I went to the dentist today because I had a broken tooth. Now I have a temporary crown, a permanent one on order, and I went ahead and paid the estimated $350 for my part of the bill. Two years ago I had two of them; the year before that, one. So I have some expensive hardware in my mouth. The oral surgeons from a couple of years ago wanted me to get implants; I laughed. Yes, I have dental insurance, but I don't think I can absorb the costs of implants. Still, better to get dental care while I still have a job....
They were having a little trouble getting me numb with one round of shots, so they gave me a second set. I am now quite numb, even an hour after leaving them. I walked down to the library (where I found a couple of Friends of the Library store books for $2 each. Appropriately, one was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which I just watched, and the other is Julie and Julia (yeah, still have that out from Netflix)). Then I went over to Zaxby's. I don't eat chicken, but they have cheese bites that aren't cooked in the chicken grease. I got some of those and a drink. One, it is hard to masticate completely when your mouth is numb all over. I couldn't really taste the food. Two, it's even worse trying to drink out of a straw. I just choked because I couldn't judge how much suction was needed. But I'm afraid that if I try without the straw, it will end up in one big drool puddle on my shirt.
One thing about being a paedestrian is that you notice things other people don't, the people who just drive by in their little self-contained worlds. Today at work there were thousands of bugs making circles above the grass. They were June bugs (Cotinis nitida). I don't know if that's a mating thing, or if that's how they find food, or what--probably the former. But whatever they were doing, they were doing it with all their might.
Tuesday something a little strange happened. I was on my way to the bus stop and there was this man dressed for work carrying around a small stick going up and down the bushes, looking intently. Turns out he had found a snake, a very tiny garter snake that was quite unhappy with being poked with by a stick. He told me that he was afraid of snakes. I pointed out that it was pretty much harmless, so long as you didn't irritate it too badly, and even if it bit him it wasn't poisonous or anything. You'd have think he'd just leave it alone, and I told him he should, as it wasn't bothering anything and anyhow they're beneficial about keeping away pests. But he was poking it with the stick. I had to go on to the bus stop. I do hope he didn't kill the poor thing. The snake was maybe a foot or so long and just a half inch around. It wasn't hurting anybody. It was just being a snake, a snake that was desperately trying to get away from the crazy man hunting it down with his pokey stick. I really just don't understand people. I have a friend who's afraid of snakes. If he'd seen it, he would have screamed like a little girl and run away from it. The last thing he would have done was poked it with a stick. That's a proper (although somewhat unmanly) way to respond. But I guess there are those people who will attack anything they fear, and they can be scary, especially when it comes to when what they fear are people they perceive as different.
See, walking around a lot gives you food for thought, too.
Showing posts with label Snakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snakes. Show all posts
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Well, I've accomplished a lot this morning
While I was putting the clothes into the washers, a sudden downpour lasting something like two minutes happened. I'm glad I got to head back to the apartment without getting wet, but it was a little odd. Then, as I was wheeling my hamper of clean clothes back in the granny cart (I love my granny cart--I use it for the recyclables, too), I startled a medium-sized brown snake as I was going down the steps to my building. They like to hang out around the buildings sometimes because it's warmer, I think. My friend A would probably never come to visit me if he knew there were snakes nearby. He doesn't even like to go into his shed or backyard because they might be there. But I don't see a lot, so he'd probably be safe, or at least in the winter. :)
The sun keeps trying to peek out. I still have all the computer/document work to do plus the bathroom. I think I'm going to take a bit of a break and then start with the bathroom. Then I may take a shower (I really look horrendous--I'm not one of those people who can wash their hair every couple of days or even the night before without it looking disheveled and greasy), once the bathroom's clean and of course, I have nice clean towels that smell of lavender and sandalwood. Then I can happily work on the other projects. Though I may look for that book, first.
PS Eureka! It is found! It was on a bookshelf of random books in the bedroom, tucked between two James Herriot books. Go figure. One day I will have everything catalogued into LibraryThing, and in absolute order. One day.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
I don't mind snakes, but....
there's a limit!
Idaho family abandons snake-infested house
Thanks to YKWIA, who told me about this.
Idaho family abandons snake-infested house
They slithered behind the walls at night and released foul-smelling musk into the drinking water. Ben Sessions once killed 42 in a single day.
Shortly after buying their dream home, Sessions and his wife discovered it was infested with thousands of garter snakes. Their growing family lived as if in a horror movie for three months. They abandoned the property, but the home briefly went back on the market more than a year later, and they fear it could attract another unsuspecting buyer.
Thanks to YKWIA, who told me about this.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Well, the cobra's back where she should be
Not that she ever left the Bronx Zoo Reptile House. Or did she? @BronxZoosCobra has garnered over 200,000 followers in a week or so--amazing by Twitter standards, many celebrities would kill for that--and now has a location of 'I'm at the Bronx Zoo. For now.' Whoever has been tweeting has a wicked sense of humour. One of the post-capture ones: 'The secret to surviving on inside is to find the biggest snake in here and take him down. That earns you respect in the yard.'
My favourite tweet he/she did:
:)
My favourite tweet he/she did:
Dear @CharlieSheen, know what’s better than tiger’s blood? Cobra venom. #winning #snakeonthetown Also I’m 20 inches long. Just sayin’.
:)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Oh, yes, indeed, it was bound to happen
Gavon Laessig is right: the cobra needs and agent. Look what sorts of things are showing up on CafePress--
There are also panties, a thong, specifically. You read that right.
Earlier the snake tweeted: 'Indiana Jones. Why did it have to be Indiana Jones?' :)
Via Joe.My.God.
Okay, the itching is now bearable. Here's to trying to sleep for 4 hours. Good night.
There are also panties, a thong, specifically. You read that right.
Earlier the snake tweeted: 'Indiana Jones. Why did it have to be Indiana Jones?' :)
Via Joe.My.God.
Okay, the itching is now bearable. Here's to trying to sleep for 4 hours. Good night.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
It was inevitable--someone's having a bit of fun :)
Bronx Zoo's missing cobra 'speaks out' on Twitter
A tongue-in-cheek Twitter user giving "updates" on a missing deadly Egyptian cobra now has some 35,000 followers.Incidentally, the snake now has over 101,000 followers, but on the upside, the Bronx Zoo gained about 1,000. :) The zoo is confident that the snake is still in the reptile house, hiding in a non-public area.
The 20in (50cm) venomous snake escaped from New York City's Bronx Zoo on Friday, and is yet to be found.
In one tweet, BronxZoosCobra says: "On top of the Empire State Building! All the people look like little mice down there. Delicious little mice."
In its Twitter account, The Bronx Zoo - which has some 6,000 followers - admits it is currently "the snake's game".
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Ack!
People who have backgrounds in classical and ancient history (well, any kind of historical studies) should probably not watch television. (Of course, then they'd miss things like 'Heroes'.) The History Channel itself is egregious in 1) promoting shows that have nothing to do with history [like 'Monster Quest] or 2) presenting bad or dumbed-down history. Which is why I thought I'd give Discovery a whirl tonight.
Tonight I was watching Discovery's 'Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer', which was overall very entertaining and interesting, but then at the end they wrapped it all up neatly by indicating that Cleopatra had eliminated her siblings and then herself, in essence ending the Ptolemaic line.
They totally ignored her children. One, which she purportedly had with Caesar, was co-ruler for awhile and after her death was proclaimed pharaoh. He was captured and executed on orders of Octavian (later known as Augustus Caesar). That is the true end of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Aegypt, and Pharaonic Aegypt in general. But there may be descendants of Cleopatra out there, for she had three other children with Mark Antony, who were given into the care of Antony's former wife (and Octavian's sister) after the deaths of their parents. It is unknown whether the boys survived to adulthood; it is thought they died of illness prior to their sister's marriage. But the sister settled with her husband in Mauretania and ruled there. She in turn had two children, a boy and a girl, although I think after that the descendants become difficult to trace. Her son ruled Mauretania after his father's death and was murdered on orders of Caligula, after producing a daughter.
I guess that's the appeal of true history--it's never something you can really wrap up in an hour and there's lots of loose ends that can be fascinating.
Still, the show was very interesting, talking about the life and death of Cleopatra's younger sister, Arsinoë, who had been held hostage by Caesar, escaped, and then led a rebellion that routed the Romans from the Pharos of Alexandria and nearly cost Caesar his life. She was later captured, paraded in shame in Rome, and exiled to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesos, an ancient place of sacrosanct sanctuary which was violated when she was dragged from the Artemisium and murdered. At the time Mark Antony was in charge of the province that included Ephesos. The show follows an investigation into a tomb that was situated inside the city limits (rare in ancient times) of a woman (rare still), found in the 1920s and studied further with forensic techniques. The belief is that this woman was Arsinoë, whose tomb was shaped in a way reminiscent of the Pharos. The bones matched the gender and age. A skull model was reconstructed from photos taken at the time of the first excavation (the original was lost during World War II) and using computers a face was put onto it to give a sense of what Arsinoë, and perhaps to some degree, Cleopatra, looked like.
They also included a small shot of a horned viper, one of several snakes sometimes called an asp, which is supposed to be the manner of Cleopatra's suicide. (Personally I vote for the Aegpytian cobra as the manner of her demise; it is fitting given its link to the royal family and is also sometimes called an asp, which simply means poisonous snake anyway.) This was timely as in the game yesterday (we're set in the Sudan, which was Upper Aegypt in ancient times, at the moment), we were attacked by magical asps that managed to bite my character as she fought the evil cultists, leaving her pretty close to death until she put herself into a stasis-like trance. I came across a video of a Field's Horned Viper which pretty much reminded me of what I was visualising at the time, although this particular snake is not native to Africa (but then do magical venomous snakes HAVE to be???) It is a Pseudocerastes; the African ones are the Cerastes themselves. The embedding is disabled, but the video's interesting, if for no other reason than the man doing closeups on a venomous snake with the cage open. Don't watch if you're ophidiophobic.
Tonight I was watching Discovery's 'Cleopatra: Portrait of a Killer', which was overall very entertaining and interesting, but then at the end they wrapped it all up neatly by indicating that Cleopatra had eliminated her siblings and then herself, in essence ending the Ptolemaic line.
They totally ignored her children. One, which she purportedly had with Caesar, was co-ruler for awhile and after her death was proclaimed pharaoh. He was captured and executed on orders of Octavian (later known as Augustus Caesar). That is the true end of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Aegypt, and Pharaonic Aegypt in general. But there may be descendants of Cleopatra out there, for she had three other children with Mark Antony, who were given into the care of Antony's former wife (and Octavian's sister) after the deaths of their parents. It is unknown whether the boys survived to adulthood; it is thought they died of illness prior to their sister's marriage. But the sister settled with her husband in Mauretania and ruled there. She in turn had two children, a boy and a girl, although I think after that the descendants become difficult to trace. Her son ruled Mauretania after his father's death and was murdered on orders of Caligula, after producing a daughter.
I guess that's the appeal of true history--it's never something you can really wrap up in an hour and there's lots of loose ends that can be fascinating.
Still, the show was very interesting, talking about the life and death of Cleopatra's younger sister, Arsinoë, who had been held hostage by Caesar, escaped, and then led a rebellion that routed the Romans from the Pharos of Alexandria and nearly cost Caesar his life. She was later captured, paraded in shame in Rome, and exiled to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesos, an ancient place of sacrosanct sanctuary which was violated when she was dragged from the Artemisium and murdered. At the time Mark Antony was in charge of the province that included Ephesos. The show follows an investigation into a tomb that was situated inside the city limits (rare in ancient times) of a woman (rare still), found in the 1920s and studied further with forensic techniques. The belief is that this woman was Arsinoë, whose tomb was shaped in a way reminiscent of the Pharos. The bones matched the gender and age. A skull model was reconstructed from photos taken at the time of the first excavation (the original was lost during World War II) and using computers a face was put onto it to give a sense of what Arsinoë, and perhaps to some degree, Cleopatra, looked like.
They also included a small shot of a horned viper, one of several snakes sometimes called an asp, which is supposed to be the manner of Cleopatra's suicide. (Personally I vote for the Aegpytian cobra as the manner of her demise; it is fitting given its link to the royal family and is also sometimes called an asp, which simply means poisonous snake anyway.) This was timely as in the game yesterday (we're set in the Sudan, which was Upper Aegypt in ancient times, at the moment), we were attacked by magical asps that managed to bite my character as she fought the evil cultists, leaving her pretty close to death until she put herself into a stasis-like trance. I came across a video of a Field's Horned Viper which pretty much reminded me of what I was visualising at the time, although this particular snake is not native to Africa (but then do magical venomous snakes HAVE to be???) It is a Pseudocerastes; the African ones are the Cerastes themselves. The embedding is disabled, but the video's interesting, if for no other reason than the man doing closeups on a venomous snake with the cage open. Don't watch if you're ophidiophobic.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Unlikely bedfellows
Warning...do not watch this if you suffer from ophidiophobia!
From the blurb on YouTube:
I used to raise hamsters and sell them to pet stores. I can't imagine feeding one to a snake (the only real reason I don't keep snakes; I'm rather fascinated by them...I could maybe do crickets, but not mammals). But these two seem to get along pretty well, although if I were their keeper, I still would always wonder if Ao-Chan might finally decide to have dinner, though. (Note: I gave up hamsters when I got kittens...I didn't want to have a hamster taken apart in the house by an overly-exuberant feline).
Okay, I think it's time to say good night. :)
From the blurb on YouTube:
Snakes usually have hamsters for lunch. But when rat snake Ao-chan and dwarf hamster Gohan-chan met at a Japanese zoo, it was love - and not at first bite. Now, the 120-centimetre snake and gray hamster are room mates, living together in a heated glass box.
Gohan-chan, whose name means "meal" in Japanese, was literally, meant to be the snake's dinner. "When we first found Ao-chan, the snake refused to eat so we went to a pet shop but was told they were out of frozen mice and suggested we try a hamster. However the moment we put it in the cage, it was instantaneous friendship and the snake seemed to have no appetite for it," said zoo keeper Kazuya Yamamoto.
But the love is obviously is shared only by the snake and the hamster. Hanna-chan, a mouse-hunting cat, has been eyeing Gohan-chan ever since Ao-chan decided to befriend it.
I used to raise hamsters and sell them to pet stores. I can't imagine feeding one to a snake (the only real reason I don't keep snakes; I'm rather fascinated by them...I could maybe do crickets, but not mammals). But these two seem to get along pretty well, although if I were their keeper, I still would always wonder if Ao-Chan might finally decide to have dinner, though. (Note: I gave up hamsters when I got kittens...I didn't want to have a hamster taken apart in the house by an overly-exuberant feline).
Okay, I think it's time to say good night. :)
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
My friend A would just die if he saw one of these
Ancient snake was as long as a bus: Reptile slithered about South America's rainforests 60 million years ago
He has ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), which like all phobias, seems, well, irrational by definition. But if I encountered one of these out foraging for food, I think it would scare the daylights out of me, too, for I am a slow morsel and probably quite tasty. Fortunately this behemoth is thought to have been an aquatic snake that came out occasionally to bask.
YKWIA, be sure to show A the picture after following the link to the story.
Okay, I have supped and quaffed after working eleven hours. I am going to bed until A calls me for a ride. :)
He has ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), which like all phobias, seems, well, irrational by definition. But if I encountered one of these out foraging for food, I think it would scare the daylights out of me, too, for I am a slow morsel and probably quite tasty. Fortunately this behemoth is thought to have been an aquatic snake that came out occasionally to bask.
YKWIA, be sure to show A the picture after following the link to the story.
Okay, I have supped and quaffed after working eleven hours. I am going to bed until A calls me for a ride. :)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
And they were flying to the Air Force Base where I grew up
VOA News - Pentagon: Nuclear Warheads Domestic Flight was 'Serious Error'
which is a little scary. I mean, I knew my father wore a radiation badge while loading bombs, but I guess I didn't really understand nuclear weapons back then. So Barksdale is where you send nukes to be destroyed. No wonder I, a child of the Cold War, never worried about surviving a nuclear attack--I knew we were up there in terms of targeting. It's one of the centres of the Strategic Air Command and the base of operations for the 8th Air Force, if I remember. It also has a honking big missile set up like an obelisk right as you go onto the base. Ah, the good old days. Did I mention the lakes filled with water moccasins and alligators (okay, one alligator, named Old George, I think) and the pine woods full of copperheads? It's amazing I lived through my childhood.
which is a little scary. I mean, I knew my father wore a radiation badge while loading bombs, but I guess I didn't really understand nuclear weapons back then. So Barksdale is where you send nukes to be destroyed. No wonder I, a child of the Cold War, never worried about surviving a nuclear attack--I knew we were up there in terms of targeting. It's one of the centres of the Strategic Air Command and the base of operations for the 8th Air Force, if I remember. It also has a honking big missile set up like an obelisk right as you go onto the base. Ah, the good old days. Did I mention the lakes filled with water moccasins and alligators (okay, one alligator, named Old George, I think) and the pine woods full of copperheads? It's amazing I lived through my childhood.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
The tortoise or the hare?
both are relentless...
May I present our first elimination contest...the tortoise vs. the cats:
Ladies and gentlemen, our next contest...the hare (okay, the bunny) vs. the snake:
Who will win the next level?
I feel better today. It's been a good day, actually. 'Heroes' rocked, and next week is the finale. I got a lot done at work today, too, lots of running around. Emotionally I feel more centred. Let's hope that continues. Tomorrow I see the new therapist; Wednesday I see my doctor about my blood sugar, and Thursday I go to traffic school. I'd better put in for being off for 'Heroes' next week tomorrow. :)
'Night.
May I present our first elimination contest...the tortoise vs. the cats:
Ladies and gentlemen, our next contest...the hare (okay, the bunny) vs. the snake:
Who will win the next level?
I feel better today. It's been a good day, actually. 'Heroes' rocked, and next week is the finale. I got a lot done at work today, too, lots of running around. Emotionally I feel more centred. Let's hope that continues. Tomorrow I see the new therapist; Wednesday I see my doctor about my blood sugar, and Thursday I go to traffic school. I'd better put in for being off for 'Heroes' next week tomorrow. :)
'Night.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
A couple of quizzes
| You Are A Lily |
 You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist. People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you. You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words. Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize. |
| The Keys to Your Heart |
 You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored. You'd like to your lover to think you are flexible and ready for anything! You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic. Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred. In this moment, you think of love as something you can get or discard anytime. You're feeling self centered. |
Today was a little weird at work. We had underage teens asking for a local strip club so they could pray outside it. We went through many newspapers, almost all of our ice, and lots of beer in preparation for the Kentucky Derby (sort of like our Mardi Gras, except everyone parties hard and then the actual event is over in like 2 minutes). The woman who was supposed to relieve me didn't come in at all, even though her husband said she had left. I waited around over 30 minutes, and finally decided I needed to go. The assistant manager was coming in a couple of hours to close instead. I don't get it. I'm a little afraid my co-worker may have had an accident or something; it's not like her to be no call, no show.
I worked a couple of hours on the notes and took a friend into work, then helped another with a project or two. I went to go out and do my religious obligations, but I can't for the life of me find my wine (which I had, really). I can't buy any more this late or at all on Sunday, so I couldn't do the traditional offering of honeyed wine. Instead I did honey, with a promise of more wine as soon as I can get some. I changed the place where I do the libation; out back near our back porch a family of snakes lives. Earlier today there was one basking in the rain (yeah, I know, it sounds weird) with its head up tasting the air. It seemed appropriate to give a Cthonian offering near a den of snakes. I think She liked the new arrangement.
That's all for now. Good night.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The week in review
I've really been remiss in my blogging this week, mainly because I keep coming home and crashing straight into the recliner or the bed.
So here's a recap:
Last Saturday
Pretty much what I do most Saturdays, work 10 hours and did some notes for the game.
Sunday
It was just the game master, Margaret, and I. We played until 11 pm (we start around 1 pm). It was mostly introducing Margaret's new character into play but we're also starting a new case. There were copious notes that took several days to actually transcribe.
Monday
Cerys startled a couple of snakes near the back of the apartment building, but she didn't notice. I don't think her eyesight is what it once was. It was a very productive day at work (and I got to learn how to unjam the colour copier), and I only had to work 3-5 at the gas station, leaving me some time to do things like go to the gym (the first time since June). Then I stopped by Subway and turned in my points from my card to get a free combo meal. Yay, free food! Then I napped for about an hour and then worked on notes. That night I checked my e-mail and someone from the Bob and Sheri show had noticed my mention in regards to the Al Yankovic song, so they're sending me some free CDs. Yay, I love their show! So it was the day of free stuff.
Tuesday
Again, productive and only a two hour shift at the gas station. I didn't go to the gym again, but I did do a little at the house and took a nap. Then it was off to do notes. My friend whom I get most nights from work surprised me by getting a ride home either Monday or Tuesday, so I didn't have to go back out. That was nice.
Wednesday
Again, productive and a two hour shift. I wound up visiting for hours with someone I knew from the comic store (several of us worked at a really great comic store until the owner sold the store to an evil get, at which point all but one employee walked out). I worked there nearly a year, doing all sorts of librarian-like things (dealing with vendors, doing databases, dealing with serials, checking in orders, etc.) It (and the former owner's glowing recommendation) was a large part in getting my current job. Anyway, this person is doing well. He's recently remarried to a woman who seems to be wonderful. He has two small kids, works at a pharmacy, and makes leather masques on his off hours and takes them to Renaissance faires to sell. It was nice to catch up with him. I still regret missing his wedding (I had to work) because everyone dressed up in garb.
Thursday
Was very sloooow in the library. It was payday, so that was nice. Then I worked from 3-9 on truck night at the gas station, which flew by pretty quickly. Then it was off to do notes.
Friday
Was wonderful--and the weather was beautiful, if a little cool--except for dealing with the traffic school saga. I took off work from both jobs ostensibly to do my taxes, do a little around the house, deal with traffic school and student loans, and take my dog to the vet. Well, I did solve (hopefully) the traffic school issues. I did get to sleep in till about 11 am, which was nice. I could have done more at the house and I still need to do the final submission of my taxes, although the taxes themselves have been calculated, so it won't take long to finish. I should have gone to the gym again. Instead I set aside some time for errands and then took Cerys to the vet. Her heart is good for her age; her stomach felt good. She did nip the vet when he tried to draw blood, although she didn't get him; he just had a little saliva on his hand. Dr Vice was very patient and good with her. He agreed that she doesn't see that well and it sounds like she's gotten a little senile, with some of her personality changes, the fact that she doesn't recognise my friends, and she wanders in unfamiliar areas (she kept pacing the exam room in circles, for instance). Her heartworm was negative. He clipped her claws, which desperately needed it (she won't let me near her feet). We muzzled her for that, and that distracted her pretty well. He only quicked her once, which was good since they'd gotten so long. Her main issues were tapeworms (he gave me a de-wormer) and itchiness/dermatitis left over from when she had fleas (she doesn't have any now, but she reacts horribly to them and loses quite a bit of hair off her butt). He gave her a cortisone shot and an antibiotic to take for two weeks to take care of any secondary infection there may be. Plus, she got her annual shots and licence taken care of. It all cost $187, less than I thought it would (my former vet, the one who held my cats cremains hostage until my bill was paid, would have probably charged $300, running lots of bloodwork, etc.) Dr Vice agreed that with her being 16 I probably have a year or two at most, but that's what I think, too (for that matter, it's what I thought last year). But she's holding up pretty well for her age. Still, I have to admit every time I come into the house and go find her on the bed I check to make sure she's breathing. It's a sad thing, but inevitable, I suppose. She's been such a good dog, a wonderful companion. I hope the medicine makes her more comfortable. Next month I'll get flea and heartworm medicine.
Today
I worked my 10 hours and did notes, since I didn't do them Wednesday (I try to do them six days a week in an attempt to progress with the project. It's usually an hour or two a day). It was rainy and nasty all day. Hooters next door to the gas station had a bikini contest; I felt sorry for the girls--they were outside in a tent, but we were also a bit snarky, since none of us would be seen dead in a bikini. We were pretty busy. My mother left a message on my voicemail on my cell phone to check the one at home. I misunderstood that it was my e-mail I was suppposed to check, and worried that something might be wrong. But when I checked for messages on my home phone she had left one telling me about a job in the Danville paper, 25 hours per week at a local business college (they actually have one here in Lexington, too, so it may be in Danville or may be at another campus).
I've also been listening to (and watching on YouTube the musical episode of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' this week. I love that episode, and I have the CD. If you haven't listened to or seen it, you should.
Which brings us to now, when it's nearly 1 am and it's definitely time for me to go to bed. Hope your week went well.
So here's a recap:
Last Saturday
Pretty much what I do most Saturdays, work 10 hours and did some notes for the game.
Sunday
It was just the game master, Margaret, and I. We played until 11 pm (we start around 1 pm). It was mostly introducing Margaret's new character into play but we're also starting a new case. There were copious notes that took several days to actually transcribe.
Monday
Cerys startled a couple of snakes near the back of the apartment building, but she didn't notice. I don't think her eyesight is what it once was. It was a very productive day at work (and I got to learn how to unjam the colour copier), and I only had to work 3-5 at the gas station, leaving me some time to do things like go to the gym (the first time since June). Then I stopped by Subway and turned in my points from my card to get a free combo meal. Yay, free food! Then I napped for about an hour and then worked on notes. That night I checked my e-mail and someone from the Bob and Sheri show had noticed my mention in regards to the Al Yankovic song, so they're sending me some free CDs. Yay, I love their show! So it was the day of free stuff.
Tuesday
Again, productive and only a two hour shift at the gas station. I didn't go to the gym again, but I did do a little at the house and took a nap. Then it was off to do notes. My friend whom I get most nights from work surprised me by getting a ride home either Monday or Tuesday, so I didn't have to go back out. That was nice.
Wednesday
Again, productive and a two hour shift. I wound up visiting for hours with someone I knew from the comic store (several of us worked at a really great comic store until the owner sold the store to an evil get, at which point all but one employee walked out). I worked there nearly a year, doing all sorts of librarian-like things (dealing with vendors, doing databases, dealing with serials, checking in orders, etc.) It (and the former owner's glowing recommendation) was a large part in getting my current job. Anyway, this person is doing well. He's recently remarried to a woman who seems to be wonderful. He has two small kids, works at a pharmacy, and makes leather masques on his off hours and takes them to Renaissance faires to sell. It was nice to catch up with him. I still regret missing his wedding (I had to work) because everyone dressed up in garb.
Thursday
Was very sloooow in the library. It was payday, so that was nice. Then I worked from 3-9 on truck night at the gas station, which flew by pretty quickly. Then it was off to do notes.
Friday
Was wonderful--and the weather was beautiful, if a little cool--except for dealing with the traffic school saga. I took off work from both jobs ostensibly to do my taxes, do a little around the house, deal with traffic school and student loans, and take my dog to the vet. Well, I did solve (hopefully) the traffic school issues. I did get to sleep in till about 11 am, which was nice. I could have done more at the house and I still need to do the final submission of my taxes, although the taxes themselves have been calculated, so it won't take long to finish. I should have gone to the gym again. Instead I set aside some time for errands and then took Cerys to the vet. Her heart is good for her age; her stomach felt good. She did nip the vet when he tried to draw blood, although she didn't get him; he just had a little saliva on his hand. Dr Vice was very patient and good with her. He agreed that she doesn't see that well and it sounds like she's gotten a little senile, with some of her personality changes, the fact that she doesn't recognise my friends, and she wanders in unfamiliar areas (she kept pacing the exam room in circles, for instance). Her heartworm was negative. He clipped her claws, which desperately needed it (she won't let me near her feet). We muzzled her for that, and that distracted her pretty well. He only quicked her once, which was good since they'd gotten so long. Her main issues were tapeworms (he gave me a de-wormer) and itchiness/dermatitis left over from when she had fleas (she doesn't have any now, but she reacts horribly to them and loses quite a bit of hair off her butt). He gave her a cortisone shot and an antibiotic to take for two weeks to take care of any secondary infection there may be. Plus, she got her annual shots and licence taken care of. It all cost $187, less than I thought it would (my former vet, the one who held my cats cremains hostage until my bill was paid, would have probably charged $300, running lots of bloodwork, etc.) Dr Vice agreed that with her being 16 I probably have a year or two at most, but that's what I think, too (for that matter, it's what I thought last year). But she's holding up pretty well for her age. Still, I have to admit every time I come into the house and go find her on the bed I check to make sure she's breathing. It's a sad thing, but inevitable, I suppose. She's been such a good dog, a wonderful companion. I hope the medicine makes her more comfortable. Next month I'll get flea and heartworm medicine.
Today
I worked my 10 hours and did notes, since I didn't do them Wednesday (I try to do them six days a week in an attempt to progress with the project. It's usually an hour or two a day). It was rainy and nasty all day. Hooters next door to the gas station had a bikini contest; I felt sorry for the girls--they were outside in a tent, but we were also a bit snarky, since none of us would be seen dead in a bikini. We were pretty busy. My mother left a message on my voicemail on my cell phone to check the one at home. I misunderstood that it was my e-mail I was suppposed to check, and worried that something might be wrong. But when I checked for messages on my home phone she had left one telling me about a job in the Danville paper, 25 hours per week at a local business college (they actually have one here in Lexington, too, so it may be in Danville or may be at another campus).
I've also been listening to (and watching on YouTube the musical episode of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' this week. I love that episode, and I have the CD. If you haven't listened to or seen it, you should.
Which brings us to now, when it's nearly 1 am and it's definitely time for me to go to bed. Hope your week went well.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Happy Birthday to me
Listening to: Marc Broussard, 'Take Me Home'
I've spent most of it in bed so far, on purpose. Now I'm getting up and getting ready to celebrate with Indian food this evening. A friend and I are going to go to the restaurant Tandoor.
It's hard to believe I'm 40 years old! I mostly don't feel like 40, although I do in some things occasionally, like aches and pains and a decidedly mature outlook compared with that of teenagers (something that largely happened with me kicking and screaming the whole way as a result of my experiences and constant kicks in the pants by concerned onlookers). Most people think I'm in my late 20s, early 30s (the fat provides an excellent facelift), so I guess I'm doing okay for now. My mom didn't really age until she hit about 45-50, and even now I wouldn't think she's about to turn 60.
Yesterday's game was really good, although we didn't have on of the players there, got a late start, so we played until late. One of my characters has his soul in mortal peril because his sword, which is mystically linked to him, is being used to kill people. If they don't stop it, he'll continue to descend into darkness until there is nothing left to do but kill him. I rolled a botching roll to to get to all this. Bad dice. :( Meanwhile, Margaret's new character turns out to be a doctor who's a necromancer (he's related to mine) and she's decidedly unhappy about this. I think her visions of her character have flown out the window. But I think she's intrigued as well. :) Again, it came down to a dice roll. Agh.
PS Yesterday I found a snake in the rain on our back porch. Today it was sunning itself. I think a whole family of them live in the cracks in the wall of the police officer's apartment. :) I happen to like snakes, but they can still startle you, and this one did (assuming it's the same one, anyway). I know at least one person who wouldn't set foot in the backyard for that reason. :)
Well, that's it for now. I need to get ready.
I've spent most of it in bed so far, on purpose. Now I'm getting up and getting ready to celebrate with Indian food this evening. A friend and I are going to go to the restaurant Tandoor.
It's hard to believe I'm 40 years old! I mostly don't feel like 40, although I do in some things occasionally, like aches and pains and a decidedly mature outlook compared with that of teenagers (something that largely happened with me kicking and screaming the whole way as a result of my experiences and constant kicks in the pants by concerned onlookers). Most people think I'm in my late 20s, early 30s (the fat provides an excellent facelift), so I guess I'm doing okay for now. My mom didn't really age until she hit about 45-50, and even now I wouldn't think she's about to turn 60.
Yesterday's game was really good, although we didn't have on of the players there, got a late start, so we played until late. One of my characters has his soul in mortal peril because his sword, which is mystically linked to him, is being used to kill people. If they don't stop it, he'll continue to descend into darkness until there is nothing left to do but kill him. I rolled a botching roll to to get to all this. Bad dice. :( Meanwhile, Margaret's new character turns out to be a doctor who's a necromancer (he's related to mine) and she's decidedly unhappy about this. I think her visions of her character have flown out the window. But I think she's intrigued as well. :) Again, it came down to a dice roll. Agh.
PS Yesterday I found a snake in the rain on our back porch. Today it was sunning itself. I think a whole family of them live in the cracks in the wall of the police officer's apartment. :) I happen to like snakes, but they can still startle you, and this one did (assuming it's the same one, anyway). I know at least one person who wouldn't set foot in the backyard for that reason. :)
Well, that's it for now. I need to get ready.
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