Happy Holidays

Hello Everyone!

Hope all those who celebrated had a wonderful Christmas. Also, happy Hanukah and Kwanzaa to everyone right now. I'd add in a happy Winter Solstice/Yule for the Pagans, but that I'd be pretty late on that.

I had a great time with MomTook and the sisters. I saw Poopsalot, who is an absolute delight and getting huger every day. I received much needed bedding, an iron, a set of canisters, a meat temperature fork (for the New Years Atkins plan), a shirt, a keychain, an iPod dock and neoprene cover (Babysis was in horrors when she found out mine was "naked"), and a Guinness glass. Everyone seemed to like my gifts, which is the true joy of gift exchanges after a certain age. MomTook stuffed us all and sent us home with food. Of course.

So now I'm home and on a vacation of doing nothing. It's wonderful and a good way to prepare for the New Year. That and, you know, not lose my vacation days.

Leaving on a Greyhound

Well, I didn't finish everything I wanted to, but I'm packed and ready to head Due North for Christmas. Some laundry, a couple work items, and I'm out of here. I wish anyone reading this a very happy holiday.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Aside from working like a dog all week, I was paged FOUR times last night, including once when I had just gotten downtown to finish up my Christmas shopping. I was in the middle of looking for a certain item for Dugan when my pager went off, which meant calling in, trekking all the way BACK to Quincy, working the problem, and trekking back INTO Boston.

I did manage to finish everything up, except that one item for Laura, which I had to give up on temporarily because unlike the other stuff I had to buy, I'm not sure where I'm going to find it.

Anyway, I have a kajillion things to do between today and when I leave for the North at 1:00 tomorrow. However, after that, it's a week off for me. Hooray!

Random Thought for the Day

I learned last night that heated car seats are very distracting to me, to say the least. An automobile should not be warming my loins for me.

No Creative Title Today

Last night's holiday party was an absolute blast. The company rented out the Museum of Science. The entrance to the hall was lined by waitstaff holding platters of glasses of wine. There was live music - harpsichord and violin. I also got to see former coworkers I haven't seen in months.

Ended up not having time to go to the doctor's today, but my ear is better. Unfortunately my toe is looking a bit worse instead of better despite the antibiotics, so it's back to the doctor at 5. lucky me.

LUSCIOUS!!

*dies laughing*

My favorite evil wizard has been profiled by Forbes. Bravo for the perfectly straight tone kept by the writer throughout the article.

http://www.forbes.com/2005/12/01/potter-malfoy-wealth_cx_de_05fict15_1201malfoyprofile.html

Thanks to Mer for posting this.

Medical Mayhaps

I haven't had to go to a doctor in over six months, but am now making up for it with a vengeance.

My toe was itching, swollen and red on Friday, so I went to the doctors when I woke up Saturday and it was even worse. After an hour of waiting, I found out that I had managed to get an infection. The doctor said that it was a good thing I came in because it was starting to spread and would have been a lot worse if I had waited even till Sunday. Antibiotics four times a day and no Tae Kwon Do for me.

Unfortunately I was stupid enough to not mention my month-long earache (because I was so annoyed about waiting for so long and my toe was THROBBING) and I woke up this morning with my ear hurting bad enough to make me eye my cat's Tresaderm drops. Guess I'll be calling AGAIN today. At least they can check my foot while I'm there. Sigh.

On a bright note, there's a company holiday party tonight. At the Museum of Science. How cool is that? I'm tempted to dress up since I live in jeans, working from home.

Dusting off the Blog

Sorry for the...gulp...two month absence. It's been a crazy fall, is all I can say. I'm not even going to try to cover everything that's happened.

Anyway, saw "King Kong" today with StarWarsGeek. Most excellent indeed. I was saddened to learn that Peter Jackson is now taking a (much deserved) year break as I am anxious to find out what his next project is going to be.

Also stumbled upon this, which is playing on television right now: Dracula 3000, starring Coolio and Casper Van Diem. Oh Sci-Fi Channel, how I love your staggeringly bad movies with even more staggeringly bad "stars."

(Best quote from IMDB regarding this film: "This is, by far, the single biggest waste of hours you could otherwise spend contemplating the importance of dish towels and their effect on your life." )

All Things Korean

I finally got my black belt yesterday. It's still hard to believe. It's a good thing that the belt has my name embroidered on it, else I'd be tempted to give it back saying, "This can't be mine!" I should have pictures soon - I didn't bring a camera, but some of the other people did and I should be getting copies.

I was looking forward to breaking the belt in today, but I was on the phone from 3-6 a.m. because the firewalls in Korea went down for the second time this week. I CANNOT wait till they are upgraded. I am SO TIRED right now. Thank GOD I'm no longer on call.

Spam Sucks

I have enabled word verification for comments in this blog. I didn't want to do it because I hate those stupid wavy letters too, but after getting two spam comments minutes after publishing my last post I decided it was time.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but blame the stupid spammers.

Fun, Excitement and Frustration

Fun:

I went up north this weekend with VeggieSis. Thanks to traffic and bad weather (and the fact that VeggieSis drives like a 75-year-old despite being 22), it took six hours to get to MomTook's house. The hike was called off because it was pouring rain all weekend, so we went to Lake Placid instead. (Dragging CrazySis away from her house and PoopsaLot, who should be renamed GrowsaLot.) We did some shopping, and I went a little crazy at the Gap Outlet.

Excitement:

I got a call from the TKD studio on Thursday. The Black Belt ceremony is TONIGHT! Woohoo! I still can't believe I'm actually a black belt now.

Frustration:

Ummm...*LOL* Now I can't remember what I was going to put under here. It definitely includes trying to plan my damn trip to Spain to visit KornGirl. (Very difficult since we only communicate over e-mail and there's the six hour time difference.)

These Are the People in Your Neighborhood

I haven't mentioned this, but a major shout-out needs to go to Neighbors 2.0 . They've been here for slightly over a month now and it's wonderful to have normal adult human beings as neighbors. I now officially love my place (Despite a dream last night that I was the only person in the building who did).

Also, I found out from one of the maintenance guys that they will eventually be converting the building to condos like its sister building on the other side of the parking lot. I walked by a realtor's office the other day and saw that I could afford a top-floor two bedroom apartment in the other building. Hopefully this means I will be able to purchase my current place which, although a corner apartment, is one bedroom and only on the fourth floor.

It's My Party

Thanks to everyone who's wished me a happy birthday. I'm blown over by the amount of e-mails, e-cards and in one case a very strange voicemail with a certain insane acquaintance singing "Happy Birthday" in Pig Latin.

Since it's a Wednesday, I don't really have any special plans. I DID go to the dentist today because of a really sore spot on my gums which turned out to be nothing. The hygenist thinks I got a popcorn kernel stuck in my gum and it went in deep and irritated it.

I had a birthday dinner last weekend with Caitism and SalemGirl and although was supposed to go up North to go hiking with MomTook, VeggieSis and BabySis this weekend and celebrate my birthday, it's been pushed off to the weekend of the ninth, but I shall still be celebrating with the family (for the first time in at least ten years) then.

Random Thought

I was flipping through the channels, stopped on Sci-Fi for one of their wonderfully cheesy movies and realized:

Corbin Bernsen is the poor man's Sam Neil.

Sorry you couldn't afford the real thing, Sci-Fi.

The Physical Toll of TKD

Warning: this is not for the easily squeamish.



Well, I've known for a while that practicing Tae Kwon Do so much had caused pretty thick calluses to develop on my feet to the point where I could probably walk over hot coals without feeling it.

I bought a callus/corn remover the other day to take care of at least some of it. Well, I just used it for the first time and took off (and I wish I were exaggerating) a total of a ping-pong ball sized clump of dead skin. The scariest part? I still have plenty of callus left.

Shut Up, Romney!

Shut.

Up.

Romney.

Attempting to block access to the day after pill, suggesting WIRETAPPING MOSQUES and indirectly INSULTING THE GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA AND MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS as WEAK LEADERS. And that's just in the past 24 hours, people.

To all Massholes: I apologize for voting for this fucktard. I have no idea what the hell I was thinking.

To all Americans: This asshole is a strong GOP candidate for the next Presidential election. Keep your eye on him.

*Yaaaaaaawn*

Well, yesterday was pretty Monday-ish.

It started with tripping over one of my cats' scratching posts. My little toe caught on the base and was ripped in the wrong direction. It was bad enough that I still have it taped, but I can move it (albeit painfully) and it's not turning colors, so it's just a really bad sprain.

I was having my business line installed so I spent the whole morning frantically picking up my apartment so it was at least decent for the telephone guy. The window was from 8-12, which, four hours? Shut UP, Verizon! 12:00 and still no one had showed up, so I called Verizon, which has one of those INFURIATING voice-response menus. If you're going to force me to deal with a computer, at least don't make me TALK TO IT.

Anyway, the telephone guy claimed he couldn't get in touch with me, which, it was an additional line so HOW BOUT CALLING MY EXISTING LINE, CHIEF? Even the customer service woman, was all, "I don't know what his problem was." Luckily, they got out a guy who knew what he was doing by 1:30 and in a jiffy he had the wiring done. Additionally, he split the jack so that it has two jacks, one for each line.

I headed to Best Buy before going to TKD to pick up a business phone and a keyboard, but only had a little luck. It seems that both Best Buy and Staples only carry wireless keyboards now, which - NOT. I simply wanted a USB keyboard with a USB port in it for my mouse. I will have to search online for it. I did at least get a phone. It will be awesome - mute button and speakerphone - no more holding the phone to my head during those long meetings. It also takes two lines, so with the split jack I now can answer both lines from the same phone. SWEET! I just need to buy longer phone cords so that the phone can actually sit on my new desk. (More on that in a separate entry.)

So after that, I get to TKD and have absolutely NO energy. UsedCarSalesMan and several black belts told me I did well at the test and I didn't get pulled aside for any criticism, which is a good sign. (Either that or they're giving me a break before tearing into me. *G*) It was wierd - I hadn't realized how much the test had taken out of me until I tried to work out. I survived Advanced class, although it wasn't my finest performance by far.

So that was Monday. At least now my apartment is clean for the first time since Momtook and I redid the bedroom.

My Mother the Designer

In my neverending attempts at catching up in this blog...

MomTook came down over Labor Day weekend to help me redesign my bedroom. She arrived late Friday night with all her supplies. We woke up early Saturday morning raring to go. First we needed fuel though, so we tried out the diner down the street. I have to give it my wholehearted stamp of approval.

We did the first coat of paint and then went down to the fabric district in Boston. A whole bunch of walking around later, we had AMAZING duvet cover fabric, fabric for two throw pillows and new knobs for the nightstand.

We ordered Chinese food and painted the second wall coat and all the furniture. We stopped at eleven and were up again at 6:30 Sunday morning.

MomTook did all the sewing while I put final coats on all the furniture and assembled the chair I bought for the reading nook.

And now, what all the sweat and tears brought:

Before:



And after:




Does my mother rock or what?

Time Keeps on Slippin'

Wow...I can't believe I haven't updated since 9/1. My bad. Of course, last I checked Laura hadn't updated since early AUGUST, so at least I'm not the WORST. ;-)

Yesterday was my black belt test. I got up at 7:30, thinking I had to wash my good uniform. Turns out my good uniform was actually the ONLY clean one (I have four) and had simply fallen into the very back of my closet from when MomTook came down last weekend and we redecorated the bedroom. Anyway, I had three loads of laundry done by 9 in the morning.

I left for the dojang at ten, wanting to get there an hour before the test. There were a LOT of people testing (32) and the air was electric with tension. Although a lot of people were already there when I arrived, I'm very glad I didn't get there any earlier. I was a bit "overstretched" by the time the test started as it was.

There is a tradition of the black belt test being held behind curtains and kept secret, so I won't go into details about the actual test, but I was very glad when it was finally over with. I think I did fairly well. The few little mistakes I made were due to nerves rather than forgetting or not knowing anything. The test actually wasn't that long. I was so relieved and full of adrenaline at the end that my hands were literally shaking.

We all went for a celebratory dinner at Chef Changs after. (We always go there since the owner attends TKD and gives us a big discount.) Pretty much everyone had a nice 22 oz Sapporo to take the edge off.

In a way, the whole thing was very anticlimatic because what happens next is that those who need to improve things will be pulled aside and told so and after they have fixed whatever they need to the black belt ceremony will be held for everyone. One of the blackbelts said it usually takes about a month or so, so it looks like I WON'T get it for my birthday. Ah well.

So it looks like the bid for black belt continues. I really hope I don't get pulled aside, mainly because I like to think I did well. Plus, I have many aches and pains from training so hard and my body is screaming for some time off.

O Frabjuous Day!

...I know, not an original title, but it's how I feel.

1.) It's September 1st, the official kickoff to my favorite time of year, Autumn. (Yes, I know it's not actually the Autumnal Equinox, but still...SEPTEMBER.)

2.) The Evil Neighbors are moving out as we speak. I bumped into one of the guys yesterday and he mentioned he's moving to Dorchester. How...appropriate for a pot-smoking partier. There's an adult lady helping out (the other dozen or so people are in their early twenties), making me wonder if she's a parent and if so, if she knows how much her kid(s) party.)

3.) I actually got a good (if not filled with REALLY bizarre dreams) night's sleep after having awful insomnia the night before.

Now if the normally quiet upstairs neighbor(s) can NOT spend the entire evening talking and yelling loudly on their balcony like they did last night, life will be VERY good. (From 4:30-10 or so, folks, but at least it booted my ass out to Tae Kwon Do when I was thinking about not going.)

(Of course it doesn't matter if they do tonight since I am having a good-bye dinner with Korngirl, who is being a BITCH and LEAVING ME for a semester abroad in SPAIN. *sniff* At least I'll get to visit her. Hooray for Madrid!)

Ovaries for Sale!

Seriously.

I HATE PMS. I'm tired, bloated, craving all kinds of food and my boobs hurt.

*places lock on refrigerator and puts on her sweatpants*

I Love E-Bay

Thanks to PCJM's blog entry about childhook lunchboxes on e-Bay, I managed to find mine. At least, I'm pretty sure this is the one I had. (Hey, I was five and it was 23 years ago. Gimme a break.

If MomTook had the link to this blog she could either confirm or correct me. Because woman? Has a memory like an elephant.

And hey - this was decades before Jessica Simpson tainted this fine show, so don't judge.

(Edited to correct the link. Thanks, Dr. House.)

My Life Rocks Sometimes

Once in a very great while, something totally cool happens.

I had just finished a rather poor round of Ultimate Fighting with KoreanSweetie (who always kicks my ass) at Tae Kwon Do and was watching the guys spar when the Stones started practicing in Fenway Park for their Sunday concert. There is NOTHING like watching some fighting while Mick and the guys sing "Start Me Up" live.

This was followed by actually catching the Braintree train just as it arrived. (As opposed to the twenty minutes I usually end up waiting.)

For one brief hour, my life rocked.

More Like Celtic ASSHOLE

Celtic Tiger? Celtic Tiger?

Shut UP, Michael Flatley.

Although..."Lard of the Dance?" Hee!

My Hard Work Has Paid Off...

As you know, I've been working my ass off and going crazy because I was told a couple months ago that I was a "maybe" for testing in September. (As opposed to waiting for the next test, which wouldn't be until December.)

After three hours of Tae Kwon Do last night, UsedCarSalesman pulled me aside and asked, "Has anyone spoken to you about the Black Belt Test?" I took a deep breath and said, "About whether I'm testing or not? No."

He then proceeds to kill me by saying, "Actually, let me double-check" and conferring with Grasshopper, Grandmaster's right-hand man. It was probably only twenty seconds, if that, while they conferred, but it felt like an ETERNITY.

Finally UsedCarSalesman turns back to me and says, "You must have been doing something right, because you're testing in September." I wanted to retort, "It's called killing myself busting my ass in here every damn night" but wisely restrained myself.

I told KoreanSweetie and PerfectJumper after I found out. Unfortunately TeenageAdult was right behind me when I told PerfectJumper (which I didn't realize). I felt really bad because she's also been working towards testing in September but hasn't heard anything.

So it looks like I'll be spending more time in the dojang than ever.

Weekend Update

Boy did the weekend fly by. I usually have absolutely nothing to do during the weekends. (I know...a hot chick like me home on a Saturday night...amazing!) This weekend, however, was relatively busy for me.

Friday night was spent at TKD, as usual. I was there until I was kicked out at closing. Forms went well - my fellow red belts said that my Choo Mu and Hwa Rang forms had really improved from last week. Full-Range Sparring was okay. I really have to learn how to get in close enough to taller opponents so I can wreak havoc.

Saturday I went to the pharmacy, then got a call from StarWarsGeek confirming that he was coming over to check out the new digs after I got back from TKD. I started frantically picking up and went to TKD for a vast majority of the afternoon. It was a Black Belt Test Review, where I was once again reprimanded about my lack of power. We were also told to talk to UsedCarSalesman at the front desk, who would either recommend us for testing in September or not. The Grandmaster would then review the list of recommendations and then decide who would test. (This is for those of us who are "maybes," not definite "yeses" like PerfectJumper.)

When I got home, I finished cleaning up the apartment and finally hung my framed "Starry Night" print in the dining area, where it looks Most Fantastic. I met StarWarsGeek at the T stop and we walked over to AppleBee's for dinner. I then showed him my new apartment, which he was impressed with. We hung out until about eleven, when he had to leave to catch the bus.

Sunday I met up with my old college roommates Caitism and SalemGirl. We had lunch in Fanueil Hall, braving the tourists. After that, we headed to Chinatown for the Chinatown Street Festival, which was pretty cool. Caitism commented that it looked like every Asian in Boston had come. (For reference, Caitism is Chinese.) We then did some bargain shopping in Macy's and Filenes, where I got a gorgeous shirt for $8.50.

I finally got home around 6:30, and before I knew it, it was Monday again.

On a final note, rest in peace, Peter Jennings. You will be missed.

Post to Laura

All right, Dugan. You say, and I quote, "The Yankees are way better than the Sox."

For the Jury:

Exhibit One:

Red Sox: 62-45
Yankees: 57-49

Exhibit Two (For the shallow crowd):

Red Sox:

Yankees:

I believe I have made my case.

Misc Friday Crap

1.) It is HOT outside. Not "average temperature but 145% humidity" hot like it was before, but a dry, "Well, now I've been self-cleaned" heat. I'm very happy it's going to be 70's and dry tomorrow.

2.) The nosering situation has been fixed. I went back to my regular piercer, confessed infidelity and he put in a ring. Much more noticable, but much better for healing. I also talked to the tattoo artist there about me Dali shoulder tat. I'll bring the book with the picture so he can draw it up when I go to buy a new stud in a month or so. It's funny - I originally thought that no one cared that I had the nose piercing. Now I'm finding out they just didn't notice the little stud.

3.) I am SORE, y'all. Aside from the usual TKD training, I started weightlifting again to build up my power. I used to bench 70 pounds but now am using little 15 pound dumbells. It's amazing how quickly you lose muscle strength. No wonder I haven't had any power in my techniques!

Well, have a good weekend everyone!

The Worst Day of My Life

Well, the only good thing I can say about yesterday is that it's over.

1.) I had an early meeting with my boss, where she reviewed everything I needed to work on to get a good review. It was basically "Everything Pip sucks at" time. In and of itself not great, but not too big a deal until...

2.) I get to Tae Kwon Do and suck during the first class. The Grandmaster scrutinizing me doesn't help. Second class, forms, there are only four of us, so the Grandmaster can really pay attention to everyone. After PerfectJumper, a fellow red belt, critisizes my jumping sidekick, the Grandmaster then critisizes my stances. At the end Perfect Jumper then criticizes another technique. I leave almost in tears feeling like I'm never going to be a black belt. Definite different feeling than I was getting from everyone the past couple weeks. I've been killing myself to get ready for the September test and I don't think I could do it for another three months.

3.) It's bedtime. After the Parade of Things Pip Is Doing Wrong, I'm cleaning my new nose piercing with Bactine, the last thing I do before going to bed, and thinking, "Thank god the day is over. Now nothing else can go..." and boom. The Q-tip gets caught and my stud comes out. I try to get it back in to no avail. Luckily I can get a regular (and completely straight instead of bent) ear stud in, but now have to go back to the piecer because a straight stud will come right out.

At least today is decent, thank God. And since today's my last day in the office I can just put a ring in the nose until it's healed. Not as dainty a look, but much easier to clean and no risk of falling out.

Badda BIG BOOOM!

(Points to anyone who gets that reference)

I was woken up a bit past midnight by the most intense thunderstorm I've ever experienced. This includes the ones I saw out in Tornado Alley when I lived in the midwest for a summer. The sky literally stayed lit up by constant lightening for almost an hour. Some of the strikes were VERY close by the sound of it. Amazingly, I did not lose power at all.

Yet Another Piercing

Well, I did it. I finally got my nose pierced. It was actually tougher than when I had my tragus re-pierced through scar tissue, which surprised me. The piercer said I had the toughest nose he's encountered in twenty years of piercing. He really had to push to get the needle through.

I like it a lot, although I'm still getting used to the fact that I have a piercing on my FACE. I just hope it heals well. Because of work I had to go with a screw (stud) instead of the usual CBR (hoop), so it's harder to clean and has a bigger chance of falling out.

I still have antibacterial soap and bactine from my last piercing. Now I just need to stock up on those small round bandaids to keep it from flying out during Tae Kwon Do. (And maybe salt for saltwater soaks if it acts up.)

Next on my list? My tattoo of a melting pocket watch from Dali's "Persistance of Memory" melting down my shoulder onto my arm. (Which, considering the bonyness of my shoulder will suck mightily. Luckily this particular tattoo-to-be means so much to me that it will be worth it.)

Fuck You, Terrorists

Item 1: Fuck you, London Bombers. I hope that this was indeed a police sting as has been suggested and your asses go to jail. At least the one guy in the hospital.

Item 2: Work and Tae Kwon Do have been crazy busy, hence the lack of updates. Sorry!

Item 3: My Tae Kwon Do instructor actually seems to like me lately. He's very obvious in who his favorites are. I haven't quite made it to that list, but have seemed to make it off the dislike list. Even someone else mentioned it. I think it's because he can see how much I want this black belt. At least that's my guess. Eye of the Tiger, baby.

Glee!

The evil neighbors (who, in addition to the pot usage mentioned before, have parties with at least ten people nearly every night.) are moving out!!!

I received a call from the management, who first apologized for their behavior and said that other people have complained about them. She said that they were "encouraged" (Hee!) to not renew and will be moving out on 8/31.

As long as the Replacement Neighbors are more the standard for people who live here, I will stay until I find a place to buy, because I absolutely love it here.

GLEE!!!!

Addictive and Cool Program

Okay, Google Earth is the coolest thing. It's basically a satellite-image program that lets you zoom in on any location. You can also plot a "To" and "From" trip and it will show you what the ride looks like. It's not live images (all images are three years or less), but it is still lots of fun.

Best Marketing Department Evah

Okay, first the Glen commercial with Survivor, now the Hank commercial with the football song (I forget the actual name)? I hate cold coffee of any type, but will immediately have to start downing Doubleshot Expressos just on principle.

Here's your link, Starbucks. You've earned it.

Tyring to Post More Often

I've really been slacking in the blog department, but there's not really much new going on this past month. I'm still transitioning to working from home, I'm still training two hours a night for my Black Belt test and my neighbors are still obnoxious. It's amazing how much grownup life stays the same.

Just ordered some new t-shirts from Glarkware. (Soviet Russia and Chairman Meow.) I'd work at home nude instead of stocking up on t-shirts, but the cats keep laughing at my lack of fur.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Yesterday was absolutely beautiful, so I decided to walk over to the beach. Despite only being there for about 3 1/2 hours and wearing SPF 10 I managed to get myself a nice case of sun poisoning. Aside from sporting the "White bikini with red skin" look, I have nausea and chills. Much fun. The funny part is that I had to work from home today because aside from not feeling well, I couldn't figure out a work-appropriate outfit that didn't require a bra.

I spoke with management about the Evil Neighbors Next Door on Thursday. They said to call the concierge next time they're too loud or smoking pot. I was pissed at first but then realized that even if they WANT to kick these guys out, they can't evict without documented proof. Aside from a party on Saturday (Over by 1, so I let it go), they've been quiet, so we'll see what happens.

Happy Fourth!

Just spent the weekend in upstate New York. I took the bus up to Vermont and rode the rest of the way with VeggieSis. It was great visiting with MomTook and Geritol, not to mention CrazySis and Poopsalot.

MomTook, VeggieSis and I went hiking in the Adirondacks on Sunday. It ended up being about eight miles in total, up and down two peaks. Here's a pic of the impressive view.

Now I'm back in Quincy watching the Boston Pops on TV and some local fireworks I can see from my balcony. The Pops just finished, so the big fireworks show is up next. I envy my neighbors on the higher floors that will be able to see them.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Random Items

1.) Although it was inevitable, my manager is QUICKLY ramping down my days in the office. The past two weeks I've work from home two days a week. Next week it will be three, then four and in two weeks I will be working from home full-time. Living alone, I'm convinced I will turn into a hermit a la Sandra Bullock in The 'Net. On the other hand, that means I'll have Jeremy Northam stalking me. Yum. He can steal my identity any time. (Ironically enough, right after typing the above, my credit card company called me to verify my change of address and phone.)

2.) STILL can't paint the kitchen. Okay people - this meteorological impression of a crotch can STOP NOW.

3.) For those who are waiting (HI AUDITRIX!), updates to the new story will occur in the original entry, which can be found here.

Thank God For AC

To clarify, the pot smell on Friday night was coming through the front door. The front doors here don't have any weatherstripping so there's big gaps through which noise, smells, etc can come through. (Which is why it is the noisy neighbors across the hall who are now my mortal enemies. *G*)

Anyway, it's been high 90s and humid with heat indexes over 100 all weekend, so no TKD. (The studio isn't air-conditioning and this soup masquerading as air sets off my asthma.)

I went to the beach today. It's not the nicest beach (by FAR), but considering it's only a ten-minute walk away, I'm happy with "no crackpipes around." It's wonderful living so close to the ocean. I even have some color, which is wierd for me. (I'm usually pale white.)

Ending on a "High" Note

There was a recent survey that showed that Massachusetts has the highest incidence of pot usage in the country and I believe them. Why?

At my old place, the people in the apartment next to mine liked to toke and the smoke would come through the bathroom vent we shared.

Now tonight, my entire living area REEKS of pot.

Okay, people? I have no problem with pot. I only ask that those who choose to smoke their alcohol do so BY A WINDOW or ON THEIR BALCONY so that I don't have to SMELL that HORRIBLE STENCH.

Thank you for your consideration. *rolls eyes*

And...what was that? I shouldn't be home on a Friday night in a first place? Well, did YOU invite me to any cool parties? Yeah, didn't think so. So have a big ol' helping of Shut the Hell Up. *G*

Am I Ever Gonna Find Out?

n.b. For ease of reading, I will keep adding updates and corrections to this entry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silence Is Golden...

"Go on a date with me."

I am stunned. Gobsmacked, as I'm sure Chase would say, being British and everything. I agree, partially to get her back on my team and partially...something else.

Dinner, of course, does not go well. Once I realize that my "feelings" for Cameron aren't feelings of attraction but elation that someone, anyone is interested in me, my mouth goes off before my brain can stop it. My psuedo-psychologizing has the desired effect of stopping Cameron's ridiculous (not to mention career-ending) schoolgirl crush, but the horrified look on her face makes me wish for the gift of tact.

I may push most people away, but my relationship with Stacey and the subsequent nasty breakup proved that I enjoy having a ...shudder..."significant other" in my life and feel incomplete without it. Much to my intense and constant irritation. I like to pretend I'm fine being on my own, but it's like Simon and Garfunkel trying to bullshit the listener that they are a rock and an island. (Although the line "I touch no one and no one touches me" has certainly described the past five years.)

I suppose I could have told Cameron about how my last relationship ended, but I have a feeling that it would have had opposite of the intended effect. How can someone young enough to be my daughter be so damn maternal towards me?

...But I Think It's Gonna Kill Me Now.

There are some advantages to working in a building where every damn wall is glass. I can see Cameron and Stacey through the window of the lab. God knows what they're talking about - Cameron's probably asking some schmoopy questions about me. Five hundred bucks says she's asking about me before the infarction. I can see it in the expression on her face - that infuriating, exasperating yet somehow endearing look of concern she throws my way sometimes. Unfortunately half the time it's when I'm due for another Vicodin so I'm too distracted to think of a good retort. Stacey smirks a bit and says something, and this is where I really wish that lipreading was among my skills. At this, I start my retreat for my office, suddenly in the mood for some jazz.

Everything I've Seen...

John Henry's tortured trumpet soars in my ears, taking my mind off the pain - the pain of seeing Stacey again, the pain of stretching out my bad leg, forcing the bend out of it. I really wish I had shades on my office wall so I could block the view from the hall, but everytime I have them installed, they disappear by the end of the day. I settle for shutting my eyes and playing "If I can't see them, they can't see me." With my physical eyes closed, my mind's eye is free to roam and it goes straight to those days in the hospital. Trying to save my leg, despite the agony and the fact that I knew perfectly well I was most likely choosing death over life as a cripple. Finally breaking down from...well..."pain" doesn't seem to do justice to hitting a full on 10 on the pain scale while hooked up to a morphine drip, but it will do, and asking to be put in a coma. The sick feeling in my stomach when I first realized my leg had fresh bandages and wondering what the hell Stacey had done. Finding out exactly how much I had lost in mobility while still having enough neuralgia to have the surgeon utter the words "pain management." Vomiting the first time I saw my muscular thigh whittled down to half it's former size, a huge scar going across it.

Sorry for the Delay

Wow...has it been over a week already?

As mentioned in my last post, I'm getting used to my new routine with the commute and working from home two days a week. I've also started TKD up again. Was told last week to "Keep pushing myself" so that's a big ol' hint that they're going to have me test for my black belt in September.

I painted the bathroom on Sunday. I STILL haven't figured out how to cut in properly. I'm getting better though. I'm hoping to paint the kitchen this weekend. (Lemon yellow to set off all my royal blue accents.) Last night I did laundry for the first time and found out that the signs MEANT it when they said to use less detergent than normal in these special washers. The machines didn't suds over or anything, but all my stuff was still sticky when it came out of the washers.

Well, that's been the past week so far. Pretty much my life has been "Work, TKD, Watch the baseball, Sleep." (Or not even all that, as proven Monday night, where I fell asleep watching the game at 8:00 and didn't wake up till 11:30.

Life Goes On

Yesterday was spent unpacking my office, a true joy considering a.) I spent all weekend unpacking my apartment and b.) my new cubicle is approximately the size of my crotch. In the end I managed to fit everything in and it actually looks pretty nice.

Went to TKD for the first time in almost a month, so I'm sore today. It felt really good to exercise though. I'm really feeling like a slug after being inactive for so long. I can't wait to go again today, especially since it's about twenty degrees cooler.

Not much else new. I'm on a neverending conference call (my piece is over but I hate hanging up mid-meeting) and waiting for the maintenance guy to arrive and replace my screen door.

It feels SO GOOD to get back to something resembling a normal life. :-)

Hello from Quincy

Well, I'm here. My mail isn't being forwarded despite filling out a change of address form and I seem to have a slight bug problem in the kitchen, but otherwise things are going fairly well.

I went to BeachGirl's housewarming party last night, which was pretty fun. I only knew a couple people, so I played wallflower a bit. Luckily a fellow wallflower who also didn't know anyone except BeachGirl arrived, so I hung out with him a lot. BeachGirl was fed many shots and passed out early, which was pretty funny. I was fine, only having seven Coronas the entire night.

Well, tomorrow is work. I have to do a firewall change at 8:00 p.m., which sucks. I'll probably do it from home. I still have to figure out my new commuting-work-TKD schedule.

Packing Packing Packing BOXES BOXES!!

I have the above going through my head to the tune of the "Badgers, Mushrooms and Snakes" song. (http://www.robrob8.com/movies/badgers.htm)

Yes...with having to concurrently pack my office and my apartment, I have finally gone over the deep end.

(n.b. No more Internet access until Friday afternoon. See y'all on the other side, a.k.a. Quincy.)

LiveBlog of the Tonys

8:00 - Where the hell is Hugh?
8:02 - Bernadette Peters? WHY? She should not be allowed in public until someone sits her down and explains to her that she may no longer be a Broadway baby at 57. When you qualify as a member of AARP, you may cease and desist with the "cute."
8:05 - "I thought you were Deep Throat - wait, that's Harvey Fierstein." Okay, Billy Crystal is allowed to stay. Hee!
8:10 - God is Hugh ridiculously handsome. As always.
8:12 - Best actor in a play. Okay, first Alan Alda is cheated out of an Oscar, now THIS? What does the man have to do to get an award? He's Alan fuckin' Alda!
8:18 - Is anyone else amused by Phantom's "Remember your first time" billboard? Just me then? Okay.
8:20 - Yay! Dancing, singing Hugh.
8:22 - "Shake, shake, shake your booty." I am thanking you.
8:24 - Julia Styles, honey. Yeah, hi. So...um...look. I'm glad that you haven't fallen prey to the pressure of getting implants and are comfortable with your natural svelteness. However, next time please don't pick a dress cut down to your navel to prove the point. Thanks. Lawrence Fishburne, you are, as always, the epitome and definition of coolness.
8:29 - Craig Lucas, that hat may give me reason to believe you are an asshole.
8:30 -WHAT?!?!? Best book went to SPELLING BEE instead of Spamalot? Are you fucking KIDDING me?
8:32 - "Great Big Stuff" CBS bleeped "ass" (Which, give me a break) and "blowjob" (more understandable.) I love that now Broadway is actually too controversial for network television.
8:41 - Best Choreography. Tony number TWO that Spamalot is passed by for. And Jerry Mitchell is a lisp away from being a complete stereotype. Oh, wait. There's the lisp. Nevermind.
8:43 - Best Original Score - Tony FUCKING three that Spamalot doesn't win. Poor Eric Idle. His acceptance speech would also have been a hell of a lot funnier than that of the rambling jackass that DID win.
9:00 - I love Chita Rivera, but she looks so facelifted that it's a miracle her nipples aren't on her forehead.
9:10 - I would gladly smoke four packs a day if it meant I could have Kathleen Turner's voice.
9:14 - FINALLY! Spamalot takes Best Actress in a Musical. "I'd like to thank Claritin...and my doctors." See? More Tony Awards for Spamalot = More Funny in the speeches.
9:16 - Anne Hatheway as the most unfortunate dress of the night.
9:18 - WHAT?!? How the FUCK can Spamalot lose in a category in which they have TWO nominations? I suspect conspiracy.
9:33 - "I have a message for Saddam Hussein: For the love of God, switch to boxers!" I love Nathan Lane.
9:46 - YAY! *Dances around* Best Direction of a Musical goes to Spamalot!
9:54 - "25th Annual Spelling Bee" Al Sharpton as a spelling bee contestant - brilliant. And I forgive them slightly for stealing one of Spamalot's Tonys.
10:01 - *ROTFLMAO* Mets fans at Shea screaming "Yankees suck" when they're playing the Giants. Hysterical. And yes, I realize that I'm about one of ten people in the world flipping between the Tonys and baseball.
10:07 - Am I a sap if I still get weepy at Christopher Reeve having died?
10:15 - Best Actor in a Play. WHAT?!? I was gonna make a crack about the other guys being in the same category as James Earl Jones but he lost. Alda and Jones losing and Spamalot losing most of their nominations...is this the Twilight Zone?
10:19 - Kathleen Turner AND Phylicia Rashad losing? I am definitely in some alternate universe.
10:23 - "Spamalot" performance. Absolutely brilliant. Although seeing Tim Curry singing onstage makes me think he's going to bust out the corset and fishnets at any second. However the song itself was a bit weak. I get the feeling that the dialogue is the most brilliant part.
10:29 - Ethan Hawke has the worst haircut.
10:31 - Sandra Oh looks stunning. Although - honey, yes you do need a bra.
10:35 - Not to insult the Queen, but Aretha sounds hoarse.
10:43 - Harvey Fierstein rocks, but his voice is the most grating one this side of Fran Drescher. And Christina Applegate? Next time take OFF the four-inch fake eyelashes after performing.
10:46 - That's IT. I'm done. Butz beat out Hank Azaria, John Lithgow, Gary Beach and Tim fucking Curry for best actor in a musical? This is BULLSHIT.
11:00 - Best Musical. "Spamalot" wins and order is restored to the world.

Wierd

I just bought my first T pass in over five years. The price has since gone up a LOT. It's wierd though. Between that and taking down all my pictures off the wall yesterday, it's really hit me that I'm moving.

(Just in time, too, considering I'm getting the keys tomorrow!)

Being Positive

Thought I'd post something more positive today. How about this absolutely adorable picture of Poopsalot with my sister's dog Sadie, who has become uberprotective of her.

Ending on a Low Note

1. Went to a new hairstylist today and found out that I've somehow become one of those long-haired women who freak out if too much is cut off. It's now shoulder-length and looks so...ordinary. I'd rather have it either halfway down my back or super-short.
2. Had my annual "compensation evaluation." Despite taking over for someone a pay grade higher than me AND taking on a third role in addition to performing my original duties, I did not get a raise. For the third year in a row. At least it's a kick in the ass to dust off the resume and start looking again. I feel like I'm going NOWHERE in this company.

I Own Too Much Crap

Seriously. Considering how small my current apartment is, I have no idea how the hell I fit so much into it. My coworker SweetBlonde dropped off a bunch of boxes on Sunday, seeing my apartment for the first time. Very embarrassing as said apartment is currently a mess with boxes everywhere. I will have to invite her to my housewarming so that she can see that I am not completely inept. (That and the fact that she always invites me to her Most Awesome Parties.)

I finally got to meet Poopsalot on Saturday, which was awesome. She is the Best Baby Ever. CrazySis's uterus still hasn't shrank back down so she was doing gross tricks with her still-distended belly. Me, BabySis and DadTook spent the entire weekend fighting over whose turn it was to hold Poopsalot.

I came back Sunday night, planning on sleeping in till an obscene hour on Monday since I had worked the past three weekends in a row and had to get up early on both Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, MomTook decided to call at 10:00. (Since I've been up at that hour all the past month, she assumed I'd be up early again that day.) It was still good to chat with her though.

Work is...wierd right now. I don't want to say much, but changes are afoot.

Craziness

This week has been insane (hence the lack of updates).

Tuesday:

• PoopsaLot was born at 4:00 a.m. Here she is in her poopy glory:

Please excuse my brother-in-law-to-be's ineptness with a camera.

• I saw Bono at a book-signing and found out that it is indeed possible to literally be swept away by a crowd.

Thursday:

• Worked from home (sometimes just being able to work in jeans or pajamas feels like a "break.")
• Packed another three boxes. It STILL looks like I've barely done anything. This twenty-box limit I gave the moving company is starting to freak me out.

Tonight:

• More packing
• TKD (Third night this week. Go me!)
• Packing for the trip
• Laundry

Tomorrow:

• Getting up early to head up North and hitch a ride to CrazySis's place with DadTook and BabySis.

PoopsaLot on Her Way

I just got a phonecall from DadTook this morning while I was in the meeting. CrazySis is in the hospital having her baby, now dubbed PoopsaLot in this blog since that will be her largest contribution to society for the next couple years.

Unfortunately DadTook is heading up to New York before I can make it to his place, so it looks like I won't be there to greet PoopsaLot. I DID get to speak to CrazySis between contractions though, which was nice. MomTook said she's being "a trooper."

Hopefully I'll be able to head up there this weekend.

Pomp and Circumstance

VeggieSis's graduation was today. It was very nice - good speaker, short two-hour ceremony. I got to see DadTook and BabySis too, which was nice. I'm beat now though, as I had to take a 6:50 train to get there on time. Who schedules a 10:00 graduation ANYWAY?

CrazySis's labor has totally stopped. If she doesn't have the baby by Monday they will induce. For her sake, I hope she goes into labor, like, NOW. (Induced labor is often much more painful due to the strength of induced contractions.)

Well, that's about all for now.

Random Discovery

Upholstery cleaner works brilliantly on "so-dirty-you-think-you-have-to-throw -it-away" canvas and fabric purses. I just managed to save two, including one that I seriously can't live without. They both look almost new.

You're welcome.

Busy Busy Busy

I know I haven't written all week, but things have been crazy:

1.) CrazySis is now three days overdue with her baby, forcing me to STILL be ready to flee up north as soon as I get the call.

2.) Moving, moving, moving. Packing. Fighting off suicidal tendencies while dealing with every single utility company. Twice. (Since I'm moving to a different town and none of my current companies have service there. )

3.) STAR WARS! As I mentioned before, StarWarsGeek got us tickets to the midnight viewing tonight. I will be crying in my (tub-sized) coffee at work tomorrow morning. I'm far too old to be MEETING someone at 10:45 at night on a weeknight.

4.) VeggieSis's graduation is on Saturday. I have a card but still have not bought the gift. And MommaTook and Geritol may or may not be sleeping over Friday night depending on whether CrazySis has had the baby or not.

And of course, work has been insane as always.

So...Who used the old Chinese curse on me?

"Three Stories"

Well, I was going to do a LiveBlog of "Three Stories" but I just got sucked into the episode. Once the lecture started I completely forgot about my computer.

That was by far the best episode of the season thus far, mainly because of the totally different type of plot. No patient of the week, no clinic time, nothing. Just one lecture of three cases beautifully and seamlessly woven together. Writers, I salute you. Hugh, I salute YOU.

Some favorite moments: House's expression when Carmen Electra takes her pants off and his subsequent territorialism of her. Delivery of "Puncture wound." Finally getting the backstory of House's infarction and it putting a lot of the pieces of the puzzle that is House together. "Can you hear me now?" "I'm not going to like you, am I?" Almost no Cameron.

Wow. I almost wish THIS was the season finale because I don't know if any episode can top it.

Time Is SO NOT On My Side

I hate waiting for things I cannot control. The two big ones:

1.) Waiting to see if the new apartment works out or is hell on Earth and I come crawling back to my current building in a year.

And much more importantly:

2.) Waiting for the phone call from my mother to say that my sister has headed for the hospital. She's due tomorrow and at yesterday's doctor appointment was 2 cm dilated and he could feel baby Alexis's head. She may live five hours away, but the bag is packed and I will kill myself attempting to get up there in time if at all possible.

*LOL* I can't even CONCENTRATE I'm so excited!

Friday the Thirteenth

Worked from home today. Spent a majority of the time freaking out about the bad apartment reviews I found yesterday.

On a positive note, my friend Michael got tickets to the WEDNESDAY MIDNIGHT VIEWING OF STAR WARS!!!!!!!! A girl just couldn't ask for a better fag to hag, really. It will be WELL worth any pain going to work early on Thursday. YAY!

Ignorance is Bliss

I came across an apartment building review site while searching for my building's managment number. My current building has good reviews (aside from complaints about it being expensive for the size of the apartments, which - word.)

Unfortunately I foolishly looked up the place I'm moving to, all the while thinking to myself, "Self, you do NOT want to look. You. Do. NOT. Want. To. Look." But like Gollum to the One Ring, I was pulled.

And I was right. There are multiple complaints about poor management response and drunk maintenance guys. The rosy reviews are a bit too perfect and other entries accuse the management of writing them.

I keep telling myself:

1.) In general, only people who are disgruntled go searching out places to write reviews.
2.) Right now it's noise level that concerns me, not management and/or maintenance. (Although the mainenance guys at my current place ROCK, so I may be taking them for granted.)

*sighs*

Curiosity kills the cat and stresses out the Hobbit.

It's a Beautiful Day

Went outside for lunch today with a coworker. Sunny and 70. Absolutely WONDERFUL to feel summer sun on my face once more. (Which my vampire-like countenance would attest to.) I can't wait for the walk home (about a km) after this meeting is done.

LiveBlog of "Love Hurts"

4:00 - Walking home, one of the outdoor cafes is playing "Teardrop" over their sound system.

8:59 - Already in a bad mood from seeing the previews with The Date

9:00 - ANOTHER sex warning? Are you KIDDING me? Seriously, if I don't see some tits or dick soon I'm going to go down there and beat the Fox censors.

9:03 - "...sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G" HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

9:06 - "Don't want everyone clamoring for the same perks." That just brings some mental images I DIDN'T need.

9:07 - "Like watching an accident about to happen." Amen to that, Foreman.

9:13 - House doing a gyne exam. Priceless. Hugh's double-take at the site greeting him (70 year old cootchie) is great.

9:15 - "O Great Pool Hall Oracle" - Dying here. And it's nice to know I'm not the only one that still has an 8 Ball on their desk.

9:18 - Dominatrix? Ooooooooooooooooh-kay then. For once Fox may actually be warranted in having a warning up front.

9:21 - "You're on the naughty list. No leather stethoscope this Christmas." ENOUGH WITH THE MENTAL IMAGES.

9:25 - YAY! It's Cranky Middle Eastern Pharmacist again! This has been a nice piece of continuity throughout the season.

9:27 - Cuddy talking about his last relationship? Giving clothes advice? Who the hell IS this new character? And when did I change the channel to "General Hospital."

9:30 - Dominating Chase. I nearly had a heart attack. I think he really DOES need a leather stethoscope after all.

9:39 - The parents won't sign the release for surgery because they're embarrassed of him? That's LOW.

9:40 - He's not shaving for a date? Odd, even for House.

9:45 - House SO has Cameron's number. He pegged her spot on.

9:50 - Chase is getting scary obssessive with the Tic Tacs.

9:52 - Hugh's delivery of "Oh welcome to hell" is PRICELESS.

9:54 - Of all the nasty CGI effects that "House" has done, the simple hypo full of extracted pus is by far and beyond the most nauseating and disgusting ever.

9:56 - Oh do NOT tell me the moral of the episode is coming from the fucking DOMINATRIX.

9:59- "I'm asking you a favor." "I'm not sure I want him to live." Next week's episode promises to kick SO much more ass than this week's drivel.

10:01 - I hereby decree this the Worst Episode of the Season.

Fun Random Link

You can go to http://museum.thetech.org/ugenetics/eyeCalc/eyecalculator.html and see the probabilities for what color eyes you and your SO's children will have.

I may or may not have put a spouse with blue eyes. Which may or may not been for Hugh and Haldir. Which may or may not have shown that it would be impossible for us to have brown-eyed children. They would all have either blue or green eyes.

Interestingly enough, it calculated my parents as have 25% green, 25% blue and 50% brown-eyed children. I have green eyes, two of my sisters have brown eyes, and the third one has blue eyes. Scary, no?

Lazy Rainy Saturday

Past few days were insane at work, ergo the lack of entries.

Went to yoga on Thursday, hoping it would warm up my (I thought) healing back. Unfortunately I'm paying for my impunity. It's been a week - not long in back-injury land, but enough to jeopardize my chance at testing for black belt in June if it doesn't heal, like, yesterday.

So, between la espalda del fuego and the fact that it's pouring I've been inside all day. I'm getting a bit antsy, but with it pissing rain there's not much to do outside.

I have to be up at 7:45 tomorrow to test a change for work. I REALLY hate my job sometimes.

Mid-Week Chuckle

I just got spam with the Best Subject Line Ever:

Re: Raccoon Compazine Rectal

I myself tend to shy away from the asses of raccoons, but if you're brave enough, more power to you I say.

Live Blog of "Kids"

9:01 - I guess when you're the guest star, you don't have to wear a swim cap at a diving competition

9:08 - Sweaty running Cameron? Hot. And...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! House asked her back.

9:15 - I'm actually feeling meh about the episode so far. Forcing Chase to do grunt work is a nice touch though. Wonder if House will have him doing rectal exams next. *G*

9:26 - "What are you doing?" "Trying not to think about the produce section at Whole Foods." DYING HERE.

9:28 - Busting on a tattoo is kinda harsh nowadays, but still - wearing a shortsleeve shirt to an interview when you have a wrist tat is all kinds of dumb.

9:33 - TWO warnings about sexual situations? There better be a porno in this act.

9:36 - Jewish foreplay? This girl is SO hired.

9:40 - Hmmm...no injury being admitted to...abuse by the coach?

9:56 - A DATE?!? A DATE? And...shut up, twinkly music. You're not convincing me either.

9:59 - Next weeks preview comes on

9:59:30 - *Television goes flying out the window*

Totally Tubular Tuesday

Took last night off from TKD to let my back muscles recover from the Amazing Double Jumping Spinning Kick Pip Should Never Ever Attempt Again. My back is still pretty sore today, but not nearly as bad as yesterday. I may attempt class tonight.

Got home and guess what had arrived? MY ATARI I BID ON E-BAY!!! Got the bad boy hooked up (including an old-school press button "Cable/Game" switch. Not AS old school as the TV/Game switch, but close.) and played some Asteriods and Pac-Man. Unfortunately one of the controllers doesn't work and the other one is missing its joystick cover. I will have to e-mail the seller.

Watched "Lemony Snicket" last night. I usually like Burton or Burton-esque movies, but this one just didn't really do it for me for some reason. Ah well.

Later tonight: Stay tuned for a potential House live blog.

Monday, Monday

I hate Mondays. Especially Mondays where I have been handed a metric assload of work.

Also, I managed to wrench my back while attempting a difficult aerial spinning kick as part of my black belt. I now have newfound respect for those with chronic back problems. OUCH! I really should go to TKD training tonight, but am not sure a class would be the best thing for me, as opposed to staying home and stretching it out and soaking in a really hot bath.

On the up side, I rented both "House of Flying Daggers" and "Lemony Snicket" and can't wait to watch them.

My Latest Infatuation

After watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy while home sick the other day, my infatuation with Haldir has been reawakened. With a vengeance.

Anyway, I was looking for Haldir fic (more out of curiousity's sake than expecting any actual quality stories) and came upon the following priceless summary:

Title:If I Were Queen of the Forest
Summary: Lothlorien. It's like the gay bar of Middle Earth.

Ain't that just the truth?

I am DYING...

I'm currently on a conference call, and the guy holding the meeting is Aussie.

Not only is his accent the same as Chase's, his voice is too.

Dr. Robert Chase, Security Auditor.

Heehee...

(Yes, I've been watching House too much and sleeping too little.)

Pulling a Dr. House

mood: exhausted but happy
last, no, THIS nights sleep rating: D

The time stamp does not lie. It is indeed 4:45 in the morning. I've actually been awake since 1:45.

I went to bed at 10:30, planning on getting a full night's sleep. I feel asleep quickly, but was woken at 1:45 by my neighbor's SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM. Yeah, the same one that didn't think to himself, "Self, maybe I shouldn't use the drill past midnight." I banged on the part of the wall we share and he turned it off, but I couldn't fall back asleep. Want to know why?

I found a new apartment!

It's a corner apartment. The bedroom? Shares no walls with anyone else. In fact, there's not one but two walls between me and my next-door neighbor. The wall? My living room, their bedroom. There is an upstairs neighbor, but the thick wall-to-wall carpeting should take care of it. Also? It has a private balcony. With a view. (I am at the back of my building right now and have one window which looks onto a brick wall.) And a full-size kitchen instead of the sad kitchenette I have now. And? Although not in Boston, is across the street from the subway.

If I don't like it? I have 30 days to tell them and can move out without breaking my lease. Also? It's on the fourth floor but if a corner apartment on a higher floor opens up before I move in it's mine.

I'm so excited that even the thought of the hassles of moving doesn't bother me.

My First House Icon

I'm so proud.



Please do NOT steal. I will be happy to make you your own, especially if you provide a picture.

What the HELL is wrong with people?

mood: foul and exhausted
last night's sleep rating: D-

Okay, to reiterate, what the hell is wrong with people? My new neighbors moved into the renovated apartment next door yesterday. They seemed like nice guys; a couple years younger than me.

Anyway, I go out for drinks with friends, come back and they're still banging around a bit. No biggie - they're moving in. I settle in to watch House, chat with Saskia for a while and head to bed around eleven.

Shortly after I turn off the light and close my eyes I hear the muffled "bang...bang...bang" of a hammer. I figure they lost track of time and maybe are just quickly hanging a picture up.

Two hours later, there's been enough hammering to build Noah's Ark. I debate asking them to stop the taping of "This Old Apartment" but don't want to stir shit up the first night they move in.

At 1:30, they bring out a power drill. A power drill. AT ONE THIRTY IN THE MORNING ON A WEDNESDAY. I finally bang on the door (in pajamas and all) and tell them I don't want to be a bitchy neighbor on their first night there, but...not so much with the power tools please. They apologize and say "We weren't sure anyone would hear it." Not that this stops them from hammering and banging around until 2:30.

Okay...people? If you live in an apartment complex comprised of lofts the size of your crotch? THE NEIGHBORS WILL HEAR YOU IF YOU USE POWER TOOLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FUCKING NIGHT.

I mean, my GOD.

Was I supposed to send out a memo?

"Control"

I am speechless. I was going to do the usual live blog but got far too sucked into the episode to tear myself away (plus Saskia's back at long last). I'll do it on the rewatch.

I just want to say - House rocking out to The Who? LOVE!

I am an IDIOT

mood: annoyed at my own stupidity

I am a complete and utter moron. I forgot to watch Hugh on Dennis Miller last night. The worst part? It wasn' t like I was busy (I got home from TKD just before nine) or watching something else (there was NOTHING on). I just...forgot. And I usually just skip by the block of news channels when channel surfing. Plus I was going to tape it for Auditrix since she doesn't have cable.

Idiot. (me, not Auditrix)

Grrr....

mood: crabby
last night's sleep rating: C-

-------------

Yeah, I stole Auditrix's format. She can come up here and sue me. ;-)

Item 1: I am woken up at 8:00 after not getting to bed till 2:30 by contractors installing hardwood floors in the next-door apartment. Not the nice "just snap them together" Pergo floors but the good ol' "cut and nail down each floorboard" wood floors. Table fucking saw? Check. Hammer? Check. They couldn't do this, say, DURING THE WORK WEEK? (And I know they're not because I get home as early as 3:30 and not a peep.)

Item 2: I am unable to procure tickets for the second round of U2 concerts in Boston because two shows sell out in TEN GODDAMN MINUTES. What, are they offering twelve seats per show?

Item 3: I type out this entire post and Blogger eats it. FUCK YOU, BLOGGER!

*head explodes*

Testing

Because I can't seem to publish new posts...

23 Hours till (Hopefully) Ecstacy

At 10:00 tomorrow tickets for U2's SECOND visit to Boston (in October) go on sale. I was unsuccessful in wrangling tickets for the May concerts, so hopefully I'll have more luck this time.

Live Blog of "Occam's Razor"

8:59 - I have no plans to blog a rerun
9:00 - The sex scene warning amuses me.
9:02 - Amusement turns to disbelief at the edited sex scene and I run for Blogspot. I don't know why it bugs me, but I find it completely unnecessary, especially with the warning. This edited version didn't even NEED a warning.
9:06 - Hee. House has said "testicles" two weeks in a row. Drink?
9:09 - "I could run home" "No you couldn't." HAHAHAHAHA
9:10 - Waiting Room speech. SO glad I now have this on tape.
9:19 - I could see having to wait a while on a test for sinus infection, but a thyroid test is pretty damn fast to not wait for results before treating. At least, I always get mine quickly.
9:28 - Chase's expression during Cameron's sex speech SLAYS me.
9:30 - Having air force-blown on my naked body does NOT strike me as a pleasant experience. However, with Chase next to me...
9:45 - "Page Dr. Occam." *LOL*
9:48 - I'm not a doctor, but why is Foreman, a NEUROLOGIST, running a heart catheter?
9:52 - I forgot how much Vicodin House pops in these early episodes.
9:56 - Love the pharmacist's expression while House is tearing apart the pharmacy.

Live Blog of "Sports Medicine"

Well, usually I do this with Saskia, but bitch ain't online so...

9:02 - Okay, usually the medical stuff doesn't bug me, but I did NOT need the internal closeup view of the break with sound. Thank GOD I have the theater surround sound system off.

9:05 - What the HELL is House trying to purchase? And I HATE Fox because I KNOW they're gonna run it as a subplot through the whole damn episode.

9:07 - Marathon diagnosing of clinic patients. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

9:11 - "Your lips say no but your prunes say yes." Bwahahaahaha! And...two sips!

9:15 - Okay, my new House drinking game? Lethal. People, consider your livers warned.

9:17 - Addison's. It's no parathyroid condition, but hey - pituitary system. I'm CLOSE. ;-)

9:20 - Ah. Monster Rally tickets. So they DIDN'T make us wait all episode. But...Wilson enjoying a Monster Truck Rally? I just cannot see it.

9:28 - "[House] doesn't have sex. He makes love." HEE. Chase is my new best friend. And...new rule for the drinking game: Every time House having sex is mentioned, FINISH THE DRINK!

9:34 - House asking Cameron to the rally. Dying here!

9:38 - If he takes those pills I'm HURTING someone.

9:40 - Ah. Hallucination.

9:42 - Hank trying to kill himself? Woah.

9:52 - "Who is she sleeping with?" *looks at Cameron* "Please tell me it's you." How do I love House? Let me count the ways.

9:54 - Cadmium poisoning? MORE poisoning? Are you KIDDING me?

9:56 - House in a trucker hat? So, SO cute. And...now we know he's never been married but lived with someone. Someone named...Eileen? (Hi Elizabeth!) And I really hate to say it, but Cameron and House are extremely cute together. Disturbingly so.

9:59 - Wow. Next week looks intense. Nice pustules on the kid.

The House Drinking Game

I can't believe this hasn't been done, but here goes:

The House Drinking Game

Take a sip if:

• A patient seizes.
• House pops a Vicodin.
• Cuddy is some double-sided tape away from exploding out of her jacket.
• Cameron is wearing matching pants and vest.
• One of House's initial diagnoses is proved wrong.
• House verbally abuses a clinic patient.
• The ducklings break into the PotW's house with no apparent legal repercussions.

Take two sips if:

• House says, "Your lips say no, but your _________ says yes."
• Cameron is wearing her glasses.
• A patient seizes at least three times.
• They finally get the right diagnosis.
• There is a House/Wilson HoYay! moment that just can't be denied.
• House plays piano.

Finish the drink if:

• There's NO seizures in the entire episode.
• The Patient of the Week dies

Imbibe all available alcohol and ease your pain if:

• House enters into a relationship with any of the other main characters.
• House stops taking Vicodin.

Any suggestions for additions would be welcomed. Let's make it IMPOSSIBLE to not cause liver damage no matter the episode. ;-)

Group Challenge Fic - House/Cuddy (Rated R)

So...after a long hiatus by me, here (finally) is the group fic. Enjoy and comment away! Yours truly did the after-bathroom section.

--------------------

They had both been feeling it for a few weeks now. The itch. The heat between them. The fire that only the other could extinguish. It happened every couple months or so. After all of the comments and looks thrown at each other, the struggle over who was in charge of the situation, neither of them could resist it anymore and they would end up in the same situation every time. In bed together. They both always knew when it was coming. The looks would get longer. The words would become harsher. It was like the wall was crumbling even though they were both fighting to keep it up. It was just a matter of who was going to break first. Who was going to show their weakness for the other first.

It looked like this time it was going to be her. She couldn’t concentrate on her work anymore. She spent all day and all night thinking about him, about the nights she spent with him. She hated to be the one to break first, but she needed it. Bad. It had been 4 months. Too long. It was just getting him alone to tell him. If he wasn’t with Wilson, he was with his staff, or Cameron was hovering over him. Well, she would just have to work something out herself. She was a woman of action after all. That afternoon in the clinic, she would do it then. She could work something out then, and neither Wilson nor his staff would be around. It was perfect.

That afternoon she walked into the clinic five minutes before he was due to arrive. She stood at the counter, flipping through charts, trying to look nonchalant. As the nurse looked away she grabbed the chart of someone that had already been seen in clinic that day and slipped it on top. She knew how he was. If he opened the door to an empty exam room he would seize the moment and sit in there as long as he could so he didn’t have to see anyone else.

“Dr. Cuddy, playing Mother Superior, making sure I’m where I’m supposed to be,” he said as he limped into the clinic.

“Well, you do have the attention span of a four year old, Dr. House,” she said back to him with a smile as she handed him the chart she had already placed on the pile while the nurse wasn’t looking. “Exam room four.”

She watched him walk away to see what he’d do when he got to the empty room. When he got there, he opened the door, looked in, stopped for a minute, turned around and looked at her, then walked in and closed the door. Perfect. He is so predictable, she thought. She waited a few minutes, not wanting to seem anxious, then headed herself to Exam room four.

“Dr. Cuddy, there’s no one in here,” he said with a sly smile on his face. He sat on the exam room table, apparently waiting for her.

“Yes, well I had to talk to you alone about something, and this was the only way I could think of to do it,” she said, closing the door behind her.

“I see, and what, exactly, would that be.”

“It’s been four months Gregg. I need to see you,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound desperate.

“But you see me everyday,” he said, knowing what she was getting at, but wanting to hear her say it. Just once.

“You know damn good and well what I mean. I’m not going to come right out and say it if that’s what you are hoping for.”

He sat there for a minute and looked at her. “Eight o’clock, my place,” was all he said. All he needed to say.

“I’ll be there.” And she walked out.

They didn’t see each other the rest of the day and it seemed to go by very slowly for each of them. Neither could concentrate much on their work. They had more important things to think about. Well, they were more important at the moment. They both went home and changed clothes and waited for the magic hour.

He was sitting in his apartment around 7:45 when there was a knock at the door. He grabbed his cane, got up and went to answer it. She was standing there in jeans and a sweater. “You’re early,” he said, taking in her appearance. He stepped aside and let her into his apartment. She walked in and took off her coat.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

She laughed. “There’s no need to woo me Gregg,” she said with a wink, “I’m a sure thing.” He let out a small laugh at this and walked over and kissed her. The kiss was light at first but it soon intensified with passion. It had been too long. Their tongues met and something exploded inside them both. They started taking off each other’s clothes in quick movements, never letting their hands leave the others body. As he removed her bra, he ran his hands down her back and left a trail of kisses down the side of her neck. “Wouldn’t this be easier in the bedroom,” he said.

He lay down on the bed and she lay beside him. They begin to kiss again as his hand moved to her breast. She arched her body into his hand and ran her nails down his chest. He moved his head down to her breast as he began to suck on her nipple while she ran her hands through his hair. She let out a sigh, pulled him by the hair and started to kiss him again. She then broke the kiss and began to slowly make her way up his body.

Now he felt no pain and it was glorious and anything seemed possible, even healing. He could almost forget his disability, except that was what kept him from doing a caveman on the lovely woman in his bed. The spirit was very willing to throw her on her back and hump her silly, but the flesh was disgustingly weak.

She wouldn’t have it, anyway. She’d always liked being on top. She loved being in control, so much so that a man was hard put to get so much as a moan out of her in the sack.

He heard a noise and frowned. Was that a sigh? He couldn't be sure with his head between her thighs. His face relaxed as he went back to plying his tongue in languid strokes, back and forth, side to side, around and around. Her hips moved like sweet silk as she danced to the rhythm his mouth set. He lost himself in the scent of her, the flavor of her, the satin of her skin, and forgot to listen for auditory signs of loss of control. Her movements suddenly quickened and he grabbed her hips, his thumbs slipping sensuously into the creases where her legs met her body. He held on and was rewarded by her soft moan of release as she came, stiffening then relaxing so suddenly she all but collapsed on top of him.

He hummed in satisfaction as he kissed her. Greg – 1, Lisa – zip… or maybe it's the other way around, he thought. She dismounted and settled next to him, staring at the ceiling. She turned her head when she sensed his gaze.

“Vanilla almond," he announced. "With a touch of peach."

"That's not what you said last time," she said.

"You tasted different last time."

She considered this. "Peach?" she said, looking skeptical.

He shrugged. "Maybe apricot."

"Why you connoisseur, you," she murmured, stretching luxuriously. He watched her extend her body, enjoying the view.

She rolled over to her side, facing him. She reached over and carefully wiped the vanilla almond peach-maybe-apricot off his nose. “You know, you haven’t lost your touch.” She sighed and smiled.

“Some things get better with disuse,” he said modestly.

She looked at him askance. “You expect me to believe that?”

He sighed. “The one time I’m not even close to lying to you and you accuse me of lying.”

“When were you close to lying to me?” she asked.

“Any time I said I didn’t want you.”

“You never said that,” she told him.

He frowned. “I didn’t? You sure?”

She reached over and trailed her hand down the center of his chest, all the way down to where things ended. “I'm sure." She took him in hand. "You never, ever said that.” He moaned as she clasped, pulled, squeezed.

“Careful," he said breathlessly. "You don’t want to break that.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she said softly, and took him into her mouth.

She sucked the head of his penis. It was a Cuddy thing, she would never do a deep-throat. She claimed an overactive gag-reflex. “Nothing sexy about me puking all over you.” What she would do, however, she did very very well and she was doing it now. He lost himself once more, letting her sex him, letting her pull him until he was hanging on the edge, slipping. He disengaged. He didn’t want to come in her mouth. She lay again on her side, silently drawing circles with her finger on his wasted thigh. After a long moment in which he cooled slightly, he said

“If you want this, you’re going to have to take it… I’ve only got two good legs, now.”

She studied him for a moment. “One’s all you need,” she said, and straddled him.

He moaned as she guided him into her and sank slowly, to the hilt. Loud, open-mouthed, the sound he made was “Ahhh…” He was the noisy one; Mr. Cool, Calm and Sarcastic? Not in bed.

She dug her nails into his shoulders as she rode him. The slight sting of her abuse increased his pleasure, which he expressed in barely coherent words, “Ooh, ahh, yesss, mmmmh, yeah…”

"Greg, shut up!" she said, her eyes closed, concentrating. He tried, he really tried… well, maybe not that hard.

"Ah… oh, shit! Oh, Jesus…" She was digging into his shoulders so hard the sting was edging out of pleasure and into pain. He pried her hands off and held them, pushing her until she was upright. She let her head tip forward and her hair cascaded onto his face and shoulders, tickling. Another source of pleasure. He moaned. "Ohh, God…"

"Greg…" she said again, a touch of exasperation in her tone. It was hard to focus with all this noise.

He stretched his hands above his head, lowering her body again to his. He felt her tight nipples like buttons in the soft pillows of her breasts against his chest. He lowered her and their lips met, parted, and tongues exchange places in mouths. He tickled her with his beard stubble, against her chin, her nose, her cheek. She whispered his name. No exasperation now.

"So good," he murmured. She began to rotate her hips and a cog slipped in his reality. So good was suddenly a really silly thing to say. So he said her name and then he said, "I'm coming," and then he did and it felt like everything inside him was rushing to get out, out of him, into her. His heart, his soul, his blood, his semen. For one split second he was lost once more and then he cried out when he lost that, that nothingness, that bit of infinity, that place free of pain and regret, that split second of surcease. Gone too fast for him to even be certain it was real.

And then she came. He could feel her insides spasm around his softening stiffness and she surprised him by yelling. She never made noise in bed, ever. She'd always left the sound effects to him. She collapsed onto him again and he wrapped his arms around her, gently stroked her hair and thought of nothing at all as she slowly came down.

She fell asleep.

He craned his neck to look at her. "Lisa…" he said, shaking her.

"I'm trying to sleep here," she muttered.

"Lisa, get off me," he said.

She sighed and rolled off. Sighed again when everything that had come out, came out.

"Uh-oh," he said. "I think we forgot something."

She glared at him. "You better not give me a disease…"

"Disease?" he said, indignantly. "I make this huge donation of my DNA…"

"It wasn't that big," she said, getting out of bed.

"And all you can think about is disease?"

"We are not going to have any children," she threw over her shoulder as she entered the bathroom.

"What do you mean we?" he said, raising his head. She closed the door on her derisive snort.

He let his head drop back on the pillow and stared at the ceiling, a slight smile on his face.

She came back from the bathroom dressed in House’s burgundy robe and started gathering her clothes that were scattered around the room. House raised his eyebrow bemusedly.

“Wham bam thank you ma’am?”

She glared but then laughed. “Greg, you know that I have to work tomorrow, just like you. Unlike you, I still have to get home. I’d prefer to show up showered and dressed appropriately…”

“If you can call suits with lingerie tops under them ‘appropriate’…” he snarked after her as she wandered into the living room to collect the rest of her clothes. His expression softened since she wasn’t in the room to see it. “Not that they don’t look amazing on you.”

Cuddy stood in the doorway, smiling slightly with her jeans in hand. “And I’m sure I’ll see you in your equally ‘appropriate’ attire tomorrow. That is, appropriate if you were going to a frat party.”

“Well I did send the heels in for repair just yesterday…”

Cuddy snorted as she finished dressing. House watched her and cursed himself for being an idiot. Why do I have to be too damn proud to ask her to stay? “Wham bam thank you ma’am?” What the hell was I thinking?

A quick kiss on the cheek and House was alone again. Although it was barely nine, he stayed in bed for a while longer, staring deep in thought at the indentations that had been Lisa just a little while ago. Even some therapeutic piano playing and a glass of Black Label couldn’t help him to get a decent night’s rest. He finally got up for good around 4:00 and paced back in forth while deciding what the hell to do about the situation.

The next morning Cuddy looked at House in curiosity when he arrived. He looked…off. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something was definitely up with him. For one thing, the usual sarcastic greeting was missing. He didn’t so much as glance at her – just blew by and went straight to the elevator. He also looked even more sleep-deprived than usual, if that was even possible.

She shook her head and left for her office. Who knows what goes through that man’s head. For the second day in a row she was completely unable to concentrate at work, rereading the same reports five or six times and even picking at her lunch. She hated this whole “love-hate” thing that was practically a cliché, but didn’t know how Greg would react if she told him that she was interested in something a little more than “let’s wait until we absolutely can’t stand it anymore and then have a one-night stand.” She still had trouble reading him even after working with him all this time.

All in all it was a nearly useless day at the hospital spent trying to come up with ways to speak with House about a relationship when she could barely even ask to meet him for a one-night stand. She was shutting down her computer and grabbing her jacket off the coat rack when she sensed that someone else was there. She turned around and House was in the doorway, leaning on his cane with both hands. Was that nervousness she saw playing across his face? I must be losing my mind to even consider that, she thought skeptically.

He stood there a moment, not saying anything. After a few beats he abruptly asked, “How many drinks would I have to buy you to get out of another week of clinic duty?”

“I’m guessing the same amount of drinks I would have to buy you to get you to actually fulfill your clinic duty.”

House eyed her. “You’re about half my size. I could drink you under the table.”

Cuddy responded with a raised eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?”

“I do believe it is,” was his reply.

“Well only one way to find out. I go to Barcode,” she tossed back.

House snorted. “A martini bar. You would.”

“And I suppose you go to Drunken McCripple’s.”

“Nice.”

“8:00, Barcode. If you want to win your bet.”

Cuddy brushed by House without saying another word, but she knew that he would be there.

House's Injury

Since the beginning of the show, I have wondered about House's injury. Not so much the injury itself but the timing and circumstances of the injury. There are several options that I can think of:

1.) House' s misdiagnosis occurred when he was young and this drove him to be a doctor. This has been shot down by the teaser for "Detox."

2.) House's misdiagnosis occurred while he was a doctor but before he became a diagnostician. Thus causing him to go into the specialty so that the same thing wouldn't happen to others. It would explain his dedication to his specialty (including the specialty of nephrology since muscle death causing protein dumping into the kidneys). However, in the teaser for "Detox" Wilson states that "[he] was there." Unless Wilson and House have known each other for nearly twenty years, this option is also improbable.

3.) House was already a diagnostician, but was misdiagnosed by another doctor. This seems to be the favorite among the fic writers and is the one that I'm voting will become canon. It definitely seems to be the most realistic as it is generally accepted practice that doctors should not treat themselves or close members of their family. However, not only is this not an official rule, the House we see could very believably be too stubborn to let any other doctor treat him. This would also give a great reason as to why House is so angry and has such a low opinion of his peers. (Not that he would ever refer to them as such.)

4.) House was already a diagnostician, and misdiagnosed himself. Being a charter member in the House School of Angst (as Auditrix says), this is my favorite option. Someone mentioned it last month (I wish I could remember where) and it blew my mind. I really like the potential angst and depth to the character it gives. It also gives a real good reason for why House is so relentless and obsessive about finding the cause of any illness. (To the point of tearing apart the dispensary to find the exact gout medicine the boy accidentally received in "Occam's Razor." Option #3 would explain this as well, but I'm ignoring that fact in light of my bias towards this option. (Of course, there's also the problem that this would hint at the possibility that House wasn't as good a diagnostician in the past.)

I'm sure these questions will be answered tomorrow in "Detox," which is why I wanted to write out my thoughts BEFORE it aired.

I'm betting that if they DO say, it will end up being Option 3, but until I hear otherwise, I will pretend it's Option 4.

When Saskia and I Work Together...Scary!

Saskia and I working on a joint House fic. The challenge? House and Cuddy wake up in bed together after a drunken night. It's not done yet, but in the meantime we were coming up with horrible titles for the story. Here's the fallout: (I've highlighted my favorites in red.)

"What Do You Do With a Drunken Coworker?" ~ Pip
"Oh God, tell me we didn't" ~ Saskia
"Let's Never Discuss This Again" ~ Pip
"It Never Happened" ~ Pip
"Seriously, it never happened....a sequel to It Never Happened" ~ Saskia
"And You Thought Mondays Sucked BEFORE" ~ Pip
"I'm drunk, you're drunk, we're all drunk, let's screw" ~ Saskia
"The Boss Sucks. Literally." ~ Pip"
"I know what you did last night...""No you don't, you were drunk"" ~ Saskia
"You talk and you die" ~ Saskia
"Beauty and the Bastard" ~ Pip
"Insert A into B" ~ Saskia
"The Boss is REALLY Riding Me Hard Today" ~ Pip
"Screw you! Oh wait...I did that last night" ~ Saskia
"Girls have cooties. Now come on and blow me" ~ Saskia
"You took riding lessons as a kid, didn't you?" ~ Saskia
"You know your day's gonna suck when..." ~ Saskia
"Your NIGHT sucked. In a GOOD way." ~ Pip
"Hard at Work" ~ Pip
"Milk it" ~ Saskia
"The tale of the big stick and the little hole: how they overcame their problem" ~ Saskia
"Dr House...? Or Dr Chimney? Or Dr. Highrise?" ~ Both

Hugh Hates Me

The USA Chat with Hugh was...okay. Some decent questions, but others...what the HELL? Props to Saskia for getting one answered. (Regarding Hugh's dressing in drag, no less!)

Okay, so I'm bitter that not one of my three excellent (I thought) questions got answered. Does that make me a bad person? *G*

Writing Exercise

Well, I've been having trouble stirring up the muse lately, so I'm doing the old time-honored writing exercise of forcing myself to babble for five minutes without stopping. Let's see. It's FREEZING cold in the office today despite being a relatively warm 37 out. We were supposed to get a foot of snow but overnight they changed it to maybe an inch once it became appearant that it wasn't going to get cold enough for snow. The joys of coastal Boston.

Psyched for next week's episode of House. I never thought I'd see myself wanting to skip through a weekend, but I can't wait for Tuesday. Of course, Tuesday is also when I get to call my doctor and (hopefully) have my meds adjusted. So a good day all around, potentially.

Okay, the health thing since I keep bitching about it and it's (unfortunately) what's come to my mind during this exercise. I have autoimmune thyroid disease, called Hashimoto's. Basically my body attacks this neat little gland in your neck, eventually killing it completely. Usually all you do is take replacement horomone - no biggie. Unfortunately I only feel good if my levels are JUST SO. I'm talking the top 75% percentile of the "normal" range.

So I feel GREAT as long as my levels stay there. The minute they dip - craptacular. The only difficult part is getting doctors to realize that just cause my tests come out normal means they're optimal for ME. So on Tuesday I'm calling my endocrinologist and PRAYING he ups my Synthroid. Since my last labs were "normal" it's far from a guarantee.

And...that's five minutes. And I wish something BESIDES health issues had come out. But them's the rules of the game: you think it, you write it.

Next post: House Goodness. I promise.

"Detox" Preview

Although "Histories" wasn't one of my favorite episodes, I am completely psyched for next week's episode of "House" after seeing the preview.

The blurbs for "Detox" made it seem like they were going to downplay House's Vicodin withdrawal, but in some of those shots in the teaser he seriously looks like death warmed over. Plus what a time for someone to finally haul off and sock him. I know that Hugh will act the hell out of the episode (as he always does), but I just hope the writing is up to par with the storyline and acting. This will either be my favorite or most loathed episode ever.

Sorry for the Delay

I know that there are certain people out there who are waiting for real fic rather than poems and such. Unfortunately a health condition has been giving me severe joint and bone pain in my shoulders and arms, making it painful to type. In addition, the constant pain also makes it difficult to concentrate long enough to write stories of any length.

My doctor is on vacation right now, but will be back late next week to (hopefully) get my meds readjusted and return me to a happy, healthy fangirl. Until then, please bear with me.

I am SO not a poet, but...

...I wrote one anyway. Definitely something I'll be picking at and tweaking for a while.

Driven

One purpose, one reason to remain.
The mysteries of existence intrigue me.

Driven to figure out life's puzzles.

My body fails but my mind is ever sharp
-as is my tongue, my only protection.

Driven to always ask why.

Sleepless nights, evening cigars.
My pain and piano my constant companions.

If I ever lose my drive--

Because It Bears Repeating

This is what makes "House" so great.
----------------------------

John: I got one thing. Same as you.

House: Really? Well apparently you know me better than I know you.

John: I know that limp. I know the empty ring finger. And that obsessive nature of yours that's a big secret. You don't risk jail and your career to save someone that doesn't want to be saved unless you got somethin'... anything. One thing. The reason normal people got wives... 'n kids...hobbies whatever. That's because they don't have that one thing that hits them that hard and that true. I got music you got... this. The thing you think about all the time. The thing that keeps you south of normal. Yeah, makes us great. Makes us the best. All we miss out on is everything else. No woman waitin' at home after work with the drink and the kiss. That ain't going to happen for us.

House: That's why God made microwaves.

John: Yeah, but when it's over, it's over.

House: Yeah.