Finally Caved In....

http://www.myspace.com/reluctantlyk

Dammit.

Add me, add you. If you know of any good indie/underground music, leave me a note to add them too....

I'm so ashamed. *covers face*

Okay, okay, okay!!!

*hangs head*

I'm finally going to maybe (possibly) get a MySpace account. Maybe. Too many people have one, and dammit, I feel left out.

ARRRGGGHHHH!!

Honestly, I hate the formatting of MySpace - it's - UGLY, to put it simply. And me don't do well with ugly. *sigh* I might have to see if I can make mine prettier.

Maybe.

Maybe. *hangs head* I'm so ashamed - so weak, giving in to the seductive networking lure of MySpace so very easily.

Yet ANOTHER account to play with - and the only one I won't be able to access from work.

Humph.

---

Um, am I allowed to be blinkingly SHOCKED at how....oh man, I can't even finish this, because No, I'm not allowed to be shocked at how dilly some people are.

From the continential United States - how many ways are there to get to Central America? The dilly answer is one.
*please, let none of my favorite be dilly*

---

And - in other news - I'm mildly - twitchy - over the fact that you have to have a passport to LEAVE the country. To get back in, okay - that seems fair enough - but to LEAVE? Why? Hmmmm?

That's my biggest question - why do I need a passport to leave the country? Esp. if the country that I'm going to doesn't care?

Hmmm?

Surveylicious

Before I get started, can I just say how bummed I am over the fact that my iPod headphones are starting to get crackly? :( Booo. And of yeah, check out the color entry before this one.

---

A is for Age:
I'm - 29. Holy shit, I'll be 30 next year! God! I feel about - 23? on good days, and about 45 on bad ones. How am I almost THIRTY with no kids? *sigh*
B is for Best Day Ever:
Like - best day of my LIFE ever? Umm.....Maybe the day I found out I was accepted to Spelman? I would say my wedding day - but that was so damn Hectic it's like - ahhh!! Only a weekly basis, Saturdays. Esp Saturdays that are part of a 3 day weekend.
C is for Career:
I'm a desk jockey, riding my chair to all ends of the interent. Oh, you mean what do I get paid to do?? I manage the CIF for an SAP R/3, APO, and SCM production system, as well as manage TPR's and USD tickets. I'm explaining it (or not) like that, cuz it's a pain in the ass to put my job into words that most people can grok. I'm a computer person, but I wanna be a midwife when I grow up. (aaakkk!! 30??)
D is for Your Dog's Name:
I am an unabashed cat person. Dogs smell funny.
E is for Essential Items You Use Every Day:
Everyday? Umm - Toilet Paper. Yup.
F is for Favourite Song at the Moment:
I think I'm still stuck on UnWritten by Natasha Bedingfield.
G is for Favourite Games:
Word Games, usually - I rock funky ass in Upwords, Scrabble, and Literati. I like trivia games too - I am the reigning "You don't Know Jack" Champeen!
H is for Hometown:
Ummmm - I was born in Washington, DC, and lived in 12 different states on the Eastern side of the country before I was 15. My mommy lives near Philly, and I live in Memphis. I don't really HAVE a hometown, but I claim Near Philly.
I is for Instruments You Play:
Umm - NO musical skills here. Okay, that's not true - I might have musical skills, I've just never tried to see. *firmly squashes the idea of learning drumming - I'm doing ENOUGH now. Maybe later though....... I like drums..... I've got a good sense of rhythm.....STOPIT!!*
J is for nothing, apparently, so I'll make something up. Jam?
YUmmmm - the best thing EVER - homemade bread, lightly toasted (in the OVEN - putting homemade bread in the toaster is a sin against carbs everywhere) smeared with a hiny ot f cream cheese and a healthy portion of strawberry jam. *ddrrrrroooollll*
K is for Kids:
Um - none? I actually don't have any children in my life at all right now - I've considered volunteering, but I can be a domineering biatch, and - I would always be very aware that I'm NOT their parent, and despite how much their blood might be screwing them up, I have to respect that parental right.
L is for Last Kiss:
This morning, after I scared the shit out of Hubby by somehow setting off the alarm. Oops.
M is for Mum's Job:
She works as a.....hmmm.... I think she's still doing inspections of group homes for the Mentally Retarded for the State of PA... because she's still in the field pretty often - so she hasn't been promoted to a deskjob yet.
N is for nothing, much like J, only N actually is for nothing, which makes this acceptable.
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays:
When I was born...and I'm assuming Mum had to stay overnight. (Mum is so british, isn't it??).
P is for Phobias:
There's really nothing I'm utterly terrified of. I'm not fond of spiders, but we've come to an agreement - if I'm in their house, they have the right of way. If they are in my house, they need to stay at least 4 feet away, or understand the concept of 'Shoo!!'. If they persue, they are removed with extreme prejudice.
Q is for Quote You Like:
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be - Lao Tzu
R is for Biggest Regret:
18, three credit cards, with a combined credit limit of 11K. What the hell were they (and I) thinking????.
S is for Sex:
God, I can't wait til I hit middle age and that much vaunted sexdrive perks up, cuz right now, I'm about as sexual as a happy, faithful nun.
T is for Time You Wake Up:
During the week it's around 7am.  At the weekend it's closer to noon....sometimes 1pm.
U is for Underwear:
Ummm black bikini cut panties wit purty lil flowers and a white bra.
V is for Vegetable You Love:
Broccoli. How I love thee. Raw, cooked, garliced up, gently sauteed in butter over covered with cheese. Spinach is a close runner up.
W is for Worst Habit:
Perrenial procratination.
X is for X-Rays You've Had:
Ummm - a couple of dental ones, and I think I got x-rayed for TB before I started working at Lilly.
Y is for Yummy Food You Make:
Hmmm- I'm a damn good cook in general. My personal favorite is sourdough cinnamon buns though (and I wonder why my ass so fat?)
Z is for Zodiac Sign:
Capricorn, through and through.

*deep, slow, breaths*

I don't think there are words to express PRECISELY how little I want to be at work today.
And what POSSESED me to tell the movers to be at the apartment at 8am?
And why is my husband JUST starting packing the kitchen? I swear to GOD, I'm not touching it. I've packed the rest of the HOUSE (except for his clothes) and - *shakes head* not gon be able ta do it.
And I left the camera HOME again (though, best buy has this ROCKING M'Fing sale for a 5megapixel for like  - 90 bucks. I want, I want! - maybe I'll get it over lunch) and I am going to the house this afternoon to do a last walkthrough before the movers show up.
I STILL haven't heard from Sears about scheduling a delivery, so who KNOWS when we will get our fridge (maybe that'll give us time to rip off the bottom of the cabinets).
Thank god - my cat is back, and he's settled into being trapped in the house - He's always the last thing we move - we usually lock him into the smallest room of the house (Damn, I'm going to ahve to empty the closet so that we can put him in their since we'll be using the bathroom downstairs)
The apartment is SOO farking dirty. Oh my god, it's gross. I HAVE to set up a 'cleaning' schedule of some sort for the house - stuff just get's AWAY from me.
I drove ALL the way to work with the partial rent check that I was supposed to leave in the box this morning, and I could KICK myself. I left a very apologetic email to our landlord, but he'll get over it.
Did I mention that I woke up at 8:45 this morning, which is about 45 minutes after I'm usually AT work?

*sips coffee slowly* Yes, I know, caffiene is most likely the last thing that I need, but it usually winds me down rather than winds me further up.
And I just looked at the Best Buy camera, and WOW is it ugly. *makes face* That's one tweak of mine around electronics - I won't buy an ugly electronic. *shrugs* It's gotta make me wanna touch it and love it and do all sorts of fun things with it.
Yes, I judge a computer by it's casing.

*deep breath*

Okay. So.

*thumps head on desk*

I'm such a horrid wife....

The darling light of my life is about to start working days, and I'm hyperventilating. Why, you may ask? Because that means we'll be together ALLLLLLLLLL the time - okay, maybe not Saturdays, but STILL.
See, you must understand two things about me. One, I'm an only child, and I need time away from humans in order to remain human - no matter how much I might love them.  Two, for a good 80% of our relationship together, we've worked roughly opposite shifts. I've done the 9-5pm bit, and he's done the 3-11pm bit. We always have weekends, and lately it's been Monday's together. Which means that we get our 'own' time about 3 days a week (I stay up late on Fridays and spend that time with him as well) and have lovely wonderful togetherness time 4 days a week. Has worked wonderfully thus far.

Now....he's switching to days. Which will most likely turn into 7-3pm - which means I'll get a little time in the morning (when I'm not human ANYHOW) and no time at all (besides driving home from work) to myself in the evening.  AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! And to make it even worse, it's getting COLD - which means I can't escape outside. I love him, love him dearly, but I know that it's going to drive me crazy.crazy.crazy. And I really have no clue of how to deal with/handle it.

It's not like - he bugs me or anything - I just like having time to myself. And it's interesting, because I've always wondered/worried about this aspect of myself once I have kids - but I realized, ya know what - they HAVE to sleep sometime.......and that can be the 'me' time that I need, whereas the light of my life WILL stay awake until I go to bed, and will come to bed with me.

So. I'm making plans....plots would be a better word - on how to deal with it. The way our house is set up, the only room that I could retreat to would be the loft - which wouldn't be bad, except for the fact that the computer mainly resides downstairs (ah yes, remind me to gnash my teeth over my computer). And besides, theres' no furniture up there. *laughs* Ya know, this might be a wonderful way to FORCE me to go and work out on a regular basis - I can zone away into my own little wornd while I'm working out, and come home 'cleared' and refreshed. That would really be a win-win....and once again, it would give me SOME alone time 4 days of the week - plus making me go to the gym. Hmmmm - that might be right peachy.

See??? I feel better already.

 

---

 

Got the new piece for my laptop (a backlight for the screen, if anyone is interested). Tested it IN the screen that chickiedee sent it to me in (the one that she said worked). Now, she could be lying, but as this is a replacement part for the FIRST one I got (that reminds me, I need to leave feedback) I doubt it -  she's already got mah money. *sigh* hooked it up to the computer, turned it on, and nothing. Utter darkness. Which *swears vibrantly* tells me that it's something OTHER than the backlight. Am I going to take it to get fixed? No, no I'm not...and why not you may ask? Because fixing the damn screen on a laptop is the MOST expensive bit of the little bastards. I was lucky in being able to get a new screen for 'cheap' (300 and someodd dollars??) when the first one got cracked, but dammit I am NOT shelling out for another screen at this point in time. And from what I've seen online, if I took it to someone to get fixed, they would laugh at me and tell me it would end up being CHEAPER (once you factor in labor) to buy a new one. Dammit. So. *sigh* I suppose I could check out the inverter - depsite me being almost POSITIVE that isn't the problem - and seeing if that works.
The computer is going to have to become stationary, I think - largely because I can get a nice monitor for much cheaper than a new computer...but that would also require the use of a good desk, as we won't be able to balance a laptop bottom and a monitor on the little TV trays that we are currently using.  And besides, I'm stubborn - I LIKE my computer. I've got it set up JUST right. I don't WANT a new one, dammit - despite the fact that we actually have enough money saved (house money!! do not touch!!) to get a really noice new laptop - but no. So....on the lookout for a nice monitor, and a worthwhile desk - though we could use the dining room table (which we almost NEVER eat on) for a while. *makes face* Gah. Why, oh why, isn't crap built to LAST anymore? Hmmmm?? Damn Gateway. Fie on thee, FIE!!!

 

---

 

I'm sure that I haven't kvetched about work in a while - I'm still bored senseless, but I volunteered for a project that should keep me occupied for at least a week or two - building a new Access database for us to keep track of our fixes to the system. One of my coworkers said that it would take about 3 months to finish (snicker) I'm thinking it'll take three weeks - and I'm not even that FAMILIAR with Access. I've used it before - built some really cool shit - but what we need is simple enough that seriously - a good book or two, and I'll be off and running. Speaking of building ish, I'm glad to say that despite for ONE area my doula website is almost done - yet another reason I want my computer back! I need to finish off the brochures and such. And yeah, I can work on my work computer at home (as I've been doing since it went down) but I don't feel right about it - despite the fact that my boss knows about my 'side' job. So yeah - that's all kinds of cool & ish.

Um. 4:23pm. Gah.

 

relief....

Oh - I feel SOOO much better. See - I shudder to think of what sort of CHILD I was when I didn't get my nap every day! I was just tired. I went out Friday night, met a new friend (such a cool chick!) and then drug myself home. FORCED myself to stay awake until it was time to get C, made him drive, and then headed back home. I think I crashed almost upon entering the house - which would have made it around 11pm or so. I woke up Saturday around 9am - which is shockingly EARLY for me, and stayed awake until around 4, when I went back to sleep until 10:30 when C got home. WOke up Sunday around - noon, I suppose? - and took little naps on and off all day. Finally went to bed around 11pm, and woke up this morning at *drumroll please* 7:15. Got up, took a shower, and climbed BACK into bed for another half hour, then finally drug my almost late ass to work. Am I still sleepy??? Oh hellllsss yes - can I survive though?? *nodnod*

However! I'm no longer irked - which is a really important thing. Several things happened at work today that would have had me pulling out the Uzi on Thursday (or friday - whenever it was I wrote my previous message) that I just shrugged and moved on from. *deep sigh* Ahh sanity - how wonderful it is.

Umm...dang.....got sucked into work..... YAY!!! Another YAYY!!! for deciding how Jacy got found! and a third YAY!!! for me realizing that I can use my iPod as an external drive, and now have THREE backups for my files - so hopefully I will avoid the HORROR of losing a whole damn chapter (again). Every 5 chapters, I'm printing them out.

More later. Maybe.

Treats for me!!

So....me of the expensive tastes - I'm still throughly in love with my iPod, but I despise the headphones - I'm missing out on too much sound (okay, I'm spoiled too!!). So - I went looking for new headphones.  iPodLounge has some great reviews - and I've finally decided that I want these: (click on em to see the review....)

You did notice the comment about me of the expensive tastes, yes??? They retail for 150, and eBay (have I mentioned how much I love eBay lately??) has them for about 90 bucks - which isn't bad at all. So - at some point, I'll get those. *shakes head*  Expensive damn toy.

Speaking of expensive tastes and eBay, I set up a auto-search for the Softub, and I've found several - but NO ONE wants to ship the damn thing to us.  I found one person willing to ship it, and they wanted you to PREPAY 250.00 bucks. mind you, if you get it, it would still be a drop in the bucket compared to the retail price of 3 grand, but damn, ya'll....

I'm also eying an iPod carry case - I LOVE this one because it's upside down - which means that the screen is facing the RIGHT direction for you to read when you look down at your arm - how smartly smart is that?? I can't remember how much it costs - I think that was another 50 bucks or so.

I think that me &  C are going to mosey on down to our local bank on Friday, and HAH! see if he can get pre-approved for an auto loan. I seriously doubt that he can, and even with my additional UMPH behind him (and my almost fabulous bill paying record) but we'll see. *crosses fingers, toes, eyes, legs, and anything else that can be crossed*.  If he can *weeps with joy* I'll be so damn happy I might spit. If he does, we are going to go and get him a car THIS BLOODY WEEKEND. I swear.

Hmph. That's an really expensive treat for me, huh?

Tsk,tsk and other shtuff.

Well......it was a lovely weekend. Let's review:

On Thursday, cheery, optimistic, and fulla life, I suggested that the following things would be accomplished. As of Tuesday, let's see where we are...
1) Vacuuming the house. I'm shamed to say, it hasn't been done since we've moved in, and only the fact that a) we dont' wear shoes on the carpet and b) the cats don't go upstairs has made it able to last this long without giving me the shuddering hickyickys.  Did that! Just barely...but the carpets look mahhhhvelous.
2) Cleaning the house - putting away all the files, straightening up, cleaning the TV and the tabletops, mopping the floors, dusting, organize the knick-knacks, etc., etc. so that I can - did this! House looked lovely! Until we started living in it again, of course.
3) Take pictures of the house for my best friend - I wanted to wait til we got the furniture, but he's an impatient heifer, he is. Hah - took the pictures, but haven't emailed/uploaded them yet.
4) Play lovingly with my iPod. oohhh yes - much loving play. Found the rockingest cheap music site too.  Rockingest, I tell you, ROCKINGEST.
5) Brush the cats. FatBastid needs a brushin BADLY. - Brushed him, twice. Still needs brushing, the damn walking sweater.
6) Sleep. Lots and lots o sleep. - ooohhh yes. Got that. Got LOTS of it.
7) The PS2 and my skin have both arriaved in Memphis this morning - YAY!!! If they don't get delivered today, I should be able to get them tomorrow. Got the PS2 Thursday, the skin Friday - more on both later.
8) Getting girly and doing my toes and my fingers and deep conditioning the hair. (Ah yes, I'm loving the color more and more. I haven't gotten it wet again yet, as I know thats going to change the color more and I wanted to give it time to 'set' so to speak.  Can I mention that it SUCKS that my roots are starting to show already? My hair grows too damn fast *glares at it*) Did the hair, didn't do the toes or the nails. I might pay somebody at this point.
9) Finishing my website! Hah - didn't even TOUCH it.
10) - nah, no ten. I think planning on doing 9 things over the next four days of vacation is quite enough. And really, it's more like 2.5 since C will be at home Sunday and Monday.

So - I actually got more done than I thought I would, as well as some extra stuff like cooking, cleaning the cat box, and sleeping. Even more.

Electronica update: The PS2 is - funky. I'm not sure if it's just a side effect of age, but they don't like reading the game info. I'm going to 'exchange' it - hopefully, we'll get a better one.  The skin - not as heavy duty as I thought it would be, but still VERY cute. I've found a webiste too - I'm at wokr, and I'm sure the netNanny will block me looking it up - but I think it's music.mp3.ru (jah, that's Russia). All kinds of music, for a penny a meg. A penny. I feel unguilty because I'm paying for it, but I feel uber guilty because I KNOW it's a steal, so to speak. Spent 30 bucks, got around 400 songs.  *blushes* And yes, I'm going for more!

Umm.....must go and pay the bills now. :)

Biorhythmic Issues

I'm  dangerous when I'm obsessed with easy stuff - it fulfills both my lazy side and my perfectionist side.

Let's see - work today was aiight, but I was itching to get home to my new baby - my iPod. Oh yeah, this is going to be another ipodderific entry - but it should be short. Let's just say that I'm sitting here listening to my whole CD collection. As I told one of mah boys - this sucker ROCKS. The sound is glorious - though I have to admit I am considering getting another set of headphones, as you have to get these settled in your ears just right for the sound to be even.

I've gotten most of my songs, even the ones on the CD's that were almost too scratched to be usuable. I tried to upload them off of the CD twice more, then I brought them from iTunes. I actually got all but 15 off of the CD's - which really isn't bad - and most of the ones I had to buy were from an album that for some reason always gets rough treatment at my hands - but I LOVE the music - I've actually PURCHASED three (1, 2, 3) copies of hte same CD. I heart Mes'chell.

Suddenly I understand people who leave their TV's on mute all of the time - if you have your own persol soundtrack - why bother with their sound?

it's 5:20(am, girls & boys) and I've been up since 7am. I'm debating running a 24hr - I haven't done that in ages, but - I don't think I have anything interesting enough to keep me awake for another two hours.

I'll have more (like the runaway cattale) to tell tomorrow. I think I'll join the hubby in the wonderbed now.

Good Morning, ya'll.
(see, you know there is something wrong when as you turn off the tv to go to bed, you realize that you've been watching MTV's Video Wakeup for the last 1/2 hour).

Oddly enough...

despite the fact that I only got 4 or so hours of sleep last night (obsession is bad, mmkay?) I feel rather peppy and alive.  I'm in the T's now on my CD's (thus the only four hours of sleep) AND I've got album art for most of them. The hard drive's been connected, and tonight I should be able to FINALLY upload all of my music to the iPod, then comes the fun part - buying NEW stuff.

I went 'surfing' on amazon yesterday - it was actually really fun, jumping from album to album based on what things Amazon recommended and what albums other folx suggested. I think I've found several GOOOD drum/bass triphop Cd's - and of course some salsa to shake me ass too.....everywhere I go, I've been jotting down notes of music. I LOVE music - love it, love it, love it - but I was never able to afford (time or money wise) to put as much effort into becoming musically broad as I wanted too - now? Hah! I shall find the legal free indie music (as an aspiring artist, it'll be bad karmic juju to swipe) and fall in love with new bands with odds names and intense songs.

Can I tell you? The album art uploading program I have freakkking ROCKS. It basically searchs amazon.com, copies the cover art of the album you've selected, and embeds it into the music file. How much does that rock? I mean - SERIOUSLY.  And there is some really nice album art out there. For the albums that Amazon doesn't sell, I'll either find the album art somewhere else and upload it, or I'll just make/find my own image to go with it. I can't remember the name - but it's freeware, and besides getting hung up occasionally, works like a dream. It's FREEware though, so I ain't complaining.

One more full day of work!!!! I'm taking Friday off, and we have Monday off, so I'll have two luscious days of being home alone - I think I might even let C take the car to work - I ain't going nowhere - and if I really wanted to go someplace to pick up something, I can always walk (with my new iPod!) to get it. Relax, clean the house, lay out in the sun, play Sims, maybe grill a little - ahhhhh.....and then I'll also have two luscious days with the hubby.... I wonder if he has to work this Sunday? I know he had to work last sunday....hopefully he's off.

Ah yes! He got the xBox last night. There was a scare for a second as we thought that the dude had forgotten to include the wireless transmitter that plugs into the xBox itself, but after digging through the roughly 8 gallons of peanuts he put in the box, we dug it up. Everything was in GREAT condition - it seriously did look brand new.  He's gotten into Halo2 a little bit, but being an RPG'er, I suspect that the Elder Scrolls of Morrowind is going to be more up his alley. So far, we are at a *thinks* 4 out of five for electronics off of ebay - the battery, the laptop screen, the xBox, and the iPod. Now, if this dude with the PS2 would just get OFFA his ass and mail it, it'll be a home run.

*yawwwwnnn* hmm, maybe I spoke too soon. I'm certainly NOT getting lunch today - I'd be dead at my desk. I was stuck in here until 6pm last night, and I had a class I TOTALLY forgot about (until the alarm popped up) during lunch, so I didn't get a chance to go to the post office. I think I'll run and do that for lunch.  

Wow! Wow!

Wow. Okay - so much stuff going on/happened last night.

Firstly of course, I got the iPod. It's TINY. Oh my god! I mean - I knew it was little, but that's just CRAZY - I've made it up to the M's in my cd collection  - seventy something albums, 2 days worth of music. I had a LOT of CD's. I got the swimsuits - and they are really nice!! They are COMFY, and actually look purty cute. I've changed my mind about joining the Y right awaythough - I'll join after the first, because cholrine is getting no where NEAR my freshly dyed hair. And yeah, I like it more today. It's IMPOSSIBLE to get a good picture of it though - looking at the pictures, you can hardly tell a difference - but looking at my head - it's BRIGHT. Bright in a good way - I feel like I should be a SuperHeroine *flame on!* of some sort.
I got the external drive too, but as I haven't installed the software (note the fact that I am up to 'M') I haven't installed it yet. I figure it's test will be me transferring all of me music over.

In even almost more rocking news - the midwife K, called me around 6pm last night, and said that she was on her way to a birth, and if the parents gave their okay, she would call me over so I could observe. I was hopeful, but I seriously doubted that this SEVEN time mom would want a total stranger all up in her good bits, and much to my unsuprise - I slept peacefully through the might. Dammit!! Anyhow - that forced me to get OFF my tail, and run the doula concept past my (pregnant) boss, and she's TOTALLY cool with it. Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!  so - that sooo bloody exciting - I'm going to call Kim this evening, ask her how the birth went, and let her know that I've been 'cleared' so to speak for duty.  Hmm....
Though, *sigh* she still rubs me the wrong way. I'm not used to people dealing with me as if I'm the same as the X number of other people they've dealt with before - esp., when clearly those x number of people didn't take time to learn their shit. For example, she gave me a mini-lecture on how 'The life of a doula/midwife requires you to be ready to jump out of bed to go to a birth at any time' - well, no shit, sherlock. Really, you don't have to spend five mintues impressing this on me - I got it. Seriously. *rolls eyes* *deep breath* Annnyyhoow, she didn't call me back anyway - I figure the birth might have been halfway done by the time SHE got there.  Anyhow, I'm sending her a thank you card this evening - just for taking time out of her busy schedule and talking to me, ya know?

Anyhow... what else? I need to get out of here at a decent time so that I can go back the postoffice and get a money order upgraded so that I can submit my dues to TMA......and then I have some little shindig for one of my coworkers this evening at 6:30pm - I'll have to try to wiggle out of that early......

Argh! (edited to YAAAAAAAAAyyyyyyyyy!!!!)

Okay. Look at this picture:

Let's say - you were a delivery person.  Let's say that you came down R St (the one that has the address) and notice that the corner house has 567, for example. You want to deliver to 569.  You park on the corner, and walk over to what I've noted as the back door. You attempt to open the back door, and are stopped by a huge ass padlock.  Just for the benefit of the doubt - there's no car in the driveway.  The street that the driveway opens onto is Y st, by the way. The house has been there for close to 20 years. Same address. Same setup.
Do you:
a) Shrug your shoulders and climb back in the truck - obviously they aren't home.
b) Toss the package over the gate - they'll be sure to get it that way.
c) Leave a delivery notice on the gate - obviously, it's the only way in the house.
d) Walk the five steps over to the driveway, notice the mailbox, the numbers on the gate, open the gate and ring the front doorbell.

Guess what - ANY of those answers would be right (as LONG as you don't pick D!!!). ARRRRRRRRGggggggggghhhhh!!

I mean, is it me, or is that NOT the most obvious thing in the world. HELLO! BIG ASS PADLOCK. Do you REALLLY think that's the front door? NO MAILBOX! It's NOT the front DOOR!! ARgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh.

If you ahven't guessed yet, the UPS guy came by the house WITH my swimsuits  *weeps* and my iPod *breaks down and sobs* He chose option c.  *sigh* Yes, I'm a brat, and yes, I'm going to go and pick them up tonight.

I've also made signs.

Hopefully, that will make life easier for everyone.  Dangit.

P.S. - though, to be fair, the FedEx guy ALWAYS gets it right. It's UPS and USPS (which really makes no sense as they DELIVER our freaking mail!!!) who get it wrong. Bastids.

Also - I've figured out what color my hair is. I kept wanting to think "Is it too orange? I think it's orange. Nah, it's not orange! but - it's not red, it's not blond, it's not brown". Finally, after looking at it in the sun, I've figure it out. My hair is copper. Almost like a freshminted penny, but darker. I'll admit - the roots are a wee bit orangy *sigh* but on the whole, it's copper. I like it. More and more, I like it. Give my hair a week or two for the roots to grow out a little more, and I'll most likely lurve it.

Edited: YYYYYAaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! I love the internet. I immeadiately went online after finding out about the 'oops, I don't know where your door is delivery' and switched it to will call today. While I was on the phone, I asked the guy if there was some sort of NOTE on that address that said 'Deliver to Patio Door'. He said no, but also said that he would call the driver and try to see if he could get him to redeliver.  I JUST got off the phone with the driver (who I had to DIRECT to the blankety blanking blank blank front gate) and *sigh* *sniff* *smile* I've GOT it!! My iPod, my precious....... *rubs hands together evilly* and yeah, I got swimsuits too.... but MY iPod is here. And, the external drive got delivered today too. Sweet.

Like whoa! - includes Music Request

So, the hair's dried, and it's a weee bit lighter/brighter than it was yesterday. I think I like it, but I'm still not totally sure - I think it might be more WHOA! shock that I haven't gotten used to it yet - but I have to admit it looks very - funky. *grin* And that's funky in a good way - I just need somebody to look at me and say - yeah, that looks good. Someone I can trust - who's up for Maggies tonight??? *LOL* The hubby likes it - but he's a GUY! We all know he doesn't count. ;)
But seriously - I LIKE it. It's jsut weird. *LOL* Like me, I guess. Now I wanna cut it - the color (to me) seems to highlight the funky 'layers' my hair has - and because the dying contracts my locs and makes them tighter (and skinnier) it's - just - different. but not BAD! *grin* yes, yes, I'm flipfloping. I'll take another picture tonight in the sun since it's dry....post it and see what ya'll think!

In other news: The swimsuits are on a truck to get here, the damn iPod is still in Knoxville - ooh!! I take that back! It flew out of Knoxville at 9:35 this morning (I heart UPS tracker) - so I MIGHT get it today *rubs hands together evilly* the skin got shipped today, the XboX left Greensboro, NC this morning, the PS2 got shipped this morning - slowpoke eBayer! - the external drive is on a TRUCK for delivery!! (hmmm the FedEx delivery place is in Cordova, interesting), and I think that's everything. Sheesh!! Oh!! My request for the domain name got approved too - hopefully the DNS servers will be updated by tonight!
I spent the weekend dying my hair (that was a two day process!) and getting started on uploading all of my CD's to iTunes - so far, I've made to to the 'I's, and I have about 2 days worth of a music, a mere 2GB. But!!! Readers of mine!! You guys have some pretty cool, pretty ecletic music tastes - and I figure, for 99 cents, I can try anything. I LOVE music, but I'm cheap (ignore the listing of crap getting shipped to my house, I AM cheap - really!!!) and I'm not into buying MORE cd's that I only like one song off of. So - with the iPod, I figure I'll be able to really let my tastes wander and explore. Ooohhh.....So - ya'll do me this favor, okay??
Leave me a note, with at least TWO artists that you love, but think are underrated - include what genre they are, and if you have a favorite song/album - include that too.  *grins*
I figure at the very least, I'll be able to find a few new gems to enjoy.... ooh... I need to email all my musically eclectic friends too!!

Half the office is missing today - I figure it'll be a slow, slow, slow Monday. I need to go to the bank during lunch and deposit C's check, and I plan on cutting out of here ASAP!

Have Good Monday Yall!!

Hopskipping across the country

Okay....I've got several things in the mail.....
1) The iPod - which is hopskipping across the country - it started in Brooklyn, NY, then went to Parsipanny, NJ, then to Harrisburg, PA, and now it's in Fisherville, VA. The hell? This is what happens when you chose ground shipping. It's in Knoxville now!! It and my swimsuits are at least in the same state as I am. Yayy!
2) The swimsuits - two days air - they left VA and are in Knoxville now.
3) The XboX is getting mailed this morning....
4) The skin is getting mailed Monday (the same day I'll hopefully GET the iPod)
5) I don't know what's going on with the PS2.
6) *hangs head in shame* The new crop of books I ordered from bookcloseouts.com (I have issues! help! help!) will get shipped at some point.
7) *hangs head even lower in shame* The 80GB external drive my evil evil evil friend talked me into buying is in Newark. But I needed it!! I have a 60GB iPod on the way - and my harddrive is ONLY 30GB. I mean really....and besides, just in case my harddrive gives up the ghost again, I won't lose all mah shit.

See - this is why I don't SPEND money in large amounts - once I start I can't stop until it's allllll gone. *le sigh* At least the boy get's paid today.... I need to find a copy of my old lease so that we can get reimbursed for that.  

Let see - what else? Took the day off yesterday - a nice little blurb about what I did for part of the day is in my Path To Tomorrow chapter - cleaned up the house a bit, washed the cat bed, somehow forgot to eat all day.....except for some olives....ummm.......ran C to work, but didn't have to pick him up (thankfully) what else? I think that's about it.

Oh! I almost forget!! YYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAA!Y! it's FRIDAY!! *does the funky little dance*

But i hungry now, so I go get lunch now.  *huggles*

*ggggggggggggggassp*

See.... I don't NORMALLY do stuff like this. It's - dangerous. It gives you a heady little rush, leaves your heart pumping, the palms of your hands sweaty, makes you slightly short of breath, and I'm sure creates some bad ass karma. I usually think things through - I usually am the patient, safe one. I'm usually the logical, levelheaded one. I'm usually not the one who does the dreaded swoop and steal.

But.

I did it.

And my hands are still sweaty, and my heart's still bumping, but - it's mine dammit. and I think I lost my greedy little mind for a second - but it's MINE, dammit. mineminemineminemine.... (hey - maybe I should get that engraved......)

So what is it?

Guess!

If you guessed a lovely little 20GB iPod, you'd be wrong.

If you guessed a lovely little 40GB 3G iPod, you'd be even wronger.

No - I went buckass wild.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I got the ever so gnarly, ever so big, SIXTY GB iPod Photo. It holds (drumroll please) fifteen THOUSAND songs. 15,000. 15K. Or, up to 25,000 (twenty five thousand, uhhuh, uhhuh) pictures.

Holy shit.

And got it for 80 bucks under retail - including shipping.

I seriously need to stay the hell away from eBay!!!!

but.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! new toy, new toy, new toy!!!

Edit: And oh yeah - I got the skin too....

Front:


and back:

I showed it to my best boyfriend, and he was like - "Yeah, that's TOTALLLY you" and it is - a sassy ass black woman surrounded by blue. Despite my diary colors, I LOVVVVEEEE blue. In fact, I think my diary was almost always shades of blue until rather recently.

ipod obsession

See... I go through days - one day, I'm a good workerbee, diligently keeping my nose to the grindstone. The next, I'm all aflitter, screwing about online for most of the day.

So.....after realizing that the  40GB (12,000 songs!) is a 3rd Generation, and the 20GB (a mere 5,000 songs) is 4th Generation, I'mma quit being greedy, and get the 20GB. Now, of course there are two main questions.
1) What kinda skin do I get? and
2) What do I get engraved on it? I get two lines, 27 characters each like (a total of 54). Umm....let me go and grab the previous thoughts my bored little mind came up with:

• 'Turn the beat around...'  (quite cool, as it has the little turny ring thing in the middle)


• 'Get your own damn music!'


• 'I'm too sexy for my iPod!'(one vote for this from the LOVELY Bella!)


• 'Kneel before the Dancing Queen'


• 'I'm so bootylicious!!!'


• 'I can't hhheeeaaarrr you!!'


• 'Boogie Nights!  *dumdumdumdumda*'


• 'Everything must change - esp. my playlist!


• 'Dancing to the beat of my own damn drummer'

3) Of course though, the fact that I plan on getting a MacSkinz kinda defeats the purpose of getting something engraved, as it'll get covered up - but the engravings FREE! Free I tell you!
I'm thinking about either this one:

or this one:

or this one (just cuz it's soooo damn GIRLY!!)


though, this one is even girlier:


or, if I liked green a little more - this one:

Ahhh... choices, choices......

*does a funky lil dance* (more eBayisms)

With a minute left - ONE FREAKING minute - somebody outbid me!! by 2.50 - which I think was the minimum bid. Yes! yes! YES!!!!! :) I so happy now.

Okay. I impatient too..... I'm about to just send this dude the money and say screw the measely 50 cents. I mean really, A - fifty cents? Hah! Paypal calculated it correctly anyhow - the cheaper way, I should say. Yes, yes.... I'm cheap.

And....I'm thinking about getting a gameboy advance. I was thinking about a PSP, but the main game I wanna play (YuGiOh) isn't available for the PSP.

Ohhh.. tempting, tempting, tempting.

That would be a fun lil treat for me (since I've been all responsible and ish), and as I've saved 400.00 bucks by going with eBay.....ooohhhhh.......but it's not very cute. Hmmm.... maybe. Maybe not. Knowing me, not.

What I really want is a PSP. But I want Yugi! Dammit. I might have to jack the TV from my hubby this evening.

Also, I realized that I have some seriously dementedly funny favorites. *wipes tears from eyes* ooohhh...so crazy.

But see... the problem is that I want - I crave - a tiny little new electronic toy. I've got the digital camera, I don't use my palm pilot enough to justify a new one (though - purty color screen & silver tungsteen's are ppuuuuuurrrtttyyyy) but - electronics. Oooohhhhh. (and I'm being notewhorish today as I keep saving this entry, then coming back to edit it. Boredom is dangerous, and it's esp. bad on Friday).

and as I'm mad about Blue (mad about yyyyouuuuuu) I would get that color too. But see - I need to be sure my COMPUTER works before I do any of that - makes no sense to get one and not be able to get mp3's, yes?

But really - how often would I use it? Not often..........which is the sad part bout me - I'm perfectly happy/comfy with the minimum, but occasionally I go a little consumption crazy.

But - LOOK!!!

shiiinnnyyyyy......collllloooorrrr........oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh...........

See....if I still rode the bus, these kind of timewasting purely entertaining eletronic items might be rather useful and worthwhile. But - I drive. And when I'm not driving, I'm reading. Hell, even if I still travelled for work it would be useful. Otherwise it's just a big sparkly toooooyyy.

Okay - why does eBay have 'Mystery Auctions'?? You don't know what you're buying, and usually you're bidding on the CONTAINER - not whatever's in it. Hmmmm......interesting.
Or - I could buy a bag of unsearched Brazilian emeralds....
Or - I could buy a box from Saddam Huessein's palace....

*shakes head*

Squuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

So - I have a confession to make. I can be a bit of a crotchety old lady sometimes - esp. when it comes to changing something that I LIKE and didn't really plan on changing...like my cell phone. Yesterday, Ol' Crotchety (OC) was out in fulllllll effect.

C. has - suckass credit. I knew it before I married him (and it's actually milllioonnnsss of times better than it was when we first met), and I knew it would cause issues - but the lack of a PHONE was really blowing my mind. We don't have a landline as I was getting tired of being bent over by Ameritech. So - I had my lovely little Nokia, and he had a prepaid. *sighsighsigh* With all the work he has to do for the restaurant, and just his general business stuff - that phone was getting outlandishly expensive. So - we looked into a couple of plans, and figured that we could go with the Family Talk plan. I reallly do like cingular - they are head and shoulders above punkass AT&T, and Sprint *shakes head* I was in DC and couldn't hold a singal. DC! The nations CAPITAL! *shakes head* But - anyhow.... we go, and I find out (much to my horror) that I have to get a NEW cell phone. I like my celly. I have areally cute blue boxy cover on it, and it's just the right size, and - stuff. Add to that the fact that I'm cheap, Cheap, CHEAP - and well, you have the perfect environment for OC to come out of hiding.

I wandered around the store, moaning and groaning about the fact that I had to get a new phone and how all the phones were ugly and how I didn't wanna pay that much for a damn phone anyway and.... well, you get the idea. C was trying to top me by commenting on the fact that he had to get a new phone NUMBER - but well, OC is hard of hearing too. So - finally I settle on a siemens s56 phone - largely because it's a cute little bugger (LITTLE - I could tuck it in my bra and you'd have to be REALLLL close to notice - and while they are roomy - DAMN!) and secondly because it was only 40 bucks (after 50 buck mail in rebate). So - I'm whining the whhhooollleeee time - till I get home and started playing with it.

Ah! Ahhhhh! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!! This phone SOOOOO rocks. I mean - it rocks in ways I didn't even KNOW a phone could rock. I've got internet access, a shit load of memory, a COLOR screen, a voice recorder, and I can play all kinds of tunes for ringtones, and downloadable games and ahhhhhhhhhhhh............... it's SO fraking coool. It's kewl, even. I haven't been this distracted by a techy toy since I got my palm pilot. *sigh* It's a lovely little piece of machinery, it is. My only complaint is that the selection buttons are pointy, so while I'm reteaching myself to text (or SMS as they call it since it's an American version of a European phone - the s55) my thumb is gonna be sore. But seriously.... it rocks.

*shakes head* I don't believe I just wrote an entire entry about a phone. If it wasn't for my general supersition about wishing for excitement, I would wish for just a little excitement in my life. But - everytime I even think about it, I remember that old Chinese curse:

May you live in interesting times.

Really... no thanks.

HELP!

Does anyone know of a good, free, ad/popup buster? I thought there was something going around OD that blocked popups, spyware, and those hateful, hateful mouse cursor THINGS!!!

Any and all links/downloads will be greatly appreciated, as I seem to have stumbled across something that provides me with minutes of 'Fight the Porn PopUps' style entertainment. I have a 'firewall' called ZoneAlarm since I've got the hot cable modem and leaving myself always connected with NO protection is just stupid, but these damn popups don't even register on that.

I haven't taken a nap yet - I started cooking a 'seafood bisque' which is shaping up rather nicely in the crockpot. I've also got some nice fish marinating that I'll drop in before I go to bed...it will make a LOVELY lunch tomorrow. I've also got dessert - baked jicama which tastes almost EXACTLY like stewed apples - they are almost too sweet for me. They would go nicely over a bit of custard.

I love doing stuff like that - coming up with a yummy, long lasting meal from the random odds and ends of other meals I've made. I feel so - domestic goddesslike.

I'm a magpie - I don't know if I've ever mentioned that. I LOVEEEE sparkly stuff - if I had a buncha money, I would have more custom made jewelry than you could shake a stick at. I've found a source for stones that look almost EXACTLY like a diamond (you'd have to be a GOOD jeweler with a diamond tester to tell the difference)- but for ohhhh... about a tenth of the cost. Stunning. I've brought several loose stones from them, and I have no clue what I'm going to do with them. So - since I can't wear them - I take them out of their boxes every couple of months and just drool all over them instead. It satisfies my need for new sparklies somehow.
So - while I'm waiting for the last of the lasagna to heat up, I'm gonna watch The System and play with the little pretties.

Realization

I never realized just how HARD it is to take a picture of your own hip.

Yes... I got the computer (a Gateway 400SP) and a digital camera (a Canon S45) and the tatoo (the firey one).

I quite nearly freaked out at Gateway over spending THAT much money - and for actually PAYING RETAIL. At one point I almost BEGGED the guy to find me just one coupon - just ONE sale priced item, but he couldn't. So instead, I soothed my consious by signing up for a super cheap (20.00 a month) CABLE MODEM deal. Heh. It's only 750Kbps, but considering I WAS running on 46.6Kbps, its a MASSIVE difference. :)
I think I'm going to be able to transfer all of my stuff from my work computer(s) onto here rather easily - if I was patient enough to wait and upload the stuff while I was at work, it would go faster, but I'm an impatient heifer, so eh.
I also - which I feel slightly guilty about - transfered Adobe Photoshop form the work computer to mine. But I KNOW that I will use it so very much, and god KNOWS I can't afford to spend the 600.00 it would take to get it.
I'm still surrounded my boxes and piles of paper. Everything installed smoothly (including the MS Office I had to pay an extra 300 bucks for - damn you Bill Gates!!) and it's wonderful.
The camera is fun too... I've finally managed to take a good picture of my engagement ring (which I will post over at the girly diary later) and of the boys, my little angels. I also took a picture of my Frog Prince - the permanent resident of my car which I have yet to name. I almost feel like naming it is dishonest to BabyGurl's memory. Besides, this car is so damn adrondynous, I've no clue what to call it.

The tattoo was cool - it only took him about 20 minutes to do it, and it only hurt in a few spots. Getting the black areas shaded actually hurt the least, and I expected them to hurt the point. Getting the tip of the longest flamedone hurt like HELL - but I think that might have been because he went over it more than once. I had to wait a while as the shop was really busy, but I had a good book to read so it wasn't bad at all. I'm quite upset that I didn't getthe ndrophin rush I was expecting - getting pierced has always given me a much better high. Eh well...maybe the back one will do that.

It's been a delightful weekend thus far.