Mini Vacation

The florist has decided to closed the store down from the first to the fourth. I have the fifth off (normal day off), so I am getting an unpaid vacation. I still have to work at the pizza place, but I have the first and the fifth off from both jobs. So that's three days with out pay. Trying not to worry about it. Whatever money I will lose I will make up, later. I already have the income tax money. I'm working on the property tax now.

Of course it does come at a bad time money wise. . . My sister's 50Th birthday is in January and the niece's is in march. I want to buy something nice for my sister and for my niece I want to buy horse brasses for her. I want to buy a sheep, pig, chicken, and a rabbit brasses for her. I also want a 4-H one as well, but I'm pretty sure I will have to have that one made. I looked at this a couple of years ago, and I guessiamated $120 for it. Have to start on this soon.

Sound

My computer coughed up the SOUND when I had to reboot it, (gotta love those general protection faults). The sound works about every 1000 reboots, (oh, how I wish I was joking.) All my drivers have red ! marks on them. Yes, the sound doesn't work and didn't BEFORE I deleted . . . something. I was drunk. I don't remember what it was. Also, lets not forget, I bought this computer in 2000! It's running Window ME for God's sake and is big time infected with spy ware.

So, it's been an orgy of Christian the Lion, Dire Strait videos and international radio stations. This will only last a while. Soon there will be another general protection fault and when I reboot . . . poof . . . end of sound.

Working On My Day Off

Worked with the Monday driver, we'll call him Ted. Only saw him at the beginning and at the end. I worked from 8 to 5:30 without a break. I'm sure Ted hadn't one either. He got back about twenty minutes after me. He did 23 and I did 27, and the owner did 2. So that makes 52?

Truly regretted not wearing my coat. Didn't think it would be that cold. Sprinkled off and on, with one real gust of rain around 2:30. It's suppose to get down to 31 tonight. Wonder if it will snow again. Hope not.

Fortunately, Penny brought in a Big Basket of Goodies that she had put together herself. Lived on shortbread cookies and chocolate covered pretzels. Also, Sharon made what she called Ranger cookies. Very, very good. I ate the last two as I left.

No comments about van. I guess Amber is right and the Florist is not blaming me for the failure of the transmission.

Is This Karma?

The trannie went out on the delivery van today. I don't understand how the right wheel making a noise while making a right hand turn, goes to the transmission suddenly crapping out.

It just started feeling like I had a popcorn machine under my feet so I pulled over on an side street and I tried to make a 3 point turn because I wanted to be on the church side (didn't want to be stuck on the side where people live with barking dogs), but when I got to reverse, I didn't have any gears. Made a horrible screeching noise when I put it into park.

So I delivered in the owner's car the rest of the day. He stay with the van, and waited 3 hours for AAA to show up. During that time, he decided that it wasn't my fault that the trannie went out. After all, the van has over 250,000 miles on it. I don't think he will get it fixed as he bought that new van last month.

bad day, bad day

Have chunged two beers, want more, but sister says no. Yes, I asked her If I could have a third one. Tomorow I get to go to work and see whether it's stress, or if I'm in danger of losing my job. Oh, and I get to tell him the front right wheel is messed up, (I'm thinking axel or bushings, make loud pop, pop, pop, pop pop noise everytime I make a right turn.)

I'm so fucked.

Snowing!!!

It has been snowing since around 7:30 a.m. The ground is covered in 4 to 5 inches of SNOW, and the valley has grounded to a halt. Nobody, and I mean nobody in this valley, including me, knows how to drive in the snow. Although people were doing were doing well at being cautious, with a few exception (whom I'm sure will crash and burn). Imagine going down the main boulevard of the next town over which has a posted speed limit of 60 and people are voluntarily going 30 of their own free will!

For some reason I couldn't make myself wear my coat. I wasn't all that cold either. I had on a long sleeve t-shirt, my work polo, scarf and half gloves. Did get a little wet. And. . . ya, I ran the heater on high. Not suppose to do that, but, heck it was snowing! Did 15, only two people weren't home, the owner did 4. Packed it in by 2:00. By that time, it was really coming down and the owner had decided to close the shop at four so my co-workers could go home while it was still light.

So I'm home drinking warn Ovaltine and watching tv. YAA!!!

Making Gloves!

Actually half fingered gloves. . . I have done two, fully, two others are half done. There are pictures of experimental prototype one and two on my twit pic's. They are VERY, VERY comfortable, and keep my hands warm and still allow me to be able to dial my phone and keep an secure grip on the vases. If you look at the pictures, you will see a sharp learning curve in play. . . 1st one, very loose crochet, 2ND down a hook size, trying to keep it as tight as possible and MUCH, MUCH more of a shape. The third one is half way done and much better still, as I modified my design (not using a pattern!) and went down another second hook size.
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Reactions. . . .
twice: Boxing gloves! (?), A fellow driver and a security guard at Countrywide.
Three Times; They make me look like a homeless person, particularly prototype one. :(
Opinion of: Pizza Manager, fellow driver, BEST FRIEND. (Oi, the sharp tooth that cuts. . .)

Reaction of Co Workers at Florist, who understand that I am holding ice cold vases all day long
Great! They know I'm working on the design, and that every one that I do, is dramatically better then the one previously.

Reaction of Sister: zip, no response to messages. She is pleased that I am talking about crochet instead of ex-boyfriend.
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Unintended Consequences;
Buying the yarn; ooh, only two dollars, on sale at Wallyworld? Warn autumn colors, will go with everything. . . make first glove, wear it to work. . . warm autumn colors, goes with everything. . .Coworker comes to work. . . "Camouflage! Every man's dream!. . . What! I look at glove. . .OMG! It IS camouflage! Which is why #3 is being done in BLACK.

It's Not All Doom And Gloom

I'm going to the movie with Mr. Traffic tomorrow to see the new James Bond movie. And business seems to been picking up. And I am making BIG tips at the pizza place. . . and actually getting tips at the florist, (on average, I make in a year in tips at the florist what I can make on a good weekend at the pizza place). Now back to the doom and gloom. . .

I took some trash out to the trash can, I am now keeping the can in the side yard, as I got a generic postcard from the city saying they had to be kept behind the fence, and discovered that the gate had been forced open. The gate was ajar and the old solid gate was leaning against the clothes pole. Just enough room for a skinny person to sidle by. So I closed it and put the old gate back up against it and then put both trash cans against it. Tomorrow, I'm going to see what I can do to put something between the trash cans and the clothes pole, so if someone tries to do it again, they will just be shoving everything against the clothes pole and not be getting anywhere.

Also, I thought about trying a new light bulb in the side door light to see if that was the problem and looked at it and realized that it was a security light! Daddy put in a security light before he died? I don't remember this at all. I thought it was still the old standard light. I flipped the switch and went out and tried it and it works!

And then I started cleaning up the dining room. I have to get the house cleaned up, so I can call the police. So, about five hours later, I sorted through all the paper work on the table, picked up all the trash, and produced five bags of trash! Tomorrow, I will mop the floor, take that silver plated coffee set to the Salvation Army, and take a whack at the walls. Then I get to start on the living room. I will get this house in shape, so if something happens I can call 911, and not be ashamed. It's just going to take awhile. And then I have to practice maintenance.

Another Bad Work Day

I was suppose to work from ten to seven. Worked instead from ten to two thirty. Yesterday at the day job, I was out by two. I really don't want to think about my coming paycheck. Well, at least I have two frozen turkeys in the freezer.

I only had one delivery. Actually I had two, but the second and last one, I had to bring back as the person who ordered and paid by credit card wasn't there. She had gone to Wallyworld and had left her phone at home. Even although every business looks at the ID and credit card, and WE TELL THEM that WE WILL, and must do so, and the slip must been signed by the cardholder, never the less, we quite often run into this situation. For some reason, pizza is different and they can just up and leave because "it's already paid for". I was so desperate that I actually hung out for 15 minutes in the hope that she would come back, before calling the store.

So at that point, having reminded the assistant manager that I existed, she sent me home. Yes, I spend my time there, doing this; starting the pizza sauce, setting up the salad bar, starting making salad, washing dishes, doing the last two over and over, emptying pizza sauce out, washing mixing bowl, starting making seven bags of pizza dough, making delivery take out salads, folding small and medium pizza boxes, putting them up, staying in the back and making sure I was doing something when assistance manger came to the back to smoke out the back door. She stands in the doorway and does it. I believe the law says 20 feet, yes? But I already have enough problems with this person, so I don't say anything. Besides the supervisors that I like sit right outside the door and smoke. Don't want to fuck them over.

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Put another foot onto Margaret's scarf. It's her Christmas present. Jackie's is done, Brother-in-law's is done, but offered it to Mr. Traffic last night (75th birthday!!!), co-worker's is halfway done. Bought some more yarn, so I can replace B-in-L's. Out of the Parton's Bohemia yarn, had to buy kacki colored chenille, blech. Like a man really going to like that. but, there was nothing darker in the super thick yarn.

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Feet are killing me. It's my shoes, they are BAD, must replace them. But my feet hurt so much, I just couldn't bear the idea of walking anymore and so, just went home after buying yarn. Only have two cans of cat food. Maybe the cats' can't count, . . . gonna be like that Got Milk commercial with the old lady and the powdered milk.

More Gunfire! Part Two

Just got home from second job and while I was getting out of my car, I heard two people firing off two guns, one after another. I know it was two different guns because the second one sounded bigger, deeper in sound, like a bass compared to an tenor. It could have been one person holding a gun in each hand, I suppose. I can heard the police coming to investigate it, now. I think each gun fired around six bullets. The gunfire wasn't so far away either, around a block I'd say, direction north of me. There's a park up there. That's in the direction of the worst neighborhood in my city. Always something going on up there. Last week two guys tried to kidnappeda seven year old girl who was walking home. She managed to wiggle free and get out of their car and run to freedom.

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

Last night, just as I was falling asleep, what do I hear, . . . crunch, crunch, crunch. Crap! Guess the Peeping Tom is back again. I mean, what else could it be? The house behind me that is being built has a fence around it and is padlocked all the time when the builders aren't there. It's no longer a easier shortcut. So, Peeping Tom is logically the only reason left for someone to be in my backyard at 12:30 a.m. Of course since I was literally at the edge of sleep, I was unable to get up and look. I'm not sure what I would have done if I had been able to get up. The person was leaving. There is only a short window of time before the person would have moved from a observable position to be unseeable [The enclosed patio block my view of the yard from the left, and a large shrub blocks my view of the yard from the right].

I guess I will put some more nylon thread up on the left side of the yard. I just don't when I will have time to do this. I am working 10 to 7 today and I start house sitting for Jackie tonight. And I work tomorow for the florist on my birthday.

The Coming Depression

Yes, I truly do believe this country is going into a depression. Everything is going pear-shaped. So, I wondered what it would be like, to have a depression now, in 2008/09, rather then in the 1930's? I know Americans live way different then we did then. We don't have family farms anymore, (my family lived in houses around an empty city block size patch of land that we farmed), we don't have the same kind of extended family like we did then (although, that might change), we have more access to cheaper food and clothes , but we have to travel much farther to work, etc. I went looking on the Internet for information on the Great Depression, I thought maybe I could extrapolate something useful. And I found I wasn't alone in wondering how this depression will be different. I found this.

I am very worried about both my jobs. They are both dependant on people having excess money to spend on flowers and pizza (case in point . . . I only delivered three pizzas last night and I was the closing driver!). In other words, I am afraid of losing both my jobs, because I am afraid both businesses will go under. Paycheck is already getting smaller as I am going home earlier and earlier. Tips are much smaller. I need to find a better, more secure job(s). And like the article said I'm going to look at government work. . . just like everyone else in this valley. Great odds.

Must kick butt in gear on clearing backyard so I can start a kitchen garden. Also must talk to sister. . . she already has chickens and rabbits. She used to have a garden as well, but ran out of time for it when Margaret started 4-H and volleyball. Time to start it up again. I'm sure she already knows this too. She is experiencing 2 to 3 last minute cancellations everyday at work now. Getting your teeth cleaned is a luxury, when your house/job is going down the drain.

Also must start looking for canning supplies at Salvation Army/thrift shops. Before everyone else does.

Worst Night Ever

I was the closing driver for the pizza place tonight. I had three deliveries. Four hours working and only three deliveries! I have been delivering pizza for eighteen years, and it has NEVER been this bad.

I'm very scared.

GAD!

Two weeks ago, I joined "Plenty Of Fish." This is a free on-line dating site. Sharon at work had joined and I was drunk. Yes, I filled out my little descriptor paragraph while intoxicated. AND, I put on a picture of me that I took over a year ago, of me after I had worked sixteen hours with out any breaks.

Strangely enough, I have gotten two responses. The first one we shall completely disregard, as it was composed of nine amotioncoms and the words "and sex." Way to make an impression, you non-verbal dude. I run screaming away from you.

The second one. . . seems nice, but wants to break the rules. He has given me his telephone number in a e-mail. Scary. I would much rather e-mail for a while. Also, he lives like 40 minutes away, by freeway.

But I have realized, that I don't have enough time (or money) to date. I have trouble keeping up with the two friends I have left! How would I find the time to date and still see my two friends?

Later, on Friday night;

it's not like I've changed my mind about not dating or having sex. It's that I'm human, and actually quite torn about dating again. I WANT to, but I'm so afraid. I have so much to lose and frankly, after what Brad did to me, and all my other boyfriend/husband I really, really sincerely doubt my ability to identify a good man. So, the verdict, based on my track record, I'm not going to date anytime soon.

Got the Brakes Done

Umh, I thought the inspection price was the whole price. $48.00. Ya, right. When I walked back to the car repair place (ya me! Walked like four miles today), I was presented with a bill for $159. Which is much more believable.

Car runs beautifully now. I guess this means that there is no need for bushing, and that the paint bucket I hit on Halloween didn't do any permanent damage, other then spraying white paint on the underside of my car.

So, since I did walk around four miles today, I have no interest in doing any house work. I have shot the whole bolt of energy just getting home and then walking back. Did crochet a bit. Otherwise, my plans are to just sit around and mess around with the Internet.

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Got the other Tom Standage book "The Neptune File," and I think I will retire to the bedroom and Goosie cat and read it.

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P.S. I didn't realize that the cat food cans were two deep. It's actually 12 days of food!

OOOH!!!!!

Best Friend just dropped off eight days of wet cat food for cats! Maybe she read this blog! OOOH, thank you Best Friend. The kitties will really appreciate it. AND so do I!

I figured too soon, or I counted my chickens before they hatched.

So,

A. I screwed up and paid the AT&T bill without realizing that I had made a verbal agreement with them for them to take out the money. So I'm down $150.00. Spent too much on snacks and yarn.

B. Should have not gone out to eat with Best Friend.

C. And. . . the screamers are starting to go off on brakes. I'm going to work on it and try desperately to live on my tips, but I do have to buy food, and get brakes done, and pay T-Mobile. When do I get paid next? I have a hideous feeling it's another week. Must make big tips and the cats will live on crunchies only (unless Best Friend will cough up some moola for our cats.)

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I read a wonderful book on the telegraph by Tom Standage, called "The Victorian Internet." In the 1st chapter, the author brings up what he calls "one of the first urban myths," i.e.; that there already existed a device that acted like a telegraph in the sixteenth century! It could operate over great distances, spelling words, letter by letter. Two devices (lodestones or needles) would be in sync with each other, and would operate in union over space and time. Doesn't this sound like entangled quantum objects? It's as if some person of our time with generalized science knowledge was throw back in time, and his cell phone charge lasted long enough for him to convinced the local influential gentry that he was the genuine article and not insane. Just enough to leave this little tidbit of information, with nothing to back it up.

I mean, how else could you explain this belief? What could it possibly come from?

The scarf I crocheted in Partons Bohemian

It's Beatnik Blues color. It's so soft, so sensual to work with. Got this photo from my own Twitpic's feed!

Money

One of the things I have been freaking out about, is that my sister informed me that she would not be able to help with the tax bill for the house next year. My sister has been paying it since Daddy died. Yes, she has been wonderful to me. The reason that she won't be able to help me anymore is, that Margaret is going to start at San Jose next fall. It's going to cost around $40,000 a year. And it's going to take around 8 years for Margaret to become a vet.

So I slammed a door on spending money. I started brown bagging it to work. Every week I go buy my food. Right now I'm living on Land O" Frost peppered ham sandwiches. I put mayo and pickles and slices of tomatoes on whole wheat bread. I have sugar snap peas with them and red grapes. For supper I make a soup recipe that I got out of Good Housekeeping. Chicken broth, shredded cheese, skim milk, broccoli, red potatoes, onions, and kale. Bran flakes for breakfast with skim milk. Snacks, pretzels, vanilla yogurt with green apple slices. I also put some of the ham into the soup as well. I'm made three batches so far.

A side effect is that I am LOSING weight!!! I appear to have lost ten pounds so far. I can fit back into my 18's again! What the hell! Exactly how many calories are in the health food store sandwiches?

But the best effect is that I am SAVING MONEY!!!:) Not quite sure how much yet, but it appears to be in the $500.00 range. I cannot tell you how shocked I am, at how much I was spending on crap food. It makes me so ashamed for a couple of reasons. One, if I had been doing this all along, my sister wouldn't have had to help me out, very much at all. I could have gotten the house re-pipe by now, if I had been brown bagging it since I started at the florist. And so on, and so forth. I cannot change what has been, I can only change the now.

I wonder what my blood pressure/cholesterol is right now?

The Stupid Afghan Is FINISHED!

I never want to see it AGAIN. I shall give it to Kristine tomorrow. Yes, she is now back at work. Yes, the baby is like a, month old. Yes, why didn't I just buy her something. No, there is no picture, because I still can't mobile blog. (At least, Blogger is aware of the problem and is talking to T-Mobile about it.)

Now, I can throw myself into orgasmatly crocheting all the lovely chenille yarn I have bought. Everyone this year is getting a scarf whether they want one or not. Screw the front yard, screw the dishes, rest of house, the hook calls. . .

Lovely sister is talking to me again.

Not A Good Day

I went to work already "emotionally challenged". And then my boss said to me when I filled up the spray bottle and brought it back to the table, "That's using your B.A." It took him awhile to notice that I was crying and then he ask me if I was okay and I sobbed "No!", and stomped out the door on a delivery run. When I came back, he quasied-apologized, and pointed out he was being nice to me by letting me work, as it is slow, and he could send me home and have one of the in-stores deliver. Yup, that's what he said.


My sister still hasn't called me back.

More Gunfire!

Last night, just after I went to bed, I heard gunfire. This time it was AUTOMATIC gunfire! About half a mile away, I'd say. About fifteen minutes later, I heard sirens. About another fifteen minutes later I heard the automatic gunfire AGAIN. Seen to be in a sightly different place. No sirens. About twenty minutes after that, when I was pretty much asleep, I heard the gunfire again, much closer, followed by siren, like they were in pursuit. Maybe the newspaper will be interesting in a couple of days.

Tried to mobile blog about it, but still getting the non-support message back. I am going to have to find an active thread on blogger help, and see what I can do about it.

Having problems with Blogger

I can't send picture messages. I keep getting the same message back from Blogger; that Blogger doesn't support my phone carrier. Well Blogger has up to now, and my carrier is still listed as being supported. Tried redoing my phone number, and lost it. Carrier not supported. Reported it. Will wait and see if this resolves itself in a couple of days. Then I will e-mail Blogger.

I'm also having problems with my computer. I have to reboot it like every half hour. And it runs slower and slower. Has to be spyware. Damn Ebay page.

I'm Depressed

I talked to my sister today. It was a rather short conversation as it derailed, when she told me that at Sherry's (Mitzi's sister) house, Sherry's brother-in-law extended an Thanksgiving invitation. They would like to accept it. This means there will be no family gathering this year for me, as they will be be going to the condo in Costa Ricca for Christmas.
I have to face facts. My sister is drifting away from me, and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do to stop it. She doesn't seem to want to spend time with me or talk to me. I'm being closed out. I don't know why. I don't feel like there's anyone I can talk to anymore.

Also, after Mitzi's service, my sister told me that Brad was making overtures to my Brother-in-law through Sherry's husband. He wants to be friends with them again and my Brother-in-law wants to do it. My sister says that the Brother-in-law misses Brad. Well, so do I, but I can't ever associate with him again after he mind-raped me, now can I. Exactly what does Brad have to do, to be Person-Non-Grata? Does he have to have sex with my sister? Would that do it? What makes him so wonderful and me so worthless?Apparently I have very little value with my brother-in-law. Because it would be very stupid indeed, to put me in a situation where I meet Brad in a social setting at my sister's house. The results would be very bad for everybody.

I'm pretty pissed off right now. I don't know if the way I feel right now is hormonal, or what. I'm just going to sit on myself for a while and see how things go and how I feel about them.

I Don't Feel Good About Myself Tonite

I went to Mitzi's memorial service today. I got there late. I discovered that I had left my shirt at home, but I was suppose to get off at 3:30 but it was four when I clocked out, so no time to go home and get it. You know, I have never been to a service for anyone younger then 65. There was around 50 people there. Around 5 people spoke. It was rather moving. Her brother who is a pastor led the service. All of the people were . . .familiar, but I didn't know them. Or most of them. Everyone who spoke, was convinced that this time her sobriety would stick. There was a wide spectrum of people from all periods of her life. She effected a lot of people. She went through a lot. Her Mom left when she was four and never came back. Her Dad remarried and died when he was 38. Her step-mother remarried and that's who brought her up. She had a daughter (which I hadn't know until this week) and she was taken away from her. I'm assuming her addiction did that. I don't know anything at all about the father of her child. Everyone who spoke from this last period of her life said that Mitzi loved her daughter very much and that's why she was trying to get sober. So she could try and reestablish an relationship with her. Oh, how I wish she hadn't died. It's so unfair. But God knows, what her physical condition was. She had already had an heart attack and stroke at the same time around 2 and 1/2 years ago. She wasn't suppose to live through that. Maybe it's a blessing that she passed away in her sleep.

Debbie was there. I took this opportunity to apologize to her about Brad. You see, what Brad did to me, he did to her with me. I spoke to her on the phone when I started going out with him. She told me that they were still a couple. I didn't believe her. The pain was still very much apparent when I spoke to her. We will never be friends again. Yes, we were friends when I did this to her. Of course Brad was the ultimate betrayer. But I helped.

I did it and I can't undo it. We were all Brad's loving pawns. I swear, he must be a sociopath. Debbie is still friends with him on a casual bases. Is this a testimony to her as a loving, forgiving person, or is it a sign of a fool? I don't know. I can never be friends with Brad again. Hell, for the first two years, I thought about murdering him every single day, multiple times! What kept me from doing it was A. what would happen to my cats, if I did that. B. I didn't want to disappoint my sister. C. I don't ever want to go to prison. The therapist helped. But it's only now, that I can see it's like that story about the scorpion wanting a ride across the river. What he does to the women who love him, to get us in a position where he can emotionally hurt us, is his nature. It's his nature. He likes to hurt us.

Unfortunately I hurt Debbie by doing this. I feel like shit. Unfortunately I forgot that rule of the 12 steps, (which work well with us all, not just addicts) that you only try to make amends if it won't hurt the other person, or something like that. She has moved on, has a boyfriend. She is very scarred, because of him, and me, but she has moved on. I haven't and I only just starting to get there. But I'm never dating again. But I felt I had to do it. I should have done it in writing, I think. I have to go to bed now.

Another Shot Of The Ocean

On the way to Santa Barbara

The Check Out Line At Wally's World

This cost me round $90.00 dollars. A week of food, but not enough for the cat's. They only had enough savory shreds for four days. The cats really prefer savory shreds.

Penny's Margarita!

Happily, it was a pick-up.

I'm with Madge Sinclair

( http://madgesinclair.blogspot.com/ ) I feel that we are heading for a Depression. Not just a recession, but a full blown DEPRESSION! Which is why I'm trying to correct my bad spending habits now, so I can save money. Trying very hard to brown bag it to work, and buy food and make it. This seems to be working. Oh, I'm not perfect, This morning I went to the drive-thru dairy to buy six cans of cat food, so my cats could have breakfast. That's $5.80 of my money. But I still am improving. Normally I buy lunch every work day for $7.20 to $9.50, depending on what I buy. I also buy Star Bucks, at least once a week, if not more. And then there is the snacks from the gas station. Got to cut down on that, just buy diet Pepsi. I'm sure this will help my waist line as well.

I'm also going to grow a vegetable garden in the back yard and I'm afraid canning looks likely in my future. Maybe I should go to the Salvation Army and such, and start looking for supplies NOW! Going to save this year's leaves and start a compost heap in that tree hole in the back yard.

I will seal the windows up too. That will help a lot. Only problems is, the cats like to get up in the window sill. May have to leave a opening for them. I don't know how that will work out.

It's a double!

I Know I have A Crappy Computer, But . . .

It's getting worse. Yes, my computer is seven years old! It runs Windows 2000! [Thanks Corporate bodies, for stopping support of downloading music for my zen, one month after I bought it! Bastards!] But ever since my computer froze up on that E-Bay page, it's been really bad. Right now, the MyMSN page won't show up. Oh, it says it's there, but I have a nice white blank screen, instead of my information loaded purple page. It keeps freezing up at a much higher rate as well. Like three times a day, instead of two times a week. I really need a new computer. Maybe I should start looking. It would be nice to be able to burn CD's, or to be able to listen to music on my computer (all my sound driver thingies have red ! marks on them). It would be nice not to have to reboot it all time, and also it would be really, really nice if I didn't have to bash it every now and then, to get the operating system back. Yep, that's right. Sometimes when I reboot, it can't find the operating system. My rescue disk died. After three days of turning it off and on and getting the 'Can't Find Operating System" message, I whacked it. That worked! And it works like a charm! The operating system comes back every single time.

Still obsessing with Twitter. Discovered TwitPic's last night. Went to bed around 3:30 a.m.! I'm too old to do that. Will not be very productive today. You do notice how I am STILL sitting here doing this, instead of say, . . laundry, washing ME, cleaning house, buying new t-shirts (Mr. Traffic is making comments about the holes) yard work, or even eating. I'm just like my Dad when he got a hold of something that interested him, (computers = 32 of them, then operating systems = five different systems. Last obsession before he died, wiring up the house. The holes in the walls with rows of switches are still here!!!)

Called the Tech People

Well! I would have never dreamed it was such a simple problem/solution. I called them up and told them that every time I tried to get online with MSN, I got the error #25. I could get online with Explorer. So, she tried having me go to a web site, but kept getting a spammer"s alternative spelling website, even when I put the right spelling in. Either she finally found out what error 25 was at that moment, or she decided we would debug it the old fashion way, but she told me to right click on the computer's time clock. I did. . . and the date was in January! How did that happen? Did I get/have a virus from that E-Bay page? Time will tell on that. But, anyway, put in right date and am online using MSN:) Got my favorite's, yaa! And I don't have to deal with 27 security certificate every time I go to a different page either.

Have got some twitter posts on phone, lots more on twitter page. Must be the other person's setting I think. Still figuring this out. I am following two others besides DiamondGeezer. One of them is a Star Trek Buff, and twitters on that. Of course I have to try this, so I am following him. The other is a woman who I found through a search for science fiction, I think. Her twitters look interesting so I am following her. She is following me! [You know, I really have no idea how this works, maybe I should go to Wikipedia to see if I can find out more on this]. Eventually I think I might have to get more then 400 texts a month, if this works out!

They are working on the house behind me again. They haven't for about a week. It is a spec house. There's a banner on the fence that says for sale or rent. So maybe the builder is using his paycheck to get it done.

It actually rained today! But not enough to keep me from having to go out there and hand water the lawn. :(

ANTS AGAIN!

I woke up to the alarm and when I rolled over to turn it off, I saw motion on my pillow. Got up in a rush and looked at the floor. Yep, ants. Still can not figure out where they are coming from.

Figuring Things Out!

I signed up with Twitter, so I can get updates from DiamondGeezer.blogspot.com. Ran into some problems. Updates from DG showed up on Twitter, but not on my phone. I had put my phone number in wrong. Eventually I figured out that I don't need an country code for my number, as I am in the USA. Still haven't got anything on my phone, so I'm not sure. Also connected the blog. Thought, Why not. Go whole hog. So I did. Another problem shows up. I have HTML coding showing after my title for twitter updates. I'm not alone in this, I looked. Went in and deleted most of it. Still have '" ' showing and but it seems to work. Also connected Twitter to Jott. That doesn't work. Keeps giving me an error message. Still, I'm having fun. I love this stuff.

Had great fun at shower. Kristine was shocked at my finger. Shown her the baby afghan. Told her it will be done Wednesday. Penny's no sew fleece blanket was incredibly cute. I think I might make some for me this winter. Play some games, lost at all.

This is SUNDAY at 3:49 p.m.!!! Why is it doing this? Do I have a virus?

OW! OW! OW!

You know, I've discovered that I bash that knuckle on a daily basics. In fact, I'd hit it so many times since I cut it, that I think I'll start keeping a list.

1. Top of dryer well
2. Top of microwave well
3. The van's door well (right side)
4. Edge of my car's hide-the-trunk area lid

And let's not forget my favorite; squishing it myself trying to staple my tags together with the industrial stapler (staples up to an INCH AND A HALF!).

I have a problem with my spatial sense don't I?

I don't know how I got here, but I'm online!

So, I finally got around to put in my paypal information, (it arrived by snail mail about three day ago). I tried to look at a replacement bluetooth hook. The page just seized up and the orange computer light was on, and on . . . I tried to get out of the page. Didn't work. None of the buttons worked. Tried alt/ctrl/delete. That worked eventually. I restarted the computer, and . . . found I couldn't get online. My settings aren't being recognized. The tech office is only open during the day. I went to the online help program thru Outlook. I did some stuff, (but not all) it said to do. Noticed that outlook was online. Tried typing in the address for my blog, and WAH LA, here I am!

Took Care Of Some Business

Called the florist shop this morning, to let them know I couldn't work today or tomorrow. I don't think the owner got my text last night. According to Cindy, his big concern was whether I had hurt myself at his place or the pizza place.

I went to the pizza place and signed paper work. (Yes, I found my keys. Only took me an half hour of looking!) Ate. The owner and the manager both looked at the lid and said it didn't have a sharp edge at all. They are dumbfounded as to how I did it. The manger said maybe I have thin skin now. Hmmm, that hurts. Crystal says that she could see my bone at the bottom of the gash.

Then I went to the florist place. I wanted to show the florist the doctor's note just in case. He was out delivering the flowers while I was there. Cindy made a photocopy for me.

Then I tried to see my sister at her work, but she had alreday left for the day. Then I went home and had a nice long nap. Drooled all over myself. ;)

Stupid Metal Lid!

Yep, I rammed my knuckle on the edge. That it didn't hurt when I did it should have been my first clue that I had really damaged myself. I always go into shock when I hurt myself and don't feel anything for an half hour at least. It wasn't until I noticed how much blood I was getting on things that I realized that I had a problem. At first I was send to a urgent care, because they were open. . . but my employer wasn't on their precious list and they gave my supervisor the names of two other urgent cares that were "open". Crystal called and they were ClOSED! Ended up going to the emergency room at the hospital. About an hour later, I had three stitches, and a doctor's note saying I couldn't work for two days. Sent everyone a text. Still had to call work this morning and tell Cindy I couldn't work.

I don't know if I can crochet, but I will never find out if I can't find my keys! Where did I put them last night? I have looked, and looked, but ???? Man I was messed up last night. Word of warning with me, when I hurt myself, just because I can talk alright and seem to make sense, doesn't mean I have it together. I need help, guidance. Where the hell are my keys?

With Autumn Comes. . .THE HOOK!

I have spent the day working on a baby afghan for Christine at the florist. I had these squares from when I was starting to crochet. I had 12 but whittled them down to 9 as the earlier ones were very misshaped and much larger then the others. I still had to crochet around them to different degrees to make them the same size. That's one way to make a flaw into a design feature! Half of them are outlined in blue, the other half in pink, as Christine doesn't know the sex of her baby. I'm going to connect them up with multi-colored yarn in pastels that pretty well match the pink and blue. I will then outline the connected squares with the multi-colored yarn until the afghan is big enough. I only have a week to finish this.

Got the letters in the mail from the credit card companies, outlining the terms of the agreements. Also got a letter from a collections company. . . one of my department store cards has gone. I didn't realize that I was that far behind on it. Or maybe I was making payments in the wrong amounts. That counts as not paying anything as well.

Best Friend brought over one of her cats this morning, as her apartment was being inspected. They don't know she has them, and she doesn't want to pay the six hundred dollars it would take to make them legal with them. Was suppose to be both of them, but the Alien Observer disappeared off the face of earth. Best Friend couldn't find her. The Patrician Slut hissed and growed all day long, and refused to leave the sink. In fact, she refused to leave the sink, the entire day! Even although she knows me, even although she lived here with me for five years, she acted like she didn't know me, or where she was, at all. Eventually I figured out that she was absolutely livid, not scared.

ant spray

Found it! Which is good, because they are back! Still can't figure out where they are coming from.

Ants

Ants in bedroom. Can't find ant spray. I am using my organic cleaner, of white vinager and dishwasher soap mixed together with a little bit of grapefruit oil. I have no idea where they are coming from. I have looked and looked to no avail. I guess I'm sleeping with the light on.

Hmmm, I might Have A Problem

Tonight, when I got home at 10:45, and was unloading my day job clothes out of the truck, so I could wash them, a voice spoke. It said "How's it fucking, Homo?" It was a male voice. I did not turn around or acknowledging in any way that I had heard him. Hell, I don't even know where he was! Or who he is. I'm assuming he's one of the neighbors from down the street. If this keeps up I will contact the police. I'm not gay, but it doesn't matter. My sexual orientation is none of their business, AND it's not wrong to be gay, either. Even if I was gay, I don't have people over here anyway. I'm being celibate, remember, for the rest of my life. (Thanks Brad)

Starting To Resolve My Financial Problems

Today, I closed the two credit cards that I own the most money on. On one, I'm paying $100.00 a month at 15.1% for a year. The other is a pay down program, $150.00 at 9.9%, renewed each year, until fully paid. Both phone people were extremely nice. I could tell, that I was frustrating the first phone person by being vague on dates and numbers. Then I explained that I have a learning disability involving dates and numbers. Then, she like MELTED, and said her best friend had a learning disability and became incredibly helpful.

Of course, now I have no way of getting my car axle fixed, unless I ask my sister to help me. I'm going to have to ask her soon, too. The sound is getting worse and I keep hearing little high pitched twanging sounds. AND this is within the limits of my crappy hearing too boot. God knows, what it actually sounds like.

Woo Woo

That's Woodrow Wolums Wooliegh to you buster! This is the escapee from Victoriana who got his mom, sister and brother into the house with his impossible cuteness. Also, has anyone noticed that pizza boxes make excellent cat perches? I have two in my house. I can't throw them away, there's always a cat on them!

Give me a call a $1...

Give me a call a $1 tip as you're three forth from the mile outside of the delivery area! listen

Powered by Jott

Actually, that's "give me only a one dollar tip when you are 3/4Th of a mile outside of the delivery area! Between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. I had ten deliveries. If we only had a one mile radius like Dominoes, that wouldn't be so bad, but ours is 25 square miles . . .

Thank God that Brien came to work early. Everything would have been late. Did my best. But I started my period today. That always makes me run like I'm in molasses. Just can't get fast. First period since April. Soon, I won't have to go through this anymore. Good.

When I came home, I found the access door for the bathroom pipes open. I have never seen it open. Someone must have done it. I really need a security system. I don't understand why I'm being targeted. Is it because I'm not home very much? Or is it because of me? I am aware that people on the street think I am a lesbian, because a, Best Friend lived with me, b, they never see a guy over here, C, a few years ago, I threw out some of my brother's porn. One magazine featured (so revolting) pregnant, bi-racial lesbians doing it. I know the bag was gotten into. Since then I have noticed the people at the end of the street don't like me. They make comments about me when they see me. They are too far away for me to tell what they are saying, but the tone is not good.

Delivering To a Funeral

Apparently in all large churches, the sanctuary turns into a basketball court. listen

Powered by Jott

While I was there, saw a fist fight between two boys who were short cutting through the church ground. There was around 15 other kids watching them. Two girls got between them and broke it up. They all vacated when I got on my phone and called the church office.

By the way, Jott is no longer in Beta. As an early adopter I was offered a discount for one year. I'm not sure whether I got it on the plan level I chose. I'm paying around $4.50 a month for the middle level. I get to send text messages (15 second long) to Best Friend, get feeds (not that I can get this to work) and of course notes to myself. The top level is like 30 seconds long and other stuff, and cost $12.00 a month. The bottom level is free, but no texts to others, only notes to self.

It's A Single Story House

The house behind me is coming along. I'm glad it's only one story however. Wouldn't want the sensation of being observed all the time, (like I haven't felt that before!). Have not heard anyone in the backyard since the builders started padlocking the fence. I am slowly (and I do mean slowly) cleaning up the backyard. My limit is how much the green and regular trash cans can hold. Already looks better.

THE HOUSE BEHIND ME

The framing is up, there is an temporary electric pole, and best of all, a lock on the gate! I'm going to try not turning the lights on. See what happens.

However, this last Tuesday, was one I had off and someone rang the doorbell. I didn't answer for a number of reasons, wasn't dressed, etc. As I watch and waited, this person also went through my mailbox real quick. Took him about one second. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. The only thing in there was a magazine from the city. But still, what the hell was this person doing? I guess that's a real good reason to wear clothes in the house, so I can confront mail robbers.

The joys of living in a bad neighborhood

Someone is moving the shopping cart. Someone is shouting at them. Now someone is setting off someone's elses car alarm. Won't you be my neighbor, won't you?

A Bit Of This And That.

First off, news about the house behind me. Hasn't changed much. I guess they are waiting on the foundation to set. There is a mesh fence now, and I rejoiced as I drove by the street and I could see it sticking out. But later I actually drove by the house and I could see that the gate was wide open, and the site now contain not only the foundation, port-a-potty, but also, damn it, a shopping cart. I guess I will turn the lights on tonight. Frack.

Secondly, I am toying with the idea of starting a blog about the day to day experiences of a survivor after civilization falls to zombies. There would be tons of casualties, and that would continue after the fall of civilization, not only due to zombies but other people, dwindling resources, and eventually collapsing infrastructure. It's the later part that interests me. The zombie attack is just the start of the story as far as I am concerned.

I would have do research, develop a story line and pre-write a significant amount of posts, and then future post them. A lot of work. I don't know if I have the time to do this. But it would be fun.

I have to say I really don't watch zombies movies per say. What I don't like about them, is their lack of survivors. I do love TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS, but made a point of not seeing the sequel. I want people to live. I want them to marshal their resources and band together and organize. We are human beings. This is what we do best.

Rest In Peace Mr. Piggy

Some Thoughts

First of all, I have come to the conclusion that I dislike blogs, where the title is in English (fooling me) and then every entry is in a foreign language, foreign to the point where the post shows up as an outline of a box. These blogs invariably have the most wonderful pictures. What's that! A building made to look like a watermelon with the door being a slice! There's a bench next to it. Somehow it feels like a bus stop. BUT I will never know, because it's written in Vietnamese or Cambodian, or something. Frack.

And there's these blogs, all about these two brother (and their point has failed because I don't remember their names!). The pictures are the same and so is the blog style on every single one. Only the title is changed. For every normal blog I come across there's two or even three of these "blogs". They are spam. Of course I have to say it makes a pleasant change from the porn pages I got every third blog. They seem to have all disappeared to be replaced by the two brother's blog (and occasionally the Jonas brothers).

Cowboys/horses

It's a bad photo, but it's what I got.

Margaret and Lambie

mister piggy

I kept telling him he was a good pig and he would look up at me thru his eyelashes. Damn! Damn! Damn! Why does he have to die!

House Building

The foundation is laid. It's nice that they kept two of the original trees. I'm pretty sure the mobile trailer belongs to the house contractors

I Think I Have Solved The Problem

I deleted the go@blogger.com from this blog and then redid it. Around five hours later I get FOUR texts from Blogger telling me I have a new mobile blog. I checked and, yes there are my four test pictures [What, they were in limbo for the last two days?]. I claimed the blog. Blogger then told me my scripting and cookies were messed up and how to fix them. I did what Blogger told me to do and Blogger gave me the choice of where (what blog) I wanted my mobile posts send to and of course I picked this one. Blogger said it would take a little while. Hopefully everything will work out.

test three

Okay, now I can post my my pic's of the fair. This is a goat/owner costume contest. I got there five (a period of 60 seconds) before it ended, which is why there are no close ups. I am spelling so badly today that even with spell check I can't come up with the right spelling and thus am substituting phrases.

My pictureless post about the fair

Well, I certainly had fun! Of course I got drunk as well. Maybe, there's an connection! But no, I always enjoy myself at the fair. Just some years more then others. First off, I didn't have to pay to get in or parking. Christine from the florist gave me a ticket, and the florist lend me his parking pass. Yaa! Worked like a charm. Of course I also worn my work shirt there just in case, "look I'm here to relieve a co-worker. Come on, she's seven months pregnant, it's hot, let's get her out of here." Which is a total lie of course, the part of me being there to relieve her, (everything else is true tho). But, hey! I didn't have to do that.

Met up with the sister and Margaret at the sheep. . . oop, excuse me, THE MEAT BARN. Yes, that's disturbing, isn't it? They don't call the pig barn, the bacon and pork chop barn, now do they?

Checked out Margaret's lamb, then left her there, and me and the sister went to the Craft barn and looked it over. I dragged the sister through the plate setting contest. It's amazing to me, that after all these years of having this contest, that people still don't know the candles are suppose to be pre-lit! You get dinged for that. We then looked at the cases. These combine the rock hounds and people's collections of just about anything. Star war figurine's! Matchbox cars! My Little Pony! Thread holders from the 18Th and 19Th centuries! Depression era pressed glass! Key tags! And most interesting of all, a display on bound feet, complete with a horrifying picture. We really lingered on that one.. Jackie had just read a article about it, and that the mother's had to be firm with their daughters and not let them unbind their feet, no matter the pain. Otherwise they would never get married. I remembered going to the Tropico Gold Mine as a child and seeing the shoes of the Chinese woman cook. They were no longer then three inches! After I found out about bound feet, I made the connection. Spent time (as a child) visualizing her on a stool cooking, because I couldn't imagine the pain of having to stand on them all day while working!

And then we got a beer, (Samuel Adams, $7.00!!!) and people-watched. But soon, we didn't watch alone. These two guys dressed as cowboys from the waist up and from the waist down as horse came up to us. So in effect, they looked liked they were ridding little itty bitty horses. They were cute and one sat down with us, and flirted. Of course he flirted with every women that walked by. We roared with laughter.

Then we visited the barns. Saw Mister Piggy. Oh, he's so personable, it kills me that he's going to be dead in less then two weeks. Margaret took him out for exercise and he pooped his brains out. She had trouble getting him back into the pen. A man had to help her. Jackie said this bodes ill for the showmanship part of the auction.

Then we went and saw Christine. She's running the florist booth that's the cheer leaders and local community queens are getting the roses from. They walk around the fair selling them for like $5 each. Then we parted and went home.

It appears to be my phone

No one has gotten any pictures from me. I not receiving any send messages. I have send a picture three times to this blog and yet nothing has shown up. I looked at the T-Mobile web site and did what it said, sent one to myself. That worked. So I'm going to have to contact them and see what they can do.

Went To The Fair

(Friday night) None of the photo's I took have shown up. This is not good. I also got a message on my phone saying it couldn't find the server. The pictures may never show up in that case. I have resend one. Am waiting to see if it shows up. Rat's, took some cute pictures. Two of Margaret with Lamie. One of Mr. Piggy. A couple of guys dressed like cowboys on top and then with little horses from waist down.

Saturday; still none of the pictures I took and sent, and re-send have shown up. I'm going to send one to Best Friend and see if she gets it, in order to see whether it's my phone/T-mobile or blogger.

Various Things

I am waiting for the credit counseling place to call me. I asked for an in-person appointment with them on line. But they haven't called me yet. I wish they would. The bills are really beginning to bother me. It's either a debt management plan or bankruptcy for me, I do believe.

Am looking for a place to get a domain name. Keep getting tempted by web hosting. I do not need web hosting. I'm not starting a business, just want to "own" my blog name. I guess I am replacing the vanity of the picture with that. Also thinking about it, this blog might be vanity pure and simple. On the other hand;

1. It gives me a place to keep track of when things happen. Never down play the usefulness of this to someone who has dycalculia.


2. It gives me somewhere to vent.
   


3. There's a record of my life. (Snicker, snicker, I don't need no Boswell).
   


4. It's fun!
   


5. I might yet meet some friends through this.

After some research, I have decided that I want private registration. I do not want scammers to have my info. This will double the price. Must think about this.

Oh, but I would love to be irisrainbow.com, or irisrainbow.cat, or even irisrainbow.me.uk. Even just irisrainbow.me would be good, but that starts off at $19.00 even with out the $8.99 for privacy.

Must sit on this.

Changes To Blog

I got rid of my picture and replaced it with a manga version. The reason I had a picture of me on this blog? Let's see, vanity, vanity and oh yeah, VANITY. Even so, I tried to disguise myself. I always felt uneasy about having the picture on this blog. I was, am afraid of attracting a old boyfriend, or yet another drug addict (ALL my boyfriend have been addicts of one sort or another). Yep, that's what I got out of counseling after Brad dumped me. I am trying to fix my relationship with my dead parents by dating addicts. Because the way they treat me is the way my parents treated me. My solution: never date again. It's better that way.
Also, I'm going to change the description of this blog. If I ever do contact my relatives in England and we blog together, it will be on another blog. This blog has become mine. I don't want anyone else blogging on here with me. It's MINE, do you hear. . .rubs hands together furiously while cackling.
As to contacting my relatives, my sister has poisoned that tree. "They don't contact us, now do they? Aunt J. said that she thinks about writing us, but she never does, does she?" The cousins never write/call/etc either. I am still hoping I will be able to overcome this negativity. But, it will be on another blog.
I think I will buy my own domain name.

What's Mr. Traffic been doing this Week

Yup, it's a model plane. He had to carve part of the engine out of basal wood, (he told me why, but I can't remember). He says he use to build these thing all the time (about one a week, they were cheaper then), and then take then out and set them on fire and fly them. Yes! ON FIRE! He says however, that this one shall go to the hobby shop.

Yes, I went and saw Mr. Traffic last night. We saw THE K.O. KIPPERS, GENTLEMAN JIM, and CINDERELLA MAN. The K.O. CLIPPERS is one strange little short. He was missing the first half of it, so Mr. Traffic said, but what I saw was funny and quite bizarre! GENTLEMAN JIM was an Errol Flynn movie, and man, was he young in it! I think it has to have been one of his first as a leading man. I had never seen CINDERELLA MAN before (nor any of the others), and I almost cried. Man, it's a true story! I wonder how many people understand why he was ashamed to take the relief money, and why he felt he had to pay it back?

I got home shortly after midnight. Must work both jobs today. Oh well, I knew that was a possibility when I went over there. Mr. Traffic is 73, and really can't remember my schedule. My nights off vary, and this confuses him. It will be okay. Coffee and Ritalin will keep me going.

Foundation being laid

I'm so excited that a house is finally being built behind me. That lot has been empty since 2000/2001. The house that was there before burn down twice. The first was arson, the second, homeless people trying to cook, re-burned it. The people who had it, or I should say, the man, was never a good neighbor. He was a little bit mental (drug use would be my best bet) and was incapable of picking good roommates. They also would be drug users and would renege on paying the rent. THREE times I caught him out there after the sun had set, trying to attach his own electrical line, as he was so far behind in payments the power company had removed their line, (and because he was reconnecting it on his own). His roommates apparently were hiding their drugs in my shed. I kept finding stuff moved around, but nothing taken. I tied the door shut with string and as far as I know, that stopped. One day I realized my side gate was open. I asked Mrs. S about it. She said it had been open for three days, ever since that man being chased by the police had ran up to it , open it and disappeared into my backyard. She said the police went up onto the walls to check out my yard since I was not home and they could not enter my property without a warrant.

Finally, one of his roommates got pissed at him and set the living room on fire. I thought that would be the end of my problems with that house, but it wasn't. I can only hope, the new people will be better. However it has occurred to me, (faced it I AM a paranoid) that the people I have been hearing have been the new owners checking me out, as a determent to their new property values. Time will tell. But I should clean up the backyard anyway.

Best Friend Is Sick Again

She did managed to get a second job with Countrywide. Her schedule is 6 to 10 p.m. Her day job is 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. She is still seeing boy interest and he rarely shows up before 10:00 p.m. There is incredible stressful law breaking Peyton place stuff going on at the day job as well. B.F. is stressed out to the max. Is it any surprise that her Valley Fever is back? Yes, she has been running a low grade fever for a month now. Today she texts me and told me her Doctor said her body was breaking down due to exhaustion and stress. I really don't know what she is going to do. She doesn't want to give up day job, she has medical, retirement, security. She needs the second job to pay the rent (she went to USC, she has $50,000 in student loans, the ones that her DAD signed off on, she anit defaulting). She sure as hell anit giving up the boy interest. I need to win the lotto so she can stop working.

Things Went Better Last Night

No gun fire, the dogs only barked a couple of times before midnight. I was able to get some rest. I'm so happy someone is building on the lot behind me.

I have been working on my chore list. No, I did not do it on Monday. On Monday instead of doing what I was suppose to do, I found out how to get my own domain name and found a bunch of nifty blogs. Eventually I will have to move this blog, as I understand it. I only get a gig of space. I will someday use that up. Blogger charges you then. The thing is, I have no idea how much. Nowhere can I find any figures. But since I see other people moving to their own domains, it doesn't appear to be a small amount. Also, where is the stat's telling me how of the one gig I have used up?

OOh, such dark lushness!

In real life, these are a very dark red.

In the Northeast, this is what they call this a mackerel sky. In my family, we call it a cottonball sky.

standing spray

Penny is so good at contrasting colors and combining them so they just POP!

Im scared.

Just heard gun fire. Sounded like it was next door. three shots. The dogs started to bark, gun fire, and no more barking from any of the dogs! I am hearing sirens but they aren't coming here. I am debating calling police because that would mean making noise and i haven't heard anyone leaving. [ Did this mobile blogging from my phone in bed, while getting a real good grip on why people keep their mattresses on the floor in really bad areas.]

Later, around 7:00 p.m. When, in my desperate dash for work, (why yes, I was late, thank you very much,) I heard the strangest noise. I ran out to the back yard. I looked over the wall. There was machines tearing up the foundation of the burned down house. Tonight it is completely cleared and two hugh piles of sand are in the corner and the ground is being watered for the next step. Hallelujah!!! Apparently someone is going to build there. YAAA!!!!

Flood Lights Do Seem To Be An Determent

I have been leaving the floodlights on in the backyard every night. (I do not want to think about the power bill! Those lights are from the eighties.) The barking is getting less and less! Annnd, the screen door being moved has shifted from total darkness to early dawn, or even full daylight. In other words, an hour to an hour and a half later. I'm still in bed however. Does this mean that this person knows my work schedule? Am I hearing my screen door or am I hearing someone else's? But only Mrs. S' dogs bark when I hear this, not the two neighbors dog's on the other side as well. I suppose (reluctantly) that maybe I could be hearing Mrs. S coming out to feed her little dogs. But, I can find out about this! I can ask her! So I guess that's on the list for today.

Today has to be choir day. I have to replace washers in laundry room sink as it will not turn off all the way now. Hopefully that will solve the problem, as the only way I can just get it now to dripping, is to put weights on the knob for the cold (thank God it's the cold and not the hot!). Must pick up cat food tins and buy more. Sweep driveway and cut down suckers off the cut down trunks. Wash all the dishes, ALL of them, because they are all dirty. Pick a room and clean it.
Have you noticed that I haven't been talking about doing my maintenance? It's because I stopped doing it when I house sitted for my sister and now it's worse then ever! Must start again. Must lose weight. Must change jobs. Must change entire life.

Conficting inpulses

I want to hide out in my own backyard and confront this person. I want to turn on the floodlight so he stays away.

The lights are on. I am leaning heavily towards this person being a peeping tom. Peeping Toms go on to be rapists. I'm staying in the house.

Stressing Out

Last night went over and saw Best Friend. She told me a year and an half ago, that she told me (at that time), that when I was house sitting for my sister, that someone tried to come through her bedroom window and when she turned on her bedroom light, they went to the other side of the house and tried the kitchen door. I have NO memory of this. She says this is when I told her that I thought I was hearing people in the backyard.
Last night just ten minutes after I turned off my bedroom light, I could hear someone walking through my yard. I don't know what to do. I guess I'm going to have to talk to the police. But it's going to be fun telling them I have never actually SEEN anyone, just heard them.

Freeway directions were misleading!

The directions said to take the 5 and go sightly towards the 170 and merge onto the 101. It didn't say get on it! I didn't! Took me until the LA ZOO to figure it out. Called Best Friend and she saved my butt with GOOD directions! Shortly there after I was tooling along on the 101 at 20 miles an hour! Thanks to the BIG cushion of time I gave myself, I still have an hour till the test:).

Later, waaay later. I failed the test. 120 of us took it. Only 8 of us passed. Basic mathematics, my ass. Combination word problems with fractions with different denominators, inductive reasoning problems. And it would have helped if I had ANY idea of the relationship of [cublic] square inches to [cublic] square foots, and [cublic] square yards, because it's not apparently #x#x# ( the squaring part). Never saw that formula in my life. I think I guessed on everyone of the math problems accept three. I thought I did good on the other portions of the test, but I will never know, because it's pass/fail and you can't review the test by law. I can reapply in six months. Do I want to? Six months is long enough to learn the math. I will think about it. [8-9-08, 120 of us took the test, 8 passed, my sister had a patient who also tested, 104 people in his group, 12 passed.]

The picture is of my shadow with palm trees, as I sat outside having a snack before the test. Made the mistake of trying to take artsy shot of the building. Was spotted. From there on in, as I sat there and blogged on my phone, and fed the birdies part of my chips, there were people obviously watching me. This is not the first time I have been misidentified as an terrorist. I used to get followed around in the old Getty as well, and it was obvious as well. The guards would get on their walkie talkies and report what room I was going into! Why. . .don't know.

Still more Trespasser news

Still hearing this person move the screen door blocking the excess point to the kitchen side of the house. Does not put the stuff back the same way. I keep hoping it's a large cat like my sister keep suggesting, but, no, I really don't think so.
Also, checked on nylon threads. One had been pulled and then laid on branches so it looked like it was still taut. I took it off the branches and made it taut. On the plus side, the neighbor's on the left dogs, only barked once!!! This implies good and bad things. One, maybe I have chased them off, two, how many people have been going through my backyard?Anyway, it was really strange not having the dogs bark all night. They usually wake me up 4 or 5 times.
So, tomorrow, I'm going to try taping string across, but leave enough space for a cat to get under, but not enough space for a human to get through. We will see then, whether, it's a cat or a person. Or maybe, lug head will GET the point (as in understanding, not impaling!).

Ginza

The receptionists wear kimono's and do their hair Japanese style!

More Trespasser Stuff

Yep, the stuff I placed at the entry way to the kitchen side of the house was not put back the same way, . . and I heard him moving it. Chickened out and did not get out of bed. Don't know if he was going into backyard or leaving it, but this does mean that he's hopping the side gate. Maybe I can leave a little surprise for him there. Oh, how I wish it could be a pointy surprise. Also, it was around 4:30 a.m. Usually I heard this stuff, an hour after I go to bed, not then. Of course, this leads to the question of how many people are doing this? So far I have only heard one person, but that man was talking to someone. Man, I hope there is no pic's of me on the Internet.

Hey! Brien's Campage Worked!

I went to work tonight, and low and behold, only one credit card slip was being printed. Brien presented his case to the manager and the owner, and the owner went for the programing fix. Which he did himself, which means it was an option all along, ALL THESE YEARS!! The manager said that when we got the program, the owner questioned her about it printing two copies, and she told him that how's the programing was. How that translates into him (owner) being able to fix it now, I don't know. We are calling Brien, Mr. Green now.

Asked for Tuesday night off, so I could study up for test. Have found a math site online, that might help, will look for others. I will have Sunday day, and Monday and Tuesday nights as well.
Checked out parking options. There are at least seven parking garages around the test site. None of them indicted how much they were. The computer kept freezing up every time, I went to one of the sites. I'm going to make a list and take it with me just in case.

Oh, yes, I did feel the earthquake. Sorry about not posting about it before, but am really worried about test. I was eating my lunch in the back room, and I felt the first lurch. I got up and went to the inner doorway. I announced "Earthquake!" They all looked at me puzzled, and Christine said "What?" And Amber said "We're having an earthquake," and then they all felt it. We all then preceded to stare at the west wall with rapt attention. You know, the wall filled from top to bottom with glass vases, that there wall. Kristine was afraid. We tried to calm her. Think we did it. A vase tipped over in the cooler, but that's all, and oh, ya, it shifted the desk out in front. I needed help this morning when I folded the gate up. Moved the desk just enough so the gate wouldn't fold up right.
As earthquakes go, this was a very gentle one. It was like being in a water bed with someone slowly rolling over in it. It was smooth, no jerky up and downs, just smooth rolling waves. It was divided into two parts from my perspective, the initial lurch, and then the smooth waves.

Did a recon mission to Test Site for County Job

Gad! Mapquest said it would take 1 hour and 18 minutes. Ha! Lets try two hours. Also, the exit for the Temple street was like 100 yards past where I got on the 101 from the 110, . . .on the other side! Thank God, there was only one other car on this section, and it too, was headed for Temple street. Circled the block twice, and found a parking garage. Maximum total was 17 $. If I got out of there in less then one hour and sixteen minutes, I would get some money back Went out onto the other side of the building, got twisted around, and oh, how I had to pee! Ever try walking fast when you are afraid you will pee your pants? Walked down the wrong street, figured it out, found Temple, went a little ways in the wrong direction, doubled back and found the building. It's next to the county supervisors meeting room building, (yes, that's what the front said). Went in, desperately seeking a bathroom. The guards ask if they could help me. "Women's bathroom?" I moaned out, clutching my hands into fists. They told me where it was and laughed at the expression of relief in my face. Peed, went back to them. They wanted to know where I was going, I told them where and why. They told me I better find the basement room as well, since it's hard to find. Went down there and found it. Left, got five dollars back from my seventeen and got on the freeway home. Forgot to ask the maximum amount of hours you could spend at the parking garage, will try to find it on the Internet. Also, want to go down by 101, so I don't have to try and get across three lanes of freeway traffic in under 100 yards.

ASSORTED CRAP

Well, I experimented with watering this morning. I turned on just one of the lawn sprinkler sections. This section does not have a broken head, but the pipe is cracked around the control knob. I bet myself I could get to the dairy to buy cat food for the cats and back before it flooded and ran into the gutter. I was wrong, I lost. Unfortunately, it turns out that the asshole across the street is now using a movable sprinkle head. In the two weeks that I have been hand watering, I have seen no sign of him. Today the movable sprinkler was out there. It had been moved from when I departed, and then returned. Shit! What if he reports me? It's a $1000.00 fine. They have to catch me in the act, right?

Last night, besides the gun fire and the ensuing hour and a half ritual of the ghetto bird circling overhead, I was waiting in bed, for any sign of the trespassers. I swore at one point I heard the chair I moved to block the beaten path to my bedroom window, ( and tied to the antennae post with the nylon thread) was moved. But this morning when I went out there, the chair appeared to have been unmoved, and all the nylons threads were still unbroken.
However, the duct tape was peeled a bit from the shed door. I smoothed it back down. I couldn't tell if some one had tried to put it off, or if it had just peeled off by it's self. Will keep an eye on it.

Oh

Oh yaa! A few minutes ago, i heard what I hoped were fire crackers. Nope, must have been gun fire, because the ghetto bird is circling the neighborhood. I can't sleep with all this noise.

Update on Backyard

I have strung the fishing line. Only had enough to go across three places. Two of the are at chest level. The third line I came up short on and had to tie it down lower then I wanted. All I want is for them to realize that I know that they are there and I don't want them coming around. I want them gone.
Later still,. . .re-taped the shed door (the trespassers had slipped in the sprinkler trench in front of the door and had grabbed the shed door to catch themselves and broken the top attachment on the right side), and oh, yes, they have rearranged the insides very nicely, while stealing one of Daddy's car ramps, and Crystal's mattress. Can't tell about anything else.

They Are Still Trespassing

Last night I was woken up (around 11:30, this usually occurs between 11:30 to 1:30) by the crunching and a man voice saying "She's in the back." So now they are giving guided tours to my backyard? I think I will put out the fishing line tonight.
These are the assumptions I'm going on.
A. It's not my neighbors.
B. They don't live on MY street, but might on the street behind me. The house behind burned down and the lot is empty, ungated and provides easy access to my back yard, with the mild exception of a SIX FOOT TALL BRICK WALL!.
C. Although in fairness, I have thought of three reasons why they are there; .i.e. 1.) Shortcut, 2.) Storing drugs, 3.) Peeping Tom, I'm afraid that the answer lies in number 3.) Peeping Tom, mixed with mind games.
Why else would they bang the screen door at the front? Why do they keep talking? Why does it matter, which side of the house, my bedroom is on? I do occasionally turn on my light and peer out the window. Unfortunately I'm afraid the answer is that they are indeed, playing mind games with me.

A Waste Of Paper And Ink

For 15 days, Brian has been collecting the excess credit card slips. For every one the computer prints out, there is a second one printed (along with two little coupons as well), because the programmer didn't know we had duplicate paper. It doesn't look like much, but Brian has collected them everyday (those of us who are participating) and stacked and stapled them. So there is a lot more in there then you can see in this picture.

He's also got one of the roll tubes, and he's going to tape the slips together and re-roll them. When he presents his case for a program fix, and gets to the waste of ink part, he's going to dramatically unroll it. Probably won't accomplish anything, but he wants to try.

Another Real Big Orchid

This one IS biger than my palm!

Really Big Orchids!

This one is as big as the palm of my hand.

more trepassing news

Last night I was woken up about an hour after I had gone to sleep. Eventually, I figured out I had hear my screen door being slammed shut. I wasn't terribly alarmed, I knew there was nobody in the house by the way the cats were acting. I didn't get out of bed. Once again, what good would it do? If someone is playing a cat and mouse game, getting up would only fuel their game. But eventually, I'm going to have to figure something out. Maybe a video camera, or something.

Head is Blowing Up!

I have been filling out a county job application for two days now. It's fairly simple on the surface, but if you read the instruction page. . .not it's not!!! I have made mistakes on all three copies. . .sob. I will turn it in, tomorrow. It's for county assessor trainee. They train you for a whole year, WHILE PAYING YOU OVER $3000.00 A MONTH!!! Okay, I not strong on math, but if there is a regime, and I do the same type of math over and over, then I can do it. I CAN take measurements, look up data in databases, and write three kinds of reports, specially if I have a whole year's training at it. I can do this, and we all know I can definitely find places, and walk great distances. I am qualified for this job.
So why can't I fill out an application without freaking out and making mistakes? I have a headache. Cider time with muscle relaxant (I am done with it).

Hey! A Century Plant across The Street!

And a proper good one it is! Twice as tall as the houses.

Getty

Latter I will get the stuff about the exhibit out of the car, and take pictures about it. I had the most marvelous timing, got there just in time for a curator talk on the exhibit! And I got to wear a blue tooth thingy so I could actually hear what the curator was saying!
I learned a lot of things I didn't know before. Her name is something like Maria Sybil Merriam. I always thought she divorced her husband because he was a loser, lowlife, cheater or something. Turns out that we don't know why she divorced him. She joined a Utopian christian community, and her husband went with her. She contrived to have him left outside the gates, locked out. Supposedly he went mad waiting for her to take him back (but he remarried six years after their divorce, so it can't been that bad). She gave the community everything she had, and six years later it went bust. She had nothing. Moved to Amsterdam and started a business, supplying specimens, and art supplies to people. She was supporting her two daughters and her mom. Then, about 3 to six years later, she went off to South America with one of her daughters. Didn't quite work out like she planned. She wanted to stay for an number of years, but got malaria, and had to go back to Europe. Couldn't traps off to the jungle like she wanted, was too dense. So the Indians bought her stuff. But not everything of their life cycle. So she had to guess in her paintings. She was know for being lifelike and accurate in her depictions, and she was one of the first to include all parts of the life cycle of the subjects, instead of laid out, adult, dead, numbered and pinned.
Her daughters continued her work, one of then going back to S.A. and sending stuff to the sister in the Netherlands. Man, I wished I had bought the book, but, no, I lost my ATM card this morning at the gas station and I was/am aware of needing cash money. All I bought was a motion pen, Bah!!! Maybe I can get it from the library.