*Big DumpTruck*

So that's how much per pen?

Following up on the follow-up to my Onyx pen ordeal, I visited one of the suggested sites from the Sanford lady's email. I found a great deal on the micro flavor of the pens, thirty-seven cents each! So I picked out 9 of them. The total for the pens was $3.33. Sweeeet.

Unfortunately, the cheapest shipping for my 9 pens was $14! Or I could get them next day air for $48. Wow, that is SOME bargain!

The Price of Being Lazy

Junior eats at least one banana a day. I am constantly buying bananas, because, well, it's not like you can stock up on them.

We were out this morning. He HATES going to the grocery store these days, and I just sometimes would rather not have to fight with him about it. So I decided to buy two bananas in the cafeteria to bring home, solving my immediate problem.

A dollar fifty for two bananas. I could have bought three or four POUNDS of bananas for that price. I don't think I'll be doing that again.

Okay, Goofy but Funny

Check out the new look for the Big DumpTruck

My Evening

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DSL!!!!

I have to go find some large files to download. Woo hoo!

Oh, I shouldn't have left you hanging

I eventually got off hold. They guy said he had no idea why they left that message for me, it wasn't anywhere in anyone's records. They are supposed to do whatever magic they do at the home office today, but that wouldn't involve ME. So last night I unpacked all my stuff, put all the line filters around the house, and sat and looked at my modem. I sat and looked at it because the magic hadn't been done yet, silly.

I can't wait to see if it's done tonight. The customer service guy said there was a note that it might be a day or two delayed. So I'll just watch the pretty lights on the modem flutter in the meantime.

"Holding" has a whole new meaning

I'm on hold with Verizon right now, and I have to pee. I have to peeeeeeee. I thought typing it might make me feel better but it doesn't.

I'm on hold because they said someone needs to go to the house to "switch" my line to DSL. Huh? What? What exactly will they be "switching," considering I was told they wouldn't need to come to the house?

Also, you can bet this hold music isn't being piped into the customer service cubicle farm or they'd have to pay everyone time and a half.

401K, we hardly knew ye

I poked my nose into the tracking site for one of my 401Ks, and saw that since the last statement (period ending June 30th) it has lost 14% of its value. AGAIN. I'm soooo sad. It's not like there was enough in there to actually retire on, but hell, that's painful. And now I'm afraid to move my money around (into less-volatile funds) because I just have so damned many shares of the ones I'm in, that it seems a shame to move them. After all, as of this second, the Dow is 320 points higher than it was when I woke up, so maybe tomorrow my 14% will be back.

One can only hope.

More on the Great Pen Search

Here's what the Sanford (Uni-ball) people had to say, in case anyone else out there is looking for those pens (and I know you are...I see the search words you use to get to my site. Dang, those fireworks pens got me a LOT of traffic.)


You may want to try your local Sav-on Drug Store for the # 60038 3-pk of
uni-ball Onyx Rollerball Pen.

The uni-ball Vision Exact Pens have not [my emphasis -J] been discontinued by the
manufacturer. We do show this item(s) available from Du-All (877) 583-9158 as well as
Office Depot BSDat 1-800-685-8800.

You can also try www.shoplet.com for ordering most Sanford and Paper Mate
items on-line. If you can order by the dozen call Standard Office (800)742-8247, Gray
Enterprises (800)970-7367 or www.kingpen.com.

High Point of My Saturday

That would be when my sister ended up with cat poop completely covering the bottom of her shoe. It allowed to follow her around the grocery store (after she'd cleaned up) saying "Do you smell something?" very loudly.

Heh.

Okay, Now I Can Focus On the Blog

Whew! Finished updating the Dump so you have my full attention again. Well, okay, not my FULL attention.

It was timesheet day today. My supervisor comes by in the morning and signs my timesheet for the week. That means I have to determine by 11am what time I'm staying until. Today I said I was staying until 4:30pm. Because I'll only get paid until then, you can bet I won't "accidently" stay until 5:00pm.

I'm starting to really stress out about the fact that my contract ends on August 15th. I would REALLY like an extension, considering how barren monster.com has been lately.

TGIF

I'm trying to update the main dump, so if I had anything I was going to say here, I'll probably save it for there. I think maybe it will be posted by 10pm tonight, which is way past my bedtime.

Slow Day on the Farm

Just a quickee update. The weather here is just about perfect, if you ask me. Mid-70's. Ahhhh. I've slept like a baby the past two nights. Of course, I'm inside, so you know, it's hard to tell if it's nice. I'm two layers of glass away from the outside world...the section where I sit has all the "real" windows covered with a plastic/glass thingy...basically I guess they do it to keep the heat in, or to keep the riff-raff out. If it wasn't there it's possible we could open the windows.

I don't know that I would...even with the 2nd layer it often smell like lawnmower and/or truck fumes in here. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

No recording devices

Another thing about last Friday's concert (ya, I'll stop soon) is that one of the casino goons (they look like secret service guys) went to each table to tell them no pictures, and no recording devices. Well, my cell phone has a record feature to do voice memos, but Deb wouldn't let me use it.

However, I did call someone for just 5 seconds so they could hear Eye in the Sky in the background. I just had to.

I should have called my answering machine and just filled it up, but I didn't want to cause trouble. Oh, and p.s. to that horrible female who decided that nobody would get autographs: Pbtbtbtbtbtbt. There were only 5 of us standing there, and I'm the only one holding a cd and a sharpie. I didn't even need to MEET him, I mean, she could have brought it out back. I wonder if Alan Parsons even knows this woman blew off one of his biggest fans. So my plan to scan in the CD cover for the website was blown.

I have a new favorite blog

I hope the owner of Fussy writes even more stuff! I'm SO addicted now I want more! MORE!

Well, Somebody had to say it...

Apparently, I'm the only hit you get if you do a Google search for the phrase "get out of my office, you lousy talking mime". I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. But it is important to call your attention to these things.

I apologize for the lack of updates. I've been busy playing that Paranormal Deathmatch game I mentioned in a previous entry. It's goooood stuff.

I still didn't give you the playlist for last Friday's concert. I'll start. Forgive my spelling of the names here, that's part of why it's not up yet: I don't know the names of some of the songs, and I don't want to look goofy. Okay, so from left to right (onstage) we had
Mark Farnham of Grand Funk Railroad
Jack Bruce of Creem
Todd Rundgren
Christopher Cross
Alan Parsons.

They opened with two Beatles songs (Hard Days Night and Daytripper) and then each of them had the stage for two of his own songs. Alan kind of got three because he did Syrius into Eye in the Sky, which is how the radios used to play it even though they are two songs. Anyway, the guy behind me said "Boy, he doesn't sound good" but that showed he's not a fan. If he WAS a fan he'd know that Alan didn't sing on any of those albums, (okay, one or two and backup). That was Eric Woolfson on the album. But it really wasn't the place to explain it to him. I thought Alan did a fine job, and Christopher "I'm going to hide behind this big leather coat and baseball cap" Cross chimed in for vocals. Then Alan did Games People Play which is really tremendously appropriate for the casino venue.

More later...

Look, It Should Be a Law

They have a pretty decent salad bar here at the Very Large Company where I'm working. Today it was chock full of stuff other than veggies. Veggies are fine, but you can make a meal out of all the other stuff, which I did today. I took some macaroni salad, some buffalo chicken fingers, and some grilled veggies (carrots, zucchini and summer squash). Oh, and 3-4 marinated mushrooms. Anyway, I went over to the dressing thingy to get some blue cheese for the buffalo chicken fingers and....they don't have it. WHAT THE HELL? Look people, it's simple math -> buffalo chicken + blue cheese dressing = heaven.

Now I'm going to have to hit Fweedom Wings to make up for it. And they aren't OPEN on Mondays. Sheesh.

Sauce Review

But let's get the important stuff out of the way. Tried Emeril's Vodka Sauce. Didn't like it. In fact, I prefer the vodka sauce they serve in the cafeteria at work, and that's saying something.

Watch this space

I wrote down the set list from last nights Walk Down Abbey Road concert at Mohegan Sun.

GREAT concert. So much fun, and it was FREEEEEEEEE! I'll update later, but I have to go run to the grocery store for fuel.

Thunder Boomers

I wish I could sleep through a thunderstorm. Or through the night, period. Last night was our lucky night for having the storm be directly overhead. A nasty bit happened around midnight and then moved on to bother some other people. Then at 4am there was a single CRAAAAACK that scare the something-or-other out of me. I swear, it sounded like a rifle shot. I was convinced that the house had been hit, so of course I had to get up and look around. As if you can SEE that sort of thing. Nothing seemed to be smoking so I crawled back in bed and prayed for another hour or two of sleep. I don't do well on only 4 hours a night, you see. And yes I did, but man, am I tired today.

Bruce's Paranormal Deathmatch

I have a new site that I have to visit often. This replaces metapet, which I got tired of last night. I can't keep any metapets happy. They stop eating. I'm just not made to be management. Anyway, THIS site, Bruce's Paranormal Deathmatch, a fun, free, online battle game! is great fun! I'm not giving out my user name though. No way.

THIEF! THIEF!

I went outside to water my plants (oooh, I typed "pants" but I didn't go out to water my pants, they were fine dry, thankyouverymuch.) and when I did the geranium pot in the front of the house I noticed that SOMEONE HAD STOLEN MY LITTLE GARDEN FLAG! Oh man, I'm SO annoyed! I mean, how the hell can someone just stand by my mailbox and remove it? It took me a while to get it on, so it's not something that would just fly off if it was windy. I hate that someone took something of mine. HELLO, it's a faded piece of cloth with a picture of a birdhouse on it. What would someone want with it?

Now I guess I have to go shopping for a replacement this weekend. But will someone take THAT one too?

Okay, So Far, One Red One

FOTD (Friend of the Dump) Dick B. is officially the first (and only) person to e-mail me a picture of a rose. Salut, Dick, for your good wishes. Eating lunch may have been a bad idea, but I don't think the problem will last much past this evening. Stay tuned.

Hump Day

My belly is ouchie today. I wonder what I ate that did it? Actually, it could just be stress, that happens every once in a while. It's nothing that time and Maalox can't cure, so no need to send flowers or gifts. Unless you really want to. I'm not too picky, any color roses will do.

I have to remember to pick up People Magazine today...don't let me forget. Oh, alright, I'll write myself a note.

But...but....it's got Julia's Wedding Pictures!

I was walking by the convenience store they have in the building where I work (how cool is that?) and saw the new People Magazine on the rack. But wait, I didn't get that one!! Ratzen fratzen People Magazine! So I called them from home (address label in hand) and apparently they cancelled it for me a couple weeks ago when they tried to automatically bill a credit card I don't have any more. But did they call me? Did they write to me? NO. They just shut off my subscription and hoped I would notice.

Well I DID notice and I'm NOT HAPPY with them. Boogieheads.

And yes, I re-subbed, but now I have to buy this current issue at the store, and maybe even the next one!

What Was I Going To Say?

Geez, last night I had about three different things I wanted to put in here today, and now it's all a blur. How sad is that? Okay, let me just put myself in a meditative trance to see if I can conjure any of it back up.

* Men in Black II - LOVED IT. I'm not a sci fi geek, so it's no skin off my nose that this one doesn't break any new ground, whatever that means. I loved it. I laughed my head off and just thought it was $7 well-spent, even if it turns out that someone else bought my ticket. So let's thank my pal Stefan and his wife Beth for treating me.

* I made grilled shrimp. And they were GOOD. Dave T provided the "recipe" which was basically a short marinade in melted butter and soy sauce while the grill heated up, then grilled with a healthy dose of black pepper and a little salt. 7 or so minutes into the cooking, squeeze fresh lemon on them.

* Um. Ya. I know something belongs here, but my brain is tired now. I'll get back to you.

I love it!

I'll make this quick...I LOVE MY NEW LAWNMOWER!

LILEKS vacation

What the heck am I supposed to do with myself while James Lileks' The Bleat is taking a summer vacation? Huh? Huh?

More Time Killing

Someone suggested this game over the weekend...it's like one of those vitual pets except you are the manager and the pet is an employee.

My employee is REALLY pissed at me right now, and her co-workers apparently don't trust her. Just like real life!

Junk Mail

I have a post office box, obtained when I started BirchBark. I figured it would be best to have something without my home address.

I keep forgetting to check the danged thing, and today I actually remembered to go. It's been, gosh, 3 or 4 weeks since I last went. And it was FULL. But not a single thing in the box was something I wanted to keep. I ended up tossing almost all of it in the recycle bin, except for two items for the person who owned the PO Box before I did. I have to tell you, it sort of ticks me off that I get this guy's mail. And not because it takes up a ton of space, but sheesh, what happened to mail forwarding?

So I cleared it out and now there is room for the next few weeks of sales flyers and Radio Shack catalogs.

Pedestrian of the Month

The Big DumpTruck Pedestrian of the month is Temes from Spain, who just sent the best fan mail in 2002. The best fanmail ever was from a few years back, from a guy who said I was the funniest writer EVER.

I wish that guy could offer me a job doing this for a living. I'd stay at home and teach Junior how to tie his shoes, and spend a few hours a day sitting on my deck watching my tomatoes turn red. .

The Sun Chips are Back

Whew! The cafeteria here in Worcester has been out of Sun Chips for about a week. I got hooked on them as a slightly healthier alternative to regular chips, because they have no cholesterol and 30% less fat. And they are tasty. But the caf ran out and I was very sad. Sad enough to pester one of the managers, who I'm sure has more to worry about when she feeds hundreds if not thousands of people a day.

Today they had a bbq, so I had a hamburger and a piece of corn on the cob. I cannot WAIT until they are picking local corn. I've already picked two tomatoes off my patio plant (yes, I cheated and bought one that already had one on growing on it back in May) but they were kind of mealy because of the crappy weather we had back in early June. The ones on it now look 100x better, probably because of all the TLC I give it. Not to mention the water. Lots of water.

Sort of Sad

I was listening to "Best of Stern" this morning on the way to work, and they were playing the show when JFK Jr. visited. I guess Howard had just been on the cover of George. John was just dating his future wife, etc. and they were talking about how he spent his days, etc.

It's been 3 years since his plane went down (I remembered it was around the 4th of July...I even remember where I was when I first heard - on the street that runs by Zany Brainy (was called Noodle Kidoodle at the time) in Burlington. I think I was with Mr. Dump, my sister and brother-in-law. But that doesn't seem right because both couples would have had a kid in the car. Hmmm. Maybe we were in their minivan. Anyway...that followed the in-depth article that was in this week's National Enquirer. It was REALLY sad listening to him this morning and knowing that he wouldn't be around in another few months.

Lions and Tigers and Bears and Flying Monkeys

Went to my mom's to pick up Junior and they were watching a movie. I've told them not to start a movie when I'm going to pick him up, because it's hard to get him to leave.

Uh oh. It's a long one. The Wizard of OZ. Bigger uh oh. It's still black and white. So yes, after a long day at work, I had to sit and watch the entire movie before I could go home.

Some of the dialog is a little weak to me these days. Didn't bother me as a kid, but now I'd like to tighten things up a bit. And I don't like that it appears Dorothy is standing on the storm cellar door that's she's trying to open. "Hey, Dot, it'll open better if you aren't standing on it!"

Project GRAD links

Am I a reading assignment? COOL! This is almost as good as making the Journal of the Mundane! Vanderbilt University Project GRAD links

What I'm Getting

Okay, now that I'm in charge of the outside of the house, I really do need to get a lawnmower that I can handle by myself. I don't like the whole gas and oil thing, and the older one we have is just too heavy for me to use. It's a front-wheel drive and I spend the whole time fighting with it. So this is going to be my new lawnmower.

[cordless electric mower]


Turns out friends of mine have the same mower, which is what convinced me. I'll let you know how it goes.

2nd Year Without a Concert

I just realized this is my 2nd summer without going to a concert. I wonder if it's too late to fix that problem? Well, I went to the FleetBoston Pavilion website and the only person I would have wanted to see is John Mayer, and he's got two sold out shows. His style of music is PERFECT for that venue, by the way. That's the magical place where I saw Kenny Loggins play...twice. And the second time I was pregnant with junior and MET Kenny, so it was technically Junior's first brush with greatness.

Maybe I'll see who is coming to Mohegan Sun. That would be an interesting way to spend an evening. And some money.

Bare Feet

I like the shoe styles out right now. I have stocked up on slides and mules (I think those are the right names) because I'm not allowed to wear sneakers here. It's been a long, slow, hard adjustment, but I think I've transitioned. Anyway, the cool thing about these types of shoes is that they are super easy to take off while you are sitting at your desk. So right now, I am barefoot.

I am all for simulating being on vacation while you are at work, y'know? So tomorrow I think I'll bring in some Coppertone and put it on my feet so I don't get a burn from the florescent lights, and to get that beach smell here in my cubicle.

Where is Yesterday's Post?

Darn, I wrote something up yesterday and it appears it was eaten. I hope it tasted good.

It's been a busy but fun weekend. We went strawberry picking yesterday, and Junior was an excellent helper. He only picked RIPE strawberries, stayed in the rows, and didn't step on strawberries. He got bored with it before we did, but kept himself entertained! I was very pleased. We also discovered shopping at Kohls. I'm going to have to find a way to get back there when I'm alone. I could do some SERIOUS clothing damage in that store. They even carry "my" brand of pants, the Lee Casuals! Woo hoo!

Dinner with friends last night. They left for a camping trip today with their new pop-up tent. I really do think that's the way to go. Some level of comfort, yet you still feel like you are camping. I can see myself investing in one of those some day. Today was more laid back. My son invited my niece over to play for a while. She's 2, he's 4.5, and he got bored with her when I told him he had to share all his toys and no, she was too little to watch the same stuff on tv that he likes. She left to nap, and he is too. I think I'll take this time to sneak in a short one on the couch myself. It's kind of freaky outside, all yellow. I guess it's the smoke from some forest fires in Quebec, but if I didn't know that (from reading online) I would think the world was ending. VERY odd color out there.

"I want to get away, I want to fly away, yeaaaa yeaaaa yeaaaaaaa"

It's a song title AND it describes how I feel! I would really like a few days in a hotel. Is that so wrong? I want to be on vacation. Near the beach. Near other people having fun.

4th of July

Happy birthday, United States of America! You are a wonderful place to live, and despite what some people believe, the people who live here are generally kind, generous, and friendly. We love our families, our friends, and many times, perfect strangers who happen to work in Hollywood. We laugh and cry and pray, and don't think twice about doing any of them. We get to pick who we want to manage the government for us. I wouldn't trade any of these things for, say, a lifetime supply of Ben and Jerry's or a 32-inch Sony television, no matter what impression I might give off.

So happy birthday. And many more.

Wind Chill?

Jody at the Toy Store

My aunt just emailed me to comment on the earlier blog entry about the Barbie Doll. Yes, an adult can own a Barbie. She is correct. I do use Junior as an excuse to buy a LOT of items at the toy store that I want. Like the Grinch Colorforms set long ago mentioned in the main Dump. I just think the Barbie would be obvious. I do look at those fancy designer Barbies sometimes and think "If Richard Simmons can collect them, so can I" but I really don't have the time, energy or money to start buying them up. They are pretty to look at, at I am reduced to a 7 year old every time I see the display.

I only had one Barbie as a child, my sister and I shared it, actually. It was a hand-me-down from the younger sister of the Aunt who just emailed. We played with her all the time. If that particular doll was mint in the box today, it would be worth a LOT today. I think she was like only the 3rd or 4th model to come out. She looked a lot like Lucille Ball.

Okay, It Was an Oversite

Just found out at lunch that the whole ice cream social thing? There were tickets available to the contractors in the HR department. Problem is, they didn't TELL anyone this. "Oh, didn't you get the note in your pay stub?" "Well, I think I would have noticed that."

While it would have been better to be able to take part while the band was playing and all the decorations were up, etc., apparently my ticket is good any day next week for a "make-up" sundae. I'll keep you updated.

p.s. Went to the mall but didn't eat anything there. Go figure!

Cool Thing I Saw on Amazon

Oh man, I wish I had a daughter. Not that I'm against boys playing with dolls; I'm not, I've even purchased one for him. But Sign Language Barbie is a Barbie, which is a slightly different category. I think I'll get her for my niece. Unless my sister is reading this and already has one on order.

None for me, thanks

I'm feeling bad for myself right now, and even though I know it's silly, I still do. Maybe I'm just ready to have a day like that.

You see, we've hit one of the downsides to being a contractor. Today the company where I'm working is having an ice cream social. They've even hired a brass band to play 4th of July-patriotic-type music. Everyone got a ticket to make sundaes, and raffle tickets to win ice cream-related prizes. Well, everyone except the contractors. So I'm sitting here, and as close as I am to the cafeteria, I can hear the crowds, the laughter, and the brass band. But no ice cream for me! See, I told you it was silly. I can go out any time and either buy or make my own sundae. I think it just stresses that when you are doing contract work, you really are not part of the organization. And this is the part of working for a company that I like most. Oh well. That's life in the big city. I'll treat myself to something this evening...Junior is spending the night with Daddy so I may go hang out at the mall or something. Maybe I'll treat myself to an Annie's pretzel.

I am the GREATEST!

If I don't accomplish anything else this week, I have the joy in my heart of knowing that I single-hanededly not only got it set up alone, but I took it down and, get this, folded it up and got it back in the zippered bag it came in! Can you believe it!?? I got it to fit!

I am superwoman.

Waterproofing

I forgot to mention that my big project yesterday was to waterproof that Wal-Mart tent I got for $20. Taking it out, I got really nervous at the sheer volume of "stuff" (this is the technical term for the windbreaker or tarp-like plastic material this is made from.) that I pulled out of the box. Lots of it. Two bags of extras (tent stakes and the sticks that all go together to make the poles) instructions, a box with the remote control light, etc.

But lots of "tent". So I went out to set that puppy up in the back yard. I am apparently tent-impaired because I could not get this thing going. I must have looked like a helpless moron because my neighbor actually STOPPED mowing her lawn to ask me if I needed help. At that point Junior was back from visiting dad so I had him sort of kind of help me. Plus I figured out one small thing I was missing. Anyway, once up, it looks pretty good. And I think I'll be MUCH faster the next time I put it up.

So now I just have to get it folded back up. I sprayed it and sealed the seams, but wanted to give it 24 hours to dry, so it's all inside the house. Tonight Junior and I will attempt to fold it back up. Okay, I will fold it back up. Wish me luck.

My Shoes

I'm wearing the wrong shoes today. By the time I noticed, it was to late to go home and change in the the correct shoes. See, I grabbed my LLBean slip-on thingies because the garbage truck was approaching and I still had one bag to bring out. But when I came back in the house, I didn't take them off or put on the correct shoes. So today I'm wearing black jeans, a green shirt and blue shoes. Luckily there is some black trim on the shoes, but still....it's such a Monday kind of thing to happen.