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.