

WaMu may not have been my most favorite of my former mortgage-holder banks (they bought mine, then sold it a while back) - but DAMN. Wow. WaMu... I'm kinda stunned.

115 days

ZERO Tolerance

One of those quirky things about being me is the fact that I have zero tolerance for blatant stupidity, especially when it comes from someone in the Accounting profession.

Even more-so when it comes from someone in the accounting profession whose stupidity is affecting me in a personal way.

An example of this would be the statement of account that I received from my dipshit halfassed criminally stupid condo "management" association. I paid my assessment for this month on the 20th of LAST month - having gotten a tiddle bit ahead and able to make the payment early.

Statement shows the credit amount as the opening balance. This is correct.
Statement shows the amount of the assessment. This is correct.
Statement shows a $25 LATE PAYMENT FEE. Excuse me? WHAT THE FUCK???

Now, anyone can make a mistake. Perhaps the accounting clerk ran a report to show everyone with a Not-Zero balance, and applied the charge to all of them. It is a mistake, it's stupid, but it's just a mistake and can be corrected.

However.

I called up to set this straight - and the FUCKING MORON who took my call tried to ARGUE with me. She tried to say that since there was no payment that month, OF COURSE there was a late fee. WHY THE BLOODY HELL WOULD I PAY MORE WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO COVER THIS MONTH? Oh, well... um... have I ever gotten a statement before?

EXCUSE ME TO FUCK AND BEYOND???????????????????????????????????????????????????

What the bloody hell does that have to do with the price of rice in China on Tuesdays in Leap Years? YOU OWE ME, BITCH, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!

Well, she's going to have to take it to accounting and see if an error was made...

IF??????

IF?????????????????????????????????????????

THERE IS NO "IF" ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, someone will call you back.

Today?

Umm....

It had better be today. I'm NOT happy about this.

Ummm... she'll try.

Blatant stupidity.

Yes, they fixed it. No, I'm still not happy.

117 days still.

Another one of those "Tag" things

Kal, whom I love dearly has seen fit to "tag" me with one of those Tag things. If it were anyone but Kal, I might feel less obligated, but he IS like the son I never had who lives bajillions of miles away in another country where they talk different and wear kilts and stuff, so here goes:

I am: An accountant.

I think: I'm starting to get a handle on how this "life" thing works. Maybe in another 52 years I'll "get" it really well.

I know: I've forgotten to do something important this morning.

I have: wayyyyyy too much stuff in my breifcase and purse. Time to purge.

I wish: I could eat anything I wanted any time I wanted and not worry about diabetes, cholesterol, fat, salt, calories or vitamins.


I hate: evangelical hypocrites. "Pro-Life" folks who support the wars, "Christians" who want to do physical violence to those with whom they differ on political issues, etc.

I miss: Leandra, more than you can possibly imagine.

I fear: romantic "relationships"

I hear: Cicadas and crickets at night, birdsong in the morning

I smell: like lavendar today.

I crave: Protein. In cheese, meats, eggy things.

I search: in the most haphazard way. I'm really rather shit at this.

I wonder: what's on the "other side" that Lea's found.

I regret: not having been more assertive in my youth. I spent way too many years being shy and self-deprecating.

I love: Amanda, chocolate, my cats, having friends all over the world, reading, designing and assembling quilts, hot coffee on the way to work, the smell of autumn in the air on a cool August morning, moonlight on freshly fallen snow, apple coffee-cake, sitting quietly in the woods and listening to the birds.

I ache: at night, when my muscles and bones all tell me I'm getting old.

I am not: a Republican.

I believe: that when we get to "the other side", we are ALL going to be in for a hugeongous surprise - that it is nothing like what we think it will be.

I dance: When nobody else is around while I'm cleaning

I sing: in the car when there isn't much traffic around so nobody can accidently see/hear me!

I cry: sometimes for no reason at all.

I fight: with words.

I win: rarely - but it makes it that much sweeter when I do!

I lose: my keys usually twice a week.

I never: watch television.

I always: have a fan running in my room at night to block the noise from the expressway.

I confuse: my boss sometimes.

I listen: pretty well. People have commented thus, over the years.

I can usually be found: at home.

I am scared: that the republicans might win the election and completely destroy the country.

I need: another cup of coffee.

I am happy about: having only one more answer to think up, and that we're down to 117 days!

I imagine: the most amazing things. If only I could string together a plot line, the story would be incredible!

I tag:

Rauf

Croila

E4E

Nzingha


117 days

Cubness

From Wikipedia, The Ex-Cub Factor is a seemingly spurious correlation that is essentially a corollary to the Curse of the Billy Goat. Widely published in 1990, the hypothesis asserts that since the last appearance by the Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series, any baseball team headed into the World Series with three or more former Cubs on its roster has "a critical mass of Cubness" and a strong likelihood of failure.


What the Wikipedia entry fails to mention is that CURRENT Cubs have an even higher concentration of "Cubness", which thereby both overwhelms any other team's Cubness factor and explains why we've been waiting until next year since 1945.

Given the current situation on the North side, it is now certain that my Cubbie Wubbies will spend at least a small amount of time in the post-season playoffs. Some of my co-workers are even so bold as to assume that this year is different.

Oh, you dear, sweet, younglings. Who could forget 1969? And even if you DO forget 1969, who could forget 1984? The Cubs have disappointed fans for years and years. I actually DID believe back in 69 and 84. But I've learned, I've grown, and I know that getting one's hopes up in that fashion, only to have them dashed, is foolishness in the extreme. I love the Cubs. I wish they could win a World Series. But since having the Cubbies win a World Series Championship would also be one of the signs of the Apocalypse, the coming of the Rapture®, and Armageddon... not to mention costing me a fucking fortune in buying a dozen long-stem red roses for Grampa R's grave, I'm not entirely sure I'm totally in favor of disturbing the Status Quo.

118 days

Ever have a dream...

Ever have a dream so real, so detailed, so completely coherent that you could SWEAR it had actually happened? Except that what happened was so good, so wonderful, so utterly impossible - that you knew, even in the dream, that it was a dream, but when you woke up it was like to break your heart realizing that not only was it a dream, but it was a dream you'd probably not be able to shake off for a day or two, and that you'd never be able to get "back" to that part of the plot and enjoy playing in that alternate reality forever when unconscious?

Damn.

Yeah - it was that good.

No - nobody was nekid. Yet.

122 days

Did Sarah Palin invent Mooses?

So!! John McCain invented the Blackberry!

John who's never used a computer or been on the Interwebs McCain Invented The Blackberry!!

I wonder if that was before or after Al Gore invented the Intertubez?

*smirk*

However... Happy Goddamn Piece of Paper Day. On this date in 1787, the founding fathers signed the Goddamn Piece of Paper, giving our country an organized government. Really, unlike July 4 - this is the real "Happy Birthday" for America. Just think where we might be without that Goddamn Piece of Paper!

It is also St. Ebenezer day here in my town, as I saw the first Xmas decorations in a local store.

124 days

Water, Water everywhere...

Saw some footage of Galveston this morning - looks pretty grim. I sure hope Randy is ok. He doesn't talk much to me lately, but I've sent him an e-mail in hopes he's doing all right (He's in Houston, and has folks in Austin who would help him out, I think.)

Closer to home, my 2 3/4 hour commute (10 miles as per usual, probably closer to 18 the way I had to go) was Special! The real pisser is when you are less than 1/4 mile from where you need to turn to get to work, but have to drive 8 miles or so out of your way in bumper-to-bumper creepy-crawly traffic to get around the flood zones.

Lake Street was flooded completely across the road over near where Salt Creek gets near the retention ponds in Addison. Apparently Irving Park was flooded in several places, I had to go all the way south down to North Avenue to get past Villa and up 83. Talk about the scenic route to work!

They said on the news that we had gotten 6 inches of rainfall overnight at O'Hare. Translated into good terms - we did NOT get 6 FEET of snow, which is what that would have been had it not been Big Wet Storm Ike, but instead Snowstorm Knute the Canuck. I am grateful. Snowstorms suck - and not in the good way.

Ok, last weekend I made my final attempt to get a pee sample from Mindi the Fat Kitty. Vet's office said "Try putting a clean litterbox with just a small bit of litter in it down, then lock her in a room with the litterbox and a bowl of water.

So I did. Friday nite - cat is confined, nothing but water and litterbox.
Saturday evening (maybe 14 to 18 hours later?) I open the door to check. No pee. Not on the floor, not in the box - none. Cat makes a BEELINE out of the room and over to the USUAL litterbox - and pees like a racehorse into the clumping litter that I can't use for the sample. The vet's assistant laughed at me. I did too.

CATS!!!!

125 days

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Ok, so Piston has asked a legitimate question:

"Assuming Obama/Biden take the election and you get you wish... with Obama's background in mind... what changes do you see happening over the next 4 years?"

I can't guarantee (of course) what changes I'll actually see - to do so would require me to have both telepathic and precognitive powers which (unfortunately) I do not possess, despite several ex-bosses and one ex-husband who seemed to expect me to be proficient in both.

These are the changes that I expect may happen:

1) Scale-down of offshore military actions. Both in Iraq and in Afghanistan, and no NEW preemptive warmongering. Best case: Complete withdrawl of US Armed Forces from Iraq, limited presence in Afghanistan, and capture of OBL.

2) Some repair to the economy (will take DECADES to un-do what Shrub-Boy and his minions have done in 8 years, but a start), more emphasis on repair and upgrading of "homeland" infrastructure, less emphasis on ruling the world, Pinkie. Best case: repair of own infrastructure putting to work more Americans, spending tax dollars on improving things HERE, rather than overseas, making life better both for those benefiting from the improvements and for those effecting the improvements.

3) Reinstatement of those taxes that Bush and the Republican congress cut to help their wealthy chums/family/contributors. Best Case: Lessening of the tax burden to families with LESS than 100k/year incomes - but I'm too cynical to believe this would happen.

4) Limitations placed on Executive Privilege, and backing away from the Unitary Executive debacle engendered by the Bush Junta. It happened after the Nixon years - it's not Mission Impossible. (Tom Cruise sucks, btw.)

5) Repeal of the aggregious "Acts" passed in the knee-jerk aftermath of 9/11/01, reining in the TSA so my dad can fly again without the ridiculous and INEFFECTIVE nonsense of taking off his shoes, INSISTANCE on FISA compliance for any wiretapping, and Renaming/Reworking the "Dept. of Homeland Security".

If even just these 5 things happened, I'd be satisfied with the job done by an Obama/Biden Presidency/VPresidency. Anything more would be gravy.

129 days

Thoughts and aggravation: Balancing the Checkbook

So I'm out of balance by $27.00. And you can tell - just from the number - that it HAS to be a transposed-number issue. Unfortunately, despite my 3-day intensive effort, I cannot for the life of me figure out where I have fardleschnockered up. This is the second month running that I've had this problem. I begin to worry about some form of numeric dyslexia. Not a good thing for an accountant.

Meanwhile, during lunch I spent some time perusing blogs and stuff. It brought to mind the damn political situation again. It seems the buzzword of the year is "Change". Senator Obama brought it up first, and the enthusiastic acclaim it received apparently convinced Fuhrer Rove and his minions that their candidate should attempt to conscript the phrase to their campaign.

Now, I have thought about the "change" that all these folks promise. And I have to admit that I do believe that EITHER of these candidates, or their VP's will bring change.

However, change is a funny thing. See, GWB brought change as well. He used his office to Change the Constitution of the United States from a sacred document that actually IS the United States of America (as opposed to a symbol like a flag). He changed the Constitution from that to a "Goddamn Piece of Paper".

GWB changed our federal budget from one with a budget surplus that was being used to lower our federal debt - to one with a TRILLION PLUS annual deficit.

GWB changed our relations with the middle east in such an incredible way that one of our most needed commodities has risen in price over 200% since he TOOK office.

He has changed our country from a government with three co-equal branches with checks and balances on the powers that be - to what can only be described as a "Temper Tantrum Dictatorship".

This is, however, change. Change for the worse, yes. But change, none-the-less.

I am certain, that if Senator McCain and Not-A-Community-Organizer Governor Palin are sworn into office next January, there will be change from what we have now.

I fear that change, as it will - IMNSHO - be far, far worse than anything we've seen before.
Governor Palin? Having a Vagina is NOT ENOUGH to qualify you to be a candidate worthy of my vote.

130 days

Mares eat oats, and does eat oats...

and little lambs eat ivy

a kid will eat ivy too

wouldn't you?

No.

I suspect ivy would taste icky and green and unpleasant.

No, this post is not about the culinary habits of barnyard animals. This post is about Oats. Like the guy in the funny hat sells:

As I have been working toward lowering the cholesterol numbers, I've been eating a lot of oatmeal. And other oaty cereals like Cheerios:

I like oats, actually. I like them as porridge, as long as there is adequate add-ins to disguise the resemblence to wallpaper paste. I like them in granola. I like them in Kashi. I like them as Chex:

But what I really, really , really like them as is flakes. Oat Flakes. But lately I cannot find them anywhere at any of the markets I have in my area. Cornflakes, yes. Wheaties (ugh!) yes. Bran flakes - yes. But nary an oatflake to be found. I am verklempt.

131 days

Eating for Dreams

I remember when I was small, one of the standard sit-com jokes was about someone eating something spicy or exotic and having bizarro dreams. I am here to dispel that myth - one does NOT need to eat anything spicy or exotic to have utterly bizarro dreams.

One of the guys here at work has a clock on his wall that is made from an electronic circuit board. It has no numbers, just hands, and lots of chips and stuff on it. It is unusual, and I like it. I do not, however, know why it featured prominently in one of my dreams Sun. nite - nor why for the love of all that is holy I would have dreamed that I was having simultaneous affairs with Gene Rayburn (of Match Game fame - long dead!) and Bill Saluga (The guy who did the "you can calls me Ray, you can call me Jay" schtick) and ended up (with the prominent clock) being outted to my former boss "T" from the place that sold interior improvements...

Or the one from last nite that started out with me somehow managing to sew the leg of my trousers into the seam of some piece of clothing I had been making, then hack it off while I was trimming the seam allowance, thereby adding 1/3 of a trouser leg into something that was supposed to look light and delicate on a little girl... and segueing into a replay of the tragic and gutwrenching breakup of myself and my very first-ever boyfriend from high school.

Last night for dinner I had niblet corn and a piece of salmon and root beer. Hardly exotic fare!

132 days

Daily News

Quote of the Day:

"Jesus was a Community Organizer. Pontius Pilate was a Governor"


One thing I've noticed lately. It seems even the Lib'ruls and Democrats seem to be having "if the guy isn't perfect, we're gonna lose" syndrome. I noticed this a lot during the primarys, but it seemed to back off a bit for a while. Now it's starting up again.

OMGWTFBBQ!!!11ONE they shout. Obama belched in a speech - WE"RE GONNA LOSE

OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!!11!!ELEVENTYONE!!!! they scream - Palin told a lie - EVERONE WILL BELIEVE IT - WE'RE GONNA LOSE!!!!!!

People please! Calm down. Take a chill pill. We've done well so far with being more proffesional, more "truthy", more believable and hopeful than the other guys. Losing our cool now will only GUARANTEE a loss. Be calm. Realize that the only thing you can have for a President is a Human Being, and human beings are NEVER perfect.

Definitely keep the pressure on the Governor From Nowhere - but let the candidate take the high road. It's delightful to see the Enquirer covering the election so thoroughly. *snicker*

So I saw a clip from Jon Stewart - a "what they said then/now" piece featuring Bill O'Reilly and Kkkarl Rove. SOMEWHERE I also saw a clip of O'Reilly spluttering and fuming and claiming he never said it, it was out of context and the Libruls were out to get him...

Paranoia much, Billy?

See - I know Paranoia. Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean everyone is NOT out to get me. But it's not being "out to get you" when someone shows what a disgusting hypocrit you are on television when you make these statements of yours publicly, Billy Dear.


136 days

Sewmouse Message Service:

@ Babzy:

Got your message in the comments, have been more than a little whelmed and forgot to say "Good on you - let me know where you land when you start up again - I've missed you, girl!"

@ TFWY

Due to some filter or other here at work, I cannot access your blog anymore. Well, I can sorta, but then I get an error message and it locks up my browser and spits at me. I can only read from home, and what with all that "whelmed" stuff, I'm sorry I haven't commented.

@ Amanda

Mindi apparently does have some sort of kidney function problem. I have to get a pee sample to the vet for them to rule out the possibility of an infection (What does one do for a cat with a kidney infection? They won't even SNIFF cranberry juice...) However, the vet thinks it may be an age-related issue. Apparently cats have normal life span of about 12-14 years, and with these two being around 15-16 years old, I've had a lot of "bonus" time with them in their old ladyness.

@Piston

So do you think that enough people are willing to believe that Palin is as politically ready for the presidency as Sen. Clinton thought she was - and that they'll vote for one vagina as quickly as another?

This is one woman who feels that the Republicans made their VP selection in order to manipulate women whom they felt were too stupid to look beyond the XX chromosome issue and find out what the candidate REALLY believed in. I am disgusted with this blatant gender pandering attempt.

137 days

The Fat Kitty

Mindi - the fat kitty. Now it's official. The vet says so. I'm supposed to try and figure out a way to limit her food. Unfortunately, with Kili the nibbler, that will be very difficult.

The x-ray shows that Mindi has a (possibly genetic) fused disc abnormality in her spine, and a couple of arthritic areas. This, coupled with her excess poundage is apparently what is causing her to walk funny.

I'm very, VERY relieved. While I may not be able to do much to help her, at least she isn't sick. The results from the blood tests will come back tomorrow - I hope all the news is this good.

138 days

Not so much Labor day.

What a lovely weekend it was. Saturday I kind of goofed off around the house, and sniffed as everyone in the neighborhood made grilled steaks & burgers. This trying to cut back the cholesterol thing is killing me - oatmeal =/= red meat in terms of epicurian delight. I had a lot of oatmeal for breakfast, and then some beans and a FCB (Flattened Chicken Breast) for dinner. Maybe if I'd had some bruschetta to top the FCB it would have been tastier.

Sunday I did my shopping chores. I went to Menards and saved big money, I bought a shower rod and some new hanger thingys. I didn't really want the shower rod, but in order to get the "Flanges" which is apparently the technical term for the metal dowhatzits that keep it firmly against the wall, I had to buy a rod as well. Not like it cost a fortune or anything.

While I was there I checked out their halloween decorations display. Adorable. There is a pirate boat, and a "Zombie Hotel". My friend Pirate would adore it. I need to tell him about them.

Then I went to the Petco and got some cat food, kitty litter, another shedding brush, and some "waterless shampoo" for cats. Mindi is SOOOOOOOOO full of shedding and fur bits and dander, I would wash her, but I'm sure not wanting her to scratch me to bits. I still have scars on my wrists from when we picked her and her brothers up to see if they were boy or girl kittens.

I hope the "shampoo" works. Tomorrow is the BIG DAY - I drop off Mindi at the vet in the morning for her x-rays, then pick back up after work. She's gonna hate me.

Glad to see the latest hurricane didn't wipe out anyplace quite as bad as Katrina. There's another one headed for SE US - I think that one will miss Dad too. Despite all the doom & gloom predictions, it seems that things have been relatively "normal" again for the hurricane season so far.

The cicadas are going to drive me crazy. I hate their singing, singing, singing - to all hours of the night. Cicada wild parties. Damn their red shiny eyes.


139 days

Gimme a 3...

3

Gimee a Day

DAY

Gimme a Weekend!

WEEKEND

What's that say?

THREE DAY WEEKEND!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mindi Update: Mindi didn't go to the vet yesterday. The vet office called and rescheduled for next Wednesday since their backup X-Ray tech quit. *sigh*

So I will have to catch Mindi in the morning, put her in the box, haul her over to the vet's and leave her there for the day. Boy, is she gonna be pissed off at me.

Garden news, I've got two ickle bitty cherry tomatoes on the cherry plant, which is terrible as by now there should be bajillions - but the weather hasn't been good and I've kinda not been able to keep up with them so well. The big tomato plant died, the blueberry bush died (the one the birds keep pulling up... grrrr), but the pepper plant has a ickle bitsy baby green pepper on it. It is adorable cute.

I wish I knew where there was a Radio Shack near me. I suppose I can google it. I need to replace like ALL of the cords to my stereo equipment, and maybe they can explain to me about the digital converter box thingywhatzit. I will NOT pay for cable TV!!!!!!!!!!

I see where McSame has chosen a Person-Without-A-Penis for his running mate. Of course, she WAS once a beauty queen contestant....... Just like Cindy (his "cunt"), and just like the wife who stuck by him through his Vietnam horror - only to be dumped for the beauty-queen beer baroness when her looks were marred...


143 days

Bombarded By Bubbleheaded Bleached Blondes

Behind me, the BMW contains a 2-steps-beyond-platinum blonde (with suspiciously wide dark center hair-part). She fiddles with her makeup. She smokes. She pulls down her sunglasses and pooches her lips at her reflection in her rear-view mirror.

In front, a Farrah Faucett Wannabe tosses her platinum curls as she flings her cigarette butt to the pavement. Is it her 2" long candy-apple-red-glazed nails, or the thick gold THUMB ring that triggers my amusement more?

To the left, a SLIGHTLY less obviously bottle blonde suburban soccermom with a mommy-bob haircut lights up and checks her mascara in the rearview.

I chuckle.

147 days

Advertising

I've been listening to the radio at work lately - the station plays stuff I like, and it keeps the rhythm of the headers from causing random tunes to get stuck in my head. I had the "Gilligan's Island" theme stuck once for 3 days. I wanted to kill Bob Denver - except he's already dead.

Anyhow - this station has commercials - like all of them - and I'm beginning to remember in excruciating detail why I don't watch Television.

For instance - the tire commercial (Tyres to those with alternative spelling). The concept is fairly simple - you buy 3 tires, they give you 4 for the price of 3. Not exactly rocket science. Not only that, but they don't force you to send in for a "rebate" - they just charge you less at point-0f-sale.

So.... Why do they have to have a smarmy salesman and a menopausal former cheerleader * shouting back and forth about this for SIXTY FULL SECONDS????? You can get the message accross in less than 10. All I can say is - I won't be buying tires from NTB anytime soon, because if they think their customers are that stupid that they have to scream at them repetitively - I don't EVER want to be one of their customers.

McDonalds is still advertising their ghastly sweet tea....**

Some guy who does not identify himself lists a bunch of mattress brands and styles that his advertiser wants to sell people - and then says "And that's the style I've got at home" - as if I would care what some complete stranger has for a mattress on his bed...

The in-water boat show.... featuring "Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel". I kid you not. He even has his own website

No wonder the Republicans think they can sell us McSame - apparently advertising for the terminally STUPID has positive impact...



*I am basing this description solely on the quality of their voices.
**Prior Rant on this topic is here

150 days

Good Stuff

So last night I decided to be "creative" in a low-fat, low cholesterol, kinda-sorta healthy-ish way. The result was a skillet chicken stew that was very yummy.


Yummy Skillet Chicken Stew: (Serves 2)

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast - cubed 1" pieces
4 slices Turkey Bacon - cut into 1" chunks
1 8" long x 1-1/2" diameter zucchini, cut in 3/4" circular pieces then quartered
6 small red potatoes, cubed 1" pieces
1 medium onion - cubed 1" pieces
8 larger-size button mushrooms - quartered
2 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tsp. Soy Sauce
2 tsp. dried rosemary
2 tsp. paprika
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. lemon-pepper spice

Heat Olive oil in skillet over low heat. Add garlic and onions, saute' until fragrant.
Add chicken, bacon, potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, sprinkle with spices and drizzle soy sauce over all.

Cover and cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally for 45-50 minutes.

Excellent with a fruit salad.

152 days

Eurgh

Saturday was the company picnic. It was just lovely. A perfect day, all the kiddies were zooming around playing on the bouncy castle and blowup firetruck slide, I got to meet C's new baby daughter who is too cute for words, and sat breifly in the sun and ate chicken and potato chips (crisps) and slices of jumbo sub-sandwich.

I got home and did laundry and then just collapsed.

Yesterday was also quite nice, if a bit hotter, and I got more done around the old house, but about 6:30 I started feeling kind of ughhhh... and spent some time every 1/2 hour until well after midnite communing with the commode.

It kind of makes me wonder just how much water is in me, and how much I can lose before getting "dehydrated".

Anyhow, things seem better now, so maybe it was just a little fluke.

154 days

Phone Calls

Calling lots and lots today. Fortunately NOT collections calls, although those are going to have to be done again soon. No - the company is switching banks, and I have to call EVEYBODY who auto-deducts and giving them new bank info - or getting forms to fill out to give them new bank info.

The first lady I spoke with started to freak out when I began to ask her about how to change the account information. I think she was afraid that I had some complaint and wanted to cancel it, or that they'd deducted multiple times or something. She was all flustered and cutting me off before I could finish my sentance - so I waited a bit then told her "whoah! Hang on! We LIKE the service - but we'd like to continue it and if you don't let me change bank accounts, this one will be gone and you'll not get paid!" Then she calmed down and we got it all straight.

After that, I started to preface my "attack" with "You take the money directly from our account and WE LIKE IT A LOT!!!" I got laughed at a lot, but at least I didn't have any more customer service reps having a stroke trying to anticipate negative interactions!

158 days

The Sewmouse Post-Monday Report

First things first - Mindi update:

Well, there is certainly something wrong with Mindi - but we won't know for a bit exactly what. The vet wants to do blood tests and stuff - and he wants to take x-rays. I'm ok with that, but it is expensive, and I need to wait to get my next check before I can spend all that much. He did do a preliminary check, and he says she is certainly walking wrong, and has a problem in her LEFT hip (I always thought it was the right) - which could be old-age related, or could be something worse. Won't know 100% until they get results back.

Mindi and Kili travel quite differently. Kili keeps poking her nose out of the vent holes in the box and maowing at me furiously. Mindi, however, hunched herself down with her face in the corner where there are no holes at all - and wimpered only when something happened to jostle her. Kili can't WAIT to get out of the box at the vet - I had to DRAG Mindi out, having had to turn her around first, since her butt was facing the door.

Vet agrees Mindi is too fat. Also agrees there's not much I can do about it given Kili's eating habits and their age. He does, however, approve of their food.

Got my final OK from Dr. Brad. Back is back where it belongs, no pain, so all is good.

I even took a walk last nite over to the pool to see how the new lighting and stuff is coming along. Apparently someone in the area went around and "keyed" a bunch of cars (running something metallic like keys or nails along and scraping off paint), so the Association and the police are working on ways to keep the vandals at bay.

Fortunately, the little blue Neon did not sustain damage.

The festival was ok. I ate before I left, which was a good thing since everything there would have probably been "heart-attack-on-a-stick" or worse for me. There were no t-shirts for sale that I saw. The warmup band for the main stage wasn't too bad, but I didn't stay for the main act (Ides of March) - mostly because I can't possibly figure out how a one-hit-wonder band can play a whole set, when they only had one hit - and how many times can you listen to "Vehicle" before it becomes irritating? No photos as the camera batteries were dead.

Tonite I'll stop at Costco and buy DRUGS - and at 1/2 price books to feed my addiction.

160 days

On to the Weekend.

So! Today is Friday, I've been tolerably good all week, so I am going to try and do somehting fun and different this weekend.

My "reward" for being "good" this week is going to be a nice pedicure/manicure - but I'm also going to take a bit of a plunge and go out to a street festival alone. Usually I have SOMEONE to tag along with, but nobody else wants to go this time, and I figure if I'm really gonna BELIEVE in my own independence, I need to do stuff like this without being codependent on someone else.

So I'm going to the Addison Community Days thingywhatzit. They have been setting up all week right along my route to work, and yesterday I tried to get a photo of the neat and tidy rows and rows of Portapotties (at LEAST 2 dozen) and Trash Wheeliebins (many more!)... But they had put up a fence along the roadside that has green plastic to keep people out and hide the festival from the street.

There are carnie rides and games, live music, dancing shows, and a lot of food vendors, along with all the portapotties and trash cans.

I remember really enjoying going to these kinds of town festivals when Amanda was dancing. After the dance company was finished, we would walk around and look at the fest before going home. The weather promises to be nice, so either Sat. afternoon or Sunday I'll go and check it out.

164 days

Mindi, Oatmeal, Storm

Mindi Update:
I can't get into the vet until Monday nite. Considering she's been acting goofy like this for a while, I think she'll survive until then. (Bah - hopefully she'll survive anything, the little cuddlebunny).

Vet's office was funny - "Do you want to know her name?"
"We already know it"
"She's never been there..."
"Oh! Which one is this then?"
"This is Mindi"
"Ah yes, we saw Kili before. What color is Mindi?"
"She's Kili's littermate - you'd have to know them to tell them apart"
"Oh, so Siamese Mix, then?"
"Yes - Siamutts." (Receptionist chuckles)
"How old?"
"Umm... I dunno - what do you have down for Kili? They were littermates"

((*I silently chuckle* ))


It is finally starting to feel like Late July/Early August. We still haven't had the annual drought. The backyard jungle is still jungly.

So my Dr. got back the test results from my bloodtests. I'm otherwise ok (considering what they already knew), but the cholesterol is all fardleschnockered up. He wants to put me on pills, but I don't want them. Personally, I think I can oatmeal my way back to normal - during the 3 months while Leandra was so sick, I was eating almost nothing but cheese-sticks, string cheese, bulk cheese and red meat. Almost no veggies or fruits. (Yes, yes, yes, Croila! I know! 5 a day...) My blood sugar went flying around the walls and up to the ceiling and I'm not in the least surprised to find out the cholesterol got effed up too. However.

Lipitor and other cholesterol drugs have VERY BAD side effects on your liver. No thank you. Oatmeal and fish sounds better than losing liver function. I have to fight with the Dr. about this still, however. And quite honestly? I need that rather the same as I require an additional nose.

Or a husband. (*chuckle*)

So there was a storm. BIG storm. Loud thunderboomers. Apparently there was quite a bit of damage in No. Indiana. (at the risk of having John swat me.... How could they tell?) The insurance agencies are all advertising on the radio for their people to call them to make claims. Why? This is strange. Perhaps this is their way of finding out who files claims so they can discontinue their insurance???

I only got ONE adrenaline-rush wakeup from the storm. One of those CRACK... BANG!!!!! lightening strikes near the house. The rest of it was rather quiet rumbling and flashes - soothing and I slept through quite a lot of it. Wild weather is something I really don't mind unless I get too much of the adrenaline-rush type boomers. Those I'm not as fond of. I have a dear friend who loves storms too. He'd have loved this one.

166 days

To vet, or not to vet...

Something is wrong with Mindi, the fat kitty.

It could just be that she's old and has arthritis or something - but she's been favoring her right hind leg, and instead of trotting down the stairs, she hops like a bunnyrabbit.

Lately when she goes to lay down, it becomes a major production number, very slowly lowering herself to the floor as if it were painful.

I know I have to take her to the Vet. I'm actually afraid of what he/she will tell me, however. I can't afford to spend 1000's of dollars on a cat - but Mindi is such a honeylove - she cuddles, she looks up into my face with those big blue trusting eyes... she slobbers all over my shirt...

Ok, the slobber part isn't all that great, but she's done it like forever. And she's not so far gone that she couldn't knock over the trash can while I was eating dinner and try to steal the skin from the salmon filet...

If it's something bad like cancer, I'll have to have the vet put her down. I went through that horror with Sasha, and I'll not allow vets to chop hunks off my cats anymore.

167 days

Connectivity Issues

3 minutes of connectivity - modem resets.
5 minutes of connectivity - modem resets.
20 minutes of connectivity - modem resets.
25 seconds of connectivity - modem resets.
1 minute of connectivity - modem resets.

This is a bit of a bitch, especially when you are trying to accomplish something online that requires surfing from page to page in short-order.... or trying to play a little bit of WoW.

So yesterday I contacted Comcast to find out if they can fix it. Got a really nice gal on their "chat in realtime" online feature (from work!) (yes, my boss knew...) and she said it should fix up just as soon as I got home and rebooted everything. Cool beans.

Got home, rebooted everything, went downstairs to have dinner, came back upstairs - no connectivity. Modem reset. 2 minutes of connectivity....

So I called from home, and talked to a really nice guy who said it was something "in the line"' and they'd have to send out a techie. I asked if it was possible if the coax had been damaged, would that maybe cause it? He said yes. I told him not to send anyone until I had a chance to check the cable inside the house, as I can replace that myself.

Cats. Chewed. Almost THROUGH.

*le sigh*

So tonite on the way home I will stop at the CompUSA store and pick up some coax cable, and then I'll see if the problem was this - or something more yet.

I wonder if there is a nice Korean restaurant anywhere near my house....

171 days

New Things

Obviously many of my "old things" havent' been working. The DR. wants to put me on cholesterol meds and I plan to fight it. The possible side-effects scare the bejebus out of me. I know he means well, but after 3 months of eating horribly - almost all red meat, soft buns and cheese - while Leandra was sliding downhill, I'm really not overly surprised to find out that my cholesterol and triglycerides are a bit out of whack.

So yesterday I went to the market to get lunch, instead of a drive-thru. I bought a big salad with loads of fresh veggies on it, another bag of cherries, some OatNut bread (I love oatnut bread...) and this cereal that I can't remember the name of it, but it had flaxseed and pumpkin seeds in it.

Now, to be honest, my first thought was UCK. I love pumpkin pie, but pumpkin cereal sounded cloying and unpleasant. However, it was labeled "Organic" - which has certain labeling restrictions as opposed to "all natural" and stuff like that - so I figured, WTF, right? Flaxseed is supposedly good for the heart and arteries, so I'll try it. I'll try ANYTHING once. (Except gross stuff like brains or tongue...)

It was GOOD! They had these little puffball things in it that kind of resembled rice krispies, and it tasted rather cinnamony, which is nice. There was enough crunchy/chewy balance to make it great with just a bit of milk on it. So, this is a "new thing" that I'll probably have more often.

I need to find some kind of exercise to do too. My bike has flat tires (again!) and I'm too puffy and wheezy to run, too broke to join a gym and too Raphaelite to be seen in a swimsuit outside of my Dad's retirement village.

174 days

Books and stuff

The books I've read that were written in/about the 1700's and 1800's are different.

There seems to be a lot more emphasis on the everyday stuff - laundry, cooking, gardening - as action, and a lot less emphasis on plots, subplots, sub-subplots and car chases.

I suppose the lack of emphasis on car chases can be taken as a "given". Ahem.

Whenever I run out of cleaning/housework steam due to laziness or videogame addiction or whatever (this latest due no doubt to my fears of reinjuring my back/leg), reading Little Women or Little House on the Prairie or Anne of Green Gables or damn near anything by Jane Austen is a sure guarantee that I'll get housecleaning/knitting/quilting fever for at least a few days.

The girls in those books are so VIRTUOUS!! Mending, sewing, working on their samplers, cleaning, shining, cooking... For some odd reason, it makes me want to emulate them for a while. In fact, I'm glad that I have this almost-guaranteed impetus providing trick.

Oh heck. I think "J" from the cubicle next-door is having leftover beer-soaked-bratwurst for lunch. All I have is a tuna sandwich. DAMN that smells heavenly..... (NOT the tuna...)

Anyhow - I think it is about time for me to break out the Louisa May Alcott again. I would like to see significant improvement in my environment after this weekend. Wish me luck. Or wish me impetus - that would be even better than luck - as impetus accomplishes more!

178 days

Birthday Wishes (Now with SUBLIMINAL mom-nag messages...)

Ok, so I'm a day late. Phlllhhbbbhhttt.

Amanda - your new address so I can mail you things please?
I wish I knew how to macrame without screwing it up. My ex hubby made this awesome hanging table back years and years ago - I loved how it looked, natural jute and (IIRC) a smoked-glass top. I'd like to make a set of hanging shelves - but my macrame "talent" sucks. I can do it, but it looks like crap because I cannot maintain an even tension. I can knit, I can crochet, I can do most fiber arts - but macrame totally defeats me.

Amanda, I think Brad's Postcards are brilliant! You could send me your address on one?
I wish Herbie the Garden Gnome would pull the weeds in the flowerbed, because there are bajillions of them and it's too hot and humid outside to stay out long enough to make a significant dent before NEW ones grow overnite!
Of course, you could CALL me with the address... phone number hasn't changed, altho voice mail is full.
I wish I knew enough about this new digital tv thing to make an informed decision about purchasing a new TV - As it is, I'm afraid to do so in case I buy one that won't work next year. And does this affect Radio too? Will I need all new tuners for freaking everything??

Yes, I know I'm being an obnoxious git. It's a mom thing.
I wish I had cheekbones. *sigh. And dimples.

So - I went out to dinner last nite at Outback Steakhouse. It was good - tasty as ever, but the menu has changed some so it took a lot of perusing in order to decide on dinner. I also got a small stack of books for a birthday present - which is nice.

Lunch over. Back to work.

179 days

Insomnia... The only way to fry.

Ok, so the pain in my back is gone. The PAIN down my leg is gone. I can stand on tip-toe without agony. I took out the trash bin without pain. These are all good things.

Unfortunately - I still am having trouble sleeping. Last night and the night before it was jumpy legs. I lay there - in peaceful comfort... and all of a sudden, for no apparent reason - my leg decides to twitch.

I actually made it to sleep one time - and dreamed I tripped as I went up the stairs, waking to the twitchy jumpy leg - adrenaline pumping and grabbing for the handrailing - which was actually my night-stand.

Part of the problem is still the back - so saith Dr. Brad. Part of the problem is the weather. It's so darn muggy and humid that I can't stay in one position for any length of time or the downside 1/2 gets too warm and sweaty, so I roll over to make the "downside" the "upside" and have to reposition all the pillows, which is an entire production number of itself.

The damn mourning doves killed my blueberry bush - AGAIN. This is getting farking ridiculous. Every year I get a baby bush, I plant it properly, put it in a nice spot - and every year at some point when the doves are nesting, they pull it out of the dirt and try to make a nest out of it. The plants don't like being uprooted, and die.

I need a BB gun. Squab anyone?

Made another step on my way to getting a new office chair at home. I FINALLY threw out the old one this morning. I was so afraid that one time I'd forget the back was almost broken and lean back and throw my back out permanently as well as bust my scalp open (scalp wounds bleed like crazy!), give myself a concussion and put a hole in the wall.

So I went last night to Office Max after seeing Dr. Brad, and sat in all their chairs. Well, all their "executive" and "manager" chairs. I will not EVER purchase a "task" chair - they're hideously uncomfortable, and blatantly sexist/classist.

You know which ones I mean - the ones with the tiny little backrest that barely covers a portion of your lower back - allowing all the men in the office to ogle your ass? Fuck that.

Several of the chairs were quite cozy. I absolutely do NOT want a chair with a leather seat, because I spend too much time in that chair and have no desire to do the leg-to-chair bonding that occurs when sweaty thighs sit on leather or plastic for too long.

They weren't near as pricey as I'd feared either. This is a very good thing. Perhaps next weekend I'll do some more chair-sitting at a couple other stores then make up my mind.

181 days

Cleanliness is next to....

*grumble*

Wouldn't it just figure that I've got all this farking ENERGY to do stuff, but Dr. Brad still says no bending, lifting, twisting, vacuuming...

The cats see these restrictions as carte blanche to vomit hairballs all over the place. Making me have to clean them up surepptitiously bending - as the vacuum is still off limits. I think they (the cats) do this on purpose.

So I got my prize for winning the caption contest over by Mr. Farty's. It is a Dalek!! A red Dalek with silver spots. If you tap him on the head, the talks in Dalek, and if you drag him backwards, he drives himself around for a bit. For the time being, he is living on my monitor - but I may have to find him a new home shortly because C my Co-Worker is green with envy and I don't trust the cleaners. Here he is sitting next to "Peacecat" at work, but I may take him home on Friday to protect him from the evil janitors.

187 days

Blog Blarg

Some weeks are harder than others in which to blog.

This last weekend I had promised myself to update - yet another in a long string of things I've promised to me and conveniently forgotten.

I did, however, get a number of other things done, some of which I'd been procrastinating for quite a while. For instance - went to see the Hospital Vampires and got blood tests drawn - Met a very nice phlebotomist named Ruth who got me in one almost-painless stick! No call from my Dr. office so I must be near-normal. They always call quick when there is a problem. I procrastinated on this one because you had to do it "12 hours fasting" which I kept forgetting on the weekends, and couldn't be bothered over driving to the hospital real early on weekdays. In the end, got there RIGHT as they opened, 15 min. later I was out of there and on my way to:

The AIR TEAM facility, where I went and got my car's emissions tested. They sent me this scarey yellow notice that said if I didn't do it, they wouldn't sell me updated license plate stickers, and since my plates come due in September, it seemed curiously ambitious of me to handle this so early - BUT I DID!! and all this before:

Breakfast at Omega Restaurant. They make really FLUFFY omelets. I usually don't like the fluffy ones at other places because they're generally partially raw in the centers, but the ones at Omega are just lovely. Big glass of grapefruit juice and a couple of sausage links and I was good-to-go to:

Costco! Where I got my latest drugs picked up and replaced my cheap crappy DVD player that died after only a year, with one that was only marginally more expensive, but made by Sony and has a warranty.

Went home, paid my mortgage online - ON TIME - and then:

Watched National Treasure 2. It sucked. It was National Treasure 1 with a less credible plot, and too many of exactly the same stunts, visual FX and cliche's. Nicholas Cage is NOT aging well.

Missed Lea a lot because of that. It's the kind of thing we would have discussed to death for at least 15-20 minutes, laughing at each other's impressions.

189 days