:eek: Hard to resist...

Off to Woot.com!

Ok...visited the site. Refurbished and doesn't have a docking station, I'll wait.

After much hesitation, I bravely went to the site, which I never heard of. Now I also now what a Roomba is. I swear that I thought this entire exchange was about vibrators.

:rolleyes:

After having one for a week, I regret not getting one sooner. It really sucks! :snap:

I just chopped off nearly ALL my hair into chunky spikes and dyed it intense red.

now I feel a bit better!

We need pics!!! :D :snap:

No no no.
You're thinking of the Woomba.

:D

Lmao! I love SNL commercials!

Since she's already posted it in her LJ, I guess I can share the linky now. Didn't hers come out adorable?

That's good, because if it didn't, that would suck.

Oh My! Sorshah! How cute you look with the new do! :snap:

Well, our garage organization has begun! We got two large shelving units from Costco last night, which Ken will be building this weekend or next. We figure we'll need 4 more sets, but they are large enough to hold everything in the garage and in our off-site storage unit, so we can save the monthly storage fee. :)

Nice do, S!
:)


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


Fish can be so mean.
The fish in my fish tank decided to pick on one fish. A cory cat. They decided to tear off and eat all of his fins and now he's just a stump. Gosh, it's tough out there in the animal kingdom.

Poor fishie :(

Put the poor thing out of its misery.

Yeah, I had to do it. It was dying.
Fish be mean.

No like fish. Creepy and they are mean.

I'm going to be working 6 days this week- woohoo...

There will be a third tv movie installment of "The Librarian"! Yay!

Unless you are on salary.

I work an average of 50+ hours per week.

I thought you liked sharks?

Decision made!
 

Well, I'm taking the attitude that two birds in the hand are worth one in the bush.

Instead of hanging on hoping to hear about Javert, I'm taking two roles with a new company doing "Pippin" and "Annie Warbucks" in repertory. I'll be playing Charlemange (Charles) in "Pippin" and Daddy Warbucks himself.

Yes, sometime in June I'll be shaving my head! We'll be doing thirty performances (fifteen each show) in thirty days, July 10 - August 10. The zoo's going to be thrilled with me!

For the time being I'm Dr. Livesey in "The Ghosts of Treasure Island" with Oregon Children's Theatre, and "Who Stole My Dead Husband" is still going strong (although we had to cancel our Skamania weekend do to a lack of marketing on their part!)

My daughter turned 21 this week. For her birthday, she's coming to the show tomorrow night and the cast and I are buying her drinks.

ron

in other news...
 

During my set of Sinatra songs in "Who Stole My Dead Husband", there are a lot of things going on around the room. The audience is dancing, Grandma is molesting men, dessert is being served, etc. The audience's attention is anywhere but on me. Very rarely I'll sing to or even dance with an audience member.

A month or so ago I notice a very attractive woman watcing me as I sang. For some reason I was brave that evening and danced with her while singing "The Way You Look Tonight." Afterward I took her back to her seat and thanked her for the dance.

A week or so later, there was a message on my MySpace page. She had looked me up. Long story short... after a week of back and forth, I asked her out. This is me - I'd never done anything like this before.

We've been out twice now. She's terrific, and she actually seems interested in seeing me again. I don't know why, but I'm willing to go along until she comes to her senses.

My education continues.

ron

Yes. I do. I'm weird. I don't like fish in a tank. I don't like Koi in a Koi pond (Tramspotters killer koi freak me out). But fish in the ocean are fine.

WOOHOO oz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go Ron!

Soooo I'm trying to get drunk tonight. The kids asleep and I think I'm going to drink my world away.

I'll try to read only and not post for fear of what might come out. Have a great night!

Rock on Ron! :D

Awesome news, Ron, on all counts. Charlemagne is a great part (Warbucks too) - I wish you the best of broken limbs!

It's snowing here. Why is it snowing here? This is just wrong.

Every year the zoo does a tropical theme for spring break. We're in Hawaiian shirts, have tropical food specials, there are island decorations and plastic flamingos.

Every year spring break is cold and wet.

This week it snowed.

We're suggesting next year we do a polar theme. We'll all wear parkas and mukluks.

Maybe that will make the sun come out.

Boy needs a hair cut. Forgive the image quality, he was moving and I took it with my cell:

Pennywise?

This is the first morning it hasn't snowed since spring began. I feel your pain.

Cherry blossoms! Purty!

What is this 'snow' of which you speak?

I'd of swooned if you sang Jerome Kern to me! Good for you and, Ron, SHE HAS COME TO HER SENSES, she knows a good man when she sees him, do not sell yourself short, you silly! :snap:

Heh! in this shot he looks like Syndrome! I'm the boy's biggest fan, okay?

Go RON!!!

I knew Id seen that pic somewhere

lets hope hes a Dragon Ball Z fan

He prefers Naruto and Pokemon over DBZ. He did manage to wet it down and almost control it. I am practicing picking my battles. I give him 1 week of +100 temps and he will be begging to have it buzzed.

It took me 2 cups of coffee to realize there is a fish tank in our LR.

And how many drinks did it take to get the fish tank there in the first place?

I have a pretty new monitor.

Oooh... It's fancy.

OK, back to work!

Congrats, Ron!
:)


Prudence - Snow = Bleh. Move to SoCal. :)


Mousey Girl - Cool pic! I lol'ed. :D I say go for a mohawk cut.

Yeah!

Pound foolish!

I tried. SoCal didn't want me. SoCal's loss.

I don't see a mohawk flying at school, but maybe during summer. This morning, I couldn't figure out why he kept asking for a hat to wear to school, until I saw him in the bathrrom trying to comb his hair. Even though he is smiling in that pic, he did NOT want me to take it. He "forbid" me to send it to anyone. It is his fault that he didn't specifically ask me not to post it anywhere.

I have an "after" picture, as soon as it sends from my cell I will post it, too. Even wetting his hair down did not tame it all the way.

Today is Pizza Friday.

Or as some of us like to say... unhappy labor is expensive. Pizza is cheap.

OK, but don't be surprised when Boy turns that same type of logic back on you one day. Children do as children see.

Dang, I need to get some speakers for my computer at work. Sound is optional here.....:rolleyes:

Congrats!!

Susan is coming down and we are going to Maggianos. NM is joining us.

Neener!

Where was my invite? /sob

It is now pouring snow. And sticking. The first big night out I have planned since shutting the door on law and here it's snowing. In spring. ****.

Yeah, that really sucks! :(

Oh, BTW you can't say **** here. Just so you know. :D ;)

You can't? Well ****

You already said you had pizza.

It's my fault it snowed; I bought cute spring clothes. Grrr.

I agree. ::sigh:: You belong here. :)

Snow? Yuck. May it melt soon.

Leftovers rawk. Especially when one remembers to bring them to work and still has them in the afternoon because one forgets that they have them and gets In-n-Out for lunch but is hungry later in the afternoon.

Leftovers are especially rawkalicious when they involve black truffles.

Just sayin'.

Mary Poppins is coming to the Ahmanson in November.

A friend and her family are in town and spent yesterday at Disneyland and today at DCA. (They got Dream Fastpasses.) I joined them at the park last night and steered them to a good last-minute viewing spot for fireworks. I just LOVE enjoying the fireworks (or other DL joys) through the eyes of someone experiencing it for the first time. I am always very careful to not give anything away, but will point out some of the subtle stuff that might otherwise get missed (images projected on SBC or Matterhorn for example).

Their 13 year old daughter was very fascinated with much of the small trivia (and I was getting a total blank after giving her a few gems of info). If we end up seeing the family one more time before they leave on Monday, I think I will get her David Koenig's Behind the Ears book. I think she will love it.

Unfortunately, we had a parental end-of-a-long-day-at Disneyland meltdown :( But cheerful-happied them out of it :)

Somehow I believe that seeing DL through YOUR eyes would be entertaining in itself!

My friend was laughing at me during parts of the show because I was getting into it so much. She commented that I was like a big kid.

And, well, yes I am. I hope I never lose that!

Ken just brought home a piece that no Tiki Dining Room can be complete without:

Squawkers Macaw

I've had my eye on it for some time, but it was way too expensive. It just went on cheap clearance today at Target, so he nabbed one! :D

OMG....gotta love it! I'm surprised you waited this long!

At $80, it had to wait. ;)

It's now $24.99 on clearance and they're going fast.

Gotta come over and progam a welcome greeting for the Wolfpack!

My kingdom for no-stick scissors!

Looks like November 2009.

My face is melting off the side of my head, and there's blue spiders running along the walls...

I think I need to slleeep.

Okay.
One, my next door neighbor is loud.
Two, she's even louder on her cellphone which she likes to use in front of her door in the courtyard.
Three, now she's using the phone as a walkie talkie so I can hear her big mouth and her mom's big mouth.
This lady bugs.

:mad:

Pru's snowstorm hit here this afternoon. I am so frikking tired of this merde. On the bright side, only one more day of work and by next Tuesday we'll be in L.A.!:cheers:

WB - are you going to be at the park at all on Wednesday? I was hoping to see you again, and I'll be gone the remainder of the week.

Yes! We check into the Grand that day, and I'm sure we'll have to have the belldude store our stuff, as I hear they never have rooms ready until after 4:00. It would be wonderful to meet up with you!

wb ~ You know, I know a certain Hawaiian that doesn't have a job yet that could come by and say hi this week...
:)

Hmmm.... What a coincidence. I know a certain very tired, extremely pale (melanin challenged, really) and currently freezing chick who would love to treat her friend to a well-deserved drink at some swanky locale- say, the Hearthstone? We may have to have a 'waiting to check into our suite-meet'- what do ya say, GC & DP?:cheers:

Sounds good 2 me. :)

Okay- looks like we have the start of a mini-meet. Show up in your turban and I'll bring the eyeliner. Wonder if that snotty-cute French Canuckian is still a server there?

Well, my sleeping in weekends may be permanently ruined by my 6AM weekdays...

I know, growing up sucks huh? :P lol I have the same thing now. No matter how late I go to bed, I always wake up between 7 and 8. How I miss the days when I would go to bed at 4am and wake up at noon.....

I wake up at 6:15 in the morning pretty much regardless of day of week or how late I was up the night before. I have to really be sleep deprived over a lengthy period before I can sleep later than 7.

Do not discount the power of an afternoon nap

Is it afternoon yet?

I don't know how I managed it, but I think Alex is actually going to go with me to see Phantom :D

Anyway, I went to get tix yesterday, and of course they're all sold out of the $30 top level, back-of-house seats because I frikking waited until the show opened to try to get seats. (Scheduling issues) But anyway, the good news is, they do have *$20* "obstructed view" seats on the far left of the orchestra section that are only blocked by the edge of the proscenium. The only things I can think of that might be blocked would be the Phantom's throne and maybe dead Piangi. But the box office guy said he knew people he worked with had bought those seats and said they didn't miss anything important, so maybe even that won't be too badly blocked. I'm super excited. And $20! I paid $30 back in the late 80's for seats at the Ahmanson where you couldn't see the freaking mirror because the high angle had the top of the proscenium blocking. To me this is a heck of a deal. You can't see a concert that cheap!

Oh, if anyone cares, we're going Tuesday.

Aaaaaagh! Our poor avocado and lemon trees. Ken's outside right now, repotting them into large tree pots. It's not a pretty sight. (I could close the blinds... but nah.)

He knows how to repot, but dude!! It looks rather perilous. (To the trees, of course.) :eek:

I have a new favorite concert venue! Amazing show last night, with good food to boot.

Oh that reminds me... so either we have troublesome kids or immature adults in our neighborhood. Last night, some asshole turned on our hose full strength in front of our house. Could have killed my snapdragons, might have killed my avocado. Only time will tell. Luckily we checked or it'd have been on all night.

I was so *pissed*

OMG - glad you're ok.

This is just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. There are at least 2 inches on the ground now.

Damn you, Mother Nature!

*shakes fist*

Nah, Mother Nature's alright. It's Old Man Winter that doesn't seem to want to die this year.

I slid all the way to work today. Pure ice, with nothing on it to either give traction or melt the crap.

The wind is kicking up here. My allergies are driving me insane. All the wind is doing is blowing the blossoms off the trees and they all seem to go right up my nose.

Ho-lee crap! I would have been scared too. (I also would have been looking around to see who saw me fall.)

I'm glad you're mostly OK and hope your knee injury doesn't hurt too-too much.

Totally! I need to be home around 5'ish to catch my flight to Vegas, but I'm good for a couple hours prior to that. :D

Awesome, DP- look forward to seeing you! PM me if you need my number, or just ask NA.

I am officially on vacation!:cheers: Well, okay- I'm giving my auntie-in-law a haircut tomorrow and her daughter a highlight, but it's at my house and there is a good chance I may not get out of my jammies. I stocked up at the store tonight and have no need to go anywhere- what a great feeling.:)

Yeah... WTF's up with the weather this year?

GRR!

I'm packing Maddy up for science camp. Of course it's raining and the weather forecast for the week sucks. Hope she doesn't get sick.

We had waffles this morning.

Ah yes. I was able to partake of that pleasure yesterday.

Unfortunately, we had no bacon in the house. :(

Got back last night from two back-to-back trips: North Carolina (for business) and Hawaii (for pleasure). Much to catch up on... and some photos to post.

Welcome back!

I've been wondering where you were, mister! Glad to hear it was traveling and (hopefully) having fun. Do we get to see you and Mrs. Mousepod when we come down there this week?

We'll be here all week...

(tip your waiter!)

Whoohooo!:snap:

(And I always tip my waiters- even the snooty french ones).

It is WAY too early to be awake.

I can't wait to be done with work today. First on the agenda: shower. Second: nap.

I have to train twenty people today in using software. I have to set up 10 laptops, connect them to wireless internet, and set up and use the SmartBoard (basically a gigantic touchscreen monitor). At least I get a break between sessions. I've never taught a true class like this and I'm kinda freaked. Did I mention my current supervisor will be in the class?

*i can do this i'll be fine*

Stop it! You're getting me all hot and bothered. Smartboard, ummmm...

You will do a great job.

realized that twitter is much like this thread, but on a global basis.

Waiting for a plane from Atlanta to Savannah.

I was still awake when you posted this :(

You can do this and you will be just fine. :D :D :D

Or you can run to your IT department at the very last second possible and pitch a fit that they help you set it up rightnowotherstuffbedammed.

YOU will DO GREAT!

NOTHING is quite like the Soooo.... thread :)

He lives in Southern California.

Remember: it's not REAL allergy medicine unless you have to go on a government list to get it.

(feeling the sinus relief that only pseudoephedrine can provide... ahh...)

Woke up at 5AM this morning with a toothache (real bad), now I have one less tooth. At least no more pain, well just a bit while it heals.

Lesson to all....take care of your teeth!

I just got another shipment of spring clothes. All those in the PNW should brace for another cold front.

So, I have a meeting at the Grand Cal tomorrow. It ends at 3:00. I think I may visit the park.

Yeah, but can you still not go camping?

My pants keep getting holes in the crotch. It's getting annoying.

And yet, there is a convenience factor you can't ignore.;)



(Posting my last posts before beddy-bye- see ya tomorrow, Matt!)

Thanks for the well wishes. It was fine. The only snafu was that the wireless doesn't turn on until right when my class began, so I wasn't able to bookmark the long annoying url like I wanted to. After getting everyone to type it in correctly (and moving a couple of people to spare laptops after odd things went wrong) things went fine.

I really do think I'm good at translating geek speak to normals. Oh, and the program is super simple.

Moonie - I do loves me some SmartBoard action. :D

And now - I get to train all the City department heads. Oh boy.

That's what happens when you do your job too well, you get to train everyone else also! Great job on the presentation, were you nervous? I know I would be, but I don't like speaking to groups.

Well, I hear that if you strap it to your leg it won't wear out the pants so much. I think I read that in a Dear Heloise article.

:D

Anyone want to come with me to Eurockéennes?

Actually, if I'm correct, Utah will be seeing some more rain and snow come Wednesday and Thursday... are you bringing this on?

:)

Grinderman huh? - I'm betting Lisa might be interested. Alas, I must work

Looks like fun. Coachella should cover us, though.

WAIT! Grinderman wasn't on there the last time I looked at this list!

July, eh?

So I saw this headline:

F1 boss urged to quit amid Nazi sex scandal
Mosley reportedly play-acted being prisoner with five prostitutes on video

(Full story here - F1 = Formula 1 Race Cars)

But I was most amused by the unfortunate picture that accompanied the story:

Long Beach, CA

SEVERE WEATHER ALERT

Forecast Details:

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.


MAN! That IS severe!!!!!!


Actually, when I got to more details I saw that there is actually some "discomfort" in the forecast. I blame WenchyBeth.

So, in otherwords - the end of civilization?

Well, if they are predicting rain in Southern California, then; yes.

At least as the news stations report it.

And with good reason. As pathetic as it is, drizzle kills people here.

I'm sure there are people in LA who reach for the Xanax at the first sign of rain.

I wish it wouldn't rain - Maddy's at camp. That'll just suck.

Rain is sucky....hope it doesn't ruin Maddy's camp week!

I wonder if it is going to effect my plans of smuggling Thurston into the Grand Cal?

weather wimps!:rolleyes:

Should make it easier. The raincoat won't be so obvious.

You better buy him a raincoat and rubber booties.

Awwwww. He'd look so CUTE!

Why would he need rubber boo.........oh, never mind.

;)

What, you mean your "service dog"? ;)

So umm... we had an "interesting" night. More details in my el jay.

Yes, I think they just updated it right after I linked you. Come on, you know you wanna... I found out I can get 3 day tickets through work and save about 10 Euro each.

I can't find booties, but raincoats are plentiful.

Although this one is a fully integrated body suit for the pooch.

That dog is gonna be starring on "When Pets Attack" really soon.

So I got in an accident today. I'm ok. ShinyCar is scratched up pretty bad. Some jackass made an illegal U turn (on a red) while we were turning left. Everything would have been ok, except he pulled into my lane and cut me off. I hit the horn and he slammed on his breaks. I had to hit my breaks and swerve into the dirt. Spun around and landed against the fence. He actually got out of his car (parked about 100ft away) to see if I was ok, and I was getting on the phone to 911. I told him I think I am ok and then I saw the car. I said you're the guy who cut me off! He said you almost hit me! I said YOU CUT ME OFF while making an ILLEGAL U TURN!. 911 had picked up at that point, I told them and he took of running to his car. I couldn't get his plate. Jackass. The cop who came out was awesome. Super nice. He wrote the report that it wasn't my fault.

Now to decide if I report it to the insurance. I need at least a buff job. Maybe a paint job. I need to find out what my deductibles are.

Ugh.

I'm glad you are okay BTD. What a jerk running away like that. Shame on him!

A hit-and-run should be covered under you comp. and will not count as against you in terms of any "no claims" status.

Even if he didn't hit me?

Hmm, that I don't know. But if you have a police report that indicates you were not at fault, you're probably in a good position.

Oy, BTD.

I'm just glad you're okay. And sorry you had to start your day with a jerk-off.

"You almost hit me..."

PFFTT!

Guy needs to get a clue. I'll call you later, probably.

I'm playing dead today.

!



!!




!!!

Oh a happy note, I scored floor seats to Kenny Chesney!

Thanks for the kind words.

Don't think I am going to claim it with the insurance. My deductible is $2k. It won't go on my record because it is being written as not my fault. But the cop said he wouldn't file the report if I didn't want him to. I think it should still be filed, just in case the guy got my number.

Thankfully, no one was hurt.
:)

BTD, I'm glad you are ok.

ditto, except Im not playing

:(

9 rows back!!!!!!!! HOLY COW!

I thought those seats didn't exist for the "common folk" in real life!

Yay - congrats on the tix. Sorry about the car.

Sometimes there is nothing better for lunch than a tuna fish sandwich on white bread stuffed with Lay's potato chips.

Glad you're okay.

Somtimes I wonder how I can be so dim.

Swanie talks me into doing this Disneyland run Labor Day weekend. Last year we did the 5K with the girls and they loved it. Ok I'm in. Now for an unknown reason, in my small little brain, I signed up for a 13K. The other thing was in Kilometers so apparently my mind kept the K's. It's a Half Marathon - that's 13.1 MILES. I may just shoot myself now.

If it helps, most of the course is a really boring trek through commercial Anaheim.

That's mostly why we'll probably never do it again, the route is simply dull (though the desire to be nowhere near Disneyland on Labor Day Weekend is also a significant contributor). Running through the ballpark is cool but nothing else outside of the parks is at all interesting.

I'm gonna see CHICAGO tonight!!!
(the band not the musical)

Yay Me!!!

YAY YOU!

As long as there are a lot of EMT's along the route I'll be fine. And of course I'm doing the 5K the day before with Madz.

****. I think some of my lunch was bad. The taste is coming up in my mouth and my tummy is tightening. :(

Where's the rain?

I seem to recall being told there was going to be rain.

Here's an interesting piece (I have not finished reading yet) on gender roles and behavior.
http://www.simonsays.com/content/boo...=592234&agid=2

I believe you are correct. Even allowing for the fact that it was "afternoon rain", it is now 4:04 and the sky is clearer even than it was at noon.

Someone owes me a cookie, dammit.

(preferably one of those chocolate-dipped choc. chip biscotti-like "Dunkers" from Trader Joe's)

Speaking of....

I got speakers here at work!! YAY!!

I have to figure out how to get Rdio Odyssey to work, but I'm listening to your playlist right now. Cool, Man, Cool! :snap:

I haven't been able to make it work yet either.

For the last few days, I've been noticing that the house two doors down has had the garage open, and there's a guy working on a big graffiti piece on a white fence. It looked cool and familiar, so yesterday I walked over and introduced myself and told him how much I enjoyed looking at his artwork.

Well... turns out he's the legendary artist Blek Le Rat - and he's finishing some work for a big solo show that opens this Saturday at Subliminal Projects on Sunset.

I'll be there (since we're not doing movie night).

Just found out that this year's Cinegear Expo is being held on the backlot at Universal Studios.

SCHWEEEEEEEEET!!! :D

He IS legendary! Very cool!

wow, always good to learn who your neighbors are. Cool! :snap:

Well, I'm outta here. Talk to you all in a few days! :)

Good luck DP!!

I hope I am not jinxing things, but the job interview went G-R-E-A-T. They did not flinch at my salary and I ran into so many people who remembered me, with hugs, I have a feeling I may be a show in.

The other clue is, the attorney I would be working for looked at me and said, well I have nothing to say really, chemical is a bit different than what you've been doing, but I doubt it will be a problem.


Keep your fingers crossed, this would be such a good move for me and I'd love to be back there. The energy downtown was great.

I finally finished this - great read.

CP: I'd actually read the book after reading that. Quite interesting.

Good luck SF!!

GL SF!!

Why is it, one day I can eat a bowl of cheerios one day and not be hungry till lunch time and the next day be starving an hour later. cheerios are not Chinese food!

Haha! I sooooo know that feeling!

I'm just busy hating the fact that I keep biting my lip in the same spot. GAH!!

Soooo....

I get a hankering for a french dip sandwich from the cafe by our office. I phoned in the order and walked over to pick it up. When I get back to my office and open up the box... no au jus!! Damn them!

I stopped for a bagel this morning and requested a second little tub of cream cheese (and paid for it!). I was a couple miles down the road before I discovered that they only put one cream cheese in the bag :mad:

"Don't ever go the drive thru!!! You know why? They F*CK YOU at the drive-thru, okay? They F*CK YOU at the drive-thru! They know you're gonna be miles away before you find out you got f*cked! They know you're not gonna turn around and go back, they don't care."

The quote to live by via Lethal Weapon 2 ..

ew....french dip with no juice is a horribly dull sammich

I'm late with my puppy update! We found out yesterday that we'll be getting our girl the Monday after MA! Eleven days and counting until she's ours. :D

We're having to monkey with our plans a bit and drive out with the kids so we have a car to drive her back home but it will be well worth it. My folks were coming to AZ from LA to watch them, so this way we'll bring the kids out to them, still get our MA weekend away, and then we will get the puppy Monday morning. It'll be crazy but in the long run it'll be better for the pup.

We also will find out this weekend which girl is ours. They will do the temperament testing Saturday at 49 days, so we should hear in our Monday update if it is girl #1 or girl #2.

Here's the latest photo...


The girls don't know that mr. swanie is taking a half day tomorrow, so we plan on taking them to the pet store after school to stock up on all our new puppy gear. I don't think I've ever been so excited to buy a gallon of carpet cleaner before! ;)

swanie

Swanie: "Nature's Miracle".... white bottle, red cap.

Maddy gets home from camp tomorrow. So to make her feel welcome I've made a large "Welcome Home Maddy" sign for the balcony (we overlook her school so she will see when dropped off ) and I've put up the tent in the living room. Oh and I'll put on the "woodsy" noises on the noise machine. Hmm wonder if I can rig up a fake campfire?

A little puddle of gasoline on the carpet and a match should do the trick.

Sounds like fun....can I join you?




(especially for Kevy's suggestion)

Thanks...we've used it for years. :D Works on kids and dogs! In fact, I just priced out the big 1.5 gal. jug at Petsmart today. It is nice to see that they're selling them in bigger bottles now-a-days.

With our shows at Skamania lodge cancelled, this weekend I have Friday evening off. I'm going to The Portland Instant Movie Project.

Picture this: There's a projectionist in the theater. Three seperate casts and crews, and three very fast runners are at various locations nearby. They'll be improvising, filming, editing, scoring and screening the movie basically all at once, all while the audience is watching the "completed" project. It should be a blast.

Okay, it could be hiliarious, or it could just totally suck. We'll see.

This is a third date with the woman I met at the show. Fortunately, Tony Starlights is just a couple blocks away. We'll be heading there afterward, or sooner if it blows.

ron

Soooo....
 

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow you're only a day away..." tomorrow is the day finally it's almost here...Bon Jovi at Honda Center. After months, weeks, and days waiting it's almost here...finally...i so can not wait...even though i'm tired i doubt i am gonna sleep very well tonight at all....too excited...and to top it off two shows back to back in Anaheim tomorrow and Sat then Sunday at Disneyland with a bunch of fans and then Staples and then to top it off in Vegas i so can not wait...

How many times exactly are you going to see the same show?

I have a 4 week old rescue kitten in my bathroom.

Lisa, the Crazy Cat Lady

Why?

ditto. poor kitty :( Good thing you're around to take care of these guys!

Don't EVEN think about calling the Wolfpack NA!

LOL! But, you're the expert!

He was on the porch of a client's house. There are a lot of feral cats near her and I suspect this was one of their kittens. But, he or she was all alone and looked quite lost. It is old enough to survive but not on it's own. It let me pick it up without a problem. So, I brought it home and put it in the bathroom. It is in a cat carrier for the moment, until I get the larger crate. I'll probably take him or her to my vet tomorrow for care and adoption. He's all black. I'll take pics.

He's TINY and doesn't seem to have a meow..... yet, although he makes the motions - there's just no sound.


I hope this is not an indication of what this kitten season is going to be like.

I wish kitties didn't conflict with my ability to breathe. :(

Stop trying to inhale them.

Your heart is just too big.....post a pic please, my heart is big also!

I wish kitties didn't conflict with our landlord's wishes. :(

we've a ton of strays in the area. I think spring has indeed sprung. Ive heard several outside "singing" to each other

I expect little ones all about before long :(

I wish Matt would quit trying to make me spew my tea all over my monitor.


:D ;)

Spewing tea on your monitor? Is that some sort of party foul?

Sad- :(

It's April- and the Rogues have a big bash for April b-days. This year it is being held at the same time as our Masquerade Ball.

...and I can't go.


We are so beaten down financially due to the car problems that I am barely scraping by- and don't have the money for gas for a drive up north to the event.

I'm freaking Cinderella without a fairy Godmother.

*sigh* I will try to be positive- I get to spend my birthday at home rather than driving up north.

What a bummer, Nephy. I'm sorry, and I know what you are going through. Been there, done that so to speak. I hope things improve for you.

Thank You RStar- I hate hate hate money stress more than anything else in the world.

I am going to try to sell the stupid thinng- if I could recoup even half of the money we wasted I am doing ok.

heh- R is trying to convince me to go and my friend at work is telling me to stop feeling sorry for myself and just go- maybe I can squeeze the $ out somewhere.

I dunno.

Okay, I'm all set for Round II (interview with the Director of Operations) next Tuesday. This is a new complicated wrinkle in the procedure. Comes with growth, I am sure. They're contacting references today. Here's hoping I find out something concrete next week.

Kitten wil be here a bit longer. My vet contact is not in. :(

Lisa... you can't keep it. You caaaaan't.

:D

So I had a job interview today.
It went well.
I'd hire me.
:)

Fingers crossed.

Yay GC! Fingers toes, eyes crossed for you from the North!

:snap: :cheers:

I'd hire you too!

Congrats GC!!

I stll don't have a job. :(

GC - Fingers Crossed!

In other news, just got my first post-diploma real full-time job check ever. And, after three reschedules, I got my "Marketing Department Lunch" and I'm filled up on Kung Pao scallops. While my breath is stinky, I'm very happy. Must buy pack of gum for desk drawer...

I hate $

As long as I don't have any, I figure I may as well hate it.

I am a contracted worker, so the Unemployment numbers make me cringe. Luckily, my contract has been extended - indefinitely - but they can pull the plug any time. Just keep swimming...

Just read an article about how restaurants are losing business in part because fewer women are working. And somehow the fact that for the first time since the late 40's, the percentage of women in the workforce had dropped slightly isn't treated as huge news.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...Bennigans.aspx

I think it definitely says something about our culture, that we women have come to the conclusion that a 2-income household isn't all it's cracked up to be.

So... GC, Borneio and I should be waitresses?

No idea how old this article is, but it's about some major artwork pieces (mostly from Sleeping Beauty) that were found in a janitor's closet in a Japanese university, and are now returned to Disney.

http://www.artknowledgenews.com/Disn...mated_Art.html

Also has a great shot of an Eyvind Earle background.

Didn't know you had aspirations of being an actor, Sub

Either that or they're tired of working just to pay for childcare and the expenses they accrue while working.

I'm taking a gender and work class. It's very interesting to be studying this as it's changing again.

I've also noticed a significant drop in the crowds at restaurants during lunch time. More and more people are bringing their lunches. I even notice this at work as the freezer is stuffed full with frozen meals.

Theater Major dropout... I guess I should be in food service!

That's kinda what I mean. I think we as a society are realizing that the pros and cons aren't balancing out.

I don't have a problem with society readjusting to the notion of a 1-income household. What's it to me, right? Except that whenever that happens it's assumed that women will be the ones to stay home. And it generally is. Which is also fine. Except that it perpetuates the notion that women *should* be the ones to stay home. Because ovaries are the biological source of superior bottom-wiping skills and whatnot.

So yeah, I get slightly anxious every time one of these stories come out. It's hard enough as it is to overcome the unspoken gender preference in the workplace. The last thing I need standing in my way is for the "all women/mothers should stay at home" theory to once again become the default expectation.

However, this post is entirely too serious for this thread. So.....



BOOBIES!!!!

If she can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan....

Let her.

...Especially if he'll change the kids' diapers while she's doing it.

I got a job. I'm happy. It starts at the end of the month.
Yay!
:)

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYY!

So what's the new job, pool boy? :evil:

And you got the rest of the month to play?

So, did you request time off for camping, GC?

The kitten is at my vet's office in a cage with 5 other adorable kittens about the same age. He will be socialized and adopted out. However, it seems he either doesn't have a sternum, an incomplete sternum or something else. he may end up being ok. He's survived this far.

I miss him.

However, my client trapped a mom to be cat in her house and, today when I went over to feed the other cats, there were 3 newborn kittens in her laundry basket.

Will you be able to take Friday, May 23 off to go to Potrero War?

Eeew I hope that laundry gets washed pronto. :p

Sorry about the kitty NA :(

Ooh. Camping... yeah, about that... I think you were right on that one. I don't think I can get time off while I'm on probation.
D'oh.

But the new job means I won't have to live in a tent on a permanent basis...

-----

The job is with a large movie studio's cable channel. Big building in Burbank.
;)

------

Lisa - Drop the kitties and back away slowly... No false moves... easy... easy...

------

KB - I'm afraid the Potrero's War is off for me too. Sorry. :(

Yay GC! Congratulations!

Congratulations on the new job!

I was just Googling around my office using the satellite view and saw this image of a plane taking off from John Wayne Airport with its shadow visible a little ways away.

Kinda cool

Cool. I was worried I was going to see a shadow of Rick Astley.

Congrats, GC! What kind of work will you do there?

Congrats GC!!!

When I was preggers I had to choose whether or not to go back to work. I am so glad I stayed home with Boy for his first 2 years. There wasn't much of a choice, daycare was not an option. I would have been paying $500/month when I only made $600/month.

Yay! Congrats GC!

Yay Brad! Congratulations!

Congratulations Brad!

I am on my way to http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com/ to hang out with Old People. Mom is bugging me to spend the night (they are in the motorhome), but I can't see not sleeping well there when I am 20 minutes from home and a comfy bed.

I was to have left at 10, but I just woke up. I can't figure out what to wear because most of my summer clothes no longer fit. *sigh* I wish I had the money to buy new clothes as my size changes. Sine I know I still have a way to go before I hit my next goal, I can't justify spending any money on new stuff right now.

Even the shorts I bought and wore to DLR last June now fall right off. I went looking for my old clothes, the ones I haven't worn in 13 years, and it looks like I got rid of them, thinking I would be uber big forever.

While it is a chalenge to buy the clothes- congrats on loosing the weight! :snap:

I'd rather see you without clothes than unhealthy.

Wait- that didn't come out right.

You know what I mean........

;)

Ya, RStar is a perv! ;)

Good job MG!

:D

Congrats MG!

I am one of those that balloon up with pregnancy, so I was used to having a huge size range to fall back on. I had a pretty extensive wardrobe, but it was spread out over 7 different sizes.

Well, last year when I FINALLY lost all of baby weight #3 I sent all of my big clothes to charity. I didn't want them in the house to every go back to again. It was the one of the scariest and happiest days in my life. It has been a full year now, and I'm happy to say that I haven't needed them since.

I know you see it as wasting money, but you've put in the hard work and you deserve the reward. I'm not saying you should run out and buy a whole new wardrobe, but an outfit or two will go a long way. As Moms, it is far too easy NOT to make ourselves the priority sometimes.

Besides, next year...you can call Salvation Army and pitch even the new stuff. It was a bit overwhelming for me to see how many "stages" I had to go through before I got down to my goal. But, it made me see in a very real sense how far I had come.

Congrats again!
swanie

wtg, mg!
:)

I'm headed off to a Murder Mystery Party here and I'm in character for the event. My name is Dean Beta and I was a member of the Audio/Visual Squad in High School. Now it's 20 years later and I'm still a big nerd but I'm now Bill Gates rich. But like Bill Gates, I don't know how to dress or look like I have money at all. I've adapted some sort of New York Jewish accent that sounds like Kyle's cousin Kyle on South Park. I hope they have Diet Dr. Pepper at this party because RC Cola gives me gas with all of the burping and the flatulence and everything. Is it cold in here to you because I have a tendency to get colds in early April. I better bring my extra big inhaler to the party, I don't want my asthma to act up in the house I'm going to be in. Toluca Lake is so far from here, I hope I have enough gasoline to get there with the octane and the emissions and everything...



:D

GC, congrats on the new job!

Oh, and paging the MadMonkeyGirl - it looks like I'll be going to the Bon Jovi concert while I'm in Vegas for my conference. My sister's a big fan. We should meet up after the show!

I had a good time. It is always nice to spend time with my mom, without The Boy. The racing was totally different than what I was used to, going to the Okie Bowl, but still very cool.

Oh ****, I thinnk I just heard gun shots in my neighborhood... got to go.

I just got back from the Murder Mystery Party. Darn, I didn't murder anyone... But I did win Best Performance of the Evening. Thank you, thank you.
:)

idiots should not be allowed to play with illegal fireworks, or any fireworks.

Yay GC!!

I agree MG.

Congratulations!

And guess what I got for a prize? A certificate, a bag of candy and a tiara.
Yeah, it's my third tiara.
One from Marla on my birthday 2008, one from Lisa on my birthday 2007 and one from tonight.... I'm getting quite a collection going...
:D

Clearly the news about your new job pales in comparison to the extremely great news about your new tiara. Congratulations!

One tiara, two tiara, three tiara, four......

Poor GC... all he wanted was a cowboy hat. (Preferably with cowboy still attached)

Now I've got the Banana Splits song going trough my head. Thanks a lot Lisa! :eek:

good job, GC!

How about a new avatar GC avec tiara? :)

Maybe you and goonie should have a tiara contest?

Puppy Update time! This should be the last pre-puppy update I'll have.

We found out on Friday that we are getting the little girl we have wanted since the day we started getting the photos from the breeder! The temperament testing was done and both would have been a good fit, but the breeder wanted Girl #1 to come to our house since she's a little ahead developmentally. She's the most mischievous one in the litter so she should fit right in. :D We will get her at some point on Monday morning and have her home by late afternoon!

Here she is on the left side...


She's on the left side again, ready to pounce her sister...


7 days and counting!

swanie

Is there a name yet?

Wolfette would like to know the breed? and name also, if that's been decided yet?

Drumroll please....

Macey

Of course, the name is not what 3 year old L wants to name her. In a way of including her in the process, we've given her naming right on her middle name. So, her "big" name is going to be Macey Ariel. :D

She's a Standard American Eskimo puppy. :)

swanie

It's is on days like today that I really love to stare at my fish tank.

Isn't it about time to ditch the "9/10" convention for gasoline pricing? It made some semblance of sense (though only barely) back when it meant a perceived difference of almost 2% ($.609/10 vs. $.61). But now? The difference between the sign showing $3.63 vs. $3.64 is nothing.

Every now and then, I'll let my iTunes run on shuffle of all songs. So, today I've been coming back to my computer checking my iTunes saying, 'What the f*** song was that? I don't remember downloading that and... oh yeah, that's right I did.'
:D

Debbie Gibson was popping up again?

I'll have you know, I have no Debbie Gibson on my iTunes.






:D
Okay, I couldn't keep a straight face typing that. I do. I really really do have her on my iTunes.

Fleetwood Mac is playing now. "No Questions Asked".

It's official. Facebook has announced it.

I'm so happy!

It's about damned time!

And since I am not a Facebooker (or a MySpacer or a LIver Journaler), I am amused to see that one can poke people on Facebook

Got to have a business lunch with Fee Waybill today. I've been a fan of his since high school, and I must say that I'm impressed. I'm finding that it's a pleasure to talk to rock music veterans (assuming they're not completely burned out) because they have a realistic understanding of the industry and generally a bunch of great stories. A tape of unreleased Tubes songs from the 1970s just turned up, and we're going to be releasing it. I volunteered to write the liner notes for the CD just to get a chance to interview Fee about the songs.

You HAVE a fishtank? Where?

Awesome

The room formerly known as the dining room.

MP, ask Fee if he loves Nina Hagen's version of WPOD for me.

Did insane mutant monkeys program the grammar program in Word? Tonight they suggested I change "what's" to "what am." What am Microsoft thinking?

OK: color me jealous!

That is way too cool.

Yeah, I run into some really weird suggestions.

If you don't mind me asking....how much did this set you back? Wolfette and I have fallen in love!

I'll PM you details.

swanie

Thanks for getting back to me....but I'm the cat leader around here....even NA isn't close.

Don't tell Wofette, but I'm starting to ponder the idea of getting a dog....ssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

If you go to Arco and use plastic (either ATM or credit) to pay, be prepared to have a $75 hold placed on your card.

I went to Arco, made a $10 credit purchase and had a $75 hold placed on my checking account. I understand the hold if you're buying an open ended amount, and even double checked if the hold was going to go on if I made a purchase for a specific dollar amount.

I can't remember the last time I've been to Arco, so I don't know how new this is.

It isn't new. And it isn't unique to ARCO. Generally, if you don't want the hold you can avoid it by providing your credit card inside the store instead of at the pump.

The reason for the hold is a byproduct of gas stations requiring payment (or at least proof of payment) up front instead of after the gas is pumped. Inside the store they just hold onto your credit card and then charge the exact amount afterwards.

But at the pump they need to validate that the card is valid and since the whole transaction could happen without any human interaction at all they want some assurances that the card could fund the transaction. The only way to do that is with an authorization request for a certain amount (this is what car rental companies used to do). Otherwise, you could stick in a credit card with only $1 of available credit, pump $60 in gas and be gone before anybody knows otherwise (and it will cost the gas station much more than $59 to track you down).

The actual duration of the hold will vary from credit card company to credit card company. I believe by law all unrealized authorization requests expire after five days, and because that is the simplest least development solutions some companies will actually just let that happen as the means of clearing it (it should be noted that a hold is not a charge, there are no interest or fees or charges on that balance). Other companies will have been much more proactive and clear the hold as soon as a real charge for a real amount goes through, others will have programmed a much shorter window (a couple hours, 24 hours, etc.).

ARCO is famous for having one of the high authorization holds at $75 which makes it much more noticable than other companies (if the authorization request was just for $25 almost every ends up pumping more gas than that and never even notices) and the reason for it was that, at the time it was implemented, that was viewed as more money than 99.9% of people would ever spend on a single gas transaction. Of course, with $3.50 gas and modern SUVs that isn't true any more and there was actually some kerfuffle a year or so ago about people being unable to fill up because ARCO and some other companies used the authorization request as a hard cap (while others took it as a good faith indicator that you'd be able to pay) requiring some people to pump $75, stop, and then start a new transaction.

But again, avoiding all of this should be possible by simply using your card in side the store.


How's that for way too much detail? Can you tell that I had a project at work a few months ago that required me learning way too much about authorization requests and trying to decide how to handle their expiration?

You are always a fountain of information Alex. Thank you

Sweet! The Stanford Band still plays White Punks on Dope. It's a really fun one to play. :)


Regarding card holds, my account in France is linked to a card with a chip. Makes transactions much quicker. I wonder if banks in the US will go more to that way of things.

OK - Way too effing cool.

Yes, one way to avoid the hold is to go inside, tell the cashier you want $25 on pump 11, he/she runs it through, and it's a falt purchase. This comes in handy when you only have $70 in your account the day before payday and you are refused at the island because they can't put the $75 credit hold on the account. But I wonder if they still charge that nasty little 45 cent fee at the register if you do it that way. I hate that! And the $2-$4 ATM charge as well. I avoid them both like the plague.

That's what I did. And I even double checked that the whole $75 wouldn't be held for a $10 transaction. The Arco by my place takes credit, and doesn't charge the pesky $0.55 fee to use it.

I rarely go to Arco. I needed gas and Costco was closed. Nothing else around. But now I know that they'll hold $75 on a firm transaction and I'll avoid it like the plague it is.

I just ordered quite the feast for lunch.

Normally, I wouldn't order from Dominos, but since we moved here, it's the closest pizza place, and they've actually been much better than others, and cheap too. And, it's very convenient when I'm busy, like today while I'm working on taxes and other crap.

For just $16, I'm getting one large and one medium pizza (the latter with bacon!), and a side of Buffalo chicken kickers. It's "2-fer Tuesday" with an online coupon, and then I had "pizza points" to cash in for the chicken. So, besides my lunch today, we'll also have dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. Rock on with our bad selves!

I'm now watching their "pizza tracker" online and they just put it in the oven. It's kinda trippy, because as soon as I see the tracker show "delivery", they're already buzzing our gate.

And, there you have it - my absolutely meaningless post of the day. ;)

Wow, I've never had the experience of Domino's being better than another pizza (Uncle Milt's Pizza in Vancouver, WA, was the most vile thing in the world but they closed up before I'd ever had Domino's).

I wonder if there is much variability from place to place.

Well, better than the other delivery places that are close by. ;)

This one's even better than our Papa Johns. However, they don't hold a candle to Round Table, but our Round Table doesn't deliver, so I won't include them in deliverable pizza comparison.

The Domino's Pizzatracker rocks - I love how it says the name of the person who makes your pizza, and the silly pizza facts.

Perhaps, but their pizza still sucks.

I was gonna say...
I don't like Domino's, but I may just have to order a Pizzas from them.

Actually, it looks like we'll also have dinner tomorrow as well, because there's now one heck of a lot of food on our kitchen counter. I hardly made a dent in both pizzas or the chicken.
It would be worth it just once to watch the tracker. It even shows when it's being boxed.

Not to play devils advocate here (oh who am I kidding, I live for that....) but do you really think that thing is accurate to your individual pizza and not just based on averages?

Banging your head against a wall burns 150 calories an hour

Who cares?

I can be amused in my ignorant state.

Probably true but don't discount how important that can be to customer satisfaction.

In a previous job I worked on a Web site that had a huge data load on log in so sometimes it could take up to 10 seconds. The single update we did that improved customer satisfaction surveys was adding an animated gif to login that make it look like you were being told progress information.

It was completely dumb but people said it made them feel much more confident about what was happening.

Well, considering it's actually differed a couple times, and the name of the prep person has changed between two people, it's quite possibly more accurate than we might think.

But, regardless, it is rather entertaining.

Imagine how much slower the pizza-making process would be if they actually had to log each stage into a computer, LOL.

Part of my day was spent realizing that trying to be friendly with certain people is a total waste of time and some people are so messed up and mean and spiteful bitter and dark inside that no one would want them around- not really.

They just say they do so the mean person is not mean to them.

I just read about it. Apparently the tracking is just within the store so it probably wouldn't be that hard to come up with a system to actually track it.

Heat resistant RFID. Order taker associated specific RFID to order. Prep station takes RFID and is told what to prepare (so system knows which prep is doing prep. Sensor at oven knows when pizza goes in the oven and comes out the other end. Another sensor in the cutting/boxing area. Another sensor at the door as the delivery person leaves with the relevant RFIDs in his pocket.

More likely it is just that Bob taps the computer screen to indicate that he has started an order (so it knows who is making the pizza) and the rest is based on time averages. But it could probably be done without that much effort.

Bus since articles I"m seeing say it went live in all Domino's locations simultaneously actual hardware installation seems unlikely.

Damn, Alex beat me to it:

I was going to say that the real trick is making sure you don't eat the slice with the embedded RFID tag.

California?

Seriously... I'm waiting on emails that just aren't coming. I cannot leave until I get them, or I get so pissy I just walk out and tell 72 of the branches they can stuff it because they can't get their...

Oh, wrong thread.

:)

Actually, I am just bored and waiting on just a few emails. However, they may be told to stuff it if I don't get something in the relatively near future.

Well, that'd be an interesting alternative to some digestive scoping procedures.

I can see it now:

Crap Tracker - Watch How Much Time Your Food Takes to Digest LIVE!!!

:eek:

It's been done. But they use radioactive dyes.

Of course spam email often has strangely worded titles, but this one today amused me more than most: "Give your partner new feelings while have a sex"

Reminds me of the old game of replacing the product name in classic ad lines with the word "sex".

"Make mine a sex!"

"Sex, the real thing."

Nah, this is the most wrong one :)

Awww... our little BDBopper... who'da thunk it?

yes, I really did snort coffee out through my nose at that.
well done.





now my head hurts

Ok BD, now I know you've been hanging out here too long in a short period of time. They've obviously brought you over to the dark side fast:D

There's nothing like a hot, fresh donut!

I can't remember the last time I had an awesome f*cking donut.

Dude, if you've been fvcking donuts, we need to get you a woman, pronto...

I finally finished organizing and itemizing our taxes.

I hope to hell H&R Block can work some miracles, because right now, it's still looking like we'll owe a couple grand, even with about 150 deductions. But, hopefully, I missed an exemption somewhere, or we might benefit more from filing separately.

*sigh*

We used to do that game. Only it was musical theatre titles and the word "beaver."

Hello, Beaver.
Into the Beaver
A Chorus Beaver
A Little Night Beaver
Beaver Miserables
The Beaver Man
and the ever-ubiquitous:
Beaver!

BTW, DP, remind me to give you information about our accountant for next year. She is specifically an entertainment-industry accountant, and she works miracles because so much is deductible for us all.

I'm dealing with taxes right now. It is, by most standards, simple for us but here's a truth about me:

I would pay double in taxes to just fill out one two-sided form. I don't want to deal with charity deductions. Dealing with mortgage interest deductions is an argument AGAINST buying a house as far as I'm concerned. Consulting income is not really welcome because it adds forms.

The federal government should give us a little certificate for being lazy enough that our income ends up being taxed at exactly the statutory rate. Our 401k's are about the only dodge we have and that is because it creates no extra paperwork.

Well, this year my string of doing just the basic 1040 by hand came to an end. Some unexpected income created some unexpected hassles.

I'm annoyed.

We have filed our taxes and long ago put away and spent the refund.

Not to brag or anything* :D





* For those who say that having a refund at the end is like giving the government an interest free loan, I say that I would rather do that than have to pay a tax bill in April. Besides, with interest rates at around 1% or less, I ain't losing much. Besides, I would probably just spend it anyways.

We just paid ours.....ouch!

We can't seem to find last years so we can't file this years! How he managed to lose them I don't know. I can find every year BUT last year, argh!!

Hey T,

Might want to give Turbo Tax a shot first. My parents have fairly complicated taxes and it works well still.

Then again, in my experience, H&R Block is not the best place to go and full of people who can take a test, but don't have enough knowledge to truly think outside the box in anyone's benefit.

I agree with the Turbo Tax recommendation, even if you get someone else to do it, follow along with Turbo Tax. Eventually you may feel confident enough to do it on your own.

Alex: pay extra to an accountant instead of the government - and let them deal with the mortgage interest deductions. Those amount to HUGE tax savings! (In the thousands for us)

*sigh*

:(

I'm paying mine - a mere $1,200 - on Tuesday. I have the money at least, but I'm holding off on sending it partly because I'm hoping it takes about 5 days for them to cash the check, and partly because I don't gotta. Or something like that.

Double ugh.

My accountant is waiting on my W-2 from the mouse. I can't find it anywhere, and the mouse will take a week to get a copy to me :( There's supposed to be a way to pull it up online, but I think that only works if you pull it up on a company computer - and naturally the company computer center closes before I could ever make it up there during the week.

An accountant would be even more hassle than dealing with it myself, so no thanks. I don't keep receipts. I don't want to keep receipts. I just want to fill in 8 lines of math. Sign it, send in my check, and forget about it. I don't care about the extra money, I just want the extra time. The added hassle I'm annoyed by is that I had to buy TurboTax and waste time installing it. And since I was efiling, I had to waste 20 minutes trying to find last years return to electronically sign and when I couldn't find it I now have to print out a form and mail it in. All because of a stray 1099-MISC.

I don't care about the money, just that the whole process has taken 45 minutes instead of 15.

Plus, I don't want to own a house. The added tax hassle is just one negative. I'm a very happy renter.

WOOT!
 

Okay, it is official, I got the new job!

I resigned today and my last day is 4/18. I start the new job on 4/21.

:D

CONGRATS SNOWFLAKE!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Congratulations Snowflake!! :cheers:

Thanks everyone, I'm really happy about this.

No more commute, except on MUNI which is an adventure in itself as my bus home crosses Chinatown and I get to take the Cable Car to work every morning, rain or shine, it's the best.

Yes, I'm like a bad penny turning up, but I was greeted by everyone I know who is still with the firm like the prodigal coming home.

I cannot wait to spend my lunch hours walking along the waterfront! Not to mention the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Plaza on Tuesdays. Acme Bread in the Ferry Building and Boulevard on Steuart (or Spear, I can't remember).

Congratulations Snowflake - woo hoo!

Congrats, SF!!

Yay!

I know in TurboTax, you can file now and pay later, but I don't remember exactly how it worked (since I didn't need to know).

In honor of Emma Watson's Birthday?

Congrats!

I'm playing with Turbo Tax right now.

I'm thinking I need to file separately rather than joint...

With TurboTax, if you efile you can schedule payment for any date up to the 15th of April. Not that this is much of a difference right now.

I owed on my state taxes and I opted for auto debit. It let me choose a date for withdrawal.

Terrific news, D - I'm so glad you'll have such a lovely working location each day. It really makes a difference, doesn't it?

Yay Congrats Snowflake!!! That sound awesome!!!

That's strange -- I have some divorce cases where they opt to file married, joint before the divorce is finalized for tax purposes since it saves them thousands of dollars....

What the F is going on today? It’s been insane at my work today. I just passed another Supervisor in the hall, and she asked, “Did everyone wake up this morning and decide to take their crazy pills?”

A woman just passed my door – 85, if she’s a day – all gothed out; laced boots, velvet dress, black lipstick, the works.

I’m going to crawl under my desk now, and sit there rocking back and forth as I mutter incoherently…

OMG, if only I could post some of the writing samples I'm reviewing for potential copywriters. Stunning. STUN-ning. STUNNING display of idiocy!

Today is stupid-day.

Is it a full moon?

Hmm, actually, I feel pretty in-control today.

A boss asked me to write up a cutesy "scavenger hunt" for a fundraising event (read: Old People Drinking Champagne). I took me the morning to do it but it came out great. Never did that before, though I know a thing or two about scavenger hunts...

Super cool CP! Why do I see a bunch of old people sipping champaign counting every other purple tile from children's lit over to adult non-fiction? AFTER they figured out how many animals are in "where the wild things are" (and debating if the human boy is technically an animal).

Let us know how it turns out :D

I've decided that our office managers current office nazi micromanaging streak is either going to be frustrating, or fun. I chose fun, and all things petty shall be ignored.

Congrats, Snowflake!!!!

Wolfette just found 2 abandoned baby opossums....great! They are now sitting in a plastic cage on my kitchen counter. Hubby is picking up kitten powder and bottle to feed the little critters. They are only about 3 inches long right now and soooooooooooo...........cute! I know they grow up, but for now we'll nurse them along until they can eat on their own. We'll release them back outside then. Wolfette has of course already named them (not a good thing), Mickey & Tweety. Pics to follow later after feeding time.

Way to go Snowflake!! I think it would be great to ride the cable car every day.

I've seen a Opossum Rescue agency at some fair before. I believe it was in Irvine.

On the phone right now, found 2 numbers here in OC.

Um, can we come over to see 'em? :D

It would cheer me up tremendously. Opossums are too damn cute.

They are yummy sautéed with garlic butter.

Little onion is good also. Unfortunately not enough meat yet, so I suggested we make them cat toys.

You fiends!! :p

I'm excited - I get to come play with the little buggars in another 15 minutes. :D

I told my dad about them, and his first response was, "No, Teresa! Don't get attached. You have enough pets." :rolleyes:

Good grief. I'm not that bad.

Ok, yeah, I am. But, I respect that wild animals need to remain in the wild.

Aunt T & Uncle K were here and took tons of pics....

Anyone up for some opossum bacon? :D