Without question - without the slightest hesitation - I can confidently assert that Male drivers in the State of Illinois are the most impatient, rude and annoying individuals ever to roll around this planet on from 2 to 18 wheels.
In fact, one would be tempted to call them "Fucktards".
As a matter of fact, I think I will. *sweet smile*
Stop light. 4-lane divided road. Fairly narrow lanes. Young lady stopped appropriately at traffic light. Fucktard in car behind her honking and threatening to mash her rear bumper because she won't pull up into the intersection so he can make a right turn.
Stop light. Same 4-lane divided road. Young lady doing approx. 5 mph OVER the posted limit. Fucktard behind her making hand gestures, honking, shouting himself red in the face - because there is more than a car-length between her vehicle and the one in front of her.
Never mind the fact that there is a red light. He's NOT going to get any more than a few feet further along...
All I can say is - it's worse in Indiana.
**********************************************************************************
I have very sore knees. I suspect this is due to overconsumption of caffeine, as it is a known difficulty for me. So I've cut out most of the caffeine in my life for the moment, attempting to calm down the knees so I don't have to creep up and down the stairs.
I have a headache. Caffeine deprivation headache.
I can't win.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tall Skinny Guys and School Busses
Was a little late to work yesterday. Traffic was incredible. Considering I live out in the 'burbs and have no appreciable traffic woes usually if the weather is nice, this was somewhat unusual. However, once I got up to the stoplight in front of the children's rehab center, I found out why.
Traffic in the opposite direction was being funnelled from 3 lanes into 1 lane to bypass a collision. A Nissan Sentra had hit a school bus.
Yes. Rear-ended a school bus.
Now - how the bloody hell do you hit a schoolbus from behind? I mean, REALLY???? They are HUGE. They are BLINDINGLY YELLOW, they have flashy red lights on top.... HOW in the blazes could you possibly run into one?
The Jiffy Lube and one of the Shell (petrol) stations have these balloon skinny floppy guys in front. Some sort of blowing hot-air thing, a long, tall tube with arms and eyes and ribbon hair on top. I am not 100% certain WHY they annoy me so much, but... They really annoy me.
I suspect I am probably the only person who finds them so annoying, however. Everyone else on the planet probably thinks they are cute.
*sigh*
Traffic in the opposite direction was being funnelled from 3 lanes into 1 lane to bypass a collision. A Nissan Sentra had hit a school bus.
Yes. Rear-ended a school bus.
Now - how the bloody hell do you hit a schoolbus from behind? I mean, REALLY???? They are HUGE. They are BLINDINGLY YELLOW, they have flashy red lights on top.... HOW in the blazes could you possibly run into one?
The Jiffy Lube and one of the Shell (petrol) stations have these balloon skinny floppy guys in front. Some sort of blowing hot-air thing, a long, tall tube with arms and eyes and ribbon hair on top. I am not 100% certain WHY they annoy me so much, but... They really annoy me.
I suspect I am probably the only person who finds them so annoying, however. Everyone else on the planet probably thinks they are cute.
*sigh*
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Odd things - #2 - office Supplies Edition
Somewhere along the line, it became somewhat akin to pulling teeth to get a real, honest to Goddess "Rubber Stamp" made. I love rubber stamps - the old fashioned kind. SLAM into the ink pad. SLAM onto the paper. VOILA - a lovely image perfectly stamped exactly where you want it. Simple, easy and essentially effortless. Not to mention an excellent means of burning off excess "pissed off" when necessary.
Instead we are now sent "self inking" stampers, where you push down on the box thingy and it rotates as it descends, and allegedly makes a stamp with only ONE motion.
Right.
Which would be fine - if in fact the damn thing worked for more than 2 or 3 images, after which point you need to let it "rest" a while so the ink can shoogle back to the spots where the lines/letters are. And far too fragile - I've broken one already. AND, since you have to farking disassemble the whole bloody thing in order to re-ink the pad, (as opposed to just rolling more ink onto it from a roller-ball inking bottle, not unlike liquid deodorant), it is actually considerably LESS efficient than the SLAM SLAM VOILA type.
Now the one I have will not completely return to it's upright and locked position in preparation for takeoff. I am not happy about this.
I am tempted to lock it in the "down" position somehow and get the office supply person to order me an old-fashioned stamp pad and roller-ball inker.
*grouchy grumble*
Edit In:
OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!!ELEVENTYONE!!!!!!11111111111111
No sooner do I blog about this stamp from hell, than the bastard breaks in a most spectacular way! I have taken a photo and will upload it tonite when I get home. Damn Stamp!!!
Instead we are now sent "self inking" stampers, where you push down on the box thingy and it rotates as it descends, and allegedly makes a stamp with only ONE motion.
Right.
Which would be fine - if in fact the damn thing worked for more than 2 or 3 images, after which point you need to let it "rest" a while so the ink can shoogle back to the spots where the lines/letters are. And far too fragile - I've broken one already. AND, since you have to farking disassemble the whole bloody thing in order to re-ink the pad, (as opposed to just rolling more ink onto it from a roller-ball inking bottle, not unlike liquid deodorant), it is actually considerably LESS efficient than the SLAM SLAM VOILA type.
Now the one I have will not completely return to it's upright and locked position in preparation for takeoff. I am not happy about this.
I am tempted to lock it in the "down" position somehow and get the office supply person to order me an old-fashioned stamp pad and roller-ball inker.
*grouchy grumble*
Edit In:
OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!!ELEVENTYONE!!!!!!11111111111111
No sooner do I blog about this stamp from hell, than the bastard breaks in a most spectacular way! I have taken a photo and will upload it tonite when I get home. Damn Stamp!!!
Monday, March 15, 2010
What exactly is "saving" about losing an hour's sleep?
Dear Benjamin Franklin:
Die in a fire.
Sincerely sleepy,
Sewmouse
Die in a fire.
Sincerely sleepy,
Sewmouse
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Angry
Ok, it's no question I come from a dysfunctional family. I'm not 100% sure where it all went wonky, but... Dysfunctional R Us. It isn't just SPTLM. It isn't just me. There is just this undercurrent of dysfunctionality, it seems to have reared it's ugly head yet again, and to be honest, I'm sick and tired of it all.
I'm tired of having my words twisted around to mean/say something I had no intention, desire or thought of saying. I'm sick to death of having to watch every word that comes out of my mouth for fear it will be misinterpreted and misunderstood and considered an insult or worse. I KNOW that in some ways I am "socially retarded" and make mistakes of saying too much, or the entirely wrong thing to entirely the wrong person. Thing is, much as I try to keep from doing it, it still happens - and as I'm 53 years old, it is seriously unlikely that I'm going to change any time soon.
To address this issue, I've made the decision that from here forward, ALL communications with my family will be done to ALL of them. Every telephone communication will be documented and distributed via e-mail. All e-mails will be cc'd to ALL of the "interested" parties.
I'm angry.
This is not the moment to address the issue that caused my anger. When I am able to manage it without seething, I will begin my e-mailing.
191 of 625.
I'm mostly angry because of that - because I had managed to find the quiet and calm place where I am comfortable and not seething with rage under a deliberately, deceptively barely-controlled neutral exterior.
And now I have to find the balance point again.
I'm tired of having my words twisted around to mean/say something I had no intention, desire or thought of saying. I'm sick to death of having to watch every word that comes out of my mouth for fear it will be misinterpreted and misunderstood and considered an insult or worse. I KNOW that in some ways I am "socially retarded" and make mistakes of saying too much, or the entirely wrong thing to entirely the wrong person. Thing is, much as I try to keep from doing it, it still happens - and as I'm 53 years old, it is seriously unlikely that I'm going to change any time soon.
To address this issue, I've made the decision that from here forward, ALL communications with my family will be done to ALL of them. Every telephone communication will be documented and distributed via e-mail. All e-mails will be cc'd to ALL of the "interested" parties.
I'm angry.
This is not the moment to address the issue that caused my anger. When I am able to manage it without seething, I will begin my e-mailing.
191 of 625.
I'm mostly angry because of that - because I had managed to find the quiet and calm place where I am comfortable and not seething with rage under a deliberately, deceptively barely-controlled neutral exterior.
And now I have to find the balance point again.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Odd things
Odd Thing #1
I can't throw away clothes.
Other people can throw out clothes when they get too ripped or stained, or whatever. It takes an ENORMOUS act of willpower for me to throw out something, even something as hideous as the pair of black slacks that are so threadbare you can see my legs thru them if I put them on. "They're still good for gardening", I rationalize.
Stained t-shirts are great for around-the-house chores. Nevermind that I have to spend more time getting ready if I want to go out because I have to change clothes.
My closet is packed with stuff I don't wear. It's embarassing. Some of it I give away to Goodwill or whoever has the bins out by the car wash now - but a lot of it is VERY dated (nobody would want to wear it any more than I do..)
Let's face it - I'm NEVER getting back into those size 8 jeans in the bottom drawer...
I need to adjust my mind-set on this one, but it is difficult.
190 of 625.
I can't throw away clothes.
Other people can throw out clothes when they get too ripped or stained, or whatever. It takes an ENORMOUS act of willpower for me to throw out something, even something as hideous as the pair of black slacks that are so threadbare you can see my legs thru them if I put them on. "They're still good for gardening", I rationalize.
Stained t-shirts are great for around-the-house chores. Nevermind that I have to spend more time getting ready if I want to go out because I have to change clothes.
My closet is packed with stuff I don't wear. It's embarassing. Some of it I give away to Goodwill or whoever has the bins out by the car wash now - but a lot of it is VERY dated (nobody would want to wear it any more than I do..)
Let's face it - I'm NEVER getting back into those size 8 jeans in the bottom drawer...
I need to adjust my mind-set on this one, but it is difficult.
190 of 625.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Back to Work
Ah, home sweet home.
How nice to lay in my own bed, eat my own food, have my cat back from the kennel, and best of all - my computer and net connection back!
(Doing the ninja thing on my dad's neighbor's conn just felt rather naughty - not to mention the signal strength was poop.)
Back to work today. And month-end closing to boot. Yahoo. Yippee. I think I will need a triple espresso to face the stack of mail...
Dreamed about work last nite. How sad is THAT???
Ok - off to the grindstone. I'm glad I had time off.
How nice to lay in my own bed, eat my own food, have my cat back from the kennel, and best of all - my computer and net connection back!
(Doing the ninja thing on my dad's neighbor's conn just felt rather naughty - not to mention the signal strength was poop.)
Back to work today. And month-end closing to boot. Yahoo. Yippee. I think I will need a triple espresso to face the stack of mail...
Dreamed about work last nite. How sad is THAT???
Ok - off to the grindstone. I'm glad I had time off.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Why I can't live in Florida
So we went to this Bok Singing Tower yesterday. 60 miles drive to hear some yahoo play a carillon - for about 20 minutes. Then a swan tried to eat my shoe.
Damn swan.
Anyhow. I watched the entire way down there - there were like 40 grocery stores, endless tire outlets - and not one single book store.
This morning I went online to check. There isn't a Barnes and Noble within a 45 mile radius of here. That is just unacceptable. I can't concieve of living in a place where all they do is eat and never read.
The swans near my house never tried to eat my shoes, either.
Granted, right now the weather is damn near perfect. Not too humid, not dry, sunny most days and cool at nite and warm in the day - just like Springtime. There are flowers blooming, and grapefruits on the tree are big and round and yellow. There are tons of oranges, tangerines, &etc all over the place. It's lovely - but no bookstores, and in a few months it will be hot and humid and miserable and all the grapefruits will be gone.
And they still wont' have any bookstores.
I'm flying home tomorrow. Out of Springtime and into Winter again.
Damn swan.
Anyhow. I watched the entire way down there - there were like 40 grocery stores, endless tire outlets - and not one single book store.
This morning I went online to check. There isn't a Barnes and Noble within a 45 mile radius of here. That is just unacceptable. I can't concieve of living in a place where all they do is eat and never read.
The swans near my house never tried to eat my shoes, either.
Granted, right now the weather is damn near perfect. Not too humid, not dry, sunny most days and cool at nite and warm in the day - just like Springtime. There are flowers blooming, and grapefruits on the tree are big and round and yellow. There are tons of oranges, tangerines, &etc all over the place. It's lovely - but no bookstores, and in a few months it will be hot and humid and miserable and all the grapefruits will be gone.
And they still wont' have any bookstores.
I'm flying home tomorrow. Out of Springtime and into Winter again.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I am homesick
I want to go home.
Not that I don't love my Dad and all - I want to pack him up in my luggage and take him along. But I want MY bed, MY stuff, MY car, etc. Vacation is ok and all but I really do like my comfortable little hermit cave.
I'm making crock-pot beef stew with beer and caraway seeds for dinner. I put in extra caraway seeds in honor of Zac. *snicker*
It is raining here today - but it is supposed to go away and be mostly sunny in the afternoon and about 76 F. It is sn*wing at home. hehehehe
I suppose I'd want to take the weather along with me as well.
Today we are going to the Bok Singing Tower. Some tower in a bunch of gardens, with a guy at the top in the tower playing carrilon bells. *shrug* Dad wanted to go right when I got here, but my legs and feet were so sore from the airport hiking I asked for a few days respite before the uphill hike to the tower.
I've been helping him clear out some of his mail as well. He gets a HUGE pile of mail every day - almost all of it one form or another of solicitation for his money. They play on his patriotism, religiosity, and sympathy - a few even try the "fear" tack. I had to LMFAO at one - "This letter double sealed for security" - So inside is another sealed envelope "To be opened ONLY BY (dad's name)"
So of course, I opened it up - and inside was this frantic plea for money to "defeat the godless lib'ruls" - and one sentance cracked me up so bad "This letter must NOT EVER fall into the hands of the liberals"....
Oops.
*giggle*
It not only fell into my hands, it also fell straight into the trash can.
Another one boldly advertised "American Currency Enclosed". There were THREE PENNIES taped to the letter. I almost wet myself laughing.
I finally got fed up with Dad's nightly dose of Beck, O'Reilly and Hannity - so last nite I watched "Julie and Julia" on the laptop with the headphones on while he got his dose of Faux Noise. I must say that I really did enjoy the movie. I know it got mixed reviews, and there were a few things that I wasn't all that hot on, but in total it was a movie I would watch again, even if it doesn't have any car chases in it.
Thanks to 4-Dinners, I am probably going to have to make Yorkshire Puddings today to go with the beef stew, which is not traditional, I realize, but will have to do as I don't have a roast just to hand and I have a taste for them.
Maybe I can go swimming while Dad plays bocce tomorrow.
Not that I don't love my Dad and all - I want to pack him up in my luggage and take him along. But I want MY bed, MY stuff, MY car, etc. Vacation is ok and all but I really do like my comfortable little hermit cave.
I'm making crock-pot beef stew with beer and caraway seeds for dinner. I put in extra caraway seeds in honor of Zac. *snicker*
It is raining here today - but it is supposed to go away and be mostly sunny in the afternoon and about 76 F. It is sn*wing at home. hehehehe
I suppose I'd want to take the weather along with me as well.
Today we are going to the Bok Singing Tower. Some tower in a bunch of gardens, with a guy at the top in the tower playing carrilon bells. *shrug* Dad wanted to go right when I got here, but my legs and feet were so sore from the airport hiking I asked for a few days respite before the uphill hike to the tower.
I've been helping him clear out some of his mail as well. He gets a HUGE pile of mail every day - almost all of it one form or another of solicitation for his money. They play on his patriotism, religiosity, and sympathy - a few even try the "fear" tack. I had to LMFAO at one - "This letter double sealed for security" - So inside is another sealed envelope "To be opened ONLY BY (dad's name)"
So of course, I opened it up - and inside was this frantic plea for money to "defeat the godless lib'ruls" - and one sentance cracked me up so bad "This letter must NOT EVER fall into the hands of the liberals"....
Oops.
*giggle*
It not only fell into my hands, it also fell straight into the trash can.
Another one boldly advertised "American Currency Enclosed". There were THREE PENNIES taped to the letter. I almost wet myself laughing.
I finally got fed up with Dad's nightly dose of Beck, O'Reilly and Hannity - so last nite I watched "Julie and Julia" on the laptop with the headphones on while he got his dose of Faux Noise. I must say that I really did enjoy the movie. I know it got mixed reviews, and there were a few things that I wasn't all that hot on, but in total it was a movie I would watch again, even if it doesn't have any car chases in it.
Thanks to 4-Dinners, I am probably going to have to make Yorkshire Puddings today to go with the beef stew, which is not traditional, I realize, but will have to do as I don't have a roast just to hand and I have a taste for them.
Maybe I can go swimming while Dad plays bocce tomorrow.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Survival
Sooooo
Dinner with SPTLM and family was not all that bad. Mostly I kept my big mouth shut, complimented the food, talked with my pretty little niece and avoided any of the uncomfortable topics.
My brother and I have diametrically opposing views on most everything - primarily Politics and Religion. I was determined not to start a fight, but it was tense for me because I wasnt sure what would be said at me.
Fortunately, the two topics were avoided and thus although I was still tense, it went OK.
My dad brought his bottle of "Pisco" (sp?) - some Peruvian liquor - that required a degree in rocket science to assemble into a beverage - or experience as a bartender. Since SPTLM was a bartender, we brought all the "fixings" and had him make the drink. Disappointingly, it tasted almost exactly like a whisky sour, which does not require all the various and sundry ingredients, and doesn't also require sending off to Peru for the booze.
Which means that if I ever crave one of those drinks again, I can just make a whisky sour and be happy.
Yesterday we went to Church. I knew it was inevitable, so I brought a nice sweater and skirt along with me. Will probably get stuck going again on Wednesday nite (Mental note - Florida is nice in February, but do try to avoid LENT next time...)
The wind chimes are gently clanging as I sit out here on the screened patio. There is a cool breeze, lots of birdsong and a baby squirrel wandering around in the grass under the grapefruit tree, and a cardinal in the leafless deciduous bush next to it. Very nice morning.
I still feel a bit lazy for not having any handwork to do. I want to quilt every morning. This is probably a good sign for when I get home.
Dad wants us to "do something" while I am down here, so as soon as I finish this little post I am going to google some "central Florida activities" and find something to do so he feels hospitable.
I haven't put my jacket on ONCE since I've been down here.
*grin*
Dinner with SPTLM and family was not all that bad. Mostly I kept my big mouth shut, complimented the food, talked with my pretty little niece and avoided any of the uncomfortable topics.
My brother and I have diametrically opposing views on most everything - primarily Politics and Religion. I was determined not to start a fight, but it was tense for me because I wasnt sure what would be said at me.
Fortunately, the two topics were avoided and thus although I was still tense, it went OK.
My dad brought his bottle of "Pisco" (sp?) - some Peruvian liquor - that required a degree in rocket science to assemble into a beverage - or experience as a bartender. Since SPTLM was a bartender, we brought all the "fixings" and had him make the drink. Disappointingly, it tasted almost exactly like a whisky sour, which does not require all the various and sundry ingredients, and doesn't also require sending off to Peru for the booze.
Which means that if I ever crave one of those drinks again, I can just make a whisky sour and be happy.
Yesterday we went to Church. I knew it was inevitable, so I brought a nice sweater and skirt along with me. Will probably get stuck going again on Wednesday nite (Mental note - Florida is nice in February, but do try to avoid LENT next time...)
The wind chimes are gently clanging as I sit out here on the screened patio. There is a cool breeze, lots of birdsong and a baby squirrel wandering around in the grass under the grapefruit tree, and a cardinal in the leafless deciduous bush next to it. Very nice morning.
I still feel a bit lazy for not having any handwork to do. I want to quilt every morning. This is probably a good sign for when I get home.
Dad wants us to "do something" while I am down here, so as soon as I finish this little post I am going to google some "central Florida activities" and find something to do so he feels hospitable.
I haven't put my jacket on ONCE since I've been down here.
*grin*
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