Sunday, December 31, 2006

Bittersweet Symphony That's Life

Here it is yet again...New Year's Eve. I have a love/hate relationship with this day, because it makes me look back on a year that has not gone as well as I would have liked (that's the hate part). But, it also allows me to feel hopeful (things have sucked big time, lately) that maybe, just maybe...this coming year will be better? Although, I have hoped that for the last three years, but it hasn't worked out like I would have liked.

I almost never have resolutions, because I know I won't stick to them...like losing my extra 20 pounds I've gained since I started seeing my current SO. But, I have to lose this weight. I've just seen pictures of myself...and I don't like what I see. The only thing that is different about this year than last year is...I'm seeing a personal trainer. I have been for 4 weeks straight. Granted, I did not follow any sort of diet...and I think I might have actually GAINED weight (or maybe my muscles are bigger, therefore making things a little tighter?). But, with the new year...I am going to try to follow some sort of diet...not anything crazy, like low-carb. Because, let's face it...I'm not getting any younger, and this weight is not going to magically fall off of me like it has in the past when I exercised at such a high intensity. Truly, I need to find a way to eat more sensibly, and just say "no" when my skinny boyfriend asks me if I want some of the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies he just made. Will I be able to? Aye, there's the rub. I can say it all I want...but I actually have to follow through with it. Maybe this year, what I set my mind to do, will actually happen...

Friday, December 29, 2006

Adsense Advice

*Note: This is a paid advertisement/review.*

As someone with Adsense on their blog, I'm always looking for advice on how to increase my revenue from this program. So when I got the opportunity to review John Gall's search engine marketing blog, I thought why not? It looks like this guy has a lot of experience with creating websites to generate income from Adsense. He's been running over 200 websites that use Google Adsense for over two years, and it looks like he's been fairly profitable. The entry with advice on certain niches is something I think I might try to integrate into my websites that use Adsense. While this is a new blog with not a whole lot of entries, I have the idea that if he keeps up with the advice, he'll attract a lot of visitors. I'll be bookmarking this site for sure!

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Touchdown Jesus

In my trips back and forth to Cincinnati, I get to witness what is possibly the most astounding thing on the road today, a larger than life Jesus statue. I can tell you from experience, pictures do not do it justice. Some people call it "Touchdown Jesus" or "Drowning Jesus" (my personal favorite, since he supposedly walked on water. I've also heard the name "Buttercream Jesus" as he does look like he's made out of tasty frosting. But, alas...we are supposed to take this seriously. Seriously? I just can't, especially when not too far down from it is a Hustler store with a giant road sign. Heh.

Anyway, if you haven't seen it...and you're driving down I-75 sometime, you can't miss it. Don't let it scare you, either. One time, it did...the first time I drove up I-75 after it had been completed, actually. Really, it's a monstrosity. And I'm not sure Jesus would appreciate being depicted as drowning, with a cross as his life preserver. Then again, maybe not? I mean, Jesus was a pretty cool guy, from what I understand. Maybe he'd get a good laugh out of it, just like a lot of us down here in Cincinnati/Dayton do.

Christmas Hangover

I spent last weekend driving back and forth between Dayton and Cincinnati. From Saturday through Tuesday, I made the trip. That's a grand total of 8 trips up and down I-75. Ugh. It's only a 45 minute trip, but when you do it that many days in a row...it gets tiresome. My trip on Tuesday was unplanned, as it was to my boyfriend's youngest sister's impromptu wedding, which we only found out about Christmas Eve when his dad's side of the family came to visit. Now I'm at work, bitter as ever...still smarting over my manager not letting me work from home. I just hope that this coming year gets better, really. Seriously, the last three years have been, well, challenging to say the least. It's time I got a break. Perhaps 2007 will be the year without major drama? We'll see.

Coupons Galore

Disclaimer: This is a paid post for PayPerPost.com.

Now that the holiday shopping season is pretty much over, I'm now scouring the Internet for deals, coupons, etc. as prices tend to plummet after Christmas. I love all of the coupon code sites out there, like this site has for Target coupons. If you're looking for a coupon code CouponChief.com has a ton of coupon code links to online stores like Apple, Dell, Staples, etc. So, it looks like yet another site will be going in my bookmarks!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Don't Forget Your Adjectives!



Oh, how I love The Daily Show. This clip is near and dear to my heart, as I am an editor by trade. Just wait until the end, you'll see what I mean...

Boyfriend Is Remodeling His Condo

But the one thing he won't go near is power supply repair. I don't blame him, because the thought of getting accidentally electrocuted scares the bejesus out of me. So, he relies on electricians for any rewiring he needs to have done.

Luckily, that's not the biggest issue in his condo. He's tackling the upstairs loft first, and is then going to work on the bathroom. It's got, get this...carpet on the floor? Whoever decided to do that was an idiot. I can't imagine the amount of mold growing in the carpet and padding beneath. While it is warm to the feet, it just grosses me out. If we ever move in together, it will be top on my list of things that need to be ripped out and replaced, that's for sure.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Won't Be Going to NC for Christmas This Year

In the past, we have gone down to Greensboro, NC for Christmas to visit my dad's family. We started doing it right after my mom died, and I have to admit, I enjoyed doing that. But now that it's been a few years, I like being able to stay at home and relax a little, not have to worry about packing a suitcase and driving for 8 hours. We also used to stop by Raleigh and visit my step-grandfather's family. Every now and then, I like to look at Apex NC real estate to see what the houses are going for in that general area, and I have to say that it's a little out of my range (total understatement). But, it's still fun to see all the houses. Perhaps someday, I'll move to that part of the country. So it's good to know what I need to set my sights on.

Television Shows and the Holiday Hiatus

Last night, I was thinking how I can't wait for new episodes of House and Heroes (my new favorite show) to return, and I remembered that it's been a few weeks without Desperate Housewives. Yes, it's one of my vices. Will Gabby get pregnant again and need to get a paternity test like she did before? Will Bree see through Orson's lies? Is Susan really going to stay away from Mike at her new boyfriend's "request"? In all honesty, I understand why they go on "hiatus" during this time, but I do miss my shows a bit.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Bush Is Considering More Troops in Iraq???

Uh, did he not listen to what the voters had to say this past election??? We said we wanted out of Iraq, as soon as possible...not, "send more troops to die" if I recall correctly. Because, that is what will happen. And where will these additional troops come from? Are they going to start the draft again for a "temporary" increase? Throwing more troops at this situation is not the answer. More training is needed, more diplomacy is needed. Heck, invite Iran to talk about things...anything except send additional troops! It's a nuthouse over there, thanks to us, and we do have to solve it. But how can we send more troops to die? I just don't get it.

Looking for Small Business Advice?

*Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for PayPerPost.com*

As someone who moonlights to make ends meet, I'm always looking for free business info. While I was browsing through PayPerPost's opportunities, I found the Incparadise.com site, which has a great deal of useful information for small business owners. For instance, they offer book keeping services. Now, if I ever make enough money to need a book keeper, I think I might use their services. For a mere $10 per month, they will do your reconciliations, bank accounts, merchant accounts, etc.

There's also a great article about obtaining an EIN (Employer Identification Number) if you need one. Turns out I don't, but I wouldn't have known that without reading this article. I always thought it'd be useful to have one, but not really...not unless I have employees, which I don't. But still, it looks like this is a site to bookmark for those who own small businesses. Maybe someday, I will have employees of my own. If I do, I'll be sure to keep my eye on this site!

Anyone Need a Kid's Bed?

I have a friend who just asked me if I knew of anyone who needed a kids bed in really good condition, because he was getting a new one for his son. Unfortunately, I don't. Seems like he's redecorating now that his son is getting a bit older. I have to admit that someday, I'd love to be planning my kid's room. But, I guess that will have to wait, seeing as how I'm not planning on having kids anytime soon...

Silly Me

I thought I'd be able to work from home for a mere three days, but my manager won't let me. I want to get my book out on time, but I'd like to be able to do it from the comfort of my own home. But no. Something about how this might set a precedent that others will follow. Right. So much for charity and goodwill.

Words can't describe how frustrated I am right now. And really, I don't want to get into the details, lest I get myself in hot water. Suffice it to say, I am angry and bitter. Thank goodness I have an outlet tonight. My personal training session will help get some of this anger and frustration out. If only they had a punching bag...
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Monday, December 18, 2006

No Vacation for Me Next Week

Well, looks like I can't take off the only three days next week my office is open. Why? Because I have a book that's going to the printer, and I don't have all of my page proofs back yet. That, and it's being done in India...so the time difference basically adds on a day to whatever I can get done. It really sucks, and I'm mad that I can't take the time off. Normally, I'd just ask someone to cover for me, but there's no one who can because we're so short-staffed and all working at maximum capacity. Last thing I want to do is send someone over the edge with this one project. And that's what it would do, because it is a complete mess. It's one of those low priority titles that no one (including me) really paid enough attention to, and now I'm having to go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Even then, I am scared to see what sort of errors it will have when it gets printed. *sigh*

The one bright light in this is...I think I'll be able to work from home those days. No one's in the office anyway, and this title is 100% "electronic" meaning I can review PDFs and post corrections to FTP sites. And that's really the only work I plan on doing, nothing else...I mean, seriously. Not being able to take off because there's no backup in my department sucks. And I know I'm not the only one who's foregoing vacation next week because we are ALL in the same boat. I wish our department would see this and do something about it, like, hire some more people!

My Personal Training Adventures

*Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for PayPerPost.com*

Okay, so this will be my fourth consecutive week of going to my personal training sessions twice a week. Yay for me! Every time I go, my trainer has a different fitness plan for me, so I never know what to expect. I do know it will include at least some weight training, and a lot of interval training. Lately, his favorite thing to do is attach a 50 pound weight to my waist, and then I drag it the length of the building...twice, forward, backward. It's a lot harder than it looks! He also likes to have me run around the building twice, which is a challenge for me because I absolutely despise jogging or running. Despite all of my grumbling, I have managed to get through every session and not feel too much pain the next day (notice I didn't say "no pain" heh).

Unfortunately, my diet has gone completely out the window because of the holidays (so many vendors send us cookies and candy, it's unreal!), so I haven't lost any weight. But, I have noticed some muscle definition in my legs and arms, which is nice. Given that more muscle increases metabolism, I'm hoping that with the sessions I have left, and the holidays behind me, that my twice per week "torture" sessions (okay, okay, personal training sessions) might actually help me loose the weight I've been dying to get rid of for the past few months.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Yes, I Still Have Christmas Shopping To Do!

And, it's for my friends with babies. There seem to be a lot this year. Well, maybe not a lot...just two. But that's two more than I had to buy baby gifts for last year! Since I don't have kids myself, I always worry about what to get them. Do they already have it? Is it appropriate? That's why I'm so glad I found The Nest Baby Shop, which has personalized baby gifts! They have everything, like blankets, clothes, bath toys, and even stuff for baby showers. Too bad I didn't know about this site sooner, or I could have gotten some really cute stuff that I would know for sure no one else had gotten them, at least the stuff you can personalize (some of it you can personalize for free!). So, I will definitely be bookmarking this site for future reference. It's great!

The Office Christmas Party

How could I forget to write about this? I haven't been to one in, oh, 5 years now? Last year, I was unemployed. The year before that, I just didn't feel like going...and all those other years, too. But, I figured I should at least make an appearance this year, as it did sound like it had the potential to be fun. At the very least, I'd get to consume adult beverages on my company's bill, heh. There was karaoke and some greasy bar food, since we had rented a sports bar for our party. Turned out not to be a bad venue. And, after everyone had had enough to drink...the karaoke started. And no, I didn't partake...I'd need way more alcohol than I was ready to consume that night. So, am I glad I went? Sure! Now I only have family stuff to go to, and that's always fun. But, I sure do miss Mom around this time of year...

Friday, December 15, 2006

I Got the Blues - The Winter Blues, To Be Exact

When I was in college, lo these many years ago, I first learned about SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. You might know it as the "winter blues" too. I was so intrigued by it, I actually wrote a paper on SAD. Yes, indeed, I did have SAD. To this day, I am convinced I still suffer from this disorder...maybe not as bad as a lot of people, but I definitely feel more sluggish and moody when the days start to get shorter.

Sometimes my winter depression gets so bad, I want to just hibernate like the bears do, and wake up when it gets warmer and there's more sunlight. Because, you see, I live where winters are very gray. We don't get a lot of snow, but we sure have a lot of cloudy days. Combined with shorter days, it's sometimes all I can do to get out of bed. Just about the only thing I like about December (besides Christmas, of course) is that after the 21st, the days start to get a little longer each day. Yay!

Why do some folks like me get depressed as the days get shorter? It's because there is less sunlight in the day. And when there is less sunlight, we make less serotonin. When we don't make as much serotonin, we start to feel sluggish, sad, depressed, etc. Some people, like me, are just more predisposed to the effects of a lack of serotonin during this time of year. That is why researchers developed broad spectrum, intense lights, otherwise known as SAD Lights that people can sit in front of to help with their symptoms.

Now, I don't have one of these. But don't think for a second that I haven't thought about buying some SAD Lights to help treat my winter depression. I'd much rather use something like SAD Lights than anti-depressants. When my mother died on Thanksgiving 3 years ago, I did need the help of an anti-depressant, because I knew the grief combined with my Seasonal Affective Disorder might land me in a clinical state of depression, unable to do anything. But for my winter depression, I really don't need an anti-depressant. That's why I'm seriously considering purchasing one this year. Maybe I'll make it my birthday present to myself!

Almost Time for that New Year's Resolution

It is so hard to keep yourself on a diet around the holidays. Seriously, how am I supposed to be able to resist all of the goodies that come around this time of year? I think after Christmas and New Year's, like every other person on the planet, I am going to stick to a diet to go with my personal training sessions. I'm actually starting to see results from only 3 weeks, but it's only my muscles getting more defined...I'm not losing any fat, it seems. So, I'm going to do a diet comparison. I know low-carb is out for me, but I'm thinking of cutting out refined grains and sugars, otherwise known as the SugarBusters diet. It has worked in the past, and since I am training fairly hard twice a week, I'm thinking it'll work even better. At least I'll still be able to eat grains, consume dairy, etc. I just can't eat any products containing white flour and sugar. Once I get over the initial shock of sugar leaving my system, I think I'll be okay. We'll see.

Breast Cancer Rates Fall

This is indeed great news that breast cancer rates fell dramatically after the announcement was made in 2003 that some breast cancers may be fueled by HRT (hormone replacement therapy). But unfortunately it's too late for my mother, who passed away that same year after her breast cancer returned.

Turns out my mother had one of those types of breast cancers, and it is one of the less common types that is more easily missed, lobular carcinoma. You see, rather than a lump, it feels more like a flat, hard area. And, it is also more easily missed on mammograms. Hers was missed back in 1998. And, she had been taking HRT because she was more worried about heart problems, due to family history.

After learning this news back in 2003, I tried going off of birth control pills, as I have had many of the same "female" problems my mother did and figured that artificial hormones probably weren't that great for me. I went back on when some new forms came out, but last year I went off of them completely because they were making me insane. Seriously, a day wouldn't go by without an emotional rollercoaster of feelings, usually accompanied by crying fits for no apparent reason. Not good!

So, I will definitely be avoiding any type of HRT in the future, and I am off of hormonal birth control for good. With my mother having breast cancer, and two great aunt's on my dad's side of the family having it...I'm not taking any chances. Even though it's too late for my mom and all the rest of the women who have either beat breast cancer or succumbed to it, I am glad that it seems they've found one way of shutting down this horrible disease. Now if they could only shut it down completely, that would answer one of my most fervent hopes for this century.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006

My Annual Car Insurance "Check Up"

I have dealt with car insurance more than I care to in the past 2 years or so. And, I'm always checking my car insurance estimate with different companies to see how my rates compare. This year, I stumbled across CarInsurance.com, a website which allows consumers to get online car insurance quotes from many different car insurance companies, one of them being Geico.

While looking at Geico's rates, I stumbled across this brochure in their driving safety section called "Teens and Trucks," focusing on how to show teen drivers to drive more safely around trucks and tractor trailers. While this is geared toward teens, I think this is useful information that everyone should be reminded of, like staying out of a truck's blind spots (if you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you!), using caution when passing a truck, avoiding cutting trucks off (pulling too closely in front of them when passing), and not getting involved in a "Squeeze Play" when trucks need to make wide turns. It's all common sense, but sometimes we need a little reminder when it comes to driving safety, I think.

Christmas Eve on "House"

Wow, last night's episode of House was, well, depressing! The medical mystery was solved as usual, but it took a back seat to the drama that is House's trouble with Detective Tritter. You see, House left a rectal thermometer up Tritter's derriere, after Tritter sufficiently peeved him enough during an exam. Ever since then, Tritter's been after him, especially after learning House takes Vicodin, and a lot of it. He got suspicious after finding over 600 Vicodin tablets in House's apartment, as well as getting his hands on all the written prescriptions that Wilson, House's best friend and the head of the oncology department, had supposedly written for him. Looked like some of them were not written by Wilson. So Wilson got himself in some hot water, and was getting pressured by Tritter to confess. But, he held out...until House totally lost control in last week's episode after being deprived of Vicodin. And when I say lost control, I mean he went nuts. Pain can do that to a person.

Anyway, last night was the culmination of all of Tritter's efforts, after Wilson basically ratted him out because he's trying to help him fight his addiction. He won't admit it has any gain for him, which is just silly because it gets him off the hook, frees his accounts, and gets him his life back. He talked Tritter into a deal requiring House to go through 2 months of rehab, no jail, no getting his license revoked, which I don't get how he did AT ALL considering Tritter wanted House in jail. Of course, House refused to take the deal because, well, if you know his character at all...he can be rather stupid when it comes to stuff like this.

So, in order to force him to take the deal, Cuddy, the head of the hospital, cuts off House's Vicodin completely, and then throws him off the medical mystery of the week. That is, until the entire staff of masterminds hits a brick wall (as usual) with diagnosing this week's patient, and they cave in. But, before they did that...House did something worthy of any addict. He stole a dead man's Oxycontin prescription from the hospital. If you're thinking, "what an idiot!" you're right. But, he just proved Tritter's point. He's an addict willing to jeopardize what little chance he has left of staying out of jail and in medicine.

And, to top it all off...it's Christmas Eve. House goes home and sits by himself with his bottle of pills, and a bottle of Maker's Mark. And, you guessed it...the combination of Oxycontin, which makes Vicodin look like aspirin, and alcohol causes him to OD. Wilson ends up finding House in a pool of his own vomit...but he just leaves House there. Nice guy.

In the end, House goes to take the deal, but Tritter tells him it's off. You see, he'd been keeping track of all the prescriptions in the hospital, and he found out about House signing for the dead man's prescription. Deal's off. That's where we end. Merry Christmas, y'all!

This is December, Right?

Because it sure doesn't feel like it. I'm looking at my ForecastFox plug-in for Firefox, and it's telling me it's 55 degrees outside. And, looking outside...it's sunny! I am not complaining by any means, but it is weird for it to be almost 60 in December where I live. We've had a few cold snaps that required my "real" winter coat, but for the most part it's been a fairly warm winter (I know, I know, it's not technically winter yet). We had about a 1/2 inch of snow last week that caused general mayhem on the roads (seriously, it took me over 3 hours to get to work because of all the accidents). But, that's been it for the winter weather. Again, not complaining...but I'd like for it to get a little colder for Christmas. Sincerely doubt it'll be a white one, but when it's a warm Christmas...it's just weird for me. But, we still have January and February to go...so maybe Old Man Winter is just waiting to unleash his fury on us?

Considering a Graduate Degree

Every now and then, I think that I should pursue a graduate degree of some sort. In my searches, I've run across what looks to be a decent online university, Capella University. It's been around since 1993 (the year I graduated college!), and it is fully accredited. Seeing that it's been around for so long, and that it's accredited make me feel more comfortable about possibly going for an online master's degree in business, which is what I would probably want to pursue. But, they also offer master's degrees in information technology, education, human services, and psychology. They also have undergraduate degrees in business and IT, for those who do not already have a bachelor's degree under their belt, like I do. I'm sure with the 76 degree programs, both graduate and undergraduate, and 16 certificate specializations there's something there that's right for me. I feel comfortable knowing that currently 16,000 students are enrolled from all 50 states and in other countries around the world. It is definitely a place I would consider, should I choose to pursue a graduate degree, as it is a high-quality online education provider with an established reputation.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - Travel Sites Abound

I haven't really taken a vacation this year. First, I was unemployed. And then, I returned to work, only to be met with a mountain of work and a staff that has been systematically downsized to the point of ridiculousness. Thus, no vacation for me this year.

But, next year, I am hoping to go somewhere. Where, I don't know. But that's where the 50 Best Travel Sites You Probably Never Heard Of comes into play. This is a site that lists some lesser-known travel sites that will help you plan itineraries and get reservations to destinations that seem to be more off the beaten path than most. It truly is for the travel enthusiast, as it links to sites dedicated to nothing but airplane food or getting the most comfortable seats.

Where was LuggageOnline's Web site when I needed it last year? Would have been really nice to know where I should sit on my flight. Oh well, at least now I have this great tool at my disposal for my next vacation!


'Tis the Season to Be Jolly?

Yes, it's almost Christmas. Have you finished your shopping yet? Because I haven't. And I'm dreading going out and buying gifts. Now, I only have 3 people to buy for -- my brother, my boyfriend, and his sister. My dad banned Christmas presents a long time ago, much to my dismay. He says it got way out of hand for a few years running, and his Christmas shopping days are over. Whatever.

I've tried several different ways of getting around his ban, mainly setting a limit, or only buying for one family member. But nooOOOooo! He still insists on no gifts. Well, if I didn't have a boyfriend or a sister-in-law (for lack of a better term), I would get jack for Christmas. That, and I do enjoy giving gifts, a lot actually. My brother and I have tried getting him silly stuff, and he just gets upset with us. So yes, I would consider him to be a Scrooge about gifts and whatnot. It's not that he doesn't like Christmas. He loves it, actually.

Now, I can see his point...to a point. But still, it kind of takes the fun out of Christmas for me when I can't even get my own father something, when he has given me so much over the years. Maybe someday we'll wear him down...

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

New Ohio Minimum Wage Law?

Okay, so Ohio has needed to raise its minimum wage for a long time now. Finally, we did. However, it comes with at least one requirement that might prove useful, yet will cause some grief for those of us who are salaried. We now have to keep track of our time with timesheets, just like the non-exempt employees.

At first, I was a bit bent out of shape by this. But then, I realized how this might benefit those who are more than likely getting the ol' shaft because they work long hours, yet get paid a crappy salary. It's why I refuse to work more than 40-50 hours per week, because if I did...my "hourly" wage would go down. Now, I'm not below minimum wage by any means. I figure that someone who makes only $22,000 per year, yet works 70 hour weeks, is probably someone who would be making below minimum wage.

I also wonder...does this mean we'll get overtime? Doubt it. From what I've read, it only applies to recordkeeping in case someone does happen to fall under the minimum wage. I'll be interested to see if anyone in this company falls under that category. Again, doubt it...but hey, maybe it'll show my division just how much we really make per hour. I mean, a lot of us work 60+ hour weeks (not me), so our hourly wage might be ridiculously low for someone in our position. Bet nothing will come of it...but I might start working longer hours just to prove a point, you know?

The Jungle of Job Search Sites

I am always on the lookout for freelance writing gigs, or any writing gig for that matter. And actually, with the impending sale of my company, I am keeping my eyes open for work should I get downsized. So, I've been looking for job search sites, aside from the bigger ones, just to see if there are any hidden gems out there. When I stumbled across GetTheJob.com, I was pleasantly surprised to find a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate job search site. You can search by job title, company, or location, depending on your needs. Unfortunately, there are no jobs suitable for me at this time, but I will definitely be bookmarking this site for future reference!


Monday, December 04, 2006

I'd Rather Be in Florida

When the temp drops below 20 degrees at night, that's when I start dreaming of living in warmer climates. But, alas, I do like the change in seasons...and I also hate excessive heat and humidity. So, I just have to settle for vacationing in warmer places, like maybe an Orlando Holiday Villa? Jetting off to the Caribbean? Visiting southern California? *sigh* If only. Money's just a wee bit tight right now, thanks to Christmas. Guess my dreams of vacationing will have to wait. I have sugar plum fairies I'm supposed to dream about, right?

Getting the Urge to Redecorate

Living in a one bedroom apartment can be, well, a bit claustrophobic at times. I've been in mine for about 1 1/2 years, and I'm getting tired of staring at the bleak white walls that every apartment comes with. So, I'm thinking of repainting my apartment. However picking paint colors can be a bit overwhelming. I also want to make sure I paint in a color that's easy to paint over in white when the time comes for me to move out.

Perhaps a nice, warm yellow might do the trick? That, or maybe a pale blue might be good. I'm thinking that the bedroom is probably the easiest room to makeover, just because it is the smallest room and would take the least amount of time. Could be a nice diversion for the inevitable cabin fever I get in the winter, since I hate cold weather and going outside in it. I'm still debating all of this, though, as I do tend to be lazy when it comes to changing my apartment surroundings...something about getting my entire security deposit back? We'll see.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Dreaming of Summer

So I'm sitting here at work looking out my window, watching the wind blow, hoping that a) the building doesn't fall down around us and b) the light poles that are shaking violently in the parking lot don't fall on people's cars. It's December 1st, and apparently winter wants us to know it's finally here (it's been in the 60s for the past two weeks!). It's sooooo windy, it's kind of scary. I could barely open my car door this morning, and just walking into the office was a chore. Temps are dropping like a rock too. So now that winter is definitely here, I can help but daydream of being on a beach in the Outer Banks NC, in the summer of course.

The beach is a place that I dream about a lot, and I have this need to go there frequently. It calms me, centers me. I feel at peace when I'm near the ocean (I'm sure the warmth of the sun helps with that too). But I feel like the beach is a part of who I am. I have fond memories of spending a month of every summer at my grandparent's beach house in northern Florida. It was a sequestered, sparsely populated beach then. Now it's full of condos. So, I'm thinking of trying the Outer Banks this year to see if there are any beaches like the one from my childhood. After the year I've had, I'll need a beach vacation to recharge my soul, I think.

Exercise, Diet Pills, and Diets (Ugh)

I know, I know...diet pills are not the magic pills we all want them to be. But, I keep on trying them in the hopes they'll help my new exercise regimen and diet kick in a little faster, because I know they don't do anything for you if you don't try to change your lifestyle. Those who believe that are doomed to fall for every new diet pill on the market.

Am I one of those people? Sometimes. The latest craze seems to be this Hoodia from South Africa, which is supposed to suppress your appetite. I've tried it, and quite frankly it didn't do anything for me. In fact, I think it made me hungrier. So, that one is definitely off of my list. But I would like to try one with this Keto-7, I believe it's called. If I don't start to see some results soon from my new exercise regimen, I will probably try one with it. Maybe someday, though, there will be a pill that works for everyone, and not just some!

A Bit Obsessed with Water Lately

Because it's gotten so dry with the fall/winter weather, I find myself needing to drink more water. Problem is, the water around here tastes like, well...pool water, as I may have mentioned in a previous post. So, I've been looking at different water filters. In my searches, I've come across a nifty little site called Filtersfast.com, which has just about every type of water filter you can imagine.

Filtersfast.com has filters for refrigerators, fyour whole house, as well as the kind you stick on your faucets. There's definitely something for everyone. If I lived in a house instead of an apartment, I'd definitely consider a whole-house filter from Filtersfast.com, as I think that's really the way to go. That way, you not only drink filtered water, but you bathe in it and wash your clothes in it, and that's much healthier for you, I think.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Why I Love Hugh Laurie (House)

This past summer, I officially became hooked on House when Fox repeated the entirety of season 2 by showing a double dose every Tuesday. I know a lot of people don't like this show, but I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Why? It's simple. Hugh Laurie is quite possibly one of the finest actors I've seen in a long time. He was very famous in the UK for his stints on Wooster & Jeeves and Black Adder, where he got to show his comic genius.

But then came House, which is unlike any other show I've seen. It poses the question, would you rather have a doctor with great bedside manner who wasn't a strong doctor or diagnostician, or would you rather have a doctor with dreadful bedside manner (downright rude and mean in House's case) who knew his stuff? Because in this case, Hugh Laurie plays a rather famous diagnostician who takes on only the most baffling cases that no one else can seem to solve. But, he's got a bum leg from an infarction that took place in his thigh (apparently they're not just limited to your heart), and is constantly popping Vicodin to manage the pain. On top of that, he hates people and doesn't relate well at all to anyone.

So this season, we are taking a look at if House is out of control because of his "addiction" to Vicodin. Now, he is an addict, but he's a functioning addict. That is, the Vicodin kills his pain enough for him to be able to function normally. The question is, does he abuse it? Probably. But he is a very powerful person who gets what he always wants. Only this season, there's a detective who wants to see to it that he doesn't anymore, because he thinks House is an out-of-control addict who answers to no one. We'll see how this all plays out.

It's been interesting so far...making the lives of everyone except for House miserable in order to get House to do what he wants (basically, freezing all of their assets, or in one case, suspending their DEA number, thereby preventing him from writing prescriptions). Now, it seems that one of them is actually going to turn him in, only because in this past episode, he was way more out of line than normal. He actually punched one of his staff, and was totally and unnecessarily mean to his superior. Granted, his Vicodin level had been cut down due to all of this, and he was in pain...but still, he is way out of line. Something does need to be done before he actually kills a patient.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Payday Loans?

We have all seen the ads for payday loans all over television, magazines, and on the Web. While some people say they are the devil in disguise, I have to beg to differ. If used wisely, cash advance loans can help you out of a tight spot, which we have all faced from time to time. One such payday loan company is National Payday, which offers no fax, no credit check loans. They offer up to $600 in loans with little to no hassle.

I have used a payday loan in the past when money was really, really tight, and I had no other alternatives. And, I have to say that it was helpful to have a no credit check loan available to me, as pulling "hard" inquiries on your credit report can hurt you immensely. I found that the key to payday loans, like those from National Payday, are to pay them back as soon as you get your paycheck to avoid paying back a lot more than you borrowed in the first place, as they do charge high interest rates. They have to, in order to provide the service that they do.

And, looking at National Payday, I have to say that this seems like a well-run cash advance loan company, and it looks rather easy to use. The added bonus of not having to fax any information is great, I think. If I had need of a payday loan, I would seriously consider using National Payday as my loan provider.


Sunday, November 26, 2006

Casino Royale

Okay, so, I'm not a huge James Bond fan. Actually, I am neutral when it comes to James Bond movies. I neither love them nor hate them; they're just fun. So, I wasn't expecting much when I went to see Casino Royale last night. All I have to say is, I think they've found the best James Bond since Sean Connery, and his name is Daniel Craig. Yes, he is blonde...but he has the "je ne sais quois" that the other Bonds have lacked, I think. That, and if he were any hotter, I think the screen might have caught on fire. Seriously, the man oozes sexuality, yet has a vulnerable nature about him. The storyline was typical, and the action was great. But he made the movie, really. My favorite line, I think, is the response to his martini order when asked if he wants it shaken or stirred. He says, "do I look like I give a damn?" Hee.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

North Carolina on My Mind

You know, I have family in North Carolina; it's a lovely place. Sometimes I think about moving there. Out of curiousity, I did a search for Cary NC real estate, which is near where my family lives. As I had expected, it is waaaaay out of my price range. But it was still fun to take a look and see how the other half lives. Maybe someday, I will be able to afford places like these.

Tired of City Water. Tastes Like Pool Water!

Okay, I admit it. I buy bottled water because I can't stand the taste of city water. Seriously, it tastes like pool water, there's so much chlorine in it. And don't even get me started on how hard the water around here is. If I could only get a water softener for my entire apartment, I'd be overjoyed. I know people with water softener filters, and they love it. Their skin is softer. Their water tastes better. Their showers aren't coated in limescale. Oh, if only I could convince my apartment to do this. But, alas...they own the pipes, I don't. So, I will just have to make do with my bottled water and faucet water filters for drinking.

Free Diet Pills?

Well, after doing some research and finding a diet pill review site, I've found one that I can try for free. Yes, you read that right, a free diet pill trial! All I have to do is pay shipping and handling, but I can try it for 7 days. If I don't like it, I can call to cancel the trial and not get charged the full amount. It seems worth trying, I think. It has guarana, bitter orange, and garcinia camboga, and they say it's similar to ephedra. Whether or not I believe that, we'll see. I figure for 7 days, it surely can't hurt to try it for $4.95. Granted, I've never had much luck with diet pills. They seem to make me jittery and not much else. But, I've hit a plateau with my exercise and diet, so we'll see if this helps me break it.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

A Medication I Might Try for My RLS

Perhaps you've seen the ads on TV for people saying they have "creepy, crawly" sensations in their legs at night, or a condition otherwise known as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Well, I'm one of those people. I already take Mirapex, which is not the FDA-approved medication you see advertised, but it works. I also take clonazepam, the generic form of Klonopin, because I also have an sleep disorder associated with RLS called REM-behavior disorder. It's like sleepwalking, but it occurs during REM sleep -- sleepwalking occurs in non-REM sleep. And clonazepam is the only thing that seems to work in controlling it.

Anyway, I'm always on the lookout for something I can take to take a drug holiday from the clonazepam. I've read that tramadol, the generic version of Ultram, might be helpful. It's really a pain-killer, but it's a powerful one that also helps induce sleep. Some people who have RLS take tramadol for this reason and have found it to be very effective. I usually like to stop clonazepam for about a week here and there, just because it helps me stay at the same dosage throughout the year. So, I'm going to ask my doctor about tramadol as a substitute, because I don't want to increase my clonazepam dosage, as an increase only makes me feel worse the next day. We'll see what he says.

The Search for the Best Diet Pill

It seems that everyday, we are bombarded with ways to lose weight - diets, exercise programs, etc. And of course, how can we forget about diet pills? There are so many pills promising so many things that it's hard to figure out which one, if any, might best suit your needs. I did a search, and it was overwhelming! But then, I stumbled upon a site that reviews the best diet pills, a "top ten" list if you will. Here I found which pills people had tried and liked the best, with reviews, ingredients, and prices of the most effective pills on the market.

It was indeed helpful in my search for a diet pill that might help my weight loss efforts, where diet and exercise are falling short. The way I see it, everyone can use a bit of a boost. Now that ephedra has been banned, I feel a bit safer in trying one. We will see how these work. I'm going to try the #1 and move my way down the list. If none of them works, that's okay. I figure it can't hurt to at least try a few. Maybe then I can submit my own review!

Yes, I'm Actually Going to Cook for Thanksgiving

Whenever someone asks me if I like to cook, I give them a look that basically says, "hell, no!" But actually, I go through phases where I do enjoy cooking, usually around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year, we had Thanksgiving at my boyfriend's place with his family and mine. I cooked everything but the turkey, stuffing, and my dad's "famous" sweet potato pie (my dad's an excellent cook, in case you were wondering). It was actually fun!

This year, though, I will be going to my dad's condo place to break bread with another family...but I've been asked to bring a pumpkin pie and the fresh cranberry & orange relish we all enjoy so much. I made the pie last year, and it turned out quite well...so I was flattered when my gourmet chef of a father asked me to make the pie again. It is his recipe, but still...when someone who's been cooking for almost 25 years and is really, really good at it, I can't help but be flattered.

Anyway, I thought I'd share the recipes I'd be making this year, in case anyone's actually reading this blog. :)

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients
3 jumbo eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
15 oz canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
1/4 cup (cheap) bourbon
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 prepared pie shells

Directions
1. Combine everything but the pie shell dough in your food processor or standing mixer. Whir it until well-combined.
2. Line a 10-inch pie plate with a pie shell. Cut about an inch circle from the second shell and crimp it onto the first to make a nice edging.
3. Pour the batter into the shell.
4. Bake it in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cranberry and Orange Relish

Ingredients
1 lb. fresh cranberries
1 juice orange (Valencia or Navel)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 inch round of ginger

Directions
1. Rinse and pick over cranberries.
2. Cut up the orange into chunks.
3. Put everything in your food processor and whir until smooth.
4. Turn into glass or other nonreactive lidded container and refrigerate for several hours before serving.


Friday, November 17, 2006

What a Week!

Yeah, I know I haven't posted in awhile. It's that time at my job, the time I call "hell" otherwise known as file release time. Both of my huge money-making titles aren't in good shape, and I've had to push back the date twice on one of them. In both cases, it's because the authors were slow to turn around page proofs at various points in time. One of the author teams is notoriously slow, and I've been told that their books never, ever release on time...so that does make me feel better. But the other team was great, up until revised pages came along.

It's soooo frustrating waiting for others to get their work to me. I mean, I am a control freak after all, being a project manager...so it's hard for me when people drag their feet. There have been times when I considered flying out to an authors place of work and showing up on his/her doorstep. Of course, that's never happened, but the thought has crossed my mind.

Anyway, I best get back to work. I have a ton of page proofs I have to get through today. Fun times!

Friday, November 10, 2006

Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick

This week on Lost...

Sawyer and Kate got it on; Jack vacillated between operating or not operating on the evil that is Ben; and Sayid, John, and Kate/Sawyer-lite bury Mr. Eko.

We also flash back to Kate, or her alias "Monica," where she seems genuinely happy with the her fiance and soon-to-be husband, played by Nathan Fillion...also known as the captain on Firefly, a show that met its end before it should have. Anyway, she gets the itch to run again, as she is still a fugitive in this particular flashback. So, she drugs her hubby (also a cop) to keep him from following her and knowing anything about where she might be going next. Guess that has something to do with the present story of the near death of Sawyer, and her choosing to "be" with him in the Biblical sense? Sometimes, the meaning of the flashbacks is lost on me...no pun intended.

Now, Jack did operate on evil-Ben, but only after someone let him out of his cage, only to see Kate and Sawyer in post-sex cuddle mode on one of evil-Ben's cameras. The Others had brought Kate in to try to convince Jack to operate on evil-Ben, lest they kill Sawyer. That wasn't enough to convince him...but seeing her in Sawyer's arms was? Okay...

Anyway, the operation goes along fine, but then Jack thinks quickly on his feet (or had this in mind all along, not sure which) does something to evil-Ben that will cause him to bleed to death in an hour (still not entirely sure what, but it sounds bad). He demands to speak to the dude who's gone out to kill Sawyer, despite him agreeing to do the operation. What Jack wants, Jack gets...and he tells the dude that if they don't let Sawyer and Kate go (Sawyer is now being held at gunpoint), that he'll let evil-Ben die. Wanna know what the result of that is?

Well, too bad! It's the cliffhanger for the 13-week hiatus ABC is putting us through to introduce a new show, which I will NOT be watching in protest of them pulling a stunt like this, despite the "sneak peeks" of the Lost episodes they'll be airing during this new show. Whoever thought up this idea should be fired, because I have the idea a lot of people feel the same way I do, jerked around. Bad enough the show puts out ten questions for every one it answers...now they're going to do this. Silly network execs...

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Christmas Came Early for Democrats Today!

Where oh where do I begin? First, we win the House by a huge margin. To use Bush's own words, the GOP got "thumped." Yes, yes they did. And now, Rumsfeld is resigning, and the Democratic Senate candidates in the two last states (VA and MT) to be counted are totally ahead. There could be recounts, and there probably will be in Virginia, but still. It was all I could do today not to go around my neighborhood and rip up the signs for Dewine and Blackwell, the GOP candidates for Senate and Governor, respectively. I am full of glee, I tell you. This is what it must have been like back in 2004 when Bush won. It's a nice feeling.

Now, I just hope that the Dems don't screw up. I mean, they are still politicians. And, Bush does have veto power, which I am sure he will use to its fullest extent. That, or he'll just keep using those sneaky signining statements he's used over 750 times since being in office. What I really want to see happen is impeachment proceedings started, because if we can't impeach a president for invading another country under false pretenses, and then consequently stomping all over the Constitution in the name of "executive power," then Congress and the American people should be ashamed of themselves. We can impeach Clinton for lying under oath about getting "serviced" by an intern, but we can't impeach Bush for what he's done to this country and, in turn, this planet???

Yes, I understand that there are other things at stake, like getting out of Iraq...in a strategic manner, not all at once (not even I think we should unilaterally withdraw). And there's also health care (stem cell research anyone?), prescription drugs/Medicare, investigating the secret CIA prisons (and therefore the writ of habeas corpus being taken away), illegal wiretapping...the list goes on and on.

But really, the man needs to at least be threatened with impeachment for what he and his administration have done. Anything less will be insulting to those who died over in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more importantly, the citizens of the United States who have watched their civil rights erode, all in the name of fear. The time for rule by fear is over. It's time to take this country back and show people what we are capable of. I just hope that this new Congress can do it.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Yay Ohio!

Well, it's about 10:30 on Tuesday night, and it looks like we're going to have a Democrat for a governor, and a Democrat in the Senate. Woo hoo! Bye bye, Blackwell! Don't let the door hit you on the way out. You should be ashamed of what you did in 2004, and I think the people agree with me.

The last time we had a Democrat in the governor's seat and in the Senate, I wasn't able to vote...I think I was a wee one, as a matter of fact (I'm now 35!). My local representative will be a Republican, which doesn't surprise me...but frankly, I'll be happy with a Democrat majority in the House, no matter who my representative is (and it's almost a given this will happen). And if Democrats take the Senate...well, that will be icing on the cake, but I'm not expecting it.

To add to my glee, it looks like Issue 5 (Smoke Free), which bans smoking in restaurants and bars, will win...and Issue 4 (Smoke Less), which was introduced by the tobacco industry will lose. Ha! You see, if both had passed, Issue 4 would have trumped Issue 5 because it was an amendment to the state constitution. It was listed as a ban on smoking, but it was a thin disguise that would have allowed current state anti-smoking laws to be repealed. Take that, big tobacco! I'll be able to eat in restaurants and not have to sit in a "nonsmoking" section and smell like smoke when I leave. I'll be able to go to a bar and enjoy a beer, without having to breathe in the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes. And of course I'm happy that the minimum wage (Issue 2) will be raised too. It's about damn time!

Anyway, I'll post more tomorrow when everything's final. Hopefully, I will be able to do a little dance of joy before I leave for work tomorrow.

Monday, November 06, 2006

It's ThanksChristmas Time!

Am I a Scrooge, or perhaps the Grinch because I think it is way too early to be putting up Christmas decorations??? I mean, come on people! I saw them up before Halloween around where I live. Granted, it was only one or two houses...but still, that's one or two houses too many in my humble opinion. Is it the retailers who put the stuff out there for people to buy starting in September that cause this? While they are somewhat at fault, I'm afraid it just shows how impatient we are as a country about everything.

We just can't wait for it to be Christmas, so why not have it now? What happened to waiting until after Thanksgiving? I honestly have no idea. And like I said, maybe I am becoming the Grinch when it comes to this. But I don't think so. I love Christmas, I really do. And I go all out for it when the time is right. I used to think it was waiting until December, but I've given in to the folks who want it to be right after Thanksgiving.

Of course, you're talking to someone who grew up as a preacher's kid in the Episcopal church, where we had an Advent tree because it solved the problem of small kids wanting decorations, and a father who insisted that we not put up a Christmas tree until it was practically Christmas Eve.

But, we were some of the few (and still are) who leave things up until January 6th, when Christmas officially ends. Ever heard of the 12 days of Christmas? Yes, they come after Christmas, not before. Not many people seem to remember that fact, or care. Actually, I don't...but I have fun pointing it out to people who throw out their trees on December 26th. I have this vague notion that if people knew or cared about that, then maybe they might wait to deck their halls. Christmas only comes once a year, and we should give it the honor and dignity it deserves by not stretching it out over, well, 3 months. But, that's just my humble opinion, mind you.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Kate-lite and Sawyer-lite: New Lostaways?

Unfortunately, I didn't get to watch Lost on its regular night, so I turned to my trusty Tivo unit to catch up. Little did I know that Mr. Eko would bite the big one, meet his maker, kick the bucket...or more to the point, "shaken and stirred" to death by the island's totally ominous and spooky black smoke monster. It's a shame, because I really liked him, and his back story seemed the most interesting out of all of them.

And I'm not thrilled with the introduction of what appear to be Sawyer and Kate wannabees, who seem pretty useless. I mean, they get to come along on the search for Eko/The Pearl Station? Sawyer-lite's contribution was to use the bathroom. Kate-lite's apparent skill is to notice the totally obvious...that they were surrounded by TV screens, and that those screens might show the other stations!! And Locke just now noticed them? He said he was feeling pretty stupid, but really. Why do we need more characters? We already have all of the Others to worry about.

I am intrigued by the blonde woman basically telling Jack to kill Ben during his spinal tumor surgery. It's clear she can't stand Ben...and I'm wondering if she wants to take his place. Will she be as evil and cruel? Whoever it is that plays Ben has my vote for the creepiest guy on TV, that's for sure.

Anyway, there are only two more episodes of Lost...then they go on some 13-week hiatus? What the hell is up with that? What happened to showing all of your new episodes consecutively? Oh, that's right...there aren't as many episodes of shows now, and they have to stretch them out over as long a time as possible. Sucks, if you ask me...and a lot of other people I know. Guess my Wednesday nights will suddenly be free, which isn't such a bad thing...but 13 weeks? Boooooo! That's right...booooooooo! Maybe I won't come back to it after the hiatus...that's how mad I am about it. We'll see.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Kerry, Please Get Your Jokes Right from Now On

Guess Karl Rove got his "October Surprise" after all. Bet he wasn't planning on it coming from John Kerry, though. Why did Kerry have to open his mouth now...why? Apparently he totally botched a joke. He said at a speech yesterday, "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." Apparently, he was supposed to say, “Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush.” *sigh* Now that would have made more sense!

So, apparently he misread his speech, or the wrong words just came out of his mouth, or Lord knows what happened. Either way, it's ignited a firestorm that could impact the elections...which are currently in line to put more Democrats in Congress. This only steals the thunder from other stories, like the troop losses in October, or the Iraqi prime minister insisting that checkpoints be removed in certain locations. Now the focus is on his flub of ginormous proportions, and now all he can do is backpedal from it. Apparently he's withdrawn from some appearances, which I think is smart. The only thing he can do now is retreat from everything and everyone, and hope that it all goes away.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Daily Show in Ohio!!!

Yes, The Daily Show is here in the lovely state of Ohio, gracing the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus for Indecision 2006, or as they're calling this week, the "Midwest Midterm Midtacular." Hee! Why are they here, you may ask? Well, in case you haven't heard, Ohio is the battleground state. Apparently, no president has been in office without Ohio's vote, so according to Jon Stewart, we are either the deciding state (are we *gasp* "The Decider(s)?")...or we're...from the future! Too funny.

Anyway, it should make what is normally one of the most snarky, satirical, and sarcastic shows on TV even funnier to those of us who live here in Ohio. I mean, they've already pinned us as high school football freaks who think Applebee's is the place to be (just for the record, Applebee's is not that great IMHO). Oh, and to see the montages of the political ads...excellent! Democrats, "It's Time for a Change" and Republicans, "They Love Terrorists and Will Raise Your Taxes." Both are so true...it's insane how many ads are on right now. I think I'll just watch TDS to get a synopsis of them this week, rather than subjecting myself to the torture that is the onslaught of political commercials...which I think would eventually make my ears bleed!

Sooooo...thank God for Tivo! Thanks to it, I can record my beloved TDS whenever I want. That, or watch clips on the Motherload (seems they're trying to put each episode in its entirety, divided into parts). In either case, I can't wait to watch Jon Stewart and his "reporters" work their magic. I will definitely stay tuned!

Monday, October 30, 2006

Yay! It's 73 Degrees Today.

It is indeed a bonus when it's in the mid-70s at the end of October, when Daylight Savings ends, and I feel like I have to go to bed as soon as the sun sets. I tell ya, I definitely get the "winter blues" bad. Or is it SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? Either way, I feel like hibernating most of the winter, and I know that's not healthy. But, I just have less energy and am more prone to moodiness this time of year. I need to live somewhere where the seasons change, but fall and winter don't necessarily mean being doomed to 3-4 months of gloomy, rainy days. I tell ya, southwest Ohio has nothing on Seattle. At least that's my humble opinion...

Doesn't help that my job sucks, my company's being sold, and I generally feel like not much is going right. I know, it could be worse...but every time I say that, it actually does get worse (namely feeling like my job couldn't get worse...and then learn my company might not exist this time next year)...so I better stop saying that, lest I find myself homeless or something.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Retracting "Argh!"

Okay, I'm still upset that my company has been put up for sale, but I can't really blame them (too much) for how we found out about it. Seems the The Wall Street Journal scooped the news about the sale, and pulled a fast one on the higher-ups at my company, who were bound by SEC rules not to say a word about the sale.

I bet the folks who wrote the article gave themselves a high-five about it, but I bet they have no idea the impact it had on those of us who work here. Or if they did, they didn't care about the thousands of people who suddenly were faced with the possibility of not having a job in 6-12 months. Makes me like journalists a little less when I'm the one who's being affected.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Argh!

My company is going up for sale, and you want to know how I found out about it? An author sent in a copy of the article in The Wall Street Journal. I mean, you think they'd have a company meeting before the news came out, or even before the third quarter earnings are announced tomorrow, when the sale will be announced. For us to find out about it through the grapevine is inexcuseable. Things are bad enough in my department now. This is just icing on the cake. Although I suppose things could get better, depending on who buys us...
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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

My Civil Duty

Ah, jury duty. It's something that everyone dreads getting the call for. I was called about 2 years ago to serve on a federal jury, and I ended up being selected for it. Was an interesting experience, that's for sure. Now I got called for county jury duty, and this time I might escape having to sit in the jury box. While the experience itself doesn't bother me, the timing of it all does. That, and I live 2 counties away from where I work...so when I'm not chosen, I have to drive 1.5 hours back to work. Fun! Luckily, there's only one more day of this, and then I'm free! A small part of me wants to be chosen to sit on a jury tomorrow, because then I will more than likely miss the day-long meeting I'm supposed to be in on Thursday. Nothing would please me more, hee hee. :)

Friday, October 20, 2006

Is there gas price fixing going on?

The mid-term elections are just around the corner, and as we all know, oil execs love the Republicans probably more than they do their own families. There's a new Gallup poll which shows that Americans are suspicious that the elections have something to do with the sharp drop in oil prices, to the tune of 42%. But as this fellow blogger points out, nearly two-thirds of those polled are registered Democrats.

More than likely, it's the market forces that are driving the prices down as they have every year around this time; that, and all of the horrible and terrible things predicted to happen did not: bad hurricane season, conflict with Iran, and OPEC rcutting their supplies to raise prices (which I just heard they're going to do), to name a few. But really, who can blame people for thinking this? With all of the crap that this administration and its GOP lapdogs have pulled, it's no wonder we think they can control the price of gas.

What do I think? It's tempting to think that Bush and his cronies have something to do with it, but in all honesty...I don't think it's the case. However, that will not stop me from being just a little bit excited when filling my tank costs less than $20, like it did a few weeks ago. I'm just going to enjoy it while it lasts, because I know that it won't last long.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Ohio Election 2006: Get Ready for More Shenanigans

I couldn't wait to post this until tomorrow, so I'm taking my lunch break to post this NOW. Apparently, Ken Blackwell is at it again in Ohio. This time, he's purged voter rolls. On October 1st, letters went out to places like apartments, universities, etc. with high turnover, stating that if you did not respond or take action, you'd be removed from the voter rolls. So, thousands of people could show up to their assigned polling place, only to be told they weren't registered, thereby forcing them to use provisional ballots...which aren't counted accurately (if at all, if you ask me).

There are some people trying to take legal action, but it's not looking good. An injunction from a federal court judge would be needed to reinstate all of the voters who have been purged from the system. We are running out of time! And I swear, if I get told I'm not registered to vote at my location, Blackwell will be getting some serious complaints from me. If there are going to be any protests, sign me up, because he has taken away one of our most sacred rights as citizens of the United States, the right to vote and have it be counted fairly.

Republicans to Lose Power? I'll Believe It When I See It.

The latest poll from MSNBC and The Wall Street Journal shows that people are generally pissed off with the Republican party. Bush's approval rating is 38%, and the disapproval rating for Congress is 84% (only 16% approval). That spells bad news for the current majority party, methinks...heh heh heh. :) Not that Democrats are highly favored either, but people just want a change. It's about damn time!

Why am I not more excited? Well, with the 2004 elections being fixed in Ohio, I am wondering what Karl Rove has up his sleeve to protect his precious president from being impeached. Because you know he will be if the Democrats get control of both the House and Senate. But then, that'd leave us with Cheney as our president...and I don't know which is worse, him or Bush. Could we just impeach both of them? Then we'd get the Speaker of the House, who will more than likely be a Democrat (the House has a better chance of changing power than the Senate). Woo hoo! I can dream, can't I? :)

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Personal Trainers Are the Bomb!

Ow...ow...OW! Okay, now that I've gotten that out of my system...

Last night I went back to my personal trainer, who I haven't seen for about a month due to some circumstances beyond my control, mainly my grandfather's passing, and then my gallbladder deciding to freak out on me (which is still an issue, by the way). My God! He put me through the wringer, to put it nicely. I can barely move my legs, and my abs are starting to hurt...so even breathing is a bit painful. But, it's what I signed up for...and what I pay him to do!

It was interesting, but he had me do a circuit like I've never done before, which involved step work, lunges, mountain climbers (think doing pushups, but with switching out your legs), squats, and then a boatload of crunches and hip raises using a fitness ball. Holy moly! I'm kind of hoping he has me do that from now on, because it really works what I want to be worked.

Then, in a few weeks, I will be taking ice skating lessons with my boyfriend (that's another entire blog entry - we worked things out, basically). Between the two, I should have a nice lower body, methinks...and that's the area I am most concerned with. I'm also hoping it will help me when he wants to go skiing, because the last time I went...my legs just could not take the strain, and I ended up sitting at the lodge by myself. No fun! Well, neither is the punishment my trainer is putting me through, but as long as I get the results I want...it's okay by me. :)

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

What Burns Me Up!

Okay, so my department...the 4 people left in it...had its monthly staff meeting today, which went okay until my manager said these words, "we will not necessarily be replacing everyone who's left (that's 3 people now). We will be looking at workload and capabilities to determine how many people we will be replacing." So basically, we had 6 people before, but now 4 people will work just fine...and 5 might give us all the breathing room we need. Wrong!

Now, we are finally getting around to replacing the person who left in August, but only because the third person resigned...shortly after we were told we wouldn't be replacing the August departee. And now we may not be replacing the two other people we're supposed to get? WTF??? It really was all I could do not to jump up and yell, "What the f*ck are you trying to do to us, kill us all??? Dash any hope of this department getting any better? Because you sure are doing one heck of a job, if that's the case." I mean, really...I know that they *might* replace all of the people who've left, but the fact that they're even considering not replacing everyone just blows my mind...especially when we're being asked to take on yet another type of project in addition to the ones we're struggling to keep up with now.

The morale of this department is already at the bottom of the ocean. We're all overworked. We keep losing people because of the workload and morale. We could really use some hope around here, and having a full complement of project managers would sure help! We aren't just machines with certain levels of capacity...we are human beings with emotions and limits. Heck, even machines have limits...and they break down when they're asked to do too much. Humans are much more fragile, but I'm not sure if our manager realizes that.

I mean, she told me I was getting "needlessly upset" by this news. If she actually understood us when we tell her about our huge workloads and general depression over the circumstances this department is facing, maybe she wouldn't see it as needless. Just because she is unemotional does not mean my getting upset is needless. Just because she thinks it's needless does not make it needless. If they were actually going to do something to help this department, then it would be. But from what I can tell, they don't listen to us even when we jump up and down and scream in front of them that we're overworked and PISSED OFF about how we're treated! They don't do anything about it when people leave because of it!

God, I hope this thing with the vendor works out (them opening an office locally). I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. I've actually started a list of complaints to go to HR about, since it seems they want details on my manager. Well, I have them, and they're going to learn everything they want to know first-hand. I'll make dead sure of it.