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Thursday, September 22nd, 2005
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10:34 pm
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I signed my life over to the county yesterday and will be working in a micro lab that's part of one of its waste water treatment plants. I was heartened by the fact that when I left the interview (which obviously went fabulously) there wasn't a single person left in any part of the lab. This is good. I find it amusing that the number of people I interview with grows every time. I'm up to four people. If I hadn't accepted the job, I was about to go on an interview with the entire department of a pharmaceutical company. (Long story.) Thanks Jeremy for getting me an interview, even though he doesn't even know I have an LJ, because I'm too lazy to tell anybody. And it may be too late anyhow. I'm waiting for a hundred person interview. ;)
Went to the colloquium. Hung out with a friend beforehand. The topics were about using membrane filtration for waste water treatment and about infectious diseases. The latter addressed the relationship between technology and i.d. May be able to work something out with work. Began to bring it up in interview, but you know how it is with 5 people talking. P.O. super cool about helping me work in the interview into my day. Let me leave early the day before (so I could get some sleep)and come in late the day of. My coworkers and bosses are very happy for me.
Coworker told me about cool new yarn. Must look into. Need to find time to knit.
Have to get in touch with v. cool friend. Wonder what she's up to. Been busy.
Mike, if you're out there, I lost your email address. Want to send you something. Could you send me an email so I can get it?
Had been considering working on an icon. I'm lazy. And I like just having a head. V. minimalistic. V. simple. So maybe not. Will see.
Going to watch Little House.
current mood:  drained
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| Thursday, September 8th, 2005
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11:18 am
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Just wanted to say that I hope Nicole and Natalie had a good plane flight. Hope your hostel is everything you wanted it to be. I'll be waiting for a report. :) I know it will be some time before you're both settled in and can let us all know how you are. I miss you both.
Yesterday I changed the message on the family answering machine, so that a)it'd actually be me giving the voice recording and b)it'd sound more professional. The old one had dogs barking in the background. I should have done this earlier. Any employer would probably think, "Geez, sounds like a crazy pet lady." Click. My mom was ok with this. She thought it was a good idea too. So I did something like 25 takes before I got just what I wanted. I now understand why you hear they do a gazillion takes for a dinky commercial. For something so short, it's awfully hard to get it just right. The problem I came up against is that I sound like I'm 12 and way too happy to actually want a job. I listened to this BOT that said to stand and look in a mirror whenever you speak to an employer on the phone. So I gave it a shot with the recording. After doing this I realized that how you say a word can project an entirely different sense of meaning. I didn't want to sound too happy, too boring, or too icy. Any bored person is welcome to listen to the recording and let me know what you think. Suggestions are welcome.
(Yes, I know there are way more productive things I could be doing with my time, but I didn't expect to get so picky.)Tomorrow I get to work on the printer/fax. I need to print more resumes to send out. I like getting hard copies to people, because there's a greater likelihood of them actually reading them. At SAL we'd get 200 applicants flooding my boss's email whenever a position opened,and I seriously doubt she read even a quarter of those. I think that probably helped me get the job, because I faxed my resume to them.
I attended the Thursday colloquium, while Jason studied in the library. He's very happy to be back in school, though it is a daily struggle because he's still in a recovery phase. After the colloquium we were going to see Jerry (of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream) speak, but he was feeling a bit sick and wanted to rest. He has his first quiz tomorrow and wanted to be ready for it. GOOD LUCK, SWEETS!
There were 2 speakers at the colloquium today. The first was the engineering professor I mentioned in the previous post. I liked how he targeted his speech to the general public and engineers. He first gave an overall description of the hydrologic cycle and how soil and groundwater becomes contaminated. He described where along the contamination route each player comes in, e.g. engineers, policy makers, toxicologists, and epidemiologists. Then he described the research he is working on to address the contamination of groundwater using dual-screened wells. The dual-screened wells essentially capture the contaminated groundwater and then allow for the right chemicals and nutrients to be shot to the contamination to treat it and allow for the flow to continue. The advantages of such a process are that the water can be treated without having to be brought above ground, it allows for a favorable flow pattern, and it works well with other clean-up techniques.
There is also research being done at USF using solvents to extract the contaminating chemicals in soil, using a process to extract the chemicals from the solvents, and finally destroying the contamination (as opposed to storing it, in which the container can be damaged).
The other speaker talked about solar toilets that are being used/tested in El Salvador. He began by describing the problem of intestinal parasitic infections worldwide, in which 3.5 billion people are affected, particularly in developing countries. Then he showed slides of some of the common parasites (e.g. Ascaris and Hookworms) and the problems they cause (e.g. brain cysts and seizures). Finally, he discussed the longitudinal study that is currently being undertaken to find out which sanitation system is best at eliminating the parasites. Part of the study was to find out how different temperatures and pHs affect how quickly the different categories of parasites are deactivated. The other part was to design the best toilet to accomplish those ideal temps and pHs. The study is still being worked on.
Sadly, there is no meeting next week. The "class", because this is an actual class for some people, has to attend an environmental research conference. It's the Florida Universities Summit on Environmental Research.
http://cee.eng.usf.edu/fuser/index/#
I'm going to try to attend. If I do, I'll post about it. The next speaker will address global perspectives on water and health.
Debbie, the very nice lab person I mentioned last post, had to meet friends for dinner and I had those ice cream plans with Jason, so next week we're going to do coffee and her presentation on her laptop. She did this presentation for a class and I wanted to see it, so she's going to bring it. She also described to me how a bioassay is done, since we didn't do those at SAL. My dad's lab doesn't either. He said that there's a lab that does only bioassays.
It's truly amazing how much a person can learn by communicating with others. I like to listen to people, because I learn so much, and I like to talk to people, so that they can learn from me- if they want to. It's the same with reading other people's posts. I also like the fact that I have friends who are interested in all kinds of things, so I get to learn a lot about a lot. I can't wait to hear all about Nicole's publishing studies classes and internship and Natalie's event coordination classes. So anyways, I hope to find more opportunities to get out and meet others. I'll keep my eyes open for any writing events, and maybe Sarah and I can go to them. (I'm STILL working on that short story. I swear I'm the world's slowest writer. Sometimes it comes in spurts and other times it just drags. I really only have something like 3 pages left to write, but I always have trouble with just finishing.)
My dad and I talked for a while about a bunch of things tonight. We talked about the names my brother and his wife have picked out. Tyler for a boy. Trinity for a girl. Jason and I want to do Michelle as the middle name for our girl. Interesting story. Jason's middle name is Michael, and that's the name passed down in his family. His dad's middle name is Michael and his sister's is Michelle. Mine's Michelle. So our child will get the name passed from both sides. I'm not really the biggest fan of passing down names (especially full names), but heck, if it's a good name, why not. I'm kind of partial to Michelle. Plus, there's a good story to go with it. I'm grateful my mom's middle name wasn't passed on to me. Gertrude. Uh yeah. Wendy Gertrude Creamer. My ears! They hurt! Her Catholic middle name is Ruth, which I like a lot. I was thinking about how you never really hear about females getting names passed down. It's almost always males. And then you get the extremes, like George Forman, in which the name gets passed to all of the kids. Then there's the last name, which women lose when they get married in our society. My dad has told me often that he always knew I'd be a girl and therefore didn't bother picking out a boy name when my mom was pregnant. I'll always be grateful that my parents picked out a decent name for me. Then I was born, in a PINK hospital no less, so I guess I was bound to be a girl.
I'm feeling LHOTP withdrawal. Must get to the library. Immediately.
current mood:  happy
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| Friday, September 2nd, 2005
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1:03 am
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I was just thinking about how I'm glad I went with my gut and left SAL. Yes, I would have gotten more experience if I had stayed. But what I really wanted was time away so that I could think about what I really wanted to do with my life, rather than letting Life do as it pleases to me. And I got what I wanted. I needed to think about the future and the time I've spent at the PO has given me that time. I got what I needed from the lab, which was a lot, and now it's time to get what I need from other sources out there. I would like to do lab work again, but at the time, I just needed to get away. Plus, there were those personal reasons too. I met someone who lost a 10 yr relationship over a lab job. It's sort of hard to work out problems when you're not even there in person to do it. It's a choice. And for me the price was just too high. I valued Jason over my job. A job won't be there for you if you're dying of cancer. Not that I'm dying of cancer. It's just an example. :)I work hard, but family comes first. Sometimes I wish I could devote myself only to work, but I need love. Now that it's all behind me, I'll be looking to the future. I'll be happy.
current mood: optimistic
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| Thursday, September 1st, 2005
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9:11 pm
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So today I went to the first meeting of the colloquium. I'm so very glad that I went. I was surprised by how many people were there, and I learned it was also a class for some people, which explained the huge turnout. The entire meeting was spent getting familiar with everybody and their interests. The professors introduced themselves first, then everyone else. It was a nice setup, because everyone had the opportunity to see who else in the room had shared interests.
The first person I met was someone working on his PhD in industrial engineering, but his topic was related to environmental studies. His professor showed up and was just the friendliest person. I have a soft spot for people who laugh. When the meeting ended, a professor (who will be speaking next week) came up to me, gave me his card with the names of people I could speak to written on the back, and chatted a bit with me. I had a really favorable impression of him too. He also could laugh freely. V. friendly. So he told me a bit about the civil and environmental engineering program and we talked about areas I'm interested in.
I then talked to a lady who was leaving at the same time as I was, and we ended up talking so much that we carried it to the Starbucks on campus. She treated me to a chai latte and I hope to treat her next week. It turns out she runs a lab in another county and we had a lot in common. She said she was glad that there was someone else with whom she could talk about lab matters and use all of those fun acronyms that lab life is filled with. She was really friendly, I had a great time talking with her.
It was a great evening, and I'm really looking forward to next week. Next week the professor who gave me his card will be the speaker. He'll be discussing cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater. That week another speaker, speaking from the health perspective, will be presenting "An Evaluation of the Performance and Microbial Safety of Solar Toilets in El Salvador". *sniggers 'cause I'm like 5 y.o.*
current mood: excited
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1:06 am
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It's so nice to have the house all to myself! As soon as I dropped my parents off at the airport I moved into their bedroom. Ah, the bed! I luxuriously bathed in their bathtub and used all of my mother's fancy bath stuff. mmmm. My skin has never looked fresher! I pulled out every one of her gazillion perfumes. I have four and thought it'd be nice to have a change of scent. So each day I wear a different perfume. When I wake up in the morning there are no dogs barking or running around- they're in the kennel. :) No TV. It's fabulous. I have to say, I really do appreciate my parents allowing me to impose on them for so long. Their home, which is perfectly suited for 2, is now over-run with 2 more people, two more cats, and all my crap. But it is nice to have some alone time. I hope I will be able to give them back their much-deserved freedom from the kids soon. My parents are really the best people. The 4 cats are having a ball during all of this. They can roam about free from the dogs. And the cats have all been pampered to pieces. This week has been a much needed unwinding period, so I can prepare to charge back into the hectic world of adulthood with more vigor.
Today I finished Sea Swept, a Nora Robert's book Sarah lent me. It was great! That doesn't surprise me, because my friends have the best taste in romance novels. I already put in a hold request for the other 2 books of the trilogy.
I applied to 2 more job positions today.
current mood: rejuvenated
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| Sunday, August 28th, 2005
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2:10 am
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So the world works in mysterious ways. Just the other day I was lamenting (to Nicole as well as myself- a lot to myself)that I had gotten my 2nd degree in Spanish instead of something a bit more on the practical side, or rather more useful to my career choice, like say, Geography. So today some IDIOT pulled a hit and run on the minivan that was driving in front of me. After he hit the car he swerved around, off of a side road, and ran right into traffic- nearly hitting me too! I'm really, really surprised there wasn't more damage done with the way he was driving. I stopped to serve as witness, and the wife didn't seem to say much. (Poor woman, she was 2 weeks from her due date. AND they had a small child in the minivan. That guy could have really screwed things up.)She explained that she didn't speak much English. She was originally from Cuba, then lived in Miami (aka Little Cuba) for 2 years and then moved to Tampa. The husband spoke English pretty well. Considering we stood around for a very long time until a cop came, I think it made things more comfortable for her. Yes, I was rusty, but managed. I haven't had to use Spanish in long time, so it sort of reminded me why it's a good thing I learned it. I can communicate with people. I like people and I like that I can help in emergencies (like calling the police for them) and I can show my understanding in a more personal way. I just need to remember that. I liked the family and they had a good sense of humor considering what they just went through. I only feared that the woman would go into labor at any moment. I hope the person who ran is caught. Nobody got his license plate number, but his rear bumper fell off and...had his last name written right across it. There are a lot of people with the last name Hernandez, but that's at least a pretty good clue. That guy needs to pay for what he did. I get so angry when people pull ish like that.
Although the accident was a bad thing, there was one other positive thing that came out of it. That morning I had received some bad news and that's when I went out. I guess it also reminded me that although I have a lot on my shoulders right now, other people have problems too. I'm not the only one in the world with them. And I know this, but it sometimes takes the outside world to remind me of it. It's easy to get caught up in oneself.
In about an hour and a half I'll be taking my parents to the airport. They are going to visit my brother in Colorado. I'm sending the scarf with them. I really wanted my friends to see it, but there will be others. The dogs are already in the kennel. What peace and quiet reigns in this home now! It'll be just Jason, the cats, and me. It's almost like a vacation for us too.
I went with Jason to USF to get his parking pass. He signed up for 2 of his classes and is waiting for the other 2 to open up.
current mood: calm
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| Thursday, August 25th, 2005
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11:00 pm
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So JD, a friend of mine for many years, took a month-long trip to Europe. He sent me a link to his photos and the shots they got were great! It looks like he had a lot of fun. I was thinking about the trip Allison, he, and I took to Islands of Adventure some years back. What fun we had! And how we found such a great deal on a hotel for just showing up someplace! Hopefully I'll get my European Grand Adventure soon! It'll come after my Crazy Life In Florida Grand Adventure.
I love my cat's confidence. I'm talking about Jazz. Boy, she does exactly as she likes. A while back I started taking my cats to the garage so that they could explore while I watch Little House episodes. Some days we'll play, some days just relax. The second day of this she just walks right through enemy territory (the living room, where the dogs often room around- she HATES dogs) right up to the garage door and waits for me to open it. I had to carry JJ, because he stood still halfway to the garage door and the dogs began to realize what was going on. Now, I come home and she walks ME to the garage door and waits for me to open it, whether I plan to watch LH or not. And then yesterday Twinkie, my parents' cat, came into my room and gave JJ a nose kiss. V. cute. Jazz just hissed at him from her perch. Also, I woke up one morning this week and she was sitting on me. I petted her and tried to fall back asleep. She wouldn't let me. She wanted some loving, and she wanted it just then. All that morning everywhere I went she followed me. I sat down 8 times and she sat on my lap 8 times. She's definitely queen bee. But she gives as much as she takes. That's for certain. She is the most loyal cat I could ask for. And she has the sweetest temperament and gives a helluva purr session.
current mood: calm
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| Wednesday, August 24th, 2005
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1:38 am
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I came home to a pack of 9 Ferrero Rochers today, which happens to be the beginning of my, um, yah. So coincidence? I think not. Perfect boyfriend. I think so.
Well, we got our bed today. Hooray! It's a long story, but we've been bedless. So Jason's parents bought us one. V. nice of them. Turns out my brother has the same problem. I joked with my dad about this growing national problem. Sound: Doo-do-do-do, Doo-do-do-do. Visuals: Footage of empty bedrooms. Zooming in on one empty room in the Tampa Bay area. Enter deep-voiced newsman. "America has not seen a problem like it since the Depression Era. It's not people drowning out their sorrows in alcohol or the failing crops of small-town farmers. It's much more insidious. And it may be creeping into your home. More and more Americans are each day becoming bedless. National sleep expert, Dr. Weisshouse, calls it Bedlam."
Dr. Weisshouse on Bedlam. "It's symptoms include the inability to wake up in the morning, with the prescribed drug COFFEE gradually becoming ineffective as a countermeasure, and willingness to engage in violent acts. The violence often begins with yelling and progresses to throwing your alarm clock across the room."
Newman: "More on this growing American problem at 10."
At 10. "More on this growing American problem at 11." Blah, blah, blah. Generalizations. Bad stats.
At 11. "More on this growing American problem at 12." Blah, blah, blah. More generalizations. More bad stats.
So today I was "keying" the mail and felt as though I had been deprived a whole body of knowledge. I came across someone's Whole Foods magazine. WTF? I have been an avid reader of Prepared Foods for a whole 5 months and all that time the beginning of the story has been missing from my life! What are prepared foods (besides a bunch of preservatives) without whole foods? Nothing, I tell you. NOTHING!
For all of my friends who are on the edge of their beds (because 86.2% of people do have them) waiting to find out what, just what, I plan to do with my hair, here is the answer: nothing. Someone at work complimented me on my hair the other day, so of course I can't change it now. (Though I did do a little trim.) I have to say that her opinion counts for a lot, since she has seen it at every length it's been and likes it at this length. Then get this! Someone at work thought I was 23! How elated I became. I've been slightly dreading turning 27, but looking forward to turning 50 (retirement, very low-cost schooling, guys more or less leave you alone, discounts, etc.). But knowing that you'll be 27 and look 23 colors the picture much more nicely. I can just pretend I'm going to turn 23, which fits in nicely with the 22nd b-day I had last year.
So I was very excited to open my email today and see a message about an interdisciplinary colloquium series that will be held at USF on Thursdays. It's going to have speakers from the environmental science and policy program, the environmental engineering program, and the public health program. Seeing as I have Thursdays off and don't have a new job yet, I think I shall attend as many as I can. I think it would be a good opportunity to meet more people interested in the things I'm interested in. Plus, since I'm considering Env. Engineering, talking with an engineer might be a good idea. (He's 2nd in the series.) According to What Color is Your Parachute? it is one. Of course, that's just common sense. I have to make plans to speak with someone in the College about all the details still. I think my parachute is a reddish-orange one with light blue trim.
current mood: chipper
current music: me munching on the Ferreros Jason bought me.
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| Saturday, August 20th, 2005
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12:21 am
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Well, I'm a little down because I missed getting to hang out with all of my friends. :( What a busy day it's been! Ugh! The first half was spent at Jason's orientation. I thought that the College of Business Administration (COBA) did a pretty good job with their presentation.
We visited Jason's parents and sister. His sister celebrated her birthday today and is leaving for PA tomorrow to return to school. The good news (fingers crossed) is that we may get her bed.
And right now, I'm taking a break from digging through the Environmental Yellow Pages looking for companies that may hire me. One problem is that for every 1 company that has a fully-functioning and thorough web page, there are 10 that don't. Then there are the other 10 that don't actually have offices in Tampa, but serve Tampa. So I'm on company #80 right now. I have something like 5 solid places to look into. Another problem is my lack of experience. 1 1/2 yrs is difficult to work with, but I suppose that since I once had to work with 0 yrs experience, well, it could be worse. I only wish, as I lamented to Jason today, that people knew what working in the inorganics dept of an environmental lab is like; they'd hire me in a heartbeat. Unfortunately for me in my DEP interview, no one did. Same with IB, since I'm ranting. If people knew what suffering IB was, again, they'd hire me in a heartbeat. They'd read me as a masochist bent on killing herself by working. What kills me is that since IB was high school (even though it was yr 1 of college too), my resume-helper lady strongly encouraged me to leave it off my resume. So I have. And since no one in America even KNOWS what it is, it was all for naught anyways. I REALLY wish (bangs head on desk) that I had quit working at the PO during college and started internships then. Hindsight is 20/20. I guess one thing it shows is that I can be really, really committed if I want to be. Anyhow, I won't give up. It may take a while.
The encouraging news is that there seem to be plenty of jobs in hydrology and environmental engineering, so when I one day, waaayyy in the future, get my degree (should I follow that path, and I do need to talk to an adviser sometime soon so I can plan), I might actually get a job.
Admittedly, I haven't looked all that hard lately, due to the many, many, many pain in the ass things going on in my life, but I plan to now. It will have to be slow, though, because unfortunately job-hunting=money and time. There are the resumes, then the folders, envelopes, stamps, and thank-you notes. And I'm fairly broke right now. Jason's starting school will help, because he'll then have medical insurance. Doc bills don't come cheap.
Speaking of doc bills, Jason does not have hyperthyroidism- $200 later. I suppose it could be stress (he has been pretty stressed lately), and maybe he has an ulcer. The nurse practitioner recommended that he see a gastroenterologist, but we'll probably wait until a)he has insurance and b)see how things go just a bit longer. In a week he'll also have access to the clinic at USF, and maybe they can direct us in what needs to be done. It could be something simple as likely as something complex. The whole narrowing out conditions sucks. I know Natalie feels me on this one. They FINALLY got at what she has, after so many months of diagnosing her with all those other things.
I did come across a company's page that had a pretty good description of why we need our wetlands and thought I'd post it for everyone. Like our health, we can take our wetlands for granted. So take a look and pass it on. http://merymanenvironmental.com/wetlands.htm
I think that this is the kind of info most Floridians don't know and probably should.
Well, I'm going to search out 5 more companies, work on my short story, and hit the rack.
current mood:  annoyed
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| Wednesday, August 10th, 2005
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3:14 am
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So I promised something for my writer friends and here it is. It's from the Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery, Vol. 1: 1889-1910. (A journal within a journal.)It's from Friday, Aug. 16, 1907. She begins her entry telling how her manuscript had been accepted by the L.C. Page Co. of Boston and after the part I copied here goes on to tell how many companies had rejected her MS (which is an entertaining part of the entry, but would take a bit of time for me to type out). I just copied the creation bit. So here it is:
All my life it has been my aim to write a book- a "real live" book. Of late years I have been thinking of it seriously but somehow it seemed such a big task I hadn't the courage to begin it. I have always hated beginning a story. When I get the first paragraph written I feel as though it were half done. To begin a book therefore seemed a quite enormous undertaking. Besides, I did not see just how I could get time for it. I could not afford to take time from my regular work to write it.
I have always kept a notebook in which I jotted down, as they occurred to me, ideas for plots, incidents, character and descriptions. Two years ago in the spring of 1905 I was looking over this notebook in search of some suitable idea for a short serial I wanted to write for a certain Sunday School paper and I found a faded entry, written ten years before: -"Elderly couple apply to orphan asylum for a boy. By mistake a girl is sent them." I thought this would do. I began to block out chapters, devise incidents and "brood up" my heroine. Somehow or other she seemed very real to me and took possession of me to an unusual extent. Her personality appealed to me and I thought it rather a shame to waste her on an ephemeral little serial. Then the thought came,"Write a book about her. You have the central idea and character. All you have to do is to spread it out over enough chapters to amount to a book."
The result of this was "Anne of Green Gables".
I began the actual writing of it one evening in May and wrote most of it in the evenings after my regular work was done, through that summer and autumn, finishing it, I think, sometime in January 1906. It was a labor of love. Nothing I have ever written gave me so much pleasure to write. I cast "moral" and "Sunday School" ideals to the winds and made my "Anne" a real human girl. Many of my own childhood experiences and dreams were worked up into its chapters. Cavendish scenery supplied the background and Lover's Lane figures very prominently. There is plenty of incident in it but after all it must stand of fall by "Anne". She is the book.
***
Whew! Good thing I type for a living. ;) I really like that entry, and it in fact makes the Anne of Green Gables series even more wonderful for me. And of all the (gazillions) of books I've checked out from the library, this one is the most meaningful to me. If I could choose one book to bring with me if I were stranded on a deserted island this one would be it. I always thought it would be a dictionary, but now I know, know, that it would be this journal. Never have I felt so close to another person. Never have I felt that there could be someone who understood me. But she would, if she were alive. All that time and all that distance, and yet...Well, needless to say, I think if anyone in the world were crazy enough to want to get at my insides, then this journal would be a quick shot there. She is me, of course with the exception of some of the more ordinary life details. But in feeling, yes. I suppose the only real difference in that regard is that she always knew she wanted to be a writer, whereas I always wanted to be a scientist, up until college, and then I had no clue as to what career I wanted. It really freaks me when she writes things that sound an awful lot like things I've thought. I only wish this journal were still in print. *sigh* I have a feeling that once I have money to spare from the doctors, I'll be scouring Ebay until I find it. The following two volumes are also out of print, I believe. And the fourth was just printed. I plan to get all those from the library as well. I really am worried about her...
So I wanted to give my writer friends that excerpt. I thought it very inspiring for those who either have written a book and can identify with her sentiments or those who dream of writing a book. The other parts of that entry are great for those about to send out a manuscript or planning to send one, as well as those who may have faced some rejections. Never give up if you have faith in your creation!
***
I sent off my resume today. *crosses fingers* Of course, it took me forever to find it. I set it aside specifically for the purpose of getting to it, but look how that turned out. I'm just not used to sharing an office space. I'm just glad I have one at all though. I had my old setup, and it's difficult to get used to a new one. I just hope that I can also remain at the Postal Service. When I was with SAL it was impossible, but maybe it won't be so with the new job. I want to stay at least through Christmas in order to earn a little extra money. It really hurts though, because Jason wants me home with him because he gets lonely, but working is the only way I feel like I'm actually taking steps to solve some problems. The doc bills are up the wazoo. I try as often as I can to spend time with him when I'm not working. I want to be there for him, but I want to have the money to help his problems get addressed. Also, working is like alone time for me. It's a chance to rejuvenate and prepare for handling all of the things I must do when I'm not working. I really don't want to work two jobs, but by working as much as I can while we stay with my parents it's giving us the chance at a fresh start once he's better. I can envision us in our new, happy little castle (which some people prefer to call apartment). Then I'll just have one nice and steady job, with lots of fun friend and family activities to fill the rest of my hours. I have so many friends I'd like to spend more time with, but they understand, and it'll happen soon. Now I just need to send my resume out much more often! (Note to self: Send out resume to people this THURS and FRI)
I imagine that I'll be writing in this journal much less frequently, since I need to devote more time to the Hunt, as well as to the ever-growing list of medical woes. I will try to drop a line or two when I can.
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| Monday, August 8th, 2005
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3:21 am
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So this started out as a comment to skylark97's post, but because it was too long I had to put it here. So here it is.
I was thinking about Texas the other day. Never been, but have seen and heard so much about it that I really don't ever want to go there. (Cheering outside of prisons when people are put to death. Uh. Morbid.) The reason I was thinking about the state in the first place:
'In the 1920s, while barring the teaching of foreign languages, Texas governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson picked up a Bible and famously declared, "If English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it's good enough for Texas.'
This was in my A Word A Day newsletter. You can see the rest at
www.wordsmith.org/words/gadarene.html
That's scary to me. I can understand a person not knowing about the semitic origins of the alphabet and its spread by Phoenician sailors or the role of the Norman Conquest in shaping Modern English, but to actually believe Jesus spoke English!
As far as evolution goes. It's been proved a thousand times over; there are aspects of it, however, that are still debatable. Darwin's theory wasn't at all helped along at the time, because Lord Kelvin famously calculated the age of the Earth (before anyone knew about radioactive elements) to a number that would not allow for the time needed for the number of changes to take place. And of course Darwin didn't happen to read Mendel's work. So those two things unsettled critics and Darwin himself: time and a mechanism for transferring traits. He did figure those details would get worked out in time. Now the actual origin of species and why it happened at all...that's heavy stuff. That's getting metaphysical. That's the kind of stuff that gave me headaches in high school and college. Seriously. I have no clue, and I don't want to have a clue, because, well, the headaches. There is far more evidence to support the idea that we evolved from a very long line (bushes, whatever) of species, rather than, poof, appearing in one day completely made. I don't buy that at all, but can handle people taking those sorts of Biblical stories as, well, stories- separate from science. Genesis created all kinds of problems for evolution, since if you carry the concept of evolution to its full conclusion you get something that doesn't quite resemble Adam or Eve. If that book had been left out, Christians might have filled that part in with the idea that God created single-celled organisms, which miraculously led to the creation of humans. (To me, that is a much more amazing story than just appearing out of nowhere. I mean. Think! These tiny organisms changed THAT MUCH. And we still have them with us- as parts within cellular parts. How amazing is that!) If you're interested in the stickies of evolution, I would recommend the following:
Frogs, Flies, and Dandelions: The Making of Species by Menno Schilthuizen (a very, very good book)
and the lecture series by Chandak Sengoopta,
Darwin, Darwinism, and the Modern World
And sort of related...
The English Passengers is a very entertaining bit of fiction that pits a fanatic cleric against a fanatic phrenologist. It shows them both in their arrogance and faulty reasoning.
In an ideal educational system it would be great if students could discuss the relationship between the ideas of religion and science, how one impacts the other, but unfortunately there are too many nuts (e.g. Dr. Y, my former teacher) who try to push their specific religious views down others' throats, as ckdutchess points out. But it is interesting to look at how different belief systems reacted to the introduction of evolutionary thought.
During the 1800s many clerics were amateur scientists, as were many scientists (amateurs, that is), who believed that by learning more about nature they became closer to understanding God. That doesn't mean they all, or even the majority, accepted evolution, of course. Evolution wasn't/isn't a problem for all Christians. Just the nutty ones. Like the guy I met in the park who told me humans were angles who were born in caves. He didn't care too much when I pointed out fossil evidence and apes. People really have a difficult time with being related to apes. I'm quite proud of the fact. As for fossil evidence, people seem to forget that fossils are organic and at Nature's mercy. If people don't care, I don't press the issue; I don't care enough. People are prideful, and you can't win through anger and denigration- most of the time. The only real ways to gain a convert is either through kindly suggestion or good example. If that doesn't work, the next step is a waste of time. If anything, it hardens the other person's position. And then, continuing with the religious strain of this paragraph, there is Hinduism, for example, with its quick acceptance of evolutionary thought because it closely resembled Hindu concepts of life. My future children will learn about these things from me, but I'd never expect it to be taught in school. Too contentious. And then there's the separation of church and state, which I wholeheartedly back. People have the right to think what they want in their own homes, but it should stay out of schools. In fact, many of the founding fathers wanted the separation to protect religion. They didn't want the state interfering with religion- dictating what is and isn't acceptable.
This is sort of tangential, but I frequent a Christian thrift store. They don't bother me and I don't bother them, so we get along beautifully. We stick to our common ground, which is the children. We all care about the homeless children that their ministry houses. It doesn't bother me that they don't believe in evolution or that one member thinks the Dominican Republic is in Africa. They take care of abandoned kids and give them love, food, and shelter. For me, personally, love is above and beyond all the intellectual arguments. Yes, the kids might be raised with a slight intellectual disadvantage, but that is far preferential than homelessness and starvation. My two best friends in middle school were, well, not exactly geniuses (one was actually mentally and emotionally handicapped), but they loved me for who I was and accepted me (and all my nerdiness) without complaint, which is far more than any of the honors students did. I guess that just puts things in perspective.
I'm off to watch Little House on the Prairie, play with my cats, and pump some iron.
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| Sunday, August 7th, 2005
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3:53 am
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So Jason and I were on the couch today watching baseball, and he was attempting to play the Wendycord. I am apparently an instrument. My ribs sound like a harp and my buttocks kinda like a clown's horn. Hmmm. It was all rather ticklish. So around the corner comes the icecream truck, and Jason stops making sounds and continues to play me. I say, "So that is what I sound like when all the parts are played together." He replies, "Yup," and then asks me if I know the song. I say that I do not. He says it's the kookaburra song and starts singing it.
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be
and so on...
Then I realized he was right. It WAS the kookaburra song. I wonder if it has always been and I never noticed it. Those Minnesotans and their folk music.
So I am ready to talk about it. Mybrothergotmarriedlastweek. He'sleavingforIraqinOctober. Andhiswifeishavingababy. There. I said it. (If you put all the pieces together you get the bigger picture.) This sort of thing seems to be somewhat common with younger siblings. I have one friend whose younger sister almost married someone she'd known for 4 months. My other friend also has a younger sister who got into what can only be termed, to cover the greatest number of events, trouble, and they still don't talk. Sarah, you are a rare exception. And you therefore have earned an honorary position with the elder siblings.
I do want to congratulate him and wish him the best in his many new endeavors. My parents are leaving at the end of the month to visit him and his new wife/expectant mother before he leaves for Iraq. If I was worried the entire time he was over there the last time, then I will soon be a nervous wreck, since I will also have a nephew to worry about. I guess now my parents don't have to wait for me to have kids, because let's face it, I know how to take my time doing things. My mother is very content with her role as grandmother, because she loves to spoil kids. Can't say I blame her. I always kinda hoped I wouldn't grow up to be broke, as I have, because I really wanted to be the "fun" aunt who takes her nieces and nephews places and buys them "cool" gifts. I guess there's time yet- though I'm behind on 3 as it is and on my last sibling. I may have to get used to a new role as the "frugal" aunt.
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| Friday, August 5th, 2005
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4:50 pm
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Yesterday I helped Tina with her moving. Her fiance said I was a professional packer. I feel flattered. :) Of course, after all the packing I did for my last move, I feel as though I have all the tricks down. Packing is sooo much work, and I'm glad I could be there to give them a hand. Her new house is beautiful! It has lovely arches in the hallways and (always the best part) a nice big bathroom. It's a three bedroom, with one on the smaller side to be used for a study, or in Roy's case, a room for his sports stuff. They're situated right beside a large lake. It was nice to see Tina again and just to get out of the house.
Now, on top of everything else, Jason may also have a hyperactive thyroid and needs to get $200 worth of tests done for it. :( On a brighter note, his Hemoglobin A1C came out at 6%, right in range, so that means his blood sugar levels are being fairly tightly controlled. The H A1C is a test that gives the 3 month average of glucose levels, as opposed to the daily pricks, where you just get your levels at those points in time. It might be then the thyroid causing some of his other ailments. He'll have to get the TSH and the Thyroxine (T-4), free, tests done then. I'd just like to point out that the labs that do the tests (Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp) have probably THE most disorganized system for getting information. I'd rank Quest's web page as the best in setup, with LabCorp's being fair. As for phone service, Quest's is impossible and LabCorp slightly less so. It's just more work than it should be. They should put their prices online and have a better set of options when you call.
Today is my 8 year anniversary with Jason. I bought him a card last night and wrote him a note telling him how much I love him and how wonderful he is. I even drew pictures, old school style (i.e. stick figures- one with us now, one in 64 yrs when we'll be old and our whole bodies will be a wrinkle and I'll have an old lady hairdo, and one when we'll be angles in Heaven, complete with halos). I wouldn't have wanted to spend those 8 yrs in any other way.
I'm officially back on the job search. Oh how fun. I'm going to go through an agency, as well as searching on my own. I told the lady how much I expect to make, and she said the request was reasonable. The agency has mostly technical jobs, but I'm not going to be picky. Even if I end up back in the lab, I'll just have to do what I have to do. Plus, maybe I'll like another lab better. And maybe I'll get to do some different type of lab work, rather than wet chem. I DID enjoy the work I did, it was just rather stressful. I really don't want another stressful job, especially now, because I have all this stuff going on and my plan to stay with the Postal Service on a 4 or 6 hour night shift.
I just went to get something out of my purse, and I found MORE paperwork behind it. I just spent 1 hour today going through paperwork and making calls and thought I was finally done. Ugh.
current mood:  accomplished
current music: none, thank God
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| Thursday, August 4th, 2005
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12:46 am
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Well, today I broke my week-long chocolate fast. I was just a bit stressed and figured it was my "Friday" and therefore acceptable. Chocolate tastes so very good when you haven't had it in a week. I wouldn't even know how to begin to describe this week. I'm not even sure I should try. I guess I'll save it for when we all get together.
On firmer footing, I forgot to tell everyone that I finally finished that scarf I was working on. It's so beautiful and the colors perfectly complement my facial features. I admit it! I want to keep it! But I promised it to my brother. Oh well. There will be others. It was very nice of Mrs. Lowary to give me the yarn I used for it. The colors are nice and earthy. I might even have enough left to make a hat. I need to start another project soon, so I can get all of the skills and practice I'll need to make everyone's Harry Potter scarves. I really miss my knitting pals and think I'll have to visit them soon.
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| Sunday, July 31st, 2005
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2:38 am
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So Nicole and I hung out on Friday. I had some books to return to the library and others to pick up, so she was going to go with me. She had very nice gifts for me when I got to her place. One was a book for Jason about diabetes. I looked through it the other day and it has some really helpful information in it and, what I like best, some easy recipes. I don't mind giving complicated recipes a go, but I prefer simple recipes. There was a recipe for bran muffins that sounded pretty yummy.
The other gift was a pirate comedy book titled Pirates! In an adventure with Scientists and is by Gideon Defoe. It's hilarious! Basically, it's about some pirates who pretend to be scientists in order to help Darwin bring attention to his famous discovery- not of evolution, but of the Man-panzee. Here are some bits from when they go into the Royal Society Gentlemen's Club.
There were several famous scientists present, some sitting around smoking, some engaged in
animated discussion about the latest scientific topic, and some just watching the dancing girls.
...but the Pirate Captain soon found himself involved in a particularly awkward conversation about
molecules, so he was relieved when FitzRoy interrupted him before it got to the stage where he had
to say if he was for or against them.
'Surely, as a man of science, you'd use a Bunsen burner?'
'Did I say matches? Yes, I meant Bunsen burner. It's been a long day.' The Pirate Captain shrugged
apologetically.
Thank you for the gift, Nicole. I'll have to bring it to you the next time I see you so that you can read it. At least it's short, so you can squeeze it in before you leave.
We had a great time at the library too! For any cool people who may be reading this post, just give the library a chance! I love going to the library with other people who love books. A lot of people think that library is spelled B-O-R-I-N-G. I love being with people who think it's about the most exciting place you can go to. Just think how many adventure are there. And Nicole and I explored a few of them. We looked at biographies (I'll have to check out that Georgiana one...), travel books, and writing guides. We both have a wide variety of interests, which makes for interesting browsing. I love learning from people, and since Nicole is a history student she had tidbits to add. Plus, I like to see what other people choose to read and how they relate to different books and what web they've built with their interests.
That night I also watched 3 episodes of Little House on the Prairie, finishing off Season 3. I LOVE LH! It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. The last 2 episodes were about the family going on a gold rush. I love how Ma tries to teach school in the church tent to the backdrop sounds of gunfire and shouts. There are a lot of "serious" episodes- and nearly every character has had a near-death experience. I like those, but I enjoy the more light-hearted ones just as much. It really depends on my mood. I started Season 4 last night, and judging from the back of the DVD case, I have a lot to look forward to.
Afterward, I read more of the first volume of L.M. Montgomery's journal. She wrote the Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series. If you haven't read them you must! I've been in love with them since I was a child, and the first book I ever cried over was in the AOGG series. And my first hero was Gilbert Blithe. I think in some ways that was my first experience with love and formed part of my foundation for loving. Her way of including nature in her writing has always made her books and stories very beautiful to me. One of the things I like best about her journal is that she had real problems I can relate to and advice that I find useful. She wasn't a ruler or magnate with concerns like whether to invade Germany or invest another million in some endeavor. Maud was ambitious, imaginative, and intelligent. Her concerns are about how to achieve her dream of becoming a writer, how to turn away a lover when she is ever so tempted, how to tell her fiance she can't marry him, and how to find money for school. She discusses her headaches, stupid kids she teaches, idiotic people around her, the deaths of loved ones, and her love of nature. She is so real; you feel as though she's talking to you. This is one reason I love autobiographical works and literature in general. You have the chance to learn from someone else. Her concerns from 100 years ago are ones I can relate to today.
So other stuff...
Jason is now on Paxil. *fingers crossed* It seems to be working so far, but so did Lexapro until it went flat. I went with Jason to his appt. and this time sat in with him. I had never been in a psychiatrist's office before. It was very calm and comfy. His psychiatrist is really good. He knows his stuff. (Jason asks a lot of questions, a thing I like about him.) Jason signed the papers to give me the ability to discuss problems with his doctor, since we had times when his medication stopped working and he wasn't even able to call. He had specifically been having more panic attacks and lots of dizziness. He was on Cymbalta, which did help with the leg pains, which is why his doc prescribed it, but it obviously didn't work for him for his core issue. He's about to quit smoking, which should help the pain significantly. We bought some Nicorette, but when we got home we noticed a part that said to consult your doc if you have diabetes. So I called his doc's office and left a message. I should hear something Monday, and he can start then. They're very good about calling back.
And Poor Natalie! I wish you didn't have so many troubles right before your move. I know it doesn't help any with the stress. Money, insurance, visits, eating restrictions...I know all of that makes things tough. I'm keeping you in my prayers and hoping you won't have to have surgery. But if you do have to wait a year to leave, don't despair! You're still very young and have years and years ahead of you. I'll be here and we can hang out, so you won't be alone. But I'm still putting all my prayer juice to the idea of a miracle. I'm aiming high. (There's a trace of my old high school logic here: Aim higher than you plan and the result will be just somewhat lower, which for you would mean a few pills will clear it all up. I was also a bit superstitious, so let's see if I can find that lucky bear claw. Bit moldy, but it'll do.)
current mood: calm
current music: Mix 100.7
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| Tuesday, April 12th, 2005
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1:05 am
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I'm having that blah day that Nicole had yesterday. Maybe I caught your blah virus, Nicole. (Actually, that couldn't be it, because this virus returns every month. Hooray for me.) I've been just all sorts of tired and weepy today. And all I really want to do is sleep, but I CAN'T! It's not my bedtime yet. I won't be tired enough to fall asleep for at least another hour. All I did was stare up at the ceiling for 20 mins. when I tried.
Just got back from the kitchen. Needed a bowl of cocoa krispies. Chocolate goes a long way toward solving all problems and getting a person out of the doldrums...If I were president my health care agenda would include furthering the recognition of the healing properties of chocolate.
Maybe I'm doing too much. Too much cooking. Too much cleaning. Too much taking care of things. I tried relaxing by going down to the pool today, but all I got after 10 mins in the calming sunshine was lost when the hedge trimmer guy came around. He thoughtfully started on the other side of the pool, but eventually he'd have to get the ones behind me. I decided to save him the trouble of asking me to move and just called it a day.
A romance novel might help me feel better, but it won't help me fall asleep. So it won't work. Plus, I'm still a little annoyed with the novel I listened to today. WHY must the heroine decide that because the man she is madly in love with will destroy his own life to be with her, she must prevent such an outcome by MARRYING someone she doesn't love so that it will deter him? The other problem was that the impossibility of the situation was churned so many times I'm surprised that the ending wasn't butter. I don't need to know a hundred times that their situation is absolutely hopeless, which of course, it wasn't. It wasn't a bad book, just not great. It did serve it's function; It helped pass time at work.
If you're looking for great fiction try The Story of Lucy Gault and The English Passengers. I absolutely LOVED both of them. I'm looking forward to reading Whale Song: A Pictorial History of Whaling and Hawai'i, Ahab's Trade: The Saga of South Seas Whaling, and Empires of the Plain: Henry Rawlinson and the Lost Languages of Babylon. That's a good indication of my non-fiction interests. Of course, since only my friends read this page, as far as I know, then you already know this. So many books, so little time. And I still have some of yours, Nicole, that I want to read. Also, I also can't wait to take a look at the papers you have for me.
I plan to get the Harry Potter books on tape so that I can have time to read my other books and still get in a good review of the HP story before the next book comes out. I need to remember to get that day and the day after off of work (in order to read it). Pathetic? Yes. Worth it? Enthusiastic Hell yes!
Speaking of HP...It's funny Nicole mentioned PoA in her LJ, because I started watching it yesterday. (I now have the beginning of the movie to add to my collection of pieces of PoA. I really would be the only person to catch only the middle of a movie in a theater.) Jason wanted to watch another movie, so I stopped watching it. I agree fully with Nicole's analysis. Great on mood. Bad on important plot points.
BTW, good news. The APWU is now offering health and dental plans. It really sucked losing my insurance when I left SAL, but this alone tips the scale making the PO the much better deal. Less gas. Less of a commute. Better pay. Great boss. No weekend work. Less excessive overtime. A break every hour, when I could barely get enough time to use the restroom at my old job. All in all, I'm happy about my choice. Yes, I miss the challenge and excitement of environmental lab work, but it just got to be too much on me. The stress was incredible and I never got to see Jason, my friends, my family, or my cats. I love being able to actually say yes when people ask me to do something with them. I have experience now and am ready to move on, which I will do once I sort my life out.
I'm really proud of the way all of my friends are being so proactive with their dreams. In a few short months Sarah and Nicole will be off to London. Natalie will be there or nearby soon after. Nicole V. will tare up LA. Sarah will show you the billboard you'll be on. It's in one of the LA photos. Ryan and Michele are just about done with law school. Will's getting all sorts of extra training in NBC warfare. Tina and Jeremy found great jobs in pharmaceutical companies. Me? Gonna be stuck her for at least two more years. :( Well, I won't think about it. It'll just make me sad again.
I'm finally tired and a lot less depressed. I should be able to sleep soundly then. I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday.
current mood:  blah
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| Monday, December 27th, 2004
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10:14 pm
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So the instrument I was using today sprung a leak. The tiny tube just popped and water sprayed all over. All over my samples that is. UGH! So I had to set everything up again. And... It just sucks.
I'm going to read now...and finish making tea. Those two things make me very happy.
I want to wish Rachel a very safe trip tomorrow!
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| Sunday, December 12th, 2004
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1:38 pm
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I just got back from work. (And the crowd boos!) Yes, I work weekends, as everyone in my life knows. No, I don't enjoy that fact. So today was especially painful. I was exhausted from staying up too late. Oh, and I had this fabulous headache- one of those you wake up with in the morning. It's packed it's bags and is currently moving in, since I still have it. I feel the furniture being pushed into place up there.
The grogginess and headache are worth the fun I had yesterday. After I trained my coworker on the weekend work (and it's great to have company on the weekends)we went out to eat, and MY GOD I stuffed myself. I started with an entire (about medium-sized) pizza, and then I had a side salad (with nuts and blue cheese), a loaf of bread (we had the waitress bring us two), and a half a cheese cake (the other half went to Melissa). I was one helluva lunch. We went to the Macaroni Grill on BBD. The waitress was great too. She kept my strawberry teas coming- all five of them. It was one of those really satisfying lunches. Thanks for the gift certificate, Mom. Moving was difficult, let alone driving, for the following few hours. But fear not! For all those concerned over my health and safety read on.
So then Melissa and I went back to my apartment to get my car so that I could follow her to her house. From her house we drove to Kendra's house in NPR. Kendra has a tangerine, a grapefruit, and a lemon tree. She gave me a bag of mixed fruit, because I told her how much I love citrus fruit. The three of us then went to Countryside Mall. We met up with Dana and hit the ice. Ice skating was so much fun. I've only skated twice in my life. As a very little kid I skated, and I went again as a teenager. The skating part wasn't hard at all, but stopping was a bit tricky. I was determined to learn how to stop, and by stop I mean stop without using the rail. Often my attempts to stop would turn into little twirls, which I attribute to my obstinate right foot. I did get some nice stops in, but I fell twice along the way. So I have iceburn on my palms from the first time. The second time wasn't so bad. I have no problem with falling. And I know that one day I'll be great at skating and stopping. My lunch was worked off.
Afterward we walked around the mall. It was so funny to watch Kendra carry four stuffed animals around when we were in the Disney Store. One was a giant and very fluffy Eeyore. It was heartbreaking to see her look of dejection as she walked out empty-handed. (Eeyore's hugs come at a price: $40).
On Friday I went to Petsmart to get JJ a new mouse. The Eckerd I usually go to to for them is closed, because it's being turned into a CVS, so I thought I'd check out Petsmart's mouse selection. No, not the real mice, though they would probably really keep JJ entertained, but just imagine the cleanup. I also was just really in the mood to wander around Petsmart. They didn't have the mice JJ likes. I ended up buying JJ and Jazz a mixed pack of tiny mice, a giant white mouse, Kitty Tooth Wipes TM, and a bag of treats. JJ loved the white mouse. He tossed it around some when I gave it to him. I have no idea where he hid it though. Neither of them liked the treats, so I'm going to see if my parents' cats might like them. JJ and Jazz are very picky about their treats. There is only one brand they like. I thought I'd just TRY and see if they'd like another kind, but they don't. But that's ok.
JJ just pounced my chair to get at one of the little gray mice I got him. At this very moment he is tossing the mouse around. Now he is talking to me. And back to the mouse. I found Jazz's favorite toys while I was cleaning Friday night. They were under the oven, along with a lot of other very dusty stuff. I cleaned off her toys though. I found her multi-colored striped ball (a very pretty and bouncy ball) and her foil ball. She has a few foil balls. She LOVES those. There were foil fish at Petmart that I will probably return for. Jazz is such a good cat and deserves to be spoiled. When I get home every night she's there to greet me, and every morning she sees me off. I'm thankful to have her.
I don't think I can ask for much more in life; I have a great boyfriend, great cats, great parents, a great brother, great friends, good health, and a career I enjoy.
My head feels much better, so I think I'm going to read. Nicole, I hope you're doing all right with your Dad gone. If you ever need to talk I'm there. I hope your finals went well. Sarah, did you get you application stuff done? I talked to a friend of Jason's who lives in London and told her I'd be visiting and would try to see her when I go to visit you. I'll give you both a call soon. Take care everyone!
current mood: relaxed
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| Monday, November 1st, 2004
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8:05 pm - Splitsville, Voting, and Halloween
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Well, I've gone and done it. Yes, yes, I hear the gasps of surprise. And see the wide-eyed looks of shock. At least I can envision all of this in my mind. I've actually created an entry. Not a very long entry, but an entry. (I do have rather pressing things to do tonight. Like laundry! Hooray for beer! I mean laundry.)
So I'm sitting down to my favorite tea, cookies, and a newspaper. Quiz time! A bottle of my favorite tea for the first person who can name it.* Yes, sounds like a great way to unwind when you're in your late 20s, but I still have that laundry. UGH!
I enjoyed giving the little ones candy on Halloween. It is one of my favorite things to do. I was so disappointed last year, because very few kids came. The really little ones just kill me. They forget to open their bags. It's so very cute.
So I met this girl from Canada when I went out with some coworkers last Thursday. I'm still a little disappointed that we didn't get to hang out more. She was pretty cool. Every Canadian I've ever met or talked to on IRC is, so that just leaves me with one thing to do...visit Canada. I sort of envision it as Heaven. It was just too bad that it was a work night, so I couldn't stay out really late. (I would have, but my coworkers weren't up for staying out later.)We were down in Channelside at Splitsville. Channelside was as dead as a doornail, but I still had fun. And I really liked Splitsville. We didn't actually do any bowling, and I was kind of looking forward to it and dressed for it. I wouldn't mind going back to actually bowl. So if anyone is up for it, just let me know. I love bowling. And I really like the way the lanes were split up, with sort of pockets in the place. There's a bar and pool table. Good dance music. It makes for a cozy environment.
And a benefit of voting... A great tan. Yes, I've found something new to help with voter turnout. (Not that it seems to be as much of a problem around here anymore.) Have lawn chairs and lotion around, and damn we're set. I spent 3 hours, yes 3, waiting in line to vote on Saturday morning. My dad, at that very same moment on the other side of town, was also waiting (4 hours) in line to vote. He had a very similar experience. Granted, as I assured the man behind me in line, I have an active enough imagination to kill a few hours.
So the guy behind me in line and I talked. I like people. It was interesting. You know that conversation when you've each realized where the other stands on certain issues, so you spend a little time doing traffic control and redirecting the conversation. I had that conversation. I think it took him a little longer to get me (3 tries), since the father and brother in the military thing throws people off. So he tried getting into the liberal media thing. Steer. Then liberal profs at USF. Steer. But we managed to find common ground, and I think that was the important outcome of our almost 3 hour long conversation. I learned a little about the police force, psychology, and hostage negotiation. And he learned, I hope, a little about the environmental field. We also figured out what gun I'm entitled to (five years gets me a rather small gat) when I go postal. Everyone there alongside me on that hot and muggy Saturday was in good spirits, and it was nice to see everyone out there to represent. It ended with me getting a sunburn and then a fabulous tan.
I make light of these things, but I really take them very seriously or I wouldn't stand around baking for three hours. I pass by one of the libraries that has early voting on my way to work and HOLY SHIT it was packed today. There were cars lined up for a block on either side. And when I left work? It was 8PM and there STILL were cars lined up for a block on either side.
I went back to the library on Sunday and checked out 3 movies. I watched 2 yesterday. The first movie I watched was the first volume of Ken Burns's Baseball series. The series kicks ass. (I've listened to it on the TV radio before.) I don't even watch baseball and I think it's the best historical series I've seen. He did an amazing job bringing to life all of the strange and crazy characters who've made baseball what it is.
I then watched Summertime, with Katherine Hepburn and some Italian guy. It was a pretty good movie. Not much on plot and pretty predictable, but it captured the relaxed atmosphere of Italy. Basically, I was ready to hop on a plane to Italy. The movie brought back memories of Venice, and it was neat that the director caught on to and portrayed some of the little things that make up the first visit by a tourist to such a different place. Like the boat-bus, for example. And the cops on water. I chose that movie over Schindler's List, because I really wasn't in the mood for anything depressing. Tonight I'm going to watch SL or Lawrence of Arabia. Jason says both are great movies, so feel pretty good about whichever one I pick. I am probably the only person in the US who hasn't seen Schindler's List. I guess people have noticed that I've mentioned more than 3 movies. Jason checked some out too.
How was your Saturday class, Nicole? How's da boot, Sarah? I can't wait until you don't have to wear one and we can celebrate. Celebrate without alcohol, of course. We really make a pair. :) Oh, and thank you for the gifts, Rachel. I really like the washcloths.
*This offer is restricted to people living in the United States. This offer is also restricted to close friends of w0rdplait. Shipping and handling not included. I'll just drive on over.
current mood: content
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