YAY! FRIDAY!

Well, PhillieFan showed up...8:30 instead of 7:30, but I was still happy. The drywall cracks are really coming around. PhillieFan also said he'll be back tomorrow if Kermit the Kontractor sends him to Lake Placid. (I guess they're working four different job sites right now.)

Work was crazybusy - I'm in the middle of an insane audit. At least it made the day pass quickly, even though I didn't tie up as many loose ends before the weekend as I was hoping to.

It hit 34 today, so I went for a run. Did 5K in 32:22, which isn't bad considering it's been too cold to run since Monday and Karate's been low-key, cardio-wise.

Also got a call from Dr. Z. He made it out of the wilderness and "cheated death once again" as he likes to say. He's started heading home in the pouring rain.

Other than that, it's finishing up work and waiting to hear from IronMom as to whether she's going to Karate tonight or not.

Same Old, Same Old

It's been a very quiet week, with everything kind of in limbo. However, one of the "limbo" items finally had some movement when one of Kermit the Kontractor's guys, PhillieFan, came over to do more work on the drywall cracks after no one had showed up since BlueEyes made a brief appearance last Wednesday. Hopefully he'll be back tomorrow morning as he promised. I know this is how contractors work but it's STILL annoying as hell.

In other limbo news, there were a bunch of children's promotions at Karate last night, but I'm still at green belt. However, Sensei looked at my kata and said it was much better than the first time he saw it. Hopefully that means I'll finally get my blue belt promotion soon. Although I usually don't care about rank, every time I put on that green belt now I'm reminded about how I screwed up my test, so I just want to be able to put it all behind me.

Also, I got a postcard from Dr. Z, Marcus and FNG today. (My backpacking buddies from the Colorado trip.) It was a very nice surprise. Man do I wish I was canoeing down the Buffalo with them.

Best Show Ever

God Inc.

The "episodes" are 5-6 minute clips on YouTube, but they are BRILLIANT. There's three so far:

Episode 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2f4heaG288&NR

Episode 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySqceK4SUi0&NR

Episode 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gx_EYv8JYI&eurl=

Go. Watch.

Back...Again

Well, I'm back again, this time with a New Year's resolution to post at least weekly.

It's been a fairly quiet week. Kermit the Kontractor sent one of his guys to fix the drywall cracks on the second floor. (It's from shrinkage (...hee) as the drywall and plaster dry out.) He's been in and out all week, but didn't come by yesterday, but that's how contractors roll. Of course, Kermit STILL hasn't found someone to fix the damn tub. It's only been over 2 and a half months now. Gah!

Doctor Z is leaving for his annual canoe trip, so no Karate class tonight. I was going to ask IronMom if she was planning to be there (since she's the only other one who ever shows up), but she wasn't in class yesterday. Oh well.

Tomorrow's supposed to be a washout (like today), but Sunday looks 40 and sunny. I sent an e-mail to JewishMother to see if she wanted to go hiking. I really hope she says yes.

Almost Friday

Not much went on today. There was road construction all day long (how unusual...not) that made the house shake but that's about it. Looks like they're getting ready to pave the first five or so meters of everyone's driveway. Since mine is gravel you'll get no complaints from me. It was loud though. I will be so happy to never hear heavy equipment or power tools again.

The weather was absolutely beautiful - 50's and sunny, which is hella unusual for this time of year. Perhaps it's compensation for the sucktacular summer and fall we had. I went for a short walk during lunch, which was lovely.

Well, not much else going on. So far I've made it through two nights on call without being paged. I had insomnia last night so I'm praying to make it three.

WOOHOO!!!

Let's see. Yesterday I was nearly in tears because

1.) I was SO stressed out about work

2.) I found a whole bunch of new what-had-BETTER-be settling cracks upstairs, causing me to spend hours on the web attempting to find more information and frantically looking up inspectors because I was freaked out about structural issues.

Well today I'm STILL worried that my house may be doing more than just settling, but:

1.) Work is now under control. Busy, but under control.

2.) DEMOCRATS in the HIZZOUSE!!!

• House is now under Democrat majority.
• Senate is tied.
• Governorships is now under Democrat majority.
• Rumsfield is GONE.

It is a Good Day.

Monday Already?

Didn't get to post on Friday due to having to actually, you know, work. I went to a fundraiser for the local humane society. It wasn't one of those super-fancy fundraisers - pretty casual. It was a lot of fun except for the "concert" which featured local college kids, some of whom needed more, erm, practice.

Saturday was pretty much a lazy day. Dr. Z and I watched a bunch of "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" episodes back to back. (P & P is a very bizarre but most excellent show that lasted on Nickelodeon for three seasons back in the early Nineties.)

Sunday I went out to Plattsburgh with MomTook and FINALLY bought a new television to replace my broken one that's had a horribly blurry, sometimes hourglass-shaped picture for TWO YEARS. This means I get to make my First Trip Ever to the dump to get rid of the old television.

So now it's Monday again. Sigh. Nothing much new foreseen for today - work, Karate training and Monday Night Football with Dr. Z. An average Monday.

She's Baaaaack

Well after being gone for nearly seven months I've decided to dust off the ole' blog and at least attempt the occasional entry or two. To keep it short, since April I've:

• Bought my first house
• Moved five hours away
• Bought my first car
• Learned how to drive
• Took up canoeing and started paddling competitively
• Went on my first backpacking trip - five days in the Colorado Rockies
• Received a promotion
• Took up Shorin Ryu Karate and gotten to green belt
• Attended my sister's wedding

Suffice it to say, I've been FREAKING BUSY here, people.

Whew.

LiveBlog of Scrubs

This one's for Jay...

8:33: Church choir...hee. Cox's "spiritual" dancing...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

8:35: Baby Dominoes - Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!

8:36: Constant pages...ouch. That's hitting a bit TOO close to home.

8:39: "Inflatable five!" Oh how I love The Todd.

8:41: "Maniac" in barbershop quartet with Ted pouring water down himself? Brilliant.

8:45: Love the Wizard of Oz, although "thanks" for getting "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" stuck in my head.

8:47: "And where do we meet up in heaven?"
"BY THE MILKSHAKE POOL ON THE LESBIAN CLOUD!!!"
"I love religion."
Best exchange ever.

8:49: "DEAD PEOPLE SHOULD BE DEAD!!!!" HAHAHAHAHA!!!

8:55: Okay, can someone get the tissues? God DAMN I hate this show sometimes! And...wow does "Ted" have a great voice.

Closer to Success...

I just found out that my offer on the house I want has been unofficially accepted, which is great news. My realtor and the contractor (it's a new build) are just hashing out contract details. I should be in escrow within 24 hours. I am SO psyched! I found out the flooring allowance - I've chosen light bamboo for the first floor and will go with beige-ish carpeting (still needs to be picked out) upstairs. The benefits of buying a house while it's still being built. I also found out that the countertops will be tile. It's more work, but I really do prefer the look.

In driving news, I had my third lesson today. Hill stops and main roads were the lessons of the day. I'm FINALLY at the point where although I'm still not a great or even good driver, I'd feel comfortable getting behind the wheel and practicing by myself.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be calling a lawyer and house inspector.

Notes from a Greyhound

Dear Big Black and Canadian:

Your phone is in fact NOT surgicially attached to your ear. You do not need to talk on it for five hours straight. Shut that shit off before I ram your cellphone so far down your throat that your doctorcan use its camera for your next colonoscopy.

Thanks,
The girl across from you who keeps giving dirty looks


Dear Travelling Suit:

This may be difficult to believe, but your precious luggage doesn't get its own seat on a full bus. If you really want it to ride in comfort I'll be happy to stow you in cargo.

Thanks,
A light packer


Dear Headache:

I'm so glad you returned. After all, I hadn't seen you since yesterday and really missed you. I assume Big, Black and Canadian invited you. Good thing I have no Advil on me.

Go away,
Pip


Dear Girl in Front of Me:

Thanks so much for getting on your cellphone as well. Now I have annoying phone conversations in stereo sound.

Shut up,
Pip


Dear Lead-in-the-Ass:

While we're all relieved that you are obviously concerned about your passengers's safety as evidenced by your refusal to go over -40 mph, we'd also all like to get back to Boston sometime before the next ice age. Please pick up the damn pace, especially since the highway is deserted. And no, the eighty-year-olds passing us do not count as "traffic."

Thanks,
A better driver than you.


Dear Cellphone Part Three:

Ah, I had forgotten: stereo sound is so Eighties. Thanks for correcting my oversight and giving me Cellphone Assholes's latest in full surround sound.

Not!
Me.

Quiet Weekend

Didn't do much over the weekend except take a ton of Dayquil and Nyquil, watch television and pray for death. I had to cancel on both StarWarsGeek Friday night and SevenofColorado last night.

I'm feeling better today, although probably won't be attempting Tae Kwon Do tonight. (Which is fine anyway because the cats will stage a coup if I don't go to the grocery store and buy more cat food before supper.)

Didn't Mean To Disappear

...but it's been a crazy month. Thanks to a huge project I was working 65-hour weeks while being on-call AND getting back into Tae Kwon Do by going six hours a week. The result?

I've managed to give myself the kind of flu where even after taking Nyquil and Dayquil for 24 hours my temperature is 99.3 degrees.

Better than the 101.4 it was, I suppose.

My Mom Rules

E-mail that showed up in my Inbox this morning after U2'a sweep of the Grammys:

--------

Hee hee -
Just wanted to congratulate you on all the awards your rock group took at the Grammy's last night. Be sure to let Bono know we're all very impressed!

Love MOM

--------

I love my mother.

Also: My appointment with the Famed Podiatrist that UsedCarSalesman recommended is this afternoon, so hopefully he can figure out what the hell is going on with my foot and I can get on the road to recovery. Stay tuned!

BlogSpot Hates Apple

This is my first post from my new iMac, and I have NO formatting options nor do I have the "Edit HTML" tab.

WHY must you hate Safari?

For SHAME, Blogspot!

How Life Is

Jay asked an excellent question: "So, other than your foot and your ass, how's life?"

The problem is that even when I AM healthly, my life is pretty damn boring. Now that I pretty much spend all day and night in my apartment, it's even moreso. It's funny - I never appreciated until now what a huge part of my life Tae Kwon Do really is. Of course, when I'm healthy I do spend about 15 hours a week there.

So...how's life? Outside of either setting up, waiting for, or going to doctors' appointments (which would fall under the "foot" category), pretty much it's just work, television and the occasional dinner with SevenofColorado or StarWarsGeek. In other words, fine, but dull.

Another Techie Question

I still haven't dealt with the last techie question (getting digital feed to work for my DVD audio), but have another one:

How can I get my damn PC to play nice on my Mac Airport router with WEP enabled? Right now I'm wide open, which scares the HELL out of me, even with setting the unit power to 50%. If I had my own house, it wouldn't be a big deal but I live in a large apartment complex. I can only get it to work without WEP.

HELP!

Happy February!

Although I don't usually quote Garfield, he was right in that "February is the Monday of months."

Not much new here. Most of this week has been spent waiting for my podiatrist appointment on Friday. The anti-inflammatory (basically prescription-strength Aleve) he prescribed doesn't seem to be doing much. Maybe now he'll actually, I don't know, RUN SOME TESTS. It's frustrating - I've had six different doctors either scratch their head or throw a prescription at me , which would be fine IF THEY WORKED. At this point, I'll be happy to at least start definitively ruling shit out. (Like the ARTHRITIS you SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH WITH before telling me to come back a WEEK AND A HALF LATER. Like, nice TO BE CONTINUED, DOCTOR, but I don't want a part in your heart-stopping SERIAL.)

I'm going to tell him, "Look, I realize you can't fix this until you know what it is, so let's get with the diagnosing, okay? Tests, biopsies, scans...bring it on. PLEASE." And if he gives me a referral to a rhuematologist like he was hinting at last time, I'm going to force him to run at least some basic RA and gout tests before I waste my time waiting for ANOTHER specialist to be able to fit me in his schedule.

My toes don't hurt, just look bad, but I seem to have a huge pain in my ASS. *grins*

My Weekend

Friday after work I went to the other Apple store to try my luck again. I had to wait a bit, but once I got someone, she stood there for a good half hour at least answering all my questions. I walked out with an iMac, Microsoft Office, a 3 year extended warranty, a subscription to mac.com, and a nearly $1800 charge on my credit card. Ouch. Can I just say how much I love it though? Since everything is contained in the flatscreen monitor (kinda like a tablet PC on a stand), it takes up like no room. The keyboard has not one but TWO USB ports to plug stuff into. (Something I have looked for for months in the PC world). The keyboard and mouse also work with my work laptop so I'm no longer killing my back.

StarWarsGeek picked me up since he wanted to see my new toy and we were going to watch Battlestar Galactica. It was wicked easy to set up. That was also the last time I really played with it since I can't use the Internet with it while on-call until I buy a router. Battlestar Galactica sucked (for them) by the way. Next week has mucho Starbuck, which, yay! Unfortunately the preview has her suddenly turning into an alkie, which...WHAT? I *hate* character assassination. It's why I stopped watching ST:DS9 after they turned Kira into a high heel wearing softie.

I was paged at 2 Friday night and stayed on the phone until four. Not usually a problem on the weekend, but I had to be up at eight for a facial. (Yeah, I know, but it was the only time she could fit me in and I was't expecting to be up all night.) I was the living dead but the facial was great. However, people need to stop asking about the pain of my piercings and tattoos because...well, piercings are over in an instant and tattoos have nothing on the pain of what they call "extraction." (I.e. They squeeze out all and any gunk in your pores.)

Came home and chilled out for a while. I ended up going to bed pretty early since I was so sleep-deprived. I slept for ten hours. Luckily I was much more productive yesterday - did laundry, grocery shipping, the bills, cleared off a spot on my desk for my new iMac, and even gave myself a manicure.

As for today, well, they call it "Monday" for a reason.

Yum!

My Indian neighbors are cooking some garlicky curry type thing. It smells too good for me to be mad about it infiltrating my entire apartment. I'm tempted to knock on their door and get the recipe. If they weren't, you know, busy cooking and eating dinner.

Ignorance can be Bliss

I went to the podiatrist yesterday. Seems that what started out as a "small infection that should start clearing up in a couple days" a month ago is actually "inflammation that along with chronic hip pain points towards fibromyalgia or arthritis."

I've been put on prescription-strength Aleve for the inflammation and have to go back next Friday, but the doctor's already mentioned going to a rhuematologist. Joy.

On a brighter note - tonight is dinner night with SevenofColorado. Yay! And tomorrow I finally get to go to the tailor's and pick up my new clothes I bought last week. Double yay!

ER in the ER and Sucky Customer Service

It's certainly been an...interesting weekend here. Lump #2 was painful enough that I couldn't even wear sneakers comfortably, so I called the doctor. Unfortunately neither she nor the same-day clinic had any openings, so you know what that means. Yes, I went to the ER for the first time.

I have to admit I talked to some pretty cool people during my three hour wait - AnkleExpress, who ended up having sprained and possibly fractured her ankle in a spill down the stairs and was waiting in a wheelchair, CrazyGrandma, who had bandages from her feet to above the knees and despite being the most injured waited the longest, and NoPants, a nice-but-not-the-brightest-crayon-in-the-box type whose girlfriend had come in with a siezure.

I was finally called in and explained the whole story to the PA, who like the three doctors before her was baffled. She ended up writing a prescription for a different, broader spectrum antibiotic and instructed me to come back on Sunday to have it rechecked.

I pretty much took it easy the rest of the weekend, soaking my feet and watching television. My hair was driving me insane on Saturday, so I called a random salon on Newbury ST and begged for an appointment that day. I managed to get one with Giovanni, who did right by my hair. After the slaughter seven months ago I was very afraid but he did a great job.

Saturday night my personal laptop refused to boot up in anything but Safe Mode after a reboot for a Norton update. I decided to rectify this problem by finally making the switch to Mac. (My laptop is over five years old anyway.)

I went to the Apple store today and loitered around the laptops and desktops for HALF AN HOUR with no one saying as much as "I'll be with you in a minute." Now, I understand that it's Sunday and you're all busy, but I watched as people looking at $15 accessories were helped when I was looking to put down FIFTEEN Gs on a NEW COMPUTER. I finally left in disgust.

I then went back to the ER since I was already halfway there. It was really bizarre because the television in the waiting room was set to NBC, which played two back to back episodes of "ER." I only waited about 90 minutes this time and was taken back. I was put in the "splint room" for some reason. It was a two-bed room, with a car-accident victim in the other bed.

The PA reviewed my file and I explained that the antibiotics weren't helping. He took an x-ray and said there wasn't any infection in the joints, which is good. Unfortunately this means Doc #5 struck out too. He told me to finish the antibiotics, start using Lamisil in case it's fungal, and make an appointment with Podiatry because "They look at this kind of stuff all day." He told me to make sure to mention I was in the ER twice with this so that they would try to get me in sooner. Unfortunately he couldn't give me an ETA of their wait for appointments.

As I was getting my stuff together, I heard the Doctor Lecture going on behind the curtain. Seems that this kid (More ink than brains) was not wearing his seatbelt, but somehow miraculously had no more than some bumps, bruises, and strained muscles. The doctor likened the impact to falling from a four-storey building. Is it wrong that I think it would have been good if he had, maybe not nasty internal injuries, but some nice orthopedic injury to make him learn a lesson - say, a broken tib/fib or fractured ankle? I only say this because the kid was totally, "Uh...whatever, man" during the lecture. I really have a hard time believing that he's gonna start wearing a seatbelt.

So, yeah. Do I know how to party it up on the weekend or what?

I Rule, My Feet Suck

I managed to get up this morning at six and walk for an hour. (I would say at the crack of dawn, but it was still pitch black outside.) It was nice though - I walked along the beach and watched the sun rise over the ocean. Definitely made it worth waking up at an ungodly hour. (It wouldn't have been so bad, but my business line woke me up at 12:30 in the morning. They didn't even leave a message. I've become addicted to the caller ID on my business phone, but from now on that bad boy goes OFF at night.)

Also, my toe seems to have halted its onward growth of The Lumps That Won't Go Away. It's even, dare I say it, looking better. I've been soaking my foot in salt water hot enough to cook my toes, a trick I learned healing my piercings, and it seems to have helped. Unfortunately, I now have ANOTHER one on the big toe of my OTHER foot. I am PISSED. I actually suspected a couple days ago because the knuckle had started itching just like the other toe had in the beginning, but didn't look because I didn't want to even think about having the same problem all over again.

At least I already have an appointment with a supposedly excellent podiatrist set up, even if it's not until the ninth. In the meantime, my left foot will now be joining the other one in the soaks.

Sigh.

Restaurant Review

SevenofColorado and I went to Finian's in Quincy Center last night because I had a $20 "New Neighbor" coupon. That they sent after I had already been living in North Quincy for four months.

Unfortunately they probably NEED to send out these coupons. Our waitress was a very nice older woman, but horribly slow with the service. Also, the chicken fingers I ordered were drier than the Sahara. Even *I* can fry up some chicken fingers better than that.

The one saving grace was their Spanish Coffee, which was delicious. Or maybe that's just the Kahlua in it talking.

GO HUGH!

Major congratulations to Hugh Laurie for winning a Golden Globe. (Not to mention giving one of the funniest acceptance speeches I've ever heard. "I'm going to pick out three names. The rest of you can lump it." HEE!)

A/V Geek Question

I have successfully hooked up my cable box to my receiver, with my television receiving a composite video-only input. I attempted to hook up my DVD player to the receiver via a digital optical cable, but it didn't work, first giving me audio only, then nothing. I plugged in a composite A/V cable instead, which works. Although it won't make much difference for my old television I would strongly prefer to have digital sound.

So...what's going on? Anything I should check before I put out for another optical cable? (I can't think of where I went wrong. You plug one end in the optical output of the DVD player and the other in the receiver where it says "Digital Optical Input - DVD." Not exactly brain surgery.)

Another questionnaire

I don't know why I like these things so much, but here goes...

TEN Random Things You May Not Know About Me:

1) I once one a gold medal at a national level Tae Kwon Do tournament
2) I have a mild thyroid condition
3) I am deathly allergic to seafood to the point where touching shrimp has caused me to break out in hives.
4) I'm left-handed
5) When I was very young my great-grandparents babysat me while my mother worked.
6) I have seven (biological, adoptive, step and ex-step) grandmothers.
7) I was a scarily obsessed Star Trek geek as a teenager.
8) I remember nightmares I had as a four-year-old.
9) My little toes are both so messed up from sparring that they have almost no toenails.
10) I can wiggle my ears and flare my nostrils.

NINE Places I've Visited:
1) New York City
2) Spain
3) France
4) Texas (Austin and Houston)
5) Canada (Montreal and Vancouver)
6) Nebraska
7) Mexico
8) Caribbean (Barbados, St. Martin and Martinique)
9) Florida (Tampa, Fort Myers and South Beach)

EIGHT Ways to Win My Heart:
1) Flowers. I LOVE fresh flowers but never buy them for myself.
2) Know your football and baseball.
3) Make me laugh. For real. Funny is so important.
4) Cuddling. It's very stereotypical, I know, but we can cuddle WHILE watching football.
5) Like animals. Kick my cats and I kick you. Hard. Plus a man who volunteers at the local shelter and/or donates to the ASPCA is hott.
6) Distract me when I start obsessing over something I cannot change.
7) Be a little take-charge. Sometimes, those of us who have stronger personalities attract men who are a little passive, and while I understand that, it won't win my heart. I've broken up with some otherwise wonderful men because I had a bigger set than they did.
8) Be as much of a dork as I am. Watch Battlestar Galactica. Listen to embarrassing music. I don't have the time or knowledge to be cool.

SEVEN Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
1) Go to Ireland and Scotland, drinking REAL Guinness and standing on many remote cliffs overlooking the ocean.
2) Own my own place.
3) Take lessons, buy a car, and start driving again.
4) Find that special someone.
5) Become a fourth degree black belt. (That's Master level.)
6) Have a big birthday bash with all my best friends attending.
7) See David Bowie in concert.

SIX Things I'm Afraid Of:
1) Stinging insects - bees, hornets, wasps, etc. My biggest phobia by FAR. I freak the fuck out around those things.
2) Crowds - sets off my claustrophobia something fierce. (You would hate it too if you were only chest-high to everyone.)
3) Dying alone in my apartment, with no one knowing.
4) Losing friends and/or family.
5) Waking up from surgery still intubated.
6) Airplane takeoffs.

FIVE Things I Don't Like:
1) Insects.
2) Coconut.
3) Vertical blinds.
4) Bananas.
5) Tomatoes.

FOUR Ways to Turn Me Off:
1) Patronize me. I can have boobs AND understand football.
2) Not watch any television/be a PBS-only snob.
3) Have horrid grammar. I try not to be all grammar police on people, but constant egregious misuse of the English language drives me insane.
4) Be an Ugly American.

THREE Things I Do Every Day:
1) Stretch my back multiple times. I REALLY need to get a separate keyboard for my laptop.
2) Daydream about being swept away by one of my current male obsessions.
3) Eat something that only a twelve year old would consider "food."

TWO Things that Make Me Happy:
1) Walking around during the perfect night, with a crisp breeze and a full moon.
2) A good laugh, be it from a funny e-mail or witty conversion with a friend.

ONE Thing On My Mind Right Now:
1) How the hell am I going to arrange my surround speakers for decent acoustics in my weirdly-shaped living room?

Pardon Me While I Bitch

Sorry, but it's been one of those weeks:

1.) The tattoo thing still has me so angry that I can barely concentrate on work, so I haven't gotten much done this week. Plus, it's not like I can even FIX the tattoo until it's healed. What REALLY pisses me off is that there's "blowout" on one of the clock hands, which can't really be fixed. (Blowout is when the ink "bleeds" a bit, so it's not a nice sharp line.)

2.) My toe is looking even WORSE, so venting via Tae Kwon Do is STILL out of the question. Once again, I'm supposed to WAIT for it to magically clear up on its own. However, for this I'm going to call UsedCarSalesman, who said he knows an excellent podiatrist he's referred other people to.

Okay, bitching done. On the bright side, I'm hanging out with SevenofColorado tonight, which will be Most Fun. Also, tomorrow night is the new Battlestar Galactica episode. Yay!

ARGH!!!

Well, the "scabby, multicolored flakey" phase of my tattoo is finishing up and I am NOT happy. Check it:




No, not the color. That's just my camera being stupid. It's the missing spots of color. I am NOT happy. I know it's not the tatooist - as you saw, it looked great pre-healed. It just lost pieces of color during the healing process, which I've heard can happen. It is also easily fixable. I'm just really annoyed because now I have to trek all the way back out to Davis Square to get it touched up. (Not to mention go through the whole "can't sleep on my side for a week" thing again.)

Well, I have to let it finish healing anyway. Maybe once it's completely finished it will look better. Since my other tattoo is on my lower back, I couldn't inspect it as closely so I don't know if that went through the same thing.

I'm also not ecstatic about the shading.

CHRIS GARVER, WHERE ARE YOU?

New Ink!

This is for Liz, since she has a seeming inability to see photos attached in e-mail.

*grins evilly*

The Year in Review

Stole this off of Liz's blog because I don't feel like working:

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?

Stayed by myself for a week in a city where I didn't speak the language.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Oh god...I always make all these grandiose resolutions and never end up keeping them. And of course I made more for this year. I believe I've already broken about four of them. *LOL*

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yep! CrazySis! Hence the introduction of Poopsalot.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Nope, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?

Spain and France.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?

A car and a significant other.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

November 4th, when I arrived in Madrid and KornGirl wasn't at the airport. Because it was the most terrified I ever was. Also September 11th and October 13th, when I tested for and received my black belt, respectively.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting my black belt.

9. What was your biggest failure?

My social life.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Well the saga of The Right Amount of Synthroid continues, but otherwise just one bad flu.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The material for my duvet cover. LOVE!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

SevenOfColorado, for moving out to Boston.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My father's. As always.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Well I live in Boston, so rent. Moving and the trip to Europe also ate up he-yuge chunks of money.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The movie adaptation of "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe." Too bad the special effects disappointed. Some great sets though.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?"

"Somebody Told Me" by The Killers

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder - Hmmm...slightly sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter?-- About the same.
iii. richer or poorer?-- Thanks to inflation and no raise, actually poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Everything. Working on some big goals. I didn't accomplish much this year.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Watching television.

20. How will you be spending New Year's?

Alone at home. See above re: my social life.

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?

Not really, no.

23. How many one-night stands?

One.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Toss up between Scrubs, House and Boston Legal.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.

26. What was the best book you read?

A Movaeable Feast.

27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?

iTunes.

28. What did you want and get?

A redesigned bedroom. My black belt.

29. What did you want and not get?

Driving lessons and a car. My CISSP.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

Oooh...tough one. For now I'll say King Kong.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I actually went home. Was supposed to do a 16-mile hike, but got rained out so we went shopping in Lake Placid instead.

.32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A relationship.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?

Work-from-home chic.

34. What kept you sane?

I'm not.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I love me some Jason Isaacs.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

The continued existence of the Patriot Act.

37. Who did you miss?

Sarah. Bitch moved out to Framingham and suddenly she's too good for me. We need to go on vacation so you can be a bad influence again!

38. Who was the best new person you met?

PoopsaLot.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005

Sometimes it's just not your year.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"So no one told you life was gonna be this way. Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's DOA. It's like you're always stuck in second gear. When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year."

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Today was my first day back to work. I managed to sort through my e-mail last night, so although I was pretty busy today it wasn't too overwhelming. (Plus a fair amount of people took today off.)

The Handyman came and fixed my bedroom window, which had gotten stuck slightly open after I had flipped it down to clean the outside. (NOT a good thing in this weather.) He also looked at my water heater. He tinkered with it a bit, but didn't see anything wrong. I guess running out of hot water in the shower in fifteen minutes is NORMAL, even with a 40 gallon tank and a specialist being sent by building management because I was using so little water that they thought my meter was broken. *sighs* (Since it started out hot and got cold pretty fast, I was sure that the bottom element had burned out.)

And tonight I desperately need to go grocery shopping. All in all, a fairly typical Tuesday.

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.
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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.