tales of an ordinary girl

I think I mentioned these machines to someone recently, but I can't remember who. I do remember seeing on at the Perimeter Mall in Atlanta when I went for Dragon Con.

Airports seem like a good idea, but I wonder how they're doing well with no music available for download? Perhaps a lot of people carry laptops with music and they're buying an iPod to be less bulky? Perhaps most people don't realize they won't have any music until they've already shelled out the $300?

Ok, Masters of Horror, I've had enough. Your plots are rediculous, but even more so, they're skewed. I don't need preachy, predictable, goryfornootherreasonbuttobegory, tired storylines. Tonight we watched "The Family", which was previously recorded. It wasn't horrible, I guess. But in the end the bad guys were oil drillers. There was no complexity. No understanding of why. They were just bad and caused all kinds of mayhem. Oil was an evil force.

I was browsing through the recorded episodes we have and they're all seem to have a simliar theme. (The synopsis on the television was shorter, but these are copied from Showtime's site.)

"Pro-Life": A near-accident on an isolated mountain road lands young Angelique (CAITLIN WACHS) in a nearby women's health clinic. As her fervently anti-abortion father Dwayne (RON PERLMAN) and his well-armed three sons attempt to "liberate" Angelique, she discovers that the only thing more dangerous than her would-be saviors is the demonic seed growing within her.

"The Screwfly Solution": Based on the short story by Raccoona Sheldon, a deadly virus infects the nation, transforming men into psychotic killers who attack every woman that crosses their paths. A suburban housewife and her teenage daughter embark on a treacherous journey to survive, but how can they protect themselves from an entire gender gone mad?

Are they seriously borrowing plots from Lifetime now?

"Right to Die": Her flesh has been charred and her body remains comatose, but from a strict medical perspective, Abby is still alive. Beset by guilt, her conflicted husband Cliff (MARTIN DONOVAN) is determined to get a court order to cease her pain. Her condition worsening, she repeatedly flat-lines and is revived. But each time Abby's body dies, her apparition grows stronger, violently attacking those that have taken advantage of her plight. If Cliff pulls the plug, he's next on the list. This topical horror story takes a supernatural stand on the right-to-life debate.

"The Washingtonians": After his grandmother's funeral, Mike (JONATHON SCHAECH) discovers an artifact in her basement could re-write the history of our nation. Interpreting clues that suggest George Washington was in fact an insatiable cannibal, Mike must protect his family and escape from a band of loyal Washingtonians, hungry for human flesh and willing to protect our founding father's secrets at any cost. SAUL RUBINEK also stars in this adaptation of Bentley Little's short story.

I could go on... but I won't. I wouldn't even mind if the "movies" were actually good, but they're not. I've only seen one episode that's good and it was based on a Lovecraft short story. And that was during the first season.

No wonder no one I know has Showtime. Thankfully they have Dexter. I'm not sure how they'll top season 1, but I'm excited to find out.

You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most people are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

It's a very slow day here at work. I was talking to a co-worker about poetry and it sparked me looking up some of my favorite poems. Here's three of my favorite from Sara Teasdale.

Night

Stars over snow,
And in the west a planet
Swinging below a star--
Look for a lovely thing and you will find it.
It is not far--
It never will be far.


Moon's Ending

Moon, worn thin to the width of a quill,
In the dawn clouds flying,
How good to go, light into light, and still
Giving light, dying.


Spring Night

The park is filled with night and fog,
The veils are drawn about the world,
The drowsy lights along the paths
Are dim and pearled.

Gold and gleaming are the empty streets,
Gold and gleaming the misty lake.
The mirrored lights like sunken swords,
Glimmer and shake.

Oh, is it not enough to be
Here with this beauty over me?
My throat should ache with praise, and I
Should kneel in joy beneath the sky.
O beauty, are you not enough?
Why am I crying after love
With youth, a singing voice, and eyes
To take earth's wonder with surprise?

Why have I put off my pride,
Why am I unsatisfied,--
I, for whom the pensive night
Binds her cloudy hair with light,--
I, for whom all beauty burns
Like incense in a million urns?
O beauty, are you not enough?
Why am I crying after love?

My trip was pretty good. I actually enjoyed spending time with my family and mended a few bridges here and there. I didn't miss home too much, but by the time Tuesday came around I was ready to go. Mostly I missed Matt.

I spent a little bit of time on Friday and Saturday driving around areas that have changed so much they're hardly recognizable.


This is where I spent a lot of time in college - the old computing center. It looks exactly the same. Typically the university has spent a lot of money on expanding their buildings, but unless they haven't moved the lab then the comp sci department has pretty much stayed the same. Since it was graduation day, I didn't bother to check. I figured everything would be locked up.


The Sub Station II was right across the street from the school and I walked across to it often. They still have the best macaroni salad. And they still post snarky comments (though this one isn't all that original).


One of the managerie...


My new nephew (and that is not his mom.. the young'un is my niece).


My new nephew again with my brother.

I'm at encephalophone's place. Shh.. don't tell. I'm visiting the folks, but I told them I wouldn't be in until the morning. I know, it's bad to lie to your parents, but otherwise I'd be caught up in family activities and be unable to do anything else.

My mom called me earlier today and told me she's decided to work tomorrow, so I guess it's not so bad. We were going to go shopping, but she gets off at 2:00, so I guess we can still go. I think my sister is working. I have to find something to do in the morning. My dad will probably still be sleeping.

I hate plane trips. This one wasn't bad, but the seat was very cramped. I left the house at 7:30 and stopped to autowash my car (lots of salt on the roads still) and still barely made it to the airport on time for my 9:50 flight. Traffic wasn't really that bad, but it seemed like it took longer than usual to get to the airport.

My stopover in Atlanta didn't include a plane change, so I was on the plane until it landed in Charlotte around 2:40.

Anyway, nothing really eventful. I took a quick driving tour around my old uni and it's changed a lot. They've really improved the look, but it's lost something in the process. Or maybe I've just changed.

No use trying to fight it, you're an eight-sided die, a d8. A fine example of simple elegance, the d8 is one of the least appreciated types of dice, and is often neglected. You are known to be quiet and shy, outward traits that conceal viscous sarcasm and mean wit. You are very smart, yet wise enough to hide your intelligence. The quicker they found out how smart you are, the sooner they'll put you to work, which is something you can do without. People call you dark and pessimistic, or moody and cynical. You find little point in arguing.

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

Hey, if you're looking for something to buy your nephew or niece this Christmas, check out carli's Toy Review blog. Yes, all three of you that read this.

1. Hot Chocolate or apple cider?
Both

2. Turkey or Ham?
Turkey this year. My mom always had ham and my grandma often had both.

3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?
We've had a fake tree the past couple of years, but this year there's not room for a tree. I have a small, lighted ceramic tree on the mantle with the wrapped presents stacked next to it.

4. Decorations on the outside of your house?
No. When I was a teenager I put lights up outside our house, but that was the only time we ever had decorations outside that I remember.

5. Snowball fights or sledding?
Snow Angels

6. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?
Why in the world would I go downtown to shop in KC?

7. Favorite Christmas song?
I don't really have a favorite Christmas song. I do have a few Christmas CDs to play on Christmas morning, but it really just depends on my mood.

8. How do you feel about Christmas movies?
I like Christmas movies as a general rule as long as they're not sappy just to be sappy.

9. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?
Before Thanksgiving

10. Stockings before or after presents?
I remember having a stocking as a kid, but I think my parents dropped it at some point when I was still pretty young. Becky (mom-in-law) does stockings for us and they're fun. They're always before gifts.

11. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them?
Do people still go caroling?

12. Go to someone else's house or they come to you?
Usually we go to someone elses, but this year we'll be home.

13. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when?
No

14. What do you do after presents and dinner?
The last few years - breakfast & stockings, chatting, presents, lunch

15. What is your favorite holiday smell?
Evergreen

16. Ice skating or walking around the mall?
I like ice skating, but I'm not good at it and it's been years. Walking around the mall is supposed to be fun?

17. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas Day?
My family always had a tradition of opening one on Christmas Eve with the extended family and then the rest on Christmas morning.

18. Favorite Christmas memory?
There are really too many to pick a favorite.

19. Favorite part about winter?
Clear days when the sun is shining brigtly. I like cold, gray days too, especially when I can stay warm at home and nap. I think I was a cat in another life.

20. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?
No


Stolen from liatha.

Ok, as I said in my comments, I was laid off on Friday. It hurt. I know that sounds odd. It's not that it was a personal decision. 4-5k people are being laid off and contractors are the first to go. But still, I can't help but take it somewhat personally.

Last time Sprint laid me off (yes, I came back after that, but I came back knowing it was a temporary job) I cried. It's the first time I'd ever lost a job and it sucked. This time I took it pretty well. I think most of that was knowing that I was probably going to receive a job offer soon. And the fact that they gave me until the end of the year to work. Losing a job right before Christmas would really suck.

I received a call on Friday afternoon with a job offer and it was a relief. It wasn't just any job either, but a job that I've really wanted with a good company with lots of opportunity for growth. Plus it pays a tad bit better. That made my weekend.

Sunday was Matt and my anniversary and we went out to brunch. We had a good time and it was a good day. He completely surprised me with flowers (went out in the middle of the night to get them for me) and a chair massager. I surprised him with the last Limited Edition Heroes of Might and Magic V that was available on Amazon (before it went to individual sellers) and a few miscellaneous things.

This weekend I'll be away visiting family for Christmas. I'm not sure if I'm excited or scared. Both, I think. I'm getting a hotel this time to help out with the tension and for a little privacy. I think it'll be a good time though.

I knew it would happen eventually.

If Your Life Was A Movie:
Here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Play, iPod, etc.)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.

Opening Credits:
Deja Vu - atonalis feat Mark Moffre

Waking Up:
All My Friends - Amos Lee

First Day of School:
Callas Went Away - Enigma

Falling In Love:
Junk of the Hearts - The Cardigans

Sex Scene:
Living Out Loud - Cory Sipper

Fight Song:
X-Girlfriend - Bush

Breaking Up:
Count on My Love - Liz Phair

Prom:
The Red Diary - Dario Marianelli

Life:
Say Goodbye - Dave Matthews Band

Mental Breakdown:
Original Sinsuality - Tori Amos

Driving:
Peppermint Patty - Wynton Marsalis

Flashback:
My Life - Dido

Getting Back Together:
Your Fire Your Soul - Dar Williams

Wedding:
Romeo of My Heart - Indigo Child

Birth of A Child:
Genius - Duncan Sheik

Final Battle:
The Last Song - Theory of a Deadman

Death Scene:
Hurt - Johnny Cash

stolen from book lust.

I'm an addict. I picked up Neverwinter Nights 2 a few weeks ago and no one has heard from me since (unless they were very patient). I would say that I'm almost finished, but I know that's probably not true. The game is much longer than I thought it would be. It's good though, addictingly good.

I've had several people today tell me that I'm weird. I'm used to it. I think I started saying "thank you" when someone said it to me back in sixth grade. I think I act pretty normal. I'm quiet. I don't really do much to draw attention to myself, but yet people always seem to think I'm odd. Oh well.

Just to let you know ways I may show my oddness:

Six Weird Things About Me

1. I cannot leave other people's written work unedited. If I'm reading through something that has a spelling or grammar mistake, I have to correct it. I'm no king of spelling or grammar. I'm sure I leave plenty of mistakes for other people to find (and generate plenty of my own), but I have to correct the mistakes I do find, even if I end up not saving the changes. I especially can't handle excel spreadsheets with inconsistent fonts and borders.

2. I can't leave a light on when I leave a room unless someone else is in that room. I can't leave the tv on either if I'm not watching it. I'm perfectly fine leaving my computer on (though I'll shut off the monitor), but for some reason leaving the lights or other electronic devices on sets of some sort of panic reflex in me. I blame my father.

3. I'm horrible about sticking to routine. It took me months to get used to flossing and it's still difficult for me to remember to take my medicine every morning (you would think 12 years would make it a breeze). I've just never been very attached to doing anything at certain times of the day. And I've never found it easy to pick up an addiction unless it's physically attached to me. (I still bite my nails and I don't know that I'll ever be cured of that).

4. If I read a book that has a depressing ending and if I've grown attached to the characters I will cry and mope about it for days.

5. I look forward to events so much that by the time the day actually gets there I've either overextended my expectations to the point I don't have fun or I just don't enjoy it. Spontaneous fun seems to work well for me if I don't worry I'm messing it up the whole time.

6. I don't have a favorite number. I like the numbers 2,3,4,7,9 and any combination of those numbers. I have no idea why.

The past week has been a blur. I've felt like I'm on a different plane of existence, with everything going by. And I haven't felt enough with it enough to respond to anything. I'm still processing.

I mostly played NWN2 all weekend to cope.

I think I'm just kind of feeling afloat at the moment. Even the holidays, which are usually pretty interesting to look forward to, are going to be odd this year. Christmas may just be Matt and I and no other family. Matt is my family now primarily, but it's odd. I've never spent a Christmas without "family".

And I've started a new project at work, which is good. At least I'm working still. However, it's not making sense to me yet and I'm not clear on what I'm supposed to be doing. So I'm not doing much (even though I'm working hard.. I just don't seem to be making any progress).

I'm not complaining about having time (and inclination) to play video games. I just don't like feeling so foggy. (I don't even feel my posts have been coherent.)

Written 2 days ago at the airport...

I'm socially awkward.

The man sitting next to me on the plane spoke briefly to me after we boarded. Then we both slept, read, whatever. As we were getting ready to deplane I found myself relieved that I wouldn't have to see (or speak to) him again.

But I enjoy conversation tremendously. Not small talk, but meaningful, revealing conversation. And I enjoy watching people.

It's been years since I've spoken to a stranger on a trip. Did I used to be more approachable or is it a general change in people to not talk?

I've come to hate flying. I used to fly a lot for work. I was mostly indifferent to it. There were a few times flying business class and once flying over the Grand Canyon that were memorably nice, but mostly it was just a way of getting from one place to another.

It hit me while standing behind an elderly man in line at security, watching him remove his shoes, then his coat, then his belt -- almost undressing himself to go through security -- that it was just rediculous.

I'm sitting in the airport now and I want to go outside. It's hot in here. Who knew the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport would be hot? It looks invitingly cold outside. But even though I have the time, I don't want to have to go through security.

My flight leaves in exactly 2 hours and 21 minutes.

A lady just sat near me and I feel resentful. I just want to be alone. She's doing nothing to annoy me and yet I'm still annoyed. See? Socially awkward.

My father's in the hospital and he might not leave. It's hard to take care of someone who's grown old and lost the ability to think clearly. It is harder to be the one who doesn't think clearly?

I keep vacillating between the thought of wanting a child "someday" and never wanting children. I've never been a particulary motherly person. I think mostly it just gives me somethign to think about.

The lady left. I feel sorry I resented her presence.

I feel sad that Matt didn't meet my parents until a few years ago.

(Now a man sits down. No more regret.)

I moved away a few years ago and now seeing my family is strange. It's not just that it feels strange revisiting somewhere I used to live. They're like strangers.

I was gong to call encephalaphone while I was visiting, but I ran out of time. Then I forgot to program his number into my phone.

(I wonder if I could slip a lighter into this guy's bag while he's off using the water fountain. I don't have a lighter, of course.)

I was given the opportunity to take off work early today, so I did. I went to the DMV. Let me give you a little clue about what the DMV is like in Kansas. (Yep, this is likely to be not all that interesting, but I'm a little drunk, so bear with me.)

I just recently moved back to Kansas and my tags are expiring. My house is in an adjoining state. Pick one and you're probably correct.

The first thing you do in the Kansas DMV is get a number from the machine. First you have to figure out what button to pick, but it's pretty easy. They're labeled something like, "Title", "Renewal", "Not currently in Service", etc.

Once you have your number you sit and wait for the first call. I waited about 35 minutes. The waiting room isn't bad. Today it was crowded. I should have realized tht being almost the end of the month. But since I didn't realize my tags were about to expire until I happend to look at my license tag this weekend, it was about the only choice I had.

So I clutched my papers, dear, dear papers, and I read. I read Beware of God: Stories while trying to keep the title hidden. This is Kansas. Short review: "The War of the Bernsteins" and "Somebody Up There Likes You" are funny, "Bobo the Self-Hating Chimp" is cute, and "Heimish Knows All" is disturbing. Probably all of them are disturbing, but I found "Heimish" the most disturbing. I just can't get past.. well.. that'd give it away.

I read, I listened a bit to some music, I waited. They finally called my number and I went up to the desk for my "pre-evaluation". Turns out I didn't have my current year's registration with me. So, I was rejected, but told if I could get back in an hour I could come right to the front of the line. But an hour from what? It was already 35 minutes since I'd pulled the ticket and I lived 15 minutes away even at a good pace. Oh, and it was then that I realized that I still had a meeting scheduled in 15 minutes that needed to be canceled.

I rushed home and canceled the meeting (5 minutes late, but who's counting other than the people that dialed in and listned to the waiting music?). I found my reciept, which I'd accidentally put aside for the year before's receipt earlier in the day. I rushed back and went back to the counter (which was empty) and managed to get processed despite the fact it was 67 minutes past when I pulled the ticket. Either she was generous or the hour started later.

Less than five minutes later I was called up to another desk. I guess I was the lowest number, so I was next in queue. And ten minutes later I was on my way home with a new tag in hand.

I stopped at the grocery store for dinner. I made a yummy chocolate, espresso, fudge cake tonight. I dutifully unloaded the groceries and did the dishes from last night. Then I proceeded to get smashed. It was a celebration of sorts for finishing the project. I thought I needed to relax. Except I didn't really relax and now, again, I can't sleep. I feel irresponsible.

Tomorrow is my planned half day and a massage appointment, then an interview. I should relax, at least for a little bit.

Ok, first of all I made a mistake on the name of a movie. It's Infernal Affairs, not Internal Affairs. Yeah, the "t" and the "f" are pretty similiar in type, but mostly I just don't take the time to read properly.

Anyway, we watched the movie last week and I liked it. There were a lot of scenes that were similar between it and The Departed. And some scenes I liked better, such as the scene in the stereo store and the reference to it later.

I was also caught on some of the cultural differences and similarities. The movie was subtitled, but phrases like "Bye", "Ok", and "Yes, Sir", were in English. They're not technilogical words, so I was a little surprised. Is it the influence of Hong Kong as an English colony, or are there not any good translations in Chinese? I'm not sure what dialog they spoke in the movie. Maybe like foreign words in the English language they became common use because there was nothing equivalent.

But, anyway, as far as the movie, I think I liked The Departed better. I think the story flows a little better in the English version. I think the characters are a little more likeable in the Chinese version though. (And what was up with the kid? Was that supposed to be his kid?)

I did nothing this weekend for Halloween. I kind of miss having a workplace where employees would dress up and we'd have basically a "social day" with food and lots of chatting (work too). It gave me an excuse to make a costume and to get to know people I never worked with before.

I finally caught up on BSG. I watched 2.0 and 2.5 over the weekend (Thursday included). A friend of mine said he did that because he has no life. I guess, I have none too. I've been working such odd hours that I wake up in the middle of the night and am unable to go back to sleep. It's a perfect time for watching an episode or two.

I liked the season. I have to say the first half of the season was better than the second half (IMO). Something about the last few episodes didn't work for me. Maybe I was just in a bad mood.

I still have some deleted scenes to watch and last Friday's Season 3 episode. We've been too busy lately for tv watching (which has pretty much ended for me with this project ending, but not for Matt).

Is anyone else finding that Lost is terribly boring so far this season? My list of tv shows I have the patience to watch is dwindling. (And I'm a little relieved. I feel a bit like I'm wasting my time, but I'd just be playing video games otherwise.)

I finished Galapagos last week too and the ending was ok. It's still probably my least favorite KV book, but it ended up being decent enough. I've started reading Beware of God:Stories this weekend. It's quirky, but not really what I was expecting.

So, I got my hair cut. And there's a lot gone. I really didn't get much length cut off (about 4 inches), but the layers removed a lot of the weight and thickness. I love it. It's so much easier to deal with. And if I curl it, it actually stays curled.

Ok, ok, I know you don't want to hear about my hair.

No luck on selling the house yet. No luck on finding a permanent job yet. No luck on catching up on Battlestar Galactica Season 2 before season 3 started. I did find a good price on 2.5 though and ordered the set yesterday. Now to track down 2.0 cheaply.

I've been pretty happy the past couple of days. Work hasn't been going all that smoothly, but everytime I get a new piece completed I feel like I've accomplished a victory. This morning I finished one little piece on a project that's been hanging on for months and I thought I was going to dance right there in my living room. Of course I didn't, but I could have.

I need a vacation. Any suggestions on where?

Oh, The Ticking came in last night and it's beautiful. Not as beautiful as L's books, but it's still beautiful. The pictures on Amazon really don't do it justice. It's cloth with gold leaf and it feels like velvet. My only issue is that some of the pages in the center of the book are folded, so I'm debating returning it and asking for a new copy.

I read it in about 20 minutes and the story was sad, but beautiful too.

I also finally got my copy of Internal Affairs, which I hope to watch this weekend.

Seriously, I need some ideas of where to take a vacation.

I've considered Ocracoke Island on the outer banks of North Carolina. I love the beach in the off season when it's deserted and the weather is cool and stormy. But, I wonder if I'd get lonely going alone (no way I could get Matt to go that far away, especially if we travel over Christmas).

Today is a beautiful day outside. The clouds have cleared and it's just slightly warm. It's a little humid, but everything feels clean outside. I took a walk around the campus and it's that mix of institutionalized buildings and beautiful landscaping. It's a mix of orderly and wild. And it makes the wild even more beautiful in contrast.

I've been working a lot and the people I'm working with are starting to drive me batty. But today, even though I have a lot of reasons to not feel good, I feel pretty bouncy.

Maybe it's because a friend of mine has finally found out good news about the kids he's adopting. Three, count them, three kids. Talk about an instant family! But I'm really, really happy for him and his wife. It's been a long time coming.

Maybe it's because I completed two more sub-projects this weekend and I'm only three more away from completing and getting away from it. Of course these three are going to be tough. No one really wants to complete anything. But they'll get done.

Maybe it's because I'm getting my hair cut tonight. Yep, I'm going to do something different. I don't know if I'll get a lot cut off, but it'll look different, I hope. It's been too long since I've had a new style and I want to have something interesting (not weird, just interesting).

And maybe it's just because you can only be down so long before bouncing back up. Maybe I'm too tired to be unhappy.

On Slate I found these book recommendations and I so want to go out and buy them tonight and read them: The Ticking and Beware of God:Stories. Too many interesting books to read and not enough time!

I'm halfway through Galapagos and I don't know. I'm a little tired about his references to one million years from now. Maybe it's supposed to be rediculous, but it doesn't make much sense what's happened to humans. And would they just take the cruise and get on with the story? It's not my favorite Vonnegut.

I picked up a copy of The Ghost Brigades, but I swore I'd finish some borrowed books before I started on it.

"People interact but don't make contact."

3 smells that I love
the smell of clean laundry
dried lavender
cooked rosemary

3 smells that I hate
dirty diapers
litter boxes
vomit

3 jobs that I have had in my life
college instructor
ticket seller
christmas light installer

3 movies that I could watch over and over
Anchorman
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Moonspinners

3 fond memories
My mom baking for the holidays
Meeting my husband
Spending the afternoon with my niece

3 jobs I would love to have
Author
Travel writer
Housewife

3 places I have lived
San Diego, CA
Charlotte, NC
Boston, MA

3 things I like to do
Play video games
Sit outside on a cool, sunny day
Have an interesting conversation with someone

3 of my favorite foods
Chocolate
English Tea
Sugar Snap Peas

3 places I would like to be right now
Anywhere but work..

3 websites I visit daily
mows.com
somethingpositive.net
catmydog.comicgenesis.com

3 things that make me cry
Arguments
Being frustrated or angry
Thinking of someone I love dying

Why is it that requesting my credit score from one of those online companies always feels sleazy? And it never works and I'm forced to call in and ask for a refund? Why is it so difficult? Why can't I request a report be mailed to me?

And why can't Mondays be easy days? I want Monday Movies! And why do I feel like I'm regressing to the thoughts of a two year old?

The Departed is a good film. Go see it.

I'm tired. I had an overnight migration on Saturday and that always throws my sleep schedule off. So now I have a headache and I'm achey and I really just want to go home and go back to sleep. And I have three more of these this week.

And work isn't just normal today, it's a day from hell. Now I'm irritable. I need a vacation.

It's a beautiful day outside. The perfect remedy would be napping in the sun. I so envy my cat.

I took a new route into work today because I left later than normal and I knew traffic would be a nightmare on either one of the two roads I usually take South to work. Most of the way in I was behind a mini-van with customized plates. It reminded me a bit of encephalaphone's doofus plates post.

What did the plates say, you might ask. They so brazenly declared to the world "DIETCOK".

I'll let you make the associations.

Slate has an interesting article about how pharmaceutical companies make their drugs look like they are more effective than they are. I read this a couple of weeks ago, but I hunted it down this morning after trying to explain what I'd read to Matt. Anyone taking medication really should read it, if just to be aware of how the effectiveness of a medicine is measured.

I take two medicines, but neither is for preventative measures. But it did make me think about how I've been treated by doctors. Overwhelmingly I think I've had samples thrown at me and asked to come back if the condition didn't improve or if it got worse. Now, I understand that to some degree. The body heals itself and in a lot of cases time is the only thing that's going to make someone feel better (cold, flu, infection, inflamation, torn or sprained muscles, etc.)

But at the same time a lot of times I feel like doctors don't really want to take the time to get to know the patient and what's causing the problem. It's difficult to diagnose a problem from the babbling of a person who you don't know. But when I know there's something wrong with me, whether it's something treatable or just getting older, then it's frustrating to be dismissed. A lot of doctors project an aura that they know everything and the patient is exaggerating and not being truthful. It's irritating.

I have seen good doctors before, so this is by no means a blanket statement, but you have to wade through an awful lot of uncaring doctors to find those who actually listen and try.

Last Tuesday the house was listed and Saturday I finally got the remaining items we had in the basement. The house is empty, clean, and about as good as it's ever going to look without a bigger investment of money than I want to put into it. It only took, oh, about 8 months.

The apartment is getting into decent shape too. Almost everything that we're not using has been moved down to the basement. There's about 3-5 more boxes I need to go through and I need to clean up/organize my desk.

I just got this from my agent:

"I just talked to Eric.
He told me everything is good except the Neighbors.
They don't like the neighbors park their boat on their back yard."



Yeah, well I don't either. I suggest they put up a privacy fence if they really are interested in the house. This same "neighbor" complained to me about the leaks in his basement as he allowed trees to grow in his gutters. It's true, they were seedlings, but they were easily recognizable as maples.

He went on and on about how he wanted the house taken car of because it was "mom's house" and then rented it out to people that didn't mow the lawn and left trash in the yard. They've been better the past couple of years and really, the house next door looks better than it has since six months after I moved in (when they tore down the garage and moved everything that was stuffed into it into the back yard).

Ugh. I really hate hypocrites. Even more than I hate neighbors that bring down property values.

*growl*

*tear hair out*

*breathe deeply*

*sigh*

*cry*

That's about how my day is going.

For some reason I really like taking pictures of clouds. Last night we had what is probably going to be one of our last thunderstorms of the season, so I grabbed my camera and took some pictures before it got too dark.

The mix of dark clouds and sometimes blue sky was interesting, but I think the first picture I took of what would have been the sunset turned out the best.

I'm feeling a bit ill today. It started as a little ill - enough of an excuse to work from home today. But now it's more like headachey and nauseous. I know, I know, my whining makes great blogging!

I'm reading Shadowmarch currently and I'm enjoying it, but it's a bit hard to stay involved. It's the first book in a series and there's a lot of background development going on and I'm not sure where the story is going to go. The characters are interesting, I'm just wondering how they're going to develop and whether they're going to be complex enough.

I'm also still reading Galapagos, The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre, and Year of Wonders, but I've put them aside while I read Shadowmarch.

I'm feeling a bit blah at the moment in general. I'm not sure why. But, I did reach my ex-coworker and he is going to sell our house. We still have the details to work out, but hopefully by the end of this week it will be listed. Wish me luck!

My team (they're not really *my* team, but let's call them that for simplicity sake) just finished working out a technical issue and now three migrations can be completed. Let's say, "hurray!" Ok, I feel a strange sense of euphoria over it. This particular issue has been a roadblock for about three weeks now.

But I'm frustrated still in a strange way with all the remaining work. And I need to call the realtor. I better do that now before I forget (i.e. avoid it). I was going to call him before 2:00, but I had a conference call that ran 3 hours. I was going to call him yesterday, but I figured being a Sunday he might be busy. I was going to call on Saturday, but I decided it was my day off and I didn't want to be bothered. Are you noticing a trend here?

I've been tagged by book lust.


1) You have been selected as the next super hero in your city. What power will you choose to have?

The power to manipulate time

2) Lemon or Lime?

Lemon

3) How many speeding tickets have you recieved?

Only one before I moved here.. since then 3. :/

4) It’s last call for alcohol what will you order?

Sangria

5) Which video game character would you want to be?

Too many of the video games I play have sad endings. That makes it tough. Maybe Carla Valenti from Indigo Prophecy, but of the scores of characters I've created myself in games I'd choose Lucretia from EQ.

6) What event do you think has had the most effect on this country?

The Revolutionary War

7) What was the street name you lived on the majority of your childhood?

Binford Court

8) The name of your first pet?

Tippy, she was a tabby cat with white at the tip of her tail. I didn't name her. :P Junior was the first cat that was mine and not a family pet.

9) Your first grade teacher’s last name?

I can't remember. I remember what she looked like. I even remember running into her years later. It was something similar to Miss Vonfrange. This is going to bug me all day now.

10) What color are your current undergarments?

That's a bit personal. Blue.

In return (thanks for reminding me), I'm tagging encephalophone, Kraven, Jantis, and ƒåυνέ.

I'm back from Atlanta! I'm so happy to be home. I did enjoy the con, but it was a lot busier than I expected it to be. But I have pictures and stories, though I imagine I'll just share the pictures.

So here we go...

There were a lot of really good costumes at the con. People would stand around in the hotel lobbies and wait for their pictures to be taken. Seemed odd to me, but whatever floats your boat.


I think this is one of the soldiers from Aliens. There was an entire troupe of them. They had their own booth in the Marriott.


There weren't very many medieval costumes and perhaps this was more classical than medieval.


Comic characters abounded. Here's a pretty decent batman and his brood.


Another batman with another sidekick.. er, villian.


I saw at least two Willie Wonkas. Both costumes were very good.


Confederates, oh my!


Knights were the most popular of the smallish medieval theme.


To Camelot!


Storm Troopers by far were one of the more popular costumes. There was an entire Sith contingent as well that I didn't get any pictures of. These could also be attemptes at Space Marines too, I guess. I'm a little unsure what the paint is for.


More Star Wars...


Was this guy from Star Wars? I don't remember for sure.


More Storm Troopers...


This outfit was fantastic and she was really sweet about letting me take her picture.


More comic characters.

Now we come to the hmm... how do I phrase this? The odd ones.


There were a ton of furries and furry want-to-bes at the con.


I'm not sure what this costume is supposed to be.

And then there's the mediocre; those costumes that are almost good except for something just isn't right.


Holy weight gain, Batman!


Umm.. I think I'm going wash my eyes.

And then there's just the people that are downright too brave.


It's not even the costume.. it's just the way that she's sitting that struck me as too much.


This one I didn't even realize I took (she was off to the side on a picture). The school girl outfit was popular (Harry Potter or otherwise), but she's a bit tall to be a school girl.

And because Cthulu trumps all:


I somehow managed to pick up con crud. By that I mean I have a head cold that's absolutely disgusting. No, I tried to avoid contact with anyone I didn't know, but there were just so many people and I didn't get much sleep many of the nights.

Off to hack and wheeze some more and hopefully pop some nyquil and sleep long after I get home tonight.