Read At Your Own Risk

2010-01-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

Are you frickin' kidding me?!

a) Don't apply for a position when you're not willing to except a salary that is higher than the maximum advertised.

b) When being offered the position, don't negotiate for a higher salary where you are, decline the offer and say that you're staying where you are (after 8 hours of shining me on) and then complain to your friends that you wanted the job, but the salary was too low. Basically blaming me for not offering more once you've said that you're staying where you are.

c) Don't say that you're interviewing for something "more stable" when it all comes down to money

2009-09-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

A conversation between Megan and her friend Tyler at daycare today...

Megan: You're a goofball!

Tyler: No, you're a silly goose!

Megan: You're such a tree hugger!

I guess we can be thankful she didn't call him a damn hippie.

2009-09-10T10:14:00.001-07:00

Of course an offer is being accepted by the bank. Just because it was the perfect rental house.

I was a bit upset by the slow response of the real estate agents and therefore will try to find someone else for next time. If there is a next time.

2009-09-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

There may be an opportunity for me to buy a rental house. It's a short sell in the valley and the monthly payments with the 20% down are quite reasonable and low enough to make enough money off of the monthly rents. And it's already rented. I tried to convince my dad to go check it out this week; I've certainly checked out enough houses for him. I think he may actually check it out for me. I'm keeping it a bit quiet -- don't want my siblings to think they can move in.

2009-07-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

I go to the Harry Potter movies because I feel I should. They're never great, always require some knowledge from the books that don't come through on the screen. I saw the second one and forgot that I had seen it so rented it again. They're all pretty much nondescript.

However, the current movie is the best one yet! It was terrific and I would perhaps even see it again in the theatre.

2009-07-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

Phew, I don't have to deal with that incompetent broad from the mortgage broker anymore. Signed the papers at the title company today and will get my money on Friday. Woo-hoo!

A couple of my dad's friends are in town this evening so we're going out to dinner. Woo-hoo!

2009-07-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

Wow, that's a pleasant surprise. My house appraised for about $40,000 more than I thought it would. 3,000 more dollars and it would have been twice what I paid for it seven years ago; not a bad return. Although I do know that it's only worth that much if someone is willing to pay for it.

I've started the list of things to do with the money I'm pulling out. In the master bedroom: walk-in closet; bathroom door (and a wall for it to hang in); hardwood floors; new furniture and paint. Upstairs: fix wall (drywall tape is funky); paint; new carpeting; furniture. Outside: Trex front porch; gardener. I probably only have enough money for two of those things...doesn't hurt to dream.

2009-06-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

My mortgage broker is very incompetent. She tries to shine me on about the process. This isn't my first rodeo, I realize that it was your procrastination that cost me that quarter of a point. Hag. Oh well, payment will still be about the same but I'll have some extra cash to do a few things with my room.

Anyway, just paid for the appraisal. Apparently one of the crackdowns was on appraisal policies so a third party has to be involved and the borrower pays for it directly instead of through the loan. It's probably best for those who abused the system, but it certainly seems to take longer to get the appraisal. And I'd better get my refinance money out so that I can pay the appraisal fee without dipping into savings.

On another note, I have spent my first money on the 2010 Europe trip; I purchased some Euros! I had the thought of giving Clementine 100 Euros for her 21st birthday this year and since she's going to Europe in August with a friend (talk about stealing my thunder), I decided to give it to her early so she'll have it for this trip instead of ours next years.

2009-06-19T15:33:00.001-07:00

Now I spent a half of an hour on the phone with my sister. One new family, please.

2009-06-11T13:03:00.001-07:00

Spent the lunch hour on the phone with my mom advising on real estate related family drama. Seriously, how am I related to these people? Are you sure I can't be adopted?

2009-05-07T15:42:00.001-07:00

Well, Clementine's house (actually her parents' house) burned last night. Total loss. They're getting all of the insurance paperwork together today. What a mess. So glad I don't live in California fire country anymore. And I hope that just for saying that, we don't have a wildfire here this year.

2009-04-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

I've been on edge all day, for no apparent reason. I hate that. So, after my lunch plans fell through [&#$^*], I decided to take a walk downtown and go to the bank. It seemed to help. Well, either the walk or the 5" chocolate chip cookie that I passed while walking...with only a slight detour.

2009-04-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

In just talking to my mom, I found out that she's only been married four times. Turns out, when she told me a few years ago in June that she had married the guy she had met in January, she only said that because he wanted her to. They were planning on getting married, but they didn't get around to it before he took off (I think that September?). W...T...F.? Welcome to my world.

2009-04-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

IM conversation

Clem: I hate when you look at serving sizes and it's like 2 cookies

Me: ...or a snack pack of chips is 2 1/2 servings. Mmm, chips. I happen to know that there are cooler ranch in the vending machine downstairs

Me: My boss is thinking about a trip to Greece for *this* August, jerk. God, now I'm thinking about Doritos *and* Greece

Clem: No Doritos because we don't want to have to wear beekeeper uniforms in Greece
Celm: How are we going to seduce Greek billionaires with Dorito dust?
Clem: We aren't, that's how.

Me: That should be a perfume. I don't want a guy who's not attracted to Dorito dust

Clem: "For those of you who don't want to just see your favorite snack on your ass, you want to smell like it, too"

2009-04-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

I received a call this weekend from my credit card company about a fraud alert. I went online and checked the account and it was a perfectly acceptable charge. Yesterday, a charge appeared on my account that is not acceptable. $74.93 to a gas station in Florida. Credit card disputes are so fun. Look, I have bought gas in about 10 days and when I did, I used a gas card, not my credit card. This is not mine. I was assured that I'd have a resolution to my dispute in 6-8 weeks. Oh goody.

But, it's still a beautiful day and I'm wearing flip flops. I brought a towel and a magazine to go out on the lawn at lunch today and enjoy the sunshine. Which seems to be the last chance for nice weather for at least the two weeks when it goes back into the 40s.

2009-04-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Winter snow advisory (why do they add "winter"?) until 5:00 tonight for 4-6" of snow. Hmm, I had 6" by 7:00 this morning, wonder what's going to happen next.

I think it should be spring so I am considering rearranging my kitchen. Unfortunately, a few of the items I want from The Container Store aren't available for shipping. I'm not going all the way to Bellevue to pick them up. Unless I can stop in Issaquah at Fat Burger...if the weather were better, I'd be tempted.

2009-03-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

We have had snow, rain, thunder, wind, and sun today.

It's hard to believe that I was in Missoula this morning and not here at work all day. It certainly feels like all day. And all week. I need a nap.

2009-03-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

My dad's trying to get me to buy a rental house. The problem is, I'm not ready to give up on Europe yet. I'm also not ready to be house poor again; I like having a little bit of a disposable income and being able to sleep at night, thank you very much. Although, the house is a good deal and interest rates are low...

2009-03-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

A co-worker wanted a countdown for her retirement so I goofed around yesterday. It's too far for a real one, so we're taking it one step at a time. Vandal Friday is the campus event for incoming freshmen to come to campus for early registration and she is in charge of it every year, and it really wears her down. So, I made a countdown webpage for her for the next 4 years...however, I'm having ftp problems and switched it to one year at a time. My most recent tweaks aren't rewriting. I upload them and they revert to the old one on the server. Ugh.

I accidentally, obviously, overwrote my site's main index. Oops. I normally keep a copy not labeled index, but the only one I can find is from when I first started the site. Oops. Now I have to redo my site. It's probably for the best, but I don't have the time right now.

I had the thought yesterday of taking a vacation over Memorial Day, but realized this morning that I promised my friend a few months ago that I'd help her decorate her daughter's new bedroom.

In other news, my housesitting people are coming home early so I get to go to my house tonight!

Shopping List

2009-03-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

I was IMing with Clementine and she mentioned the steelcut instant oatmeal that she gets from Trader Joe's. I responded with my wish that we had one, but that I'm definitely going to stop on my next Seattle trip. She replied with:

Get chocolate raspberry sticks, dark chocolate mint cremes, mini peanut butter cups, oatmeal, and vanilla almond clusters

2009-02-25T13:29:00.001-08:00

I house sat Thursday to Monday. With a horrible cold. Even took Friday off to be sick.

This week, I have Megan overnight on Thursday. I'm picking her up at day care and taking her to swim lessons, then will drop her off at school Friday morning and transfer her to day care at lunch. Her dad will pick her up Friday after work.

Sunday, they'll leave his truck at my house and I'll take them to the airport so they can fly down to Disneyland (asshats) to meet up with Stacey. Stacey is leaving tomorrow (hence the Megan shuffle) to drive down and drop off one of the dogs for breeding -- she usually does artificial, but that didn't take so this is a last ditch effort. I'll watch their animals (the other dogs, the cat, the chickens, the two horses - one pregnant - and the mule) while they're gone. I'll pick them up the following Friday at the airport while Stacey drives back with the dog. Then my dad and I go to dinner for his birthday. On Saturday, I house sit at the same house as last week for 6 days. That brings me to March 12 and I plan on doing absolutely nothing that weekend.

2009-02-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

His study of our evolution
Was considered religious pollution
But an ape in the jungle
Shares traits with my uncle
Of that there can be no confusion

Seriously. You should see my hairy uncle.

2009-02-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

I'm being pressured to write a Darwin related limerick (no staff have participated yet) and I can't get the rhythm out of my head. I guess I'll try to come up with something at lunch.

2009-02-09T14:53:00.000-08:00

I picked up my taxes today. I didn't get enough money back for a trip to San Diego which is a little disappointing. I was looking forward to a vacation. However, the mini girls weekend this weekend felt like a little bit of a break. I was a little bored wandering around malls, but dinner and breakfast were good. Unfortunately, yesterday was a beautiful day here, I probably could have even gone to the driving range. Today is windy and threatening snow/rain.

I mailed a couple of Clementine's Valenukka packages. One of the items for her Valentine's package isn't being delivered to me until today so I told her it was going to be late, unless I sent several shipments, kind of a Hannukah, so she said yes, "Valenukka." I made up a logo with a six sided star (not really the Star of David) with a heart in the middle and have been sending her packages. The first one was a couple of boxes of Rice Krispie Treats cereal. It's pretty good, but it's not sold in stores. The next was instant chai mix and chocolate covered pretzels (the only edible kind -- Snyder's made with Hershey's), I made sure to instruct her not to eat them while watching "Mallrats." The next were valentines for her and her roommate, they come with temporary butterfly tattoos (I have Megan this weekend so I made sure to reserve some for us). The next is a small box of See's truffles. And the last will be the photo book I had made from our trip to Walt Disney World. On Friday, I'll add $20 to her school card that she can use at Chipotle. She and her roommate are both single and made plans to eat there and then rent movies and drink champagne on Valentine's.

2009-02-02T11:16:00.001-08:00

I don't know if I'll do another girls weekend. It was just for two in 2005 and 2006, we added a third for 2007 which was fine, skipped 2008 and now we're up to six people. Since I don't know one of them all that well, and don't like another one all that well, I'm feeling a little out of my element. A simple trip to the Melting Pot in Spokane has turned into a three room, two car, 6 women, three strong opinions nightmare. I got the "I'm done making decisions" response from one person (uuhh, yeah, all you've agreed to is the date). When I received an e-mail from her telling me that "Everyone is asking me questions about this weekend, “When are we leaving?” “When are we getting back?” “How many rooms are there?” “Who am I staying with?” “Where are we shopping on Sunday?” etc. etc. etc. Make it stop! ", I sent out the itinerary e-mail.

It was going to be a simple up, dinner, overnight, back trip. A couple of weeks ago, someone asked about shopping. Last week someone mentioned a movie. So I sent out the e-mail today, we're leaving at 2:00, so-and-so has the car that will fit all of us so she's driving, our dinner reservation is at 5:00, we'll go back to the hotel to change before the 9:30 movie, we'll do some shopping the next day and depart at 2:00 for the return home. Like all Girls Weekends, I will present everyone with a breakdown of their portion of the expenses when we get back.

Then I get, "my mom will want to return earlier so we'll drive up together. Two of the others want to go swimming and hot tub-ing so the movie is probably out."

Since she's the same one who wanted to go shopping, I guess that's out too and since the movie was in the evening, they probably wouldn't want to swim after all that food so that leaves the morning. I just sent out another e-mail: I'll drive the remaining four, we'll eat, go back to the hotel and swim in the morning and return after checkout/lunch or whatever.

I am so done. Instead of looking forward to this trip, I'm very much dreading it. I should've just driven over to Seattle for what this is going to cost me.

2009-01-12T15:14:00.001-08:00

I can't wait for dinner, all I can think about are the leftovers from last night's Chinese take-out. My dad got surround sound so I borrowed my friend's DVD of The Dark Knight and grabbed dinner. Thankfully he doesn't do leftovers so I got them.

I've been having problems with my DVR so I've been trying to watch the movies that I recorded and haven't been in the mood to watch for the past year or two. I like Aeon Flux and really like Pan's Labrynth and Lady in the Water. Grindhouse was a little disappointing, but I now love Zoe Bell.

2008-12-28T10:35:00.001-08:00

So, I joined Facebook and have just received a friend request from someone who I'm not sure I want to be friends with anymore. I made an exception with a former junior high school friend, on the basis that it's just innocuous Facebook stuff...but this former co-worker guy, I'm just not too sure. I probably will just because there isn't a reason not to, besides the fact that I just don't wanna. This is hard.

Yes, Virginia...

2008-12-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

All week I've been having little annoyances: weak car battery, back twinge after shoveling the latest 7" of snow, two household light bulbs going out, one string of Christmas lights in the window deciding this was the last season, over cooking the toffee, seizing the chocolate in the fudge, the store discontinuing the gift I wanted for a friend, and problems with my satellite television service.

On Monday, I got a new battery, last night, I made fudge that turned out, and called tech support for the tv. They said to wait and call back in three hours, I called my dad to tell him that Christmas may be at his house this year. I called tech support back, and got a different person, of course, who told me something completely different than the first person. I finally gave up and went to bed. This morning, after shoveling the walk (only about an inch), I got out the ladder and checked out the satellite. Ta-da! I single handedly -- ok, it took two -- saved Christmas. I called my dad to tell him that contrary to popular belief, Christmas is not canceled, that this is the year that I saved Christmas, and yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. I have experienced a Christmas miracle.

Happy holidays!

2008-12-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

7" of snow overnight...weak car battery...Christmas Rush...Ahhhh!

On the Verge of War

2008-12-18T12:05:00.000-08:00

I received an e-mail from my cousin, actually sent to her address book, about Jesus being the reason for the season and how all Christians should say Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays, that retailers advertise "Ramadan and Kwanza to sell books by Franken and Fonda", umm, wtf? So, OK, delete.

But then, someone replies to all with:

Yeah, this is what liberalism brings. They will slowly take away what this nation is about and trade it for a socialist nation. This county keeps voting for the anti-Americans and this is what we get. How many of us called our Senators this year? How many of us stood up to someone who
called this country terrible or agreed with this liberals? How many of us pray for this country? How many of us were too busy to vote? How many of us are going to delete this email and do nothing? Its our fault for letting this happen and when our kids ask us why is our country so hateful to Christians, how many of us will tell we were too lazy to make this country
better for them? Just get ready for at least a 4 year downward spiral closer to hell. :-)
One PO'ed Conservative
So, I wrote a reply:

Now this just makes a PO'd Liberal. Forwarding the message is your prerogative, but please do not reply to all. America is about freedom of religion. If you think this country is hateful to Christians, you should walk in the shoes of a different faith, especially during the "Christmas season". Making this country better for Christian kids is a way to make other kids different. I infer your e-mail to mean that the only American is a Christian American. If you're going to preach, try the
tenents of Christianity of love and tolerance, don't try to divide Americans. There are also plenty of conservatives who believe in the separation of Church and State. And, keep in mind that there are a lot more people of different religions in this world than there are Christians.

Canine Catastrophe

2008-12-16T18:47:00.000-08:00

A friend of a friend is watching her son's dog over the holidays, but they want to get away for a couple days. I agreed to watch the dog for a couple of days. I went to meet the dog tonight and it jumped up and bit a hole in my sweater. I think I got off light.

A friend called to say that a friend of ours was bit by a dog (she's a vet tech) and after going to the hospital, was on her way to see an orthopedist at Washington State. They're worried about bone infection and saving use of the thumb. I'm waiting to hear if they need me to go feed their animals. Between her being a vet tech and him being a vet, they have fish, cats, dogs, and birds.

2008-12-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

From my grandfather's widow:

Good morning on this anniversary of the Day of Infamy, Dec. 7, 1941. There aren't too many of us who remember what they were doing that day.

I put out the US and Navy flags in honor of your Pop. He never spoke of it much but it was certainly a day he never forgot.

I want to thank you for lowering the racks so I can put them out. If the wind is blowing I still have some trouble but today it is very still. There isn't much I can do for him now but remember the things that mattered to him.

2008-12-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine e-mailed and said how much he loves Facebook. I talked myself out of joining and then just decided to try it. I uploaded some pictures, but I just don't really understand how the connection thing works. I pretty much decided to leave it alone. This morning, I received an invite from someone I went to school with. We were quite friendly in junior high but not so much in high school and I saw her once after high school graduation. It kinda left me with an odd feeling. I was at the movies with my boyfriend and his sister (with whom we also went to school) and this girl was there with some guy I didn't know but the girl I was with knew of him, maybe even went out with him once or twice. Two days later the girl calls me and is like grilling me on everything. I think she just wanted to tell me that she was engaged to the guy so I'd pass it on. It all seemed very odd. And I found out later that she used to have a crush on the guy who was my boyfriend. Weird. Anyway, I think that may do it for Facebook. Also today, another friend from high school invited me to MySpace. Sheesh, what's wrong with e-mail?

2008-11-28T04:39:00.000-08:00

Waiting for my ride for shopping...8 minutes late and counting...and me thinking maybe I should just go back to bed.

I just got a call. The person who's driving didn't wake up on time. I set two alarms and still woke up every half hour during the night so I wouldn't be late. It wouldn't be bad, except we're meeting other people at the first stop.

Yoke

2008-11-25T15:10:00.000-08:00

Why do French people eat only one egg at breakfast?

Because one egg is un oeuf!

Haha! Cracks me up. Ha! Cracks.

As does:

Knock Knock

Who's There

Interrupting Cow

Interrupt--

MOO!

2008-11-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

I just realized that the post before last was pretty dramatic. Once I investigated a little bit, the fire wasn't all that close to them and they were downgraded to an evacuation warning instead of a mandate a little while after.

The fire did come pretty close to the house that I lived in from 3 days to about 4 years old. I don't technically have any memories from that house, but I do in the one my dad lived in a few years later that was across the street from that one. The people who lived there when we lived across the street had peacocks and the cool powder that turns flames different colors. I thought that was the coolest thing. To this day if someone has a fire place, I give them pine cones with the stuff as a housewarming present.

2008-11-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

I could pretend that I couldn't remember that I didn't order anything from Amazon. [Follow that convoluted sentence?] But I did. Once I opened the box and saw the wrapped items, I could have left them there for another 12 days. I could have. No, I couldn't. I paused momentarily before ripping into the expensive Amazon provided gift wrap and unveiling my birthday presents. I could have waited to read my two Venice guide books until December 1. I could have. No, I couldn't. I read as much as I could before my lunch hour was over. Why is a bus $8, a speedboat $12, and a water taxi $120? Is that a misprint, or do they serve caviar and champagne on the way to the aiport? I knew that I put the right book on my wish list when I saw that gelato is one of the expenditure categories, along with airfare and hotel.

I looked to see this morning where the stocks were and I've lost $2000, I had a brief moment of postponing Europe and doing the Hershey/New York trip which is half the price, but after getting my guide books, I'm just about willing to put the whole thing on a high interest credit card in order to go.

2008-11-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

Now I'm a little worried. Clementine's parents are on mandatory evacuation due to the fire that started in Montecito.

Ostrich

2008-11-05T15:54:00.000-08:00

Talking about her Isla Vista Halloween and the guy she met there last year -- who didn't recognize her at first this year -- and his new girlfriend.

Clem: ...and we were (close your ears) taking shots (me, him, and Tyler) and taking pictures and stuff

Me: Did he not recognize you because of the (row row row your boat) shots?

Clem: She walked in and looked pissed off, so I got out of the picture real fast and said "Hey! We were just about to (ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT) pour another round, do you want to join?"

Clem: But then on Saturday she was friendly. I think Tyler talked to her or something. On Saturday she found us a bathroom at a party and I gave her a hair tie so basically we're best friends now. Haha.

Me: Girls.

Of course, I'm more inclined to bury my head in the sand about her going to IV Halloween rather than doing shots.

2008-11-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes those were snowflakes. Rain/sleet/snow/wind. Beautiful.

Halloween was OK. Went trick or treating with ballerina Megan and ended at the house of the idiot friend of theirs for pizza. I cannot stand that guy, his wife I have a little more patience for. Then was invited to a get together the next night for game night and fajitas and cake in honor of one of the group's birthday.

Things had been a bit awkward with Stacey for awhile and Friday and Saturday were no exceptions and then something happened on Saturday that pretty much got rid of whatever tension there was. The idiot guy threw a fit after being teased and walked out. Are you frickin' kidding me? As far as I was concerned, he had three choices: 1) man up and come back in to finish the game; 2) stay in the car until everyone he drove there (including the birthday boy) were ready to go home; 3) go home and I'll drive everyone else home. Stacey asked his wife if it would make things better for her to apologize (seriously, everything was in good fun and as far as I'm concerned he needs to suck it up), but Stacey's husband asked her to go so she did. So we're all inside, at 1:00 in the morning, waiting for them to come back inside. I said something snarky about how long do we wait until we contact SWAT for hostage release and then we all waited. The other two guys went down to play Wii bowling, I would have followed but no one else was so I stayed upstairs. Finally they came back in and we sat around not making eye contact until the guys finished their game and came up so that we could leave (they were blocking me in).

Just one more thought..one time he didn't come to game night because he and his wife had a fight and he wasn't speaking to her. I cannot believe that they're trying to adopt a baby. She already has one, apparently.

I talked to Stacey the next day and focusing on his idiotic and infantile behavior helped our situation. We even went to lunch on Monday. Which was good since her grandfather is sick and I have to take Megan to school, pick her up and take her to daycare, and then pick her up to spend the night at my house tomorrow.

2008-10-28T08:20:00.001-07:00

I'm working on about three hours of sleep. I predict a long day.

In Conclusion: Knocking People's Hats Off

2008-10-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

This morning I was a bit grim about the mouth after talking to my mother. She called me in tears because her car didn't pass smog -- why does anyone live in California? With how upset she was, I thought it was going to be much worse then it was. She also said that my brother and his family moved to another city to the house co-owned by my grandparents and uncle. And that my uncle wanted to sell the house and offered my grandparents to buy him out for a very inflated price. Luckily, they said no, but I still can't believe that they're letting them live there. And my brother's car died so the poor boy is without a car...public transportation? Horrors! That conversation got me in one of those antsy moods; just unable to relax. I've been like this all day.

This evening when my mom called to tell me exactly how much it was (after the smog technicians took off 5o bucks because she cried), she was in a better mood, but it still left me wanting to point out life choices. I can't feel too badly for any of them since it's all their own choices, but at the same time, all of it makes me so tense.

Then, the best part. I got a phone call from one of my brother's creditors. Are you freakin' kidding me?! I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't believe that 2000 miles isn't enough distance.

Fedora. Pith Helmet. Bowler. Beanie. Panama. Porkpie. Fez.

2008-10-24T15:59:00.001-07:00

OK, I have my Christmas shopping finished for my dad. Alison Meyer had a book signing for her "Palouse Perspectives" photography book on campus today and I ordered him a Seattle calender for the shop. And I already know what I'm going to get him for his birthday in March.

I only have a little something for Megan's birthday in January so far, no other ideas have come to me for her Christmas and birthday. I'm going to have her for a little while tomorrow evening so perhaps I can glean some ideas from her. I know what I'm getting her dad for his birthday in January, and I think I know what I'm getting her parents for Christmas. So, charity donation and Amazon wish list people are left.

Yay.

The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile

2008-10-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

Clem's not coming over winter break. Talk about disappointment. I had meals and events just about planned out. At least I get a new hat and scarf out of it; I already bought the yarn to make her a set so I may as well use it.

I'm a little bit depressed. Especially since I had already decided to not be cheap and lavishly spend money on food and skiing. Oh well, it's been 20 years since I've skied, I can wait another 20. Poor me.

And, apparently, I'm old. Clementine called me and asked what I was doing so I told her that I was eating dinner and watching a Coreys movie. She had no idea.

"You know, the Coreys!?"

"No idea what you're talking about."

"The Coreys...Haim and Feldman."

"Umm, no."

"Corey.Haim.Corey.Feldman."

"Sorry."

Then I looked and the movie came out a year before she was born. Wow.

2008-10-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Clementine had a good time at the party for WAK's roommate on Saturday, but I think she's ready to write him off. He apparently doesn't want anything "serious". She doesn't know if that means not serious like they were last year or just friends. So she's not going to contact him anymore. She was talking to his friend at the party, the sweet one, unfortunately with the girlfriend he adores:

We were talking in the garage and he goes "So I have to ask, what's the deal with you and WAK?" and I said, "I honestly don't know, he's a hard one to figure out." and he says "I don't know what his deal is. I tell him all the time. You are the coolest girl we've ever met, and you have the same sense of humor. You're like the same person. And, sorry if this is shallow, but you are totally cute." And then he said, "Even if you and WAK don't work out, I still want to hang out, because I think you rule. Most girls, once they find out I have a girlfriend, completely lose interest in hanging out with me."

I think it's time for him to lose his girlfriend.

She said that she's going to try really hard not to text WAK or anything, and just see what happens. It sucks because she still likes him, but "I think this whole shiz needs to be done."

So now you're all updated.

And she said that she was going to contact the parentals to see about holiday plans and when would be ideal to come visit me. I just reminded her so she'll let me know. Unfortunately, her laptop battery is dying so I'll have to wait to find out if/when she's coming.

2008-10-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hey, look, gas is down to $2.86 at the Chevron. Remember in the '90s when it went into the 90...cent range (why isn't there a cent symbol on keyboards)? Those were the days.

Only one of my stocks is making me money -- yay, 12 dollars ahead! And 300 shy on the others. Whoops. I was only $120 in the hole yesterday so they'll rally again, I'm almost sure.

Been a bit busy at work. Trying to keep out of the wind today and that is all I have to report.

Nostalgia

2008-10-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

I was just IM-ing with Clementine and she has been invited to WAK's roommate's brithday party. She has leftover pie crust and was going to make a pie to take for the birthday boy. Since she has a lot of lemons, she's actually deciding between a lemon meringue pie and cupcakes with lemon buttercream frosting.

That got me to thinking of my grandparent's yard. I loved living with them, with the Santa Barbara climate, I could always go to the garden for a lemon. Now I have to buy them. Just not the same. Clementine mentioned how their house ruled and how glorious the yard was and asked if there were plums, too. So I started listing their garden items and now I'm kinda homesick. Plums, apricots, avocados, grapes, artichokes, figs, and with six orange trees, there were always ripe oranges. Too bad they sold that house about 7 years ago and moved into a mobile home in Oxnard.

2008-10-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Please, please, please, keep me away from my online brokerage account. I cannot put any more money into the stock market, but it's just so addictive.

2008-10-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Life On Mars premiere is tonight. My dad's looking forward to it, but since I saw the British version, I'm not so sure. Guess I'll give it a try since Harvey's in it.

2008-10-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

WAK and Clem went to see the Dandy Warhols last week. She said that she had a great time, but she feels like a hussy because he didn't even try for a good night kiss. They saw each other for about a month last time so they were past that. She was worried that it was a "just friends" thing and that she didn't get the memo. I put it down to awkwardness and shyness and to just see how there future interactions go before believing anything.

I got a call from a guy for a current vacancy and he said he'd be sharing it with a buddy and then he said, "Uh, yeah, uh, we're both felons." Yeah, both registered sex offenders. Don't think so. Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough in saying no so he kept talking and divulged that his victim was 4. I can't get it out of my head. Four.years.old. I didn't sleep much last night.

In other, happier, news, I ordered a camcorder on eBay and it came in the mail yesterday. I ripped into it and shot 30 seconds of video outside my front door then played around and saved it, e-mailed it, and uploaded it to YouTube, all within about 15 minutes. Sooo easy. Best $70 ever spent. Now I have to try not to wear it out before Europe. That's going to be hard since I want to film everything. Illusions of Scorsese.

I mentioned to Clementine that I have some airline miles if she wants to come see me over winter break. Of course, after I told her, the mileage sale ended and now it'll cost me twice as many miles. She got excited when she realized that there may be snow and that we could go snowboarding. She can go snowboarding, I'll stick to skis. I did mention that it has been a very long time since I've skied and if we go and hilarity ensues, there will be no digital record of the events. At first I was apprehensive, but now, I'm kinda excited. One of the area ski resorts also has snow tubing. $20 for two hours of tubing. Sounds fun.

Return of the WAK

2008-10-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

Clementine ran into that guy who blew her off last year. The one who blew her off with a drunk phone call saying that he was going to date his high school girlfriend. Yeah, that one.

I have some other news, too. But I'm not sure you're going to appreciate it, haha! At my party, WAK showed up and we started talking, exchanging the usual awkward friendliness, but when I asked the requisite "How was your summer?" he just said, "Eh, it was all right. But, uh...I missed you a lot." And he went into this thing about how even in the couple days following the night where he ended our whatever it was, he knew he'd made a mistake, and not just because his friend said "What the f*ck dude, she was the coolest girl we've met at school, you're an idiot." Also, he went on to say that when he got home and was hanging out with that girl, he realized he'd never want to date her and kept comparing her to me. He said that he wanted to call me but felt like such a retard and that he wanted to talk to me in person once he got down here. So...there we have it. I'm not going to lie it was probably one of my favorite moments of the summer, especially because I definitely still like him. I do have some residual bitterness about being blown off for another girl so I'm not sure
what's going to happen, but it did make me happy and I do want to hang out with him again. SO, pretty much...He was lame, but his whole spiel was REALLY sweet and if you get past his initial lame-ness you can kind of see the "ahhwa" moment in there.

I replied with my thoughts of the friend seems like a keeper, what's his story?, and WAK had some strikes against him before the main event of his idiocy, mainly not knowing how to make a date and keep it. So, I offered her the free advice that he'd better straighten up and fly right and she'd better learn to respect herself enough not to put up with any crap.

He called her Saturday to just say that he was too busy to call her so that's a start. She was a little depressed and went to a party where she met a very gorgeous guy. They chatted and danced and even though they didn't exchange numbers, they know a few people in common so it's not outside the realm of possibility to see him again. Meanwhile, WAK called her Wednesday and they're going to see the Dandy Warhols tonight in LA. Luckily she's driving so that makes me feel better.

She IMd me this morning in anticipation of tonight. Mentioned wanting to go home and clean her room and get cute. To which I replied that there was no need to clean her room since he would not be seeing it, ahem.

Clem: It'll take more then taking me to a concert for him to see my room

Me: Like the ability to make and keep a few dates

Clem: ...like getting me liquored up

Me: ...and by a few, I mean 150

Clem: Just kidding, I'm a LADY

Me: When did that happen?

2008-10-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

My mom got back in touch on Monday, we straightened the budget out yesterday, taking her screw-ups of last month into account, and came up with the new plan to start today. I just found something that may be her deviating from the plan. Already. Sigh.

2008-09-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

OK, I've re-worked my financial spreadsheets and I can still swing Europe without getting my money back from my mom. I thought my budget was pretty tight now, it'll just have to be a bit tighter. And I really hope that I get a tax refund. Even without counting eggs, though, I'm pretty sure I'll have enough. Just not as much savings as I would have hoped, but at least not in debt.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you know that saying, "If you lend someone $20 and never hear from them again, it was probably worth it?" Same is true with four grand.

2008-09-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

Look at that, it only took her 2 weeks to deviate from the plan and start ignoring my e-mails. Shocker.

The Good, the Kind, the Stupid and the Cruel

2008-09-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

My mother called last night and we went over all of her bills. It's not as bad as I had thought. If it were too bad, I would have referred her to a credit counseling/debt management place that I found that seems reputable. It's the medical bills that puts her kind in a bind, but the credit cards are easy.

It went pretty well. I kept her on the phone as I checked her credit reports, we went over her monthly expenses and spending habits. I only had one Suze Orman moment when I reamed her for keeping a storage unit. I don't care how much the table cost you, I'll put it on Craigslist for $20 if my brother doesn't take it. It's costing you $145 a month to keep it and all the other crap that you'll never use because it's in storage. Get rid of everything, including the storage unit before another month passes. She's always been a pack rat, realistically, it'll be at least another 2 months before she'll consider giving it up. Although she did surprise me by calling last night. And by the way, no more money, not a single dime, to your kids. If they have a problem with that, have them call me. Not that I'll give them money, but I can give them a tongue lashing. Parasitic bastards with feelings of entitlement.

I don't think that the message was fully received, especially when she e-mailed me today and said that she thought that she had given me all of her debts, but she forgot about a friend who bought her dog food and gave her gas money. Then she said that she wants to brush up on her algebra and could I recommend a book. Umm, start at the library, or since this is the 21st century, the internet. You cannot afford a text book.

This is going to be hard, but I'm far enough away that I won't choke her like Homer Simpson. I should finish by saying that I'm very proud of her that she called me with her information, that's the first step, just step by step, one day at a time, and any other sitcom you can think of.

2008-09-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

I got involved.

I just paid off one of my mother's debts. I made it a condition that she has to be honest about all of her finances and that I'd help her get out of her remaing debt by coming up with an expense plan. This may be a huge mistake, stripping away all vestiges of my sanity, but if it works, it'll be great.

2008-08-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

A coworker gave me a large zucchini last week so I made chocolate zucchini cake with a powdered sugar glaze and a chocolate chip zucchini cake with a chocolate drizzle. I brought them into the office and I'm using all of my willpower not to have a second piece.

2008-08-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Oh yay! The guy from my elementary school won the gold! I recorded it last night, but couldn't wait so I looked it up this morning.

That makes two people that I know (or have heard of?) to have a medal. The other is in the family, kinda -- follow the bouncing ball -- my late grandfather's wife's daughter's life partner who medaled in basketball. Not sure when she got hers, but perhaps early '70s.

2008-08-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

I've been in a pissy mood. Mostly because I was getting a weird vibe off of a friend, a prickly, awkward thing with odd responses to my conversation attempts. I asked and she said it was my imagination.

It never ceases to amaze me that you can know someone really well and still manage to say something to offend them. In my old age, though, I'm more of a f**k it kinda person. Their problem not mine if they took something I said in a way different than I intended and refuse to acknowledge it. Still, the whole thing in the past few weeks has left me with a...feeling (how girly).

Another factor to the pissiness is the return of the students (da-da-*dum*). My town now has twice the population and people keep getting in my way. I accidentally went to the grocery store last night after T-ball. Big mistake. Big. Huge.

Although I actually got stuff to eat so that's a plus. Two nights ago I ate cantaloupe and rum and Coke for dinner (Ok, actually it was Dr. Pepper and Malibu, but you get the gist).

2008-08-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Clementine found an internship possibility at Interpol. She doesn't know anything about it, but she IM'd me with the following fictitious conversation.

[Study abroad fall '09 then come back, then internship after graduation]

Yeah, that would be a kick ass resume. What kind of international experience do you have? Well I studied abroad in Paris and internshipped [umm, not sure that's a word] for Interpol. What was that? I just blew your mind? Yes, I'll accept your extremely high paying job. It comes with George Clooney? Sweet. Why, yes, I'll accept.

Ahh, to be young and naive.

2008-08-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

That's funny. I found out this morning about the guy at the Olympics when I heard a commentator mention the loss of the match so this afternoon, I looked online for all of the info and watched a few videos about the team. I just went downstairs and turned on the TV and there was one on the interviews I'd seen in progress. I guess they just aired the match. Oh well, didn't need to see it since I know they lost this one.

2008-08-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

I found out that the brother of my elementary school crush (pre-school through 3rd grade) is on an Olympic team. Lost the first match, but has a chance to recover on Monday. Guess I'll have to tune in.

2008-08-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

When I talked to my mother yesterday, she said that she wasn't coming because the ct scan she had cost her (probably my grandparents) $650. Then she asked how much it would cost to drive. Probably at least $500, and that's only if you get good gas mileage and can stay with a relative instead of getting a hotel.

Today, I got a message on my cell phone from a collection agency for her. It's been bugging me all day. No matter how many times I lecture her on her life choices, everything just rolls off her abck (I just read that no matter what you do, never use a cliche) and I end up feeling like I've kicked a puppy. And set it on fire. It's an amazing trait. She will be in debt up to her eyeballs and if she gets $20, will give it to one of my siblings. She would give the shirt off her back to anyone and end up in the gutter. I definitely do not have that gene. I'm a worrier.

I've been going back and forth all day. Get involved? Don't get involved? Get involved? Aw, hell! I hate this, this is part of the reason I moved 1200 miles away and I still get dragged into things.

2008-08-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

I wrote a long update last week about the party I was going to, my housesitting adventures, and my mother's kidney stones (sorry you missed it) and the possibility of her coming to visit later this month -- despite owing me $400 -- but when I went to publish, Blogger wasn't available and I lost the entry. I'm sure you're sad.

Today's entry is all about how excited I am. I get Megan overnight, I'm picking her up in about an hour, and all day tomorrow. We're going to go to the farmer's market and out to breakfast and we'll make cupcakes and play with sidewalk chalk (poor kid is from the country and doesn't have a sidewalk) and run through the sprinklers and...I think we're going to run out of time. And I absolutely cannot wait for her T-ball to start next week. The wait is going to kill me. Perhaps that was in the entry I tried last week, too. She's starting T-ball! 3-5 year olds. How cute is that!? They only have 8 "games", every Tuesday and Thursday in August, but they get a team t-shirt, cap, and water bottle and they take team pictures. I'm going to miss two games since I'll be housesitting again, but poor Stacey has to miss all the Tuesday games.

2008-07-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Crap. I just realized that I can't go to North Dakota with my dad. I have to housesit.

2008-07-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

It's official, I put it on the calendar. I'm taking two days off in August to got to North Dakota with my dad and I put down a day off in September. Not sure what I'll do with the long weekend in September, but I'm taking it off.

2008-07-21T07:40:00.001-07:00

I love my town.

On Saturday, I went over to the Bite of Seattle. It was a very easy drive in the morning. I didn't even have to get out of cruise control until Ellensburg. Then I got to I-5. I found a place to park and then I saw some beautiful photographs at the On Focus Photo booth. I even came away with bookmarks, note cards, and a print.

I had some good food -- gyro, chocolate covered pineapple on a stick, beignets (although they weren't the best I've had, they were good enough). I'm still craving the curly fries. I meant to leave around 5:00, but I didn't get out of the parking garage until 6:07...and not to I-5 until 6:34. Yeah, that's how long it takes me to get from my house to the other side of a neighboring town -- which is in a different state -- and this was like 3 miles. Once I hit the I-5 though, it was smooth sailing. Then I decided that the food I had was more lunch than dinner and since I left later than I intended, I wouldn't get home until after 11:00 so I had better stop for dinner. This, of course, was all brought about by the sign, after I'd been on the highway for only 20 minutes, that informed me that there was a Fatburger at the next right. :) Mmmm, Fatburger. And it was good.

The whole trip was only 575 miles.

Sunday, I did absolutely nothing. Then took KFC out to my dad's for dinner and then went housesitting. They have a large TV with HD and the guy insisted that once I'd seen HD, I would want it. Umm, can't tell the difference.

2008-07-17T10:36:00.001-07:00

Today, when Clementine and I were IM-ing about Christian Bale (she's going to see Batman tonight and I mentioned seeing the haunting pictures of him from The Machinist where he is an emaciated mess) I mentioned how far he's come since Newsies. Believe it or not, she's never heard of Newsies! So I give her the synopsis and she asks, "Huh. Was it good?"To which I reply, "How could it not be? Singing and dancing newsboys in 1899 New York rising up to fight The Man!"

2008-07-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

My dad's cousin sent me some pictures and things that she found as she's preparing to move, including a framed 8x10 portrait photo of my dad that his buddy did as an assignment for Brooks Institute in the '60s. My dad is in a dashing brown corduroy blazer.

I also got a lot of photos of family from the '50s and '60s that my dad may be able to identify and a lot of photo Christmas cards from my dad's parents spanning 1953-1988. And one photo Christmas card from my parents (I think in '78). The photo was obviously taken of the four of us at one of their barbeques, but there's something classic about it that the picture for the Christmas card has my mom holding a beer. There were also little things like a postcard to my great aunt from my grandfather when he was visiting Ireland and a Christmas card to my great uncle from my dad when he was 10.

I have to go out on Friday to meet with the housesitting people to go over watering. Last time I sat for them it wasn't growing season. I'll take the pictures, and dinner, with me and stop at my dad's so we can go through them.

Party Poopers

2008-07-15T15:29:00.001-07:00

The second set of my dad's friends who were going to visit this year pooped out. With my friends pooping out and my grandfather taking the eternal poop out, of the four possible visits this year, we have none. Last year, I had to alter my Christmas card to list the people I had visited, this year I'm not even visiting anyone so it's going to be slim pickings in Christmas card text.

Stacey's having a "Bon Voyage" party for her neighbor. Well, in honor of her neighbor, not for him. He was convicted of obtaining child pornography and will be going to jail on the 28th. So we're all celebrating with a barbeque on the 27th.

Speaking of jail, one of my tenants is behind on his rent. Someone tried to bite his finger off. How does one get in that situation? The tenant had to have some surgeries and everything. On top of his disability for breaking a shoulder at work and the air conditioner went out, two of burners on the stove no longer work, someone broke in when he was in the hospital and stole a lot of his stuff, including his telephone...My dad told me this today since he got the whole story when he went to post a 3 day pay or quit on the guy's door for me.

I've been spending money a little too freely and I'm paying for it now. But really, now, how do you pass up two wool skirts for $30 including shipping? Payday was Friday and I have $45 until next payday. Oops. Luckily, I start housesitting this weekend for a week so I'll be getting some extra cash.

2008-07-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

I just updated the About Me to reflect another year here in this beautiful place. If memory serves, I got here on June 26, moved into my house June 30, and started work July 1. Time flies when you're having fun because here it is 6 years later. I heard author Richard Ford mention that he had an instantaneous recognition of home when he resided in New Orleans. That's exactly what happened with my town and I feel extremely blessed to be here.

I accomplished the task of painting my garage this weekend. Power washed it and sprayed it on Friday and then brushed the trim on Saturday. As a thank you for my dad's help (and as justification to see it), I took him to see Hancock on Saturday afternoon. Besides the extreme close-ups and the whirling around the actors, I liked it. Believe it or not, there's a little bit of action in it.

On Sunday, my dad and I were invited to his neighbor's house for dinner. Really good food -- sausage, ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, green beans. Wow, that guy is a great cook. I made a summer pudding that didn't turn out, but oh well. I'm housesitting for them in a couple of weeks so there's some money for the Europe fund.

This weekend is the auto swapmeet in Spokane (goody) and possibly a visit from my dad's friends, although they're hard to pin a date down. That's right, be as vague as possible -- around the second week of July.

2008-07-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

I read an article on the differences between conservative and liberal patriotism.

Generally, conservative patriotism is said to be rooted in the past. Love America for the sacrifices of those before us who made it what it (usually sugar-coated) is. Unicorns pooped sunshine in the old days. And America is made by immigrants, as long as they assimilate.

Liberal patriotism is said to stem from dissent. America is what it is and we can make it better. Unicorns were murdered by The Man in the old -- and new-- days. And America is made by immigrants, the cultures they bring add to our "American-ness."

Both are completely valid forms of patriotism, but no matter your patriotic (or political) beliefs, do not call another citizen unpatriotic. The act of doing so is, well, unpatriotic.

Also, don't confuse patriotism with nationalism. Just because you love America (even if it's just because you don't know anything else), that doesn't mean that you should disparage other countries.

Welcome to Earth.

Happy Independence Day.

2008-07-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

I decided to ramp up my savings and since there's a small deposit due at booking and the rest is due 75 days before the trip, that I'd mention what I was thinking (Mediterranean cruise) to Clementine. Looks like she's on board.

I spoke to a friend in Santa Barbara who was supposed to come visit me in October. They've decided that gas is too expensive so instead of driving up here...they're going to cruise to Hawaii. Hmm, not too logical.

I bought (hopefully) all of the paint I'll need for the shop this weekend. I saw a few wasps nests so I bought some spray to put on tonight. I hope that they'll all be vacated by Friday.

I took my dad up to Spokane for his annual Indians ball game. Again a good time was had by all. Beautiful night (about 95 degrees), cold beer, good hot dog, good peanuts and good Cracker Jack (not really, it seems I was totally rooked on the peanuts). There were three guys behind me that were pretty spiffed, but they were amiable enough. And the evening ended with fireworks.

I can't believe that it's July already. It's a little heartbreaking that I saw a few students yesterday who seemed to be moving into Greek houses. School doesn't start until August 25, for Pete's sake.

I had my eyes checked on Monday. There may be a little prescription in my right eye, but not enough for glasses to help me. The main thing is that my pressure's good so no need to worry about glaucoma yet. I did get lectured by the doctor. Apparently, one should go every year, not every 8 years. Who knew?

When we got back from Santa Barbara, I was surprised that gas was still under $4 ($3.98). The next weekend was 4.02 and then the next was $4.05. I saw one of the stations went up another 6 cents today so I got gas at lunch, thinking that it'll go up at the station I use this afternoon. Apparently it's over $5 in Goleta. Since some economists are saying over $7 by 2010, I'd like to book my travel as soon as possible.

Also, I believe that I agreed to go on a cruise to Alaska with my Santa Barbara friends in 2013. They said 2012, but I'll need some time for my bank account to recover from the graduation vacation because I plan on going big.

2008-06-25T14:46:00.001-07:00

A posting from my dad's cousin eulogizing his mother, my Aunt Peggy:

Our father, our Dad, died in 1999. At the time, I said a few words at his memorial: that he was brave, and strong, and true.

I didn’t say it at the time (although I did to Mom later), the words applied to her as well; Mom and Dad were two halves of the same coin, as corny as that sounds.

Let me see if I can explain.

In 1998, Mom had open-heart surgery. Something went wrong the first time around; thankfully, Donna was right there to jump in and take charge and make sure Mom got what she needed.

(Mom missed out on a couple of months – it was always weird for her once she recovered, knowing that the calendar said one thing, when her soul said another.)

Anyway, what Mom did next was truly astounding. She clawed her way out of her pit, pulled herself up by shear willpower, determined to survive, not let those who loved her down. This enormous feat she did …

… and then her husband of 56 years and one day died.

What Mom did next in the face of this impossibly awful obstacle was even more extraordinary: she took us kids, her four boys, back to Art’s place, and proceeded to comfort us. She did this with both her profound embracement of life, and her incredible sense of humor; she told us stories of her youth, neighbors, anything that popped into her mind that might take our minds off of what had just transpired.

An example (and a favorite story): Mom’s father, her Pop, had made her a wager – or promise, depending on how you look at it – when she was a teen: “I’ll pay you $2 when you reach 100 pounds”. Well, Mom was slender, in the words of our Dad – or scrawny, in the words of her sister – so this was quite a challenge. However, like many challenges in Mom’s life, she overcame this one, although not until her early twenties. Mom confronted her Poppa with undeniable evidence that she had obtained her goal, whereupon Grandfather Reid quibbled that the bet had been “$1 for 200 pounds”! Mom fought back and eventually won – and was paid in Confederate dollars (at the time of the telling of this story, she wished that she had kept that reward).

Of course, she told this story better than I ever could, but God knows, this and others like it helped us through that night and the long days ahead.

Another example of her strength and courage: when I was young (fifty-mumble-de-some years ago), Mom had an operation. The docs gave her less than a year to live; clearly, they forgot to take into consideration her opinion of the whole thing (which must have been something like “the heck with that!”); in any event, they were off by a bit. I’m rather glad about that.

As alluded to earlier, our Mother has a great sense of humor. (She may have inherited this from her parents, particularly her Poppa, who as Chief Rum-Dum-Rip-In-The-Pants – probably a politically incorrect alias these days – would send us kids amusing notes.) She taught us that getting someone to laugh, especially someone you care for in particular, is, well, the Best Thing Ever.

Mom kept a good grip on her sense of humor to the very end.

2008-06-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

It was such a beautiful weekend, I even wore shorts on Saturday. And got a little pink weeding in the back yard. I had my hair appointment, too. Thank goodness she could squeeze me in. She's usually about 6 weeks out so when I had to cancel my appointment when I was in California, I thought I was screwed.

I got all excited that I was on track with saving for Clementine's college graduation trip in two years that I decided to go all out and strongly suggest the Mediterranean cruise. Unfortunately, I realized Sunday that the saving was up to the month that she graduates and I would have to book at least a year before the trip. Now I'm not nearly as excited and am in a holding pattern. I'm not giving her the options from which to choose for a few more months so we'll see how things play out.

The weekend before last, I went to dessert with Stacey and her friends. Oh my God, the chocolate spoon cake was sooo good. And Megan was sooo funny. She was in quite the mood. The next day, we all took Megan to see Kung Fu Panda. I know better then to go to the movies with those people. First I was told to meet in the parking lot at 4:45 (movie at 5:00). I got there and was standing outside, looking toward the direction from which I thought people would be coming. I waited for about 5 minutes (getting nervous) and went inside the mall and there was Stacey, Megan and two of the others. When I pointed out that I was told that we'd meet in the parking lot, I was answered with, "Oh, I probably did say that, but they came and were walking in so we walked in with them." Is that an acceptable answer? We were still waiting for two others -- the ones who had the idea of going to the movies. When we called, they said that they were on their way and already had tickets. Only one person working in the theatre, having to sell everyone a ticket and then go to another cash register to sell everyone snacks.

I'll be the first to admit that I can get a little uptight about the movie going experience. For it to be pleasurable, I have to get my ticket 15 minutes prior to the movie. Not three minutes and then snacks and then get a seat. Seriously. Oh, and Stacey bought Megan a bottle of water (couldn't get the water from the soda fountain) and the cashier said she'd have to pay for a cup. We were thinking no more than a quarter. Nope, price of a soda -- $2.75. For the cup. For the bottle of water she just bought. Are you freakin' kidding me?

Last time three of the 7 of us went to the movies, we were getting seats as the movie was starting. Previews already shown. I get anxious about such things. It took me about half an hour to calm down and get into the movie. I am definitely not cut out for going to the movies with them.

I was tempted to take a comp afternoon and go see Iron Man. I think this may be the last week in area. Instead, I'll take some comp time to take my cat to get her shots. Whee. The Incredible Hulk is playing too, and although the first one wasn't great, this one has Ed Norton so that pretty much makes it worth the price of admission. But, instead of movies, I'll save my money and see where I get with the graduation vacation.

My dad and I were supposed to go to North Dakota over the 4th of July to pick up the street rod, but his body man has to come here in late July and said that he'd just bring it. That leaves me free to paint my shop over that weekend. It should have been done a couple of years ago.

2008-06-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

I just watched the last few minutes of a biography of Dr. H. H. Holmes -- billed as America's first serial killer. Holy crap. I'm scared. Glad I didn't see the whole thing. Time to watch the last few minutes of High School Musical to get it out of my head.

I reread the last entry. Wow, is that unclear. Familial relationships and incomplete thoughts.

2008-06-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

When I called my mom to tell her that he'd died, I made it clear that she's not invited to this one. My dad was kind of dreading it and I'm trying to relieve his stress. She tried to negotiate for just the service and not the gathering, but I said no. I found out later that it's just a gathering anyway. My sister called Thursday to see if she should come. I told her she could if she wanted to and she is going to come. She had to know who is coming that she'll know. I think we'll both know the same people. She's only met my grandfather's wife once so I'll know one more. And if a couple that we used to camp with come, then I'll know two more. She asked about our Aunt Peggy (grandfather's sister) and I said that she's not coming. She's in bad shape and they're considering not even telling her of his death, but one of her kids will come since he'll be passing though to see her in northern California.

She died yesterday morning. That makes me so sad, she was always my favorite aunt. That's it for my grandfather's four siblings. I'm trying to think of the others' names, but, it's like the seven dwarfs, can't name them all -- can only come up with three of them -- Katherine, Hugh, Peggy and...?

My dad's cousin gave me a few things from her late mother's (my deceased grandmother's sister) things. When I first walked in, she said that she had something for me. She gave me a frame with two water color paintings matted in oval cutouts. OK, thanks. It wasn't until a minute or two later that she told me the reason that made me like it better: the one on the left was a group of pansies painted by my grandmother in 1938 and the other was a pansy with some little yellow flowers around it painted by her sister in 1951.

My dad got a couple more painting by their (grandmother and great-aunt) father. I cannot believe that his cousin parted with those. He kept lobbying for the big one, but that, of course, is a losing cause.

I also got a Sorby painting. Sorby is billed as a cousin of my great-aunt, but I'm not quite sure of the association. He apparently taught art somewhere (I've heard University of Chicago and San Jose). The painting I have looks a little hotel-ish, but I think I'll put it up at work.

His cousin gave me some photographs of the family, my great-father and his family (mother, father, siblings) and some documents that my grandmother and her sister needed to join the DUV (Daughters of Union Veterans). The story I had heard was that my great-grandfather's father hand run away from home at 14, lied about his age, and joined the army. I guess it's all true.

Today, we're getting the stuff for the gathering tomorrow and we're going to pick up his ashes.

I'm just sitting here

I went down to visit my mom and other grandparents.

2008-06-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

Well, the weather is very nice. A bit of Santa Ana winds.

We got here about 11:30 on Wednesday morning. What an organized guy -- by Wednesday afternoon, we had all of his household stuff packed and the Rescue Mission called. Three boxes of clothes and a trashcan of things like his underwear drawer that we didn't want to give away. Ick.

I found his father's pocket watch and his mother's locket so I have those.

Gotta go, my dad's up. More later.

I'm going to borrow the car this morning and go down to see my other grandparents.

2008-06-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

My grandfather died around midnight. I'm frantically getting things tied up at work so my dad and I can leave at 4:30 tomorrow morning to drive down there.

2008-06-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

My grandfather is breathing, but with assistance. His wife called my dad and asked him about my grandfather's wishes. My dad and I were a little surprised that they hadn't talked about such things. Especially since my grandfather has had pretty serious health scares in the last year or two. He mentioned the durable power of attorney and she seemed to know exactly what he was talking about so I think she probably just wanted to talk to my dad about it, more of a informing him of the situation rather than asking about her husband's wishes. My dad assured her that she couldn't make the wrong decision, just listen to what the doctors are saying. He also suggested that she contact his cousin who lives in town who's good at these kinds of things. He called her, but she didn't answer so hopefully she is in town and not visiting her daughter in Texas.

2008-06-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

My dad just called. My grandfather was taken by ambulance to the hospital about half an hour ago. It doesn't sound good.

He had some trouble breathing last night. Today, he was up and about and he went to lie down and read like he often does in the afternoons and his wife heard two short noises, she ran in and found him half on the bed and half off and not breathing. She tried to get him going and when she couldn't, she called for the ambulance. Apparently, the EMTs worked on him for a bit and she called my dad. He heard a friend of theirs come in to tell her that they got him breathing again. She told my dad to call me and that she'd call him when she knew something.

As I told my dad, when I said yesterday that I was ready for a road trip, I did not mean for this occasion.

Keep Up

2008-05-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

There I am, sitting on the couch at 7:00 Friday night with the dog at me feet. I start the movie and am settling down for a nice peaceful evening after the running around and erratic sleep patterns of the previous week when, "Hello?"

Hmm, someone's in the house. I get up and go towards the front door and there's a woman in the hallway. Apparently, the people for whom I am housesitting gave a key to the old lady across the street for her to check on the dog during the day. The first thing I think is, wtf? The second thing is, I live alone and therefore have a habit of not closing bathroom doors, glad she didn't come at an inopportune moment. The third is, I'm glad I made my bed and didn't leave dirty dishes around. The fourth is, I'm here now, what the hell are you doing here?

She lost her keys and ran all over town so she didn't have a chance to come during the day so she decided that she'd better come now. OK, that makes no sense. You know, since.I'm.here.

So the dog is going crazy, after I had her calmed down. And then the woman says to the dog, "Are you calm now, can we move out of the hallway?" Umm, now you're inviting yourself the rest of the way in?

I back up a little into the kitchen and lean against the counter so she can't get to the living room. No way am I going to sit there a socialize with this woman. I am not a natural socializer and this is my time, dammit. I am also very aware of the not-in-polite company language coming from the movie that is still playing. Snoogans. She chats some more about losing her keys and having to run all over town and that the dog wants a treat. Umm, she just had one. You know, from the person being paid to watch her. But, if it'll get you to leave....

As she's finally leaving, she says that she'll be back tomorrow. Umm, tomorrow's Saturday, I'll be here, no need for you. Then I thought, what the hell, I'll go home and do some laundry and play some Wii.

Needless to say, I don't think I'll be sitting for them again. Not that I think they'll need it anyway, they're home bodies and have a B&B. Best part about staying there, they paid me to stay in a nice room with bath robes and a jetted tub. And a high strung dog. One would think if she's a B&B dog that she'd be a little better at the people thing.

I had Megan for a few hours on Monday. With Stacey out of town, Ryan had "some things to do" so he asked if her could drop her off for about an hour and a half. Like he had to ask. So we made chocolate chip cookies and played with the blocks and Play-doh and cookie cutters while watching Wallace and Gromit. An hour and a half came and went and I thought that I should probably think about lunch. We were eating lunch in the back yard (beautiful day) when he called to say he was on his way. She finished her lunch and we were having a cookie when he showed up. An hour and a half turned into 3 hours. Not that that's a bad thing, jsut an observation.

My grandfather and his wife are coming in a couple of weeks. I was going to take her to the meal prep place -- where you chooses meals and assemble them for the freezer. However, the place released the menu for June and nothing really sounds very appetizing to me, let alone trying to choose 4 meals. I think we'll just do things in my new freezer cookbook. When I was housesitting, I made the frozen breakfast burritos and they're pretty tasty.

My dad and I finally nailed down a date to go to his Father's Day present ballgame. I told him that it's June 28, July 4, or July 5. After that we're into August since either my weekends are booked or there are no home games. Looks like June 28 for the game and we may go to North Dakota to get his street rod from the body man over the 4th.

Some friends mentioned needing me to watch their animals for a few days in June, but I have yet to hear from them. So far no sitting in July and about 16 days in August for two different houses.

A co-worker invited me out to have dinner and a pitcher with him and his wife tonight. At first I wasn't going to go -- that socializing thing -- but, now it's not even 10:00 and I need a beer and a gyro.

Work is nuts. Mostly thanks to the HVAC renovation. Juggling people and rooms to stay a step ahead of the contractors. One faculty member and his lab members are absent so I have to clean his area out today. Luckily, it's the neatest of all of the faculty members so it's just schlepping books and computers and animal skulls for the most part.

2008-05-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

"The other day I got out my can opener and was opening a can of worms when I thought, 'What am I doing?!'"

-- Jack Handey

2008-05-25T13:52:00.001-07:00

Yay, I got Wii Fit! I've just finished with my 90 minutes of playing. Guess it's time to get back to dog sitting. But that's finished early in the morning so I can play Wii all day tomorrow.

Well, I could if the weather weren't going to be nice. With all the bad weather this year, one would think that Mother Nature would let me have one icky day for Wii.

2008-05-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

I am a woman with a Wii! Yay, Mii!

I've played all of the sports and tennis is my favorite. I even returned the A/V Selector that I didn't need.

2008-05-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

I'm tired, but not as tired as I should be. The external review is over -- I just dropped the last two committee members off at the airport. The committee members were so nice. They even gave me a miniature rose bush to kill. I'm at work to do a couple of things and then I'm going home for the day (mainly to see if I can hook up my Wii with the item I bought two days ago).

2008-05-21T15:25:00.001-07:00

My dad and I speak the same language. Regarding the Wii connectivity [is that really a word?] update:

I'm hearing: "...need a friggle frammis, blabbity, blabbity, return the spiggle grommet..."

Exactly.

2008-05-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

I went back to Radio Shack. I have no idea if it'll work, but apparently, what I need to hook up the Wii is the RF Modulator. I dunno. I bought it and will try to find a moment to figure it out. If that's correct then I can return the A/V Selector.

2008-05-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

Our department's going through its external review on Wednesday and Thursday. I think I've done all of the planning that I can. Finished the meeting schedule, compiled the welcome packets for the reviewers, arranged for people to pick them up and deliver them places and take them to meals. [I wrote that last sentence and realized that I hadn't ordered the sandwiches for tomorrow's lunch, phew, I just did it.] I'm picking two of the committee members up at the airport, one at 3:00 this afternoon and the other at 11:00 tonight. Here's hoping that the weather cooperates and they can land -- threat of thunder storms and high winds.

Compounding things, I start housesitting tonight so I have to leave the dog (adorable year and a half year old German shorthair pointer) while I go to the airport, probably first go home to look online to make sure the flights on time. On Wednesday, my dad is getting his windshield replaced (big, big rock), but he has a doctor's appointment in Pullman so he's going to drop off his car and I'll pick him up, we'll go to McDonald's for breakfast and then he'll drop me off at work and take my car to his appointment. On Thursday, Stacey has to go to the airport so she'll come by where I'm housesitting around 5:00 in the morning and then I'll drive her car from the airport to my house then walk back to where I'm housesitting, luckily only six blocks from my house. Then I pick up the committee and take them to breakfast with the rest of the staff. I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it. On Friday morning, I pick up two of the committee members at 5:00 in the morning and take them to the airport. Then I'm finished. Except for the housesitting until Sunday around midnight. Perhaps I'll sleep in Memorial Day.

2008-05-19T14:41:00.001-07:00

Poor Clementine is disappointed and sad. WAK called her (drunk) yesterday and broke things off. Apparently he's not over some chic from high school so he said it wasn't fair to Clem to continue seeing her. She felt that it was rather sudden since they hung out on Friday and Saturday and then she gets his drunk phone call on Sunday. It doesn't surprise me that he was drunk, from what I understand, he's painfully shy and I would imagine that he needed the liquid courage. She said that it would be nice if he could have done it sober. Oh well. She's learning. I tried to send her flowers through her campus gift delivery, but it didn't work so I just added 10 bucks to her campus dining plan. She can go drown her sorrows in a Chipotle burrito.

I went up to Sandpoint to the car show on Saturday (and to buy my expensive paperweight) and on Sunday I met with some new house/dog sitting clients for this week and then went to a potluck to celebrate the acquisition of the "Big Grant." I also set up my automatic timer for the garden since outdoor irrigation permission started on Thursday.

I can't go to potlucks. I took a green bean dish (that I hated and everyone else tolerated) and white wine sangria -- I reserved a couple of glasses so I can't wait to go home tonight -- and all together it cost me 50 bucks! Holy crap. Since the group hired someone to administer this one, I am no longer handling any of the work so they gave me an orchid. I'm currently taking bets on how long it's going to live.

At the party, I mentioned something about petsitting and an...unusual...woman later said that she wanted to talk to me about petsitting. It went something like this:

"Have you ever done ferrets?"

"No." [Ew]

"Well, they're exotic, but they're not hard. They're just like other pets and need attention."

"Hmm."

"And I have a cat."

"How many ferrets do you have?"

"Five."

"Oh" [I can practically smell them. You know, even if they're de-scented, they still emit a certain odor.]

"I have someone to pet sit, but it's nice to have a backup."

"Umm, yeah. Well, if you get in a pinch..." [I'll, unfortunately, have something else to do]

2008-05-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

I got a Wii! First store I went in! I need special everything and can't hook it up!

My TV is too old and of course the satellite DVR receiver doesn't have a/v in connections, only out. I thought that I was smart and went to Radio Shack for an a/v selector. My connectors on the receiver and TV are the pin things, (technical term) not the S-Video or phono plugs so I can't use the selector for now.

I think I've decided to see if I can find someone to pay to come over to just make it work. I'm getting a little nervous. Especially since after I did something, I had to fiddle with the TV to make it work.

No Wii for me. :( Pity me.

2008-05-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Please don't point and laugh at me as you see that I just spilled chocolate down the front of my white shirt. I was so excited that the place we go to on campus for ice cream on summer Fridays had not only real Drumsticks, but "fudgey goodness" Drumsticks that I had to buy one. Of course, there's only one way to eat a Drumstick.

1) eat off chocolate and nuts over open wrapper.
2) dab up fallen nuts in wrapper with exposed ice cream
3) use tongue to lick down ice cream into cone
4) when you can't get to the ice cream with your tongue, bite of cone until even with ice cream level
5) repeat steps 3-4 until down to chocolate bottom
6) using front teeth, peel off layered cone around chocolate until chocolate is exposed by about 1/16".
7) pop into mouth and peel away remaining cone, chew and swallow, leaving only the chocolate bottom to slowly melt in your mouth

The problem with this method is that it's hot today and I was kinda doing other things so it was 30 minutes before working my way to the bottom and it was melted. I grasped it a little too hard when I was peeling the layers of cone and it exploded in my hand. Chocolate everywhere.

P.S. Tide pens smell like vomit.

2008-05-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

OK, my stimulus payment came. Now I have to find a Wii. :)

2008-05-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

I was just reminded by a comment...

The mathematics department chairman has exit interviews with the graduating seniors. In one of the interviews, the chair asked the students what feature on campus has made their experience as students more enjoyable. The response from one bean-pole student mathematician was, "DDR in the dorm basement." Stacey, who was taking notes, looked at the chair with a confused look and then to the student who clarifies: "Dance Dance Revolution." Apparently, the physical demeanor of this student was something of a stereotypical...how shall I say...nerd and the idea of him playing DDR made Stacey comment to me that she would totally pay to see that.

Unfortunately, that is more then likely the response that I would get in attempting such an activity. We (the paternal family) are emphatically non-dancers. And the maternal family do dance, but should definitely not. I'm screwed.

2008-05-13T14:20:00.001-07:00

I went home at lunch to mow my lawn and is that little nickle-sized ball of icky-ness on my bedroom floor mouse innards? I guess I know what the cat's been doing since I've been housesitting. Tonight's her last night of night-time roaming so she'd better make it count.

2008-05-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

Am I physically able to spend a year's savings on a trip to Paris? If it were Venice, I'd say...perhaps, but I've never had much of a desire to go to Paris. I could see the Louvre and Notre Dame and the Champs-Élysées in a day, why spend money on several days of hotel in a city I have no desire to be in? Hell, I can't even bring myself to spend money on a Wii, much less on something as fleeting as a plane ticket. Having said that, I've done some research and Paris wouldn't be too bad...especially if I then hop a plane over to Ireland.

First things first, Clementine must actually apply and get accepted to the study abroad program.

2008-05-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Driving into town this morning from housesitting, I had several substance that were not entirely water hit the car. In fact, I think a few of them were actually snow. But, it was 40 degrees. On the bright side, it's supposed to be 85 on Saturday -- I'll ignore the 59 next Tuesday. It's supposed to be 86 in Sandpoint on Saturday which is where I'll be at the Lost in the '50s car show. Yay.

I left work at noon on Friday and went to Wal-Mart and the grocery store and the hardware store. I bought a new sprinkler and automatic timer for the garden and did a little weeding. Then I got take-out and went to my dad's for dinner. I don't know how much I like this housesitting for his neighbors. It seems awfully close.

On Saturday, I volunteered at the graduation reception for the college and then went to a graduation party. Had a burger (elk) and some cake and ice cream (with Magic Shell!). And about 6 of the devilled eggs that I brought. I brought 40, but they went fast...with a lot of my help. Then went up the road to housesitting. It would be more enjoyable if the satellite weren't out. I've just about finished the book I'm reading and will have to get another since I'll probably finish it tonight and tomorrow is my last night. The book is a novel that takes place in Spokane. Well written and a lot easier to read at night then the Dostoyevsky that I was re-reading. I really need to buy some new books -- although I had forgotten how humorous Dostoyevsky can be. Also, I can't believe that there are people who have never heard of Dostoyevsky, but there are.

2008-05-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have attracted a lonely old contractor. He came to ask a question about room access and then spent the next 50 minutes telling me his life story -- what jobs he's worked and in what locales, which of his grandsons are bums and which ones are hard workers, how his hometown has been overtaken by Mexicans...finally, a co-worker had to ask me a question and lurked outside my office so I had an excuse to help her and get him out. Nice guy. Except for the mild prejudice and deafness.

2008-05-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

I had an "I'm old" moment yesterday when I received a high school graduation announcement from a kid I used to babysit. Even though his older brother graduated two years ago, this one just seemed to hit me a little harder. I'm sure when the last of the brothers graduates, it'll be worse. When I called my dad last night and told him I was going to call Clem to tell her that he's graduating, he said, "Clem, the 19 year old who attends UCSD?" Yes, that one, brat. I know, I know, I'm old.

Clem is applying for a different study abroad program. Instead of the one in Bordeaux, she's applying for one in Paris. It's a cultural immersion program which includes classes at the Sorbonne and La Cordon Bleu and allows her to have a minor in French culture to go with her double majors of political sciences and international affairs. Sounds impressive.

I'm taking the afternoon off. I was going to on Wednesday, but some things came up so I postponed to today. I have so much stuff to do that I may take another afternoon off next week. Tomorrow, I'm helping out at a graduation reception and then have to go to a graduation party. There's a party for the new very large grant on Sunday. I don't expect very many people to attend since it's Mother's Day, but I may go. Of course at this point, all I know is that there is something in the works. If I don't hear anything before I leave, perhaps I'll have an out.

2008-05-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

I took an odd-sized picture to be framed this weekend and went through enough of a hassle that when I was shocked at the price, I just paid it. And regretted it later. Holy crap, framing is expensive. Found a place on-line that would've been about 1/3 of the cost. Live and learn. On the plus side, I got another dog sitting job so that'll pay for it so I don't have to transfer any more money. It actually more than pays for it, so I bought three more things off of my Amazon wish list. Hmmm.

Clementine just IM'd me to see if I wanted to hear the highlight of her weekend. WAK told her, "I really like you." Ahhhwa.