love that the AP writers get to hide behind "The Associated Press" rather than sign a name to an article like this one. An article clearly written by someone who doesn't have even a basic understanding of comic book superheroes and how they have evolved over the past 40 years. Most superheroes are no longer the pristine, flawless archetype, like the old days of Superman and Captain America, who were all-conscience, no-doubts and who could, for all intents and purposes, do no wrong.
Case in point:
"The classic superhero is polished, brave and morally righteous. Strong and unerring, he is perfection personified -- a superhuman ideal.
Not this summer."
Anyone who is into comic books, or knows someone who is, knows that for decades they have been expounding on the human condition of many of the superhero characters they serialize. There have been countless "What Ifs" and Spin-offs of specific series and storylines, there have been new bad guys and new aspects of good guys. There have even been re-telling of entire stories from the beginning! And I don't even READ comic books! But I have at least four good friends who have been avid readers for years and I have picked all this up from them.
""Iron Man," which opens Friday, stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, a pompous, womanizing, hard-drinking genius whose superpowers come solely from a supercharged, weapons-filled suit he created from scratch. Without it, Stark is just another guy with issues -- not much of a stretch for the actor who's a veteran of both big screen and blotter."
Now THIS just pisses me off because they not-so-much imply as much as state, straight out, that the role of Tony Stark isn't much of a stretch for Robert Downey, Jr., since he has had so much trouble in his life.
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
Just because someone has experienced something doesn't make it any easier to recreate in a believable way. This is written by someone who has never performed an acting role in their life.
At least this ass prints explanatory quotes from people involved about why things have evolved as they have in comic superhero-land.
"Often the problem with superheroes isn't that they're too human, but that they're not human enough, says (Kevin) Feige of Marvel Studios."
"Superman is conventionally and traditionally a Boy Scout, and that's often what makes him very difficult to relate with," (Producer Akiva Goldsman) says. "We identify more with people who are broken, people who are damaged. Those are the heroes who stick with us, the ones who are imperfect despite all their gifts, because everyone feels imperfect."
"And when real life is so chaotic -- with war, a faltering economy, fears of terrorism and a threatened environment -- relatable superheroes are even more valuable," (Iron Man Director Jon) Favreau says.
"It's an abstract version of what our fears are, presented in a safe way, and we can be saved by a superhuman character," he says. "People want to see that type of thing when times are hard."
Echoes Goldsman: "The world is often troubling and we often look for heroes to save the day. If only."
I just wish the person signed their name so I could write back to them.
Whatever!
On the Not-A-Surprise front, Boss Guy is treating me like an idiot again. It seems like A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G I take initiative on, he has to change or modify or second-guess or just outright reject. I spent HOURS working on a PC distribution list for new PC's we just got. Trying to distribute them according to how people use them and what kind of power they need. Nope. The list we made A YEAR AGO when we got the last round of PCs is the one we are going with. That list leaves out a ton of people who really should be getting new PCs. What-the-fuck-ever. When people complain that they are not getting new PCs, that they are getting hand-me-downs that are 5 years old, I am going to point them right to Boss Guy and say he is "The Decider". Asshole. I'm a little pissed, can you tell?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
hate clothes shopping
Posted to my LJ on April 28th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Two large sales this weekend. 40% off at lane bryant, 30% off at Avenue (the fat girl stores). So I go on Sunday, avoid eating lunch before shopping so I will be that much less full. I tried on about 8 shirts at Lane Bryant. I tried on about 10 at Avenue.
I came home with ONE BLACK SHIRT.
One.
It's a stretchy t-shirt. Plain, longer sleeves than your average t-shirt. No design, no fancy trim. Just a plain black t-shirt.
And a piss poor body image, I came home with that too.
Getting out of bed, dressed and off to work this morning was a serious effort. Staying here all day will be a similar effort.
Sometimes I just hate my life.
p.s. The shirt wasn't even included in the sale because it's some "right price" item.
Two large sales this weekend. 40% off at lane bryant, 30% off at Avenue (the fat girl stores). So I go on Sunday, avoid eating lunch before shopping so I will be that much less full. I tried on about 8 shirts at Lane Bryant. I tried on about 10 at Avenue.
I came home with ONE BLACK SHIRT.
One.
It's a stretchy t-shirt. Plain, longer sleeves than your average t-shirt. No design, no fancy trim. Just a plain black t-shirt.
And a piss poor body image, I came home with that too.
Getting out of bed, dressed and off to work this morning was a serious effort. Staying here all day will be a similar effort.
Sometimes I just hate my life.
p.s. The shirt wasn't even included in the sale because it's some "right price" item.
Happy BIrthday Buffy!
Posted to my LJ on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Happy Birthday sweetie! Hope you have a great, stress-free day filled with fun and love! It was great that you didn't have a clue about your brunch! It makes the surprise so much better when a person doesn't find out! :-)
I'm glad we have gotten to be better friends this year! Patience and understanding are rare qualities, but you have them in spades (Heh, get it? Card joke!!) and you give them freely. Thanks for being a friend to me! :-) Hugs and smoochies!
Happy Birthday sweetie! Hope you have a great, stress-free day filled with fun and love! It was great that you didn't have a clue about your brunch! It makes the surprise so much better when a person doesn't find out! :-)
I'm glad we have gotten to be better friends this year! Patience and understanding are rare qualities, but you have them in spades (Heh, get it? Card joke!!) and you give them freely. Thanks for being a friend to me! :-) Hugs and smoochies!
sunburn and chocolate cake
Posted to my LJ on April 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I had a TON OF FUN this weekend! WOOOOO! I also had some serious conversation, which is nice, and my brain needs it as well. So it was a good balance of the weekend.
I went to End Of Seasons (Lione) and scripted. Got there as the sun was setting, which is nice and early. It was a nice and easy way to slip back into scripting as I knew I was leaving sometime saturday night to go up and stay with Anya for a brunch on Sunday. So I didn't have to pack the world. Got up there and saw several people I had not seen in some time - yay! Did the scripty thing. Did the hidey thing too, but got over that. Journaled a bit about it though. Maybe I will have an epiphany one of these days - even a small one would be nice. :-) Went to bed with everyone else at about 3:00 am. Watched a little of my new Christian Bale movie - Rescue Dawn. Rough movie. Vietnam POW. Ugh! Next morning, got up for breakfast (yay waffle maker!!) Then did the scripty thing for several hours. Took a much needed nap and did more scripty stuff. Ben was there (B not G) and so was Dell both days. It was nice to see him in a non-playing situation where we could take a few minutes to catch up on life. Like, how's your new infant son?! How is life with a baby and two dogs?! Heh. So that was a welcome thing. Puke showed up too, which I didn't know he had been doing lately. So I was pretty floored about that as well. And I got to see Brandy and Eric as well, who came Saturday to re-build a much-needed gate prop (yep, glad I wasn't playing!) So I did a LOT of catching up with long-time friends. Got to see and hang with Megan as well, which rocked!
Faith and I left for Anya's house at dinnertime. In hindsight, a poor choice, as we were both basically ravenous when we got to Anya's. She said we were like gremlins when we got there. Heh, I wasn't seeing it because I was hungry, but looking back, yeah we were! We hugged and kissed and then stormed the kitchen for leftovers! After eating, the hanging (and showering) began. We hung out casual-like, and had strawberry shortcake for dessert-YUM! We just had girl talk time all evening until our eyelids were drooping and sleep was necessary.
Next morning the mad morning rush was on to get ready and get kids, mother, BB, me and Faith out of the house on time for Buffy's surprise brunch, which was a total success! She was honestly surprised - YESSSS!! We were sure someone had spilled the beans (heh) to her or that she would see the cars in the parking lot. She did not, so we were victorious! A few unexpected faces were there, so that was nice. Got to see Gene and Shell, Rob, Janie, Karl and Allie, Caleb, Cliffy, Jim Pic, April's brother Evan and his wife and, of course, April and Shaun. Shaun's family was also there and that was where the kids had stayed the night before. We had a fine, brunchy time, while desperately missing the Chocolate Fountain, which was apparently out of order (damn them - don't they know that was why we did this?!) There were many stories and laughs and giggles. The kids did magic tricks for the adults. It was lots of fun!
Afterwards, we retired back to April and Shaun's house for chatting, playing wiffle baseball with the kids and lots of Radiant talk. We strong-armed Jim into coming with us, since he was without car, and Cliffy, Evan, Anya, Faith and I also went over. We sat on the deck in the sun (hence the sunburn) talking while the kids ran around the yard burning off the maple syrup and waffles. There was much talk of the next Radiant event, of food, cabin decor and who might and might not be coming. We went out to the street to see Nolan ride his bike, training-wheel-free. He was great and you couldn't tell he had only learned the previous day. After a couple of hours Shaun and Cliffy left with Jim to take him home and go buy a phone for Shaun. Not long after that, BB also left, so that we girls could have girl time, which was what the brunch originally started out as.
We hung out for a little while and then April went inside. She came out with chocolate cake (with that gooey, fudgy filling) and four forks. WOOO! I actually said, "Now THIS is girl time!!" So we sat talking and ate the rest of the cake together. It was great! There were various mini-melodramas among the kids - who got whom upset, we were mean for laughing at them (we weren't), could we go to the park, knee scrapes, whining and cajoling. Finally, we went to the park closeby for about 45 minutes, let the kids burn off more energy and then went back to the house. Anya, Faith and I took off for Anya's house and then Faith drove me home.
All in all, a fun-filled weekend with friends. Overdue, for sure. And fulfilling as well. Smoochies to my peeps!!
I had a TON OF FUN this weekend! WOOOOO! I also had some serious conversation, which is nice, and my brain needs it as well. So it was a good balance of the weekend.
I went to End Of Seasons (Lione) and scripted. Got there as the sun was setting, which is nice and early. It was a nice and easy way to slip back into scripting as I knew I was leaving sometime saturday night to go up and stay with Anya for a brunch on Sunday. So I didn't have to pack the world. Got up there and saw several people I had not seen in some time - yay! Did the scripty thing. Did the hidey thing too, but got over that. Journaled a bit about it though. Maybe I will have an epiphany one of these days - even a small one would be nice. :-) Went to bed with everyone else at about 3:00 am. Watched a little of my new Christian Bale movie - Rescue Dawn. Rough movie. Vietnam POW. Ugh! Next morning, got up for breakfast (yay waffle maker!!) Then did the scripty thing for several hours. Took a much needed nap and did more scripty stuff. Ben was there (B not G) and so was Dell both days. It was nice to see him in a non-playing situation where we could take a few minutes to catch up on life. Like, how's your new infant son?! How is life with a baby and two dogs?! Heh. So that was a welcome thing. Puke showed up too, which I didn't know he had been doing lately. So I was pretty floored about that as well. And I got to see Brandy and Eric as well, who came Saturday to re-build a much-needed gate prop (yep, glad I wasn't playing!) So I did a LOT of catching up with long-time friends. Got to see and hang with Megan as well, which rocked!
Faith and I left for Anya's house at dinnertime. In hindsight, a poor choice, as we were both basically ravenous when we got to Anya's. She said we were like gremlins when we got there. Heh, I wasn't seeing it because I was hungry, but looking back, yeah we were! We hugged and kissed and then stormed the kitchen for leftovers! After eating, the hanging (and showering) began. We hung out casual-like, and had strawberry shortcake for dessert-YUM! We just had girl talk time all evening until our eyelids were drooping and sleep was necessary.
Next morning the mad morning rush was on to get ready and get kids, mother, BB, me and Faith out of the house on time for Buffy's surprise brunch, which was a total success! She was honestly surprised - YESSSS!! We were sure someone had spilled the beans (heh) to her or that she would see the cars in the parking lot. She did not, so we were victorious! A few unexpected faces were there, so that was nice. Got to see Gene and Shell, Rob, Janie, Karl and Allie, Caleb, Cliffy, Jim Pic, April's brother Evan and his wife and, of course, April and Shaun. Shaun's family was also there and that was where the kids had stayed the night before. We had a fine, brunchy time, while desperately missing the Chocolate Fountain, which was apparently out of order (damn them - don't they know that was why we did this?!) There were many stories and laughs and giggles. The kids did magic tricks for the adults. It was lots of fun!
Afterwards, we retired back to April and Shaun's house for chatting, playing wiffle baseball with the kids and lots of Radiant talk. We strong-armed Jim into coming with us, since he was without car, and Cliffy, Evan, Anya, Faith and I also went over. We sat on the deck in the sun (hence the sunburn) talking while the kids ran around the yard burning off the maple syrup and waffles. There was much talk of the next Radiant event, of food, cabin decor and who might and might not be coming. We went out to the street to see Nolan ride his bike, training-wheel-free. He was great and you couldn't tell he had only learned the previous day. After a couple of hours Shaun and Cliffy left with Jim to take him home and go buy a phone for Shaun. Not long after that, BB also left, so that we girls could have girl time, which was what the brunch originally started out as.
We hung out for a little while and then April went inside. She came out with chocolate cake (with that gooey, fudgy filling) and four forks. WOOO! I actually said, "Now THIS is girl time!!" So we sat talking and ate the rest of the cake together. It was great! There were various mini-melodramas among the kids - who got whom upset, we were mean for laughing at them (we weren't), could we go to the park, knee scrapes, whining and cajoling. Finally, we went to the park closeby for about 45 minutes, let the kids burn off more energy and then went back to the house. Anya, Faith and I took off for Anya's house and then Faith drove me home.
All in all, a fun-filled weekend with friends. Overdue, for sure. And fulfilling as well. Smoochies to my peeps!!
weather...so...nice...clawing...eyes...out...to...get...out...of...here
Posted to my LJ on April 18th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I went out this morning to walk the poochies and did not need, nor want, a sweater, jacket, or other additional layer. WOO!!!!
Finally, a coat-free day! Oh yeah!
So now, here I sit. At 4:12 pm on a Friday. Friday of a larp event. Where the weather is actually going to be decent (meaning not a blizzard, hurricane or arctic freeze). And I am DYINGTOGETOUTOFHEREGODDAMMIT!!!!
On a totally unrelated note, I think that I have no melanin in my legs. I think this because even the Jergens lotion that you put on and get a gradual gentle tan over several days is NOT BRINGING OUT ANY DAMN COLOR ON THEM!
(Have I used quite enough caps and exclamation points? I'm not done yet, folks!)
Not that my legs are pretty, because they aren't. And by not pretty I mean, I have a terrible scratching habit and they are laden with scars because of it. So it's not like I want to wear a short skirt or anything. I would, however, like to wear one of the 3 pairs of pants I have that are slightly cropped. I would like to wear them without applying makeup on my lower legs, which it looks like I will have to do anyway, or wear socks. I mean, come on folks! InStyle magazine recommended this stuff as a "Beauty Best Buy" in their annual '135 Best Beauty Buys' issue!! I even bought the MEDIUM skin tone one, because I am so damn pale!
Nothing.
Grumble.
4:21 now. Feet tapping restlessly.
On another totally unrelated note, I wish I had a CLUE about LJ templates and how to design one, or understand ANYTHING about them other than, "hey, that looks cute." I was looking at the templates again today to see about changing mine again and I just have no idea what it all means. There is a template NAME, but then there is a STYLE NAME that the template is created for, and there is a person who created it. You go into the create section and there are pages of stuff about the styles and I assume that is all how to make one information. But I haven't got the slightest idea what it all means. So for those of you that know me and think I am all that and a bag of chips on computers, not so.
Okay, I am going to get off here, get my shit together, hope SysAdmin guy decides to leave early as the BossGuy has already left and goddamnit it's Friday and its' NICE OUTSIDE!!
Bye, ya'll!!
I went out this morning to walk the poochies and did not need, nor want, a sweater, jacket, or other additional layer. WOO!!!!
Finally, a coat-free day! Oh yeah!
So now, here I sit. At 4:12 pm on a Friday. Friday of a larp event. Where the weather is actually going to be decent (meaning not a blizzard, hurricane or arctic freeze). And I am DYINGTOGETOUTOFHEREGODDAMMIT!!!!
On a totally unrelated note, I think that I have no melanin in my legs. I think this because even the Jergens lotion that you put on and get a gradual gentle tan over several days is NOT BRINGING OUT ANY DAMN COLOR ON THEM!
(Have I used quite enough caps and exclamation points? I'm not done yet, folks!)
Not that my legs are pretty, because they aren't. And by not pretty I mean, I have a terrible scratching habit and they are laden with scars because of it. So it's not like I want to wear a short skirt or anything. I would, however, like to wear one of the 3 pairs of pants I have that are slightly cropped. I would like to wear them without applying makeup on my lower legs, which it looks like I will have to do anyway, or wear socks. I mean, come on folks! InStyle magazine recommended this stuff as a "Beauty Best Buy" in their annual '135 Best Beauty Buys' issue!! I even bought the MEDIUM skin tone one, because I am so damn pale!
Nothing.
Grumble.
4:21 now. Feet tapping restlessly.
On another totally unrelated note, I wish I had a CLUE about LJ templates and how to design one, or understand ANYTHING about them other than, "hey, that looks cute." I was looking at the templates again today to see about changing mine again and I just have no idea what it all means. There is a template NAME, but then there is a STYLE NAME that the template is created for, and there is a person who created it. You go into the create section and there are pages of stuff about the styles and I assume that is all how to make one information. But I haven't got the slightest idea what it all means. So for those of you that know me and think I am all that and a bag of chips on computers, not so.
Okay, I am going to get off here, get my shit together, hope SysAdmin guy decides to leave early as the BossGuy has already left and goddamnit it's Friday and its' NICE OUTSIDE!!
Bye, ya'll!!
DUMB DAY
Posted to my LJ on April 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
SysAdmin is having a "Dumb Day".
That is what I call it when he repeatedly asks stupid questions or makes stupid assumptions or does stupid things. REPEATEDLY. Usually it's one-a-day or something like that. And sometimes the stupid things he does are only m-i-l-d-l-y stupid. Like it could possibly just be an honest mistake (except that I know him well enough that it's not a MISTAKE, it's stupidity.)
But HOLY SHIT, DUH!!!!!!
I am so ready to walk outside and just keep going to my car today. It is just non-stop.
First, it was working on an issue that I already did the troubleshooting and resolution for, that he decided he had to troubleshoot all over again because it is happening to another party.
Next, it was a sudden server issue that really came out of nowhere. Our file server had a giant hiccup, causing access to it to be interrupted for our entire building. Well, no sooner do I send out an e-mail saying we are having an unspecified issue (we had not yet figured out it was only the file server,) then he is REBOOTING THE BOX! DURING BUSINESS HOURS! WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE USERS FIRST! Because he could not access it through remote desktop or on the machine itself. No discussing and agreeing saying, our only option is to reboot, no letting me get people off it first, no asking users to save their work. Just - POOF! - rebooted. I guess he is the SysAdmin, he can do that. Right. Sure. Whatever.
After that, he took the liberty of putting a document - that we do not produce and that contains a setup password that may or may not change - on a shared folder. Without asking my co-worker, who controls the distribution of that setup document when he receives it. And without asking the department that produces the document if that is okay with them.
He didn't remember the correct driving reason behind why we wanted to replace our remote access client (our version is End-Of-Life and only has limited support).
And just a few moments ago, he asked another very stupid question about something that we have covered in the past. I just don't understand why he doesn't remember this shit. It's elementary!! First level stuff! WAY under the level that he should have knowledge of.
He said to me during my evaluation last week that we need to utilize a knowledgebase because "not everyone has a memory like a steel trap" gesturing towards me. He knows he has shit for memory. HOW on earth did he ever become a SysAdmin?! You have to know your network and know the machines and the stats and the history and all that shit. Sure, you don't have to know it all from memory. But you shouldn't have to consult your notes every time you deal with the same issue over and over. Hell, I would be happy if he DID consult his notes! At least he would appear organized, like he knows he has a bad memory and only needs a second to review his notes. Make an effort!!!!
I'm so done with him today!!!!
SysAdmin is having a "Dumb Day".
That is what I call it when he repeatedly asks stupid questions or makes stupid assumptions or does stupid things. REPEATEDLY. Usually it's one-a-day or something like that. And sometimes the stupid things he does are only m-i-l-d-l-y stupid. Like it could possibly just be an honest mistake (except that I know him well enough that it's not a MISTAKE, it's stupidity.)
But HOLY SHIT, DUH!!!!!!
I am so ready to walk outside and just keep going to my car today. It is just non-stop.
First, it was working on an issue that I already did the troubleshooting and resolution for, that he decided he had to troubleshoot all over again because it is happening to another party.
Next, it was a sudden server issue that really came out of nowhere. Our file server had a giant hiccup, causing access to it to be interrupted for our entire building. Well, no sooner do I send out an e-mail saying we are having an unspecified issue (we had not yet figured out it was only the file server,) then he is REBOOTING THE BOX! DURING BUSINESS HOURS! WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE USERS FIRST! Because he could not access it through remote desktop or on the machine itself. No discussing and agreeing saying, our only option is to reboot, no letting me get people off it first, no asking users to save their work. Just - POOF! - rebooted. I guess he is the SysAdmin, he can do that. Right. Sure. Whatever.
After that, he took the liberty of putting a document - that we do not produce and that contains a setup password that may or may not change - on a shared folder. Without asking my co-worker, who controls the distribution of that setup document when he receives it. And without asking the department that produces the document if that is okay with them.
He didn't remember the correct driving reason behind why we wanted to replace our remote access client (our version is End-Of-Life and only has limited support).
And just a few moments ago, he asked another very stupid question about something that we have covered in the past. I just don't understand why he doesn't remember this shit. It's elementary!! First level stuff! WAY under the level that he should have knowledge of.
He said to me during my evaluation last week that we need to utilize a knowledgebase because "not everyone has a memory like a steel trap" gesturing towards me. He knows he has shit for memory. HOW on earth did he ever become a SysAdmin?! You have to know your network and know the machines and the stats and the history and all that shit. Sure, you don't have to know it all from memory. But you shouldn't have to consult your notes every time you deal with the same issue over and over. Hell, I would be happy if he DID consult his notes! At least he would appear organized, like he knows he has a bad memory and only needs a second to review his notes. Make an effort!!!!
I'm so done with him today!!!!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Happy Birthday Wendela!
Posted to my LJ on April 14th, 2008 at 10:51 am
This is a formal Happy Motherfuckin' Birthday to my oldest friend, Wendy! By "oldest", I mean that this year, Wendy and I will have known each other for 35 (yes, THIRTY-FIVE) years!
We met on the corner of 146th Street and Booth Memorial Avenue in Flushing, Queens. The story goes that I was 3 and she was 4 and I am not sure how we were both on the corner, but it was soon after she had moved directly across the street from me. It was a kind of, "Hi, I'm Linda," "Hi, I'm Wendy," "Let's be friends," "Ok," sort of thing. We have been friends ever since then! There was a brief, summer-long period of turmoil when a third friend caused friction between us, but that was way back in 1981 and long since forgotten. We have gone through times when we didn't get in touch for several months, or a year, and didn't see each other for a couple of years at a time. But as soon as we saw each other we would always say hi the same way, by jumping up and down hugging because we were so happy to see each other again! It was never an issue that we didn't see each other or talk all the time. We would pick up just where we left off, catching each other up on our lives and our families' lives.We lived right across the street from each other for 9 years. When my family moved an hour north of NYC, she would come to visit me for a week or two at a time in the summer and we would try to swing a school vacation during the school year as well. I went to her brother's wedding and she was my maid of honor when I got married.
And four(ish) years ago, she was looking to move out of NYC (finally!) and happened to use my new home in RI as a stopover for a visit to a friend in MA. I took advantage of the time and took her around the interesting Providence sites and somehow got her to fall in love with the state enough that within a year she was living here, 2 1/2 miles from my house! It was, and still is, weird (but great!) to be living so close again.
We are the same age for a month and a half every year, and then she leaps another year forward. So, Wendy, Bi Buv Boo and wish you a happy, happy birthday!!!
BBB,
Blinbla
This is how long we have been friends...
This is a formal Happy Motherfuckin' Birthday to my oldest friend, Wendy! By "oldest", I mean that this year, Wendy and I will have known each other for 35 (yes, THIRTY-FIVE) years!
We met on the corner of 146th Street and Booth Memorial Avenue in Flushing, Queens. The story goes that I was 3 and she was 4 and I am not sure how we were both on the corner, but it was soon after she had moved directly across the street from me. It was a kind of, "Hi, I'm Linda," "Hi, I'm Wendy," "Let's be friends," "Ok," sort of thing. We have been friends ever since then! There was a brief, summer-long period of turmoil when a third friend caused friction between us, but that was way back in 1981 and long since forgotten. We have gone through times when we didn't get in touch for several months, or a year, and didn't see each other for a couple of years at a time. But as soon as we saw each other we would always say hi the same way, by jumping up and down hugging because we were so happy to see each other again! It was never an issue that we didn't see each other or talk all the time. We would pick up just where we left off, catching each other up on our lives and our families' lives.We lived right across the street from each other for 9 years. When my family moved an hour north of NYC, she would come to visit me for a week or two at a time in the summer and we would try to swing a school vacation during the school year as well. I went to her brother's wedding and she was my maid of honor when I got married.
And four(ish) years ago, she was looking to move out of NYC (finally!) and happened to use my new home in RI as a stopover for a visit to a friend in MA. I took advantage of the time and took her around the interesting Providence sites and somehow got her to fall in love with the state enough that within a year she was living here, 2 1/2 miles from my house! It was, and still is, weird (but great!) to be living so close again.
We are the same age for a month and a half every year, and then she leaps another year forward. So, Wendy, Bi Buv Boo and wish you a happy, happy birthday!!!
BBB,
Blinbla
This is how long we have been friends...
Rock and Roll!!!
Posted to my LJ on April 12th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
So I went to play Rock Band last night with Louli and company. It was tons of fun! What's the first song that comes on? The Perfect Drug - only my favorite NIN song ever. Micki was singing, but didn't know the song, so they tossed me the mic and I sang the rest. WOO!!!
Some highlights:
"Sorry about rubbing my butt against you."
Gimme Shelter
Conversations followed by appropriate song lyrics
Gimme Shelter
The Mystery Request Set
Evil drummer guy
Beer + southern rock = Aaron sings!
Grateful Dead downloads need to be deleted!
Playing until 2am!! WOO!!
Had a great time, hope to do it again soon!! WOOO!!
\m/
So I went to play Rock Band last night with Louli and company. It was tons of fun! What's the first song that comes on? The Perfect Drug - only my favorite NIN song ever. Micki was singing, but didn't know the song, so they tossed me the mic and I sang the rest. WOO!!!
Some highlights:
"Sorry about rubbing my butt against you."
Gimme Shelter
Conversations followed by appropriate song lyrics
Gimme Shelter
The Mystery Request Set
Evil drummer guy
Beer + southern rock = Aaron sings!
Grateful Dead downloads need to be deleted!
Playing until 2am!! WOO!!
Had a great time, hope to do it again soon!! WOOO!!
\m/
the hits just keep on coming
Posted to my LJ on April 11th at 9:55 am
It's not yet 10:00 am.
SysAdmin guy, along with an outside consultant from a computer place (that should KNOW BETTER!) decided to bring up the second NIC on a production server for a hosted application.
During the day.
Without any notice.
Without telling his help desk staff.
Or anyone else.
...
Then when everyone in the application gets bumped out and can't get back in, he says, "Oh, guess that didn't work," with a dumb smile on his face.
There just aren't words.
It's not yet 10:00 am.
SysAdmin guy, along with an outside consultant from a computer place (that should KNOW BETTER!) decided to bring up the second NIC on a production server for a hosted application.
During the day.
Without any notice.
Without telling his help desk staff.
Or anyone else.
...
Then when everyone in the application gets bumped out and can't get back in, he says, "Oh, guess that didn't work," with a dumb smile on his face.
There just aren't words.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
nickel and dimed
I'm not going to complain. Because I know I am going to get an increase of 3.5% of my salary. Everyone here is.
That's all for today.
That's all for today.
Oxymoron
Posted to my LJ on April 09, 2008 at 10:30 AM
So, the SysAdmin sends out an e-mail to an Executive Assistant asking if, rather than e-mailing a new (70KB) excel file for the phone list every month - with everyone saving that new file and printing it, the assistant could just save the (70KB) file to a Shared folder on the network and send the LOCATION of the (70KB) file. That way we don't have a hundred copies of the same 70KB file taking up space on our network. Because that would be like 700KB of data needlessly taking up space.
On the other hand, SysAdmin has ME contacting the vendor for our Remote Access client to obtain their quote for a new version of their software, installation and two days of onsite training. I am also supposed to schedule the training and make sure to get an agenda/itinerary for it to make sure that the issues we need covered are included.
HE...is the manager.
I...am the Help Desk tech.
What's wrong with this picture?
EDIT: I just had to show him how to use THE PAPER SHREDDER!!! And then he grumbled, half-joking, under his breath, "all this new technology..." AAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I told him it scared me to hear him say that.
So, the SysAdmin sends out an e-mail to an Executive Assistant asking if, rather than e-mailing a new (70KB) excel file for the phone list every month - with everyone saving that new file and printing it, the assistant could just save the (70KB) file to a Shared folder on the network and send the LOCATION of the (70KB) file. That way we don't have a hundred copies of the same 70KB file taking up space on our network. Because that would be like 700KB of data needlessly taking up space.
On the other hand, SysAdmin has ME contacting the vendor for our Remote Access client to obtain their quote for a new version of their software, installation and two days of onsite training. I am also supposed to schedule the training and make sure to get an agenda/itinerary for it to make sure that the issues we need covered are included.
HE...is the manager.
I...am the Help Desk tech.
What's wrong with this picture?
EDIT: I just had to show him how to use THE PAPER SHREDDER!!! And then he grumbled, half-joking, under his breath, "all this new technology..." AAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I told him it scared me to hear him say that.
Tapping my friends.....
Posted to my LJ on April 09, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Okay, who knows how to find out in advance when a certain person (Christian Bale) might be scheduled to appear on any of the New York talk shows like Conan, Letterman or any other one that films in New York City? And on top of that, how does a person obtain tickets for the particular show when a certain person (Christian Bale) would be appearing on that show?
I'm just askin', cuz, y'know, I have some resourceful and connected friends and I am thinking that there must be some way (Christian Bale) that I can get tickets to one of these shows when they start doing the promo and publicity for The Dark Knight (Christian Bale) and I was thinking probably the only way I would ever be in any kind of vicinity with Christian Bale (Christian Bale) ever in my life is if I was able to maybe attend one of those talk shows.
So.....friends....anything?
Okay, who knows how to find out in advance when a certain person (Christian Bale) might be scheduled to appear on any of the New York talk shows like Conan, Letterman or any other one that films in New York City? And on top of that, how does a person obtain tickets for the particular show when a certain person (Christian Bale) would be appearing on that show?
I'm just askin', cuz, y'know, I have some resourceful and connected friends and I am thinking that there must be some way (Christian Bale) that I can get tickets to one of these shows when they start doing the promo and publicity for The Dark Knight (Christian Bale) and I was thinking probably the only way I would ever be in any kind of vicinity with Christian Bale (Christian Bale) ever in my life is if I was able to maybe attend one of those talk shows.
So.....friends....anything?
FINALLY!!!!!!!! WITCHBLADE ON DVD!
Posted to my LJ on April 08, 2008 at 3:33 pm
My bestest friend in the whole wide world just sent me an e-mail to tell me that finally, after SEVEN LONG YEARS, Witchblade will finally be released on DVD in July of this year!
Woo-to-the-motherfucking-HOO!! I cannot explain just how excited I am about this! I religiously taped every episode of this unfairly cancelled series! I have them all lovingly stored on my VHS tapes. I don't even watch them very often because I was afraid of wearing out the tapes. I thought that it was a lost cause to think this would ever be released on DVD. I thought that whatever the bad blood was with this show being cancelled was just not ever going to allow for it to be done.
Dare I even speak it? Maybe there will even be some marketing with this and they might actually release.....action figures.... *shhh* Let's not jinx it.
We few, we happy few fans of this show, shall now revel in it's digital glow from the TV screen, night after night. YAY!!
My bestest friend in the whole wide world just sent me an e-mail to tell me that finally, after SEVEN LONG YEARS, Witchblade will finally be released on DVD in July of this year!
Woo-to-the-motherfucking-HOO!! I cannot explain just how excited I am about this! I religiously taped every episode of this unfairly cancelled series! I have them all lovingly stored on my VHS tapes. I don't even watch them very often because I was afraid of wearing out the tapes. I thought that it was a lost cause to think this would ever be released on DVD. I thought that whatever the bad blood was with this show being cancelled was just not ever going to allow for it to be done.
Dare I even speak it? Maybe there will even be some marketing with this and they might actually release.....action figures.... *shhh* Let's not jinx it.
We few, we happy few fans of this show, shall now revel in it's digital glow from the TV screen, night after night. YAY!!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Do as I say...
You know what I love? I love that my SysAdmin takes TOTAL advantage when the Boss Guy is out of the office for any reason. Wednesdays, Boss Guy leaves early to coach his kid's wrestling team. Every Wed, SysAdmin leaves early too. This week Boss Guy is in California at a conference until Thursday. Today, SysAdmin guy got in at 1:30 (dentist appts for his kids.) And he left at 5:00 pm on the dot! How much you wanna bet that tomorrow he is in late and leaves early? I would bet big money on it.
Yet, when I turn in my time card with 45 fucking minutes of overtime on it, for the evening I rebooted a server FROM HOME, at 11:00 PM AT NIGHT, I get questioned on it by him.
Yeah. I love that.
This toolbag is going to sit in on my review next Thursday too. We'll see how that goes. I rated myself Meets Expectations on some things, but Exceeds on a handful too, with good reason, I say. I am betting that Boss Guy knocks them all down to Meets and gives me a 3.5% cost of living increase. I am going to have to take issue with that considering he has been giddy lately at all the money our department is getting to purchase equipment and how easily he has gotten it all approved in comparison to last year. And he as much as SAID that ease is because of me and my co-worker and all our hard work over the past year. So he better put that money where his mouth is.
Feh.
Yet, when I turn in my time card with 45 fucking minutes of overtime on it, for the evening I rebooted a server FROM HOME, at 11:00 PM AT NIGHT, I get questioned on it by him.
Yeah. I love that.
This toolbag is going to sit in on my review next Thursday too. We'll see how that goes. I rated myself Meets Expectations on some things, but Exceeds on a handful too, with good reason, I say. I am betting that Boss Guy knocks them all down to Meets and gives me a 3.5% cost of living increase. I am going to have to take issue with that considering he has been giddy lately at all the money our department is getting to purchase equipment and how easily he has gotten it all approved in comparison to last year. And he as much as SAID that ease is because of me and my co-worker and all our hard work over the past year. So he better put that money where his mouth is.
Feh.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Another Pleasant Valley Sunday
The weather has been disappointing this weekend. We were hoping to have a nice sunny afternoon to be able to take the pooches to the dog park. We took them anyway yesterday, and they ended up having a fine old time and thoroughly tiring themselves out. But the small dog side of the park was woefully empty with only three other dogs in it the whole time we were there. The big dog side was hopping with probably as many as twenty and as few as fifteen dogs at a time in there. I even took Rogue over there to get her some play time, but no one paid her any mind and for some reason, she just stood around sniffing the ground rather than play. So I brought her back over to the small dog side and then another person showed up with their puppy that my pooches played with the rest of the time we were there. It was a Lhasa-poo and was grey and awfully cute. Rogue had a fine time chasing him around and rolling him a few times. Then Storm ran after them too and there was much running and charging each other. It was cuteness.
Today's weather was just as disappointing. Just blah out there. I headed out to get the paper and refill my allergy med. But came back home and crawled back into bed with the puppies to snuggle some more.
I have these lists in my head of things to do around the house. But then I have this nagging, why bother, feeling. Half the things I want to list cost money that I don't have to spare. The other half, I just don't have the energy or motivation to do. I dunno. I am going to make the list this week. I will see what I can do with it.
Speaking of stuff to do, I need to put the laundry in the dryer. Sorry for the intrusion of the mundane, but it's gotta get done.
Today's weather was just as disappointing. Just blah out there. I headed out to get the paper and refill my allergy med. But came back home and crawled back into bed with the puppies to snuggle some more.
I have these lists in my head of things to do around the house. But then I have this nagging, why bother, feeling. Half the things I want to list cost money that I don't have to spare. The other half, I just don't have the energy or motivation to do. I dunno. I am going to make the list this week. I will see what I can do with it.
Speaking of stuff to do, I need to put the laundry in the dryer. Sorry for the intrusion of the mundane, but it's gotta get done.
Open Letter to Spring
Posted to my LJ on April 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Dear Spring,
Please come back. Leave your friend Winter back at his house. We like him and everything, but he is sort of wearing out his welcome and trying too hard to be like you and all that.
I'll make us some lovely tea and cookies....please?
Sincerely,
All of us
Dear Spring,
Please come back. Leave your friend Winter back at his house. We like him and everything, but he is sort of wearing out his welcome and trying too hard to be like you and all that.
I'll make us some lovely tea and cookies....please?
Sincerely,
All of us
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Being happy it's Spring!
SPRING PEEPERS!!!!!
I heard them last night for the first time this year! Woo!!! That means it has been warm enough for enough days in a row to hatch those little eggs and let them little tree froggies out to climb up and do their little peepin' best.
I love the Spring Peepers. Really, anything that can make a "peep" sound natually has got the cute factor going for it. Plus, they're FROGS!! And frogs are cute. And they peep!
Yeap. I'm silly. I think I have probably posted about the damn spring peepers every year I have had this blog. I will have to check back to see, but my money's on yes.
I don't see many crocus around here, but the daffydils are up, though not blooming yet, in the patches outside work.
One of these years, I will actually plant some crocus bulbs outside my house. Of course, that would require me to get the leaves off the ground before it snows so that when spring comes, the bulbs aren't covered with a layer of leaves 3 inches thick. How is it that a baseball player can make 23 million dollars for standing there hitting a ball and running around for 8 months a year, and not even every day, and people like us have to work 40-plus hours a week to take home less than two-tenths of a percent of that amount while we try and keep our houses clean and repaired, our cars working, our yards mowed and raked, our families fed, our bills paid, our bosses happy while also not letting our appearance become TOO slapped together between hair, clothing and skin care?!
Come on already.
Wow, that was a high-to-low post. Heh. Sorry about that.....
I heard them last night for the first time this year! Woo!!! That means it has been warm enough for enough days in a row to hatch those little eggs and let them little tree froggies out to climb up and do their little peepin' best.
I love the Spring Peepers. Really, anything that can make a "peep" sound natually has got the cute factor going for it. Plus, they're FROGS!! And frogs are cute. And they peep!
Yeap. I'm silly. I think I have probably posted about the damn spring peepers every year I have had this blog. I will have to check back to see, but my money's on yes.
I don't see many crocus around here, but the daffydils are up, though not blooming yet, in the patches outside work.
One of these years, I will actually plant some crocus bulbs outside my house. Of course, that would require me to get the leaves off the ground before it snows so that when spring comes, the bulbs aren't covered with a layer of leaves 3 inches thick. How is it that a baseball player can make 23 million dollars for standing there hitting a ball and running around for 8 months a year, and not even every day, and people like us have to work 40-plus hours a week to take home less than two-tenths of a percent of that amount while we try and keep our houses clean and repaired, our cars working, our yards mowed and raked, our families fed, our bills paid, our bosses happy while also not letting our appearance become TOO slapped together between hair, clothing and skin care?!
Come on already.
Wow, that was a high-to-low post. Heh. Sorry about that.....
April Fools Day!
Posted to my LJ on April 1st, 2008 at at 02:15 pm
I love this day on the Internets!! :-)
Go to Google and check out Vir-gle. That is SO COOL!!!!! Read the whole thing. Don't skim. It's worth it.
Then on Google type in April Fools and click NEWS. I love the pranks that happen in the media and on the web!
They make me smile and giggle. So far I like Vir-gle the best!
Hope you are not pranked, but that someone makes you laugh today!
p.s. I am trying to feel better myself as I have been having, um, tummy issues for the past few days that have me feeling pretty crappy and uncomfortable. So smiling and laughing today will help me get there.
I love this day on the Internets!! :-)
Go to Google and check out Vir-gle. That is SO COOL!!!!! Read the whole thing. Don't skim. It's worth it.
Then on Google type in April Fools and click NEWS. I love the pranks that happen in the media and on the web!
They make me smile and giggle. So far I like Vir-gle the best!
Hope you are not pranked, but that someone makes you laugh today!
p.s. I am trying to feel better myself as I have been having, um, tummy issues for the past few days that have me feeling pretty crappy and uncomfortable. So smiling and laughing today will help me get there.
Inspired by Jenny - American novels in high school
Posted to my LJ on March 31st, 2008 at 03:15 pm
So, after reading and replying to Anya today on her LJ post concerning American Literature and authors, I began remembering stuff I read and didn't read in high school, specifically American Literature. I remember that I did NOT have to read a lot of what other classes read. I was not in honors classes or AP, though I easily could have been (I just chose not to apply myself more - sad really....) But my classes just ended up not having to read a lot of those books you hear about everyone having to read and hating every second of it. I read quite a few that I loved, but some of the "classic" ones, I have never read to this day. Here's a list I found on, of all things, the INTERNET!! ;-)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Never read it
The Scarlet Letter - Never read it
To Kill a Mockingbird - Read it, LOVED it, STILL love this book and the story makes me cry
The Red Badge of Courage - Never read it
The Great Gatsby - Never read it
The Grapes of Wrath - Never read it
Call of the Wild - I think I might have read this, memory of it hazy, might have read at home
Invisible Man: A Novel - Never read it
A Farewell to Arms - Never read it
Fahrenheit 451 - Never read it
1984 - Never read it
Catcher in the Rye - Never read it
A Separate Peace - Read it, loved this story too
Of Mice and Men - Read it, saw the play and the movie, love this story and hate it all at once
The Glass Menagerie - Read it, have ambivalent feelings about Tennesee Williams. His plays all have very screwed up women in them and that sits oddly with me.
Alive - Read it, was fascinated by it since it was true.
Death Of A Salesman - Read it, was not impressed, liked the play better.
We didn't do George Orwell, Ken Kesey (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Stephen King, Jack Kerouac, John Irving, Hemingway, or any notable Science Fiction (Heinlein, Asimov, Vonnegut, etc.)
So did any of you read any of these in high school and did you like them, hate them? Did you read anything else that you liked, hated, etc?
We're on the subject of American Literature at this point. I may have to do one of these on British Literature, too.
Disclaimer: I am pretty sure most of them are by Americans, I may be off on one or two.
So, after reading and replying to Anya today on her LJ post concerning American Literature and authors, I began remembering stuff I read and didn't read in high school, specifically American Literature. I remember that I did NOT have to read a lot of what other classes read. I was not in honors classes or AP, though I easily could have been (I just chose not to apply myself more - sad really....) But my classes just ended up not having to read a lot of those books you hear about everyone having to read and hating every second of it. I read quite a few that I loved, but some of the "classic" ones, I have never read to this day. Here's a list I found on, of all things, the INTERNET!! ;-)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Never read it
The Scarlet Letter - Never read it
To Kill a Mockingbird - Read it, LOVED it, STILL love this book and the story makes me cry
The Red Badge of Courage - Never read it
The Great Gatsby - Never read it
The Grapes of Wrath - Never read it
Call of the Wild - I think I might have read this, memory of it hazy, might have read at home
Invisible Man: A Novel - Never read it
A Farewell to Arms - Never read it
Fahrenheit 451 - Never read it
1984 - Never read it
Catcher in the Rye - Never read it
A Separate Peace - Read it, loved this story too
Of Mice and Men - Read it, saw the play and the movie, love this story and hate it all at once
The Glass Menagerie - Read it, have ambivalent feelings about Tennesee Williams. His plays all have very screwed up women in them and that sits oddly with me.
Alive - Read it, was fascinated by it since it was true.
Death Of A Salesman - Read it, was not impressed, liked the play better.
We didn't do George Orwell, Ken Kesey (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Stephen King, Jack Kerouac, John Irving, Hemingway, or any notable Science Fiction (Heinlein, Asimov, Vonnegut, etc.)
So did any of you read any of these in high school and did you like them, hate them? Did you read anything else that you liked, hated, etc?
We're on the subject of American Literature at this point. I may have to do one of these on British Literature, too.
Disclaimer: I am pretty sure most of them are by Americans, I may be off on one or two.
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