Today, I am making Spicy Black Bean Soup. It's good, except that you have to cook it allll day, so I had to get up at 8 am to get it started. Hopefully by the time midnight strikes, all the veggies will be deliciously soft and the spice will have mellowed to a nice touch of heat in the after taste. YUM.
I've also got the bread machine going (I am so NOT amibitious enough to make it by hand today).
I think the plumber that came by our house this morning thinks I'm crazy for making sauteed vegetables at breakfast, but he didn't ask questions, so who knows?
Speaking of the plumber. He came over to fix the soft water faucet that just BROKE OFF one day, to determine why Draino...Drano...drain cleaner wasn't working on my mom's shower, to also determine why there was a bucket full of water next to our hot water heater and to glue on the side piece of the new counter in the upstairs bathroom. All of this is free to us, as our landlords are paying for it. Sweet!
It's also been a day of endless phone calls. They started about 4 minutes after my alarm went off, and the last one was to my cell phone. That one was a wrong number from Georgia though. Heh.
I suppose I could mention it Tuesday, since that's when it's happening, but I'll mention it now: My car is ill. There are three different things she's doing that she should NOT be doing, so I set up an appointment for her on Tuesday where HOPEFULLY she won't cost me an arm, a leg and my firstborn child to fix.
Anyway, I think I'm going to go take a nap now that the soup's set up to simmer all day.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes (last night, but whatever)
Money Spent Today: $0
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Step 74: Don't Sleep
So, it is now 5:24 am, and I just gave up trying to sleep after a two and a half hour battle. I don't know what the deal is, it's not like I'm worrying about anything and that's keeping me awake.
I suppose falling asleep on the couch earlier didn't help though.
Mostly, I've been lying awake and thinking about all sort of random things. This blog, my legacy sims, the new healthcare bill, going to the doctor myself, finding a new house, whether or not I'll stick to my resolutions this year.
Pretty much in that order, too.
Anyway, I was about to beat the awakeness into submission, but then I got hot and stuck my leg out from the blankets to cool down.
Then I let it hang over the side of the bed.
BAD idea. Because there is some part of me that's still 4 and thinks that there just MIGHT be a monster waiting to grab me by that leg and...who knows what.
Then, as I'm telling myself that that's ridculous (after pulling my leg safely back under the blankets) I remembered the part in Paranormal Activity where the unseen demon comes in and picks up the girl's exposed ankle as though he's testing whether he can drag her by it or not. (He later DOES drag her by it.) And then, as I'm trying to calm myself down from that, repeating that it was only a movie and special effects, and stuff like that CAN'T happen to me, because I'm just too strong-spirited and yadda yadda, the cat reacts to something I can't see.
First, he spots whatever it is. Then, he follows it with his eyes, then he gets up and watches it with interest, then he takes off out of the room, sitting down calmly outside the door and gazing back in toward me.
NOT COOL, CAT.
So of course the light goes on, my glasses go on, and here I sit, at 5:33 am, both awake and now too worked up to even think about trying again.
Also, pizza topped with only pepperoni and bacon? Bad choice. Make sure you add some beef or sausage to mellow out the bacon. I'm still tasting it 12 hours later. Bleh.
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
I suppose falling asleep on the couch earlier didn't help though.
Mostly, I've been lying awake and thinking about all sort of random things. This blog, my legacy sims, the new healthcare bill, going to the doctor myself, finding a new house, whether or not I'll stick to my resolutions this year.
Pretty much in that order, too.
Anyway, I was about to beat the awakeness into submission, but then I got hot and stuck my leg out from the blankets to cool down.
Then I let it hang over the side of the bed.
BAD idea. Because there is some part of me that's still 4 and thinks that there just MIGHT be a monster waiting to grab me by that leg and...who knows what.
Then, as I'm telling myself that that's ridculous (after pulling my leg safely back under the blankets) I remembered the part in Paranormal Activity where the unseen demon comes in and picks up the girl's exposed ankle as though he's testing whether he can drag her by it or not. (He later DOES drag her by it.) And then, as I'm trying to calm myself down from that, repeating that it was only a movie and special effects, and stuff like that CAN'T happen to me, because I'm just too strong-spirited and yadda yadda, the cat reacts to something I can't see.
First, he spots whatever it is. Then, he follows it with his eyes, then he gets up and watches it with interest, then he takes off out of the room, sitting down calmly outside the door and gazing back in toward me.
NOT COOL, CAT.
So of course the light goes on, my glasses go on, and here I sit, at 5:33 am, both awake and now too worked up to even think about trying again.
Also, pizza topped with only pepperoni and bacon? Bad choice. Make sure you add some beef or sausage to mellow out the bacon. I'm still tasting it 12 hours later. Bleh.
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Step 73: Get Back Into It
Okay, so Christmas is officially over, and it's time to settle back in to the blog here.
*cricketchirp*
I suppose I could start off by saying that my Christmas was quite nice, despite being very white indeed. In addition to my camera I got Super Mario Bros. Wii (which is entirely too much fun, only my controller thumb has long since been healed, so now my thumb gets sore after a short time. I'm working on toughening up, though, because MARIO!) and a lamp that both plays and charges my iPod (which is nice, because mow I can listen to music while using my computer without hearing anymore talking ads, or constant door slams and creaks as people sign on and off of AIM, or frequently obnoxious but sometimes necessary sound effects from my Sims 2 game. (Yeah, I could turn that stuff off, but sometimes it's useful!))
I was also glad that my mom liked all the things I got for her, as she's exceedingly difficult to shop for. I got things for my friends, too, but as they all live far away, I have failboated on getting them mailed in a timely manner. Oopsies. :\
I'm really really excited about going to look at houses this weekend. I hope we find one that just looks and feels like home. I also hope we can find one that only needs paint, as remodels are both spendy and inconvenient. BUT! We'll find something perfect, I'm certain.
I told my boss today that I'm leaving. Everyone is sad to see me go (or so they say >_>), but I assured them I'd be back to visit. And I will, I'm good at visiting.
Anyway, that's about all the babble I can come up with today, so...bye!
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned This Week: $120
Money Spent This Week: $0
*cricketchirp*
I suppose I could start off by saying that my Christmas was quite nice, despite being very white indeed. In addition to my camera I got Super Mario Bros. Wii (which is entirely too much fun, only my controller thumb has long since been healed, so now my thumb gets sore after a short time. I'm working on toughening up, though, because MARIO!) and a lamp that both plays and charges my iPod (which is nice, because mow I can listen to music while using my computer without hearing anymore talking ads, or constant door slams and creaks as people sign on and off of AIM, or frequently obnoxious but sometimes necessary sound effects from my Sims 2 game. (Yeah, I could turn that stuff off, but sometimes it's useful!))
I was also glad that my mom liked all the things I got for her, as she's exceedingly difficult to shop for. I got things for my friends, too, but as they all live far away, I have failboated on getting them mailed in a timely manner. Oopsies. :\
I'm really really excited about going to look at houses this weekend. I hope we find one that just looks and feels like home. I also hope we can find one that only needs paint, as remodels are both spendy and inconvenient. BUT! We'll find something perfect, I'm certain.
I told my boss today that I'm leaving. Everyone is sad to see me go (or so they say >_>), but I assured them I'd be back to visit. And I will, I'm good at visiting.
Anyway, that's about all the babble I can come up with today, so...bye!
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned This Week: $120
Money Spent This Week: $0
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Step 72: Movies Come to Life
In the beginning of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, there are headlines on the screen talking about the storm of the century and how Christmas might have to be cancelled and yadda yadda yadda, and then the movie goes on to explain how Rudolph saves Christmas by having a neon red nose.
Well, our Christmas is all set, so whether Rudolph's nose can handle it or not isn't an issue, but we are certainly having a very big storm. It just started today and already we've got over a foot of snowfall (in addition to the 6 inches that were already on the ground). The forecast is predicting that it's going to last on through Christmas Day, so we're basically snowed in.
Except not. Something's wonky with my mom's car in that the battery isn't holding any kind of charge. The last time it did that it was because the alternator had gone out on it, so we're thinking that's the problem this time too (though the car is a 2001 model, and why you'd have to replace the alternator twice in 8 years is beyond my comprehension). The mechanic we go to has said that if we can get the car in by 8 am tomorrow, they'll work on it for us. Which is excellent news when you consider that the car needs to be in brilliant working order by NEXT weekend when we skip down to go look at houses. But taking the car in means venturing out into the blizzard. Oh boy!
Also, I have to work tomorrow from 4 until 6. It's only two hours, but it's the driving in crap weather that's a bummer. Ah well. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
Well, our Christmas is all set, so whether Rudolph's nose can handle it or not isn't an issue, but we are certainly having a very big storm. It just started today and already we've got over a foot of snowfall (in addition to the 6 inches that were already on the ground). The forecast is predicting that it's going to last on through Christmas Day, so we're basically snowed in.
Except not. Something's wonky with my mom's car in that the battery isn't holding any kind of charge. The last time it did that it was because the alternator had gone out on it, so we're thinking that's the problem this time too (though the car is a 2001 model, and why you'd have to replace the alternator twice in 8 years is beyond my comprehension). The mechanic we go to has said that if we can get the car in by 8 am tomorrow, they'll work on it for us. Which is excellent news when you consider that the car needs to be in brilliant working order by NEXT weekend when we skip down to go look at houses. But taking the car in means venturing out into the blizzard. Oh boy!
Also, I have to work tomorrow from 4 until 6. It's only two hours, but it's the driving in crap weather that's a bummer. Ah well. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Step 71: Trim Things Back
I just finished going through all my different internet existences and deleting various accounts. So far gone are my MySpace, and Facebook accounts. An account on a Sims 2 forum is gone, as are a couple ancient blogs I haven't been using.
What's left are this blog, a sims blog (and the photobucket account I need to post the pictures for it), and YouTube. I'll also be keeping one email account and my AIM screen name.
No more lolcats, loldogs, failblog or funnyengrish. No more emailsfromcrazypeople or notalwaysright. I waste way too much of my life watching other people's lives rather than going out and getting one of my own, so I decided that I'd trim back everything where I don't actually interact with anyone.
Honestly I already feel better having cut all that stuff out. It already feels like I have more freetime, which is silly because it was freetime before, I was just using it in a way that wasn't very satisfying so much as it was mind-numbing.
In other, WAY bigger news: We're moving! To another state. In Mid-January. As it turns out, my mom got a very lovely job offer from a very stable company, and she took it. I suppose I could stay if I wanted, but either way I'll have to find a new job, as the one I've got won't sustain my own apartment, and I've kind of always had the mentality that home is where my family is. So we're moving. And I'm pretty excited about it.
Moving is nothing new or different for me, and the only time we ever moved and I WASN'T thrilled to me moving was during a time when I was angsty and prone to not liking anything my mom thought was a good idea. Anyway, the biggest problem now is telling my boss that my last day is also my one year anniversary at this job. Heh.
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent This Weekend: You Don't Even Want to Know. ($300...eep!)
What's left are this blog, a sims blog (and the photobucket account I need to post the pictures for it), and YouTube. I'll also be keeping one email account and my AIM screen name.
No more lolcats, loldogs, failblog or funnyengrish. No more emailsfromcrazypeople or notalwaysright. I waste way too much of my life watching other people's lives rather than going out and getting one of my own, so I decided that I'd trim back everything where I don't actually interact with anyone.
Honestly I already feel better having cut all that stuff out. It already feels like I have more freetime, which is silly because it was freetime before, I was just using it in a way that wasn't very satisfying so much as it was mind-numbing.
In other, WAY bigger news: We're moving! To another state. In Mid-January. As it turns out, my mom got a very lovely job offer from a very stable company, and she took it. I suppose I could stay if I wanted, but either way I'll have to find a new job, as the one I've got won't sustain my own apartment, and I've kind of always had the mentality that home is where my family is. So we're moving. And I'm pretty excited about it.
Moving is nothing new or different for me, and the only time we ever moved and I WASN'T thrilled to me moving was during a time when I was angsty and prone to not liking anything my mom thought was a good idea. Anyway, the biggest problem now is telling my boss that my last day is also my one year anniversary at this job. Heh.
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent This Weekend: You Don't Even Want to Know. ($300...eep!)
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Step 70: Slack Off a Little
So, I really didn't blog properly this week, and I'm just now noticing. Oopsies!
See, I was under the impression that while everyone else got super busy around the holidays, I was excepted from it, being that my family is only two people. I was wrong.
Yes, on Christmas Day it will be just my mom and I, but before that day, there are other people to do things for. Today we made a whole bunch of Things We Only Make This Time of Year, and tomorrow I have to make a couple more things. Then there's assembling the things into different trays and delivering them to the people they were assembled for.
Plus I have shopping left to do. I don't mind shopping though. Some people get violent about it, I've heard, and I really don't understand that mentality. I mean, first of all, if you're shopping for a person for whom Christmas will be RUINED if you don't get them the exact pair of lined leather gloves they mentioned two months ago, then you're shopping for someone who needs to re-evaluate what the whole spirit of giving is about.
Also, if I found out that I got a gift because the person who got it for me throat-punched a guy and then knocked down his pregnant wife, I'd be decidedly less happy to have it. Just sayin'.
All that being said, I'll venture out into the madness that is the last weekend before Christmas to finish up my own shopping. And I'll do it non-violently, and so long as I don't get lost in my own thoughts, I'll try to smile at people who look like they might throw a punch if I don't stop casting sidelong glances at the scarf they know their sister-in-law's best friend's fiance will love.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes (okay, yesterday)
Money Spent Today: $20 (okay, over the past week, I forgot to record it)
See, I was under the impression that while everyone else got super busy around the holidays, I was excepted from it, being that my family is only two people. I was wrong.
Yes, on Christmas Day it will be just my mom and I, but before that day, there are other people to do things for. Today we made a whole bunch of Things We Only Make This Time of Year, and tomorrow I have to make a couple more things. Then there's assembling the things into different trays and delivering them to the people they were assembled for.
Plus I have shopping left to do. I don't mind shopping though. Some people get violent about it, I've heard, and I really don't understand that mentality. I mean, first of all, if you're shopping for a person for whom Christmas will be RUINED if you don't get them the exact pair of lined leather gloves they mentioned two months ago, then you're shopping for someone who needs to re-evaluate what the whole spirit of giving is about.
Also, if I found out that I got a gift because the person who got it for me throat-punched a guy and then knocked down his pregnant wife, I'd be decidedly less happy to have it. Just sayin'.
All that being said, I'll venture out into the madness that is the last weekend before Christmas to finish up my own shopping. And I'll do it non-violently, and so long as I don't get lost in my own thoughts, I'll try to smile at people who look like they might throw a punch if I don't stop casting sidelong glances at the scarf they know their sister-in-law's best friend's fiance will love.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes (okay, yesterday)
Money Spent Today: $20 (okay, over the past week, I forgot to record it)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Step 69: Work With Your Boss
Once every quater, my boss has to work a week of night shifts. I don't know why, but I heard a rumor that his annual raise is at stake is he doesn't. Anyway, this week is that week. The way we're staffed, every time he works a week of nights, one person works with him twice. This time I'm up.
Working with G is not, as everyone likes to pretend, difficult. He's friendly and chatty and just as much a gossiper as any of us. The only difference is that he's very busy. At night, the main job is to be a warm body present in case something happens. During the day, there is always something happening to keep you on your toes. For G, this switch is nearly impossible to handle.
Last night, he managed to buff the floors twice, stock the cooler every 10 minutes, help me clean one of the ovens, swept and mopped MY floors, took out all the garbages, brought in the washer fluid buckets, flushed the cappucino maker, break down the soda fountain...all while I'm looking at hime like, "DUDE. YOU ARE MAKING ME DIZZY." Anyway, he claims that tonight will be a much slower night and we'll "take it easy."
I am skeptical.
And also a little bummed that I haven't been able to participate much in this year's Project For Awesome. I've rated and favorited a couple videos, and commented a handful of times, but in past years I was able to rate and comment and favorite for almost the entire event. Ah well. Next year for certain!
Current Status: Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $4
Working with G is not, as everyone likes to pretend, difficult. He's friendly and chatty and just as much a gossiper as any of us. The only difference is that he's very busy. At night, the main job is to be a warm body present in case something happens. During the day, there is always something happening to keep you on your toes. For G, this switch is nearly impossible to handle.
Last night, he managed to buff the floors twice, stock the cooler every 10 minutes, help me clean one of the ovens, swept and mopped MY floors, took out all the garbages, brought in the washer fluid buckets, flushed the cappucino maker, break down the soda fountain...all while I'm looking at hime like, "DUDE. YOU ARE MAKING ME DIZZY." Anyway, he claims that tonight will be a much slower night and we'll "take it easy."
I am skeptical.
And also a little bummed that I haven't been able to participate much in this year's Project For Awesome. I've rated and favorited a couple videos, and commented a handful of times, but in past years I was able to rate and comment and favorite for almost the entire event. Ah well. Next year for certain!
Current Status: Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $4
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Step 68: Christmas Comes Early
Wow. Just...wow.
I don't like to be one of those annoying people who feels compelled to brag and boast about every little thing they get that's cool. But today I am that guy.
Yesterday a box arrived that my mom told me I was to open under absolutely no circumstances. So, I carried it quickly to her room and promptly forgot about it (I am not a present-peeker, never have been). She got home later that night, and decided whatever was in the box was just too good, and could she please give it to me already? I debated it for a moment, but decided that yes, if she thought it was that awesome, I wanted to know what it was. She brought out the box, and before presenting it, she warned me that I'd better cry.
I was skeptical. I mean, I've loved gifts in the past, but my Yay!moments don't generally involve extremes like crying or shouting or jumping for joy. Until last night anyway.
I grabbed the box and pulled it toward me, and when I peeked down into it, I had no words. Tears I hadn't thought myself capable of producing welled up and I just sat, stunned to silence.
She got me THIS!
I have been drooling over that camera since I first laid eyes on it, and I promised myself that I'd save up and get it possibly the summer after next. It is exactly perfect for my skill level, with just enough room for me to learn more without being overwhelmed. It's already got a name. Nicky. My mom named it. Here are a couple of my favorite shots so far (all taken in my own home, as I was not inclined to go outside in sub-zero temperatures today).
I had NO idea she even knew which camera I liked, let alone that she would actually GET IT for me! It is difficult to put into words how awed I am about this. I mean, yes, it's a camera...a thing, but it kind of says more than that, you know? It says, "I know how much you love to shoot pictures, and I want you to follow that heartstring, if it makes you happy."
And it does. It really, really does.
Current Status: Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $40
I don't like to be one of those annoying people who feels compelled to brag and boast about every little thing they get that's cool. But today I am that guy.
Yesterday a box arrived that my mom told me I was to open under absolutely no circumstances. So, I carried it quickly to her room and promptly forgot about it (I am not a present-peeker, never have been). She got home later that night, and decided whatever was in the box was just too good, and could she please give it to me already? I debated it for a moment, but decided that yes, if she thought it was that awesome, I wanted to know what it was. She brought out the box, and before presenting it, she warned me that I'd better cry.
I was skeptical. I mean, I've loved gifts in the past, but my Yay!moments don't generally involve extremes like crying or shouting or jumping for joy. Until last night anyway.
I grabbed the box and pulled it toward me, and when I peeked down into it, I had no words. Tears I hadn't thought myself capable of producing welled up and I just sat, stunned to silence.
She got me THIS!
I have been drooling over that camera since I first laid eyes on it, and I promised myself that I'd save up and get it possibly the summer after next. It is exactly perfect for my skill level, with just enough room for me to learn more without being overwhelmed. It's already got a name. Nicky. My mom named it. Here are a couple of my favorite shots so far (all taken in my own home, as I was not inclined to go outside in sub-zero temperatures today).
I had NO idea she even knew which camera I liked, let alone that she would actually GET IT for me! It is difficult to put into words how awed I am about this. I mean, yes, it's a camera...a thing, but it kind of says more than that, you know? It says, "I know how much you love to shoot pictures, and I want you to follow that heartstring, if it makes you happy."
And it does. It really, really does.
Current Status: Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $40
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Step 67: Party Like Your Parents Aren't Home
So, my mom had to go out of town on business yesterday, and like any teen worth their reputation as a rebel, I partied like rock star. I invited over my friends and told them to bring their friends. I had tons of booze everywhere. Before they got there I went through all the hiding places looking for Christmas presents and money. I ate more sugar than my Daily Allowance recommended.
OR.
I slept until 3 pm, went to work, then came home and watched the two episodes of Glee I missed.
One of those scenarios is entirely true. The other is entirely false. Guess which is which!
ALso, I would like to know why it is that even when C and I don't get caught up chatting and fall behind on our chores, fate STILL manages to make us late to leave by having people order pizzas when we're less than an hour from closing the kitchen. Technically we serve until 10, but it's rare to get any orders after 8, and unheard of to get more than one at that. Last night, I got an order at 8:30, one at 9:00 and one at 9:10. THREE late orders on the ONE night I work with C that I Was actually ON TIME with my clean-up chores. As a result, I got way behind again and we were 15 minutes late leaving. :\
Also, I am aware that I would be terrible in a job as a customer service representative. This is why I aim to have a career where I get the job done first, then just watch people enjoy my work. They won't be interrupting me, because I'm already done! 8D /good plan
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
OR.
I slept until 3 pm, went to work, then came home and watched the two episodes of Glee I missed.
One of those scenarios is entirely true. The other is entirely false. Guess which is which!
ALso, I would like to know why it is that even when C and I don't get caught up chatting and fall behind on our chores, fate STILL manages to make us late to leave by having people order pizzas when we're less than an hour from closing the kitchen. Technically we serve until 10, but it's rare to get any orders after 8, and unheard of to get more than one at that. Last night, I got an order at 8:30, one at 9:00 and one at 9:10. THREE late orders on the ONE night I work with C that I Was actually ON TIME with my clean-up chores. As a result, I got way behind again and we were 15 minutes late leaving. :\
Also, I am aware that I would be terrible in a job as a customer service representative. This is why I aim to have a career where I get the job done first, then just watch people enjoy my work. They won't be interrupting me, because I'm already done! 8D /good plan
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
Friday, December 11, 2009
Step 66: Break Into a Car
Tonight, I got caught trying to break into a Ford Focus. I am apparently a rather inept thief.
See, what had happened was, and you know, it's not liek it seems, because of the circumstances that you don't even know, but what I'm trying to say, and again I need you to listen... /stalling
We went to pick up the rental car my mom needs tomorrow. The rental place we use happens to be located inside a Ford dealership. So, as we were waiting for the rental guys to finish cleaning the car and whatnot, we decided to browse around the show room a bit. When we walked in, a very nice-looking Focus caught my eye, so I went to have a closer look.
The driver's side window was down, and all the other cars in the showroom were unlocked, so when I went to open the Focus, and discovered it was locked, I thought nothing of reaching through the open window to unlock it.
Did you know that the anti-theft system on a Focus is set up so that if you unlock it from the INside, it gives you 15 seconds to start the car with they key before it freaks right the heck out and starts honking it's horn inside a brightly-lit, densely-populated, acoustically-stellar showroom? Trufax.
ANYWAY, as I'm standing there with this hollering car, I look to see a Hero Among Men coming over to fix the issue. I asked if I wasn't supposed to unlock it, and he assured me that the issue was that it shouldn't have been locked to begin with, but because people lean on the lock, the alarm goes off at least twice a day. Mostly, I'm just glad that my response was the "Oopsies! Hee hee!" face and not the "OMG I need to crawl into a hole and die now" crimson blush of doom. Blushing is more embarrassing for me than setting off a car alarm in front of 50 people. Also trufax.
So, after I inspect the Focus properly (I like it, but I want different rims and also leather interior, and for car companies in general to stop making head rests that hit you right at the back of your head where it's either instant neck crick or headache), they tell us the rental is ready.
It's a PT Cruiser. My mom HATES PT Cruisers. Like, seriously. I don't even know why, she just hates them. She refers to them as "Old Guy Cars." Anyway, she jokingly expresses her displeasure about the car, but takes it anyway, because it's not like they knew she didn't want a PT Cruiser. So, I take her car and drive it home, she follows me, all is well.
Cut to a little later, I decide I want to try my hand at Wii Golf (it's the EA Sports one, I feel I should clarify). Mom, who was Mafia Warsing at the time, says she'd like to play, too. Cool. We get started. Mind you, I've never played this game before in my life.
We go through the first couple holes, both making at least Par, if not Birdies, and my mom made one Eagle. Then, it's Hole 5. It's a Par 3. It's my turn to tee off. I draw back, take my swing, and as the ball flies through the air, I feel the controller start to vibrate in a heartbeat rhythm. That always means something good. Sure enough, it soars through the air, bounces on the green, then rolls gracefully into a HOLE IN ONE! 8D 8D 8D I do the dance of WOOT, then turn around...
The game has glitched. It says "OUT OF BOUNDS" and records my score on the hole as a 2. D8 No, you did not just rob me of my hole in one, Game! Jerk! Anyway, mom declares that it counted because she witnessed it, so we'd just mentally knock a stroke off my score. Okay, fine.
Cut to hole 7. Another Par 3. Another swing, another heartbeat and another perfect hole in one! Wait for it...is it gonna be out of bounds... "HOLE IN ONE" OMG YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!! TWO HOLES IN ONE ON MY FIRST TIME PLAYING I WIN AT LIFE FOREVER!
Or at the game. For tonight. But it was still exhilarating. Pixel golf or not, TWO holes in one in the same game is pretty good. /things I decided
This blog is relevant because 1.) I'm shopping for new cars (Sandy, my Mazda, just hit 170,000 miles, and I told her if she'd hang on for 30,000 more, I'd let her retire, but if finances work out sooner, she might get early retirement). And 2.) If the author thing doesn't work out, I'm pretty sure I've got a stellar career in the LPGA waiting for me. -_-
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
See, what had happened was, and you know, it's not liek it seems, because of the circumstances that you don't even know, but what I'm trying to say, and again I need you to listen... /stalling
We went to pick up the rental car my mom needs tomorrow. The rental place we use happens to be located inside a Ford dealership. So, as we were waiting for the rental guys to finish cleaning the car and whatnot, we decided to browse around the show room a bit. When we walked in, a very nice-looking Focus caught my eye, so I went to have a closer look.
The driver's side window was down, and all the other cars in the showroom were unlocked, so when I went to open the Focus, and discovered it was locked, I thought nothing of reaching through the open window to unlock it.
Did you know that the anti-theft system on a Focus is set up so that if you unlock it from the INside, it gives you 15 seconds to start the car with they key before it freaks right the heck out and starts honking it's horn inside a brightly-lit, densely-populated, acoustically-stellar showroom? Trufax.
ANYWAY, as I'm standing there with this hollering car, I look to see a Hero Among Men coming over to fix the issue. I asked if I wasn't supposed to unlock it, and he assured me that the issue was that it shouldn't have been locked to begin with, but because people lean on the lock, the alarm goes off at least twice a day. Mostly, I'm just glad that my response was the "Oopsies! Hee hee!" face and not the "OMG I need to crawl into a hole and die now" crimson blush of doom. Blushing is more embarrassing for me than setting off a car alarm in front of 50 people. Also trufax.
So, after I inspect the Focus properly (I like it, but I want different rims and also leather interior, and for car companies in general to stop making head rests that hit you right at the back of your head where it's either instant neck crick or headache), they tell us the rental is ready.
It's a PT Cruiser. My mom HATES PT Cruisers. Like, seriously. I don't even know why, she just hates them. She refers to them as "Old Guy Cars." Anyway, she jokingly expresses her displeasure about the car, but takes it anyway, because it's not like they knew she didn't want a PT Cruiser. So, I take her car and drive it home, she follows me, all is well.
Cut to a little later, I decide I want to try my hand at Wii Golf (it's the EA Sports one, I feel I should clarify). Mom, who was Mafia Warsing at the time, says she'd like to play, too. Cool. We get started. Mind you, I've never played this game before in my life.
We go through the first couple holes, both making at least Par, if not Birdies, and my mom made one Eagle. Then, it's Hole 5. It's a Par 3. It's my turn to tee off. I draw back, take my swing, and as the ball flies through the air, I feel the controller start to vibrate in a heartbeat rhythm. That always means something good. Sure enough, it soars through the air, bounces on the green, then rolls gracefully into a HOLE IN ONE! 8D 8D 8D I do the dance of WOOT, then turn around...
The game has glitched. It says "OUT OF BOUNDS" and records my score on the hole as a 2. D8 No, you did not just rob me of my hole in one, Game! Jerk! Anyway, mom declares that it counted because she witnessed it, so we'd just mentally knock a stroke off my score. Okay, fine.
Cut to hole 7. Another Par 3. Another swing, another heartbeat and another perfect hole in one! Wait for it...is it gonna be out of bounds... "HOLE IN ONE" OMG YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!! TWO HOLES IN ONE ON MY FIRST TIME PLAYING I WIN AT LIFE FOREVER!
Or at the game. For tonight. But it was still exhilarating. Pixel golf or not, TWO holes in one in the same game is pretty good. /things I decided
This blog is relevant because 1.) I'm shopping for new cars (Sandy, my Mazda, just hit 170,000 miles, and I told her if she'd hang on for 30,000 more, I'd let her retire, but if finances work out sooner, she might get early retirement). And 2.) If the author thing doesn't work out, I'm pretty sure I've got a stellar career in the LPGA waiting for me. -_-
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $0
Money Spent Today: $0
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Step 65: It Puts the Lotion on Its Skin...
...or else it gets the winter itch again. I've never actually seen that movie. It came out when I was little, and my mom would NOT let me watch it. She's a good mom like that. ANYWAY.
Yes, despite it's only being December...well, 10th, but I'm writing about the 9th, so December 9th, it seems Winter has decided to jump the gun and show up early, unannounced and definitely uninvited.
Here's the thing with me and Winter. We don't get along. I've tried being civil to it, you know, just bundling up and waiting for it to pass, but it wasn't happy with letting me do that. No. Instead, it decides that I can't just be cold, I also need to be itchy, unless I triple my normal lotion consumption. TRIPLE! It's one thing to apply a little after a shower and after washing my hands, but it's entirely another to have to lotion up after showers, hand washings, going outside, coming back inside, and randomly through out the day when my arm or my leg or my back starts itching. Why does Winter do that to people?! It's not just me, right? I hope not. /weirdsmobile
Oh! The one thing, though, that makes winter bearable (and keeps me from just moving to Miami during it) is the traditionalist in me that adores a snowy holiday season. Snow on the roads and sidewalks is gross, but sparkling undisturbed on lawns and gardens it's lovely. Note I said undisturbed. Playing in it is for crazy people and children. And crazy children.
Random Housekeeping: Initially when I started this blog, I was gonna make each "step" a command. Like "Step 3583: Do This." BUT! I've thought of several good blog titles that I couldn't use because they broke the format, but today, I decided that it's my blog, and I don't have to follow my own rules. Neener, neener. Boo, boo.
So yeah: Winter Makes Me Itch, Which Means I Have To Buy More Lotion. That's relevant to this blog, right? Oh wait, I JUST SAID I don't have to follow any rules anymore. So heck yeah it's relevant! Because I /said/ it is.
I should go now.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
Yes, despite it's only being December...well, 10th, but I'm writing about the 9th, so December 9th, it seems Winter has decided to jump the gun and show up early, unannounced and definitely uninvited.
Here's the thing with me and Winter. We don't get along. I've tried being civil to it, you know, just bundling up and waiting for it to pass, but it wasn't happy with letting me do that. No. Instead, it decides that I can't just be cold, I also need to be itchy, unless I triple my normal lotion consumption. TRIPLE! It's one thing to apply a little after a shower and after washing my hands, but it's entirely another to have to lotion up after showers, hand washings, going outside, coming back inside, and randomly through out the day when my arm or my leg or my back starts itching. Why does Winter do that to people?! It's not just me, right? I hope not. /weirdsmobile
Oh! The one thing, though, that makes winter bearable (and keeps me from just moving to Miami during it) is the traditionalist in me that adores a snowy holiday season. Snow on the roads and sidewalks is gross, but sparkling undisturbed on lawns and gardens it's lovely. Note I said undisturbed. Playing in it is for crazy people and children. And crazy children.
Random Housekeeping: Initially when I started this blog, I was gonna make each "step" a command. Like "Step 3583: Do This." BUT! I've thought of several good blog titles that I couldn't use because they broke the format, but today, I decided that it's my blog, and I don't have to follow my own rules. Neener, neener. Boo, boo.
So yeah: Winter Makes Me Itch, Which Means I Have To Buy More Lotion. That's relevant to this blog, right? Oh wait, I JUST SAID I don't have to follow any rules anymore. So heck yeah it's relevant! Because I /said/ it is.
I should go now.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Step 64: Get Back to Work
I went to work last night about an hour after my shift would normally start, but I wasn't late. I wasn't scheduled to work last night, but I got a call at about 4:45, asking me if I'd come work for R, who was there, but very shaky and crying and not talking about what was up. I figured I could use the money, and since I'd be working with C, it'd mostly be fun anyway, so why not?
I get there, and R is chopping onions, but she looks...like a mixture of worried and stressed. Her hands were shaking, and she couldn't really focus on what she was doing. I asked C if she'd said anything, and C told me that apparently R didn't even know what was wrong. Then it hit me: anxiety attack.
I'm obviously not a doctor of any sort, but some things are just common knowledge. Being that she was so shaky and unfocused and unable to stop crying without really knowing why, and added to it that she's been under extra stress lately (mostly financial, but also her sons are causing trouble) ADDED TO the most stressful time of year for any parent-on-a-budget, it makes perfect sense that she was experiencing an anxiety attack.
I had one once almost a year ago. It was right after I started my job. I don't really remember the circumstances that would have caused it (the only thing that comes to mind is that I'd just started my job after not working for a year), but it was a like a low-burn anxiety attack. I just felt uneasy and ready to cry at any moment for about four days. When I woke up on the 5th day, everything was perfectly fine. It's stayed that way ever since.
ANYWAY, it ended up being a fun night as I thought it would, working with C. We're terrible about chatting too long and having to rush through two and a half hours of chores in (usually) less than an hour.
Also, we had the first mini-blizzard of the season last night. That was...not fun. We kept having to shovel the drifts away from the doors so people could come in the store. I know I shoveled twice and C shoveled three or four times, in less than 6 hours! The drifts by our cars were easily two feet deep, possibly two and a half. Fortunately I took my mom's Escape to work, so I had no trouble navigating the drifts on my way home. I don't think my little Mazda would have faired as well, though.
BREAKING NEWS!
I think my cell phone is now the haunted one in the house. It set itself for a daily alarm at noon. This is not a butt/purse-dialing possibility, as here are the steps required to do it:
1. Slide the phone open
2. Press the OK button to bring up the options chart
3. Down key twice to get to tools
4. Press OK
5. Press OK again for the alarm tool
6. OK again for Alarm 1
7. Right key once for On
8. Press 1, 2, 0, 0, 7 for 12:00 pm
9. Down twice to get to repeat options
10. Left key once for Daily
11. Save key for Done
So 11 steps (13 if you go by individual button presses) that just coincedentally occur, in the correct order, more than just this once? I don't think so. This is the fourth time the phone has set it's own alarm, but only the first time it's set it to be daily, rather than just once. And it's always different times. Once it was for 8 am, once it was for 10:45pm, once for 3:00am, and now for 12:00pm. I don't get it.
Anyway, I think I've babbled sufficiently for today.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $45.00 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
I get there, and R is chopping onions, but she looks...like a mixture of worried and stressed. Her hands were shaking, and she couldn't really focus on what she was doing. I asked C if she'd said anything, and C told me that apparently R didn't even know what was wrong. Then it hit me: anxiety attack.
I'm obviously not a doctor of any sort, but some things are just common knowledge. Being that she was so shaky and unfocused and unable to stop crying without really knowing why, and added to it that she's been under extra stress lately (mostly financial, but also her sons are causing trouble) ADDED TO the most stressful time of year for any parent-on-a-budget, it makes perfect sense that she was experiencing an anxiety attack.
I had one once almost a year ago. It was right after I started my job. I don't really remember the circumstances that would have caused it (the only thing that comes to mind is that I'd just started my job after not working for a year), but it was a like a low-burn anxiety attack. I just felt uneasy and ready to cry at any moment for about four days. When I woke up on the 5th day, everything was perfectly fine. It's stayed that way ever since.
ANYWAY, it ended up being a fun night as I thought it would, working with C. We're terrible about chatting too long and having to rush through two and a half hours of chores in (usually) less than an hour.
Also, we had the first mini-blizzard of the season last night. That was...not fun. We kept having to shovel the drifts away from the doors so people could come in the store. I know I shoveled twice and C shoveled three or four times, in less than 6 hours! The drifts by our cars were easily two feet deep, possibly two and a half. Fortunately I took my mom's Escape to work, so I had no trouble navigating the drifts on my way home. I don't think my little Mazda would have faired as well, though.
BREAKING NEWS!
I think my cell phone is now the haunted one in the house. It set itself for a daily alarm at noon. This is not a butt/purse-dialing possibility, as here are the steps required to do it:
1. Slide the phone open
2. Press the OK button to bring up the options chart
3. Down key twice to get to tools
4. Press OK
5. Press OK again for the alarm tool
6. OK again for Alarm 1
7. Right key once for On
8. Press 1, 2, 0, 0, 7 for 12:00 pm
9. Down twice to get to repeat options
10. Left key once for Daily
11. Save key for Done
So 11 steps (13 if you go by individual button presses) that just coincedentally occur, in the correct order, more than just this once? I don't think so. This is the fourth time the phone has set it's own alarm, but only the first time it's set it to be daily, rather than just once. And it's always different times. Once it was for 8 am, once it was for 10:45pm, once for 3:00am, and now for 12:00pm. I don't get it.
Anyway, I think I've babbled sufficiently for today.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $45.00 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Step 63: Be Glad It Happened, But Also Glad It's Over
So my mom's siblings all descended upon our house Thursday, and the last of them left this morning. Our two person household grew to a 7 person household by the time my mom's four siblings and my cousin got here.
I hadn't seen my uncle in at least a decade, if not longer, and I hadn't seen one of my aunts since I was in elementary school. It was a lot of fun to see everyone and listen to them reminisce about their childhoods. My uncle was quite the prankster. Apparently there was one time when he put one of his sisters in a box, and told her to walk back and forth so he could "duck hunt" her, like in a shooting gallery. Another time he put another sister in a box on one end of a seesaw. He jumped on the other end, and she flew up a few feet, then landed on her arm, which broke. His response? "Well, you were supposed to do a flip!"
XD!
Anyway, as in any family there is always ONE wet blanket, and that was my aunt M. The first thing she did when she got to the house was complain that our of no fewer than 8 drink options, we didn't happen to have any Dr. Pepper. Dinner was ready, and we were all hungry, but did I getto sit and eat with my family? NO. I got sent out to *get* her her Dr. Pepper, and by the time I got home, everyone was finished and the food was room temperature at best. She basically treated me like a servant all weekend, and I am NOT in any hurry to invite her back.
Everyone else, however, is perfectly welcome anytime! They're all hilarious, and watching a family Wii Golf tournament is a riot. The smack talk was priceless, especially when it came from the game itself!
The best one was, "If you're grilling in your condo right now...look out, this one's comin' your way!"
Anyway, overall good times were had, and aunt M, despite her best efforts, could not ruin anyone else's fun.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned This Weekend: $14.50 - taxes
Money Spent This Weekend: $50 (A overestimated guess, as I really don't remember...)
I hadn't seen my uncle in at least a decade, if not longer, and I hadn't seen one of my aunts since I was in elementary school. It was a lot of fun to see everyone and listen to them reminisce about their childhoods. My uncle was quite the prankster. Apparently there was one time when he put one of his sisters in a box, and told her to walk back and forth so he could "duck hunt" her, like in a shooting gallery. Another time he put another sister in a box on one end of a seesaw. He jumped on the other end, and she flew up a few feet, then landed on her arm, which broke. His response? "Well, you were supposed to do a flip!"
XD!
Anyway, as in any family there is always ONE wet blanket, and that was my aunt M. The first thing she did when she got to the house was complain that our of no fewer than 8 drink options, we didn't happen to have any Dr. Pepper. Dinner was ready, and we were all hungry, but did I getto sit and eat with my family? NO. I got sent out to *get* her her Dr. Pepper, and by the time I got home, everyone was finished and the food was room temperature at best. She basically treated me like a servant all weekend, and I am NOT in any hurry to invite her back.
Everyone else, however, is perfectly welcome anytime! They're all hilarious, and watching a family Wii Golf tournament is a riot. The smack talk was priceless, especially when it came from the game itself!
The best one was, "If you're grilling in your condo right now...look out, this one's comin' your way!"
Anyway, overall good times were had, and aunt M, despite her best efforts, could not ruin anyone else's fun.
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned This Weekend: $14.50 - taxes
Money Spent This Weekend: $50 (A overestimated guess, as I really don't remember...)
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Step 62: Blog While Your Bed Warms
So right now it's 3:24 am, and I have already managed to stay up WAY past the time I'd planned on staying up. I was going to skip the blog today, but at the last minute decided that instead of reading while I waited for my electric blanket to warm the bed up a bit (it's very cold when you sleep in a South Dakota Basement in Almost Winter), I could blog...something.
I'd intended on going to bed immediately after work, except that a new episode of Ghost Hunters was on tonight, and you can't go to bed when there'e a new episode of Ghost Hunters waiting in your DVR. So I watched that. Then I was going to go to bed, except that you can't go to bed RIGHT AFTER you watch a show about ghosts, because that's spooky. So I shuffled about the Internet. I was going to go to bed after I checked my usual sites, but THEN I watched today's SHAYTARDS video and remembered that I still need to watch everything from June until Halloween, so I started watching. And now it's 3:29 am, and I've forced myself to pause "DODGER STADUIM ON FIRE! (6/30/09-118)" and go to bed. BECAUSE!
Tomorrow (er...today) is the last day I have to get the last few things done before the Big Family Reunion begins on Friday. There are desserts to make, guest bed beddings to be washed, bathrooms to be stocked and scoured...PLUS I have to work from 4 to 11. It's gonna be a long day. I might have to try one of those energy shot things...no, I won't. Those are scary, and I'm fairly certain that six months or a year from now they'll be in the news about causing cancer and heart failure and tooth decay and seizures and psoriasis...no thank you.
Right, so the bed's warm now. Good night!
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
I'd intended on going to bed immediately after work, except that a new episode of Ghost Hunters was on tonight, and you can't go to bed when there'e a new episode of Ghost Hunters waiting in your DVR. So I watched that. Then I was going to go to bed, except that you can't go to bed RIGHT AFTER you watch a show about ghosts, because that's spooky. So I shuffled about the Internet. I was going to go to bed after I checked my usual sites, but THEN I watched today's SHAYTARDS video and remembered that I still need to watch everything from June until Halloween, so I started watching. And now it's 3:29 am, and I've forced myself to pause "DODGER STADUIM ON FIRE! (6/30/09-118)" and go to bed. BECAUSE!
Tomorrow (er...today) is the last day I have to get the last few things done before the Big Family Reunion begins on Friday. There are desserts to make, guest bed beddings to be washed, bathrooms to be stocked and scoured...PLUS I have to work from 4 to 11. It's gonna be a long day. I might have to try one of those energy shot things...no, I won't. Those are scary, and I'm fairly certain that six months or a year from now they'll be in the news about causing cancer and heart failure and tooth decay and seizures and psoriasis...no thank you.
Right, so the bed's warm now. Good night!
Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $0
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Step 61: Cry to Your Mama
Okay, not really cry so much as whine for drugs.
I don't know if Internet addiction carries with it symptoms of withdrawal, but if it does, I had them today. Which of course points to the sad fact that I feel like an Internet addict, whether or not I actually am. (If you think you are, you are, right? I dunno. /philosphy)
So, the story (it's not very interesting, but I'm gonna tell it anyway). Last night, around 11:30 pm, the Internet broke at my house. Now, for someone who spends most of their waking hours on the Internet, this was Decidedly Not Cool, and then for that same someone's waking hours to fall (generally speaking) between 2pm and 6am, that goes from Decidedly Not Cool to Really Very Not Okay. So, I did the only thing I knew how: I did the Unplug Things, Wait a Minute, Plug Them Back In and Hope Dance.
No dice. *eyetwitch*
At this point, I'd been without interwebs for about an hour. And my mind was a jumble of this: "BUT! MY BLOG! WHO WILL WRITE IT? LOLCATS DON'T CHUCKLE AT THEMSELVES! YOUTUBERS /NEED/ ME TO RATE FIVE STARS! AND WHAT ABOUT ALL THE /OTHER BLOGS/ I NEED TO READ?" I came back down to my basement cave feeling dejected. I tried reloading one more time just in case, and when still nothing happened, I went to bed. Sort of. I went and sat in bed and read until Toes decided it was snuggly time.
Cut to this morning. First thing I noticed was that I woke up at 9:45, and despite my best efforts to go back to sleep until a more reasonable hour, I could not. So I got up. Naturally, I stopped at Damien (my computer, yes, I named him, I'm not sorry) to see if he had reunited me with The World At Large.
He had not. So now, it's time to pull out the big guns. That's right, I didn't want to, but I'm gonna have to Make a Call. So, I call my provider. Their system is automated. It tells me that they are aware of the problem. Okay, Computer Lady, as long as you know about this, I am satisfied. For now.
As an aside: Do you know how much STUFF you can get done if you happen to be awake before 2 pm? A lot.
So, I bum around doing chore-like things until about 10:30, then I check my mom's computer. Nothing. That's it! I am Making Another Call, only THIS TIME, I'm pressing more buttons! This time, I choose the option to have them call me when the issue is resolved. Half an hour later, I realize that as patient as I /want/ to be, I need details. This time, I am Making a Call and Speaking to a Representative.
So I do. She was a very nice person, and when I asked for some kind of information on what the deal was, she told me that as far as she knew, the issue was resolved, and had I tried resetting my router again?
...No...
So I do the Unplug Dance again, and this time...HELLO INTERNET I MISSED YOU SO MUCH. Except now I don't have time to use you, because I have other Things to Do (namely decorating the basement for Christmas, as our family will be here Friday, and most of them will be sleeping down here).
So around 6pm, I start to feel really drowsy, then, out of nowhere BAM! migraine. That's when I commenced the whining. Something like, "Moooom? Would you get me some Excedrin, pleeease?" She did, because I never whine, so when I do, I Mean It.
Unnecessary Capitalization is Fun!
So, I take the drugs and nod off for about half an hour, and I wake up feeling less like my head is trying to tie itself in a knot, and more like hey, there is a dull achey pressure behind my left eye. My mother tells me that I did not ask for the Excedrin until about 7, and that I woke up from a sound sleep to ask for it. I was not aware I'd fallen asleep at all.
Anyway, long story short: my Internet went out, I had a migraine. Good day. :\
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Spent Today: $0
Money Earned Today: $0
I don't know if Internet addiction carries with it symptoms of withdrawal, but if it does, I had them today. Which of course points to the sad fact that I feel like an Internet addict, whether or not I actually am. (If you think you are, you are, right? I dunno. /philosphy)
So, the story (it's not very interesting, but I'm gonna tell it anyway). Last night, around 11:30 pm, the Internet broke at my house. Now, for someone who spends most of their waking hours on the Internet, this was Decidedly Not Cool, and then for that same someone's waking hours to fall (generally speaking) between 2pm and 6am, that goes from Decidedly Not Cool to Really Very Not Okay. So, I did the only thing I knew how: I did the Unplug Things, Wait a Minute, Plug Them Back In and Hope Dance.
No dice. *eyetwitch*
At this point, I'd been without interwebs for about an hour. And my mind was a jumble of this: "BUT! MY BLOG! WHO WILL WRITE IT? LOLCATS DON'T CHUCKLE AT THEMSELVES! YOUTUBERS /NEED/ ME TO RATE FIVE STARS! AND WHAT ABOUT ALL THE /OTHER BLOGS/ I NEED TO READ?" I came back down to my basement cave feeling dejected. I tried reloading one more time just in case, and when still nothing happened, I went to bed. Sort of. I went and sat in bed and read until Toes decided it was snuggly time.
Cut to this morning. First thing I noticed was that I woke up at 9:45, and despite my best efforts to go back to sleep until a more reasonable hour, I could not. So I got up. Naturally, I stopped at Damien (my computer, yes, I named him, I'm not sorry) to see if he had reunited me with The World At Large.
He had not. So now, it's time to pull out the big guns. That's right, I didn't want to, but I'm gonna have to Make a Call. So, I call my provider. Their system is automated. It tells me that they are aware of the problem. Okay, Computer Lady, as long as you know about this, I am satisfied. For now.
As an aside: Do you know how much STUFF you can get done if you happen to be awake before 2 pm? A lot.
So, I bum around doing chore-like things until about 10:30, then I check my mom's computer. Nothing. That's it! I am Making Another Call, only THIS TIME, I'm pressing more buttons! This time, I choose the option to have them call me when the issue is resolved. Half an hour later, I realize that as patient as I /want/ to be, I need details. This time, I am Making a Call and Speaking to a Representative.
So I do. She was a very nice person, and when I asked for some kind of information on what the deal was, she told me that as far as she knew, the issue was resolved, and had I tried resetting my router again?
...No...
So I do the Unplug Dance again, and this time...HELLO INTERNET I MISSED YOU SO MUCH. Except now I don't have time to use you, because I have other Things to Do (namely decorating the basement for Christmas, as our family will be here Friday, and most of them will be sleeping down here).
So around 6pm, I start to feel really drowsy, then, out of nowhere BAM! migraine. That's when I commenced the whining. Something like, "Moooom? Would you get me some Excedrin, pleeease?" She did, because I never whine, so when I do, I Mean It.
Unnecessary Capitalization is Fun!
So, I take the drugs and nod off for about half an hour, and I wake up feeling less like my head is trying to tie itself in a knot, and more like hey, there is a dull achey pressure behind my left eye. My mother tells me that I did not ask for the Excedrin until about 7, and that I woke up from a sound sleep to ask for it. I was not aware I'd fallen asleep at all.
Anyway, long story short: my Internet went out, I had a migraine. Good day. :\
Current Status: Tensandaire
Money Spent Today: $0
Money Earned Today: $0
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
