What Do You Have Mixed Feelings About Today?
I've been at this job exactly 3 years today.
It may all end tomorrow (double super secret meeting, damifino.)
I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. It's a follow-up on my blood work. It will either be something or nothing. I don't know which worries me more.
Let's see, what else?
A flash mob appeared at a campus wide meeting...pretty funny stuff.
I get to go to my brother's cottage this weekend with the whole fam damily (except the adult nieces/nephews, they're all busy I think.)
I still don't have my heat on but I'm saving money on my gas bill.
OK, what about you?
i have mixed feelings about my quitting my oncologists appointments.
The weather.
My overall general health.
My lack of motivation.
My inability to do anything about the above things.
Why are you quitting your oncologist appointments?
too bloody expensive. I mean it - I will never get out from under these bills.
Never never never. I will die owing these people money even if I worked four jobs, full-time, sold drugs and won the lottery. I can't do it anymore. I can't go see her for another 200.00 for five minutes of her time. I can't. If I feel something, I'll go to my family doc. Oncologists costs big money.
I quit about a year ago when I couldn't keep up with the payments.
it's a gamble, but hey, isn't that what the free market is all about? the right to gamble with your health and self? Like Russian Roulette!
I owe every doc in this town, pretty much. it's disheartening. it's really a nightmare and I'm a lucky one.
Oh girl. That is the crappiest thing I've heard in a long time.
But, your family doc, is in tune with your issues, no?
200 bucks. Ridiculous. :(
I have mixed feelings about:
mixed drinks,
mixed vegetables,
and
mixed nuts (that would be you all). :p:
You should mix it up a little bit.
What are your feelings on mixed marriage? :eek:
(Ha! Is that even a relevant term anymore? I think we progressed beyond that one!)
too bloody expensive. I mean it - I will never get out from under these bills.
Never never never. I will die owing these people money even if I worked four jobs, full-time, sold drugs and won the lottery. I can't do it anymore. I can't go see her for another 200.00 for five minutes of her time. I can't. If I feel something, I'll go to my family doc. Oncologists costs big money.
I quit about a year ago when I couldn't keep up with the payments.
it's a gamble, but hey, isn't that what the free market is all about? the right to gamble with your health and self? Like Russian Roulette!
I owe every doc in this town, pretty much. it's disheartening. it's really a nightmare and I'm a lucky one.
Tell them to go f888 themselves. What are they gonna do, put the cancer back in you? Then put a flaming bag of dogshit on their porch and ring the bell. Hide in the bushes and watch. ETA: I'm not actually a lawyer, so I'm not sure if you could get in trouble for any of this.
What are your feelings on mixed marriage? :eek:
(Ha! Is that even a relevant term anymore? I think we progressed beyond that one!)
You mean like a man and a woman? No, no one is doing that anymore.
Tell them to go f888 themselves. What are they gonna do, put the cancer back in you? Then put a flaming bag of dogshit on their porch and ring the bell. Hide in the bushes and watch. ETA: I'm not actually a lawyer, so I'm not sure if you could get in trouble for any of this.
My uncle had a heart attack a little over a month ago, and spent a good amount of time in ICU with no insurance and minimal income. At this point he's pretty much assuming he's going to have to declare bankruptcy, after he can actually stand long enough to get down to the courthouse. Honestly, I think he should. Is it an option for you, Bri?
Bankruptcy might be an option. i wonder if I can file for myself or do I HAVE to have a lawyer? Because lawyers are as expensive as oncologists...that's kinda why I haven't filed yet. :/
does your uncle own anything? like a house or car?
Nope. He's been teaching in China for the last several years, and it was sheer coincidence that the heart attack happened while he was in the States for 2 weeks sorting out visa paperwork for the upcoming year. He's living with my mom and still thinks he's going to make it back to China for the spring semester, but we all know that's ridiculous.
I don't know what the laws are in your state, but in Texas they can't take your home in a bankruptcy unless you own more than one.
A bankruptcy may cost you about $600 which includes the filing fee with an attorney. Find one that only does bankruptcies. {My SIL does these] 3 Dr visits >sigh< I think in most states they cannot take your home or car. Don't own more than one.
I have not been to a Dr in over a decade. They scare me...
I have mixed feelings about the spaghetti dinner I am making. Instead of pasta I am trying spaghetti squash. We will see....
Nirvana
I'll post a lengthy spaghetti squash thing for you tomorrow. I have to go to sleep now.
We've heard all about your lengthy spaghetti squash thing, foot. :lol:
Today: I still have a job! I have mixed feelings about this.
Seriously, I worked myself up thinking I was in some sort of hot water (for what I didn't know) because of a meeting today between me and my boss and the director and it was just about me taking over a process. Taking over stuff I LOVE to do.
What a maroon! :facepalm: My own worst enemy!
I still get my paycheck every 15th and 31st. ;)
I hope this won't cut into your Cellar time.
:lol2:
I spend way too much time here anyway. I get distracted, disgusted with the website, headachy...hey, let's go look at the Cellar! ;)
I have mixed feelings about having been in the Cellar since April of 2006 without ever having started a thread. While my quest for a Guinness World Record as the longest continuously participating member of a virtual community to never have started a thread is exciting, I'm concerned that if I achieve such status it will turn my head and I will no longer be the humble dwellar I am today. It's been said that some of life's more valuable lessons are learned in the struggle to achieve, rather than the actual attainment of goals which bodes well for me staying the course not to mention that I'm a model of self control for attention whores who start a thread about every thought passing through their minds (especially if they have mixed feelings about it). OTOH, I could begin starting threads myself and not have to wait on others to initiate timely discussions in which I might contribute significant knowledge or experience that helps someone else in their daily lives. The opportunities to serve fresh food for thought would not be delayed by a reliance on others to create the appetite. Sure, there's always the possibility of segues into new topics via thread drift; but, spontaneity suffers. Then there's a concern that if I begin starting threads now at this late date, I might try to make up for lost time and flood the board with OPs; or worse, that I'll become OP addicted and get swallowed up in the underworld of ME ME ME. Medical science has not yet developed a DNA test for predisposition to attention whoring and I wonder if attention whoring, like yawning, could even be contagious! I suppose that I'm destined for either great fame with Guinness; or, falling into obscurity when anyone does a search for threads started by me. It's extreme dwelling, pushing the dwellar envelope, going out on the Cellar fringe and still being here to tell about it ... albeit with mixed feelings.
[COLOR="White"]Naaaawwwwwwwwwww, I'm simply not inclined to compete with those who just like to hear themselves talk.
Well, maybe once in awhile.[/COLOR]
Nice.
You'll win the guiness prize for the most thinly-veiled insults, don't you worry your pretty little head about it. It's not as cool as, say, having stuff to say...but it's kind of cool. Like the guy with the 40 foot long fingernails: kind of gross, but kind of funny.
You seem to have mixed feelings about it. That was so easy. I say again ... :p:
Easy is as easy does
and
Easy does it (again)!
Easy peasy Japanesy!
--Brooks Hatlen
Easy like a Sundae morning!
--Big Sarge ... he wishes
I didn't have an easy bake oven, but I had one of these. It made little round cakes.
I didn't live in The Big Easy; but, I went to the World's Fair there.
I don't like eggs over easy. Over medium is better.
I rarely covet another woman's eggs.
But those are making me very hungry.
I don't like motorcycles under 750 cc. I made 2 cross country trips on a Kawasaki GPZ 750 (4 cylinder) and was an
easy rider.
A problem employee just resigned this morning. It's a bit of a scramble getting her all checked out before she leaves. Tying up loose ends, getting someone to cover for her, take over her work, etc.
But it's a pretty good thing that she quit, because she wasn't working out, and I bet we would end up firing her 3 months from now.
I have mixed feeling about that. Plus I'm sorry that it didn't work out with her. She was fairly new, and we had hopes she would be good.
Tax bill arrived in the mail today... due 11/15/11 :(
Household account bank balance is $300 higher... :right:
I think I'll mail the check on 11/11/11 just for luck
.
Mom survived breast cancer but not liver cancer. It seems to hit everyone, so people usually cooperate where they can in fund raising as such. We had a "Play 4 the Cure" event locally. My daughter's field hockey team wore the pink socks and hosted a fund raiser and the coach, whose Mom is a survivor, invited the football coach/team to participate. When this stunningly beautiful woman asked the football coach if he wanted to participate his response was, "I don't want my team to look like a bunch of fags." Mind you actual hetero males never say no to this woman. We get our field mowed for nothing, her house got a lot of attention after the flood... so anyway I'm calling shenanigans, dude's in denial. On the upside, while his team was getting its butt kicked again some kid in pink socks got the front page sports picture in the press.
Yesterday's high was 80°F, but tomorrow:
---
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 PM MDT
Wednesday.
* Accumulation/wind... snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches can be
expected by late Wednesday afternoon. Higher elevations and the
eastern slopes of the foothills may see local accumulations up
to 18 to 24 inches.
---
I'll be working from home.
"I don't want my team to look like a bunch of fags."
Man up you pussy. Frikkin hockey players do it, asshole.
(Sorry Griff ... pet peeve of mine)
Thats my buddy behind the goalie, facing left.
That's just the blood that they couldn't wash out.
I'm very happy about a certain Dwellar's successful
tree trimming escapade .
But I am seriously concerned about the possible inverse relationship
between recognized intelligence and an appetite for risk.
(with chain saws and electric wires).
Ladders are for climbing. Chainsaws are for cutting.
The former and the latter are not to be used in the same sentence,
or with one another in the same event involving human body parts.
.
Visited East Stroudsburg University with The Son yesterday. We've been to Juniata, Cabrini, and ESU, and will visit Harrisburg University on Nov 19. He likes all 3 that he's visited. It's a difficult decision.
I grew up in the Harrisburg area, and let me just say it is now a dying city. Recently it made news declaring bankruptcy. The last few times I've driven around it were just depressing.
HU is in the nicest couple of blocks in town... so if you don't want him to go there, get back on I-83 by driving up Market St and turn right on 13th. It's not that it's unsafe or even particularly ghetto, but what you find is a sad form of cheap, hardly-maintained city housing, plain uninspiring grey architecture and abandoned lots.
Middle-of-nowhere colleges might be a better choice just because they know they're in the middle of nowhere and have to produce their own culture.
Visited East Stroudsburg University with The Son yesterday. We've been to Juniata, Cabrini, and ESU, and will visit Harrisburg University on Nov 19. He likes all 3 that he's visited. It's a difficult decision.
Has he looked at West Chester? West Chester is a fine school ... good eduction, many successful graduates.
[COLOR="White"](and one of the best party schools on the East Coast)
[/COLOR]
I have mixed feelings about pensive pam's return.
Do you think she had the ban expiration date in her dayplanner?
Prolly in her Trapper Keeper.
I have mixed feelings about moving in with my friend Jim if/when the gang of 12 cuts medicaid, housing assistance, etc. My two major priorities are medical treatment and shelter. I might be able to save money by rooming with Jim except that he's got a big place and the utilities expenses are out of sight. On the other hand, I'd get free Internet and cable since he already has these things. Also, I could turn his backyard into a giganto garden next spring which would make a difference on the food bill. Plus we could go in together on an elk - he'd shoot it, and I'd cook it. But he has a dog and I have two cats. My meds will cost in excess of $400/month without medicaid. What to do, what to do...
Has he looked at West Chester? West Chester is a fine school ... good eduction, many successful graduates.
They don't have a biotechnology program.
I think Indiana U of P has out-partied WC, though I partied at WC when it was legal to have a keg in your dorm room. :)
They don't have a biotechnology program.
I think Indiana U of P has out-partied WC, though I partied at WC when it was legal to have a keg in your dorm room. :)
It was never legal to have a keg in your dorm room. State School, State Property. It's like being in a State Park. Okay, maybe back when it was the West Chester Normal School, but I doubt it. I don't see the matrons looking the other way on anything back in the 19th Century.
The college president even had to go to Harrisburg to plead in favor of The Rat (Ram's Head Rathskeller) getting a liquor license, since there's a rule about not having a bar within a certain distance of a college campus. His argument, that he'd rather have his of age students walk to a bar, rather than drive to one, was successful.
It was never legal to have a keg in your dorm room. State School, State Property. ...
I guess the RAs just ingored it then. It was pretty common and out in the open in the late 70s.
I have mixed feelings about pensive pam's return.
Do you think she had the ban expiration date in her dayplanner?
I suspect she just kept hitting F5 until she was logged in.
We should hook her up with a nice OWS camp.
I just spent $5,500 on boiler repairs and heating system upgrades. But I didn't have to replace the boiler, so that's a good thing.
Second Sunday at work in large chain of pharmacy.
Still things I am SO ignorant about, but handled the hours better.
Think I'm doing okay.
£25 to come, so it's all good...
Disappointed at the lack of training/ help though.
Last week I was told when to go on my break (although not for how long - I used common sense and asked of course)
Today I caused problems - so I overheard - for not taking my break at the scheduled time. I should have checked the timesheet. WTF? I didn't even see the timesheet last week, how could I know such a thing existed?
It's minor.
I cringed because I hate feeling ignorant and/ or being thought of as stupid (or a troublemaker).
But there have been a few little incidents like that. They forget I had one hour till training (on a training system!) and have been left to work the rest out myself, in a busy store, where there are constant queues and lots of unusual questions come up.
Shall I sign up for evening shifts which would bring in welcome money?
I think I should. I'm not that delicate a flower after all, and more time at work might bring more issues but experience brings knowledge and more work brings more MONEY!
Will check with my SIL tomorrow about signing up for extra shifts.
It might only be staff already rota'd can work additional hours.
Ripleys cheer competition.
5 hours so far.... Just getting the awards now
Proud of her and all.... But she was only on for 2 minutes.
Second Sunday at work in large chain of pharmacy.
Still things I am SO ignorant about, but handled the hours better.
Think I'm doing okay.
£25 to come, so it's all good...
Disappointed at the lack of training/ help though.
....
Woo HOO! WTG Sundae. They're stoopit iggerant fux if they don't see that you are not being given the necessary training/support. Ask, ask, ask away with those questions (when you can!). Smile a lot (you have such a lovely smile, it'll make all those sick people at Boots feel 100% better straight away!)
:)
Second Sunday at work in large chain of pharmacy.
I missed this part about you working a new job. I hope you make oodles of cash.
J and J (who split up last year then got back together again, but with J living back in his own house) went looking at a house today. They're looking to rent a place together, and she will rent out/sell her little terrace, and he will give up the house he's been renting for the past 13 or 14 years.
On the one hand I'm really happy for him. Things seem to be going well, and this is a proper commitment, from both, with both taking a leap together. That's brilliant.
On the other hand I feel decidedly weirded out by the thougt of him no longer having the house down the hill. The one we lived in together when we were a couple, and the one where I've been able to visit him on foot on and off even since he and Jan got together. And a place that made it convenient on the occasions he visited here - no need for buses or trains, it's five minutes down the hill.
It's gonna seem weird him not having a place down there. His house, Martin's house and Mum's house have kind of been the borders of my immediate world for a long time.
I don't like change. Who does? I already don;t see him as often as I used to. We're both pretty busy people. But from time to time we get together and watch a marathon of watever show we're both into, either down the hill at his house, or up here at mine. And, that will all change. If he comes to mine to watch a show, he'll have to stay sober as he'll be driving. If I go to theirs I'll need to stay over because the last bus is so early in the evening.
It also means that when I visit, I'll be visiting them, rather than just him. Which in some ways is lovely. Jan's a good friend and I like the dynamic of the three of us. But at the same time, I will miss that other dynamic: chilling with my geek mate, talkin MMO and game development, or watching an entire series of Dexter across three visits :p
'S been a long time coming really. They've been together now for coming on 4 years. But J always kept his house on, even when he was living at Jan's. There's still odd things there that are left from when I lived there. And it will seem odd for that final connection to my own past to be severed. Especially since the yard is shared by two other houses including my brother's. So, I'll be going through the yard to Martin's house and someone else will be living in Jude's house.
Everything changes. But ... knowing it and being happy about it are two different things.
We are currently suffering from a Groundhog Day version of the bathroom refit from Hell. The workmen are all very nice, but the guy who built the house originally did everything himself and didn’t know what he was doing, which means that every time I have someone to come and do some work they are amused/appalled/stunned by what he did and any job takes far longer to do because of what he did in the first place. It will be lovely when it is done, but at the moment Handyman and Joiner are undoing the work of Tiler so that they can do the work of Plumber (who has gone to Las Vegas on holiday) and extend the pipes to fit behind the wall before they reattach the washbasin. I am anxious that they don’t spoil the work of Floorman (men, actually), and also hoping that it won’t be long before Electrician comes to fit the giant heated towel rail. I never thought that this little task would involve nine assorted tradesmen and their merry quadrille through our house at unexpected moments has been rather a trial, lovely as they all are individually and keen as I am to get the work done.
I hope you're taking lots of pictures of the work in progress, including before and after.
I have mixed feelings about the State Swim meet this weekend. Hebe made it to States as a freshman. I'm thrilled -that in itself is enough. And yet..... I will have to sit around for 6 hours (getting more and more nervous) to watch one one-minute race. Breaststroke is last, but seats must be acquired as soon as the doors open -two hours before the meet starts. Plus on Saturday, only the top 16 from Friday swim. She may get through, she may not. I have to make transportation arrangements for the other kids in case she does, but the silly superstitious streak in me says I'm damning her not to get through and if we've made arrangements to be there it will be all the more disappointing. I know, I know. But you know, I didn't think she'd get a state cut, so I said I'd dye my hair blue if she did. Superstition wins every time..... Ans I can't help but be nervous fo rher which is so stupid -she made it to Sates being there is a victory, even if she falls off the blocks. But then I look at the times for last year and I see she has a chance of making the last 16..... this perilous internet allows me TMI.
I guess this should be in the swim mom ranting thread. Just needed to put it in words I guess.
Sorry HLJ, I forgot to take the befores. It's almost looking like a bathroom again, which is a thrill bearing in mind the cussing that was going on under the washbasin when we left the guys to it three hours ago!
Oh Monster - you'll just have to take your knitting to keep you calm. That's what I'd do!
We are currently suffering from a Groundhog Day version of the bathroom refit from Hell. The workmen are all very nice, but the guy who built the house originally did everything himself and didn’t know what he was doing, which means that every time I have someone to come and do some work they are amused/appalled/stunned by what he did and any job takes far longer to do because of what he did in the first place. It will be lovely when it is done, but at the moment Handyman and Joiner are undoing the work of Tiler so that they can do the work of Plumber (who has gone to Las Vegas on holiday) and extend the pipes to fit behind the wall before they reattach the washbasin. I am anxious that they don’t spoil the work of Floorman (men, actually), and also hoping that it won’t be long before Electrician comes to fit the giant heated towel rail. I never thought that this little task would involve nine assorted tradesmen and their merry quadrille through our house at unexpected moments has been rather a trial, lovely as they all are individually and keen as I am to get the work done.
I hope you're taking lots of pictures of the work in progress, including before and after.
yes please!
and good luck!
Sorry HLJ, I forgot to take the befores. It's almost looking like a bathroom again, which is a thrill bearing in mind the cussing that was going on under the washbasin when we left the guys to it three hours ago!
Oh Monster - you'll just have to take your knitting to keep you calm. That's what I'd do!
No problem. Just ask them to put it back the way it was for the pictures.
Comcast just raised our rates $85 a year for basic TV and simplest ISP
My mixed feelings are:
anger at Comcast
rage at Comcast
curiosity about alternative sources
regret we have too many trees for dish TV
questioning whether we really need TV
anxiety over whether we really need ISP
fatigue over too much worry about $ for entertainment
apologetic for cussing out loud
Lamplighter, We got rid of cable 3 months ago and have not looked back. We got netflix streaming and DVD, for $16.00 a month, and an apple TV for $100.00 and we love it. You will need a 3meg internet connection for it to work rite.
Thx Fargon, I will be checking out the alternatives available to us.
I had not thought about an Apple TV, but will look into it.
Lamplighter--
I fired Comcast a long time ago. They're evil. This is a perfect example. No competition, therefore no incentive to lure you to their product. Take it or leave it. F*ck them.
I don't have AppleTV. I *DO* have a
Roku. I've got a few actually. I can't recommend them highly enough. They stream my Netflix, and many other channels (as does the Xbox 360 and the PS3). I have more of my own life back that I used to pay in $$$$ to Comcast and in attention I used to pay to commercials. You've no idea how much advertising there is... and there's a lot.
I don't have an idea for your isp, you *do* need a line and maybe you can use DSL from the local phone company. But even using Comcast for internet services and not for cable tv would be an improvement by my standards.
Oh Monster - you'll just have to take your knitting to keep you calm. That's what I'd do!
A LOT of swim moms knit. Sadly I can only knit when my hands are good, and it's not really something I enjoy doing anywhere but home and then once in a blue moon.
but maybe I should anyway. nah. no way unless hands improve
BigV and HLJ - how about I do that for the living room - that's next (and last) on our list and also needs a major refit ... ?
Lamplighter, there are lots of boxes that will stream Netflix. We do it from our Wii. Many dvd players now have it included. You might want to look around at what's out there. You may be able to get a box that plays BluRay discs and also does Netflix for around the same prices as just a Netflix box.
Also, I'm not sure what the terrain around you is like, but over the air broadcasts are better now than they ever have been. The digital signals are very strong compared to the old analog ones. If you don't have a regular antenna now, go to
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx and put in your address and then move the icon around on the map as needed to select your exact location, and the website will tell you what stations you can get with different antennas.
we have no cable, but with the antenna on our roof, we get something like 50 channels. with Netflix, and our recently purchased DVR, we have more viewing options than we need.
@Glatt: That's a very interesting link.
Our property is about 50 ft above the level of the Willamette River,
with 100 ft basalt cliffs and hills covered with 100 ft trees all
around and behind us. So I did not expect to find anything via antenna.
Going through the antenna map, apparently there are 4 stations available to us.
Surprisingly, one is an analog station 50 miles away in Salem, OR
NBC, FOX, and PBS are the other three.
My wife and I are extreme news junkies.
We're on CNN and MSNBC a lot, plus the 4 local stations,
(FOX News, not so much ;) )
so we're probably destined for some sort of dish or cable set up.
But thanks very much for the suggestion.
I would have not found that link with out it.;)
Lamplighter, unless you're living in an alternate universe, there are no analog television stations around you. OTA (over the air) television broadcasting is all digital now. The antennaweb site is excellent, but not definitive, "your mileage may vary" so to speak. Do you have a digital television(s)? They're required. I only have analog sets, but I don't have a need at the moment for a digital set.
Furthermore, the premium channels like you describe, CNN, MSNBC, FoxNews, etc, those are not being broadcast over the air, digitally or otherwise. You can't get that programming that way. But, you likely can get it via the internet either streaming (Roku) or from the source's website. Those sources *want* their content consumed, they'll help you consume it. You don't *need* cable, though it is popular and easy.
--more later
Lamplighter, unless you're living in an alternate universe, there are no analog television stations around you. <snip>
But, you likely can get it via the internet either streaming (Roku) or from the source's website. Those sources *want* their content consumed, they'll help you consume it. You don't *need* cable, though it is popular and easy.
--more later
I was surprised too, but the analogue station in Salem was what Glatt's antenna map link reported for my addess.
I saw your link to Roku, and was going to send a PM to you to ask
some of the questions you answered above. As I understand it,
we would need to keep some kind of ISP connection, either Comcast
or our via our telephone company.
Then the Roku would make the transfer from various "TV" sources to our tv set. ???
I want to look into that and AppleTV.
A $50 item doesn't seem like a terrible investment for equipment that should last quite a while.
Whatever information you can send to me (PM is OK) will be appreciated.
Around here, Verizon FIOS + unlimited minutes of landline phone bundle is a tiny bit cheaper than Comcast, and is a far better internet service.
The Great American Smokeout.
It's a nice concept. Those who want to quit are made more aware of resources to help them.
But when is the Great American Eatout? They could then outline all the horrifying numbers, the costs that the big eaters could be made to feel guilty about.
Followed by the Great American Drinkout.
I went out to dinner last night. Does that count?
I went out to dinner last night. Does that count?
did you have a mixed salad? or a mixed drink? How did you feel about it?
Lamplighter--
I don't have AppleTV. I *DO* have a Roku. I've got a few actually.
I can't recommend them highly enough. They stream my Netflix,
and many other channels (as does the Xbox 360 and the PS3).
V, I think I'm going to order one of the Roku's and try it out for a while before canceling Comcast.
As I said in another post, my wife and I are news junkies.
Will the Roku system let us to make custom links to websites
of local TV news media ( OPB, KATU, etc ?)
Or is it limited to the Roku app for their News Channel,
which seems to be links to the national ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. ?
.
BigV... good talking with you... I learned a lot
Mr. Clod has some pretty unsavory relatives on the extended branches of his family tree, most of whom I've never met. But I've met his aunt several times, so along with awful animated email forwards I occasionally get family updates on these people. The updates are so terrible, it's hard to keep from laughing. This stuff is my ticket to hell, right here.
So his aunt had a son, we'll call him Steve. Steve struggled with mental illness, but like many in his situation he avoided doctors and medications. A year ago, Steve died of cancer because he ignored the giant lump under his arm until it was way too late. Never met the guy, but I felt bad for everyone close to him, including his wife and adult kids (20-somethings.)
According to Mr. Clod's aunt, the wife--we'll call her Sarah--had always been Steve's rock, the one who kept him tethered to reality and functioning and all that. She was "the sane one in the house," and they counted on her to help when their son was "acting out." Sarah took her husband's death pretty hard, sunk (further?) into alcoholism, and a couple days ago we received an email letting us know that she had died, the implication being an overdose of some sort.
At this point I'm still feeling bad for all these people I don't know, who obviously had some problems in their lives. But then, the aunt starts to share some of "the crazy wonderful memories" she has of good ol' Sarah.
I remember helping her to put on a bustier, to look like a stripper to entertain Steve in the hospital in his last few days. He laughed and laughed.
...
Sarah put decorations up all over the house and all over her kayaks too. I especially remember a “vampire” Mickey Mouse attached to the bow of her kayak.
...
Sarah told some really outlandish stories of the wild and zoo animals that she had “in her backyard.” Once she told of trapping an owl in our closet in the house on ****** Drive. Later we discovered that the owl was cardboard.
...
Once or maybe more than once, she spread honey and birdseed on her arms, stayed very still, and waited for eagles to land.
This one was the
sane one. The email then goes on to say that the one son has yet to deliver the news of their mother's death to the second son, because his brother is currently in prison for "changing a prescription amount." The apple doesn't fall far.
that last one is the best one.
But did they? land?
The eagles? I'm betting not. Are there eagles in Illinois?
I'm sure there are.
This sound like something my mom would have done/ might have done/ could still do.....
She misunderstood that crazy pastor guy. She thought he said to prepare for the raptor.
Whoa, put the car in park. You're not supposed to change the prescription amount?
Only if you're not any good at it. Using a crayon to write in an extra couple of zeros is frowned upon. Using photoshop to concoct an entirely new scrip is to be commended!
my boss is suposed to send a couple of dudes to pick up my truck and stuff,
also first Dr Appt After Surgery , he gotz sum Splainen to do
who needs to splain -the boss or the surgeon?
I made yummy soup, but it's too hot and I need to go out
Hey Zippy, how did the Dr. appointment go?
My class teacher.
I didn't want to say anything until I heard other people's opinion.
Don't worry, I haven't seeded any conversation at school.
Just waited and listened and kept ears open.
She can be quite shouty.
Shrieky even.
And harsh.
I've felt she's been dismissive to me and irritable.
Two other people have backed up this POV.
I'm over-sensitive, but they are not.
They confirmed my opinions (again, without me complaining) although they are able to shrug it off.
Seems to me there is nothing I can do until I move up a class.
Seems a shame that it's affecting a job I love though.
I have to remember it's not personal and work on how I let it affect me, because she is also head of my part of the school, so I'm hardly going to change her.
But sadly in January 2012 I will lose my closest sounding-board - someone who worked with her last school year, also with an autistic child.
I have mixed feelings because I love my job and this is a great school.
But I am also battling my own over-sensitivity, and trying to see my way past perceived slights.
It will work out.
Just feeling a bit bruised in the mean time.
I get shouty and irritable when I'm nervous. Maybe she's nervous?
Well, she was described as scatty and ditzy by another TA.
I try hard to see her that way. I'm just scared of her.
But, yes, the less in control she feels the more angry she sounds.
And I do get that.
Growing up with a parent who has a temper, I do get spooked.
V, I think I'm going to order one of the Roku's and try it out for a while before canceling Comcast.
Why not just get the Comcast internet connection and cancel everything else? Get your news from the internet, you can still hook up with the liberal news of MSNBC and lose nothing.:D
Joking....
But seriously, dump the costs but for the internet connection.
Why not just get the Comcast internet connection and cancel everything else? Get your news from the internet, you can still hook up with the liberal news of MSNBC and lose nothing.:D
Joking....
But seriously, dump the costs but for the internet connection.
This is my plan...
Just about the time you get completely OK with the empty nest,
the young'uns start winging their way back home.
We just got word my eldest daughter is changing jobs from Central Oregon to PDX.
She and her daughter will be moving in with us, and we are thinking about
having them upstairs and we be downstairs.
We're pretty sure she is under-water on her mortgage,
so there's a big [SIZE="3"]?[/SIZE] about selling her home. (That's not good :neutral:)
We'll get to see our grand-daughter a lot more. (That's very good :heart-on:)
.
Just about the time you get completely OK with the empty nest,
the young'uns start winging their way back home.
We just got word my eldest daughter is changing jobs from Central Oregon to PDX.
She and her daughter will be moving in with us, and we are thinking about
having them upstairs and we be downstairs.
We're pretty sure she is under-water on her mortgage,
so there's a big [SIZE="3"]?[/SIZE] about selling her home. (That's not good :neutral:)
We'll get to see our grand-daughter a lot more. (That's very good :heart-on:)
.
Uggggg.... my kids had three options in life after HS graduation, reinforced from about the age of 10. 1. Go to college and we will help you pay for it. 2. Join the military. 3. Move out. There is and has never been a move back in option and they know that. (note: we have no grand kids, 2 are in college, one is post BS degree).
No alternative options are available. I feel for ya. Good luck.
Merc, I'm afraid you left out one that is extremely important... 4. girls must elope ;)
I wish. One is covered, she will never marry, on my dime anyway. The other is going to be expensive. :D
When I was really young my mom told me to let her know if I wanted to get married because she was going to give me a ladder and a thousand bucks. :lol:
(I was BY FAR the cheapest wedding and reception of us kids...even though they were the boy part the expenses were nuts for both families. I had a small church in the country and the reception at mom and dad's. Got the food and liquor from teh country club where we both worked. Anyway, I digress.)
The second best mom wisdom came my senior year of college. Mom asked me what I planned to do after graduation. I said "Well mom, a lot of kids are opting to stay with their parents for a while." Mom grinned and said "A lot of parents aren't giving that option."
Funny stuff.
I knew I could go home if I really needed to. But I always figured out something. :)
One is covered, she will never marry, on my dime anyway.
What does this mean? Is she gay? A circus performer? Maybe you meant she is covered in a nun's habit...
carpet muncher ( most prolly )
Ummm. I think this is one time he's being straight with us. Let's not spoil the moment.
What does this mean? Is she gay? A circus performer? Maybe you meant she is covered in a nun's habit...
carpet muncher ( most prolly )
Ummm. I think this is one time he's being straight with us. Let's not spoil the moment.
D-e-m-o-c-r-a-t
:D
Sounds like he's breeding her....
If I hadn't moved back in with my parents I would be dead.
Despite the fact we often rub eachother up the wrong way, I know my Mum would rather have me living here than scattering my ashes.
The owner of the Bates Motel is giving me a 40 hr/wk schedule with Sundays off. WOW! Even though its minimum wage, at least its full time work, so its a step in the right direction. However, this pretty much means no one expects Carmen to recover enough to return. :( I will miss her.
Comcast just raised our rates $85 a year for basic TV and simplest ISP
My mixed feelings are:
anger at Comcast
rage at Comcast
curiosity about alternative sources
regret we have too many trees for dish TV
questioning whether we really need TV
anxiety over whether we really need ISP
fatigue over too much worry about $ for entertainment
apologetic for cussing out loud
First step accomplished - Quest / CenturyLink is now new our internet provider
FWIW, they offered $19.95 per month for 5 yrs when pkged with phone
It turned out that their "unlimited phone" was only $7 more than
our existing phone service, so we those two $ are nailed down for a while.
Now I get to go through and change my email addresses. :yelsick:
:nuts: to Comcast Internet @ $44+ per month
.
Someone very dear to me has disappeared.
I think I know where they are, I think they're ok. But it's been a while since I've seen them, and I'm ... concerned.
Yesterday I found out that my big boy's father has been slapping his new wife around and she's thinking about leaving him. I feel angry and sad about this because I really thought he might have learned his lesson by now. I feel sorry for his baby daughter and I'm concerned that the boys will have another sibling they'll never get to know properly (not that there's been much movement in that area anyway).
Fuck!
Be concerned they see/hear of this happening, not just for the sibling angle. I'm continuously aware that I'm being observed, warts and all. At least they're not seeing me slap anyone around.
Because that is not acceptable. Period.
They haven't seen him for over a year V. He lives in NZ. Have you missed all my bitchy posts about the situation with him over the last couple of months?
Hmmmmm.
Even if he doesn't lay a finger on your boys, for them to be exposed to that environment is NOT good. Even if the X doesn't lay a finger on the new wife while the boys are there, the atmosphere will be tense, bullying, scary. Psychological bullying hurts and damages too.
Hmmmmm.
No doubt you'll call the lads regularly while they're over there, and I think they're old enough to bale out if it is clear they should. Recognising that they should is the bit I'm less confident about.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
They're not going now Zen.
Doesn't anyone read my posts around here? lol
I do!! Proof - I noticed Mav has a girlfriend!!
I have mixed feelings about the Geordie with the big willy (I have no mixed feelings about THAT), he says I dont reply to his text messages....well, when I say "where are you spending Xmas?" and you reply "Dunno"....there's not much more I can add to that conversation, I'd have to start up a whole new one and I cant get fagged!
Open ended questions are good, leaving me somewhere to go with your replies is good.
Otherwise I dont want to play.
Ummm...it's Aden with the g/f. lol
But at least you're paying more attention than Zen. hehe
hahaha - thats funny. My brain sucks today.
Its dealing with the Wednesday crowd at the Op shop.
Yeah just today, usually its quite helpful and informative.
Mine seems to be on a constant go slow lately. I think I've inhaled too much rum and brandy during the course of the Christmas cooking. lol
haha youse two is funny.
Seriously, I missed the bit about them not going. I knew there was messing around with scheduling.
It's ok Dr Zen. Put ur nozes back in ur booksez and don't worrez. ;)
I have very mixed feelings about lots of things today. In fact, I'm quite conflicted.
As mentioned, Aden has this g/f, and she's really lovely. I can see why he wants to spend so much time with her, but her parents are making it hard for them, so I try to be supportive by allowing Aden to spend time with her whenever they happen to agree to it at the expense of any plans I might have made for us.
This is ok except that I'm really starting to get the shits with her parents for being such idiots about it all. Every time they want to do something it's got to be a big fucking family drama for them and so we get drawn into it because Aden gets upset about not being able to see her, which I think is understandable.
someone should just blow some parents up so that parents like me don't have to keep being so fucking reasonable all the time!
all is well. yay.
Ali--I meant "exposed" to such crap. They don't have to see the impact to feel an impact, if you see what I mean. You haven't been there, (I guess) but you've heard of it, they can hear of it too. Regardless, this kind of behavior is wrong, and it's sad and aggravating and harmful to the kids as well. Parents are models.
bigV - 'yay' as in they/you found the possibly missing person?
ali - HOW do you cook and drink? if I did that my cakes would come out looking really...horrible - they might even end up on the floor.
I have mixed feelings about my sinus cavities.
I know I need them to breathe - it's just that they are a poor design. Where can I file suit against the manufactuer?
That's the subtle difference between "cooking and drinking" and "drinking and cooking"
Yep Bri, my missing person is safe and sound. Happy me.
all is well. yay.
Ali--I meant "exposed" to such crap. They don't have to see the impact to feel an impact, if you see what I mean. You haven't been there, (I guess) but you've heard of it, they can hear of it too. Regardless, this kind of behavior is wrong, and it's sad and aggravating and harmful to the kids as well. Parents are models.
Well, I have been there V. That's one of the reasons why I left their father.
I just thought he might have changed by now. Learned his lesson. You know, that thing smart people do when their life keeps going to shit?
I have protected them from it all their lives. He's been like this with every woman he's been with. He's even had a couple of DVO's (domestic violence orders) against him in the past.
So, I'm glad he's not having them this Christmas. Particularly now I know that his wife is definitely leaving him soon. I spoke to her again last night and she's told her mother everything and has been encouraged to go back home to Samoa so the family can look after her and the baby. I think that's the best idea of all. He still has no idea any of this is going on, which is probably for the best.
The kids have known about his violence since they were very small. Unfortunately when someone behaves that way, kids know because no matter how hard you try, that person will always lose it when you think everything is fine. Fortunately he's never physically abused them, but they are both afraid of his bullying.
They fear their own father's bullying? That is damage enough. Good thing they're not going.
If he mistreats his Samoan wife ... he'd better watch his back. Samoans have big families and bigger shoulders.
I'm sorry you and your boys had to go through that shit. There's lemonade and silver linings and all that happy crap, whatever. That's just shitty though. I'm glad you sound so good, and I've always smiled to hear the reports of your sons' developments and adventures. Good for them and good on you.
They fear their own father's bullying? That is damage enough. Good thing they're not going.
If he mistreats his Samoan wife ... he'd better watch his back. Samoans have big families and bigger shoulders.
Well Kal is Samoan too of course, but I don't think his family will really have anything much to do with any fall out, mostly because he's always been the black sheep. God the stories I could tell you about his family. lol Anyway, it was a good day when I left and took my boys with me, and we're lucky enough to have a good husband and father figure in Dazza. Can't beat the academics hey Zen? ;)
I'm sorry you and your boys had to go through that shit. There's lemonade and silver linings and all that happy crap, whatever. That's just shitty though. I'm glad you sound so good, and I've always smiled to hear the reports of your sons' developments and adventures. Good for them and good on you.
We're lucky V. I think we got out just in time and life is pretty good for us now. Honestly, I feel sorry for Kal, I really do. I see a man in his 50's with no one who loves him enough to want to be with him anymore. That's a very sad life to be living. I just wish he could learn, because he's missing out on a couple of pretty awesome sons.
His choices, his loss, Dazza's and their gain.
I got a text from the homeless guy today. He's living in another state now. He sent me a picture from his phone that he took of Gaines. It made me cry. His silvery bluish double coat fur...so pretty. He also said I could claim him on my taxes this year (he lived here for what, half of last year? It's legal) and if I got money back I keep half and send him half. I don't mind doing that...but I don't know if I'll get much back anyway...the making work pay credit saved my butt and it's gone.
He went on to tell me his sis has cancer. She still lives here. Fuck cancer. He said life is short and can suck (and really, his family has been through hell and back) and that I did a lot for him, and he has no ill feelings.
I have no ill feelings either. I never could hold a grudge and don't like harboring old resentments. I can't forget what he put me through on one hand, but on the other it was nice to hear, for once, that he recognizes what I did for him.
But, he's a charmer, and when he's nice like that it's very easy for me to forget that it was pure hell for a while, him being here.
Still, he's thousands of miles away and can't hurt me now. I mean, I let it go on, being too nice and too wimpy...and he took excellent advantage of that.
Just a very odd moment in time.
He also said I could claim him on my taxes this year (he lived here for what, half of last year? It's legal) and if I got money back I keep half and send him half. I don't mind doing that...but I don't know if I'll get much back anyway...the making work pay credit saved my butt and it's gone.
Dude, that's bullshit. You can claim him as a dependent because he was a fucking dependent, not because he graciously allows you to claim him. If he files for himself, and you file for him as a dependent, and one of you ever gets audited, they can look into the reality of the situation... which is that he lived with you more than half the year and he had no job and you weren't married. Thus, he was a dependent, and they will come down on his ass for
his illegal tax return.
Besides that, a dependent will get you a bigger refund, it's true, but it's not going to double it. Don't let this asshole take half your money and think he's doing you a favor! Seriously, I want to go kick him in the cunt right now, especially for sending you a picture of your cat just to make you more vulnerable before asking for your money. And you can tell him I said that.
Ugh. Yeah, I know. I know you're right.
I did file him as dependent last year...but not the year before because his sister claimed him. Even though he was living here and, as you say, unemployed. And I let that happen too. I think about other ways I was scammed...crap.
And I think I needed to hear it from someone else, I guess that's why I posted it in the 'mixed feelings' thread.
Thanks. I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me that. I also loved the kick him in the cunt part. :)
Sometimes I wonder if I am susceptible to absolutely every scammer on earth. I guess that's why I have trouble with close relationships: I don't trust myself to know better. I'm an educated intelligent person. I'm all bravado and chutzpah...except not.
Clod, really, thank you. You can't know what you just did for me.
I was thinking he meant half the extra you got for claiming him, but he didn't did he?
I have mixed feelings about the contents of my stomach this morning.
It's not too late to get rid of it.
You're so not helpful HLJ. lol This is not the first time you've made that comment.
Oh, I meant your breakfast.
Godfobble.
I know, right? No wonder I'm jealous of her. :)
I was thinking he meant half the extra you got for claiming him, but he didn't did he?
In retrospect, no. Another thing, how does he know when I'm in a good mood? I mean, there couldn't have been a better time lately to "approach" me. Puh. What's that called? When you just fall into shit and come out smelling like roses?
Shithead, that's the word I'm looking for.
You're good to be rid of him.
What's that called? When you just fall into shit and come out smelling like roses?
Politics?
Sen him a bill. And let him know not to expect anything IF you get a return as you will just deduct it from the gazillions he owes you for putting him up and putting up with him. Frikking jerkoff.
What's that called? When you just fall into shit and come out smelling like roses?
Politics?
NO! wait!
...gardening. You shouldn't have given him all that practice burying those hobos.......
:)
Thanks, all.
(Why are there five guests reading this?)
ghosts of dead hobos -well 4 of them.... and Homeless Guy
Doubtful. The HG, not the hobos. :lol:
Well now there are six.
Do you think I'm being stalked?
Hi. Do you think Infi's being stalked? Because that's a bad move.
Infi has friends in high places. Infi is infinite. Infi can put the smack down on you.
What?
:lol:
Infi ... WOT CLOD SAID!
Cat photo + sob story + request for money = being manipulative psycho stalker user leech parasite.
I hope you have changed your locks. If you ever gave him a key, he probably had it copied.
Now go change the locks on your head and your heart so he can't sneak back in there. He obviously knows you and how to butter you up.
Not a good person. Avoid.
I have mixed feelings about my mixer and just how it goes about combining all of those ingredients and in what order they are actually combined, on a molecular level.
I know, right? No wonder I'm jealous of her.
Oh no way, do not be. You know your teeth? It seems my daughter has them too. We just found out she's got 3 more cavities, including one
under a sealant, because she's just that talented. This time she's going fully under, and the dentist said he's going to seal the shit out of all of them, give her dentures of solid polymer.
*really admiring Clodfobble's wisdom and insight right now despite her daughter's dental cavitation*
It does not take wisdom to see that Homeless Guy is an asshole, and to swear and make bodily threats to him. I just happened to get to the thread first. I was actually feeling kind of embarrassed after my post last night because I was irritated at something else and thought maybe the aggression was kind of uncalled-for, though I do still believe wholeheartedly in the sentiment. I seriously do not understand this starstruck thing you guys have going on.
I seriously do not understand this starstruck thing you guys have going on.
I suspect that when it comes to posting, you don't swing unless you know you're going to hit it. So your hit/miss ratio is pretty good. But you are aware of all the reject thoughts that you never post, so your view of yourself is clouded (tempered? more based in reality? not sure which word to use here) by those reject thoughts.
Or maybe you're just modest too.
Well, that's true. It's not just thoughts, either, at least 25% of the time I actually type stuff into the reply box and then change my mind and don't post it. I don't know how often other people do that, except Flint once mentioned that he does it all the time too. It takes me 30 minutes to write one little email, because I edit and edit until it's exactly the way I want. I've always been terrified of looking like an idiot, and when people praise me too much I start to think that they're actually just making fun of me.
at least 25% of the time I actually type stuff into the reply box and then change my mind and don't post it. It takes me 30 minutes to write one little email, because I edit and edit until it's exactly the way I want.
If only I could manage to do that... you all would be a lot happier :)
We're not making fun of you.
We're not making fun of you.
We're not laughing at you, we're laughing near you.
I delete about 10% of my posts. Sometimes I realize that I'm just posting for my own sake and not really adding anything to the discussion. This happens more often in the outside world, than here in the Cellar. A lot of comments sections are just shit right now.
It takes me 30 minutes to write one little email, because I edit and edit until it's exactly the way I want. I've always been terrified of looking like an idiot, and when people praise me too much I start to think that they're actually just making fun of me.
This.
My recipe for achieving excellence.
[SIZE="1"]With a small side order of bone-crushing self doubt.[/SIZE]Clodfobble, the fact that you felt compelled to respond meant a lot to me, especially now in the light of the fact that you take your time with posts. Honestly, I figured my weird problem would just go unnoticed.
As to posts, I'm just the opposite. If it comes into my head I am likely to be rapid typing as the thoughts jumble all around themselves. I wear my heart on my sleeve...which is another reason I fall prey to the aforementioned 'manipulative psycho stalker user leech parasite.' (Thanks Zen, I couldn't have said it better myself.)
I would love if I were less impulsive. But, I'm not. ;)
The above post is not to say that I don't often feel extreme regret at something I've posted. I know bone crushing self doubt. It's my roommate. :)
I'm sure we all regret things we've posted. But I hear what your saying.
I type slowly, and that helps me try to focus my thoughts a little more than I would otherwise. Plus, I delete about 10% of my posts without posting.
I usually read all the posts I want to read first and think about them as I'm reading through the rest, then go back and reply.
Well, that's what I do THESE days. lol It's not what I USED to do.
Three new students starting next week all with severe behaviors and the tightwads at county will resist paying for one-to-one aides. (vs) I have a job in this shit economy.
It looks like Lil' Pete has picked her school. The program is well designed and right down her alley. (vs) Some of the other majors at the school make me question its institutional seriousness. This may me me being a bigot. (vs) It looks like it is evolving with the times.
Philly U in Industrial Design
Thanks! I think I'm just nervous about my first-born taking a big step into the world.
I hear you. We just let my MIL drive our emergency back-up child to the park in Bennington. First time ever.
I tell you, they are wearing me down. It's become a battle of attrition. (harder)
Pete's Mom and Step-Dad are terrible drivers, I feel your pain.
were you compelled to return MIL's damage deposit?
We just let my MIL drive our emergency back-up child to the park in Bennington. First time ever.
huh?I am an understudy child.
If older sister had not been normal and spawned, it would have been down to me.
My bro is son and heir. But Dad's older brother already had two sons, so the family heritage was in no doubt.
Wow - me too. Mine just backed out of coming for dinner... :(
The milk is now gone.
I'm mostly relieved, but slightly disappointed. I wanted to see how toxic it would get.
Now place another carton there.
Put a carton there with a picture of the 'missing' carton on it.
I don't like this kindle fire. At all.
I don't like this kindle fire. At all.
That's not mixed feelings then, is it?
I guess not.
My sis just gave me a small lesson and its helped me understand
it better. I hope to learn to love it.
When you look at who's online and you see someone composing a post in a thread you posted in, for what seems like hours, then they never post it and you just KNOW you just avoided being told how stupid you are, in one way or another.
Or, if it's a thread you hadn't posted in you just KNOW someone was telling someone what a genius they are.
:lol:
lol - I NEVER noticed, but that's pretty funny.
How can you tell that someone is composing a message?
Who's Online.
"replying to..." or something.
Some people type really slowly, too. ;)
Unless you choose to be imbisible, you're fair game.
Don't look out your window right now, ok?
That very well may be me... :blush:
I'm forever writing replies or posts, and reviewing it via the Preview Button.
But then I hit "Close Window" without clicking Submit.
I'm surprised you haven't heard my screams echoing thru the Rockies.
Oooops, almost did it again :rolleyes:
:lol2:
You're awesome, Lamp. :)
That very well may be me... :blush:
I'm forever writing replies or posts, and reviewing it via the Preview Button.
But then I hit "Close Window" without clicking Submit.
I'm surprised you haven't heard my screams echoing thru the Rockies.
Oooops, almost did it again :rolleyes:
That explains the mysterious disappearances of my posts.
With Firefox, you can right click on a tab and choose Undo Close Tab. I don't know if your text will still be there.
That explains the mysterious disappearances of my pants.
:eek:
That explains the mysterious disappearances of my pints.
:eek:
That explains the mysterious disappearances of my punts.
:eek:
They'll be in Oxford or Cambridge I reckon.
I've never seen so many punts!
Are you sure you meant punts?
Do you prefer your mixed feelings shaken or stirred?
I heard that about you.....
I get occasional emails from the Peace Corps, because every so often I just want to chuck it all and go do something meaningful and get off the grid.
I got one today. Timing is everything. This might be the thing I sit in my rocking chair lamenting never having done. No way could I be far away from my family for two years. My parents, while healthy, really healthy for their age, are in their early 70s and I don't want to miss one moment with them. I don't want to miss one moment of my nieces growing up, or my older nieces and nephews and their accomplishments.
Yet it tugs at me. I think it is partly mid-life crisis, looking for meaning, disgusted with so much of what I see around me.
Probably there is some kind of assessment. I think when they ask why I would want to make this kind of commitment my answer "because the world sucks" wouldn't go over too well. They're probably looking for someone more upbeat. ;)
If the Peace Corps was willing to take my uncle, I guarantee you you'd pass any assessment with flying colors.
It was one of those times when you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing...
Huffington Post
3/12/12
New Challenger Video: Super 8 Film Of Space Shuttle Disaster Uncovered (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)
[YOUTUBE]TsO2E01L8Mk[/YOUTUBE]
i have recently started more and more to be skeptic about my skeptisicm.
in the past - for most of my adult life anyway - i believed that intuition was just the word we gave to thinking and pattern finding in the back of our heads, gut feelings never told you anything other then what you are feeling yourself, vibes are just subconscious perception of body language and tone of voice too fast for us to put into words, dead people are dead, and mystic powers are fallacies of perception... i was offically "open for the possiblities" the same way i am open to the possibility that the universe is entirely my imagination - could be philosophically but i wouldn't make any life decision based on that.
it's only with my ex wife that i got plenty of remote sunsations - constantly from early on - that ended up being very accurate, and had a certain flavor to them... but i was still able to chuck it out to coincidence or my mind playing tricks on me, fallacies, projections, whatever...
she herself was also skeptical - she has told me she tried getting into those things and had a period of it as a teen but nothing much beyond, but when she tried divinations they where so creepishly accurate that they scared the crap out of her so she had to stop. there was no explenation for it as far as she was concerned. my ex is a very intelligent person, but she sometimes had a hard time recognizing and weeding out subjective and retroactive biases, so i chucked that out too.
then their was an expeirence that seeded my double-layered doubts: one night where she took me to the kitchen, otherwise my realm (i cook), held my hands, told me to talk to someone who died and tell them one knock for yes two knocks for no. i chose my father and... we got out information that i didnt know, and she had no way of knowing, information i had to check later with my mother. plus the knock from the top of the wall where there was nothing behind... the whole thing was just plain creepy. she told me she has no explenation, its just something she has always being able to do. i still have no idea what to make of it.
in the last day and a half i've had the same gut feeling that she's not only thinking about me but is missing me like hell, at those very moments, that she wants me back and then has her fears holding her back, that she wants to cry out in frustration "why did he have to be such an ass!"... and that she's being drinking.
same old flavor, and this time i am not sure if i am inclined to chuck it out so easily.
And you've been doing so well, traceur, too! This is your imagination speaking. Go for a run!
Well, this is kind of a whinge, but it isn't going to get me much sympathy.
Having recently quit my job, I've been in contact with the college I used to work at, and had pretty much lined up teaching work starting in July, at least two days per week, maybe more.
Now they want me to do an admin job for nine weeks preceding that while someone else is away.
Dammit, I'm enjoying being a bum. I'm getting done a bunch of stuff I've been putting off for ages and have plenty more of the same to do.
And it would be all admin, organising, paperwork, administrivia.
I don't really want to. [ whine, moan, grumblegrumble ]
On the plus side, it would be a good reorientation to the company, the work would be fairly easy, the person I'd be covering for is very organised and I'm sure will tell me what needs doing in adequate detail, and ultimately, they'd give me money for it. And it wouldn't start for another month.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I don't wanna.
But my inner critic is calling me a slacker.
I know there's at least three of you that want to slap me right now. Sorry.
Slacker...nah. You have choices. I envy you. Just like you can't send half a sandwich to the starving kids overseas, you also can't send jobs coming out the ying yang to the unemployed overseas.
Do what you want! What happens if you say no to the administrative part?
Will it hurt you at all if you don't take it? Will they take the other job away from you out of spite?
If it were me, I'd say that you have personal commitments and you are not available.
I can't judge your slacker creds from here. But I would tell you from *my* experience, that the next nine weeks will come and go regardless of your decision. How you remember them once they're behind you will last a lot longer. What kind of experience do you want to remember?
If I had the means, I'd choose playing out your finite time as a bum. Assuming I had the means to support such a choice. Another way to assess your options is to imagine which choice you'd *regret* having missed more. Way, way down the road, you won't remember having an additional nine weeks of pay or orientation (which will happen when you start, whenever you start) or an increased understanding of some other fella's filing idiosyncrasies. You *could* do some things (or no things) that you'll remember long after, maybe not, but you could. You won't miss the extra work, who the hell wants extra work?
Well, that's my take on your good news. Congratulations!
I know there's at least three of you that want to slap me right now.
I'm one of them, although I have a definite maybe with a company I applied for a loooong time ago.
Money aside - I gotta agree with V here, with one condition.
If this affects the job you want, then you may be obligated to do the admin crap.
If not, tell them you've planned your trip to America and get your ass over here
(layover at our British counterparts required). THAT will be something to remember. ;)
Well, my inner child and inner adult had quite the discussion, and agreed that I'll take the work, and make sure I get good value for the five weeks of freedom I have left. Until the two weeks in mid semester (late September/October) and six weeks over summer...
I plan to get done a bunch of overdue life stuff and then visit Melbourne (800ks southwest) and if possible do a hike in the Flinders Ranges (700ks North).
I'm also looking at moving house. What I have is adequate and okay and quite cheap, but in the suburbs with traffic noise and no real nature. I'd much rather be living in the hills. I've seen a place that is a little expensive but bloody awesome and still affordable provided I have a job, and reasonable for commuting.
So yeah, I went in to talk with them and the person I'll be covering for is uber-hyper-organised. She has already prepared a spreadsheet as the master sheet for all the various projects I will have to manage, and each project has a link to another spreadsheet for that project with all the specific tasks spelled out, contacts listed, timelines, etc. etc.
Scary.
Only hitch is they will probably want me to wear business clothes. I tried on my business trousers today. Seems if you leave them unworn in the wardrobe for four years, they shrink around the waistband by a few inches. :p:
I have two days before my premium for my car insurance is auto-deducted (hey, that's punny) and I'm not sure if I want to stay with these guys or not. I was so stressed about the hit and run and they were so complacent and told me there was no plate matching the number I gave but gee the police officer reported right away that there was a match and 3 ambulance chasers sent me mail with copies of the police report but that damn lizard couldn't be arsed to help me out or work on my behalf. I was a victim of a hit and run, ffs. I was in the car, ffs. If I'd been hurt (and it's sucky to say this I know) everyone would have fallen all over themselves for the claim, and I certainly would have used an ambulance chaser.
So I just wrote to them to tell them of my apprehension and why (they sent me a survey regarding their service.)
Mixed feelings because I hate conflict and change and I hate hassles and inconvenience and I don't know if the quote I got from a competing company was because it was just cheaper or because I didn't request the same coverage. Hey, then again I haven't changed my deductible with the lizard and you KNOW that will make my cost skyrocket and I picked a more reasonable deductible with the competitor.
Ugh. I don't understand these things.
I left after about 10 years with them. Fuggem.
I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance!
The lizard didn't respond to me after my careful thoughts on my treatment in the survey they sent me.
I got better coverage for less money with a competitor. I didn't cancel the lizard in time so they will refund the payment they take tomorrow plus the money that was paid in advance for this month (however that works.)
I'm glad I did it but it kind of felt like breaking up with someone because they are so obviously not interested in you anymore. :blush:
I mean seriously, they kinda hurt my feelings. ;)
Thanks! I know to most it's not much but I have a terrible time doing stuff like that. I have to be in just the right kind of mood. I'm trying to take better control of things. The guy I broke up with was pleasant and helpful but he didn't try to talk me out of it, just said how sorry he was and that maybe in the future...
It's a love story, really, full of joy and pain and sorrow and regret. And hope, there's always hope. ;)
I definitely don't feel like playing this rehearsal tonight and the concert Saturday. I want to do it, I just don't feel like going out instead of just crashing and taking a break.
Infi, I hope you told him ... "It's not me ... it's you."
Infi, I hope you told him ... "It's not me ... it's you."
Too funny, because when I told the same story to my new awesome cow orker, she said the same line. She's a quick funny wit too!
Good for you, IM. When I left the didn't care at all. :(
I did though, cuz I saved over a $150 a month.
The new job is all but signed, starts in about 5 weeks, goes for nine weeks, then transitions easily into teaching work. It'll be a casual position, so no holiday pay or sick pay, but that is balanced by boosting the hourly rate to $29. So that's about $1,100 a week for two months.
The mixed feelings are because I'll have to wear office clothes, even a tie. Given that my entire job search efforts consisted of one half-arsed facebook message, I'm feeling like a smug little bastard right now. :D
Now to plan that holiday to Victoria and that hiking in the Flinders Ranges before I go back to work.
After searching for work for about 9 months, I'd like to smack the smug off yer face right about now.
Seriously though - good for you.
You should have studied philosophy. How you ever thought you'd get work with all that knowledge of finance and investment and stuff I cannot imagine.
Seriously, good luck, Classic, keep at it.
lol - thanks. Imma get me a job just in time to spoil my summer dreams. ;)
This is my last week as a councillor.
Tonight is my last group meeting, tomorow my last Planning Committee and Wednesday my last Full Council meeting.
Mostly I am happy that it's come to an end. But I also feel a little sad to be leaving. Some good colleagues and I enjoyed some aspects of the role.
And I'll defo miss the wages :P
This is my last week as a councillor.
Wow. I didn't realize you were leaving. Was it something you wanted, or did it just sort of happen?
I wanted :)
Basically, i wanted out a couple of years ago, but having won a 4 year term it would have thrown my ward into a byelection which, at the time, would have risked letting in member of the far right BNP who were our main opposition in that ward.
So I agreed to see out the rest of my term. My term is up, and the election is on May 3rd, but council business closes for this municipal year with the final council meeting on Wednesday.
I could have stood for re-election had I chosen to.
I thought for sure I was going to get fired but instead I got a new contract with a raise and incentive pay.
Hmmmm.
(disclaimer: I really didn't think I'd get fired it has crossed my mind because of some tough issues I'm trying to deal with and all the stress due to a number of things and my mental and physical health was suffering tremendously...it might've seemed a relief really. Some time to relax and once again figure out what I want to be when I grow up. But I'm also thrilled thrilled thrilled to still have this job and I hope that the attention we got for this effed up summer start up will effect some changes that will make my job so much better. I've said: it's not just me, all my pro staff cronies, many who've been here for years, are at their wit's ends too. I think it might get better though, and I'm glad I'm still here.)
Congrats! Hopefully your meeting the other week can enact some positive changes too.
cool potatoes and sweet beans!
Yeah. Well done, infi - recognition and reward for the work you've done and your knowledge. I, too, hope that the meeting bears positive fruits for yourself and your cow-orkers in the near future :)
Thanks all.
By the way limey, you are a genuinely kind person. I've been wanting to say that for a while and this seemed like a good time. :) thank you!
With this temporary admin job having about three weeks to go, it now seems that there won't be teaching work for me at this school from August. Enrollments were a little down, and existing teachers have it covered.
It's a bit of a disappointment; the money would be good and the lifestyle quite acceptable.
Well, I'm sitting here making lists of all the other things I could do instead. There are so many options I don't know how to choose which one(s) to pursue.
I have a startling and almost frightening amount of freedom.
In fact, I have no mortgage, no dependants, not too much sense of responsibility, and soon no job. I have quite a bit of savings.
I was originally thinking of a house deposit, but I could go travelling for a year or even two if I went cheap.
Or try to transition to an independent editor/technical writer with a bit of more creative and expressive writing on the side.
Or try other combinations of travel and work.
Or go be a hippy in the woods.
Or whatever ...
Hmmmmmmmm, some deep thinking time for me.
I wish I had that freedom. I haven't been (or have been able to be) very financially responsible. If I could, I'd leave here and take some time off and 'find myself' something I never had a chance to do. We don't do that "take a year off between college and life" thing here unless you have a wealthy family, and most of us never studied abroad.
I'd enjoy a trip if I were you. You have plenty of time to settle into the grind (I'm assuming you're not an 85 year old woman, since we don't really KNOW!) ;)
Today and tomorrow I am running a garage sale at the house I grew up in. This is the last of my childhood furniture and all the other random crap that I remember, at least that part of it that my Dad didn't take to his new house. I already took the things I wanted, including a lamp for my daughter's room (which we called my "sick lamp" because it only ever got turned on in the middle of the night when I was ill,) and the funny looking blue stained glass light fixture (that I certainly won't be hanging in my house, but I spent thousands of hours staring aimlessly at as a child so I had to have it anyway,) and some small Christmas decorations that, again, are not actually that nice but they featured heavily in my youth. But it's still weird to be watching people walk away with these memories of mine, and to think that after this weekend I will never set foot in this ugly, disintegrating house again, with its wood paneling falling off the walls and nasty brown shag carpet that has never been cleaned in 30 years.
Sounds like a rough mix of feelings. You'll survive it though.
Oh I'll definitely survive--well, barely, with the 105 degree heat and all. But it's more just an interestingly poignant event, not a difficult thing really.