Move Along

Anger Managment... Not so much.

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 05:14:35 GMT

Basically, I'm not managing. I'm so freaking irritated right now at the whole of humanity from TV show writers, to people who just want to chit chat with me, to things that smell funny. It's not a swing. I don't feel ups and downs, crys and giddies. Just a touch of paranoid anxiety and unbelievable annoyance at every single thing I encounter. Right at this instant I'm glaring at a gift certificate stuck in my keyboard because their website is glitchy and doesn't have the perfect place available for me to pick.

If someone tries to tell me I'm wrong today, I just want to rub their faces in their own wrongness and scream "Suck It! I'm right and you're not!" This totally isn't me. This is an alien taking over my body. Pod people. Fucking hormones.

You know, I'm getting to the point where I'm happy I don't have kids. If menopause will kill these fucking mood swings, sign me up! Hot flashes be damned. This is all somehow so much worse without the rose colored glasses of the teenage years. When you I didn't care who I was hurting with my unjustifiable behavior because in my mind I was justified and it was fair to be a bitch. Now. Now I put my job and relationships in danger because I can't keep my emotions from playing out across my forehead like a marquee sign. I swear I tried so hard not to look at people, to just keep facing down because I knew my "You're so stupid" thoughts were telegraphing like I was Jean Grey on crack.

I just want to let it go. I want it to not be this raging green knot inside of me. And yes, I watched both Green Lantern and Avengers this week. My green energy is not willpower, it's pure rage. I should just wear green tomorrow. OH... Tomorrow! I'm working with Kay. I'm going to make her cry. OH God! I don't want to make her cry. *head desk*

Can I call in sick? Think Linds would let me go home early before I have a chance to destroy anyone? I could bribe her with an extra long lunch. This is going to suck.

Steve Carlson & Christian Kane StageIt Concert

Sun, 27 May 2012 03:59:23 GMT

Now I know not everyone on my FL is a fan, so I won't go into fangirl hysterics. I do, however, think StageIt is a neat idea for some artists to connect with their fans and to gain a following from more than just their local area. I took a few screen caps during tonight's concert. The shows are done with just a webcam pretty much so the quality to begin with isn't good. I took a few of my favorites and played around in Picasa 3 since it's new on my computer and does neat things. I am by no means a graphic artist, I just do this for my own enjoyment. I did however get a few shots that I wanted to share. I put them behind the cut for the non-fans.

Why Hello Steve's eyeball!

This last one is from the StageIt concert in February. I used the polaroid effect to catch a shot of Steve and Chris laughing.

Quite a State We're In

Sun, 20 May 2012 04:12:55 GMT

Actually, it's just Iowa. I am scared of my power bill later this summer if it is still this hot this late at night. I guess we won't be doing the every other summer for the big downstairs air conditioner thing. Parking next to it today, I couldn't help but think we should be putting it in next month instead of waiting until July. I'm going to try and hold off until after Memorial Day.

I really need to make a decision. I gave myself a deadline, and I'm very close to it now. The problem is, I haven't got any better grasp on my money than I did before Christmas. That's a lame excuse. The money's fine, but I'm scared to go without my measly paycheck. I need to save my ass off for two weeks so I have a stash that makes me feel like I could go without for little while. Hrm... scared. Still confused.

Tonia says I need to think outside the store, like think outside retail. She also says that if I'm going to not think outside retail I should hit up hobby lobby where they start folks at $3 more an hour. I'm pretty sure I could put that money right back in their till if I worked there. :) At least at McG's they don't pay me enough to buy their merchandise. Hobby Lobby's a different kettle of fish. Mmmmm fish. I'm craving Omega 3's. Tis about that time of the month.

I need to make a list of things to do before the Memorial Weekend party. A list will keep me from freaking out, give Travis an idea of where he can help out, and maybe motivate me to get some of this stuff done before the big day. As it stands we've got a couple plans on the day before, and so I can't keep saying, oh I'll do it on that day off, because that won't happen.

OH what did come in the mail today was this!

There was a whole bunch of them at this antique store in Omaha. I wasn't sure I could use them until I got home. Once home, I checked out my old console stereo, and sure enough, there is a place to hook them up. The store let me paypal a couple by email and they arrived today. The guy picked them out special for me. They're from Altoona, Iowa he said. The stamp on the top says South Ottumwa drive in. Either way they're from Iowa. He said there was no guarantee they'd work because they'd been in storage for 25 years. Yike! And I thought collectors *coughhoarderscough* only existed on tv! Anywho. They don't have the prongs connectors on the end, but Trav says not to worry. He also finally got excited about them when he discovered he could hang them on the inside of our dining room window. I thought they'd look cool to add a bit of music and ambiance hanging outside the same windows for parties. We'll see how it goes, or if they even work.

Writing goes slow. Nothing fit to be called wholly my own. But listening to Patricia Briggs talk about her process at the beginning of the month was inspiring. Lead me to believe that people who think and work like me could actually write whole books. It made it more than a dream. Also, this fiction book I'm reading right now is leading me to believe that it doesn't take much talent or plot at all to get a book published. :P I won't tell you what I'm reading because I promised I wouldn't trash it on the web because my friend knows the author. And I will say that it isn't like Jean Auel's last piece of unedited dog-shit, but... I've read better and been a part of writing much better.

I wish I could get more people interested in reading ALDE. Perhaps it is just so vivid in my own imagination because I'm invested and was raised on science fiction rather than urban fantasy. But it's a world. A world I want to explore, that contains a thousand stories, where anything is possible. A world I would feel guilty about calling my own. I can't bring myself to submit anything written there as my own. Too much of my friends are in it and what kind of person would I be to profit from other's creations? I just play in that sandbox, I didn't build it, put the sweat and tears into it, nourish it. Micheal did that. Alesia did that. Hal and Sue and I just paint inside the lines already drawn, making new creations of our colors, but always tethered to that first conception.

I'm waxing poetic again, aren't I? Well it's late. I'm hot. The high winds knocked down and killed my ancient box fan today. We are now down to one fan, and I would be an awful wife to steal that from the man trying to sleep in this heat. I best go to bed myself where I can share the fan. Perhaps I'll read more of that book that can't keep straight what story it wants to be and who's telling it. It would be fascinating if it were actual collected accounts of history, but it's a complete fabrication made to look like history, and it tries too hard. I'm not sure what the lesson is either. What am I supposed to take away? It is just life, illustrated. People have dreams, dreams turn into nightmares and life sucks. Then your children run in opposite directions and your grandchildren wish with all their hearts to run back to the original dream. Everyone ends up miserable. Yep. It's life. Not sure why I need to read about it.

With that note of uncommon cheer, I'm going to bed. Good night all.

Good and Bad

Fri, 11 May 2012 23:23:49 GMT

Wednesday was awesome. Thursday was surprisingly good.

This morning I got up, did some housework and then got dressed early. I decided to trek downtown to Cottonwood Canyon Coffee shop. It was about as far away from me as Cabin Coffee, but the last few times I've been to Cabin Coffee, I've been disappointed by their espresso drinks. They roast their own coffee in a number of variety's and blends, and their brewed coffee is appropriately awesome. Espresso, not so much.

So I figured Cottonwood Canyon might be a better bet. Finding a parking space was a bit more difficult, but I walked in and checked out the menu. I decided to order a plain mocha for Tonia since the reason I was taking her one was for the chocolate. They had a thing on their menu called a ChinoLatino Mocha. It advertised a touch of cilantro and mexican chocolate. OMG. It was honestly the best mocha I'd ever had in my life!

It didn't taste anything like cilantro, but the chocolate was rustic and thick. At the bottom of the cup were the sandy dregs of what tasted like awesome cinnamonny Stone ground mexican chocolate from TAZA. I can't rave enough about this coffee. I'm thinking I want another one tonight, but I've got too much to do.

Anyway. Sometime after lunch, the flush of cheerful days and amazing coffee wore off. I just didn't want to listen to anyone talk. I didn't want to have to humor anyone... I just wanted to be left alone. No one left me alone.

Now, finally.. 3 hours later, I'm feeling better. I'm listening to a podfic by zuben_eschamali and that's actually doing a pretty good job of changing my mood. If only people would refrain from interrupting the story.

So Easter Happened.

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:25:55 GMT

Yeah that was a couple weeks ago, but it's been a long month. I can't even tell you how, but my life got so crazy busy in the weeks leading up to Easter. I think it was the extra stress I put myself to worrying about the end of work's fiscal year. Then a vacation, holidays, and crazy amounts of people needing my time. After The day visiting with my family and friends, I came back to my life feeling refreshed. I was happy, I was energetic. I hadn't quite gotten back to the gym and healthy eating, but I was better.

Then yesterday happened. I was annoyed with the world before I even got to work. I felt like I was being bugged and poked, and herded from everyone from the cats to the internet. FYI, if I feel like I'm being arbitrarily herded, I will put on my brakes. The Chinese zodiac may say I'm a Horse, but I really believe I'm a mule at heart.

Work did not improve my day, and I'm afraid I tended to take it out on Kay. I didn't actually apologize, but we both kept taking silent breaks before coming back to stilted conversation which was my way of saying I'm not really mad at YOU and her way of saying she understood even if she didn't approve of my behavior. At least that's how I interpreted it. I'm pretty sure it's hormonal, but I tried a couple of different tactics to lessen the impact I had on others.

I called Travis from work and told him I wasn't coming directly home. I took my notebook to B&N, bought a cupcake with an half inch of chocolate frosting, shut my phone off and wrote. I wrote and wrote until the scene I'd been struggling with came together, the clerk took away my plate, and I had to pee. It only too an hour, but I felt surprisingly more human after I got SOMETHING accomplished without being interrupted.

At home I ate baked cheese sticks and a huge bowl of steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Since I had managed to do 2 loads of dishes and some pots & pans before breakfast Sunday morning, my half clean kitchen didn't stress me like it has over the last week. So I brought my bowl up to the snuggle room and ate while I watched Gladiator on the TV and Travis played SWTOR.

I took my pills this morning for the first time in more than a week. I took my magnesium since it is technically PMS time. I've got my lunch packed, a load of dishes and a load of laundry done this morning before I let myself pour milk over my cereal. I'm worried about today. I just have this feeling Karen's not going to be in a good mood, I know I left a lot of crap for the warehouse, and I have to work my last couple of hours with Nishi. THEN I have to go to TV night at Tom's.

I love TV night with the girls. I love my shows. Tom, however, was almost more than I could handle last week when I was still feeling good about life. Kim giggles when I make faces at him behind his back, but that doesn't really help me at all.

So schedule: TV tonight, Tuesday is sewing with Kim after work late. Wednesday Joyce is showing up to work on my yard again, and I may be donating blood after a lunch date. If Trav's home early enough, I think we'll go to Game of Thrones at Tom's before Game. Thursday and Friday are currently plan free, but we may be heading to Hampton on Saturday. If we don't I'm super cleaning my house.

I Love You.

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 04:46:57 GMT

Three little words. I remember the first time Travis said it to me. I was teasing him with something, I can't even remember what now. Either holding it away, or pretending to be annoyed over some slight. It was within the first two months that we'd met, and I don't think I could have been actually annoyed with him if I had even wanted to. He whined out, "I love you!" Like a a plea to be forgiven. I didn't acknowledge it then, but later when we were alone, I brought it up and we talked about it.

Travis is surprisingly affectionate to me. It has never been a struggle to get him tell or show me how he cares. Once we started saying it, admitting it outloud, we never stopped. We tell each other dozens of times a day that we love each other. And in the absence of the actual words, we have a code unique to us. He makes a kissy noise at me when he can't speak, usually when he's asleep. If he walks past the door of the computer room on a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'll say 'I love you.' He'll make a kissy noise and not even open his eyes. It's actually kind of cute. When I'm half asleep, I sign at him. I thumb point at my chest, make the letter L, and then gun-finger-point at him.

The people at work always awe and kissy face noises at me when I talk to Trav and tell him I love him as a goodbye. And I listen how they don't tell their significant others that on the phone. We say it in lulls of conversation, sometimes in unison, when we leave, when we're reunited. I've even yelled it in the style of "Fuck you" at him when I annoyed at not getting my way. Sometimes I worry that the overuse of such a phrase could take away it's meaning, but you can't change the meaning of the words.

Have you ever examined the phrase? Love is a verb. It is an action, a force, a movement. What other verbs do we use in such a way? Most activities are done <i>with</i> someone. I dance with you, I read with you, I eat with you, I speak with you, I walk with you. Fewer are used without that modifier. I push you, I want you, I move you, I see you, I feel you, I smell you, I hear you. They are things you do with your senses. I love you. I actively use my mind and body to do this thing. I don't just have love for you, I don't simply feel love for you, and I don't arbitrarily love with you. I love you.

There's more to this I'm sure, but I've probably over shared as it is. I didn't get written what I wanted written tonight, but I wrote. I'm tired, cold and achy. I'm going to call Travis and tell him I'm going to bed. Even if he isn't home by the time I fall asleep, I know the last thing he will say to me is, I love you.

Omaha, Day 3

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:36:57 GMT

The Journey Home. Eastward Bound. Read more HERE.

Omaha, Day 2

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:21:18 GMT

You know you want to read it! Here is is!

Omaha, Day 1

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 03:18:20 GMT

Read all the adventures HERE at my travel blog.

Life under The Shield

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:09:14 GMT

I never remember the sky in Ohio or Tennesse. I remember sun, trees & rain, but there was never so much sky as there is in Iowa. I do remember driving a kid from San Francisco out to a gravel road where it was so dark we couldnt hardly see each other because he had never seen so many stars before. It was the first time I didnt take them for granted. That I actually noticed them and how full the sky is with them.

When I came to Waterloo is when I noticed the lack of sky. The glow of the city street lights used to make me excited because it meant the long drive from my place to Trav's was almost over. But now I notice that I hardly see any stars, and on an overcast, rainy night like tonight, the orange reflective glow and the splash of cars through puddles remind me of life under the shield in Highlander II. It is never really dark here. Thankfully unlike that horrific vision of the future, we actually have beautiful days and I try to notice them for more than just their lack of precipitation.

In other news: I went back to the YWCA last Thursday. The tax money came through and I was tired of feeling like crap, so I went down and bought a non-member pass for Feb&March. It was just a test to see if I can still do it, or stick with it by myself. I cant keep blaming my lack of self dicipline on my lack of Tonia. Its a lousy excuse. So I went Thusr, Sat, Mon & Tues. Beth has volunteered to be my virtual gym buddy Mon & Wed like Alesia's my virtual yoga buddy. It does help to have someone expecting, pushing, asking for you to be there.

Downside, I hurt. My machine was taken Monday and I walked long & fast on the treadmill. That, with this big weather system moving through meant my left ankle didnt bend at all today. But the pain is good, stretchy, proof you did something pain. I liken it to post sex aches. They remind you of happy endorphins. I cant wait to go back tomorrow. Tomorrow I also have a lunch date and an appointment to donate blood with Tonia.

Oh! I watched a StageIt show last Friday. Steve Carlson & Christian Kane with Brian Nutter. It was a lot of fun and kind of intimate, like my favorite part of any concert when the artist is just sitting on stage talking about where the music came from, or which songs are their favorite. It lets you see a little more inside the art. I love that, seeing how someone is influenced, how they're mind works, the story behind something.

When I went to the Art Institute in Chicago, I spent more time reading plaques than studying the art. I loved learning about the artist or trying to imagine what sort of world they were living in. It is why I love being with Tonia. She sees things from just a little different angle, and is fascinating to see first hand how her mind processes things. I am reminded of one of a phrase from my favorite childhood book, Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffery.

It went something like...It is like looking through a porthole into a whole nother hold of understanding...

I thought I was done waxing poetic. If I wasnt before, I sure am now. It's 1am and I have a long day ahead. Goodnight dear FL.

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Awake at 2:45am

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:29:31 GMT

I've never had insomnia. Im lucky that way. Sometimes I stay up all night reading or watching TV when I should be sleeping, but if I get to bed and shut off the lights I dont lay staring at the ceiling wishing for sleep. Tonight I just woke up and cant yet seem to go back to sleep. Mostly I think I cant get comfortable.

Whats that tube between your ear and throat? yeah, my right one's blocked. It causes random shooting pains down my neck and back behind my ear. Some ibuprofen and a long hot shower seemed to have helped because I was a stumbling whining mess when I went to bed around 11, but am pain free at the moment. knock on wood. I havent really been sick all winter and I'd like to keep it that way.

Yesterday at work was insane. The tech dude upgraded our router software in an attempt to resolve our connectivity issues on Thursday. Since then, our big Ricoh office machine isnt on the network, couldnt print to it or email from it. When I came in Friday morning I attempted to make the network recognize it without any luck. In a last ditch effort, i hooked it up directly, via USB cord to a computer on the network. That resolved the printing issue but it still wont email directly from the copier. Ah well. If they cant sort it this weekend, I will schedule IKON to come out and make it work on Monday.

I have the weekend off!! I have no plans?! I know, it might be a sign of the apocolypse. Trav's got warhammer & game tomorrow so i was going to have the house all to myself. = mentioned this to Tonia in a round about invitation to come make me fold and sort my laundry. She suggested we fold clothes upstairs while we drink wine & watch more Supernatural. She let me show her one or two episodes last month, and then sheepishly asked for another. I think she's hooked. I bought her a slice of chocolate cheese cake as reward for making my day with the suggestion to watch more. :)

Okay, my hands keep falling asleep as I thumb type this in bed and I worry that my wiggling is keeping Travis from sleeping. Im going to try to find a comfy position to read some more. Im reading a real book! Im halfway through Midnight Tides by Stephen Erickson, and again so impressed with the depth, intricacy and density of his story telling. Good morning all. :)

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Post of Productivity

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:28:15 GMT

I kicked butt yesterday. I hope I can keep it rolling today.

Filed Taxes
Filled out FAFSA
Went to lunch with Tonia
Got a couple things at K-Mart
Did a birthday picspam
Made lasagna for supper
Made 3 small pans of lasagna for the freezer
Kicked butt in D&D
Sang baby songs to Vanda
Planned a container garden with Alesia
Ripped all the BonJovi Mo gave me

It doesn't seem like much when you just list it like that, but it was a very productive day. I've still got to do a couple things for school this week before the FAFSA results get back so I know what I'm doing. I think I decided to change my major to Business because I'm already halfway through that and at this point I just need to finish something. I also believe it will give me the skills and degree to back up some of the things I've been doing for the last 7 years in the work force. I want to take one summer course I think and see how this school thing goes, then maybe one or two classes next fall. I'll have more of an idea when I find out if they'll let me switch majors and how much money they give me. :D I don't want any more debt.

Note to self: Buy new keyboard Friday. This one squeaks and sucks.

Music Music Music

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:40:04 GMT

Reply to this entry and I will give you five prompts. Think of a song that fits each prompt, post the five songs to your journal, and explain your choices.

ranua gave me yellow, cloud, dogs, swimming and dark. I just, this morning, remembered a dog song. How sad is that?

Yellow is, of course, Yellow Submarine by The Beatles

Cloud immediately made me think of Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. Since you should all know what that sounds like, I'm going to share John Barrowman's version from his album Music Music Music. John is Capt. Jack Harkness from Dr. Who & Torchwood, by the way. A very talented and funny man.

Dogs was tough, as I stated earlier, but this morning I thought of Ol Red by Blake Shelton. I can't embed that vid, so I just included a link.

Swimming in terms of music always makes me think of the video for A Little More You by Little Big Town. I love this group, and while this isn't my favorite of their songs, it's a great song and a very pretty video.

Dark lead me to thinking of Fishing in the Dark by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I'd never really heard of them before the late 90's, but that was when country really clicked with me.

I'm kind of sorry I couldn't get any Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers in here, but nothing quite seemed to fit. I'm sure I can do some more musical evangelism for RCPM later this summer though. :)

Chicago/Indiana Trip - Beth & Muncie

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:21:15 GMT

So I went to Chicago Friday Feb 3rd. I followed a rain cloud all the way over there.... Read more at my sapidity_travel entry: Chicago/Indiana Trip - Beth & Muncie

Weekend Review

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:39:53 GMT

... 'cause everyone's doing it. Also, the userpic may be a slight exaggeration.

Friday we'd decided to do our Valentine's Day night since Tuesday isn't good for us. I made pork chops with mushroom rice. I quirked the recipe to try and save on fat or something, and it wasn't the same. Not bad though. The pork chops were very good. It takes a while to cook, so while it did, I whipped out two 8x8 casseroles for the freezer. I'd found some recipes online, and wanted to try them out. One was a turkey, rice, and green beans with alfredo sauce, and the other was one of my old standbys, turkey tetrazzini.

So we watched Thor, had a beer and snuggled in the big chair. It was pretty nice. I've got a V-day card for him I'm going to set out tonight for tomorrow morning with coffee and a treat I think. My dreams that night, after watching Thor were exceptionally bashy. Lots of throwing and smashing things.

Saturday, I worked, of course. But before I went to work, we went to Hy-Vee to kill 2 birds with one stone. We had breakfast, which is always pretty cheap, and they have excellent Caribou coffee?. Then we bought the couple of things I'd forgotten to get at the grocery store. Travis went on to buy Star Wars The Old Republic after that, and I went to work.

Saturday evening was more of the same. I vegged out with TV and my phone and a book. Travis cracked out on his new game all day and most of the night. I made another casserole for the freezer and we had some pasta and veggies. Ham & aspargus with egg noodles was the casserole. I'm interested to see how that turns out.

Sunday we got up and cooked our own breakfast. I feel like I'm turning into the older generation now. I want my soup and food hot like my grandmother used to complain about, and my favorite meal to eat out is breakfast because it's so much easier than cooking it at home.

I went on to do the whole yoga routine with Alesia. The one shorter routine has really been hard to do since I hurt my back/hip. I found that the slightly longer routine i could do, but I always got frustrated that I couldn't do the standing forward bends like I wanted. I've been mostly doing that routine and faking my way through the shorter one maybe once a week. Yesterday I felt pretty good and decided to try them in the order A does them. Short first as a warm up for longer. I was surprised. Short wasn't as hard/painful as it had been, and it did actually limber me up so that I wasn't as frustrated with my inadequacies during the longer routine.

The hip aches on days I do yoga. Not a bad ache, just a hey-you-stretched-me-and-i'm-rebelling ache. I did take one does of advil at work, but mostly just wore my comfy shoes. Work, all three days this weekend was slow to start off, and hopping in the afternoon. The last 2 hours of Sunday just flew by in a haze of orders and financing. But I managed to do some of my other work while I was at it. Not probably as much as I should, but more than I expected. I've really got to get my debit memo pile cranked out this week so I can concentrate on tracking down all the crap Barb's going to be asking me about for inventory.

Sunday night Kim came over. I'd put chicken caccatore in the crock pot before I left for work. That's browned chicken pieces, veggies and tomatoes, seasoned italian and slow cooked. It isn't Trav's favorite meal, and it wasn't really Kim's. It is however one of my childhood favorites, and I was very happy with the result. I've also got two days worth of leftovers I don't have to share. :P

Anyway. Kim came and we mainlined Supernatural. She hadn't seen The last 4 episodes and I hadn't seen the latest. She liked most, didn't nic pic too bad, and except for the connection bullshit, we had a pretty good time.

Oh I set up both monitors! Travis had said the old wasn't playing Star Wars, so he hooked up the new, flat screen. I hate that one for watching TV online because you have to sit at just the right angle. So I figured out how to hook up both monitors to the video card and we were able to watch TV on the big old one and I could surf imdb, and superwiki while we watched.

One pretty before I go.... Don't ask me why Mickey Rourke is dressed up like old Elvis, I don't know.

Okay. That's it. Boring I know. I should make another post sometime about all the stuff I want to do or get done, but not today.

The Happiest of New Years

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:02:18 GMT

Tonia wanted a small adult gathering and an excuse to make a cheesecake. We planned a little snacky buffett and decided to play card or board games on New Years Eve.

My little snack plates that dont match enough dishes to serve a meal on, some trays from Tonia, napkins from Mom and a new flattened wine bottle serving dish with red shoe spreader from Greta. A colorful start to our snack bar.

Bad pic, but thats the last of my holiday cookies, my new apron from Paula and behind me on the top of the fridge is last year's NYE wine bottle, a really sweet muscato. Mom's homemade hot pepper jelly is on cream cheese in the wine bottle serving dish.

I managed to catch a pic of almost everyone smiling. starting at the left is the back of Kim's head, Tom making a point, Sara grinning, Bill giggling, Tonia playing with her hair, JBahr chilling, Travis reading the papers, Mira getting ready to answer and Eric in his grandmother pose.

These are most of my oldest and dearest friends. The family I choose. The people I spend most of my free time with, will drop everything for and invite to every get together i have. I couldnt have asked for a better new years eve. I have a big clean up job and ache in new places, but it was Soooo woth it. I just had to get it down here for posterity... to give me something to look back at later this year.

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Funky Purse!

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:14:10 GMT

I've had this funky fabric forever and wanted to make something out of it. This is what I came up with. I am afraid that it loses something in these pictures.

Im actually hoping that Vickey likes this one. :0)

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Well...That was easy....

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:43:09 GMT

Me: (paraphrased)
Dear University of Northern Iowa, I want to go back to school. How do I do it? I am willing to grovel.

UNI: (direct quote)
Lea,

Good morning! I hope that this e-mail finds you well. I have Term Activated you for Spring 2012 courses. I hope that this helps! Please see our website for information about registering in the new system ... You will need to have the Computer Consulting Center reactive your MyUNIverse account in order to register for courses. Have a GREAT day, and GO PANTHERS!

Regards,
Jennifer

-----

I'm just a little afraid of this Jennifer chick. Afraid like the emo kids are afraid of the super perky blonde cheerleader who suddenly decides to befriend them without any underhanded reasoning.

Geek Girl Night #1

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:20:06 GMT

My friend Beth was bemoaning her lack of geek girlfriends. He close and trusted compatriots have either moved away, or worse, spawned. Mostly both. She was feeling isolated and lonely and we agreed that our short visit in person was not enough and we must do more. She lives 4 hours away however and so I took a page from Alesia's book. I asked her to set up an online date.

We were looking for something geeky to do and decided to do our fall back plan, a rewatch of Firefly. It was perfect! we put on the commentary with Joss and Nathan and giggled and snarked our way through the 2 hour 1st episode. We came away with a new appreciation for the thought that goes into directing and cameras and light. Also a better look at how the writers influence our emotions. Also, bad guys have fruit.

Mark Sheppard's little bit was awesome, and no matter how many shows he dresses up, I always think of him as Badger. Someone called the man riboflavin, because he makes everything better just by being in it. I prefer the analogy that he is TV's little black dress. He makes every show look good when he gets cast.

Well my lovies. It has been a good night and Im off to bed a bit early in hopes of being a tad more productive tomorrow if I get 8 hours of sleep. Take care and Age of the Geek, Baby!

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The State of Baby Envy

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:23:53 GMT

Thanksgiving was a smaller affair this year with only about 30 people making the trek to the southernmost reunion site we have ever had. The main attraction for me was my cousin Danny who's been on 3 tours to Iraq and stationed around the world since the last time I saw him. He brought his texas-native wife and new 4mo old baby boy. Such a neat couple and sweet baby. Little Daniel, or sugar lump as he's called by the spanish daycare ladies, was the star of our little cirlce.

My good friend G. is in the hospital right now after some major complications from a failed pregnancy she didnt even know she had. She had an IUD and wasnt planning for more. Now she's a bit emotional over losing something she hadnt considered that she wanted. Me? Im so sad and I dont know how to comfort her.

Karen at work was so excited this morning because she found out her neice is getting set up to adopt a 3rd child. The mother of the girl they adopted out of foster care has called her twice now to be with her during labor and take the new baby. Brandy is estatic and hoping for a boy. Im jealous and wishing for my very own baby mama. I told Karen to pass on that I am laying claim to #4.

Last week i tried to tell Tonia how much I was okay childless. How good my life was. she very simply agreed with all my statements then informed me that my eyes told a different story. Cant pull anything over on her.

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Whats your BFF done for you lately? :)

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:15:49 GMT

I got an envelope addressed to me at work today.

this is what was inside. :)

Punny, Lovley, and handcrafted awesomeness! <3 <3

Posted via LiveJournal app for Android.

Long Contented Sigh

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:07:29 GMT

I got up a bit early today to get a Textbroker article done. I admit to taking twice as long as I should have with various methods of procrastination. After I hit submit, however, the day got vastly better. The following is a list of awesome stuff I did today:

Toast with peanut butter and a fresh cortland apple. YUM!
A morning spent geeking out with my twitter gals
Peanut Butter M&M's from the sweet hubby
Cleaned dining room with the sweet hubby
All the plants fit beautifully in my dining room windows with the AC now in the garage.
My Christmas cactus, Scrooge, is in full beautiful pink bloom
Rocked out 2000+ words of ALDE parkour with the awesome little_wren82!
Survived the grocery store by listening to Steve Carlson, and stayed on budget
Had homemade AWESOME fried fish dinner with fries & coleslaw with Tonia and her family
Talked after dinner for an hour about books, religions and post apocalyptic survival skills
Went with Tonia & little Sam to meet Bill & Sara & Vanda at the Roller Derby
Cheered the local team, the Push Up Brawlers to a win of 141 to 102 over the Farm Fresh Skaters
Cuddled Vanda until she fell asleep in my lap
Found Hawkeye colored black and gold petunias
Chatted at my mom
Ate hot fudge sundaes with my favorite people
And have come home to go to bed with my husband.

It's been an all around AWESOME day. Thank you, world!

Just got home from work...

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:49:29 GMT

So that's probably why I'm in the stressed green post-it icon kind of mood.

It's been a long day. Up at 830, yoga, shower, dressed, grocery shopped and headed to work. It was a pretty day and the last day of the sale, so we were swamped from open to close. It was also the last day I'm working with Melissa. She's been fun, a blast in fact, but she's leaving us for a more full time gig. Ah well.

I'm headed downstairs to make stir-fry for Travis in just a bit, but I honestly don't know where he is. I haven't bothered to call yet either, so it can't be bugging me very much. Kim's going to be here in a little more than an hour. I think we may watch last Friday's supernatural that we were both too busy to watch, or we might just entertain each other in the sewing room. Either way we plan to stay up late. I need some coffee.

Projects on my todo list:
I've got a 50k podfic to beta read
1 purse to fix and 2 to sew for commissioned orders
I also have a bunch of Christmas presents to get cracking on

I think I've got most of my Christmas list figured out. Now it's just a matter of finding the time to do it. Oh and I totally forgot until yesterday that I have a PHD party to plan. That's Pearl Harbor Day for those of you not in the know. I need to get together with Kristina and Joyce to plot this out in the next week or so and do my darnedest to delegate most of the work to other folks. I just need to clean my house. :D

Okay. That's it. Just a note to tell you what I'm up to. Off to make stirfry and sew.

Also,I have a scarf I'm knitting that currently doesn't have a home for Christmas. Does anyone on my FL want a funky gray scarf?

What was the funniest thing that happened today?

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:19:29 GMT

Jeff carried in a large broken finial piece and stopped to look at the replacement finial. "Reg, Does this look right to you?" He held the two pieces out, upside down to his co-worker.

"Yeah. Looks fine. It's all in one piece." Reg turns the replacement part over in his hands, feeling the wood.

"Really? They look fine to you? Because I see a major problem." Jeff deadpans.

"Yeah, yeah." Reg stutters as I start giggling from across the room. "What's the problem?"

"You don't see it? This one's got an innie and this one's got an outie." Jeff indicates the old part has a screw sticking out of the bottom to twist it into the main piece, and the replacement part has a hole and threading to receive a similar type of screw.

At this point, it may have been the diet coke, it may have been the tediousness of the day's customers, it may have been the 5 hours of sleep I got last night, but I just bust up laughing at the sound of gruff, sarcastic, butch Jeff saying innie and outie. Even as Reg, Jeff, and Lindsey are finishing their discussion of how to make it work and chuckling at me, I'm bent over laughing so hard I'm crying. And then just as suddenly trying to choke it down as I wipe my eyes to greet the customer walking up to the counter.

I guess it was a had to be there moment, and I'm sorry.

-----

In other news. If you haven't already tried it, go to your local google search bar and type: Do a barrel roll.

Macho Nachos from Diamond Dave's are good.

Skinny Girl Margaritas are bad. Tastes like flat lime soda with tequila and no sweetener at all.

Also, Cold Stone Creamery Pumpkin ice cream actually tastes like pumpkin, and not just pumpkin pie spice. As the aficionados out there will tell you, there really is a difference.

That's all, have a good day folks and I'll see you on the flipside.

So I went into work early....

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:16:36 GMT

for a flu shot. The company pays for it in an effort to get us to call in sick less often. I actually made it on time for the first time in years and stood in our hallway with the rest of the gang for the bemused nurse to poke us. Behind closed doors, with an audience we aren't trying to sell to, we are a funny crowd. Extra funny when you consider how early it was for most of us.

I referenced the following scene, and Becky, bless her ex-movie-store-owner heart laughed and claimed it was one of her favorites.

In other news: Red cups are back at Starbucks. The guy at the window this morning was quite the looker. And my grown up brain says, Hey! He's not even a jailbait youngin! Then the even more grown up part of my brain says: Why's he working at Starbucks at that age?

Move Along

Anger Managment... Not so much.

Steve Carlson & Christian Kane StageIt Concert

Quite a State We're In

Good and Bad

So Easter Happened.

I Love You.

Omaha, Day 3

Omaha, Day 2

Omaha, Day 1

Life under The Shield

Awake at 2:45am

Post of Productivity

Music Music Music

Chicago/Indiana Trip - Beth & Muncie

Weekend Review

The Happiest of New Years

Funky Purse!

Well...That was easy....

Geek Girl Night #1

The State of Baby Envy

Whats your BFF done for you lately? :)

*Long Contented Sigh*

Just got home from work...

What was the funniest thing that happened today?

So I went into work early....

Long Contented Sigh