*Big DumpTruck*

It Wasn't Good

That might have been the worst chicken chow mein I've ever had. Well, actually, the best it could aspire to is being the 2nd worst ever, because the worst ever was from that chinese restaurant in Vermont. Mr. Dump and I went there about, oh, 10 years ago. They serve us this stuff that's literally green (in a bad way, not the green from say celery or scallions or whatever they put in it) and just doesn't taste or smell like any chow mein I've ever had in my life. And I've eaten a LOT of chinese food.

So we complain to the waiter that it's not good, we don't want it. The owner comes rushing over, all upset that we've rejected his bright green goo. "Whatsa matter, you never have chinese food before?"

Excuse me?

This is a chinese restaurant in the middle of nowhere in a Victorian house. I've eaten in chinese restaurants all over the place, including Chinatown in Boston. You're in the middle of NOWHERE and you have the nerve to insult me by saying the the problem is with ME and not your crappy food? Geez, it's been 10 years and this still makes me crazy!

Well THAT was fast!

Monday FLEW by. I can't believe I'm already home again. I was productive, but I don't feel like I got enough done to make up for the fact that this week is short a day. Also, some people I'm working with aren't working a full week so I feel like I need to hurry to get info from them as quickly as possible. I am trying to get a little extra time in just because I won't get paid for Friday unless I work. I worked 9 hours today. I want to get at least 35 hours in this week, if I can do it easily. Tonight I can't do any work at home because it's [supposed to be] Daily Probe night, although I don't think I saw the files in my inbox. I have to do my bit and get them back to the site owner tonight because the site is supposed to be updated on Tuesdays. Of course, I can't do anything until the editor gets the files to the proofer and she gets them to me. Fun, huh?

Okay, time for dinner...chinese food! I went crazy and got chicken chow mein, which I never order, even though I like it. I hope it's good!

I Want More!

This was such an excellent weekend - not even for any earth-shattering activities, maybe because of a LACK of them, but the weather, etc., just made it perfect. The $20 pool I got at Toys R Us got PLENTY of use, I got to eat lobster, I got some time out on the back deck sitting in my chair just reading a book, the laundry is caught up, the car is washed...I mean, when I was unemployed and didn't have anything to do, why weren't there DAYS like this to enjoy? Or is it the fact that I know I'm facing a week of work that makes the weekend so much better?

Okay, enough pondering this, I need to finish that novel.

Choose...

Barq's or Diet Pepsi?

I hate making decisions on a Sunday.

Also, Home Depot doesn't sell brushes to wash your car. What the hell is the point of that store anyway? I mean, if they aren't going to carry the stuff you need, they should just put a big closed sign on the door.

Car Stuff

My son pointed out a "funny car" tonight...I know you think I'm going to say a Mini but it was an SUV limo. Now THAT is a car.

Is it possible to get negative miles to the gallon?

p.s. It probably wasn't funny at the time, but my neighbor told me that it was so hot the other day that it set off the heat detectors at the new gas station at BJ's - which proceeded to dump baking soda out of the fire-prevention system. She said the entire parking lot and all the patrons were covered with baking soda - it looked like winter. They took a couple of the older patrons across the street to the hospital just to make sure they hadn't breathed any of it in. But apparently it's pure baking soda, so for average, healthy people it wouldn't be an issue. How cool would it be to be standing there one minute, minding your own business, and the next completely covered with baking soda?

So I asked her if they had to go get little boxes of Arm & Hammer to refill the system, when I remembered it was BJ's so they probably went and got the BIG boxes...

For the Tivo Lover In You

There's a book coming out called Tivo Hacks. On the blog of the book's author, he lists the top 5 Tivo hacks that will be in the book. Good Lord, you can run a script to change the programs descriptions to say you're guest starring on Leno! Oh do I ever need this book!

Perfection

You know me, I get a lot of mileage out of the weather, especially when it's bad. Cause I'm Mundane and all. But I want to take two minutes out of your life to say that this was the best day of 2003. I can't tell you how hot it got - it was supposed to hit 87 but it never felt 87. I had on shorts and a t-shirt, and I personally felt just right almost all day. No humidity, plenty of sun. I mean, maybe it was just the change from the last three days, but I didn't need to put on the air, we drove with the windows down and while it felt warm, it wasn't oppressive.

I dragged my dad down to Toys R Us to pick up a plastic pool with me. I needed his truck to transport it. I went for the $20 purple pool with the elephant head on one side. The hose goes to the end of his trunk where you put a cap on it and it makes a little sprinkler fountain. Dad and I dropped it off here at the house before returning to his house, where we pretty much spent the whole day. Junior played for about 6 hours with the neighbor's grandson. This is a little boy who is about 2 months older than Junior. His mom and I grew up with each other. Actually the little boy's aunt and I went to school together (12 years), his mom was her younger sister. I got to tell him a "you know what your mom and I used to do when we were little?" story. Hee! And my mom's other neighbor has a 14-year-old grandson visiting. I've been loaning him Playstation games to use while he's here, but I didn't meet him until today. He came down and played hide and seek with the two little boys (he's got a 6 year old brother back home) and they LOVED playing with him. He was really patient with them, and did the old "Where oh where could they be hiding" thing even when they always hid in EXACTLY the same spot he'd just been in. His grandparents should be VERY proud of this young man - he was great with the kids, extremely polite, and just really nice to be around.

Then everyone helped me wash my car. I mean, does it get better than that?

Well yes, it does! We came home for dinner because Junior's playmates had to go home, and he suddenly remembered that 7 hours earlier I'd left the house to go buy him a pool. We got home around 5:30 and he insisted he was so hot he really needed to play in the pool. He got a good two hours of play out of it and it wasn't even hot out! I think the little sprinkler thingy makes a big difference.

Okay, we've had a long day. Bedtime in 15 minutes (for him, anyway)...

Yes, How 'Bout Them Red Sox!

As Bill so eloquently asked in the comments of the previous post (or "next" the way they appear on the website), "Hey! How about those Red Sox!" Here's what the news wires had to say this morning. I don't think my commentary would add anything, do you?

"Boston set a major-league record on Friday with 10 first-inning, no-out runs before the third Florida pitcher recorded an out. The Red Sox tied the AL record with 14 first-inning
runs in the 25-8 victory. Johnny Damon became the second-major leaguer in 120 years with a three-hit inning."

Now why couldn't we have had tickets to THIS game? Although man, it was a long one. By the time our game was over the other night, this one was only in the 5th inning. Ouch.

My favorite blog subject line on this topic so far is Two More Touchdowns, and They're Back In This Thing

Insurance Fun

Summary of my current insurance situation - my mortgage company pays my homeowner's insurance. They get the bill, they pay it in full. Done deal.

Two days ago I got a cancellation/refusal to pay notice. Wha? Huh?

Okay, so after a few phone calls, here is the status:

Insurance Company: We have not received a payment.
Mortgage Company: We sent a payment. In fact, it was cashed on the 11th.
Insurance Agent: According to the system, the insurance that will be
cancelled is your 1999-2000 policy.

Well you know, if they want to cancel THAT one, fine. I'm only worried about the 2003-2004 policy. Agent is calling insurance company, mortgage company is requesting a copy of the cancelled check, I apparently don't have to do anything else until next week when I check to see if Mortgage Company has beat some sense into Insurance Company. The best part was the amazement in the agent's voice that the 1999 policy is the one showing up in the system.

If my cousin is reading this: Your company has actually been a JOY to deal with about all this. I know they will straighten this out and I won't have to worry about it. Big thumbs up to the Mortgage Company. NOW can you get me a refi?

More Lunch-Related Posting

The cafeteria people send an email out on Tuesdays with the week's menu. I
realize that this means Monday is an unknown quantity until you walk into
the cafeteria, but I like to live on the edge.

I just wanted to point out that one of the categories of food on the menu is
"comfort food." This would be my favorite. However, the other hot entrée
category is "Conscious Cuisine" which I would assume to be healthier, if
nothing else. Monday the conscious cuisine option was veal parmesan. Now I
love it. But in what universe would anyone define a veal entrée as
conscious?

I'm just sayin.

Welcome, Summer

>From the National Weather Service:
"...HEAT WAVE IN PROGRESS FOR MUCH OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... A
HEAT WAVE IS DEFINED BY 3 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF 90 DEGREE
TEMPERATURES.
...
TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO RISE INTO THE 91 TO 97 DEGREE RANGE AT A NUMBER
OF VALLEY AND INTERIOR COASTAL PLAIN LOCATIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. HUMIDITY WILL BE ON THE INCREASE AS WELL...WITH VERY
UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND OPPRESSIVE CONDITIONS THURSDAY.
THE HEAT INDEX IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH 105 DEGREES THURSDAY AFTERNOON."

Cause we don't want to ease into summer, nosiree.

Well, I'm disappointed

Lunch was definitely a "looks better than it was" experience today. I had
such high hopes, too. I got the deli special, tomato and mozzarella on
focaccia with a splash of balsamic vinegar. Oh, and one of them thar basil
leaves.

It's too early in the season (given our weather lately) to do a tomato
sandwich. And while the mozzarella looked great, I just expected a little
more flavor - even if that flavor was "salt" or something. It seems a shame
to intake fat from cheese and not even really get any pleasure out of it. I
would have saved the fat for something else. So in summary, my sandwich
looked fantastic, tasted like, well, just the focaccia bread. (I have no
idea if I'm spelling that correctly or not. The spell-check in my mail
software has no idea how it is spelled.

Great Game

You couldn't have asked for a better night - a warm breeze, Nomah going 5 for 5 (with 3 runs...dude!), a 10 to 1 win, and kick-butt seats courtesy of my boss (who is the greatest boss ever, just in case she's reading this). These were her personal seats, and there were 4 of us at the game. I didn't know exactly where we'd be or I would have posted it here because it should have been easy to find us if you were watching the game, especially when one foul ball hit the roof right over our heads. We were in roof box 20, which is the one on the 3rd base line, and we were in the first row, first four seats in from the end. So basically if you looked at the corner of the roof box seats (the ones that aren't enclosed) that was us. *waving*

I highly recommend these seats - you get a fairly private bathroom, and two concession stands that had hardly any lines. I mean, what's better than that? Especially the bathroom thing...that was sweet. Especially after two beers and a bottle of water.

So now I'm exhausted cause I didn't get home until after 11:30pm and I'm such a baby that I don't handle staying up that late very well. I hope I look alert at my 9:00am meeting...

Go Red Sox!

You're going to have to sit and stew in your own jealousy because I'm going
to the Sox game tonight. It's FINALLY a perfect night to go to a game! I
brought a change of clothes to work, and I'm counting down the minutes.
Actually, I'm going with my department, so I'm not counting them down
too loudly.

I brought sneakers to wear because today I'm wearing some sandal-like
open-toed open-back shoes, and my deep fear all day has been that while I'm
walking I'll kick one off. I'd hate to do that at the park and end up losing
my shoe or worse, having my feet actually touch any part of the floor. That
would be very bad.

You probably won't see me on camera, given where the seats are, but you
should watch the game anyway, don't you think?

Fedders air conditioners

I'm in the market for an air conditioner. I'll tell you what I want, and you tell me if it exists. Or if it does exist, if it's any good.

Minimally, I need about 12,000 BTUs to cool the first floor of my house, which is open-concept. This sucks, because my biggest hope is that I could find one that doesn't weigh much more than 75 pounds or so. I cannot handle needing three people to bring my AC up from the basement - we did it tonight and I actually hurt my arm trying to work it out so two of us could carry the damned thing backwards up the stairs. Okay, so there's the weight thing. The price isn't as much of a concern right now (seeing as I'm only putting forth a wish list) but I'd like to keep it under $500. I'd also like it to have a timer setting so I can tell it to turn on an hour before I get home. My bedroom AC does that, but "the beast" doesn't, and this is the room that needs it. Oh, and if at all possible, I don't want the back covered with razor-sharp thingies that slice up your hands if you aren't wearing gloves. Oh yea, a couple of years ago I found THAT out the hard way.

Walmart has this one for a decent price...anyone have an opinon on it?
Fedders air conditioners.

What, No Do-Over?

Boy, it's summer! Now why oh why couldn't we have had this weather
over the weekend? I know I sound like a broken record, but sheesh, enough
already. If I'm not mistaken, Junior's daycare provider has them all down at
the lake, building sand castles and maybe even paddling around in the water
a bit. She's going to be amazed at how great he is in the water since last
summer - at his last swim lesson (which I missed because of work) he went
down to one bubble. He started with three, and had been two for a couple of
weeks. With one, there's barely anything actually keeping him afloat, I
think it's almost more psychological than anything. He learned that if he
doesn't want to sink, he has to keep swimming, and swim fast. It's odd, I
take it for granted that I know how to float and swim, but it's all new to
them, and somehow the floating thing doesn't come naturally.

I didn't get the air conditioner in yesterday because it was raining so
hard. I hope I don't regret that this week. I need to do that one and the
one in Junior's room, which I can pretty much handle. I also need to get
some of that stuff to put around the AC to keep the bugs out. Fun!

Well, that's typical

I'm in the middle of my "dealing with it being the end of the weekend" blues. Except they aren't really blues cause I don't mind going to work tomorrow. I think I'm more annoyed that it's absolutely POURING outside today, which, combined with yesterday's drizzle, means this was a very gray weekend. And it's going to be nice tomorrow, but that's too late for me to hang out on the deck reading a trashy novel, now, isn't it?

Actually, I just realized that I'd already read the trashy novel I started last week, so now I'm trying to decide if I should finish it, because obviously I didn't remember much from the first time, or move on to something new. Tough call. I think maybe I'll finish re-reading it. It's not like I haven't read things more than once before (Breakfast of Champions, anyone?)

I went to Filene's and picked up three pairs of pants and a couple of tops, and that makes me feel pretty good. I want to get a few more, but this is a good start. AND, the ones I bought were another size down - which means the two I bought a month or two ago? Too big. I'm happy, but annoyed that I wasted the money.

So because it's yucky, I'll share a couple of pictures with you one of them is the first flower on my new clematis. The other is just a random shot from our May trip to Florida.

Lightening

Holy poop! Where did that lightening and thunder just come from????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday's over already?

Wow, that was REALLY fast. I'm exhausted...it's a two hour drive down to where the birthday party was (on this side of the bridge on the Cape), and it was kind of rainy and yucky all day, although not enough to keep the kids inside which mean at some point the adults have to spent quality time outside with the kids.

Junior ended up with a lightening bolt drawn on his forehead - guess the tots have Harry Potter fever. Actually every time this group gets together they play Harry Potter. Junior's been lucky to get the lead role. My nephew has red hair so he gets to be Ron by default.

Oh, and let's just follow up the stupid "I left the window open" with "I'm stupid and not only did I leave my keys in the ignition all day, but I left them in the "on" position and drained every last ounce of life out of the battery." Good thing my sister lives in a good neighborhood (and that her husband is a State Cop...maybe that holds some weight around there?) We jumped the car and I was eventually able to get up home. Now I just want to go to bed, so you'll have to beg my pardon as I cut this short.

I am a Dope

Just in case there was any question left in anyone's mind, I am a dope.
Wait, capital D Dope. (What a great word that is!) Why yes, I did leave the
driver's-side car window wide open (as in, all the way) last night! Why yes,
it was raining when I walked around the car to get in and noticed it! Why
yes, my seat was soaked!

I want to go on record as saying I never leave my windows open. I
have no idea why I did last night - we had gone shopping for birthday gifts
and didn't get home until after 8pm. So it isn't as if I expected to go back
out again. *sigh*

Speaking of the birthday gifts - I was pleased with my purchases. I'm less
pleased that we're driving to the Cape for a party this weekend and the
weather is supposed to be horrid. Too bad that party wasn't Monday - they're
saying it might hit 90! I'm going to have a Florida flashback! Don't get me
wrong, temperature-wise, I've LOVED this whole spring. And I think it's
pretty danged funny that the minute it rolls over to summer, the temps will
jump 25 degrees in one day.

MSN Search: food that help to have big breast -- More Useful Everyday

Guess whose web site is number three if you go to MSN Search: food that help to have big breast?

I'm thinking...I have big breasts, yes, so maybe what you have to eat is what *I* eat! Or at least what I used to eat, which is how they got big. Start your day with some kind of pastry, even a PopTart will do if you can't get to the Dunkin Donuts. Of course, if you're at Dunkin Donuts get a Coolatta with cream, and don't skimp on the whipped cream. And that's just how you should START your day! This plan will also work toward the development of man-boobs.

Speed of Lightening

I apologize in advance for any funkiness you may be experiencing here on the dump. My ISP is, if I'm not mistaken, under seige by dwarf siberian hampsters. I have no control at this point. (I also apologize for the poor spelling of the subject of this post, which I have since fixed.)

Being Un-Unemployed

This whole work thing is putting a serious crimp in my ability to get things done. I always knew I was lucky to be able to do things in the middle of the day during the week, but now that the option is gone, I'm even MORE aware of how great it was. I do miss being able to stop at the grocery store at 8:30 in the morning when nobody else was there. I suppose I could still do that now, but then I'd be late for work, and that would mean either staying later or just not getting paid for the time. Obviously once I get more used to the schedule of working again I should become more functional outside of work hours. And my son is obviously going to have to be more flexible about, say, going to CVS with me. Right now dragging him out of the house after I get home is a big wrestling match, and I usually just give up instead of forcing him out of the house.

Anyway, maybe I'll adjust my schedule so I get half a day off during the week (by working 9 hours 4 days) and that will be "grocery shopping/errand running" day.

And before you think I'm complaining about my new job, this is very far from that. I love the new job, hope it lasts forever and ever. But it does cramp my free time to have to be away from home 45 hours a week (including commute time).

Bananananananana

Aren't bananas the best food? They come in their own handy container, they taste good, and they're good for you. And my cereal tastes SO much better with them. So here's to bananas, Big DumpTruck food of the day!

Skyrockets In Flight

Forgive me if I'm wrong, and I'm not, but fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts. I believe throughout the state they are illegal. I also believe (and I'm a bit fuzzier on this bit because it's a non-issue in my fireworks-free life) that carrying them across state lines is a huge no-no, especially with all the 9/11 restrictions now in place. I thought some towns weren't sure they could have their 4th of July celebrations this year for that very reason.

So then, I'm puzzled by what I got in the mail today. It's a sale flyer from a company called "Phantom Fireworks" and they are encouraging me to take advantage of their "Buy one get one free" sale. Wow, lots of cool packages with great names...and I can't buy any of them. Well, technically I can, but I have to set them off in New Hampshire if I do. If I was actually stupid enough to trust myself with a trunk full of explosives.

But let's see what they've got for products:

• Pyro Pandemonioum
  
• Midnight Monsoon
  
• Blazing Blast Furnace
  
• Rain of Fire
  
• Apache Firedance
  
• Alien Abduction
  
• Shagadellic Mojo
  
• Swarming Skeeters
  
• Raging Rottweilers
  
• Wallping Warheads, and my favorite,
  
• Untamed Retribution. That one has an eagle and an American Flag on it. Only $79.99 per package.

Zoinks! Well, so for only $179.99 I could pick up the Iwo Jima Assortment. And I don't need to actually go to one of their stores, because now KMart carries fireworks!

"When you're planning your next family picnic, as always you can stop by your nearest Kmart for a great selection of picnic essentials, such as paper plates, plastic utensils, and sun screen. But now you'll also be able to choose from a variety of Phantom Brand fireworks and novelties to add some fun for the whole family."

I also suggest some bandaids and a cooler to keep the fingers in until you can get them reattached at the emergency room.

Now THAT'S a Headline

"Videos Show Saddam as Family Man and Truffle-Hunter"

Too....many....funny....comments.....must....resist....

Truffle hunter? Where? Didn't he live in the desert? Don't you need a relatively moist area for truffles?

Today's Coffee Flavor Is...

Chocolate Raspberry! Of all the flavors of flavored coffee, this is my
favorite. It puts a smile on my face and a bounce in my step, it does. Well,
as close to a bounce in my step as I ever get.

Just a couple of bullet points this morning:

* The new Rolie Polie Olie movie, the one about the baby bots? Very cute. Thumbs up from junior who watched it 3 times in 2 days. He liked it much more than the last movie. And I don't want to spoil it for you, but this movie introduces a major change to the regular show (apparently).

* Chris (it's a person who wishes to remain anonymous so Chris could be a boy or a girl, eh?) had all Chris's CDs stolen out of Chris's car yesterday. It would probably cost $600 to replace them all. Is this an instance where copying CDs or downloading MP3s is "legal"? Chris OWNED the CDs, paid for them once. And if you say yes, which site/software would you use to do downloads that doesn't put any of that crappy hidden tracking file stuff on your system (a la gator)?

* What is up with 4pm meeting times?

Slight Blog Change

Changed the archives back to weekly so they'll load faster for folks. Also so it will be easier to find an entry when it's linked from Google, etc.

Polished

Junior, who last year at this time wouldn't let his face get wet, has started taking showers on a fairly regular basis. I like it when I'm in a hurry because like all kids, he can stretch a bath into an hour-long activity. Some nights spending an hour in a steamy bathroom is about 50 minutes too long.

But overall I think I will miss it because after I get him scrubbed down (showers may be faster but he's in charge of the washing so you can imagine he gets cleaner in the bath when I help) I get to sit on the toilet and do my nails. And it's not like it's cutting into something else I should be doing, I have nothing to do other than prevent drowning (which is probably not going to happen unless he stands up and falls and smacks his head, really. I think we're past the danger zone for him being in the tub, and yes, I have been known to actually step out of the bathroom to answer the cordless phone. (Parents everywhere will understand why I say this as if Child Protective Services is going to sweep down on my house and take him away). So I'm going to enjoy his bath time until he kicks me out of the bathroom, and I'll enjoy my fancy nails. (Sort of a neutral color - a pinkish/tannish color today.

Monday is Funday

Okay, I made that up. It's a good idea, though, isn't it? If you implement this at your place of business, I'd recommend passing out free face painting kits and using masking tape to put hopscotch games on the floor. Maybe you could hand out a prize for the person who brings in the oddest item for show and tell. And remember, odd doesn't have to mean gross. Jim-Bob brought in a unicycle? Bingo!

It's harder for me to implement this kind of program, being a contractor at "individual contributor" level. But the second I manage someone, I'm going to make them do this because they are part of my team. Even if she (or he) is the only person in the organization walking around with a ViewMaster around her neck.

(For the above paragraph I was going to say she'd be the only person with a _____ , but I can't remember what the thing is called. Does anyone remember
this sort of entertainment box with a turntable on top and a slot in the side where you fed in a film strip, and then as the 45 played (telling a story) the film strip automatically fed up? Or something like that? If you
remember, even if you don't know the name, can you at least let me know I'm not losing my mind? Thanks. Oh, the other thing was the kid's record player with the needle in the lid. Was it called a "Close and Play"? I'm just blanking today, obviously, and can't look it up on the web from here.)

Whoa.

Exactitudes

People being unique together!

Absolutely NOT a Waste of Money

That whole wireless router thingy we discussed earlier this month (or last month)? Not a waste of money. At all. Here I sit on my deck, under my umbrella that I don't need anymore because the sun is now safely behind the house. I've got a snack, my laptop, my mouse, and the wind in my hair. It's an absolutely perfect day - shorts, my sexy sandels (as opposed to the ones I wear when I need to actually walk around for more than 10 minutes) and I'm live on the internet baby. See, I can now enjoy the day and be productive at the same time. If I didn't have this wireless connection I'd be out here reading a Jude Deveraux book, but instead I'm finishing up one of the last freelance projects on my desk. It's win-win, really. Except the breeze in my hair makes me want to fall asleep, and part of me wants to know why it only took 10 minutes to go from 50% of my battery to 6%. Oh well, I've got a plug out here, so we're good.

My only complaint, actually, is that I'm not used to this whole working think yet, and I just realized now (6:30 on sunday) that I need to do laundry if I plan to actually wear clothes tomorrow. Geez, that was never a problem when I was unemployed and lived in jeans. Also, still need to buy a few more pairs of pants, which will also help the situation.

I Remembered!

I just remembered what it was I wanted to tell you. Earlier today I was doing a little bit of yard work, trimming the grass manually (I hate my weed-wacker) and I thought "Oh, I should dump the water out of the empty sandbox" because I was afraid it would be a breeding ground for disease-bearing mosquitos.

They would be the least of my worries, because there was a dead chipmunk floating in the water. Oh my GOD I wasn't expecting THAT. Yeesh. He's gone to a better place now...sort of to the left of the shed and about 15 feet back in the underbrush. Thank GOD Junior didn't spot him before I did...

Terra

The current Terror Alert Level is:

I Had Something I Wanted To Tell You

And I can't remember what it was. What was it? And when did I think of it? Dang. I think it was Junior-related. Something funny, I'm sure.

So I went to Kohls to try to pick up some of those pants that I like, and they didn't carry them. At all. Not a one. And they only carried one brand of pantyhose. What's up with that, anyway? I mean, I need some pantyhose, I need some pants, and they were useless, because this brand of pantyhose wouldn't work for me. I was on the cusp between two sizes. Heck, almost between three sizes because of my height. How can I buy a pair that might be too small if I buy one size or too large if I buy the other? I don't have money to throw away on pantyhose that doesn't fit. Sheesh.

So I guess I'll be going back to JC Penny at some point this week.

Oh, and I'm watching Adaptation. Odd movie. But that's the whole point. The whole point is that it's a movie about how odd a movie it is. I don't want to spoiler anything, but if you've seen it, can I say the scene that explains why he doesn't have any teeth is one of the most upsetting things I've ever seen on film. [updated a little later: No wait, I change that. More disturbing was the scene that directly followed when John's gun went off. Maybe I should just finish watching the movie, because it certainly did get pretty interesting pretty quickly.]

Good Morning And Stuff

I'm up. Got my second dose of medicine in my system, and not a moment too soon. Did someone smash me in the face with a brick while I was sleeping? Cause I'm pretty sure my cheekbones and my teeth were hit by something REALLY hard. I'm glad I have a couple of days to kind of chill out. I may even watch some TV this weekend, and I haven't done that in a long while.

Other than that, it looks like there's a struggle outside between good and evil, er, I mean, sun and rain. It was supposed to pour today, which is probably why the line at Blockbuster last night was 20 people deep (no lie), but it's not raining now, and even looks like it's brightening up.

Cross your fingers...

Oh, Man, Why Didn't Someone TELL ME?!

You know what I learned tonight? DO you? When I had to pay my $18 in late fees because I was ONE DAY late with two games and a movie? That if I'd CALLED them, they would have told me the new due date because basically the charge covers you re-renting the danged things. Did anyone know this? I didn't. I NEVER knew that if you were late you could call them for a new due date. I'm really annoyed now. Well you can bet I won't forget next time!

What Day Is This?

I think this is Friday, right? Okay, that's a good sign. Just wanted to do a
mail post so you'd know I'm still alive. Allergies have turned into a sinus
infection (oh joy) so I've just not been able to spend ANY time on the
computer once I get home from work. I'm hoping to have some time this
weekend to catch up.

I had a biscotti for breakfast. It felt all decadent, really, when what
happened is I forgot to eat and by the time I got to the caf for the free
coffee, they had put all the breakfast foods (muffins, danish, etc.) away. I
just wanted something to hold me until lunch, really, so I went for the
almond biscotti. I should really eat those more often, as I'm a "dunker"
from way back. I love to dunk things in my coffee, or in milk. Biscotti is
one of the only foods specifically made for dunking. Well, that and a the
Dunkin type of Dunkin Donut, but I believe they discontinued those a few
months ago. Those were the ones with the little knob for holding on. If
you're an employee of DD, could you suggest to upper management to bring
those back? Thanks.

Here we go: TeStINg. Well THAT was easy! OK, so back to work. P.S. I forgot to return 3 things to Blockbuster today. I'm dead.

In Other Important News

I think I actually figured out how to make upper-case letters when I send email from my cell phone. I know you were all just waiting for me to make that discovery. I finally hunted down the book for my phone (who'da thunk I'd be able to find THAT?) and looked it up. So we'll give it a test later today, okay?

Also, please tell me I'm not the only one who woke up feeling like my fingers were little fat sausages this morning. One person suggested it's because it's like 99% humidity outside, but it's still freaking me out.

Glad it Wasn't Friday

A woman committed suicide Tuesday by jumping from her 14th story apartment, which happens to be across the street from the YMCA. It is hard for me to explain just exactly how close this is to the front door of the Y, but just know that it's a one-way street with parking on both sides, so that's what, three cars wide? There are sidewalks on both sides, but the Y is right there are the edge of the sidewalk and the apartment building is not set back very far at all.

There's a pre-school IN the Y building face out that way, and there's a daycare behind and to the left of the apartment building, so lots of little kids coming and going at that time of day. If it had been Friday, we'd have been leaving Junior's swimming lesson at almost the exact time she jumped. I can't even imagine how I'd have handled it. Hell, if it had been Saturday my niece and nephew would have been in the Y having their lessons (they don't end until 10). If I recall correctly, there might have actually been a class that ended at 9:30 that day. Oh God, I feel soooo badly for any child who happened to see this. Hell, any adult, either.

There's a really nice guy who stands in the road at the edge of the Y parking lot who makes sure that it's only used for YMCA business; I assume he would have been the first one there, if not SEEN the whole thing.

People, please, if you're going to kill yourself, don't do it in front of a bunch of pre-schoolers, for God's sake.

A New Morning

Ahhhh. Sleep! That's what I was missing! Even though it was fitful at times (Junior woke in the middle of the night to complain that something was banging on his bed...sigh) it was WAY better than the night before. I have zero voice, but I feel 100% better. In fact, I'm drinking some tea right now and that's helping the voice thing too. Maybe today will be almost normal?

I hear there might be showers this afternoon so I'd better take some time to find an umbrella before I head out. I don't handle being wet all that well.

p.s. My security badge? Horrible picture. Just horrible. But I wasn't feeling well, so I don't think taking another one would have helped.

Hi Honey I'm Home!

I know you've all been watching your blogrolls to see if I've updated...so here I am to say that other than feeling like absolutely doo-doo (the post-nasal drip from all weekend is trying to burst out of my chest and I have laryngitis, a great way to make a good first impression) everything went really well.

Everyone I met with was great, the work seems very interesting, and hey, free coffee! And it's the good kind, Winslow's flavored! Or tea, or cocoa, or even iced coffee. Hey, they even provide honey and lemon to go with the tea (which you can image was a delightful sight for me today).

I'm utterly and completely wiped out though, from the combo of being sick and just learning lots of new stuff. So I'm turning in early tonight...or as early as Junior will let me get away with.

Very Sad Breaking News

WARREN -- Bones found in the woods in Palmer have been identified as belonging to missing Warren lifeguard Molly Ann Bish, who disappeared nearly three years ago from her post at a rural pond, authorities said this afternoon.

Big Smoking Pile of Dung

I hate confrontation, so in order for me to say something to a perfect stranger, I either have to be beyond normal ranges for annoyance, or on some mind-altering substance. Just wanted to state that up front.

I had to return a video to Blockbuster before noon today or pay a billion dollars in late fees. Our BB has a quick return slot on the outside of the building, so you can just drive up and put it through the slot from your car. Now normal people approach the building so the driver's side is next to the slot...because obviously there will always be a driver who can handle putting it in. So I am behind an Expedition waiting for the slot, while some yahoo has pulled in from the other direction so his wife (in the passenger seat) can use the drop. Stupid of him, but he was there first. We could wait. Well, I could. The chick in the Expedition hopped out and dropped hers in. Okay, she's pulling away and I'm next....and there's a Jetta parked just close enough to the slot that I cannot pull up to use it without cruching up a foot of his hood. But here's the kicker...the car is EMPTY and there's a guy walking toward the store. I think for a moment that he's just going to drop a box in the slot, but he walks by it. I roll down my window.

"Excuse me, but did you just park there?"
"Ya"
"You parked in front of the drop-off slot!"

He looks at me then walks back, noting that yes, there is a drop-off slot that he JUST WATCHED TWO CARS USE. So he pulls around me and leaves his car to go inside...in FRONT of another store in the fire lane! (I should note that the space in front of the slot is also a fire lane, but people aren't really stopping there so it's not a problem.

Can someone PLEASE tell me why a piece of dung like this "human" feels he can inconvenience the UNIVERSE and BREAK LAWS because he is too freaking important to find a parking space? This wasn't a hop out and hop back in situation...he turned off the car and locked it before going in. And his hands were empty which leads me to believe he was going to actually shop for a movie. HELLO? WHO ARE YOU? I swear, I should have called the cops on him, I was so angry. By the time waited for the light and left the parking lot his car was STILL sitting there.

So be honest...if you are the kind of wanker who thinks the fire lane laws don't apply to you and that you can abandon your car in front of a store because you'll only be there a minute could you please defend your actions for me and the rest of the folks who actually use the parking spaces that are provided for PARKING.

Nose Status

I can breath a bit better but my ears are blocked and ouchy, and my head feels stuffy. This is so not how I want to feel today. But I did get a good night's sleep last night so maybe I'm on the upswing? I just wonder if I should have my doctor peek in my ears. I will just DIE if I have to call in sick my first week at this new job.

Fun Run

Before I forget, I have to brag that Junior ran in the Mass State Police Fun run in the Junior division (kids 4-8) and he ran the WHOLE half mile (!) and said "I'm not even tired!" at the finish line! I'm stunned! This cannot be a child with my DNA. He was running with my BIL and nephew and when they got to where I was standing I didn't see him. So I thought at the last minute he'd changed his mind about running and stayed with my parents. But turns out he'd sprinted ahead of them and ran like the dickens for the whole race! I didn't even SEE where he placed because I was so convinced he'd dropped out. Hey, a half mile is quite a distance!

He was so proud of himself. I was bursting I was so proud of ALL the kids! My niece even ran her whole race (I want to say like an 8th of a mile, but I have no idea) and my nephew finished the half mile too! They all got these great medals... Oh, and my BIL finished his race (the five miler) in the first third - I don't know his exact time, maybe under 45 minutes? It was actually very fun!

Game Rant

I figured enough of you play video games that I can rant here and you'll at least understand what I'm talking about.

We rented Rugrats Royal Ransom for the Gamecube. I actually really like the game...just challenging enough that I had a ball playing, easy enough for Michael to complete some of the levels. I actually love some of the games - they're really unique and fun (you drive a buggy on the moon (with moon gravity) trying to find cheese bits, etc.)

Yesterday I was complaining to Mr. Dump about to UI design flaws in the game that really ticked me off because there was NO NEED for the game to be written this way. These are two levels of play - the regular game and the extras, unlocked games that you have to "buy" by collecting funny money on each level. Well Junior learned the hard way that after you buy a game you damned well better save because when you exit out so that you can PLAY the game you just bought, it doesn't prompt you to save, so you will have lost all your progress to that point...and the game you just bought. WTF? Why not have a save prompt whenever you exit the game? Are they stupid? It's a game for small kids who don't always REMEMBER to save. Grrrrr.

You shouldn't HAVE to exit the game to play the extra levels, either. Oh, and related to that...when you finish a "room" if you hit the start button to try to save, Save isn't an option unless you step away from the doorway. HUH? I should be able to save WHEREVER I WANT. You can't even save when you're IN a room. Oh man, that's nice.

I got SO ANGRY at that damned game today. You want design flaw? I'll give you design flaw. We worked all morning to reach the end of the game (in a manner of speaking...the goal is to defeat Angelica to get your toys back, but we still had rooms that we hadn't even started to complete yet...) As SOON AS we defeated Angelica it runs the credits, etc., and then dumps you back to the main menu....you guessed it...WITHOUT SAVING THE GAME. So all the work we did after our last save was GONE, including defeating Angelica. What is WRONG with these people? And because you can't save mid-level it's NEVER going to save the game with all the money you are collecting on that last level (and there's a LOT of it.)

I am going to write THQ. This is so avoidable, and he was SOOOOO disappointed to lose the three levels we had worked on since our last save.

What Mowing is Good for

Yesterday I was talking to my sister and my niece had "her babies" with her. She named them Emily and Peter, and I started to have a song snippet stuck in my head. But I couldn't figure out what the song was or who did it. Over the course of 30 minutes I realized the song was by Level 42, but I couldn't remember the name of the song. But I was convinced that the lyrics involved kids named "Peter and Emily. Well after I got home I started mowing the lawn, and the rest of the song came to me, after I realized it's "Joseph and Emily" not Peter and Emily. Oh well, it was a nice try.

Now I have to try to find this CD so I can listen to the whole song.

"Looking back it's so bizarre"

(I'm just doing my bit to remind you all about my favorite 80's bands...)

The Book Sale

I got to see Sally at the Button birthday party! I had Junior with me, and there was no way he was going to sit with all those grown-ups eating finger sandwiches and listening to people read poetry. I mean, he's pretty patient with me, but that would really have pushed it over the edge. But we did say hi, bought three issues of the magazine and admired the cake with the big button on it.

We also picked up two bags of books at the sale, despite the rain. They had the tables out with the boxes of books and big sheets of plastic over everything. So you had to lift the plastic to look at the books...I stupidly did this while a guy was crouched on the other side of the table from me, and the water shooshed down in his direction. He waved off my apology, saying he was getting wet without my help.

So the cool thing about the Lunenburg book sale is that it's by donation. That always throws me for a loop. I mean, I don't want them to think I'm horribly cheap, but I am on a budget, at least for a week or two. So I gave her $10, which was more than they would have cost at a yard sale, but less than I would have paid at, say, the Acton book sale. And everyone is happy.

Is This Thing On?

Blogger's been down most of the morning. Cross your fingers.

Oh, and what's the deal with the wet on my deck? They said a high of 72 and sunny today. There's rain out there. Not a lot, but I can see it. I wonder if the library will cancel the book sale? I assume the birthday party for Button is on because it was supposed to be inside. But I wanted to go buy some books, darn it!

Lastly, can someone please remove my nose? This had better be allergies, and it had better not develop into a sinus infection before the first day of work on Tuesday.

Button Magazine

Partay! I just wanted to point out that tomorrow is the 10th Anniversary party for Button Magazine! Button's is the baby of Dump reader Sally Cragin, and I'm more than happy to let folks know about the party (and the magazine).

If you're around, head over to the Ritter Memorial Library tomorrow, June 7th. Ritter is located at 960 Massachusetts Ave. in Lunenburg. (They are also having their annual book and bake sale, as if the Button party wasn't reason enough. Just don't buy all the good books before I get there. Or the good brownies either.

Someday I hope to receive a rejection letter from Button to add to my collection. If you want more info on how to subscribe, visit Sally's site.

Update

The poster for McSkin is no longer on the drive-thru board at the McD's I visit. I don't know if it had been there for a while and I just happened to see it at the end of the campaign, or if they got a few phone calls from horrified customers. Either way, it's now a poster for their new McGriddle breakfast product. Is it a sandwich? I don't know...it looks like one but do I consider eggs, cheese and meat between two pancakes a sandwich? Depends on the pancakes, I guess. I won't be trying it anyway, because I'm not a McD's breakfast kind of gal. Or an eggs, cheese and meat surrounded by pancake kind of gal.

But if you have had one, feel free to drop a review in the comments!

My Laugh of the Day

Okay, Mister Crunchy gets the "made Jody laugh out loud" award for today. He's got an entry about the Powerpuff Girls theme song that just cracks me up...probably because it's SO true.

Junior is home sick today, which stinks because he was supposed to be home well - I'm treating the rest of this week as if I'm on vacation. Luckily we rented a Rugrats GameCube game at Blockbluster (sic) last night so he's been amused all moring. I do need to talk to the people who created this game about some serious design flaws in the game, including one that makes you lose everything you've collected because it doesn't ask you if you want to save before you leave an area to go play bonus games. And if you don't save first, it's like you haven't EARNED the bonus games yet. Ya, we found out the hard way.

IE

Everyone always crabbed at me because I never became an IE user - I mean, I have a copy, and I use it on sites that, for whatever reason, don't work properly with Netscape. Even now, I still consider IE my backup browser. And I downloaded Mozilla's Firebird last week and think it's VERY good - to the point where I almost consider Mozilla the secondary browser now.

So I'm over on KAS's site and see an article about how IE isn't going to release IE as a stand-alone product, you'll only get upgrades if you upgrade your OS. Well that just cements it for me. Are they doing this because AOL bought Netscape and said they won't be releasing upgrades* for it anymore (unless you use AOL, then you will get it as the "next version of AOL").

*I could be wrong about this, but that was the line they were giving about two years ago.

And on an unrelated note, we had my nephew's birthday dinner at Applebees last night, and I absoultely LOVED their (new?) Tex-Mex salad. Enough that I may go back again for it before hell freezes over.

Happy Birfday J-mo!

See, like, she's really popular, and she reads my blog, so by extension that makes me popular once-removed! Woo hoo!

I'm going to throw a non-birthday party this summer (cause Junior and I are January babies, so we never get to have cool outside parties) and I'm going to rent a sno-cone machine because I've always wanted to. I think that's the epitome of cool for a party...renting a sno-cone machine. They had a spin-art machine too. You could rent that for $35. Well, it is a birthday party, so maybe that will be a good activity.

I just realized that on my next birthday I turn 39. That's really freaking old. So maybe this will be my last birthday party ever and in January we can just ignore it when I do turn 39. Except I'll want presents, or cards with money (one dollar for every year is fine, and if you want to round up it will fit in the envelope a little better).

Sometimes, they write themselves

You know, I was going to comment on Barry Manilow breaking his nose by walking into a wall, but EVERYONE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH will come up with the exact same jokes by this time tomorrow, and I don't want you all to think I'm a hack. That's going to be the problem with including this in next week's Daily Probe - by then all the jokes will have been released into the wild. It's hard to come up with something original when you know everyone is working with the same material.

Background Check

If I pass the background check (and I'm squeaky clean, baby) I'll start my new contract job next week!

I'd like to thank the Government for providing me with unemployment benefits, which allowed me to pay my bills while I looked for work. As soon as I start this job I'll call them and let them know they can move me over to the "working" column!

The Big K

I have to go to Kmart today to return some pants I bought Junior. I'm not looking forward to going there - our local Kmart has become a real armpit. I realize that for many people, ANY Kmart is an armpit, but this one used to be decent. The way some kids hang out at the mall? We used to hang out at Kmart, because it was a ten minute walk from my house.

It used to be clean and well-staffed. The shelves were all stocked, and the cashiers knew how to ring up orders.

WHen I went in there to buy these pants I was apalled at how filthy it's gotten. Stuff was on the floor, shelves were trashed (i.e. half-empty with stuff out of places). There were three cashiers and the brain trust on the ONLY register that took debit cards couldn't figure out how to ring up two shirts and several bars of soap. I swear to God, I stood there for 20 minutes. I finally spoke up and made a suggestion for how the woman should approach her task, because she was frozen into inaction by the fact that she'd had to void out something but it didn't actually void. So she stared at the screen. And stared at it. I finally said "Why don't you void the whole order and just start over" through clenched teeth. "Oh, ya!" So she does that and the woman says "well, what about my $1 coupon for the soap?" "Oh, that's in the drawer, I can't get it."

Are you freaking kidding me? You think that's an acceptable answer to this customer? It's not HER fault you shouldn't be allowed to work a register. Twenty minutes, no lie, so this woman could buy two tank tops and some soap. It actually started being funny.

So now I have to go back and I'm scared. SCARED I tell you!

Junior's Career Plans

"I know what I'm going to be when I grow up. A construction worker."

We discuss what a great idea this is, and all the different types of construction work there is.

"When I grow up I'm going to be the boss. I'm going to be the one to call people, not be the one to do the stuff. I'm going to tell them what we're going to build."

(See, I was hoping he'd go into a trade so I wouldn't have to pay for an ivy league education. Maybe I'll get my wish?)

Too Busy For You People

Doesn't that sound nasty? I don't mean it that way. I'm just trying to catch up on some stuff that has fallen by the wayside, and now I won't be around most of tomorrow so that gives me one day LESS than I had before. Fun, huh?

Oh, and Christine, the asterisk key thing doesn't work for me because that key moves me one space to the left. I need to try to find the little book that came with the phone, obviously. But also obviously, I have no idea where it is.

Now That I Have Moment...

Okay, Junior has now eaten his weight in bananas, so I have a moment to type. (That would be 3 bananas. And some cereal, apple sauce and two waffles. Apparently the tape worm is back).

Okay, was having a discussion with Junior's dad about whether or not voice actors/actresses could be eligable for Best [Actor/Actress] Academy Awards (yes, I thought Ellen was THAT good). I said that she was as good in that role as Tim Allen was as Buzz Lightyear, but I didn't recall him being up for Best Actor. He said that Ellen would be considered a best Actress because she was the lead female, but that Tim Allen would only be best supporting, because Tom Hanks was the main male character.

I claim that in a movie you could have three best actors if there were three leads (i.e. equal billing, equal presense on screen) but that many movie companies choose to split the actors into best actor and best supporting just so they won't be competing with each other. So here's the question: If the voice actors from Toy Story were able to run for Acadamy Awards, what category(ies) would they be in?

We Found Nemo

Cute move, but even big brave Junior was clinging to me during part of it. I liked it. Ellen DeGeneres ROCKS as Dory. Oh my God, she's amazing. If they ever decide to do a sequel it has to be about Dory.

This Rain Means Business

We had a string of good days this past week, so I'm not upset that last night and this morning we had rain. And this was REAL rain, not that wimpy stuff we'd been having. They actually said it was going to be a n'oreaster, which is one of those nasty storms we are so famous for. Actually that just refers to the direction of the wind - it normally doesn't come from the northeast and when it does, lookout. Lots of snow (or rain), beach erosion, etc. When it's a n'oreaster I have to put the glass up in the storm door because otherwise my floor gets all wet when I open the door. And I made sure I took down the flag.

We got up late this morning because it was SO dark out. Kind of feels fun, actually. To celebrate, we're going to see Finding Nemo today!