I wish - one more day at the plant for me

That's right...so close...

Well. We don't leave until next week, not sure of the day. Still bummed over the rockslide {glad no one was injured but why oh why did I lose my cabin w/bath???}

I am having to deal with what you guys are probably finished with~getting out bills that are due so that they aren't late.

Oh wait, you guys probably don't want until the last minute like me...never mind.

Crap, and I need to order checks...like two weeks ago...

Do I need a vacation? Yes. I told the hubby I will do my best to keep up with him but I am going for fun, not abuse.

I hope you all have a wonderful time. :cheers:

Damn tetanus shot. Everything hurts.

I need one of those shots...I'll wait until, uh, next week...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070622/...Xqn_9rzKBH2ocA

I don't know what happened to the thread about the Texas beating but I found this article...

At 12:56, Tori will officially be twelve years old.

I've been running around all week getting ready for her party, which is Hawaii themed (:tiki:) and scheduled for 6:30 this evening. We wanted to get her a Wii, but there were none to be found in Spokane. I'd spent several days trying to track one down and had pretty much given up when Eric got a lead on a shipment to Wal Mart. Now, I am no fan of Wal Mart, but they really came through on the customer service end and I am very impressed. Eric and I were both working, and it was a small shipment which was guaranteed to sell out in hours, if not minutes. I spoke to a lady in Electronics and she said she would bend the rules and hold one for me for an hour, but I couldn't get away. The only person available to pick it up was Trudy (my MIL) and she was watching Tori. I asked the associate if they would put the Wii in a plain box or wrapping and Trudy would try to get it home without Tori figuring it out, and they agreed. Well, when Trudy arrived to pick it up, they had several associates waiting to give her the "package", which they had wrapped inside bubble wrap and put in a larger box to throw the kid off the scent. She was totally clueless as to what it was, and the salespeople went to extremes to keep her that way. They let Trudy pay for it there at Electronics rather than up front per usual, and they wrote a note for her to give to the door person telling them to let her through without checking the box. (Signed by the manager). Trudy was completely blown over by their service, and I made sure to write an e-mail to corporate last night, along with sending them a thank you card today.

I can't wait to play it.:D

Wow, that's great customer service!

Happy Birthday Tori!!

She will love it! Zach loves his and we have bowling tournaments on Friday night usually. We are really enjoying Mario Party too. It's like a board game for the Wii except a lot more active!!

Ok ya'll, I am ready to hit the road.

oops, I need to wake up Nickolas... He would not be a happy camper if I left him home. ;)

NA, I never have had your cell and since I doubt you are awake now, I just sent you mine.

I am going to be shutting down the computer in a few minutes, right after I email The Old People (who are in Canada right now).

See you all Sunday!!!!!

WOW ! I thought she was older when I met her !! :blush:

Tell her Happy Birthday and give her many hugs from the LashPair. :D

Then after that, less than one year until she is a teenager.

Ah... the truth comes out!

Wow, Walmart just went up a notch in my head. Well, just the Spokane Walmart. ;)

Tori is going to freak out - awesome work, mom! :snap:

Ugh - Sprint is stressing me OUT!

Online, it says I owe $77.62 (what I would normally owe)... On the phone it says I owe $177.62, which I paid $100.00 of, which is reflected online and from my bank account...

Then, I check to see when my subscription expires, and it's not until August of this year? I was pretty certain it was March of this year or possibly even earlier, since the last changes were made at the tail end of 2004, and Sprint only had 1 and 2 year contracts.

Ugh.

And I'm on perma-hold.

I would like it noted for the record that plastic knives make absolutely horrible chopsticks.

Duly noted.

I look forward to the next installment of the Indy films. I will tell the family who are also big fans.

I love your new name, AllyOops!

Well, I have some good news {to me}, I was able to upgrade to The Lodge and now have amenities!! {sorry, I know the LoT of you are going without, willingly at that, but I, alas, am a weenie...}

Just talked with the Hubby and he said that the trolley line in Downtown San Diego snapped!! {reminds me of the Magic Mtn. incident...} and that the livewire was laying about for a while!! :eek: Seems a truck hit it some blocks away...

Oddly when I think about this, I would think it would work well.

Perhaps it might have worked better with something other than pene pesto. Though I've tried it in the past with other foods and recall similar failure. They flex too much and the width/depth proportion is all wrong.

Before trying it, it seems like a good theory. That's why I attempted it (well, that and lack of any other option besides fingers). But in practice, not so much.

Fold up a strip of paper into a block, insert between the handles of the plastic knives and then rubber band them there. Then use as tongs.

Still wouldn't have worked for this application. The plastic-on-pesto coefficient of friction was way too low. And, with the amount of flex in these knives, I have my doubts it'd be particularly useful even on a less oily and round food item.

Hopefully this conversation will prompt me to actually remember to replace the fork I usually keep at my desk but recently lost rack of.

So this, combined with what you just said.... really means...
obviously, replace your fork.
Get a few chopstick packs the next time you eat out,
or get better plastic knives?

I dont think the knives I have would give at all.

I'm at the mercy of the zillion-pack knives stored in our break area.

The real irony is that, after finally finishing lunch, it occurred to me that today is pizza Friday meaning there was a healthy supply of forks one building over. Sigh.

Flip the knives over?

pencils?

Yeah, I was thinking using the back-end of the knives might work better. They tend to be a little thicker.

Or just hide in a corner and use your fingers. You could just go in face-first. That would be fun.

I think after all this conversation he'll have his own supply of untensils on Monday.

I'm just going to bring in a food processor and drink all my lunches from now on.

Wow, that's terrific bass!

I think you should just go buck wild and go face first with the pasta.

If your'e like me, you'll keep your desk filled with power bars, beef jerkey (even better, salmon jerkey) cheddar bunnies & gum. (I purchase all of these things at Whole Foods. Some days, I have a hormonal breakdown & raid 7-11. Funyons, baby!)

No fork needed, all finger action!

Haha.."finger action". :D

You know Ally....
We've never met... but aside from the overactive sexualness that you have, you and I are like kindered spirits. Why is it we still havent met? its been like... five years girl!
But then, maybe thats why it all comes so easily to you, you stole mine!!! ;)

I have Luna bars, jerky(though I have never tried salmon), gum, wheat thins, triscuts.. and god knows what else. And love to go to Whole Foods at lunch.
Though I am a Trader Joe's fiend.
Cheddar Bunnies huh?

And the hormonal junk food raid....? All over that. Funyuns, Twix, Cherry Coke.. cheetos..

And I too have an obsession with finger food. Chicken pieces, any food I can rip and eat, chips and guac...

loL! :D
Sometimes I casually click on the Soooo thread and see something like this and just smile and smile and smile.
:D

Tee-Hee, my best friend is in charge of the Electronics Dept. at a Wal*Mart down here. I hope you won't mind, but I forwarded her your post - 'cause I know she'll get a kick out of it.

Just don't let her know you're gay.

Dude, it's almost time to go!

I am SO jazzed about tonights concert at the Bowl, I can't even tell you! (It's only "summer" for me when I get to go to the Bowl) I've got my picnic dinner in the office fridge and I'm just counting down the time now till I can start getting there!

I finally ate my Salmon Jerky that I bought at the Farmers Market in the Ferry Building in SFO.

OMG. Such yummy goodness. I could be in crisis once it's all gone.

So, I just went record shopping... at a real record store.

It was fun.

And, what record store is that?

The White Stripes' Icky Thump has some pretty amazing stuff on it. I recommend it for anyone with a pulse.

I'm reading LoT while listening to the Disneyland Fireworks.

Just FYI.......

:D

Awesome, RStar!! :snap:

Np! The party, and the Wii, was a complete success. The last guests just left, and had to be drug out by their parents. Tori and her dad are now playing- she was totally surprised and it was well worth the stress and subterfuge. She did open her Super Mario 8 game first, and pointed out that it was for Wii. I pretended to have mistaken it for a Gamecube game, and assured her we would return it tomorrow. She looked a little disappointed, at least until she opened the Wii.:D

As I feared, we haven't touched the Wii since the day we brought it home.

Have you tried it Alex? Did you just not enjoy it or are you too busy?

I don't play it everyday or anything but once a week or so.

Yeah, and we had fun. But apparently not so much fun that we feel the urge to actually use it again.

The Wii sports games are cute. The Legend of Zelda bored me to sleep (literally). The next day we went and bought a couple other games (Mario Paper and some more Wii-sports type things) and just haven't found the gumption to put them in and try them.

Yeah!!!

My son finished Paper mario in 6 days but I've had problems since the first one, I'm not a great gamer.
I like the sports game that came with it. I think the bowling and tennis are great fun. We recently bought Big brain academy and it has many challenging mini games if you like that sort of thing. It grades you on how quickly you accomplish tasks, from what I can tell.

I haven't played the Wii myself but the kids {13-21} love it. My son even has the holder that charges it...not sure how that goes {must need seperate battery pack?}.

Me? I play the DSlite. I thik the game is called 'Card House' . I could be wrong with that title but it has card games, darts, bowling. word games, lots of stuff.

If anyone has one and would sometimes like to play with me, my screen name there is also MouseWife. We can set up a time to play if anyone is ever interested. You do have to have the same game in order to play.

My son also bought an attachment that allows you to go online with the DSlite.

Don't know how that works....

Oh, and I neglected to say, I think what the Wal-Mart clerks did was awesome! :snap: We tricked our son at Christmas time with a Wii. Priceless moment. ;)

Damn cat and his $200 lab bills. Mumblerumbleratzzenfratzzen.

Is that the latest release? I heard one cut from it, loved it. Definite shades of early Zep.

Have you been a fan of previous Nintendo systems?

Today I truly had a dream come true... I got to see MY Year of a Million Dreams ears, floating in the river at the Jurassic Park River Adventure :D

(It was a ton of fun to ride with Rose and Mark, and get absolutely drenched, too)

There was so much water dumped on us at Jurassic Park today I think I swallowed Nemo...

Rasn Fasn bloody locals..

....think they can make me jealous, huh? Just because it's so much fun doing universal with them, huh ? Well, I'll show them, I'll open a corona beer and dump it into a plastic cup and then get some guy in a halloween mask to jump out at me, then stick my head into a revolving cement mixer and pretend it's the revenge of the mummy. That'll teach 'em.

....and darn it, now I feel like a steak dinner. :(

Haven't had one since the NES we had before I went to college.

Somebody find Lash his stapler....

I hear they have good steaks at the Outback (Steak House)! ;) :D

I have an intense headache, and it all seems to be tension. I tried to nap it away to no avail, Advil didn't work. I will probably try a little coffee in a bit. I was so hoping to get stuff done today - oh well. I may attempt a little reading and a little work. I'm going to go to the gym anyway. It'll either make my headache worse, or it'll make it better, and at this point, for it to get much worse...

Anyhow, Icky Thump: Good stuff. It doesn't all sound like the title song, however.

Thank you for another lurid memory !! :D

Awww Lash! I didn't go into the House of Horrors if that makes you feel better. You can't protect me from those Monsters when you're way out there in Au!

I would like to state, for the record, that there are now fewer than six months remaining in my sentence.

Ah, Lashbear, you so crack me up while I feel so badly for you!!!

And, a question.

The shopper pass at Disneyland. We went tonight. Guest Relations at DCA said to go to the one at Disneyland. That was closed and we were told to go to a ticket booth. The lady there said 'The 3 of you? I don't think so.' That perplexed me. She said 'Why?' and I said 'We are at DTD shopping and we would like to go into Disneyland to do more'. She said no and then went to 'check' and came back 'No.' I said 'What does the manager say?' and she said 'She said no'.

And then....when I asked her 'If the park opens at eight, what time does Main Stree open?' {to which my friend laughed 'Eight?'} And the lady said '8'. I said, 'Well some times when the park opens they let you in to Main Street early...' and the lady shook her head like I was a nut and said 'No'.

Okay. This really bugged the he77 outta me. I mean, why would we try and scam them, if we got passes and didn't come back we'd be charged the full amount. It was after 6 p.m. As crowded as it was, there was no way we'd make it on to any ride {worth that much grief} in less than an hour.

But, we didn't let her faze us. My friend bought her tickets for later this week. We had wanted to take her in to DCA to try and get her interested in the Aladdin show and the other things her kids might like.

Anyways, we went off and spent our money elsewhere.

Oh, and we went to the Hearthstone Lounge {is that right?} and I hopefully have started a rumor that it is haunted. :evil: If anyone hears about a ghost, it is probably me. :D

We're in Nashville, it's hot, and humid. I'm melting.

It's not the heat and humidity that'll get you- it's the country music. You are, right now, in one of the most musically evil places on this planet.

Hehehe, I've done nothing more than step foot into Tennessee.

It's funny, for as much as I rebelled against country music in my youth, I find myself oddly attracted to the older stuff, the bluegrass, even the gospel (though I'm a non-believer, myself). The stark sounds that were country music before it started sounding over-processed and smooth as silk. That stuff makes me want to vomit and always will. I want to go see someone jam on the fiddle just a few feet in front of me... That's why Nashville and Memphis don't seem all too bad to me. Except for the heat and humidity.

I'm home.

Who wants to do my laundry?

Not me.

We've already done the Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, The Ryman and Studio B. :D

Two words, Patsy Cline

So, I am infuriated or frustrated or both.

It would seem sometime between my last podcast interview around the end of May or beginning of June and last weekend, skype has upgraded to a newer version. This newer version has rendered my recorder incompatible and now only allows me to select Yahoo as my service of choice for recording calls via HotRecorder. HotRecorder presently supports Skype 3.0 and Skype is now 3.2.0.163. For the time being (and because I don't want to deal with yahoo) I'm not able to record calls for my podcast...

I've got an interview in the can already, so I'm good for the moment, for July. I'm winging a very short podcast right now to replace the two I had originally planned...grrrrrrr maddening

We'll see how HotRecorder replies about a patch or fix, if there is one.

You know, as much as I despise country music, I love Patsy Cline's voice.

Weren't you getting a mac soon? I'd say it's time to jump on it and pick up AudioHijack Pro...

I'm right there with you WB. I love Cline (and Owen Bradley who recorded her)

Other country, I run away from, but Cline's voice just melts me

The MAC deal fell through and I do not have enough pennies saved for a MAC, yet. More the pity.:(

When I first read this, I thought you said you hadn't saved up enough penises! :eek:

Sort of like Elinor Rigby, I keep all my penises in jars by the door.

What sentence? Are you sharing a cell with Paris?!?

Oo oo... pick me, pick me!!!

Sorry, it is already done.

Damn. I was all excited and everything!

Sorry! All unpacked too. Getting photos online now.

Madzer recorded "Walking After Midnight" at the Ryman. That was very cool. She also got to play the piano in RCA Studio B. It's been used by the likes of Elvis, Roy Orbson, Dolly Parton etc. It's been pretty amazing to see some of this stuff, even if you're not a huge fan you can appreciate the history.

Today we did the Hermitage and the Parthenon.

We also found swanky western wear - yes it does exist - Katy K's they call their stuff "Ranch Dressing"

I just bought tickets to Toby Keith at the end of August. I am so excited.

Photos are now up on my MySpace but it looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get web space now since Yahoo is taking their photo hosting offline.

I'm just moving all to my flickr account.

No, I'm actually paying for my stay. But December 22 marks the end.

The end of paying? Then it's free? Cool!

I've played with flikr and picasa. I don't like either of them. Web space is something I've wanted for awhile - this is just the motivation to do it.

I am really gladl we ended up not going up to Tahoe...

http://www.cbs8.com/stories/story.94412.html

If I am reading this correctly, this is probably right where we stay. {All I know is SLake Tahoe, Camp Richardson...}.

Fire is so frightening. Last time we went, there was fire, above the ski lifts in town, but, they had a good handle on it, and, it was snowing.

Well, either way, whatever you use to upload/store your pictures, I am eager to see them. :D

Webspace isn't much of a solution for me. I want something archival so when I can produce several gigs of photos in a three day trip the only useful option seems to be burning to DVD for storage and uploading to something like Flickr (which I really like but for its slowness) to have handy for sharing or online use.

I'm going to start using Gallery software and teaching myself web design.

Glad y'all like Flickr though :)

Of course, I don't have a bajillion pictures, but good ole photobucket seems to be doing the trick for me.

I've found PHP Photo Album to be the most useable. Easy to manage photos as well as captions.

Sweet! Thank you!!!!

That looks cool! I'm going to play with that as well.

Thanks, GD.

Here it is in action, at least from the end-user view.

Oh my gawd.

I don't remember the thread with the last ugliest dog but this one makes my stomach queasy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_ugly_...V6xXmx.Aas0NUE

Hope the link works...

I need to get away from here{the computer}...

And what a shame. I had just seen all of the lovely shots from the Nemo meet...even the hot dude shots. ;0) {meaning, for dudes}

OK; did I miss something?!? What is this about?

It was this thread. GC had posted the posted the same picture. Damn ugly dog.

I presume she means that's when she's finished with her law degree.

Those pictures were FABULOUS! You guys really have an eye for setting up the shot!

Well I just finished making another 5 batches of strawberry jam, a humongous fruit salad and now I need to make a lasagna dinner for a family gathering.

I also had to get up at 5:30 to get the husband off to the airport! I think I'm tired now, phew!

It's the last of the strawberry season so I'm trying to get as much as I can. If I have time I will dehydrate strawberries for great grandma to use in her oatmeal and muffins. I've already made 12 strawberry cheese pies and a lot of jam!

Next comes blueberries!

I believe there may be a calendar entry for that date.

What time is dinner?

Yeah, when's dinner?

Generally between lunch time and bed time.

I missed Finding Nemo Saturday. But, I did hang around Downtown Disney for almost 7 hours. {refer to above post about the rude service about shopping passes...}.

I did things I've never done before. :D

Had a drink in the Hearthstone Lounge.

Went to the Jazz Kitchen. Yummy lunch and not badly priced {wait, does someone here work there?}

Then I went in to Sephora and didn't just walk through out the other door...
{I don't know if I could take advice from someone wearing so much make-up...Target now has a woman who does consultations and she is quite pretty, without being over done....*plug plug*}

Then more shopping, non shopping passing and then back to the stand/coffee bar next to the Jazz Kitchen.

I am addicted. Lashbear, did you and Greg try the beignets???? Oh my gawd, you'd think I'd never had anything like it...well, I don't think I have!!
Those {notice I don't say 'that'} and a cup of chickory {sp} coffee.

Must have that again.

Sadly I missed the Nemo discovery.

Oh, and how do you say 'beignet'? {if I've even spelled it correctly}

bin-yay

or ben-yay

Thank you Alex and Morrigoon!

I thought so but since I am not a French expert, I didn't want to correct my friends....

But, I don't know how the people at the cafe said it, either. Hmmm.

One thing that got me, why did the people at the bakery {forget the name} right before you get to the Disney security check, act like they didn't understand English? Is it because they didn't or because they were kids and not so sharp? :rolleyes:

I have to say, I've never spent a lot of time wandering around but I wasn't impressed with quite a few of the staff.

Some were great~ hey, Plumenom, whomever the fellow is {my friends caught his name} who worked the gift shop on the outside of the park, next to the Guest Relations, was very very nice. :)

Umm...just in case you know...:blush:

fat-ten-ing.

Laughing out loud as I roll around like a happy little piggy....

Of course!! They just have to be!!

Pro wrestler Chris Benoit and his family were found dead today.
WTF?

Yeah, I just heard about that, WTF?

Now WWE.com is saying it was a double murder suicide from within the home. They're not saying anything else just yet.

I don't know... A pastry boiled in oil... how can that be bad for you ?? ;) :D

Questionable taste by the WWE in doing a huge tribute show for him tonight before it was determined if he was a victim or the perpetrator. But then, questionable taste is their stock in trade. Or maybe it's just that men inclined to kill their families and then themselves are part of their target audience.

It seems like at the time the tribute was slapped together, they didn't know he was the murderer (presumed murderer). If they didn't post a tribute the fans would have had a fit.
:shrug:

How hard would it have been for Vince McMahon to come back from the dead and make a phone call to see if it looked like Benoit was the killer before airing a tribute?

I think the killer may have been Beignet....

When did Vince McMahon die? I haven't watched professional wrestling since 8th grade when I traded a VHS copy of Wrestlemania III for two Playboy centerfolds (one of whom was a Price Is Right model, can't remember her name).

The character "Mr. McMahon" was blown up as part of a storyline...

Ooo, is this a prediction for me? :eek:

Oz, you crack me up!

And... I didn't know McMahon was dead... not that I ever paid attention, but I remember him from when I was a youngin'

So they killed Vince McMahon the character but the person is still going?

Apparently, he died of a beignet overdose... or at least that's what I've gathered so far.

Yes, but now they've apparently dropped the "Who killed Mr. McMahon" story line since Vince hosted the Benoit tribute.

It's like Dallas... but with wrestlers... I like it!

And then he exploded. Very messy.

Damnit, I had to go and let myself be sucked into stupid condo association b.s. yesterday. Sigh.

Maybe I'll blame it on the iced tea. So, having gone from last Sunday through yesterday with my only caffeine intake being 1 rum and coke and 1 cup of tea (no way I was going to survive a 2 hour conference call without), I completely blanked and ordered an iced tea at lunch. Then proceeded to down 3 glasses of it.

I think I could feel my eyeballs vibrating.

It is hard to go to work today.

It's hard to do anything today. All I want it to do right now is rain. And by rain, I mean downpour. Just drench the place.

Our mountains could sure use it.

That kind of rain, blueerica?

So the window invaders are back. Now, at the moment it's a bit chilly. And I'm approximately 1.5 toddlers away from the window. So if the window is fully open, I'm freezing. But no matter, because OMGWTFBBQ!!!11!!!ELEVENTY!! it's supposed to reach 80 today, so we'd better open everything starting at 7:30 am, no matter that it makes it very difficult for me to sort out this paperwork mess, what with the papers blowing off the desk and stuff.

80. All this over 80 degrees and no discernible humidity. What a bunch of passive aggressive weenies. I can't wait to move.

I was thinking the exact same thing this morning. I had "Rain in the Summertime" by the Alarm running through my head.

If it rains, it had better rain hard. I love it when it does and I don't have to wash my car. But those piddly drizzles just make a big f'in mess. :mad:

Why don't you just close the windows?

I'm super hungry. I've been trying to hold out until noon but I think it's close enough.

Aaargh!

I've owned my car for 3 years. I have now had 3 nails puncture the left rear tire. :mad:

The first one I got patched, no problem. They took it off the wheel the second time found a crack running down the middle of the inside of the rubber. Time to replace the tires.

This time, even though the tires are less than a year old, the nail decided to puncture it right up next to the sidewall. Not a good idea to try a patch-job with a hole there, so I get to buy a new tire. I'm running on a donut spare until tomorrow after work when I can get in and drop $100. Joy.

Why the eff is my left rear tire a nail-magnet?!

Between where I work and my house is construction zone centeral. I've gotten tons of flats. I get my tires at firestone and they either repair or replace them under warranty. It's been totally worth it.

ditto for Discount Tire.

however I might suggest getting a set of BFG's. awesome puncture resistance.

I totally agree. It's called America's Tire up here, I've had really good luck with them.

Hmm, I should dig out the paperwork on the new set, see if I had road hazard coverage on 'em.

I love Americas Tire. I had a nail in my tire, the guy took a look at it and said let's see if it's leaking. If it's not bring it back when you have more time (I was in a hurry). No leaks and they checked the pressure of all the tires. I brought it back and the guy pulled it out. It was a little bigger than a thumb tack. No leaks. No new tire. I really like their honesty.

Which one do you go to? The one in Westminster is like that, the customer service has always been impressive. (I wonder if it's all stores, or just some stores in particular)

I go to the one on Springdale and Edinger. I have called a few other ones and they all seem to be super nice and helpful. I really like that they don't talk to me like I'm a dumb girl. The first time I called I needed tires for my Honda and instead of selling me more tire than I needed they gave me prices for tires that would fit what I needed (tires, period).

I can't testify why the left is preferred over the right, but it is more common for a rear tire to get puncture wounds than the front. The reason being is that the front tire rolls over the object, kicking it up and the road hazard then has a higher propensity to inject itself in the rear tire. So sez my father who worked in Marketing for Union 76 (Union Oil, Unocal) for 43 years.

I also have road coverage {why isn't it included with new cars?} through Discount Tires {which may be American Tires in some areas}.

One thing I've learned, don't pull it out!!! I go as quickly as I can to the shop.

And, like you, katiesue, driving through construction areas always does me in. Or, the Hubby when he is driving my car!!! :mad: {4WD and he likes to use it...go figure}

Oh, I came on here to complain about my current situation and my past tire problems took over my thoughts...

So, like many of you swanky people, I am also preparing for a road trip. I've been working around the house, laundry, packing, trying to remember everything, paying bills that will be due while we are gone, etc.

Finally my Boy, 13 {I can feel the nods from others with kids in this range} was agreeable to getting his stuff ready. We are digging around for his hiking boots and oh for any ant trails to quelch before we go and oh my gawd. A big black moldy mess. From the location, I think it is from the shower and it may have gone in to our hall closet but I am not sure....{haven't looked, don't really wanna....I will though, of course}.

So, aw man. This mess and the Hubster has a full day tomorrow as well as I do. I can't leave this. Or believe this, either.

Aw man. I don't want to be exhausted for our trip. I want to enjoy it. :(

Fortunately I keep a cigarette lighter powered pump in my trunk so when this crap happens I can at least get the pressure up long enough to get me safely to my destination. Usually lasts at least 6 or 8 hours before I need to do it again.

Found my paperwork. It doesn't say anything about road hazard, but I'm calling the dealer to find out. If not, there's a tire waiting for me at a place around the corner (which gives a free 3 year road hazard warranty with every tire purchase).

I have reminded myself that I need to get back into the visual arts. I'm starved for creativity, to the point that I feel like I can barely refine my thoughts into writing. I'm about an inch away from starting to scribble on walls, so I have a feeling I need to pick up my paints set from my friends house, buy some canvas and have at it before I snap.

Scribble on the walls!

It'll add excitement to your home life ;)

It doesnt just add excitement... but a cheap way of adding Art to your home :evil:

If I take acetaminophen it frequently leads to projectile vomiting. And it's in most cold meds, so I can't take those either.

Benedryl fvcks me up. I hate taking it.

No, but, aw, AllyOops!, how awful the reactions you've gone through! I bet that doctor was seriously sorry he prescribed that for you. :(

Thank you for sharing, even though I haven't had any reactions, because it enlightens me to the situation.

{{{hugs}}}

You are okay this morning???

And spiders?!!:eek: {even the feeling...:eek: }

I've had minor issues, but nothing big, Ally. I do know people with more serious allergies involving sulfates in medicine, and other than that, I know people that have problems similar to what you're mentioning with ibuprofen.

On another note, I just realized that I'm still super tired. I'm going to go study or something.

Ally, ever since I got sober, I've been a real lightweight when it comes to decongestants and antihistamines. Years ago, I took Seldane, which was the first "non-drowsy" antihistamine on the market. Secondary issues have made that drug unavailable, but for the past several years I've had amazing luck with Allegra (much better for me than Claritin). Once Claritin went over-the-counter, I had to jump through hoops to get my insurance company to approve my Allegra prescription, but now that there's a generic Allegra (Fexophenadine), it's much easier to get.

I'm not a doctor, so I have no idea how this drug will affect you. I can only speak from personal experience. I would recommend you ask your doctor about Allegra. It's really saved my life.

I can't take actifed. It knocks me out, not in a benedryl way, but in a sick, "I may die from this" way. Certain other combinations will give me crawly skin, but sometimes the inner ear itching will only stop if I over medicate with different combinations.

Me too. And nyquil.

Oooh, was about to say Contact makes me go psycho apesh*t.

It is way to hard to plan a surprise party on a work night :(

MP, I was one of those that was nearly done in by the secondary issues of Seldane: I was on Seldane and had a horrid sinus infection. My doctor prescribed Erythrimiacine (sp?) and a few days into the treatment my heart started doing some weird things. I took myself off the Seldane and the symptoms stopped. At the time my doc thought I was being a flake, but after the news broke about the sudden death episodes linked to Seldane and Erythrimiacine I was exonerated.

Ally, my sis can't take anything but Sudafed, and my other sis can't take any sort of aspirin, ibu or acetaminophen. She is deathly allergic to salycilates and has to carry epi-pens with her wherever she goes. Check with your pharmicist with regards to your drug reactions- they are more likely to know the links between the different drugs and may be able to pinpoint the trigger. They may also know of alternatives that won't have such horrible side effects.

I'm with MousePod on Allegra. It's the only thing that works for me, and you have to take it daily not just when symptoms show up. Claratin for me is like taking sugar pills.

I used to get the shots too and they totally helped but I had to stop and to start again I'd have to get re-tested and start the whole process again and I just don't have the time. I have so many allergies I had to get two shots because they couldn't put it all into one serum.

I've taken so much benadryl it doesn't actually effect me too much. And if you take it with caffiene it doesn't make me drowsey.

My doctor also recommended when they get bad to just use saline nasal spray a few times a day to kind of wash everything out. It has no side effects and you can use it as much as you'd like. It really does seem to help me. She said it works for about 70% of people.

It's okay... I don't need to have a party in my honor. ;)

Just kidding... is it for a birthday? How much time do you have left?

Oh Ally, I'm so sorry. My son is allergic to some medications. It always makes me nervous to give him anything new because you just never know what's going to happen. You have my sympathies.

I have bad allergies but I usually just live with it. My husband has taken a liking to the mucinex. They have one for sinus and one for chest congestion. I can't remember if it's Claritan or what he takes sometimes for his symptoms.

Actually he called last night and said we are moving to Vegas because he has no allergies there. I don't think we can afford to live there though!

Being tiny means most drugs give me pretty strong side effects. I'm lucky though in that they're usually pleasant trips, as long as I'm home with no requirements. If I need drugs for work, then it's because I'm really damn sick, and then I should probably stay home.

The worst I've had is with naproxen (Aleve), which gave me pains akin to an ulcer. I nearly always get these awful pains when I take it, though for a while there it was the only thing that helped my monthly visitor. Now I'm on Tylenol for that and my body now responds just fine to it.

I want my mommy.

I hate crying at work.

I'm sorry :(

I have so much crap to do before leaving for the road trip.

Aww, hugs everyone...

Ally, I don't know if this will work for you, but for my allergies I take meds which are only decongestants, no antihistamines. Look for pseudo-ephedrine. You have to get it from the pharmacist but they usually have tags on the shelf

I'm disappointed. After learning that tonight's class is canceled, I discovered that not only do I have a presentation to do on Monday with my group, I have a 5-7 page case study to write up for Monday, as well. And I've got another midterm tomorrow.

What?! I couldn't have seriously signed up for this...

Why does it seem like I'm surrounded by hysterical people of the non-funny variety?

It's like everything's starting to short-circuit all around me, and I feel like I'm the only normal one in the middle of it all.

Ya. And a few weeks. The biggest PITA is that the party is being held at his house (since it's the total party house). So we somehow have to get him out of his house so people can come over. It's a bbq or we'd temp him with steak ;)

I'm sorry. I can kick some ass for you if you like.


I'm coo-coo for coco puffs!

And your avatar is scary.

Probably because these assignments keep sprining up on your class?

So... it's not every day that teen fashion goes beyond the realm of annoying into so damn creative that I have to laugh and give them props for originality, but today was one of those days. I saw one of those new punk-type kids (you know, with all the safety pins and torn band t-shirts), and he had, I kid you not, a mud flap. Or back end of a loincloth, if you prefer to think of it that way. worn over (or as a part of?) his 80's-tight jeans. Made from a torn band shirt. Covered with safety pins.

You know what, if kids wanna wear mud flaps, I say, more power to 'em, because that's just damn creative!

I just keep thinking if it was just the random class assignments, I'd be better off. Oh well, I'm going to try and go to the gym, although I'm not sure I should. I feel ridiculously over-caffeinated.

I haven't yet read all of this but I would agree with it. That they offer alternatives is great.


http://food.yahoo.com/blog/beautyeat...what-you-crave

I got to talk to my mom and my sister today at work. My sister is going to come down to go to both of my court thingys and be there for me, but it isn't the same as having my mom there.

:( sorry, MG... it sucks not having all your supporters in one place when you need them the most. Glad your sister could go, though.

Ahhh the irony: guess it had been in the pipeline long before the job was eliminated, but I got an awesome review and raise. Too bad I have two months to find a new position.

And I've just really had it with the CSRs of the universe -- I've had to deal with WaMu (fraud), Cingular (fake account), Time-Warner Cable (service interrupted due to a credit owed ME), the DMV (plates wrongly reassigned), and many others in the past two months. I'm unfailingly nice, but they still send me to "hold-HELL." I want off the freakin' grid. Now. Land-lines, snail mail, paper entertainment, public transportation. :mad:

omg, someone left some of those super-crumbly sugar cookies with the little brightly colored round crunchy sprinkles in the communal food location at work. I'm a happy boy.

If I even mention that we had those at work, and I didnt bring one home for the kid, I am in BIG trouble.

So many of the men like them. What is it about them GD?

They are the perfect texture and flavor. The way the cookie itself falls apart in your mouth, instantly distributing the flavor, followed by the satisfying crunch of the sprinkles. Pure heaven.

Carol Kane is a true sweetheart, and being a complete dunce, I forgot my camera today!

I'm being trained at my new job as I train my replacement at my old job. It's sort of a mind fu ck.
:D

So, I'm prepping for our road trip and I went through BT's CD binder that I took out of the car to see if there was anything I needed to load onto the mp3 player for the trip. Lots of Rage Against the Machine, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Slayer, Fleetwood Mac.....

aroo?

He is so weird.

And none of it goes on the mp3 player.

Is this your son? When we found out our son was listening to Led Zeppelin we were like 'Oh, thank goodness, well, he finally has found 'the' music...remember when we were really in to Zeppelin? Oh shiet!!!' :D

{it was all okay, though}

Which one sticks out like a sore thumb:

No! That's her HUSBAND!:D

Ha, I surprised myself even when at the swapmeet the fellow said '.25c each' and I included a Dixie Chicks cd in my take home pile....and talk about ironic, it was because of their 'Landslide' song. {a Fleetwood Mac cover}. I don't know if I'll keep it but I know my friend likes them. But a quarter?

LOL

OH damn, that is great!! Then maybe he'd be in to going to see RATM in New Orleans at the Voodoo Festival for Halloween...doesn't that sound wicked???

{oo, I just realized he would have no interest in my sig....}

I was just watching some Travelling Wilbury videos. I miss George.:(

And Roy.

So I guess it's weird that we played Manson, Kenny Chesney, Orgy, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, and Rob Zombie last night on the jukebox?

Can I just say that I was probably the only one that was hesitant for RATM to get back together. I've met them all a number of times, and let's just say I had my reasons. :)

Awww, I loved Roy Orbison!

I so wanted to be there today, but there was just no way I could get out of work. :(

Sometimes the simple cookies are the best. I like shortbread cookies also.

Who needs fudge-covered Oreos anyway?? ;)

I like Animal Crackers.

Not imitation ones, but the genuine Barnum's Animal Crackers in the little circus animals box with the little thread handle on it.

That and some cold milk and I am a happy camper.

Those are the bestest!!!!

I went online to buy RATM tickets for a show in San Francisco and found out the tour is a big rap festival. Ugh, i hate rubbing elbows with rap fans.


Those people are so rude.:evil:

Only if you rub their elbows. They're quite protective of their elbows, rap fans.

I have worked my fair share of concerts, both good and bad. The one that stands out was Iron Maiden with Anthrax as the opening act. the cloud of smoke coming out of the theater during the first Anthrax song was enough for a verrrrry good contact high. One of the guys from Anthrax was using the payphone backstage when I walked through and totally freaked, worried that I would bug him. Like I cared!

The problem was when the lead singer decided he would take his limo to get here. The rest of the band came by tour bus earlier in the day. He got stuck on the Grapevine for 2 hours due to snow. Right about the time the fans began to get in riot mode, he showed up.


the other was a rap concert, featuring a mess of different acts. Someone thought it would be fun to pop a balloon. I was so glad I chose not to work that one. As a result there is still a ban on rap concerts held at inside venues in Bakersfield.

Scanning through the current TV listings on my DVR. Right now, the complete description for "Today" on NBC reads:

"Robin Williams. Herring is prepared. The basics of rum."

I'm laughing, but I'm not sure why.

Ohly if Robin Williams is in Mrs. Doubtfire drag (speaking in Yiddish) preparing herring using rum as a main ingredient. He could do it you know.

Agreed.

I did my deed to music and addicted my eight year old to Roy.
We've been trying to find nice easy guitar songs that he can relate to.

Roy works for him. He wants to learn the growl.
My father is darn proud of me.

For the record, he is also very intersted in the Eagles. For those of you who think my music education of him is lacking. :P

If he can growl half as good as Roy, you've got a winner.

Damn, I'm exhausted. Managed to bake 1 batch of cookies, 2 batches magic cookie bars, and 1 loaf sour cream-raisin bread. Lost track of how many loads of laundry. Picked up BT's meds. And now I'm sitting in class, where I'll be until 10pm, home at 11, still have to pack, and have to get up at 4am to get everything loaded into my car and through rush-hour traffic to my brother's in-laws by 7:30.

Going on vacation is hard work.

Good luck with everything, Pru. Maybe you'll catch a break somewhere in all that. And sour cream-raisin bread? I've never heard of such a thing... is it... good? (I'll assume yes, but tell me about it, anyway... pretty please.)

Crap, I just realized you probably won't see this.

As for me... I realize that I'm just totally stressed and completely bummed that I'm missing out on going camping. I need the break more than ever, given the all kinds of craziness around me, not the least of which are the two cases I'm preparing.

On other news, and I don't want to muddy up the camping thread... my class that was ultimately preventing me from going to the camping trip was canceled Wednesday. I get an email this evening from the professor regarding our case presentation for Monday, and we've been moved back to the date of the final exam. We have to have our written case in Monday (so there's still work to do), but no need to practice for a presentation (though we probably still will). If I had known this would be the result, say around last Monday, I could have busted some ass so I could go camping and have fun with my friends.

Instead, I'm bitterly preparing a case with a glass of wine in hand.

I'm just exhausted. I really have to give a pre-thank you to BTD for recognizing this before I really did and forcing me to go out for either a drink or dinner on Saturday. I know I'll need it. (For Pete's sake, I must be at the edge if I'm feeling this emotional about getting drinks.)

Oh, and now I hear the start of Disneyland fireworks.

This just makes me more bitter.

Those aren't fireworks.

Amon Tobin is a genius.

It's Friday, it's payday, I should be in a better mood. Bah humbug. :(

Cheer up! It's the beginning of summer! And the potential to visit Casa de Mousepod for a viewing of 1776. Not many of us will get that opportunity.

:)

Blah. Payday sucks.
I suppose its good because people have money.. but my phone call load triples on payday.

I'm cranky.

I think we also have a full moon to deal with.

I feel your pain guys.

DPR, yes, you're right, but once the mousepods head South......

Well, I'm just a happy little ray of sunshine in the face of all the crankiness :) It's Friday, the weather's nice and not scorching, it's my mother in law's birthday, I took my best friend shopping last night and she seems to be doing better (her dad died about 3 weeks ago) and things seem more normal than they have in months!

Then you'll have even more reasons to come visit? I'm sure Rudy would like more visits too.

always look on the bright side of life

I'm starting to change my attitude. I think it was the "I just woke up" crankies combined with "not camping" bad attitude. It is quite a beautiful day outside. Though I'm somewhat stuck inside, I'm going to head off to a cafe and sip some coffee while working on an outline. I may be swamped, but I can still enjoy the great outdoors.

Oh, and I'm going to go see Ratatouille today. Enough for me to get some smiles on.

It's Friday. It's a beautiful day. I've got some great plans for the weekend. It's a good day.

We're hoping for an awesome paycheck so we can build the daycare kids a fort over the next 5 days. Our older wooden swing set is on it's last days so I pulled it off the yard and the kids are just up in arms over what to do. For some reason the old set was the center of their play. Wait until they see what Robb's got planned for them :)

By the way, Brigitte - I love your little pug in your avatar. What a cutie!

Yeah.. combined with how much I detest Fridays, (which I do) and its payday, its bound to be a great day. [/SARCASM]

Thanks! He's one of 3 we have :) He was the first and is named Mojo! He is about 7 now. We have a female also, her name is Tinker Bell and she's about 4. They had puppies last summer (some of you might remember our massive puppy loss) only one of which survived, so his name is Lucky :) I should try to get a mass Pug photo, but Lucky is always in motion.

You're totally right DPR, more reasons to come on down (and I have plenty, believe me).

I'm definitely a glass half full person, but was cranky this morning. I just took a walk outside, went to Starbucks and picked up a latte for my boss. It's a gorgeous day here, I'm doing better, thank you!

Oh, and haha on visiting Rudy. Shall I crawl along the masoleum floor for my pilgrimage? :p

He might enjoy a visit after you've watched a movie nearby.

Well- we owe taxes and just found out that they will now be forcefully removed from my check! Damn state of CA tax board. With more money at work comes more taxes to be paid...we moved into a higher tax bracket or something and bammo.

So - yeah - it's payday but I can't spend much knowing that for the next 3-4 weeks I'll have less money to bring home.

And of course that coincides with back to school shopping and a birthday !!!

So - bAH!

At least it's the weekend - or almost the weekend. And although we won't be going off roading, or so I'm told, we're going to try our first geocache hunt and see if we can learn to use the gps thing-a-ma-jigger.

But - slowest day EVAR! Yes indeedy. It's only 10:30 and I was ready to go home about 2 1/2 hours ago. Can't we just call it a day?

I am so craving sushi.

I've never had sushi.

Sushi is good.

Apparently, J found a decent place in Utah. Of course, he only has California rolls, so I'll just have to be the judge of that. :)

Fish are friends, not food. :)

Aw Betty, that really stinks. This is exactly the reason I have extra taken out each pay period, just so I don't have this issue. I know when I used to moonlight, it kicked me up a tax bracket and I always had to pay the State and could never get ahead. Those that are wiser in finances than me tell me I should neither give the State nor the Feds a tax free loan of my money, but it amounts to not a lot and I sleep better knowing (hopefully) I won't owe at the end of the tax season.

Anyway, your situation really stinks, my sympathies! :(

Is that why you went to Daphne's?

Lunch=Goat cheese, roasted bell pepper, and applewood smoke bacon pizza
Greg=Happy

Holy Gravy.
I just met my upstairs neighbor. He's fuking hot. Todd from Boston. Or should I say Tahd from Bahstan. Sounds like Matt Damon. Nice body. Wow! He's moving out in 2 days. Married... such a shame.
He did help me move my new coffee table from Ikea from my car to my living room. What a helpful guy.
:)

Nope. The evil co-workers who were taunting me with lunch don't like sushi.

So I'm still craving sushi.

Matt Damon! [/Team America]

*wonders idly whether GC's Boston adventure has tilted his preferences any*

What?! No pictures??

"Ok, turn the coffee table a little more towards me....smile!"

I forgot to mention... For the last several days, I've been craving pumpernickel bread. This afternoon I went grocery shopping. The bakery section had fresh baked pumpernickel! Mmmmmmm..... :D

Small vent ahead:

I am so glad today is over. I was busier today than I had been all week. At 4:25 I get a request from someone that the fax machines were broken. Said person first emailed the incorrect person (who emailed tech support) and had her manager call after she deemed that 25 minutes without a response is unacceptable (we have an hour to reply). I explained to the manager I was super slammed but would look at it before I left. Manager was OK with that answer and told her so. I went to look at it, and talk to "everyone else" who was having issues - no one else was having issues, only her; and as her history goes, she tries to blame IT when she screws up. So, I let her manager know that everything is working, no one else that she claimed was having trouble is having trouble. Manager is happy with the resolution. Said person decides to start arguing with me at 4:58 about it. Directed her to her manager.

At 4:55 someone decides to ask me to do something that IT doesn't do to do because someone else wasn't trained properly. Directed them to follow procedure to fix the issue. They started arguing with me about it. Directed them to their manager.

Note to everyone: Don't send critical issues to IT at 5 minutes to 5 after you've been sitting on them all day. A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. Especially when it's not our issue to fix to begin with.

There is no unapproved OT and I was already on 30 minutes. No way to fix the issues so I left. I'm sure I'll have nasty grams on Monday.

ETA: lest I come across as an insensitive bitch, had these issues been IT issues I would have fixed them.

I hate iPhone...

Wow there are 2 registered user on and 134 yahoo slurp spiders:eek:

I think we are being invaded!

Yeah, the Yahoo Slurp Spiders have been quite a bit more abundant than usual...

My roommate bought the iPhone. It's prudy.

Did he have to wait in an obnoxious line for it?

Nope. Went to the Spectrum about 9:30 last night, took 1 look at their line and went to Crystal Court. No line.

So it doesn't hook up on the first date?

I was starting to think this was "GD loses the consumer gamble" week. First, without road hazard protection, I get a nail in my tire. Now my phone's busted. It can make and receive calls, but the display is nothing but back-lit blue. I've rebooted it, pulled the battery out, smacked it around. Nada.

So I was kicking myself for choosing not to get the phone protection plan as part of my wireless package. But I just took a look, and I think I'm going to come out "ahead" in this. I went into a Sprint store. They couldn't do anything because they don't have a service guy on site, and the closest one that does is closed on the weekends. But they guy figured it'd be ~$50-$60 to repair the phone. The protection plan costs $7/month. I've owned this phone for 20 months. So, $50-$60 vs. $140. I win.

Always good to feel like a winner.

It appears I have lost all ability to focus.

Yikes!

ETA: And I think I want a mojito. I doubt I will get one.

Prudy = Purdy, yes?

otherwise, I guess the iPhone will have to leave the room when you undress.....

LoT is so quiet this weekend....

Everyone's camping. Jerks.

I think Sequoia National Forest needs to be a WiFi hotspot.

What LashBear said.


I have a splitting headache. Didn't drink nearly enough water yesterday. Or get enough sleep.

I'm not camping... but I've been able to relax this weekend just fine.

I'm auditioning a pair of these - Dark Side of the Moon never sounded so good. I don't think I'll be able to keep 'em, but I'm sure gonna enjoy 'em for a week or so.

Just say "Oops, the dog ate them, I can't return them now".... :D

I have my boy home. Need to make a phone call later though...or just hold off for the mediation and bring it up then.

Stupid people piss me off. Seatbelts are the LAW. If your vehicle only holds 6 and you need it to hold 7 either make 2 trips or take 2 cars.

I'm sorry MG, especially if we are talking about children using a seatbelt!! Children cannot hold themselves during a sudden stop or god forbid an accident!! It amazes me the number of people I see with kids just wandering freely around the car! My #1 rule in the car, The car doesn't move until ALL seatbelts are on!! No ifs, ands or buts!

Just a quick note to say: hi, we're not dead. I caught an awful bug the last day in Rome (at least it was the last one, right?) and I'm only now able to sit up and focus on the words on the screen.

Not to mention-- our only computer capable of being connected to high-speed internet has died. Completely died-- won't even turn on. Sigh. Welcome back to reality.

Off to my first day back on the job.

^^^^ Hi there! Welcome back, feel better and may your PC woes end soon.

Welcome back!

Strange, I picked up a *nasty* bug on my last day in Spain. I wonder if its just the countries themselves trying to keep us there... ;) At least it's a nicer way to look at it.

So glad you're back!

That was actually on Saturday.

I've always been a big fan of Sennheiser's headphones. Though I would have a REAL hard time justifying that price tag.

To which they would probably reply, "no problem: we can take the $600 in cash, check or credit card."

I think I've pinpointed a cool location for the LoT commune: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19563707/?GT1=10056

I'd do that in a f'n heartbeat

We'd have to collectively scrap together $135 million. I’ll start checking the couches for loose change when I get home.

Maybe a Bake Sale?

Wow, I really don't want to go to class tonight. :(

Back to add that there's nothing like hearing one of the neighbor boys yelling out "STELLLLLAAAAA!!!"

Just sayin'....

If going out on a Friday makes the weekend seem longer then will going to tomorrow night make it seem like I had more than just Wednesday off?

Ok... The couch yielded 32 cents, some stale popcorn, and half a brown M&M.

I have dibs on the M&M

I think I'm gonna go back to my old favorite headphones, a pair of Grado SR60s - sure they don't look very stylish, but for the price they're quite good headphones - and no need for a dedicated headphone amp either.

I've tried quite a few earphones over the years. I hate anything that completely covers my ears (that just results in sweaty ears and I assume I look like a dork like all the people on the bus).

It's surprising but I must give my endorsement to the default iPod earbuds. They provide good enough sound (for me) and they don't fall out while I'm running (yes, I can run) and they don't make my ears hurt like most other earbuds.

I love my Shure e2c earbuds. I also didn't pay full price for them.

See, I don't want earbuds for listening to music while kickin' back in the Nuclear Muffin Test Kitchen. Maybe for commuting (but the Grados do very well for that, too). Zoning out in 3... 2... 1... :D

I have the E3C's. For ear buds they kick patootee, but still not as good as a good pair of full surround headphones.

Heh, looks like it's my day to disagree with you. I have recently realized how subpar my iPod buds are, since I've started using them every day. The bass absolutely sucks no matter the EQ setting. I started looking at buying a nice set but they're so damn expensive. I'll put it on my wishlist for Hanukkah...

Watching a baseball game using TiVo does go a lot quicker - but it still takes most of an evening.

I couldn't figure out a significant difference to justify the price difference. What's the difference?

Yeah, I have no illusions that the sound quality is great. But I don't listen to music. The only reason I ever listen to my iPod is as a white noise generator (essentially). Either I'm tuning out the sounds of a gym or the sounds of the office. Six months with the current selection of songs on there and I still couldn't much tell you what's on there.

So the only really important thing to me is comfort and I'm surprised as how comfortable I find them.

Those ipod buds were not designed for me. They don't stay in my ear at all.

And if the Dodgers would just score some runs and get a lead, I could skip through the game much faster. So I suggest you lodge your complaint with them.

The Bose earbuds are amazing, though out of my price range. I have a friend that got a set for Christmas last year. Put me in the Jealous column.

Your wish has been granted!

I'm not entirely sure I approve of Roger Clemens "rent-an-arm" career of he last couple years but congratulations to him. Quite an achievement in the five-man era.

Otherwise, still resisting the urge to hope for Bonds twisting his knee during a late night piss or something.

That's why I like hockey. 3 20 minute periods. Then the game is over. Unless there is OT. In the playoffs. Then the game can go on forever and ever and ever. Like a Dallas/Vancouver that went into quad OT. That equals 2 full hockey games and 1 period of OT. Oy vey.

So, tonight was okay, though I didn't do as well on a midterm as I had hoped. An 82. A respectable B, considering I have two ace papers in the hole, but only an 82. Bleh. The worst part is that I couldn't come up with the specific word he was looking to see. I covered the meaning to enough of a degree, the effects, etc - which I think made him incline toward leniency - but I'm just disappointed.

I think I was just expecting more of myself from this class. Given that I've done a stellar job in my Business Law class, my hopes were too high. I should cut myself some slack, though - I'm missing several classes that are fundamental to success in this class, according to the professor (though he doesn't know my situation specifically). In light of that, I'm probably doing really well.

I'm going to start busting some ass now so I can get an A on the final. Or at least a B. A B would be nice.

I'm not resisting it at all. I just can't bring myself to forgive him for being such a jerk for so many years PLUS what appears to be steroid use. If (I am still holding on to a hope) he breaks Aaron's record, I will be sad.

Maybe I should complain about the frequency of games? Good thing I actually like baseball, to a point. What I should do is go ahead and do something else while you watch it. Otherwise, I feel like a kid watching Ratatouille. ;)

(side note - the Firefox spell check doesn't know "Ratatouille" and recommends "Bouillabaisse" instead)

[quote=Cadaverous Pallor;146988]What I should do is go ahead and do something else while you watch it. Otherwise, I feel like a kid watching Ratatouille. ;)[quote]

Okay, are you two actually conversing through the board now?

Now? We've been doing that for years. Just be happy it isn't in haiku.

Communication is a good thing, no matter how you do it :)

Anyone else's internet running slooooowwwwww?

not so far. Ive been on a good part of the morning and seems ok.

It's picked up a bit. For a while it was taking 5 plus minutes per page load. A couple of friends one in Idaho and one in Arizona were having similar issues.

KatieSue broke the internets.

Perhaps we can ask Ally to blow real hard on the pipes and clear this up.

So someone from IT came down earlier this morning to do something to this computer (which is not mine, because I'm filling in on the front desk for the manager who's got jury duty). And, naturally, "doing something" on the computer necessitates a restart. Well, that's all fine and dandy save for the fact that I don't know the mgr's password to get back into her computer!

Ended up having to start the puter in safe mode, create a new user account, and restart in regular mode, using the new user account.

"Blow" is just an expression.



And from what I understand, Ally is quite expressive.

It is? Well damn if that don't explain a lot.

Aww! *Blush* You guys! :blush: Shucks, it'd be my pleasure! Anything for my LoT's pals!

Of course, If by blow you mean suck. I'll suck the steel right off a submarine pressure hull. Bring on 'dem pipes! :p


And here I though you wrote "impressive"... :(

Although, I guess I could get quite expressive when caught in flagrante delicto.. ;) :p

KCET is covering those classic teardrop trailers right now on California's Gold

flagrante delicto... Is that in Mexico ?

Eastern Pakistan actually.

The Universe on The History Channel - is blowing my mind.

only caught the tail end. the 'end of the universe' thing was interesting to say the least

They had Milliways on there?

Well, the new one was "Mars" and I had to switch the channels or I was never going to finish through my next case study. I was just looking for background TV, I swear.

Why did they have to be all fascinating, and stuff?

So my dad called a bit ago to update me on the family health situation.

My aunt is doing relatively okay at the moment (relatively... for a woman whose heart is working at about 33% and who is dying of colon cancer), and her daughter, it turns out, is stage 4 (lymphoma), so in spite of the surgery, her prognosis still isn't good. She's got a bitch of a chemo and radiation series ahead of her, and a narrow survival statistic.

It's a perspective fixer when someone who is going through such massive problems is put under the "Okay" heading of any list. I'm glad I have my health (or what health I think I have).

I hope things get easier, Morrigoon.

It's even more fascinating when the work you have to do is less so.;)

We just got home from our El Capitan adventure. We only encountered a few of the Hollywood wierdos, but then we stayed in the area of the Kodak and the El Capitan. A couple were dressed up as Wolverine and Storm. Storm had on a really bad, yellow wig and she was not in the least bit attractive. The wolverine guy was much better in his character. We didn't linger long to watch them. I can't believe the amount of "vendors" that come out at night with there Coleman stoves and try to push "bacon dogs" and what looked like either bad polish sausage or bad linguica. There was also some Japanese talk show shooting in front of the Kodak, which just cause more conjestion in that area.

What I don't understand is why people, when driving through the Grapevine, refuse to move out of the fast lane. They aren't going fast enough to be there and there are 3 other lanes to be in, why can't they move over? Then there was the idiot behind me when I was in the next lane over, who felt I should move into the truck lane so he could pass me. I was going 80, and there were trucks in the truck lane. Jerk actually though flashing his lights at me would get me to move. I felt justified when he rode his brakes all the way doen the last grade and I passed him. I take pride in knowing my vehicle and knowing the grade well enough to not touch my brakes all the way down. Heck, I am almost afraid to use my brakes on the hill. I have dreams where I lose my brakes, so I just make sure I don't go faster than the curves allow.

It is now after 2 and I am not quite ready to go to bed yet. Thank goodness I don't have to be at my sister-in-law's until 7pm tomorrow.

Idiot tweaker neighbors are setting off illegal fireworks. It is 2am!!!!!

Someone set off fireworks very close to me in the middle of the night too. Woke me up.

Morrigoon, I'll keep your aunt and her daughter in my thoughts.

My moronic neighbor was trying to sneak his illegal fireworks! He stood on his porch and angled them so they wouldn't fly as high and he wouldn't get caught. The moron actually ended up shooting them through his own tree, sparks were raining down everywhere! He actually thought it was a riot. I'm sure his great grandfather whom they live with did not! I think the poor tree took some serious blows.

I can hardly wait for tonights fiascos. I have my hose ready but I'm not looking forward to it!

I know the feeling. they started in on Jupiter about the time I was starting to crash...or trying to at least. I managed to shut the tv off between episodes since I knew I'd just get caught up in the next one...

and the next...

:snap: I just love that stuff. thanks for the tip

I'm bored and I'm lonely... what's going on today? Anyone wanna go see Ratatouille?

Hahah... Al Gore's druggie kid was arrested right near here! LOL

If I was a whole lot closer I would love to spend the day with you! I hope you find something fun or interesting to do!

It sucks having our guys in Vegas over the 4th!! At least we're not sitting in the record heat for Vegas. Gary said it's supposed to be 116+, it may be a record breaker!

I'm doing laundry. No, really.

Cleaning house a little before heading down to the waterfront. I'll hang around a little, maybe take in some of the blues festival and stick around for fireworks over the river.

Now, now- he was driving a Prius, thus remaining carbon-neutral after smoking all that pot. ;)


Can you believe a Prius is capable of those speeds?:snap:

Ah that's it... it's a vast left-wing conspiracy to encourage the use of hybrid vehicles by proving that irresponsible teens can still reach the dangerous speeds they so crave!

LOL

Maybe I was the responsible exception, but I never drove at dangerous speeds as a teen.

Sober or drunk.

So you drove at safe speeds while driving dangerously drunk. What a responsible young teen you were!;)

Oh dear - the "Too Smart For You" incident comes to mind - at least in my recollection Strangler Lewis always managed to at least be traveling in the right direction...

I can think of something else that wasn't quite where it belonged that night.

Strangler: not totally the exception. I didn't speed till well into my 20's and still have a reputation for generally driving like a granny.

I've engaged in stereotypical youth speeding behaviors 2.5 times:

Once I raced a guy home from an American Legion meeting we were forced to attend. I was in an Oldsmobile sedan and my friend was in a souped up Pontiac muscle car of some sort. The freeway was crowded so to maintain my lead I had to creatively use other cars to block him. We topped 100 miles an hour that night.

Shortly after that I drove almost 80 mph on a long straight but residential street, after dark.

For some reason after those two I just decided I was being really stupid and never did it again.

The half was when I was 24 and driving a rented Pontiac from Portland to Tijuana. Somewhere around 2 a.m. on a long straight stretch somewhere between Redding and Sacramento I got to wondering how fast it could go. Turns out it was governor regulated to 107 miles per hour. Scared the **** out of me when it hit that and the engine went "clunk." But that was on a stretch of interstate with no other car in site. So the only thing I was likely to kill was myself (and the friend sleeping oblivious to it all in the passenger seat).

I think I've decided I like the Craig Ferguson talk show. It's not LOL funny, but it's sort of ongoing mild amusement funny.

And he's cute and has a British Isles accent ;)

I try to watch his monologue and then tune out unless he is interviewing someone I know is intelligent enough. The disdain that Ferguson has for stupid guests makes for poor interviews most of the time.

Well, he has Wanda Sykes on, so no problem there.

I shouldn't say this, but Kelsey Grammar is hot. So's David Hyde Pierce. And as long as I'm admitting strange celebrity crushes... I know it's SOOOO wrong, but Christopher Walken is totally hot too.

I seem to have gotten over thinking Emeril is hot. Or maybe he just got old on me. Or perhaps I just got totally bored with his schtick after visiting one of his restaurants and deciding I didn't like his food?

...I should go to bed, shouldn't I?

I have always regularly gone faster than the speed limit, but never in heavy traffic and I never weave across lanes to accomplish it. If I'm on a very empty long straight stretch of freeway, I have no qualms approaching 100mph. I have been pulled over twice for speeding (both times as a teen), ticketed once. I do not consider speed as de-facto dangerous driving.

I can't imagine that a Prius maintains its fuel efficiency advantage at 100mph.

I got to experience that on the Camp Swank trek - more noticeable on the return trip going up the Tejon Pass side. "Oh, you mean I need to press my gas peddle a little more when I start going up a hill to maintain the same speed?"

Well, I have been at work for an hour now. I guess I should start being productive.

Why?

Ya know... you think it's a modern world, until: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19606626/?GT1=10150

Mmmmm tastes like chicken.

You don't have to go to rural China to realize most people still have a decidedly medieval view of the world.

Which lead me around to this funny bit.

That was pretty good...

omg it is HOT!

When I picked up Boy from daycare, my car read 120, which means it was 117. Poor Pooh & Chicken. They have plenty of water and a fan. I am also running the backyard sprinklers for a cycle to give them some extra water and cool things down a bit. Pooh, who tries to avoid water, ended up laying in the sprinklers. He kept grinning at me from the mist.

I had to bump up my ac to 81 to keep it from not shutting off, at 78 it seemed like it ran for over an hour.

Yeah, it's been a tough day here too. Partly cloudy, I think the temp made it up to ehhh around 82 or so and not overly humid or dry. Summer. It's a bitch.




:D

I'll take our occasional scorching summers over your snowy winters ANY time. :p

It was actually nicer today than yesterday, temperature wise. But it's kind of moot when I'm in AC at 68 degrees all day anyway ;)

Our power went out at 5. We went and saw Evan Almighty. It was cute, and the power was back on by the time we got home.

I just had an interesting and enlightening conversation with my sister-in-law. I guess my weight loss is a concern to David and they are going to try to prove me unfit because I do drugs. I reassured her not a biggy, taking a test. I have been drug free for almost 20 years and have no intention of going down that road. It really doesn't surprise me, that was how she got custody of her step-daughter. But, like I have said all along, the 2 big differences with me are 1) I don't do drugs and 2) I am not a whore. Boy, is he ever going to look like a bigger fool than he is when he tries to play that card.

He'll look like a fool, especially since it's just adding insult to injury and anyone with half a brain will see that, MG.



Sooo.....driving home tonight at 7:30, the sign at the bank near our house said 107 degrees. Our weather up here is crazy.:rolleyes:

Tori drew this today- I practiced using the scanner on it (It's Ginny Weasley, drawn freehand):

She understands proportion so well. Kudos to Tori! After half a dozen life drawing classes or so, I've seen more than my fair share of bad proportions from would-be artists.

So, am I crazy, or did we have a thread titled "Memorable quotes" at one point in time? I can't find it for the life of me.

While I might argue that you have in fact posed two seperate unrelated questions, the answer to the latter I beleive can be found here.


So what's the burning quote you are just busting to post?

Because anyone who loses weight must be on drugs. :rolleyes:

You are crazy but I don't recall that thread on this board.

I was amused by the search that you used to find it: "highlight=kevyisadodohead"


ETA: And for the record: no such post exists :p

and of course the irony is that by posting that no such post exists it does in fact now exist and will live forever in the LoT index... muuuhaahhaaaa!

When I first lost weight in early 2006, most of my family (as I later found out) was talking behind my back about me possibly being on drugs. You know, can't a girl be tired from extra school and work and lose a couple dozen pounds without being persecuted? I knew the vibe was off, and it just made me more stressed out. It was the opposite of what I needed. Sorry for your stress, MG.

So are some drugs better than others for weight loss?

If it makes you feel better, losing weight is certainly not a sign of doing drugs.

But of cancer. When my grandfather suddenly lost a lot of weight we all congratulated him on how great he looked (he didn't tell anybody he was sick until the very end). Then he died.

Feel better? I should probably practice my warm fuzzies.


=====

In other Soooooo..... news if I believed in luck as anything other than coincidence I'd be moving to Vegas. I've come out ahead on my last two visits to gambling establishments. I won every game I played at the county fair last weekend. I played poker online last night for the first time in about 6 months and promptly won the first sit-and-go ($50 on $10) and then came in 6th in a 571 person tournament ($35 on $2) and doubled a $20 buy-in playing blackjack.

If I thought buying a ticket would significantly increase my chances of winning, I might even consider a lottery ticket.

So is one form of cancer better than another for weight loss?

The time I lost tons of weight (I was down to 123 pounds) I was incredibly stressed and depressed. I'm sure happy now! ;)

Humm, As an abstract exercise, what numbers would you pick for the lottery? Five numbers and a 6th for the powerball.

Might as well make it 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 for the powerball - the odds are the same as any other combination.

I'm back. Miss me?




(You should work on your aim.)

Shhhhh!! I'm trying to steal Alex's luck to the tune of $126,000,000. Don't muck it up.


Ps: The real goal for the lottery is to be the ONLY winner for a particular drawing. With a pick like 1,2,3,4,5:6 I'd be afraid of having to split the pot with dozens of other smart asses.

For you Alex, that was warm and fuzzy. ;)

Lot hiccup. Sorry.

I would think that at the top of the list would be any form of cancer that could result in amputation.

Second place I would give to esophageal.


I don't know if I should pick a number. Even if I don't believe in luck it can breed disappointment. Last time we were in Reno (about 9 months ago, not part of the current streak) as we were getting out of the car I joked to Lani that once we were inside I was going to put $100 on 8 at the first roulette table I saw.

Of course, as we walked past that first roulette table we stopped to watch and it came up 8.

I was on the phone earlier with a woman who couldn't understand why her grandmother, who lives in Guatamala, isn't eligible to Medi-Cal. :rolleyes:

Tomorrow is 07/07/07. You should head to Vegas, Alex. Then you can buy me dinner at Boma in October.

9 2 10 8 1 - 1

That will do. Thanks.

Tomorrow is the last of the huge wedding days for a while!!! Thank God!!


Too bad I can't sue for defamation of character...

So, speaking of visuals that inspire one to gouge out their eyes with a hot poker, this 40- or 50- something chick walked by a bit ago, dressed the same way as her older teen daughter - in short jean shorts.

There's just something SO wrong about 50-something ass cheek falling out of teen-length shorts!

Crap! I just remembered I have to go water The Old People's plants tonight. It is going to be mega hot. One of their neighbors lost their house yesterday, to a major fire, and it is going to be sad driving past it.

Yes you can. You can sue for anything in these United States.

I remember thinking how fit and trim John Wayne looked at his final appearance at the Oscars. I knew he was sick, but somehow I didn't put the two together.

Yes and I want to see pictures.

Oh sure - there are only about 600 of them...

Yeah, but then I would just be suing myself..community property laws.

So, if I'm lucky, which I doubt I will be, I might manage to talk Mr. Darcy (aka Alex) into seeing Ratatouille tonight. I can't believe he wants to wait till its out on dvd!

I'm going to see Transformers tonight. I am soooo flipping excited.

Isn't that sad? haha.

Nickolas wanted to see Transformers last night. I wanted to see Surf's Up. We found middle ground with Evan Almighty.

I think it may be time for a new Sooooo thread. This one takes too long to open.

But I'm already planning what I'm going to post in the 100,000 message....

So...


(work safe, but frightening)

So....you didn't just accept a job with Disney did you?

Based on everything I've heard you found the compromise of mutually assured disappointment.

Are those CURRENT photos?!? :eek:

No!

We both enjoyed it. It wasn't great, but it wasn't sucktastic either. I usually guage a movie by how many times I look at my watch. With POTC III I looked 3-4 times. Ratatouille, none. EA, once.

It is just hard to strike a balance in movies that we see in theaters. There aren't many 'kid' movies worth watching, but he isn't quite ready to handle a more adult theme. Then I have the added hang up with him, if it is real, or has a shred of reality (Dante's Peak, Volcano, Twister ect...) he will have issues. If it is total fantasy (LotR, HP) he is fine with it. The only way I know if there will be a problem is the questions I start to get in the hours following him seeing something he can't handle.

Surf's Up is pretty good, not Ratatouille good but I liked it.

Or traded to the Yankees.

Looks like I'm not getting to see Ratatouille tonight. Instead I get to sit here watching he-who-must-not-be-named play a fvcking video game (Harry Potter for the Wii). Wooo. Exciting.

Thank god for Netflix... at least I have The Producers to entertain me on a Friday night.

I just heard from The Old People!!! They have had 2 more flat tires, but they are finally in Alaska. It was so nice seeing their cell number on my caller id.

GD!!!!!!!

<no words>

You planning to keep it off?

A few years ago Lani and I did a 1-month road trip. I shaved mine the day before we left and then didn't shave the entire vacation so nobody actually saw me without it.

Takes some getting used to.

I, too, lost my bid for the Rat movie, as the birthday boy insisted on Transformers. (sigh).

Goddamn it, I really like Smodcast.

If not for the banter, for trying to figure out what song that is in the background.

In the past 13 years, this is the second time I've shaved it, the first being 5 years ago, almost exactly. The last time, it couldn't grow back fast enough. I looked like an adolescent and the lack of beard highlighted the extra face fat I was carrying.

This time...I might keep it off for a while.

Went to Disneyland tonight. The parking CM did a double-take while checking my AP. I put my hand over my mouth, "Does this help?" What felt the weirdest to me was the realization that no one who looked at me knew that anything was amiss.

Last time I shaved my goatee off was three years ago. Both my daughters cried. Literally.

Looks great, GD!

I've always been a fan of radical haircuts (including facial hair - for guys).

The change can be a liberating experience. Leave it off for a while - until it feels normal, at least. Then... ZZ Top.

Here's me without mine:



I was apparently in a weird mood that day since not only did I allow myself to be photographed but posed for one too:




As for the fashion evolution, these photos are from January 2004 and looking through them I see that I still regularly wear every piece of external clothing I wore on that trip.

Wow! You look nothing like I expected!

Perfect night last night. Sushi with 2 great friends, Transformers with 1, went to close down our regular joint with the other after the movie. 3am Denny's and up at 8:30am. WOO!

WOW! You look completely different. I had to do a double-take.

I agree with that. What I expected Alex to look like, I don't know.

How nice for you men, shave off your facial hair and instantly look years younger. :rolleyes:

And while I roll my eyes I do think it does make you look a lot younger. That not being your intention, I am sure.

That is a funny feeling, GD, you have made this big change and people don't realize it. Like you have some little secret....:D

GD! Wow! You have dimples now.

And Alex - you look nothing like I expected. (I've seen previous photos of GD - but I don't think I've seen any of you before.)

I guess the gods really wanted me in Vegas this weekend. My original trip was canceled but I was woken up to a text from a friend who said "vegas, leaving in an hour. you game?"

When destiny knocks I'm answering.

Day 2 and I'm still liking the bald chin. Though every time I pass a mirror it's like seeing a muppet without its nose.

Be sure to place a bet on #8 at the first roulette table you come to! (It's a Lot tradition....)

And stay inside, it's bloody hot even for Vegas. Oh and most importantly stay away from men wearing trench coats while in Vegas.