I try to word my entries carefully, but apparently I was not careful enough with my last entry. I did not realize that the term "groupie" carried such a negative connotation. I find myself embarrassed and humbled by my irresponsible mistake. Thank you OE for bringing it to my attention. Without realizing it I was insulting a group of people that I really meant to praise. So here is the reworded paragraph.
"I made two discoveries (and in retrospect I really shouldn't have been surprised, but it must have been the shock in discovering other avid Weird Al fans). One, Weird Al attracts tour chasers , and they hung out in the parking lot after the show listening to the song he closed the show with "Albuquerque." And second, there were a large number of second generation nerds - the Weird Al fans and their kids...and the kids knew all of the words to all of the songs. I felt like I wasn't nerdy enough to be at the concert!"
July 15, 2008
The Weird Al Experience
On July 6th, Scott and I went to see Weird Al Yankovic in concert at the amphitheatre at the Toledo Zoo. It was worth the heat and the wait. When I got the tickets, I immediately called Scott and informed him we were going. He called me a geek. I quickly informed him that I wasn't a geek, that I was a nerd, there's a difference.
The concert didn't start until 45 minutes after it was scheduled to, but that gave us plenty of time to people watch. Scott turns to me and says, "These people make you look normal." There was a wide variety of individuals present - I felt like I had stepped back into Hosey and Houts Hall from my freshmen year of college.
He played a wide variety of his songs, mostly from the current album, Straight Outta of Lynnwood. He did play his parody of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" (You're Pitiful), which isn't on any albums. It was a thing of beauty. The ending for it, he appeared in a Spongebob Squarepants t-shirt, polka dot shorts and a pink tutu. The best part was his salute to Star Wars complete with Darth Vader and Storm Troopers. The Emperor was on keyboard for "The Saga Begins" (American Pie).
Even if you don't like Weird Al, you have to admire his stage presence and his theatricality in performance. Costume changes for the band came at key points in the show, which was multi-media - while they changed, "Al TV" episodes played. You can tell that he and his band have worked together for years - when a technical glitch appeared - only the trained eye could tell they had to cover.
There were a number of surprising revelations - there are Weird Al groupies, and they hung out in the parking lot after the show listening to the song he closed the show with "Albuquerque." Also, there were a large number of second generation nerds - the Weird Al fans and their kids...and the kids knew all of the words to all of the songs. I felt like I wasn't nerdy enough to be at the concert!
"White and Nerdy" from the Lynnwood album still makes me think of people I went to college with and lived in the honors college dorms. I must classify myself among the nerds - especially since while I'm writing this I'm listening to my Weird Al play list on my IPod.
July 14, 2008
School and Shoes
I got an assistantship for the school year!!!! This is good news, school will be paid for and I will have a job I will enjoy that I only have to work 20 hours per week and make the same amount of money as I did when I was temping for 40 hours per week. So one less thing to have to think about. Now I can go on my excursions this month and not have to worry about finding a job at the same time.
Since I started working in the corporate world, my shoe style has changed. I no longer had to be on my feet for 8 hours a day so I started wearing high heels again. Now, I like wearing heels whenever I get the chance. So needless to say two of my three outfits for my reunion will have a high heel of some type. (The outfit for the picnic will have a wedge rather than a traditional heel because we'll be on grass). Scott and I usually avoid the mall at all costs, but Friday night found us there waiting for our movie and thus I found my self in a shoe store.
Take a look at this shoe.
It isn't sensible by any stretch of the imagination. The heel is really high, but I can successfully walk in them without looking like a dork. They make my ankles look sexy. And to top it off I only paid $26 for them. Lots of reasons to keep them, lots of reasons to take them back. On Friday night, I decided to take them back almost immediately after I got them. But then I took them home and put them with the outfit I'm wearing and I decided to keep them. By Sunday night, after not having looked at them for two days, I decided to take them back again. But after trying them on again Monday morning and taking these pictures, I decided to keep them. So what do I do when I'm in a quandary about shoes, ask my mother who is very sensible in the matters. She said take them back that they aren't practical...then she saw the pictures and called me to tell me to keep them and that she'll pay for them because they are too cute not to have in my shoe collection.
So now that I'm adding another pair of shoes to my closet, I've decided to get rid of two pairs that I never wear anymore. I think that is a pretty good trade, don't you?
Since I started working in the corporate world, my shoe style has changed. I no longer had to be on my feet for 8 hours a day so I started wearing high heels again. Now, I like wearing heels whenever I get the chance. So needless to say two of my three outfits for my reunion will have a high heel of some type. (The outfit for the picnic will have a wedge rather than a traditional heel because we'll be on grass). Scott and I usually avoid the mall at all costs, but Friday night found us there waiting for our movie and thus I found my self in a shoe store.
Take a look at this shoe.
It isn't sensible by any stretch of the imagination. The heel is really high, but I can successfully walk in them without looking like a dork. They make my ankles look sexy. And to top it off I only paid $26 for them. Lots of reasons to keep them, lots of reasons to take them back. On Friday night, I decided to take them back almost immediately after I got them. But then I took them home and put them with the outfit I'm wearing and I decided to keep them. By Sunday night, after not having looked at them for two days, I decided to take them back again. But after trying them on again Monday morning and taking these pictures, I decided to keep them. So what do I do when I'm in a quandary about shoes, ask my mother who is very sensible in the matters. She said take them back that they aren't practical...then she saw the pictures and called me to tell me to keep them and that she'll pay for them because they are too cute not to have in my shoe collection.
So now that I'm adding another pair of shoes to my closet, I've decided to get rid of two pairs that I never wear anymore. I think that is a pretty good trade, don't you?
July 13, 2008
10 years later
Last week, I had a disturbing dream. I dreamt I went to my 10 year reunion only to have one of my high school friends ask me if I was pregnant. And in my dream, I said yes - but I wasn't - I just didn't want to say, "No, hon, I'm not pregnant. I'm just fat, but thanks for noticing."
OK, chances are that dream isn't going to come to fruition and neither will the other nightmares I've had leading up to the momentous occasion. So if my subconscious is stressing about it, why the hell am I going? I'd feel like a coward if I didn't.
So, I am going, and I'm looking forward to it. I might not be in a great state physically, but mentally - I'm a hell of a lot better than I ever was in high school. I'm willing to be if there are individuals who are stuck in judging people by the way they look, they are still the shallow individuals who I didn't give a rat's ass about back then either. So what will they see when they look at me? A confident, poised, charismatic, intelligent, vivacious and successful young woman.
Do I wish I was thinner? Of course, but that has always been a theme in my life. Even when I was thin I still thought I should have been thinner. Before I began treatment for my eating disorder, I used to think that I couldn't lose weight because I was weak. Or that I was a loser with no will power. Why couldn't I lose the weight and keep it off? Why couldn't I stick to diets? Overeating was the only way I knew to deal with major problems in my life, because that was what I was taught. I wasn't given the skills to learn how to cope with grief, anger, stress, rejection and abandonment. It was, "Here, have a cookie." or "You'll feel better after you eat something."
While everything else was chaotic in my life - the food was always there. I could always count on a pizza to keep me company during my comps, or that pint of mint chocolate chip to soothe my broken heart. The food didn't help me cope with any of it, it just made me take my mind off of it and pretend that the problems weren't there. Food was my best friend and worst enemy for 21 years. But it doesn't control me any more. My body shows the signs of the battle I've had with food, but I'm not going to let those pounds (scars) stop me from going.
I had another dream last night, and in it a girl who used to pick on me comes over and asks me what I've been doing for the past ten years besides eating. And in my dream I answered, "Oh, nothing much really. I've traveled, married and divorced, moved out of state, published, hosted two international playwriting competitions, earned my bachelors, masters and currently working on my doctorate, oh and conquered a life long eating disorder. And you?"
OK, chances are that dream isn't going to come to fruition and neither will the other nightmares I've had leading up to the momentous occasion. So if my subconscious is stressing about it, why the hell am I going? I'd feel like a coward if I didn't.
So, I am going, and I'm looking forward to it. I might not be in a great state physically, but mentally - I'm a hell of a lot better than I ever was in high school. I'm willing to be if there are individuals who are stuck in judging people by the way they look, they are still the shallow individuals who I didn't give a rat's ass about back then either. So what will they see when they look at me? A confident, poised, charismatic, intelligent, vivacious and successful young woman.
Do I wish I was thinner? Of course, but that has always been a theme in my life. Even when I was thin I still thought I should have been thinner. Before I began treatment for my eating disorder, I used to think that I couldn't lose weight because I was weak. Or that I was a loser with no will power. Why couldn't I lose the weight and keep it off? Why couldn't I stick to diets? Overeating was the only way I knew to deal with major problems in my life, because that was what I was taught. I wasn't given the skills to learn how to cope with grief, anger, stress, rejection and abandonment. It was, "Here, have a cookie." or "You'll feel better after you eat something."
While everything else was chaotic in my life - the food was always there. I could always count on a pizza to keep me company during my comps, or that pint of mint chocolate chip to soothe my broken heart. The food didn't help me cope with any of it, it just made me take my mind off of it and pretend that the problems weren't there. Food was my best friend and worst enemy for 21 years. But it doesn't control me any more. My body shows the signs of the battle I've had with food, but I'm not going to let those pounds (scars) stop me from going.
I had another dream last night, and in it a girl who used to pick on me comes over and asks me what I've been doing for the past ten years besides eating. And in my dream I answered, "Oh, nothing much really. I've traveled, married and divorced, moved out of state, published, hosted two international playwriting competitions, earned my bachelors, masters and currently working on my doctorate, oh and conquered a life long eating disorder. And you?"
Senior photo - 1998
May 20, 2008
The era of the receptionist
You might have noticed that I haven't blogged in about two months. Yikes! Well, I've been doing that hermit crab imitation again. You know, hold up inside your home and pretend nothing else exists. I'm getting pretty good at it too! Since about March 20th or so, I've been temping as a receptionist at a very large commercial real estate agency. I sit at a desk for eight hours, typing, answering stupid questions on the phone, and watching MSNBC. After sitting for eight hours at a desk and listening to moronic subject matter (both the telephone and the television), the last thing I wanted to do was come home and sit at the computer and type.
The most I do on the computer after work is maybe check my email (not regularly), play some mindless game on the computer or race Mario Kart. I did watch many hours of not-so mind numbing television and finish my second knitting project (pictures to come). So, what has brought this hermit crab out of her shell you might ask. My job as a receptionist will come to a close on Friday! While I will miss the friends I've made at work (a very funny and witty group of women and men), I will not miss the tedium of being a temp receptionist. But I cannot completely hate the job. If it wasn't for this time answering phones and the like - I wouldn't have realized that I am so very ready to go back to school in the fall. I'm looking forward to working in my trade again, you kind of forget that you come from a different environment until you make some sort of comment about theatre/academia and you're looked at like your from outer space. (Apparently when discussing the musical The Lion King comments such as "I found that the character Timone's costume a blatant homage to Disney cartoons rather than keeping in the same stylization of the other characters." does not endear non theatre goers to join in on the fun).
I'm ready to go back and finish this damn degree! Even if it means working more temp jobs to do it. Hopefully the next assignment comes very soon and has as many interesting and goofy people who will keep me occupied!
The most I do on the computer after work is maybe check my email (not regularly), play some mindless game on the computer or race Mario Kart. I did watch many hours of not-so mind numbing television and finish my second knitting project (pictures to come). So, what has brought this hermit crab out of her shell you might ask. My job as a receptionist will come to a close on Friday! While I will miss the friends I've made at work (a very funny and witty group of women and men), I will not miss the tedium of being a temp receptionist. But I cannot completely hate the job. If it wasn't for this time answering phones and the like - I wouldn't have realized that I am so very ready to go back to school in the fall. I'm looking forward to working in my trade again, you kind of forget that you come from a different environment until you make some sort of comment about theatre/academia and you're looked at like your from outer space. (Apparently when discussing the musical The Lion King comments such as "I found that the character Timone's costume a blatant homage to Disney cartoons rather than keeping in the same stylization of the other characters." does not endear non theatre goers to join in on the fun).
I'm ready to go back and finish this damn degree! Even if it means working more temp jobs to do it. Hopefully the next assignment comes very soon and has as many interesting and goofy people who will keep me occupied!
March 13, 2008
An email that made me chuckle
I still keep in touch with my former in-laws, most of the time its a mass forward, now she doesn't do it every day, just once in a while. I do the same for her and her daughter - kind of lets everyone know, that we're still alive and laughing. Well, this forward that I got from her made me snicker - some are mean, some are stupid, and some just give you a chuckle, but given the tone of my last post - I thought it would be rather amusing. Enjoy.
WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee. Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box. Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week. Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl. And her husband is on the back of the milk carton. Keep reading-they get better!!!
WOMEN'S REVENGE 'Cash, check or charge?' I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet , I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. 'So, do you always carry your TV remote?' I asked. 'No,' she replied, 'but my husband refused to come shopping with me, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.'
UNDERSTANDING WOMEN (A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE) I know I'm not going to understand women. I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax, pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root, and still be afraid of a spider.
MARRIAGE SEMINAR While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Joe and his wife Ann listened to the instructor, 'It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes.' He addressed the man, 'Can you name your wife's favorite flower?' Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, 'It's Pillsbury, isn't it?
CIGARETTES AND TAMPONS A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up & down the aisles. The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him. He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife. She directs him down the correct aisle. A few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter. She says, confused, 'Sir, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife? He answers, 'You see, it's like this, yesterday, I sent my wife to the store to get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco and some rolling papers; cause it's sooo-ooo--oo-ooo much cheaper. So, I figure if I have to roll my own . so does she. (I figure this guy is the one on the milk carton!)
WIFE VS. HUSBAND A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, 'Relatives of yours?' 'Yep,' the wife replied, 'in-laws.'
WORDS A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, 'The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men.. The husband then turned to his wife and asked, 'What?'
CREATION A man said to his wife one day, 'I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time. 'The wife responded, 'Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you !
WHO DOES WHAT A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, 'You should do it because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee. The husband said, 'You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.' Wife replies, 'No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.' Husband replies, 'I can't believe that, show me.' So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says 'HEBREWS'
THE SILENT TREATMENT A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, 'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.' Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.
WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee. Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box. Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week. Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl. And her husband is on the back of the milk carton. Keep reading-they get better!!!
WOMEN'S REVENGE 'Cash, check or charge?' I asked, after folding items the woman wished to purchase. As she fumbled for her wallet , I noticed a remote control for a television set in her purse. 'So, do you always carry your TV remote?' I asked. 'No,' she replied, 'but my husband refused to come shopping with me, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.'
UNDERSTANDING WOMEN (A MAN'S PERSPECTIVE) I know I'm not going to understand women. I'll never understand how you can take boiling hot wax, pour it onto your upper thigh, rip the hair out by the root, and still be afraid of a spider.
MARRIAGE SEMINAR While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Joe and his wife Ann listened to the instructor, 'It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes.' He addressed the man, 'Can you name your wife's favorite flower?' Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, 'It's Pillsbury, isn't it?
CIGARETTES AND TAMPONS A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up & down the aisles. The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him. He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife. She directs him down the correct aisle. A few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter. She says, confused, 'Sir, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife? He answers, 'You see, it's like this, yesterday, I sent my wife to the store to get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco and some rolling papers; cause it's sooo-ooo--oo-ooo much cheaper. So, I figure if I have to roll my own . so does she. (I figure this guy is the one on the milk carton!)
WIFE VS. HUSBAND A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, 'Relatives of yours?' 'Yep,' the wife replied, 'in-laws.'
WORDS A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, 'The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men.. The husband then turned to his wife and asked, 'What?'
CREATION A man said to his wife one day, 'I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time. 'The wife responded, 'Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you !
WHO DOES WHAT A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, 'You should do it because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee. The husband said, 'You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.' Wife replies, 'No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.' Husband replies, 'I can't believe that, show me.' So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says 'HEBREWS'
THE SILENT TREATMENT A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, 'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.' Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.
March 7, 2008
Drama Queen, who me?
I don't think I'm a fanciful person. Am I drama queen? Depends on the connotation of that phrase. In the good sense - yes - I am a passionate person and I experience emotions, I don't suppress them. In the bad sense - I should think not! I don't create drama, I don't meddle in people's business, I do on occasion overreact - but usually those are for very short periods of time...I digress.
My dad-by-marriage called tonight - he never calls me - so needless to say I was slightly alarmed. He begins the conversation, "Don't be alarmed, but your mom is in the hospital." (Sentences with buts, never end well for me...I have a whole history of bad news brought to me by a variation of those very words and each and every time the news takes me to the very place the person saying those words didn't want me to go.) It's my mom, she's never sick, of course I'm slightly alarmed. It's gallstones, there will be some more tests tomorrow to determine if she will be having surgery. I'm worried. I know I'd feel better if I was geographically closer to her. Then I could see her and I'd stop imagining the worst. But I don't panic, instead I call my love at work. I figured if I hear his voice, I won't freak out.
So I call him, and he can detect the verge of panic in my voice - well that and I say, "I'm scared." He assures me she's fine and I say I know this but I'm still scared. In retrospect, it is one of those Mars and Venus things going on in the conversation. (OMG I just used that term...anyway) I was calling to hear - in a calming voice - something along the lines of, "Don't worry honey, everything will be alright, I'll be home soon and I'll give you lots of hugs and kisses to reassure you that all is right with the world." (But of course much more eloquently.) I hear instead that I must realize that my mother isn't getting any younger and people's bodies start to fall apart and that it will probably be happening to him in a decade or so, and its a part of life and that I shouldn't be a drama queen. (This isn't a direct quote, I'm paraphrasing, note the lack of quotation marks around the sentence.) Essentially its the same thing, in his male loveable way he was trying to use reason to get me to see the logic of the situation, in order to keep me calm and not to worry about a situation I can't do anything about. It does make sense. But emotions don't make sense and sometimes you have to experience the emotion before you can see the "reality" of the situation.
I need to go through a little bit of panic, that initial shock. It is someone I love dearly and she's sick and I can't be with her - of course I'm going to worry and be alarmed. I need to have those 5-10 minutes, then I'll look at it differently. If the panic lasted longer than that, by all means - give me a dose of "reality" - My friends in college were quite good at those, I still think Margaret's responses are still my favorite - "Knock it off " which was usually followed by an elbow to the boob or her "angry" face and a threat to be kicked in the knee caps. Ah, fond memories...I digress again.
Well, when my love gets home I think I'll give him a hug call him, a big poo-poo head and turn in for the night. Blogging seems to have taken the, so called "drama queen" out of me for the evening.
My dad-by-marriage called tonight - he never calls me - so needless to say I was slightly alarmed. He begins the conversation, "Don't be alarmed, but your mom is in the hospital." (Sentences with buts, never end well for me...I have a whole history of bad news brought to me by a variation of those very words and each and every time the news takes me to the very place the person saying those words didn't want me to go.) It's my mom, she's never sick, of course I'm slightly alarmed. It's gallstones, there will be some more tests tomorrow to determine if she will be having surgery. I'm worried. I know I'd feel better if I was geographically closer to her. Then I could see her and I'd stop imagining the worst. But I don't panic, instead I call my love at work. I figured if I hear his voice, I won't freak out.
So I call him, and he can detect the verge of panic in my voice - well that and I say, "I'm scared." He assures me she's fine and I say I know this but I'm still scared. In retrospect, it is one of those Mars and Venus things going on in the conversation. (OMG I just used that term...anyway) I was calling to hear - in a calming voice - something along the lines of, "Don't worry honey, everything will be alright, I'll be home soon and I'll give you lots of hugs and kisses to reassure you that all is right with the world." (But of course much more eloquently.) I hear instead that I must realize that my mother isn't getting any younger and people's bodies start to fall apart and that it will probably be happening to him in a decade or so, and its a part of life and that I shouldn't be a drama queen. (This isn't a direct quote, I'm paraphrasing, note the lack of quotation marks around the sentence.) Essentially its the same thing, in his male loveable way he was trying to use reason to get me to see the logic of the situation, in order to keep me calm and not to worry about a situation I can't do anything about. It does make sense. But emotions don't make sense and sometimes you have to experience the emotion before you can see the "reality" of the situation.
I need to go through a little bit of panic, that initial shock. It is someone I love dearly and she's sick and I can't be with her - of course I'm going to worry and be alarmed. I need to have those 5-10 minutes, then I'll look at it differently. If the panic lasted longer than that, by all means - give me a dose of "reality" - My friends in college were quite good at those, I still think Margaret's responses are still my favorite - "Knock it off " which was usually followed by an elbow to the boob or her "angry" face and a threat to be kicked in the knee caps. Ah, fond memories...I digress again.
Well, when my love gets home I think I'll give him a hug call him, a big poo-poo head and turn in for the night. Blogging seems to have taken the, so called "drama queen" out of me for the evening.
February 17, 2008
Un-Neighborly Neighbors
If you ask some of my old cronies...I used to be quite the hothead, you know quick to anger, well I've mellowed since those days. However, tonight was the exception. Well, it happened. I finally had a confrontation with the upstairs neighbor, you know Stompy McStomperson. All day we've been hearing stomping and banging...not a problem, they were putting together furniture. But come 10 pm, it was still going on. We called up to ask them to keep it down and were immediately met with a brick wall. So Scott wanted to go upstairs to talk to him in person to get this all cleared up. I went up with him to make sure I didn't need to bail him out of jail later on. So we went upstairs to talk to him.
I had every intention of having a civilized conversation with this man. After all this man is a sort of big wig in this city, I figured he would see reason. HA! Well...lets just say, he wouldn't let us speak and was telling us that it was terrible for us to call the cops on him before and that it was his church group. I pointed out that we didn't know what was going on all we heard was the loud noise. He tells us he's not loud, and we basically exaggerating everything and basically trying to make us feel like the bad guys (well my step-daughter was on crutches and how can you....) When I could squeeze a word in he would interrupt me. The man already had the conversation planned, and in his little mind he's right, everyone else is wrong. Well I finished with pointing out that he wasn't the only person in the building and to please have some consideration for others. (He was quick to mention that we are the only ones that ever complain about his noise and I quickly pointed out that we were the only ones that live below him.) I started to walk away, (Scott is still standing there, slightly surprised that I was the hothead in this situation) and he said something, I don't know what now, but it was the last straw and I ended with the "piece de la resistance." Screw You! Yep, I told him "Screw You!"
Needless to say, not my shining moment and I ended up in hysterical tears by the time we came back downstairs. I haven't felt this angry since a certain evening in 2005 when I was drunk and given some very disgusting news. On that evening I had a lot of alcohol in me, both people who were involved in the situation were at the party and I couldn't leave - that was the closest time I'd ever come to doing physical harm to another human being. Well, tonight those same emotions were there but without the alcohol. It scared me to say the least. What I think triggered it was the fact that conversation wasn't something this man was going to listen to unless it was what he wanted to hear. Also, I know how much this guy pisses off Scott and I don't like seeing the ones I love upset and angry, so that was probably part of the trigger too. I wish I could take back the screw you...sort of, maybe if I could have said it in Latin instead.
I had every intention of having a civilized conversation with this man. After all this man is a sort of big wig in this city, I figured he would see reason. HA! Well...lets just say, he wouldn't let us speak and was telling us that it was terrible for us to call the cops on him before and that it was his church group. I pointed out that we didn't know what was going on all we heard was the loud noise. He tells us he's not loud, and we basically exaggerating everything and basically trying to make us feel like the bad guys (well my step-daughter was on crutches and how can you....) When I could squeeze a word in he would interrupt me. The man already had the conversation planned, and in his little mind he's right, everyone else is wrong. Well I finished with pointing out that he wasn't the only person in the building and to please have some consideration for others. (He was quick to mention that we are the only ones that ever complain about his noise and I quickly pointed out that we were the only ones that live below him.) I started to walk away, (Scott is still standing there, slightly surprised that I was the hothead in this situation) and he said something, I don't know what now, but it was the last straw and I ended with the "piece de la resistance." Screw You! Yep, I told him "Screw You!"
Needless to say, not my shining moment and I ended up in hysterical tears by the time we came back downstairs. I haven't felt this angry since a certain evening in 2005 when I was drunk and given some very disgusting news. On that evening I had a lot of alcohol in me, both people who were involved in the situation were at the party and I couldn't leave - that was the closest time I'd ever come to doing physical harm to another human being. Well, tonight those same emotions were there but without the alcohol. It scared me to say the least. What I think triggered it was the fact that conversation wasn't something this man was going to listen to unless it was what he wanted to hear. Also, I know how much this guy pisses off Scott and I don't like seeing the ones I love upset and angry, so that was probably part of the trigger too. I wish I could take back the screw you...sort of, maybe if I could have said it in Latin instead.
January 28, 2008
The 80's
IF YOU WEREN'T BORN BEFORE 1987 DON'T EVEN ATTEMPT THIS QUIZ
1.How old were you in 1980?
Just turning one
2. How old were you in 1989?
just turning 10
3. Were you a Toys R' Us kid?
yes - "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a toys r us kid. There's a million toys at toys r us that I can play with. From bikes to trains to video games, its the biggest toy store there is. I don't wanna grow up, because if I did. I wouldn't be a toys r us kid!" I know kind of scary!
4. Did you watch Transformers?of course -
Transformers, robots in disguise!
5. Did you see E.T. on the big screen?
It was my first trip to the movie theatre - I was scared of ET
6. Did you own a Lite Bright?
no, but I wanted one so bad.
7. Who is your Favorite Golden Girl?
Rose of course! I took the Lifetime quiz, "Which Golden Girl are you like?" I'm most like Rose, I would have thought Dorothy. Mom was like Blanche! Ha!
8. When someone says " Who you gonna call? " You think?
Ghostbusters!
9.What was your favorite toy?
tied between He-Man and She-Ra and cabbage patch kids and my little ponies
10. Did you have a Pogo Ball?
Yes! I loved that thing! I wish they'd bring them back, for adults.
11. Did you listen to New Kids on the Block?
I was their biggest fan, just ask Gill.
12. What New Kid did you have a crush on?
Joey!!!!
13. Did you watch The Care Bears?
Of course - Grumpy Bear was my favorite.
14. Did you have Jelly bracelets?
Who didn't?
15. Did you have a charm bracelet?
Nope never did.
16. Did you own a glo-worm?
Yes, a little one.
17. Did you ever own a slap bracelet?
Yes, mine was also a ruler!
18. The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles?
I'd have to say Sixteen Candles, I didn't see Breakfast Club until I was in High School.
19. Did you have a crazy hair style?
Nope, but I did put it in a side pony tail and I crimped it too!
20. What was your first bike?
The first one was a German brand, then I gut a pink Huffy.
21. Name one thing you still own from your childhood?
Um...I still have most of my stuff from childhood in storage.
22. Did you have a Cabbage Patch Kid?
Yes, 15, I still have them all. I know...
23. Did you dress like Madonna?
I tried.
24. Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake?
Strawberry Shortcake - rainbow bright was stupid! (quoted my six year old self)
25. Did you watch Miami Vice?
No. I liked Magnum PI!
26. Did you own a pair of Jelly Shoes?
Of course, who didn't?
27. Did you own a Trapper Keeper?
Yes, I finally got rid of the first one a couple of years ago.
28. Atari or Nintendo?
Atari, baby. But Nintendo has a place in my heart as well.
29. Did you play Pac-Man?
Nope, just wasn't my thing.
30.Which was better: Jem and The Holograms or Barbie and The Rockers!?
Jem and The Holograms. I can still remember the song!
31. He-Man or She-Ra?
I loved them both. My cousin thought She-Ra was hot and had her on his birthday cake for his 4th birthday!
32. What movie scared you the most?
ET, still not a fan of that movie.
33. Did you try to dance like Michael Jackson?
Yes, and I used to be pretty good at the Thriller Dance!
34. What Is The First Thing That Comes To Mind When You Hear "FLUX CAPACITOR"?
Back to the Future. McFly!
35. What other colors did Pepsi come in? Which is best?
brown in the 80's - I drank it when I was a kid because of the Michael Jackson commercials.
36. Roger Rabbit Or Howard The Duck?
Both, probably Roger Rabbit more.
37. Did you ever beg your parents to have your school picture taken with the 'LASER' background?
OMG, yes!
38. Do you know what the Ninja Rap is?
Can we say Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles anyone?
39. Do you know why people cringe when they hear the word BUCKNER?
Nope, don't remember that one?
40. Can you name the family members from any of the National Lampoon's Vacation movies?Clark, Ellen, Audrey & Rusty Griswald
41. What was your favorite 80's movie?Oh, there are so many.
Probably between Clue and Vacation.
42. Wally World or European vacations?
Wally World, it's the original. Right Michelle!
1.How old were you in 1980?
Just turning one
2. How old were you in 1989?
just turning 10
3. Were you a Toys R' Us kid?
yes - "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a toys r us kid. There's a million toys at toys r us that I can play with. From bikes to trains to video games, its the biggest toy store there is. I don't wanna grow up, because if I did. I wouldn't be a toys r us kid!" I know kind of scary!
4. Did you watch Transformers?of course -
Transformers, robots in disguise!
5. Did you see E.T. on the big screen?
It was my first trip to the movie theatre - I was scared of ET
6. Did you own a Lite Bright?
no, but I wanted one so bad.
7. Who is your Favorite Golden Girl?
Rose of course! I took the Lifetime quiz, "Which Golden Girl are you like?" I'm most like Rose, I would have thought Dorothy. Mom was like Blanche! Ha!
8. When someone says " Who you gonna call? " You think?
Ghostbusters!
9.What was your favorite toy?
tied between He-Man and She-Ra and cabbage patch kids and my little ponies
10. Did you have a Pogo Ball?
Yes! I loved that thing! I wish they'd bring them back, for adults.
11. Did you listen to New Kids on the Block?
I was their biggest fan, just ask Gill.
12. What New Kid did you have a crush on?
Joey!!!!
13. Did you watch The Care Bears?
Of course - Grumpy Bear was my favorite.
14. Did you have Jelly bracelets?
Who didn't?
15. Did you have a charm bracelet?
Nope never did.
16. Did you own a glo-worm?
Yes, a little one.
17. Did you ever own a slap bracelet?
Yes, mine was also a ruler!
18. The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles?
I'd have to say Sixteen Candles, I didn't see Breakfast Club until I was in High School.
19. Did you have a crazy hair style?
Nope, but I did put it in a side pony tail and I crimped it too!
20. What was your first bike?
The first one was a German brand, then I gut a pink Huffy.
21. Name one thing you still own from your childhood?
Um...I still have most of my stuff from childhood in storage.
22. Did you have a Cabbage Patch Kid?
Yes, 15, I still have them all. I know...
23. Did you dress like Madonna?
I tried.
24. Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake?
Strawberry Shortcake - rainbow bright was stupid! (quoted my six year old self)
25. Did you watch Miami Vice?
No. I liked Magnum PI!
26. Did you own a pair of Jelly Shoes?
Of course, who didn't?
27. Did you own a Trapper Keeper?
Yes, I finally got rid of the first one a couple of years ago.
28. Atari or Nintendo?
Atari, baby. But Nintendo has a place in my heart as well.
29. Did you play Pac-Man?
Nope, just wasn't my thing.
30.Which was better: Jem and The Holograms or Barbie and The Rockers!?
Jem and The Holograms. I can still remember the song!
31. He-Man or She-Ra?
I loved them both. My cousin thought She-Ra was hot and had her on his birthday cake for his 4th birthday!
32. What movie scared you the most?
ET, still not a fan of that movie.
33. Did you try to dance like Michael Jackson?
Yes, and I used to be pretty good at the Thriller Dance!
34. What Is The First Thing That Comes To Mind When You Hear "FLUX CAPACITOR"?
Back to the Future. McFly!
35. What other colors did Pepsi come in? Which is best?
brown in the 80's - I drank it when I was a kid because of the Michael Jackson commercials.
36. Roger Rabbit Or Howard The Duck?
Both, probably Roger Rabbit more.
37. Did you ever beg your parents to have your school picture taken with the 'LASER' background?
OMG, yes!
38. Do you know what the Ninja Rap is?
Can we say Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles anyone?
39. Do you know why people cringe when they hear the word BUCKNER?
Nope, don't remember that one?
40. Can you name the family members from any of the National Lampoon's Vacation movies?Clark, Ellen, Audrey & Rusty Griswald
41. What was your favorite 80's movie?Oh, there are so many.
Probably between Clue and Vacation.
42. Wally World or European vacations?
Wally World, it's the original. Right Michelle!
January 26, 2008
Stupidity, Frustration and Sadness
It never ceases to amaze me the dumb things that people do. I'm not sure what is worse that they have no clue that he or she is doing something stupid, or that he or she knows and does it anyway. For example why send someone a coupon for stamps that expired in 1994 and expect to receive a reply? Or assume that a pdf file refers to storing things on a 3.5 floppy? And it doesn't matter how detailed one gets in writing instructions, people still won't read them. I have to be fairly cryptic, but if you want the real details you know where to find me.
I've been feeling sorry for myself, yet again, because of the stupid job situation. Didn't get the dream job, my current temp job ended and I haven't found any announcements for assistantships for next year. I want to finish school, but I'm not sure how that is going to happen. Costs a lot of money for grad school. Ideally, if I can find an assistantship, that would handle the last class and my portfolio defense and my prospectus creation and defense. But I can't get one with my department because I'm entering my fourth year and I'm not finished with my portfolio. So the only options are outside the department, but nothing has panned out yet. I keep telling myself it is early, but...I'm worried. If I can get a full time job I'd be able to get loans to finish school, that would work, it wouldn't be great and I'd never get to see Scott in between class, work and study, but I'd finish somehow. I'm so very tired of being in limbo and wondering where my next paycheck will come from and if I'll ever get to finish with school and get on with my life. I know that taking the year off was the right thing to do--the only thing to do--but part of me is really angry at myself for not sucking it up and going on. Part of me still feels like a loser for taking a year off.
I know we all have to grow up and move on, duh, that's what happens with life, but there are some things that just suck about being an adult. I miss the college days at times, and I think those of us who were part of the Bitch Barn family and extended family wish we could all be together at the barn for a Saturday night of video games, drinking, laughing, talking, and maybe some orange-juice-can-shot-putting. It wouldn't make reality go away, but for a couple of hours we could all be together and laughing. I know it would help me a lot but I know of one person in particular it would help even more. I wish computers could give hugs.
I've been feeling sorry for myself, yet again, because of the stupid job situation. Didn't get the dream job, my current temp job ended and I haven't found any announcements for assistantships for next year. I want to finish school, but I'm not sure how that is going to happen. Costs a lot of money for grad school. Ideally, if I can find an assistantship, that would handle the last class and my portfolio defense and my prospectus creation and defense. But I can't get one with my department because I'm entering my fourth year and I'm not finished with my portfolio. So the only options are outside the department, but nothing has panned out yet. I keep telling myself it is early, but...I'm worried. If I can get a full time job I'd be able to get loans to finish school, that would work, it wouldn't be great and I'd never get to see Scott in between class, work and study, but I'd finish somehow. I'm so very tired of being in limbo and wondering where my next paycheck will come from and if I'll ever get to finish with school and get on with my life. I know that taking the year off was the right thing to do--the only thing to do--but part of me is really angry at myself for not sucking it up and going on. Part of me still feels like a loser for taking a year off.
I know we all have to grow up and move on, duh, that's what happens with life, but there are some things that just suck about being an adult. I miss the college days at times, and I think those of us who were part of the Bitch Barn family and extended family wish we could all be together at the barn for a Saturday night of video games, drinking, laughing, talking, and maybe some orange-juice-can-shot-putting. It wouldn't make reality go away, but for a couple of hours we could all be together and laughing. I know it would help me a lot but I know of one person in particular it would help even more. I wish computers could give hugs.
January 13, 2008
I get it now.
I've seen Office Space a number of times now, and I've tuned into The Office on occasion. I enjoyed them and found them funny but I didn't find myself saying, "That is so my life at work!" Well, that has changed. I've been temping at giant pharmaceutical company for the past two weeks doing data entry. (Yawn) I understand it now. I appreciate that movie and TV show sooooooo much more now.
Most of the people I work with are great...but there are the few...I want to cry and scream at their stupidity and inane reasoning, but, really would it do any good? Wow, I wish I could get paid and get medical benefits for sitting around on my ass all day and gossiping with the girls about everything and anything under the sun. Friday I listened to them wax poetic about Britney Spears and how much so and so is spending on her wedding. Thursday it was something really abominable misconception about theatre (had to block it out) and how much so and so spent on her wedding. Wednesday it was about baby stuff and kids and how to raise them (yes because 20 year old mothers know soooooooooo much!) and how much so and so spent on her wedding. See a theme here.
I know it is a horrible thing to say, but it has done wonders for my intellectual ego. I don't feel nearly as stupid as I did when I decided to take a break from school. I can hang out and do this stuff for a couple more months, but....DAMN, I can't wait to go back to grad school! I get it! I totally understand why Milton wanted to keep his red stapler!
January 5, 2008
Cute, but dangerous.
On my birthday, I got up with Scott and watched the news. The tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo was the top story. My initial thought when I saw the story was, "Ok, who teased the tiger?"
Think about it, you're a tiger you have a comfortable enclosure where you can be outside or inside depending on your mood. You have food and water given to you - no need to hunt, your every whim is catered to. Why attack a couple of teenagers for no reason? Animals aren't like humans, they don't attack just to be malicious. At first the media was blaming the zoo, the wall of the enclosure is 4 1/2 feet shorter than the recommended height. Why didn't the tigers get out before then?
The two survivors aren't being forthcoming with answers either, their lawyer says they didn't taunt the tigers. Yet a witness saw them taunting the lions before the tiger attack. Hmmm. They don't taunt tigers, but they taunt lions. Feline discrimination or lying morons?
Two years ago, Scott and I went to the Lights before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo. We stopped by the tiger enclosure as we were leaving. The tiger enclosure wasn't lit up, so some really stupid morons decided to shine the flashlight into the enclosure to find the tigers. They were curled up at the back in one big pile of tigers, sleeping, minding their own business. The people kept the lights on them and called, "Here kitty, kitty kitty." and "Hey wake up back there." I immediately jumped on them and told them that it was really stupid to taunt the tigers, and tried to appeal to them. They looked at me like I was from outer space. Apparently the zoos are there for human amusement only not as a preservation of wildlife but rather an entertainment venue for Ma and Pa Trailertrash and their 14 brats. I wonder know if Mr. and Mrs. Trailertrash think about that night and count their lucky stars. (Tigers enclosure at the Toledo Zoo is an enclosure complete with chain link fence, reinforced glass viewing area and wire netting)
Tiger bathing at the Toledo Zoo - very house cat-like, but look at the size of that tongue!
It reminds me of those little brats at the polar bear exhibit. They were talking about going in there and shooting the baby polar bears. Sure they look cute and cuddly but I was immediately reminded of the strength of the animals when the baby polar bear tried to chew on me through the glass. Still, at the time I wouldn't have minded throwing the brats to the bears - teach the parents and the kids to show some respect for such powerful animals.
Look at the size of those paws - probably wouldn't have minded a bratty kid as a mid-morning snack.
Yes, zoos are wonderful, but they are the places where animals live. Treat them with respect. How would you like someone shining a light in your bedroom window when you were trying to sleep? Or how about some drunken teenagers creating taunting you and breaking into your home? Yeah, I'd bite too!
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