WhatsUp34

Monday September 20, 2004 -- 2:40pm
Nah... I'm not dead or gone missing. Just lazy and uninspired lately. I am hoping for some sort of Wave of Genius to wash over me quite soon. Otherwise, please bear with me. Or bare with me. Actually, perhaps the arrival of my spiffy pseudo-new computer tonight will have the desired effect on my creative genius. It's not really new... but it will have more memory than it is reasonable to have and the exciting new feature of not being slower than molasses. And sound! Again. Strange, these battles with sound.

My goal for this website, over the next few weeks, is to pretty much get rid of everything on it and start anew. So, if you haven't read my Newfoundland Adventures yet (which I never did finish adding photos to, sigh) you'd better get to it.

Tuesday September 14, 2004 -- 8:30am
My next trick is called Getting Up At 6am! So far, I am doing ok. I just start falling asleep again at around 8:30am. Leaving work at 4 is nice, but when I start having to do the 8am to 5:30pm schedule I seem to have fallen into, I think it's going to suck. A lot.

I am supposed to be at the middle school right now, but decided to come to my office instead since (a) I do not yet have computer access at the school, (b) I would have pretty darn close to nothing to do there and (c) I spilled coffee on my shirt on the way in.

So now I am sitting here in a sea of materials that I guess I'll need to pack up and bring over there (to the school) and a sort of uncomfortable sense that there is an awful lot I should be doing, if only I knew what it was. To add to the constant activity in my stomach, I have yet to receive any information about any of the 30 students that are supposedly going to start in the after school program one week from this afternoon.

Thank gawd we started the identification process early this year! Erg.

If I sound cranky, it's because I AM, damn it!

Saturday September 11, 2004 -- 8:05pm
Well, yes. As a matter of fact, I am still alive. It has been a rather wretched week, which has included the presence of my office-mate on just about every day. That, in itself, is not necessarily wretched, but it does make it difficult to take care of certain tasks, such as updating my personal web log and the like.

The real wretchedness involved an irate mother (not mine!) who ripped me a new bum-hole for having included, in my Prized Final Report, a picture of her son looking like, in her terms, "a pimp surrounded by his bitches." Um... lady? I have some very bad news for you. Your son is experiencing something called "puberty." Yes, it's very common for people his age, and almost never fatal, but it will involve him becoming attracted and attractive to the opposite sex. This does not mean that you should freak out any time you see him in the presence of aforementioned opposite sex.

I am beginning to understand, more fully, the community in which I work, and it is not making my job any more endearing.

Anyhow, in case you were concerned, here is my Top Ten for the week.

Saturday September 4, 2004 -- 10:40am
It kind of takes all the fun out of the Top Ten Songs when I can't actually listen to any of them because my sound doesn't work!!! If I can't get it working soon, I shall have to cancel the Launch service. It's ok now, because I can listen at work, but soon I won't be spending enough time in my office to make it worth it's while. In any case, the Top Ten has been updated.

Friday September 3, 2004 -- 10:00am
I'm getting used to strange things happening on the highway. Yesterday a huge post of some sort materialized out of nowhere, perhaps falling out of or off of a car, on I-90. A little white car promptly ran over it, swerved dangerously, but regained control. Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief, I noticed that this little white car had come to stop in the fast lane... directly in front of me.

My brakes work!

I couldn't swerve into the middle lane because a car was right next to me. Meanwhile the passenger the little white car was opening his door to look at the flattened tires. Opening his door into the passing lane, where I was about to flatten HIM. It was very scary, but again my mad driving skillz saved the day.

I would love to not be at work today.

Monday August 30, 2004
-- 4:30pm
Please, can I just go home and disappear? People need to relax and have a sense of humor! Or, I could put that a different way and say that I messed up, but I'm trying not to see it that way. Erg.

I WANT TO BE A FARMER!!!

-- 9:40am
Somebody please send a rescue squad. I'm trapped in my office, and everyone's gone mad. The director's office was full of water this morning, so today's escapades revolve around her wet bottom and rearranging her furniture. I am quietly trying to stay out of it after meekly offering to help and being ignored.

Steve and I had a nice dinner with the Joes last night. It was a lot of fun. It felt good to giggle with Joe, and Other Joe is as silly as he is, which was great. I am jealous of Joe, who left the museum for another job that he loves, doing what I wish I was doing.

We also went on a long drive, which involved stopping at a house I'd been looking at on-line. Unfortunately, we did this after determining that I am way, way, way far away from being able to obtain such a house - even though it's not even a new house, or a great house, just a house that isn't falling down, with land. So I got teary-eyed and began to wonder what the hell I am doing with my life. What do I want to BE when I grow up? And shouldn't I have figured that out about 10 years ago? At least I seem to have gotten the whole move-every-year thing out of my system.

So I'm feeling a little down because I have to drive my old car (that was given to me for free) very far every day to a job I only tolerate at which I don't earn enough money to support the lifestyle I desire, even though the lifestyle I desire isn't anything extravagant, just a house and some land, and maybe a few articles of clothing that fit me.

Whine, whine. I should go look at pictures of Nicaraguan peasants or something and be grateful.

Saturday August 28, 2004 -- 2:45pm
For some reason, my computer speakers have gone on strike, which makes it very difficult for me to listen to anything on my Top Ten List, but it's been updated anyway.

The museum is closing to the public. Another former co-worker has given her notice, another has been reduced from 40 hours a week to 10. The idea, apparently, is to get ready for "the move," but where it's moving is yet to be determined. I wish I could feel vindicated or something, but all I feel is sad. We lost.

I am hungover and generally miserable today. But tomorrow I get to eat Vietnamese food with a former co-worker, whom I haven't seen in a million years. So tomorrow will be better. Especially if I can figure out how to make my damn speakers work!!!

Tuesday August 24, 2004 -- 4:30pm
I have returned to my evil over-sleeping ways. Today I woke up at the very time I normally try to leave the house. Blood work has revealed still pitiful B-12 and iron levels, despite my intentions to start eating properly. I guess I'm going to actually have to break down and do it. Ugh. So much effort! Why can't cookies be full of nutrition?!?

In other news, another co-worker is leaving. Bah. And my trip to the fair on Sunday did nothing to quell my farming aspirations. Last night I drew circles on a map of the area - 10 miles, 20 miles, and 30 miles outside of Albany. My first, second and third string of towns. My weekly on-line search reveals numerous beautiful old homes with lots of land that I can't afford.

Oh. And you should be nice to me, because Steve unearthed my hidden talent for archery this weekend.

Saturday August 21, 2004 -- 12:20pm
It's Saturday again, and I know what's on everyone's mind: Will "Hallelujah" be ousted from it's top spot on the Top 10??? Well, I won't keep you in suspense. Go find out.

Feel better? Good. Now for a little commentary. I really like that Gavin DeGraw song, but it's quickly losing ground in the Top 10 due to the fact that it never plays (which makes me wonder how it got on the list in the first place, but far be it from me to question on-line radio logic). I like the way it builds and I like his voice. Luckily, I can get my fix from his web site, so I do that now and then to keep the song in my head.

But right now I'm listening to Lou Reed singing "Heroin" live, and it's making me feel like I should drink a lot of coffee and wander the streets, shaking.

It's not really making me want any heroin though. Most likely a good thing, that.

Monday August 16, 2004 -- 6:30pm
I am really getting sick of driving home in damn Biblical Flood conditions every evening!!!

Also, there is nothing wrong with having a boat. That's what I've concluded after an afternoon spent zipping around on one yesterday.

I wonder if I can have an umbrella surgically implanted on my head?

And, finally, mayonnaise: Mmmmm!

Friday August 13, 2004 -- 10:00am
Should I be concerned that today's weather forecast was, "Build an ark!"?

Yes, it is raining, and raining, and raining. Since I took this job in Outer West Nowhere, I have driven through some amazingly bad weather.

I'm here at the job now, wondering how I'm going to fill 7 more hours, and listening to gloomy music on the "Rainy Day" station on Launch. Why are so many of my favorite songs so gloomy? (If my mother reads that she's going to snarf coffee.) I guess I do have a bit of a gloomy streak. Or I did. I imagine it'll resurface at some point, but I've been pretty happy recently.

Hardly anyone is here today. My boss is out, which is a drag because I was counting on her to provide me with some actual work to do this afternoon. So far, all I have to do is figure out how to spell one guy's last name so I can get his email address right and send him a report.

Thursday August 12, 2004 -- 7:10pm
Today was the kind of day at the office that I like. 3 hours long. Actually, it was about 1 hour too long, but much better than the usual 8 hour day. I spent the morning up in Ballston Spa co-hosting a youth "focus group." Here's what I have concluded about teens vs. adults: Teens stand a much better chance of getting anything done in this world. Adults would have concluded with, "Ok. We'll write up this information and let's meet again next month to waste time." The teens said, "Ok. We'll write up this information and we'll meet for half an hour next week to review it. How does Monday sound?" Kids are used to getting a new assignment and turning it in a few days later. Adults - at least the ones I've been working with a lot lately - want things to take time. Speed scares them. I think the 4 organizers of today's group, including me, were stunned that we actually pulled it off. As late as yesterday I was getting emails asking, "So are we still ON for tomorrow?"

In other news, here's my latest time waster.

Monday August 9, 2004 -- 7:45pm
Well, now I know how many fire trucks fit on my block... in case that ever comes up on Jeopardy. 4, by the way. 5, if they parked a little more neatly. You would have thought there was a fire or something. It was all very exciting for about 3 minutes, until it became clear that there was no fire and all the fire fighter guys stomped back to their trucks carrying their picks and axes with smirks on their faces. 2 trucks remained for about 20 minutes - I guess getting all of the details behind the non-fire - and the whole block came out to watch. I just leaned out my window. I figured, if I fell out, at least it would give them a good reason to be there.

I'm joking about it, but it's nice to know that the entire block would be swarmed down upon by fire fighters, should someone have a fire and call 911. There was a really devestating fire in Schenectady over the weekend, and you should all go check your smoke detectors right now.

Saturday August 7, 2004 -- 11:20am
There's a new Top 10 List up this morning, in case anyone is really bored. I am badly obsessed by that Jeff Buckley version of "Hallelujah." It's a Leonard Cohen song, but I prefer Buckley's rendition. I am pretty certain that U2 also covered it, but I can't figure out why I believe that. However, I am fairly certain that their version was the one that introduced me to the song.

I really have to do laundry today, or there's going to be a Bad Situation.

Thursday August 5, 2004 -- 9:50am
In case anyone is wondering, yes, the mosque is close to where I live, and I didn't have the slightest idea that anything exciting was going on until I read it on the AP this morning. Now I'm just concerned about backlash against Muslim and/or Arab members of our community.

And my heart is feeling better this morning. Not 100%, but better.

Wednesday August 4, 2004
-- 8:30pm
It seems strange to me how a thing like a little museum could break my heart so many times.

-- 11:10am
I essentially just turned in a detailed, 12 page report that proves that a significant chunk of my job is unwanted, unneeded, and potentially harmful. I feel kind of lousy right now!

Tuesday August 3, 2004 -- 9:15am
This morning I saw a little boy rollerblading in his bathrobe. That's not something you see every day!

Last night I managed to burn myself with boiling water. Luckily, when it poured over my fingers, I jumped, sloshing it away... onto my legs. Ouch. It wasn't bad though. I think, when it hit my legs, something in my brain clicked and informed me that additional sudden movements would be bad, and I managed to put the pot of water down without further incident. Ouch, though!

That's all the news I have this morning. :)

Saturday July 31, 2004 -- 10:15am
Whoa! How did it get to be Saturday again!? Well... I guess there was Sunday... and then Monday through Wednesday happened. After that it was only a matter of time.

In case anyone I haven't talked to is wondering: Steve's dad's surgery went fine. It seems like it will be a long recovery though.

Last night I went to Jen & Michael's farewell party. I had a fun time, which is always a good thing at a party. I took many pictures, some of which may be posted here later. Dee and I made very solemn pacts (yeah, we pinky-swore!) with a couple of especially enjoyable people to remain friends, despite the departure of our common bond (Jen). No one got thrown in the fire, but several things were burned in effigy.

Saturday July 24, 2004 -- 2:30pm
I would just like to state, for the record, that I have a very unhealthy relationship with a certain museum. Seriously. It's like an abusive husband that I keep going back to, believing I can change him.

Thursday July 22, 2004 -- 4:00pm
I'm at work sick today. It's even less fun than being home sick!

Here at the office, we seem to have a different dead insect infestation every week. This week it's Belly Up Beetles. We've also had little worms, flying ants, and regular ants. We rarely see any of these things while they're alive, but the place is frequently littered with their carcasses when we arrive in the morning. They especially like to die in the the women's bathroom.