Nice quiet day where Hollace made out like a fat rat. We got a Wii and Wii Fit, Hollace got a Nintendo DS or in her words, she got virtual kittens (one of the games she got with it). She got the gum and hand santatizer she wanted and some slipper socks that RAW got her that she loves. He also got her some (oh wait maybe I did since he hasn’t paid me for it yet) some night vision goggles. One of the things on her wish list that RAW really likes too. We also got a table top air hockey game that is cute. It apparently was a game themed Christmas.
The weather around here is driving me nuts. I finally found a nice window of non wintery weather to go to Indiana and see family and now we got to worry about major flooding. Not only from all the snow melting but from the 3″ of rain we are expecting and ice dams in the rivers.
Hopefully we won’t be affected.
Today is the first day of winter and I am already worn out with winter weather. Last week there were two bad driving days. The first caught me off guard. It was only 3″ but it was timed badly and I found out my Hyundai is not my Subaru. I was squirreling all over the road. The next bad snow was 3 days later and it was so forecasted that the boss was asking us if we were prepared. I planned to work from home so I didn’t get out. We got about 7″ of snow that day.
I took Friday off so we could go to Fort Wayne for our holiday visit. Sometime during the week I decided to change it to be Sat-Sun-Mon. One because Hollace was already off on Monday, two-the last day of 2008 billing was Friday and there was a lot of work trying to get billed by then and third-I knew weather might be coming in. Good call.
While we got the snow, Indiana got a major ice storm. One which knocked out the electricity to Dorothy’s. It was so bad that over half of the residents on Fort Wayne lost power. They were saying that it wouldn’t be restored until Wednesday.
What to do, what to do?
I got packed up and planned on going down there anyway. I looked into hotels and we would go down and rescue Dorothy from the dark and cold.
Then her phones went dead too. We called the neighbors and all of their phones were down.
We talked to Aunt Geri and she told Dorothy if she gets cold, she could open the back garage door (no electricity means the 4′11″ 85 year old woman couldn’t open her electric garage door opener) and start her car to keep warm. RAW nearly had a cow when he heard that advice.
Since we couldn’t reach Dorothy by phone, he called the sheriff’s office for them to do a wellness check.
She was ok (I would like to think she wouldn’t of taken Geri’s advice but sometimes I am not so sure) but told the cop she was going to hang out for the night and go somewhere tomorrow. They asked if she wanted them to move her car to the driveway so she could get out. She said no. She told me later it was becasue she didn’t want any branches to fall on her car. I don’t think she thought that also meant she was trapped there.
Shortly after the visit, RAW’s cousin Theresa came over and rescued her. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. I think Geri (Theresa’s mom called her) For some reason we didn’t think of Theresa for help. Theresa is rich and lives in a big fancy house. We felt good that Dorothy was in good hands and then canceled our trip down especially in light that the power might not come back on until long after we left. She was in better hands at Theresa.
We kept trying the phones and eventually they came back on but it wasn’t until we heard the answering machine Saturday evening that we knew the power was back on. Today she went back home. Today was friggin cold!
Now we are glad we didn’t go this weekend. The temperatures didn’t go above zero all days with 35 below wind chills. I never left my robe today.
Because we didn’t go to Fort Wayne this weekend, I was able to catch up on my holiday stuff. Got the cards done and out; the calendars printed, cut up and packaged; gifts to the family wrapped; the photo pencil cans and photo ink pens done; and the rest of the house decorated.
I am still off tomorrow so it is off to the stores to finish up the shopping. It is still suppose to be cold but it will be better than Tuesday (when I go back to work) when we are expecting another freakin snow storm! Ug. I wish I was working tomorrow instead of Tuesday but I better just suck it up and go as planned before I piss someone off with all my changing. Actually I would rather take my Monday and put it on my Friday. It sucks that they gave us Wednesday Xmas eve as a holiday instead of the Friday after a holiday like they always have before. I didn’t take it off because I assumed everyone else in my department would want to take it off. H. will be in on that day but too but I have a sneaking feeling she will be sick on Tuesday because of the snow. She had a near miss accident last week driving in that snow. I think I will try the train and shuttle bus on Tuesday. I hope I don’t miss that bus back to the train station, that is my big fear.
First off my Facebook addiction is still raging. I am getting a kick on keeping up with Nikki and Linda after 25 years and seeing them online sending me (and everyone) goofy Facebook crap. I knew them way before the internet was around and it tickles me to see them like this.
I bought the iTouch last Friday and haven’t put it down yet. I knew it was a cool toy but I didn’t anticipate all the applications you can get for it (a lot of them free). I spend many a mindless moment in my zen Koi pond. You move your finger around and it sounds like you are touching water only your finger isn’t wet. And you scare the little koi. Shake the thing and you feed them. There is a Facebook app so I can sit on the couch and check it out (I know I have a laptop that I can do that with but this is hand held and in my pocket). Tonight I downloaded a game called Jelly Car and I couldn’t get my toy out of Hollace’s hands.
Yesterday was our teacher conference. Hollace sat outside the room with my iTouch to feed the little virtual animal (a panda I named Fred). When we came out Hollace was giving a tutorial to another parent LOL.
BTW, Hollace is doing great in school. She is finally over the curve of average, like 80%. She has come a long way. I like her teacher this year but she still doesn’t compare to last year’s Miss. Williams. Even Mrs. R gave a shout out to Miss W in our meeting.
Back to my new toy. I find it very annoying however that I need to buy new accessories. I knew I would need a new case (this thing is so slim) but my car charger, desk speakers and boom box won’t charge the thing. I can deal with the boom box, no biggie but I need the desk speakers or I drain my battery every day at work and what is the point of a car charger if you can’t charge. I now have been wasting a lot of time trying to find accessories that are quality, cheap and work for this particular model. Finding the right case actually took the longest time so far.
Yesterday I took my car in for what turned out to be a $100 oil change. I am so pissed! RAW is too but he only thinks it was a $25 oil change. God forbid I tell him about the stupid filter I was suckered into buying. I am more pissed at myself for saying ok but the service guy was so sleazy. First he bait and switched me on my $15 oil change by pretty much telling me that I have to get synthetic oil. He then made me feel foolish because I went to Jiffy Lube before and try to scare me about that choice. While I waited for the oil change he comes in with a dirty cabin filter. He said you can’t use this that I have replace it. 70 freaking dollars! What was worst was me going, “ok, whatever” when he TOLD me I had to change it. It was a cabin filter, nothing critical and it looked like it was made of cardboard. What a racket! Pissed, pissed, pissed! I did leave there with the shiniest clean car but yikes, my $15 oil change was now $100.
When I told RAW about the $25 oil change he was pissed and kept going on all night about it. There is no way in hell I will tell him about the bogus $70 filter LOL.
I can’t think about it anymore. When they call for my opinion of their service, I will give them an earful.
Another rip off I am pissed about is the eye place Sherry works at. I spent a lot of money on these glasses (even with the insurance, i was shocked how expensive they were). One reason was the anti reflective coating for $120 and the transition lens for $80. For the 2nd time now my lenses are all etched up. They make them over once and the same thing happened. Sherry says this hasn’t happened to any one else and wonders how I clean them. I clean them the same way I have for 40 freakin years. This time she ordered them with out the $120 anti-reflective coating. Will I get that $120 back? I doubt it. I found one occurance of my problem on the web. The guy had the same webbing and transition lenses. An optician said the anti-reflective coating sometimes does that. They said they didn’t have any on their lenses. Then they came back and said Lens Crafters said there was a bad injection of the lens stuff that affects 1 million people. I emailed Sherry the page and she comes back with so many typo that I couldn’t understand anything she wrote!
This should be the last post about what to spend my mad money on. Last I left you was trying to decide on which new DSLR to get, the 40D or 50D. If it was my first DSLR it would be more exciting but for $1000 I wasn’t getting the fun factor in it. So, no new camera at this time. Maybe the next mad money I come into I can get a full frame DSLR which might make a difference but I didn’t have enough money for that this go around.
I then remembered that I wanted to get a new old Rolleiflex since the one I got last year is no good. I go to Harry the Rollei guys site to see what he has for sale. Last January he had the perfect camera but I couldn’t but it then. I knew that one would be long gone but it didn’t look like he had much. I emailed him and he confirmed that and he may take my other Rollei for $100 for spare parts. Ok, so no Rolleiflex.
I guess I finally hit the point where I have all the toys I need. I never thought I would get to that point. Then I thought of something. Again, this is an upgrade to an exisiting toy so really I don’t need it but this thing has the cool fun factor I am looking for and after I decided what to do with my perfectly good model I am running out at lunch tomorrow to buy it……..an iPod Touch. What a fun gizzmo. Right now I have a 60 Gig Classic that has 32 Gig on it. The iTouch only goes up to 32 Gig so I can’t load it up like the other one. I am kind of bummed over that. I plan on repurposing the old iPod to the home stereo. I can just keep it plugged in to my JBL speakers or keep it in my boom box. I hope I can escape for lunch tommorrow to the Apple Store.
Oh and an off topic mention, I had a flat tire this morning. Really it was a flat tire last night but it wasn’t totally flat. I guess I have an idiot light that tells me when my tires are low. That came on. RAW put air in it last night but this morning it was low again. He put the donut on and got the tire fixed today (there was a screw in it). Right now he is out there putting it back on and rotating my tires.
I was pretty sure I would go out this weekend for an Apple Cinema display but now I am second guessing this because in January the new Cinema displays come out. If I am buying new, I want new. This is a more bigger deal when it comes to buying computers rather than monitors but it is slowing down my plans as I decide if I should wait.
Now the cameras are driving me nuts as I vented the other day. Same thing, 40D, no wait, 50D, no wait I should get the 40D but…..
I just need to vent about the above but this blog is my only option because is so insensitive of me because of everyone who is struggling right now with the economy like it is and here I am with a big wad of cash, pissed cause I don’t know where to spend it. I barely have the nerve to even vent here for those few readers that might be lurking around.
Tonight we went to Home Depot and bought a faucet for the kitchen sink. That decision was much easier. RAW was in a pissy mood and I wanted to slug him right there in the store. Every dang thing was a debate with him. Tomorrow our counter tops come. They called today and said there is a flaw on one of the pieces that might be irrelevant with the sink hole. We will see tomorrow. I hope RAW isn’t pissy tomorrow or I fear for this counter thing tomorrow.
last I wrote was the day before the election. I am thrilled that Obama got in. I don’t know what it is but there is something special about that guy and I put a lot of hope that he can really make a good difference.
I watched the rise of Obama in Illinois politics in almost a magical way, almost like fate paved the way for him to get to this point.
When Barack was running for Illinois senate, the Democratic front runner (Blair Hull) got tangled up in an ex-wife scandal, something like she accused him of beating her. He resigned which put Barack in the front runner seat.
It didn’t matter because the Republican senate candidate was favored to win the whole thing anyway. Then an ex-wife scandal took him down too! The thing is I don’t think his scandal (ex-wife actress Geri Ryan said he took her to kinky clubs against her will when they were married) would of derailed his victory to the senate. Judy Barr-Topinka, the state Rep leader, did that on her own when she strong armed him to resign. He gave up a good fight but eventually resigned. Then in another bonehead move by Judy, she pulled the ultra conservative radical Allen Keys over from Baltimore to run for Illinois senate. What a freaking nut job he is.
Obviously it didn’t work because Obama won the seat which opened up the opportunity for him to give that fateful keynote address at the Democratic convention that turned him into a rock star and the rest is history. The dude is president!
While we watched the election returns that night, a weird thing happened. We turned the channel to CBS to see what they were doing. Obama was on his way to winning but was still short delegates when the channel automatically changed to NBC. Me and RAW just looked at each other wondering why the channel changed when I said look at the TV! They were showing the graphic that said “Barack Obama - President Elect”. He won! What just happened? California and their 55 delegates just got counted which took him over the edge. It was just bizarre that the TV turned its channel right at the pivotal moment.
Now the real work begins. What a scary world we live in. I have confidence that if anyone can turn this ship around it would be Obama.
The other morning while waking up with news radio, they kept throwing the “depression” word around. It put me under a dark cloud all morning as I pictured everyone in bread lines and trying to sell apples on the street for pennies—gloom and doom.
Today I got my 401K statement. I won’t open it, I don’t want to know, it will be too painful. I made the decision to keep things the way they are as opposed to others pull their out to put them in safer places. I eventually has to go back up doesn’t it? I am just going to sit tight and be glad I don’t plan on retiring for awhile.
Other then that we haven’t been directly affected. Just as long as the job holds out we should be good. Scary though with all the horrible economic news that some of that could trickle down to me. Abbott is doing pretty good and their stocks has been staying pretty steady through the roller coaster of Wall Street. Interesting tidbit, Abbott first went public on the stock exchange in 1929,
Now on to the frivolous part of my blather…
It is that time of year for profit sharing checks and the fun of figuring out what to spend it on. First and foremost I need a new computer monitor. This one is at least 7 years old and it is waving around. I think I finally decided on an Apple Cinema screen. I will hit the Apple store next week and see if I should stick with a 20″ or get a 23″. We are talking $200 difference for 3″.
Now next I want new TVs. Here I am feeling frivolous. There isn’t anything wrong with our two TVs right now. The living room TV is 10 years old and could go south any time but it is still good. Because of the economy and the fact I have some $$$, this is the best time to buy something new. In the computer room, the TV there is only a few years old but it is obvious how bulky it is and in my quest of remaking this room (I paint a wall tomorrow LOL) I would love something slimmer and lighter to help lighten the room up. But really can I justify replacing two perfectly good TVs? Oddly enough, I am the only one in my family that doesn’t have a flat screen TV. Pam and Cindy have big ones, frugal Paula has 2 small ones and even dad has 2 new ones (their main TV is still old style)
Ok, I still have some money left even after a flat screen monitor and 2 flat screen TVs. I am Jonesen for a new camera. Canon came out with their 50D. My 20D is 4 years old but like the TVs, is working just fine. Why do I need a new camera really. Actually this would be a no brainer if I shot like I use to and if the 50D shined in reviews. Because it is a 15 megapixel beast on a crop sensor I am afraid it is noisier at higher ISOs and low light then the 40D. That is a big turn off for me. I could go for a 40D instead since they are going cheap now but they are only 10 megapixels, only 2 more then my 20D. If I can get me a 12 that would be ideal. I could go for a 5D which is a full frame sensor but the new ones are about to come out which will be way over my budget and the old ones are just plain old (but they are 12 megapixels) and still more then I want to spend. I don’t know. I am wasting too much time researching flat screens and camera.
What I should do is put the money under my mattress for the coming depression.
Poetry - November 3, 2008 -
I never got into poetry, ever. I never read it or paid it much attention. Today I decided I want to become a poet. Ok, let me back up. For a while I have been wanting to do some typography animations. I had a song I was going to use the lyrics for (Who’s to Blame by Ozomatli). This project has always been tucked in the back of my head.
Today I realized if I could write a poem and animate to that it would be more from the heart, artist and original. I think it would be more interesting to animate to my own words. I also wouldn’t have to worry about copyright. The problem of course is that I know nothing about poetry. I plan on reading up on it and start writing some. Who knows maybe I am a poet and don’t know it (sorry about that ;-)).
I am kind of excited to learn and see what I come up with. I am hoping my animations will overcome any embarring prose I might come up.
Tomorrow is election day. I need to call grama tomorrow and tell her to go vote. She alway has voted. We have had many heated arguements over her Republicaness and my Democraticness. This time however she is for the right guy but doesn’t feel like voting! She is in one of the states up for grabs and in one of the counties that could decide it.
I think my Friday blues was premenstrual. My period will be here in full force tomorrow. Every month–though the last few months I don’t remember any blues or paranoia or anxiety–it is something that is suspiciously timed with that time of the month.
Now I do feel disconnected for the most part every day 
but on those pre-menstrual days it really bugs me.
This weekend I purges a lot of junk. The garage looks better (which wasn’t the plan to sort out but it happened) and my computer room (why do I still call it that?) is in better shape. I did all the filing that has been waiting for almost 2 years and just sorted through my bill box to file or put in the shred pile.
That second chore only happened after my external 500G firewire drive bit the dust and I needed to find the receipt ( btw, bought 11 months ago with a 3 year waranty so I am covered). I hardly turn it on since I only use it to keep my archives and wanted to preserve it. Lot of good that did me. I suspect it is a power supply issue or at least I am hoping that is the case. I just bought a new one though I think Lacie owes me one but I need to quicky to see if this is the fix before I spend $100 for Disk Warrior. I do have a DVD/CD back up of 10 years of archives at work if nothing works.
it is such a social holiday and we aren’t sociable people and it bugs me. First of all it was just me and Hollace trick or treating. Last year her best friend Kayla went with us. This year Kayla is ignoring Hollace. We even ran into Kayla and the large gang of kids with her and she didn’t say a thing even when a little kid said, Kayla, isn’t that your friend? It just breaks my heart. Hollace doesn’t seem too upset about it.
Everywhere the kids were in groups while Hollace T or T’ed alone. On the adult side, all the adults in my neighborhood seemed to know each other and I know no one. I have lived here for 15 years. Across the street is the king and queen of the neighborhood. The woman will say hi to Hollace but not to me. Tonight she said hi to neither of us because she was too busy socializing with all of her friends.
I know this is my issue. I know there is nothing wrong with those people. I am missing that part that connects with people and it bugs the shit out of me. Halloween somehow brings it up. I am in a funk over this. Actually I am nearly in tears on how unconnected I feel and it isn’t just Halloween either. Maybe I better put that extra $$$ in the FSA next year for a good therapist
I also don’t like kids coming to the door for candy either…bah humbug
Today the weather was beautiful in the 60s. I promised Hollace that we would go for a walk at the forrest preserve but then it got cold and yucky. Today I determined was the best day to do this. Tomorrow’s weather is promising to be just as nice but it is Halloween. Next week at this time it will be dark as we change the clocks on Saturday. I guess we could of went on Saturday or Sunday (which is still promising to be nice) but I was looking for a specific hour and really today was the day.
I picked Hollace home from art class. A katydid hitched a ride on the roof of my car all the way to the preserve.
We walked the 2 mile loop but got nervous we missed our out back to the parking lot that we kind of went off the path and into some desserted parking lot. It wsa getting dark.
We finally found the car. We then went to our favorite Mexican restaurant. We decided to hit the little Mexican grocery store connected to the restaurant for some chihuahua cheese. Then RAW had a sweet tooth so we stopped in the Mexican bakery on the other side. I had never been in this bakery. You grab a tray and some tongs and buy your sweets. I picked up a simple cake doughnut with chocolate frosting.
When I ate it at home later I became obsessed. The doughnut was so creamy. I couldn’t figure out what about that doughnut was so good but it just was. I got to hit that place tomorrow to get some more. Yum.
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