As my friend and roommate Karen said to me tonight, "It's been a hell of a semester, hasn't it?" Indeed, it has. I've moved, I've started taking better care of myself financially, and I'm managing to hang on in an increasingly insane work environment. I'm getting closer and closer to Robert all the time (almost six months later, and we're still giggly teenagers). As of tomorrow evening at midnight, the semester will end. All work will have been submitted and I'll await the final results. I don't think this will be another 4.0 semester, but if I make B's, that's fine with me. In grad school, you can't graduate with honors anyway.
I'm looking forward to a nice break -- just in time to go Christmas shopping! I have a membership to Amazon Prime, so I can order stuff and get 'free' 2-day shipping.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Reflections on Self-Revelations
Watching the video of Meredith Baxter coming out to Matt Lauer on the Today show made me think back to when I discovered I was gay. Really gay.
I was about 22, I think, and while I had been around sexually for a short time, I couldn't just admit to myself that I was gay. Part of it was shyness and part of it was a conflict with my upbringing. I grew up in the Southern Baptist church and had always been taught that homosexuality was just wrong and one of the most abominable of sins, so I really had a difficult time reconciling what I had grown up with and the dilemma I faced at that time. For anyone who is gay and who has come out, this isn't anything new. And even though I hadn't gone to church in a short while, I still felt strong ties to church, particularly when it came to the big stuff. But I finally had a true heart-to-heart with myself and did some soul searching. Ultimately, I came to believe (and still do) that God would want me to find love and happiness during my lifetime, and that romantic love and happiness would most likely be found with another man.
Speaking of church.... Eventually, my mom outed me to her entire church, and I felt comfortable attending a wedding recently with my sweet Robert. Everyone knew who he was, and he was treated well and made to feel welcome. We even held hands in the back pew!
I had been on dates with women, and while they were generally pleasant, they were awkward and uncomfortable in many respects. I never got beyond a good night kiss. But when I first went out with a guy, everything snapped into focus. I knew that this was how it was supposed to be. It felt truly right for the first time. After that point, I only went out with guys. A gay co-worker took me to my first gay club, and I made out with a gorgeous guy directly under a spotlight.
Cristy was the first friend I told. She knew, but waited patiently for me to tell her, and she was very happy for me. I had met my first boyfriend (we dated for an amazing two weeks during my senior year of college) and I include him on my dating resume because he was a really cute guy and he was the first guy who told me he loved me. And shortly after graduating, I met my first partner, and we were together for almost seven years.
I can't speak for Meredith Baxter, but I'm sure she feels like an extraordinary weight has been lifted. She made a late discovery about her homosexuality, but as individuals, we're all on different wavelengths and timetables, and late discoveries are not uncommon. The main thing is that she did come to terms with that aspect of herself. I'm glad that she has come out and I'm glad to see that she seems extremely happy.
I was about 22, I think, and while I had been around sexually for a short time, I couldn't just admit to myself that I was gay. Part of it was shyness and part of it was a conflict with my upbringing. I grew up in the Southern Baptist church and had always been taught that homosexuality was just wrong and one of the most abominable of sins, so I really had a difficult time reconciling what I had grown up with and the dilemma I faced at that time. For anyone who is gay and who has come out, this isn't anything new. And even though I hadn't gone to church in a short while, I still felt strong ties to church, particularly when it came to the big stuff. But I finally had a true heart-to-heart with myself and did some soul searching. Ultimately, I came to believe (and still do) that God would want me to find love and happiness during my lifetime, and that romantic love and happiness would most likely be found with another man.
Speaking of church.... Eventually, my mom outed me to her entire church, and I felt comfortable attending a wedding recently with my sweet Robert. Everyone knew who he was, and he was treated well and made to feel welcome. We even held hands in the back pew!
I had been on dates with women, and while they were generally pleasant, they were awkward and uncomfortable in many respects. I never got beyond a good night kiss. But when I first went out with a guy, everything snapped into focus. I knew that this was how it was supposed to be. It felt truly right for the first time. After that point, I only went out with guys. A gay co-worker took me to my first gay club, and I made out with a gorgeous guy directly under a spotlight.
Cristy was the first friend I told. She knew, but waited patiently for me to tell her, and she was very happy for me. I had met my first boyfriend (we dated for an amazing two weeks during my senior year of college) and I include him on my dating resume because he was a really cute guy and he was the first guy who told me he loved me. And shortly after graduating, I met my first partner, and we were together for almost seven years.
I can't speak for Meredith Baxter, but I'm sure she feels like an extraordinary weight has been lifted. She made a late discovery about her homosexuality, but as individuals, we're all on different wavelengths and timetables, and late discoveries are not uncommon. The main thing is that she did come to terms with that aspect of herself. I'm glad that she has come out and I'm glad to see that she seems extremely happy.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A Night at the Opera
I'm fooling you with this post. Opera as an art form is lovely; I have yet to attend one, but I plan to do so one day. But this post focuses on the Opera web browser. Opera has been around for a while. It is used in a mini-format on many smartphones. I hate Internet Explorer. I use it at work only under duress. It takes forever to load (both on startup and loading web pages) and as is the case with most computer users, I prefer browsers to load quickly, particularly when I'm paying for DSL. I've been using Google Chrome a lot, but it has been behaving oddly lately. I downloaded Opera, and off I went. The pages load quickly, and the browser has a minimum of toolbars to maximize screen space. I'd recommend Opera if you haven't checked it out. There may be some websites that don't work well with Opera, just as there are those that don't work well with Firefox or Chrome or Safari.
Life in Fab-Euless!
Can I just say this? I'm loving the new place. Karen and I are having a high old time in Fab-Euless. I can't claim credit for the pun on Euless, the charming burg where I now reside. There's a sign posted outside the rental office that proclaims that the apartment complex won an award from some city commerce office about best landscaping or something like that. But they used the word Fab-Euless and it has stuck. Before moving here, I was familiar only with the less-fresh parts of Euless, but I've discovered that I'm in a quite lovely area of town. We're in the Bear Creek area where there are lots of parks and lots of beautiful TREES. And the best part of all: my work commute has been cut in half!
One thing that I'm working hard on is getting my finances under control. When I was with my ex, he did the finances because he seemed to manage that better than I did. However, when I moved here and started adding up credit card balances and payments, I noticed the total was stratospheric. There was no way I'd be able to make those payments. I really didn't have a good grasp on what my financial picture was like, and I can't blame Jeff for that. What happened, I think, is that we went from a dual-income couple to a single-income couple, and we didn't make the necessary adjustments. And I didn't know what the hell was going on. But I can't cry over that now; it would be pointless. The problem has to be fixed. And I've taken definite steps to do that. I'm taking charge of my life again, and I feel empowered. Jeff was very controlling in many ways, and I should have spoken up, put my foot down, or whatever so the insanity could have been brought to a halt.
Fortunately, I'm surrounded by people now who value living a simpler life. My roommate Karen has been living on a tight budget for years and can squeeze a nickel until the buffalo poops, as the saying goes. My parents have lived simply for years and therefore they were able to adjust to their retirement and reduced income with little or no drama. Life just continues for them and they are better off than many others. And finally, my sweet love Robert has shown me how it doesn't matter what we do or where we go, we're doing okay as long as we can spend time together and enjoy loving each other. Would he rather go to a trendy restaurant and spend $150 on dinner or eat at a local favorite for $20? The local favorite would probably win unless it's a special occasion and we have the money. Karen and I buy our groceries at SuperTarget or a SuperWalmart because, quite simply, we can get the items cheaper. We also supplement our purchases at stores like Dollar Tree and Dollar General. And I'm really thinking hard about every dollar I spend and asking myself if I really need to spend the money and if I'm spending it the best way I can. Why spend $6 for a toilet brush when I can get one for a dollar?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Final Lewisville Days
Today is September 8. Do you know what this means? Before you say, "Well, Scott, it generally means that it's not quite September 9 but no longer September 7," I will throw another date into the discussion. September 26. That is the date that I am scheduled to move from Lewisville to Euless. Sheesh, there's a lot to do between now and then. I have moved many times over the years, and one thing is consistent: it's never, ever fun. I need to lay my hands on some boxes to start the packing process. I found a place online where I can get about a good set of boxes for about $80. Fortunately, I'm not moving an entire apartment. I do have the movers set up. I've never used them before, but they had some good Google ratings, so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. For the first time, I'm paying hourly rates for movers. Usually I do one of those 'move by the piece' jobs. My move is costing me about $277, before gratuities. That's really not bad at all for a three-hour move. And it shouldn't take them three hours to move me from a ground floor apartment in Lewisville to one in Euless that is less than thirty minutes away.
It is odd to think that in just a few weeks, I will no longer be driving to and from Lewisville. This will cut my work commute in half. I am happy that Karen and I found a place that is still centrally located so we can get just about anywhere fairly quickly. It's close to the airport, but after growing up in White Settlement, plane noise doesn't bother me anymore. I've been driving back and forth from Lewisville for just over five years now, so getting home in 30 minutes (or less, usually) will be a real treat.
Maybe I'll have an extra 30-60 minutes for blog entries! :)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Health Care - What's Going To Happen?
Gosh, I wish I knew.
I heard a story on the McNeil-Lehrer news hour tonight on the way home where senior citizens were being told that they all were going to be visited by representatives of the government to be asked how they wanted to die. Now, to me, this sounds like undiluted horsepoop for several reasons. First, how would the government have so many representatives to fulfill this task. Second, would the same rule that we have to abide by when talking to government representatives (ask three times and see if you get the same answer) apply in reverse? And third, it's just plain ridiculous.
One of the stories I've heard floating around is that you should get more input in how you want your long-term care to be managed if you have a terminal illness. If that's a true story, I think it's a good idea. Because I would want hospice care. My grandmother suffered a stroke in 2003, and when it was determined that she would not be getting any better, she was transferred to a hospice facility (this one was inside Baylor-All Saints Fort Worth) where she (and my family) received wonderful care during a very difficult time. It barely seemed like a hospital at all, and the nurses were there to make sure that not only was my grandmother able to face her final days with as little discomfort as possible, but that my family had the support necessary to deal with this impending loss. I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my days on life support.
At one time, I thought that socialized medicine would be the way to go, but now I don't think it's the best option. I've heard reports from other countries where government-run health care doesn't necessarily equal quality health care for all.
Can they identify why the health care costs keep rising here and why it is so hard for so many adults and families to afford even basic health care coverage? My brother, for instance, works full time at his job in retail. I'm not sure what he makes now, but I know it's a struggle for him sometimes, and retail jobs do not like you to work overtime. He is having to really look at the coverage offered and the costs involved to see if it's something he can afford, because the coverage is very expensive and would take a big chunk out of his hourly wage. Fortunately, Shane is only 36 and is healthy, but I know he wants to have some kind of health coverage. We all want him to do this. Part of the issue is that his company is not such a large employer that they can command such low benefits for their employees. Small businesses -- at least, the ones that offer benefits -- really struggle to provide this for their employees.
One of my Facebook friends posted some thoughts about letting the free market help contain costs. Sounds like an interesting idea. The power of choice is mighty. In today's economy, so many businesses are struggling because there's so much competition for the reduced amount of dollars floating around. Would insurance companies be fighting to hang on to their customer base? And for that matter, would doctors?
I heard a story on the McNeil-Lehrer news hour tonight on the way home where senior citizens were being told that they all were going to be visited by representatives of the government to be asked how they wanted to die. Now, to me, this sounds like undiluted horsepoop for several reasons. First, how would the government have so many representatives to fulfill this task. Second, would the same rule that we have to abide by when talking to government representatives (ask three times and see if you get the same answer) apply in reverse? And third, it's just plain ridiculous.
One of the stories I've heard floating around is that you should get more input in how you want your long-term care to be managed if you have a terminal illness. If that's a true story, I think it's a good idea. Because I would want hospice care. My grandmother suffered a stroke in 2003, and when it was determined that she would not be getting any better, she was transferred to a hospice facility (this one was inside Baylor-All Saints Fort Worth) where she (and my family) received wonderful care during a very difficult time. It barely seemed like a hospital at all, and the nurses were there to make sure that not only was my grandmother able to face her final days with as little discomfort as possible, but that my family had the support necessary to deal with this impending loss. I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my days on life support.
At one time, I thought that socialized medicine would be the way to go, but now I don't think it's the best option. I've heard reports from other countries where government-run health care doesn't necessarily equal quality health care for all.
Can they identify why the health care costs keep rising here and why it is so hard for so many adults and families to afford even basic health care coverage? My brother, for instance, works full time at his job in retail. I'm not sure what he makes now, but I know it's a struggle for him sometimes, and retail jobs do not like you to work overtime. He is having to really look at the coverage offered and the costs involved to see if it's something he can afford, because the coverage is very expensive and would take a big chunk out of his hourly wage. Fortunately, Shane is only 36 and is healthy, but I know he wants to have some kind of health coverage. We all want him to do this. Part of the issue is that his company is not such a large employer that they can command such low benefits for their employees. Small businesses -- at least, the ones that offer benefits -- really struggle to provide this for their employees.
One of my Facebook friends posted some thoughts about letting the free market help contain costs. Sounds like an interesting idea. The power of choice is mighty. In today's economy, so many businesses are struggling because there's so much competition for the reduced amount of dollars floating around. Would insurance companies be fighting to hang on to their customer base? And for that matter, would doctors?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Becoming a Eulessite?
This weekend, Karen and I went looking at apartments, and we stumbled across a very nice complex in Euless. Previously, I had never really given Euless a sustained thought. I drive through it every day on the way to work, and I remember the old Hiney Wine commercials from the early 80s. Hiney Wine was supposed to have been, um, bottled in Euless. At least, that's what I recall from the radio commercials. But come September, unless something goes awry in the application process, I will move to Euless and bid adieu to Lewisville. Fortunately, this complex is right at 360 & 183, so it should be an easy drive for me to get to Garland to spend time with Robert. And it should cut my work commute in half.
Update: The application was approved. We take possession of the apartment on 9/26. :)
Update: The application was approved. We take possession of the apartment on 9/26. :)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Love via Facebook
OK, I'm just as surprised at this as anyone. But I fell in love via Facebook, and I'm damn glad that it happened. And I'm also surprised that I'm like a giggly teenager whenever my boyfriend and I exchange text messages throughout the day. Life is full of surprises -- some are horrible, and some are wonderful, and some of them are middle of the road. This happens to be one of the wonderful ones.
Robert and I actually met on Facebook several months ago. I had created a Facebook profile, and a doctoral student from Texas Women's University had spotted me and began to pursue me. He was a nice guy who was incredibly intelligent, but he was coming on in such an intense way that I immediately began to backtrack. I was checking out his Facebook friends list and noticed Robert. I thought Robert seemed like a nice guy who was really damn cute, so I sent him a request to add me as a friend. Robert accepted, and we began chatting with each other. The person who had contacted me from TWU eventually got frustrated with both Robert and me and de-friended us both, but Robert and I stayed in touch. I found that he was great to talk to, and that we shared many common interests. After a while, I started to flirt a bit with him, and he seemed like he was responsive to that. After all, I still had a little crush on him. Finally, I worked up the nerve to just ask him out, and he said that he'd love to meet me. We went out on June 17 and had an incredible evening. We had some follow-up dates very quickly thereafter that confirmed my initial feeling, which was that I had found someone truly special. Fortunately, he felt the same way about me, and we've begun spending as much time together as we can.
He is a sweet, wonderful guy who is beyond cute, and I'm looking forward to seeing where this adventure is going to take us. I'm not seeing anyone else besides Robert, nor do I want to. I've canceled all of my subscriptions to dating sites. He has captured my heart. This all happened very quickly, I must say, but we're both completely fine with this.
Now that I'm thinking about him again, I'm turning into a giggly teenager again. I didn't really get to do this when I actually was a teenager, so I'm enjoying it now.
Monday, June 8, 2009
So, you're 39?
When my mom called me on Friday to wish me a happy birthday, I could hear my dad in the background saying, "Tell him he's working on 40." Well, I guess I am. Though I prefer to say that I'm sitting under the shade tree of 40. I'm saying the same thing, but taking the Southern prerogative of expressing it a bit more lyrically. Today, I went to my aunt's and uncle's for a family cookout. She and I have birthdays that are fairly close together, and I think we had some other events to celebrate, but it really doesn't matter too much. What matters is that we got to eat hamburgers and hotdogs off the grill! And Mom made me a birthday cake! How cool is that??
Actually, I think 39 is an interesting age to be. I'm still young enough to have goals and dreams, yet I'm old enough to have -- hopefully -- learned from my past mistakes. I have a friend who turns 56 this year. She and I are most likely going to be roommates come September, but to me, she seems ageless because she's always up for new experiences and is always looking to broaden her horizons. I hope I can age that gracefully. They say life begins at 40. But isn't 60 the new 40? So, do I have to wait for 60 for my life to begin? I think life begins when you want it to begin.
I'll have to get used to saying I'm 39 now, after finally getting used to saying I was 38. Do you know what I think? I think it would be really cool to get in awesome shape and say that I was in the best shape of my life in my 40s. By the time I'm 40, I will have finished one graduate degree and possibly started another one, so I'm expanding my mind as well as my student loan debt.
So, I guess the point to all of this reflective mish-mash is that I'm perfectly okay with turning 39. And I'll be okay with turning 40. I'm curious to see what's in store for me each year that I'm here.
Actually, I think 39 is an interesting age to be. I'm still young enough to have goals and dreams, yet I'm old enough to have -- hopefully -- learned from my past mistakes. I have a friend who turns 56 this year. She and I are most likely going to be roommates come September, but to me, she seems ageless because she's always up for new experiences and is always looking to broaden her horizons. I hope I can age that gracefully. They say life begins at 40. But isn't 60 the new 40? So, do I have to wait for 60 for my life to begin? I think life begins when you want it to begin.
I'll have to get used to saying I'm 39 now, after finally getting used to saying I was 38. Do you know what I think? I think it would be really cool to get in awesome shape and say that I was in the best shape of my life in my 40s. By the time I'm 40, I will have finished one graduate degree and possibly started another one, so I'm expanding my mind as well as my student loan debt.
So, I guess the point to all of this reflective mish-mash is that I'm perfectly okay with turning 39. And I'll be okay with turning 40. I'm curious to see what's in store for me each year that I'm here.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Stingy With Napkins
If I were Greta Garbo and if I were visiting my local Subway sandwich shop for my early afternoon sandwich of choice, I might say something along the lines of:
"Gimme a turkey sandvich...
Extra napkins on the side...
And don' be stingy, babee"
Movie buffs will recall Garbo's first words on-screen in Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie (1930).Extra napkins on the side...
And don' be stingy, babee"
I don't know if it's a 'think green' thing, or a 'think cheap' thing, but I've been displeased to note that fast-food places have become rather stingy when it comes to napkins. I don't know about you, but I need a few napkins when I eat some meals. For instance, when I get my favorite turkey breast sandwich from Subway, it invariably falls apart at some point and the light mayonnaise tends to get everywhere. When I eat at the new Subway downtown, they give out one napkin per order unless you specifically ask for more, and you can only get them from the people at the counter. One time, I was feeling rather reckless, and right when I was handed my change at the Subway counter, I reached around past the cashier and snatched an extra napkin or two, and I thought she was going to slap my hand. She had that look in her eye and I swear I saw her hand twitch. I've noticed the same thing at Taco Bell. They'll give you an entire sack full of hot sauce, yet just one or two napkins. And the napkins and sauce are in their own little plastic sack, as though they were prepackaged so employees couldn't get napkin-crazy and just pass them out willy-nilly. Maybe it is a good way for them to cut costs, but jeez... would one or two extra napkins really hurt anyone? If so, I think they should make the food less sloppy.
A Return to Silliness
To celebrate my dear friend Cristy's birthday -- not that she asked me to do this -- but I'm going to return to silly, entertaining blog posts wherever possible. I've lot some of my zing with this blog and I'd like to get it back. So, hold on to your socks!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Happy Memorial Day
I'm going to make this post short and sweet, since I've seen so many other posts in a similar vein, but here's a big warm salute to all veterans, past and present, who have sacrificed their time, their energy, their abilities, and unfortunately, their lives, for the safety of all Americans. I give thanks not only to you, but to your families as well. My father was in the Air Force (got out just in time to avoid going to Vietnam) and several of my uncles were in other branches of the service. My former partner is a veteran, and if he was any other kind of linguist besides Russian, he might have been called back into service at any point.
I remember when Desert Storm began, and I was working retail at Levitz Furniture. The day of the first airstrike, I was manning the sales counter, and an older couple came up to pay for their purchase. The man looked at me closely and said, "Son, you'd better get ready. You may be called up to go over there." I'm sure my eyes got huge at that, since I hadn't really thought that much about it, but if a draft was called up, I would have had to go. I hope that I could have made that same sacrifice with the same grace and courage as so many others have.
Transitions
I've been in a wistful mood today. I've met someone whom I think is a serious dating contender, and he's definitely interested. When I got home from my second date with him, I spoke briefly with Jeff and discovered that he had a date for tonight. It made me pause a moment and reflect on how our lives have changed and how we're both moving on, even though we're still temporarily tied together financially. I found myself remembering the early days of my relationship with Jeff, and the time when he first captured my heart. And I guess because I'm going through this process again with another man, it has made me wistful and, yes, a bit sentimental. In September, we'll both go our separate ways, but I know that I will always fondly look back on my time with Jeff, and I learned a lot from him. He probably does not have nearly the same view of me, but maybe that will come with time. Or maybe not. In September, I'm sure I'll be wistful again as we take that final step and split up our possessions for real (right now, it's all essentially a theory, since everything is still in the apartment). I'm moving in with a friend in September (not with a boyfriend) and I think that is a wonderful thing. We can help each other heal and be strong, and I can truly rediscover who I am and get back to the things I love to do.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
It's Not the Swine Flu!
I woke up Friday feeling under the weather, yet I really don't think it's the Swine Flu. I don't think it's any kind of flu, really. It's a minor chest cold with the unwelcome side effect of conjunctivitis (better known as pink eye). I've been using antibiotic drops and I'm starting to see the white of my left eye again. I'm actually feeling pretty good now. I'll be going out to the Settlement tomorrow to see Mums and Daddums.
I started feeling some cold symptoms several days ago and started swabbing my nose with Zicam. I think that's why this cold has taken on such a bizarre form and has lasted such a short amount of time. I heartily recommend Zicam swabs and always keep them on hand. They're so easy to use -- just break them open and gently swab the inside of each nostril with them. If you're like me and loathe the taste of Cold-Eeze, then Zicam is the way to go. Zicam, orange juice, and rest are the holy trinity for my cold treatments.
But some wiseacres (you know who you are) have been suggesting I might have the Swine Flu. But I haven't had any flu symptoms. No fever. No aches. Just minor cold symptoms -- and this farkakta pinkeye.
I started feeling some cold symptoms several days ago and started swabbing my nose with Zicam. I think that's why this cold has taken on such a bizarre form and has lasted such a short amount of time. I heartily recommend Zicam swabs and always keep them on hand. They're so easy to use -- just break them open and gently swab the inside of each nostril with them. If you're like me and loathe the taste of Cold-Eeze, then Zicam is the way to go. Zicam, orange juice, and rest are the holy trinity for my cold treatments.
But some wiseacres (you know who you are) have been suggesting I might have the Swine Flu. But I haven't had any flu symptoms. No fever. No aches. Just minor cold symptoms -- and this farkakta pinkeye.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Loving the Netbook!
I felt compelled to part with some money. About $350 worth. I'm not sure why, but I felt like I needed to sink that much into an electronic gadget. I had narrowed it down to a choice between Amazon's Kindle 2 and a netbook. Since I felt that I would get more overall usage out of a netbook, that's the one I went with, and I'm glad I did. At first glance, I wondered how I would use the thing, since I already had a perfectly good laptop. But it's not a tiny laptop. It has a 17" screen and while it can be moved around without too much difficulty, it can get rather bulky.
I had set $350 as my limit, and I did some research, but ultimately decided to support my company and buy an Acer Aspire One at the Shack. Now they are carrying them in red, which would be totally cool, but sapphire blue isn't too shabby either. It has a 10" screen and weighs about 3 pounds with the battery attached. Netbooks are not designed as performance powerhouses. Most of them use a slower Intel Atom processor that is tuned more for longer battery life than number- and graphic-crunching blazing performance. It came with 1 GB of RAM and a 160 GB hard drive, and it had Windows XP preinstalled. I had forgotten how well Windows XP actually worked, since I've been working on a Vista notebook for almost a year now. Netbooks really can't run Vista too well, since Vista is really a memory hog. Windows XP runs just fine on 1 - 1.5 GB of RAM, and you can make up the difference by using a flash drive and using the Windows ReadyBoost feature. And the power-saving processor doesn't disappoint on the netbook; I've been getting about 6-7 hours on a full charge, while my laptop could probably give me about three hours.
So, I'm using the netbook as my email/quick web browsing/IM chatting device while I do the heavier stuff on the laptop. Thus far, the netbook seems to be working well. The keyboard isn't all that small, and the screen quality is terrific. It's quick to power up and easy to carry around with me. I can lie in bed with the netbook propped up against my legs, and I can clearly make out what's on screen. I had plans of taking it to meetings with me at work, but it's difficult to get on the wireless network at work, so I've given up trying. If I travel again at some point and want to take a computer with me, I'll drop this little beauty in my bag. The only thing that is a slight inconvenience is that it has no optical drive, and I haven't felt strongly enough about it to justify spending another $100 on an external DVD/CD drive. It has 3 USB ports and a memory card reader, and I can connect it to a larger monitor if I wish.
I don't know how comfortable I would be using a netbook as my sole computer, but it's certainly a good supplement if you have a desktop or a larger laptop that you don't want to carry around with you. I reach for the netbook first, generally, since I can power it up more quickly and check my work email & schedule before I make the drive to Fort Worth. I can also take it with me to Starbucks, Border's, and other places with Wi-Fi hotspots.
But if you're looking for a second computer and you don't want to spend $500+ on one, I'd recommend one of these little babies. It really is such a growing niche in computers right now and there is such a wide variety of them out there. You can get one for about $79 (smaller netbook with 8.9" screen) if you sign up for an AT&T data plan, but those plans can quickly become expensive, especially if you go over the 5 GB per month data limit.
On a similar note, I'd recommend checking out FotoFlexer as an online photo editor. It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of something like Photoshop, but most of us don't need all of those bells and whistles. We just need to be able to crop, resize, sharpen, or remove red-eye. FotoFlexer does all this and also has some neat special effects. I used it to add the border around the photo at the bottom of this post. By the way, that's a photo of my desk with the netbook and the laptop side by side.
I had set $350 as my limit, and I did some research, but ultimately decided to support my company and buy an Acer Aspire One at the Shack. Now they are carrying them in red, which would be totally cool, but sapphire blue isn't too shabby either. It has a 10" screen and weighs about 3 pounds with the battery attached. Netbooks are not designed as performance powerhouses. Most of them use a slower Intel Atom processor that is tuned more for longer battery life than number- and graphic-crunching blazing performance. It came with 1 GB of RAM and a 160 GB hard drive, and it had Windows XP preinstalled. I had forgotten how well Windows XP actually worked, since I've been working on a Vista notebook for almost a year now. Netbooks really can't run Vista too well, since Vista is really a memory hog. Windows XP runs just fine on 1 - 1.5 GB of RAM, and you can make up the difference by using a flash drive and using the Windows ReadyBoost feature. And the power-saving processor doesn't disappoint on the netbook; I've been getting about 6-7 hours on a full charge, while my laptop could probably give me about three hours.
So, I'm using the netbook as my email/quick web browsing/IM chatting device while I do the heavier stuff on the laptop. Thus far, the netbook seems to be working well. The keyboard isn't all that small, and the screen quality is terrific. It's quick to power up and easy to carry around with me. I can lie in bed with the netbook propped up against my legs, and I can clearly make out what's on screen. I had plans of taking it to meetings with me at work, but it's difficult to get on the wireless network at work, so I've given up trying. If I travel again at some point and want to take a computer with me, I'll drop this little beauty in my bag. The only thing that is a slight inconvenience is that it has no optical drive, and I haven't felt strongly enough about it to justify spending another $100 on an external DVD/CD drive. It has 3 USB ports and a memory card reader, and I can connect it to a larger monitor if I wish.
I don't know how comfortable I would be using a netbook as my sole computer, but it's certainly a good supplement if you have a desktop or a larger laptop that you don't want to carry around with you. I reach for the netbook first, generally, since I can power it up more quickly and check my work email & schedule before I make the drive to Fort Worth. I can also take it with me to Starbucks, Border's, and other places with Wi-Fi hotspots.
But if you're looking for a second computer and you don't want to spend $500+ on one, I'd recommend one of these little babies. It really is such a growing niche in computers right now and there is such a wide variety of them out there. You can get one for about $79 (smaller netbook with 8.9" screen) if you sign up for an AT&T data plan, but those plans can quickly become expensive, especially if you go over the 5 GB per month data limit.
On a similar note, I'd recommend checking out FotoFlexer as an online photo editor. It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of something like Photoshop, but most of us don't need all of those bells and whistles. We just need to be able to crop, resize, sharpen, or remove red-eye. FotoFlexer does all this and also has some neat special effects. I used it to add the border around the photo at the bottom of this post. By the way, that's a photo of my desk with the netbook and the laptop side by side.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Late, Great Beatrice Arthur
Today is a sad day. We lost a tremendous talent. Beatrice Arthur passed away today from cancer, according to an AP news story. She was 86. I have always adored Bea Arthur. I used to make the joke that if "Bea Arthur didn't sing it, it's not on my iPod." Of course, that was just a slightly facetious allusion to my fondness for show tunes and standards. But while Bea Arthur did make many notable stage appearances, including the original productions of Threepenny Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, and Mame, most of us know her today from one of her groundbreaking television sitcoms. She will always be known as Maude Finlay on Norman Lear's Maude and as Dorothy Zbornak (later Hollingsworth) on Susan Harris's The Golden Girls. Did anyone have a greater facility with a one-liner, or have sharper comic timing than Beatrice Arthur?
Here are some YouTube clips I found.
What a talent!
Here are some YouTube clips I found.
What a talent!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Catching Up
I've been a bad blogger lately, as my friend Cristy will surely tell you. It's been difficult to sit down and write. My mind hasn't been in that mode lately. I've been caught up in a mad whirlwind of online dating. I've met some very interesting guys, most of whom were very nice, and I made it with some of them past the second or third date. I've got to remember that now is not the time to find myself a true boyfriend, since I'm still dealing with an awkward living situation here. I can't bring anyone over (Jeff has specifically asked me not to) and I think that's best. I mean, how insensitive would it be for me to bring a guy over and get intimate with him in the bed that I used to share with Jeff, while Jeff is still living in the house? Pretty damn insensitive, I'd say.
Not that Jeff and I have this sparkling, chummy relationship. He and I speak to each other only when absolutely necessary, and most of the time we pointedly ignore each other and stay out of each others' way. Personally, I think he could be a bit more cheerful, considering that I'm still supporting him, but maybe that's just me. I know this is not the best of situations by a long shot -- for either one of us -- so I'm trying to be patient and just not let things get to me here. Fortunately, I have my own room, which has really become a sanctuary for me. We've just got five months to go, so our goal is keep things civil, if not friendly.
So, I've met a few guys and I've struck some sparks here and there. I've met guys from all different career fields and walks of life, and their stories have been interesting, for the most part. Right now, I have about three guys who are possibilities. Each of these guys are different.
My preferred choice would be to just date (perhaps even exclusively) after a while, but I do not want to move in with someone right away. My lease is up in September and I have plans to move in with a friend. My friend Karen and I have pretty much decided that we're going to get a place together. I want to live in the Valley Ranch area. It's right off LBJ freeway and convenient to both Dallas and Fort Worth, and there is much to do there. I've never lived with a strictly platonic friend (except for Leah, and that doesn't really count since I was living with Jeff when she moved in), and I'm excited about it. Karen and I go way back. We met in 1994 or 1995 when she was with her long-term partner Gail and I was with my first boyfriend Steven, and we hit it off immediately. We were both with controlling, dominant partners and we clicked. When she and gail broke up in 2000, we reconnected. If I ever have a gay wedding, I'd like Karen to give me away since she's the gay friend I've known the longest. She and I get along very well, and in no time at all, we've got each other laughing hysterically. I'm excited, and so is Karen. We're already making plans and looking at the furniture each of us will bring into the apartment.
Work is a bit of a bear right now. We're being swamped with projects and we have such a small staff now. I'm certainly finding myself going to more meetings, and I invested in a dry-erase board to help me keep everything organized. We also use rapid-development tools like Articulate, which can do some pretty neat things with PowerPoint. (On a side note, PowerPoint 2007 is awesome!) I had two courses go out this week! Whew.
And that, gentle readers, is all I have to say for the night. I need to get into bed! Happy Thursday to all of you. Love, hugs, and decadent desserts! :)
Not that Jeff and I have this sparkling, chummy relationship. He and I speak to each other only when absolutely necessary, and most of the time we pointedly ignore each other and stay out of each others' way. Personally, I think he could be a bit more cheerful, considering that I'm still supporting him, but maybe that's just me. I know this is not the best of situations by a long shot -- for either one of us -- so I'm trying to be patient and just not let things get to me here. Fortunately, I have my own room, which has really become a sanctuary for me. We've just got five months to go, so our goal is keep things civil, if not friendly.
So, I've met a few guys and I've struck some sparks here and there. I've met guys from all different career fields and walks of life, and their stories have been interesting, for the most part. Right now, I have about three guys who are possibilities. Each of these guys are different.
My preferred choice would be to just date (perhaps even exclusively) after a while, but I do not want to move in with someone right away. My lease is up in September and I have plans to move in with a friend. My friend Karen and I have pretty much decided that we're going to get a place together. I want to live in the Valley Ranch area. It's right off LBJ freeway and convenient to both Dallas and Fort Worth, and there is much to do there. I've never lived with a strictly platonic friend (except for Leah, and that doesn't really count since I was living with Jeff when she moved in), and I'm excited about it. Karen and I go way back. We met in 1994 or 1995 when she was with her long-term partner Gail and I was with my first boyfriend Steven, and we hit it off immediately. We were both with controlling, dominant partners and we clicked. When she and gail broke up in 2000, we reconnected. If I ever have a gay wedding, I'd like Karen to give me away since she's the gay friend I've known the longest. She and I get along very well, and in no time at all, we've got each other laughing hysterically. I'm excited, and so is Karen. We're already making plans and looking at the furniture each of us will bring into the apartment.
Work is a bit of a bear right now. We're being swamped with projects and we have such a small staff now. I'm certainly finding myself going to more meetings, and I invested in a dry-erase board to help me keep everything organized. We also use rapid-development tools like Articulate, which can do some pretty neat things with PowerPoint. (On a side note, PowerPoint 2007 is awesome!) I had two courses go out this week! Whew.
And that, gentle readers, is all I have to say for the night. I need to get into bed! Happy Thursday to all of you. Love, hugs, and decadent desserts! :)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Fabulous Four: Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, and Connecticut
Two more states have legalized gay marriage: Iowa and Vermont. Vermont's state legislature overrode a governor's veto to pass the bill, while Iowa's Supreme Court decided that the ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. While I am thrilled beyond words for these signs of progress in both states, I'm especially encouraged by the victory in Iowa. This brings us to four states who have approved gay marriage: Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, and Connecticut. According to the Associated Press, four other states (Maine, New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire) have gay marriage bills in various stages of the legislative process.
For opponents of gay marriage, isn't it just a matter of time before it becomes a reality? It's not going to be tomorrow, and it's not going to be next year, but someday, it will come. I'm optimistic that I'll see it during my lifetime.
And while we're at it, forget about the Gay Agenda. Most gays couldn't tell you what the Gay Agenda was. I, for one, didn't receive that fax. Maybe the Gay Agenda was scrawled on a cocktail napkin or something, such as those wonderful MikWright napkins that say things like "I am woman, here me whore", and could be stuck to the heel of a Prada shoe. I do admit to being mildly concerned, since for all I know, I could have action items assigned to me that are obviously not getting done. I'd hate to lose my gay card. I get great discounts with it.
The gay marriage issue is hitting home in a big way. I carried my former partner on my medical insurance as a domestic partner, and he had some medical expenses that were covered. I was glad that we had the insurance, since he was a full-time college student who would have otherwise had no coverage. And let's face it --it's still pretty liberal in Texas for a Texas-based company to provide domestic partnership benefits, so RadioShack gets snaps for that. However, since the federal government does not officially recognize same-sex couples, neither does the IRS, so any claims paid on Jeff's behalf are considered additional taxable income for me.
For opponents of gay marriage, isn't it just a matter of time before it becomes a reality? It's not going to be tomorrow, and it's not going to be next year, but someday, it will come. I'm optimistic that I'll see it during my lifetime.
And while we're at it, forget about the Gay Agenda. Most gays couldn't tell you what the Gay Agenda was. I, for one, didn't receive that fax. Maybe the Gay Agenda was scrawled on a cocktail napkin or something, such as those wonderful MikWright napkins that say things like "I am woman, here me whore", and could be stuck to the heel of a Prada shoe. I do admit to being mildly concerned, since for all I know, I could have action items assigned to me that are obviously not getting done. I'd hate to lose my gay card. I get great discounts with it.
The gay marriage issue is hitting home in a big way. I carried my former partner on my medical insurance as a domestic partner, and he had some medical expenses that were covered. I was glad that we had the insurance, since he was a full-time college student who would have otherwise had no coverage. And let's face it --it's still pretty liberal in Texas for a Texas-based company to provide domestic partnership benefits, so RadioShack gets snaps for that. However, since the federal government does not officially recognize same-sex couples, neither does the IRS, so any claims paid on Jeff's behalf are considered additional taxable income for me.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Getting Close to the End
I discovered something interesting this week, gentle readers. This week was the first week of registration for the Summer and Fall terms, and I was disappointed to find that the final class I needed in my degree plan was already closed for the Fall term. Anyone who has gone to college knows how frustrating it is to watch and wait for that required class to finally appear on the class roster. However, it was being offered during the Summer term, so I grabbed it. I filled out my application for Summer Financial Aid (which consisted of telling UNT that I wanted it) and discovered another unpleasant truth. I had to take at least 4 graduate hours to receive the financial aid, and my class was only three hours. The only answer was to take another class. So now, I'll be taking six hours during the Summer term. I've avoided Summer classes as much as possible during school, but I figured I'd have to take some eventually. Minor bummer, but it has a happy ending. I double-checked my degree plan and it looks like I will have completed all of the hours necessary to graduate in August instead of December.
I'm strongly considering starting another graduate program right afterwards, though. I've always been curious about the Library Science program at UNT. Training is one of the first things to be cut when businesses have to trim budgets, and I'd like to have another feather in my cap. So, I'll see if I can get into the program in the Fall. If not, maybe I'll wait for the Spring term. I checked with Glenna (my former director) and she suggested I go for it. My current degree and a Library Sciences degree actually fit together pretty well, since more and more technology is being utilized in libraries.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Getting Raw
We all have our little quirks -- our little weirdities, if I may be so bold as to use a phrase out of the urban dictionary -- that make us individuals. Some of us like to sing in the shower, or clean the house to stripper music. This blog post is about the weird foods we like to eat. We all have them. Admit it. Some of you like that odd sandwich that you would make for yourself but never for anyone else. In the Janet Evanovich Plum series, Stephanie likes peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. I can't say that I have any desire to try that. However, I do like some of these culinary delights that could be construed by some as weird:
- Raw biscuit dough
- Mustard and pickle sandwiches (this is all I add to cheeseburgers)
- Scrambled egg and mayonnaise sandwich (add salt and pepper please)
- Black bean patties with a fried egg on top (don't judge - this is like a healthier Egg McMuffin)
- Club crackers dipped in Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (has to be the homemade stuff)
- Cream cheese right out of the package
- Lay's Potato Chips with dill pickle slices
These are just a few. I was inspired to write this and share my culinary secrets because tonight, I succumbed to my urge for raw biscuit dough. Jeff was making dessert and it had a topping made of crescent rolls. He made the topping and was going to throw away the rest. I snatched it out of his hand and gobbled it up, much to his astonishment. I was in heaven while he and Leah were backing slowly out of the kitchen. I love making monkey bread because I get to play with raw biscuit dough and occasionally treat myself to one of the wedges I've chopped up for the recipe. After all, I see that as the cook's prerogative.
What are some of your food quirks?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Splitting Up Possessions
Jeff seemed a bit on edge yesterday, but he finally came out with the reason why. He asked me if I would have time to go over the list of household possessions so we could split things up. I thought it was a bit soon, but September really isn't all that far away, so I agreed to go over the list with him. We spent a little over an hour going over all of the household possessions, many of which we had acquired during our relationship.
I'm glad we waited until now to do it, because we could keep our emotions out of it. I didn't have to get sentimental about the time we picked out those chairs or when he came across some gorgeous curtains or when we put together all of those bookshelves from IKEA. We could fairly dispassionately go down the list and split things up. All in all, I think it was amicable and fair. Each of us are going to be in pretty good shape when we go our separate ways.
The one thing that we could not really divide up fairly was the washer and dryer. It seems like we could (one takes the washer, the other takes the dryer, but they were bought as a matched set and in our peculiar gay minds, we wanted to leave them as a matched set) but in the end, I let him keep them. That's going to really be the only big expense I'll have. Jeff will have to get bedroom furniture, but I think that's his only big expense.
Otherwise, I'll have an entire apartment of furniture. Jeff's mom has the sofa I bought about ten years ago when my first long term relationship broke up, and it's still in excellent shape. She also has a tapestry chair of mine that was not only one of my favorites, but a favorite of everyone who has ever sat in it. If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "When you get rid of this chair, think of me," I could open up that Swiss bank account I've been thinking about. She no longer wants these items because Jeff and I have split up, so if I don't take them back, she'll either put them out at the curb or give them to charity. Frankly, I'd rather have them back, and to save the trouble of awkwardness with the rest of Jeff's family, I think she's going to bring them out to me. I'm getting the bedroom furniture, and Jeff's getting the more recent living room furniture we had picked out. I'm also getting all of our bathroom stuff (towels, accessories, etc.). As far as the kitchen goes, Jeff shared the pots and pans with me, so I will have to get just a set of dishes and cooking utensils. I will also have to get a vacuum cleaner.
Still, even though it was a pleasant conversation and it didn't get overly sentimental or sad, it is still the end of an era in some ways. I'm sure it will be more sad when the moving day finally comes. I don't know how often I'll see Jeff or Leah, but I hope we can stay in touch. I don't know if I'll be moving in with someone else (depends on what's going on with the dating situation) or moving into a place on my own, but either option will be fine. If I am moving on my own, I'm starting to think that I may not move back to Fort Worth after all. I may stay somewhere centrally located, such as the Valley Ranch area of Irving, where it's relatively easy to get to Fort Worth or Dallas.
Speaking of future events, I'm thinking about continuing my graduate studies after graduation. I'm going to look into Library Science. With the economy as it is, I think it would be prudent for me to add as many feathers to my cap as I can. I'd like to start the Library Science program in the Spring. That would give me two master's degrees. When corporate budgets get tight, one of the first things to go is the training department. There are not as many training jobs going around as they once were. Heck, there aren't as many jobs going around period. The job market here is extremely competitive. It's quite scary when you think about it. But there's no point in worrying about it until you have to.
I'm glad we waited until now to do it, because we could keep our emotions out of it. I didn't have to get sentimental about the time we picked out those chairs or when he came across some gorgeous curtains or when we put together all of those bookshelves from IKEA. We could fairly dispassionately go down the list and split things up. All in all, I think it was amicable and fair. Each of us are going to be in pretty good shape when we go our separate ways.
The one thing that we could not really divide up fairly was the washer and dryer. It seems like we could (one takes the washer, the other takes the dryer, but they were bought as a matched set and in our peculiar gay minds, we wanted to leave them as a matched set) but in the end, I let him keep them. That's going to really be the only big expense I'll have. Jeff will have to get bedroom furniture, but I think that's his only big expense.
Otherwise, I'll have an entire apartment of furniture. Jeff's mom has the sofa I bought about ten years ago when my first long term relationship broke up, and it's still in excellent shape. She also has a tapestry chair of mine that was not only one of my favorites, but a favorite of everyone who has ever sat in it. If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "When you get rid of this chair, think of me," I could open up that Swiss bank account I've been thinking about. She no longer wants these items because Jeff and I have split up, so if I don't take them back, she'll either put them out at the curb or give them to charity. Frankly, I'd rather have them back, and to save the trouble of awkwardness with the rest of Jeff's family, I think she's going to bring them out to me. I'm getting the bedroom furniture, and Jeff's getting the more recent living room furniture we had picked out. I'm also getting all of our bathroom stuff (towels, accessories, etc.). As far as the kitchen goes, Jeff shared the pots and pans with me, so I will have to get just a set of dishes and cooking utensils. I will also have to get a vacuum cleaner.
Still, even though it was a pleasant conversation and it didn't get overly sentimental or sad, it is still the end of an era in some ways. I'm sure it will be more sad when the moving day finally comes. I don't know how often I'll see Jeff or Leah, but I hope we can stay in touch. I don't know if I'll be moving in with someone else (depends on what's going on with the dating situation) or moving into a place on my own, but either option will be fine. If I am moving on my own, I'm starting to think that I may not move back to Fort Worth after all. I may stay somewhere centrally located, such as the Valley Ranch area of Irving, where it's relatively easy to get to Fort Worth or Dallas.
Speaking of future events, I'm thinking about continuing my graduate studies after graduation. I'm going to look into Library Science. With the economy as it is, I think it would be prudent for me to add as many feathers to my cap as I can. I'd like to start the Library Science program in the Spring. That would give me two master's degrees. When corporate budgets get tight, one of the first things to go is the training department. There are not as many training jobs going around as they once were. Heck, there aren't as many jobs going around period. The job market here is extremely competitive. It's quite scary when you think about it. But there's no point in worrying about it until you have to.
First Wine Bar Adventure
Last night, I went to a great wine bar in Addison. It's called Mercy, which takes its name not from the quality we would (or should) like to have in ourselves, but from the Roy Orbison song Pretty Woman. I had never been to a wine bar before. Mercy has a great atmosphere. The place has very subdued lighting and dark woods and textures. It's quiet, so you can actually hear the person with whom you're sharing a bottle of wine. My date and I put away a bottle of Pinot Blanc that was just fantastic. I think I may switch my allegiance from Chardonnay. Fortunately, both of us preferred white wine to red. The service was wonderful, and the food was just delicious. I had chicken with pesto sauce, while he had penne with chicken.
I met Josh on Match.com. Our date went fairly well, but I'm not sure how to gauge it. It was a fairly quick date; we were together for about two and a half hours. It wasn't like my first online date where it seemed like we couldn't get away from each other quickly enough. He said that his face was hard to read, and he's right. After leaving Mercy, we went elsewhere for dessert, and we had good conversation along the way. He seemed very tired, and I hope that I wasn't boring him. There was a quick goodnight kiss that I initiated. So, it could be a true first date where things are going to build slowly. But the more I think about it, that was probably our only date. If he called now, I'd be surprised. I guess the chemistry just wasn't there in person like it had been on the phone or online. That happens.
I met Josh on Match.com. Our date went fairly well, but I'm not sure how to gauge it. It was a fairly quick date; we were together for about two and a half hours. It wasn't like my first online date where it seemed like we couldn't get away from each other quickly enough. He said that his face was hard to read, and he's right. After leaving Mercy, we went elsewhere for dessert, and we had good conversation along the way. He seemed very tired, and I hope that I wasn't boring him. There was a quick goodnight kiss that I initiated. So, it could be a true first date where things are going to build slowly. But the more I think about it, that was probably our only date. If he called now, I'd be surprised. I guess the chemistry just wasn't there in person like it had been on the phone or online. That happens.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Online Dating
It has been almost nine years since I've played the dating game. And it's a bit odd now. I remember posting an ad on Yahoo personals and just picking guys out of the trees. Now, it's a bit more complicated. It's hard to get someone to make the first move. I've learned that when you use a service like Yahoo or Match.com, you don't fire off an email to introduce yourself to someone you'd like to meet. You use an 'icebreaker' or a 'wink.' I guess that's a low-key way of showing your interest. But I'm a writer at heart, so when I first signed onto Match.com and saw some interesting guys, I fired off some emails. Now, I'm back to using the winks.
My dating success? Not too bad, considering. I had an odd relationship, of sorts, with a really nice guy who truly piqued my curiosity. But he seems to have blown me off, and I'm not sure why. It's disappointing, because I really expected more from him, but life does go on. I'm talking to some other guys on Match.com, and oddly enough, the person they felt was a 100% match actually lives in White Settlement and works just a few blocks away from the TCC/RadioShack campus. Is it a small world or not?
Everyone... have a GREAT week! I'm hitting the hay.
My dating success? Not too bad, considering. I had an odd relationship, of sorts, with a really nice guy who truly piqued my curiosity. But he seems to have blown me off, and I'm not sure why. It's disappointing, because I really expected more from him, but life does go on. I'm talking to some other guys on Match.com, and oddly enough, the person they felt was a 100% match actually lives in White Settlement and works just a few blocks away from the TCC/RadioShack campus. Is it a small world or not?
Everyone... have a GREAT week! I'm hitting the hay.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Anonymous Rudeness Returns
Just as a general warning, for those who post rude comments on my blog and don't have the guts to identify themselves, your comments will be deleted.
However, I will respond to what you wrote and say merely that you are quite mistaken.
However, I will respond to what you wrote and say merely that you are quite mistaken.
Random Ramblings
I don't know that I have enough to share for a massive blog post on one subject, so I'll post some ramblings. I hope you'll enjoy them. :)
I went to do a spot of shopping yesterday since my pants are now getting a bit big for me (as opposed to me getting too big for mah britches), and I made a pleasant discovery that I'm almost down two waist sizes from the last time I bought pants. Now, I had been buying my pants a bit large anyway, so that's not such an earth-shattering victory, but I rewarded myself with a new pair of shoes from DSW. They fit perfectly. They are a great color and they look good (brown leather - with that 'broken in' look). And they were in the clearance area for 40% off. As far as I was concerned, it was meant to be.
Earlier this week, I received an email at work trumpeting "100 Free E-Learning Tools" for training departments with miniscule budgets. Since we just had some job cuts at work, it's obvious that we can't spend a lot of money right now. I thought this would be perfect! Turns out that the tools may be free, but the report that discusses them costs almost $300! Sheesh.
Today is going to be a day of homework, homework, homework. I had a date scheduled Saturday night (our third date) but he got very sick and he was miserable when he got home from being out of town. I could have used last night to be productive and get a head start on today. Do you think I did that? No! I played around online and stayed up until almost 2 AM. My mind just wasn't with it. I did try to unstop the drain in Leah's bathtub. She has very long hair and the drain is seriously clogged. I had some success, and then I scrubbed out her tub for her. Saturday night excitement!
My dear friend Francie has started her own blog! I look forward to following it and keeping up with her adventures.
Take care, everyone, and have a great week!
Postscript: Date has been rescheduled for this Friday! :-D
I went to do a spot of shopping yesterday since my pants are now getting a bit big for me (as opposed to me getting too big for mah britches), and I made a pleasant discovery that I'm almost down two waist sizes from the last time I bought pants. Now, I had been buying my pants a bit large anyway, so that's not such an earth-shattering victory, but I rewarded myself with a new pair of shoes from DSW. They fit perfectly. They are a great color and they look good (brown leather - with that 'broken in' look). And they were in the clearance area for 40% off. As far as I was concerned, it was meant to be.
Earlier this week, I received an email at work trumpeting "100 Free E-Learning Tools" for training departments with miniscule budgets. Since we just had some job cuts at work, it's obvious that we can't spend a lot of money right now. I thought this would be perfect! Turns out that the tools may be free, but the report that discusses them costs almost $300! Sheesh.
Today is going to be a day of homework, homework, homework. I had a date scheduled Saturday night (our third date) but he got very sick and he was miserable when he got home from being out of town. I could have used last night to be productive and get a head start on today. Do you think I did that? No! I played around online and stayed up until almost 2 AM. My mind just wasn't with it. I did try to unstop the drain in Leah's bathtub. She has very long hair and the drain is seriously clogged. I had some success, and then I scrubbed out her tub for her. Saturday night excitement!
My dear friend Francie has started her own blog! I look forward to following it and keeping up with her adventures.
Take care, everyone, and have a great week!
Postscript: Date has been rescheduled for this Friday! :-D
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Scott Hasn't Been Meandering Lately
I have shamefully neglected the blog lately because school has been a bit busy and because I've discovered how much fun Facebook can be. I promise that I will pay more attention to the blog and get back to doing some fun posts. I send big hugs to all who read The Meanderings of Scott and have not complained too much about the paucity of recent blog posts. I guess my hesitation is because I've had some really interesting things going on in my personal life lately and I want to see how things develop before I commit too much of them to a blog posting. So, please bear with me while I play my cards a bit close to the vest right now.
Does that make any sense, gentle readers?
Does that make any sense, gentle readers?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Fantastic Time in Fort Worth
Fort Worth was in full swing last night, let me tell you!
Last night, I had a wonderful time in Fort Worth. I had a date scheduled -- our second date -- and I really wanted it to be memorable. I fought heavy traffic to make it home, took a quick shower, changed clothes, and picked up my date for the evening. Fortunately, by the time I made it over to his house, the traffic had thinned out, and we got to Fort Worth in plenty of time for our 8:00 reservation at Ferre's. We actually got there a bit early and got seated, and we were able to take advantage of their prix fixe menu. The food was delicious. I had some of the most delicious crab cakes I've ever eaten, and the chilean sea bass on butternut squash risotto was just heavenly. My date had to send back his lamb chops because they were not cooked well enough, but that was the only hiccup at the restaurant. The restaurant made good on it (they were cooked correctly and he enjoyed them) and eventually comped us for it. We shared an order of white chocolate raspberry tiramisu for dessert. We each had two glasses of wine, but I couldn't finish my second glass because I was starting to get sleepy and I was the one who had to drive us home.
Afterwards, we decided to walk around Fort Worth and take in the sights. It was a bit chilly out, but not too cold to go for a good walk. I took him around Sundance Square and pointed out some of the restaurants and entertainment venues. It was fairly crowded downtown, but it wasn't filled with unruly throngs of people. We actually walked all the way over to the RadioShack campus so I could show him where I worked. We felt safe even walking by the jail, but we didn't tarry long. We walked back by the courthouse and the Worthington hotel.
Fort Worth had its crazy face on that night as well. We saw street ministers on several street corners. One particularly energetic one was standing across from Billy Miner's on Houston and 3rd and was yelling at pedestrians and passing cars about the coming of the Lord. My date was impressed because she had an entourage -- another woman was standing close to her with a large wooden cross. We thought about stopping and exchanging a kiss in front of her, but we were afraid it might send her into some kind of convulsive fit.
I got a brochure from one of the street corner ministers titled The Evil Tree: The Fall of America to Communism. I know that we're facing some major challenges in our country today, but I thought communism might be the least of our worries. This brochure tells a different tale. I've read through the brochure several times today and it really makes no sense at all. Apparently, way back in 1919, the communists hatched a plan to take over the world, and we're just playing into their hands, and it's about time that we woke up and smelled the proverbial coffee. One of the tactics suggested in 1919 was to distract the country by focusing their ambitions on sports, pornography, plays, and other trivialities. When I think of communism, I certainly don't think about sports, plays, or pornography. I think of Stalin, Chairman Mao, and Fidel Castro. I think of factories, long lines for food, and the KGB. The societies of communist Russia, China, and Cuba do not sound like places where they have a lot of time for trivialities like sports, plays, or especially pornography.
By the time we finished our walk, I was revived by the night air, so I felt safe driving back to Dallas. It was an extremely memorable evening: my date was charming, handsome, and fun to be with, and I hope it all can happen again soon.
Last night, I had a wonderful time in Fort Worth. I had a date scheduled -- our second date -- and I really wanted it to be memorable. I fought heavy traffic to make it home, took a quick shower, changed clothes, and picked up my date for the evening. Fortunately, by the time I made it over to his house, the traffic had thinned out, and we got to Fort Worth in plenty of time for our 8:00 reservation at Ferre's. We actually got there a bit early and got seated, and we were able to take advantage of their prix fixe menu. The food was delicious. I had some of the most delicious crab cakes I've ever eaten, and the chilean sea bass on butternut squash risotto was just heavenly. My date had to send back his lamb chops because they were not cooked well enough, but that was the only hiccup at the restaurant. The restaurant made good on it (they were cooked correctly and he enjoyed them) and eventually comped us for it. We shared an order of white chocolate raspberry tiramisu for dessert. We each had two glasses of wine, but I couldn't finish my second glass because I was starting to get sleepy and I was the one who had to drive us home.
Afterwards, we decided to walk around Fort Worth and take in the sights. It was a bit chilly out, but not too cold to go for a good walk. I took him around Sundance Square and pointed out some of the restaurants and entertainment venues. It was fairly crowded downtown, but it wasn't filled with unruly throngs of people. We actually walked all the way over to the RadioShack campus so I could show him where I worked. We felt safe even walking by the jail, but we didn't tarry long. We walked back by the courthouse and the Worthington hotel.
Fort Worth had its crazy face on that night as well. We saw street ministers on several street corners. One particularly energetic one was standing across from Billy Miner's on Houston and 3rd and was yelling at pedestrians and passing cars about the coming of the Lord. My date was impressed because she had an entourage -- another woman was standing close to her with a large wooden cross. We thought about stopping and exchanging a kiss in front of her, but we were afraid it might send her into some kind of convulsive fit.
I got a brochure from one of the street corner ministers titled The Evil Tree: The Fall of America to Communism. I know that we're facing some major challenges in our country today, but I thought communism might be the least of our worries. This brochure tells a different tale. I've read through the brochure several times today and it really makes no sense at all. Apparently, way back in 1919, the communists hatched a plan to take over the world, and we're just playing into their hands, and it's about time that we woke up and smelled the proverbial coffee. One of the tactics suggested in 1919 was to distract the country by focusing their ambitions on sports, pornography, plays, and other trivialities. When I think of communism, I certainly don't think about sports, plays, or pornography. I think of Stalin, Chairman Mao, and Fidel Castro. I think of factories, long lines for food, and the KGB. The societies of communist Russia, China, and Cuba do not sound like places where they have a lot of time for trivialities like sports, plays, or especially pornography.
By the time we finished our walk, I was revived by the night air, so I felt safe driving back to Dallas. It was an extremely memorable evening: my date was charming, handsome, and fun to be with, and I hope it all can happen again soon.
Happy Valentine's Day!
I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day today! I love roses, but I didn't get any this year. It's no big deal, since I'm happy to look at them anyway. I thought about posting some photos of roses, but I found so many on Flickr that I'm taking the lazy road and just posting a link to my search results.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Flu, Schmu!
I got sick at the end of last week (probably Thursday, which is perhaps why I was so lackluster on my date that night) and I thought it was just a cold. Turns out it was the flu. I got in to see the doctor on Tuesday and she apologized that there wasn't anything she could do for me, but I just needed to go home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. I felt really yucky all weekend and Monday, but I started feeling better today. She said I was on the tail end of it and she wants me to stay home from work until Friday, and I have the note to prove it. :) And Friday is a very important day, so I have to be better by then!!!
So, I'm spending all of my time sprawled on the bed, exploring cable television and watching DVDs. I fell asleep this morning during The Golden Girls. After I got home from the doctor's office, I ran in Target to grab some food items. Dripping with sweat (it was pretty freaking muggy today), I came home and gladly changed into a t-shirt & shorts and hit the bed again. Tonight, we had thunderstorms and tornado sirens, but fortunately all we got was some heavy rain and wind.
So, I'm spending all of my time sprawled on the bed, exploring cable television and watching DVDs. I fell asleep this morning during The Golden Girls. After I got home from the doctor's office, I ran in Target to grab some food items. Dripping with sweat (it was pretty freaking muggy today), I came home and gladly changed into a t-shirt & shorts and hit the bed again. Tonight, we had thunderstorms and tornado sirens, but fortunately all we got was some heavy rain and wind.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
It is done!
I finally went and purchased the camcorder for my video technology class. I've looked around and read reviews online and finally decided to go with a Sony Mini-DV camcorder from Best Buy. There aren't many Mini-DV options still out there, with most of the camcorders being hard-drive based, flash drive based, or DVD camcorders, but I've been told that I can get uncompressed video downloaded to my computer with a Mini-DV camcorder. The price was the same all over town, so I marched into Best Buy and bought it. Now, once I remember to go get the necessary Firewire (or as Sony calls it, iLink) cable, I can shoot some video and download it for my loyal readers to see. I splurged on a decent tripod, a camera bag, and an extended warranty in case I drop the silly thing (it covers accidental damage), and fortunately the transaction was short and sweet.
Go me!
Go me!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I've Had It!
OK, I have really had it this time. I am sick to death of the cold season. Somehow, I have managed to catch yet another cold (insert expletives here). This one will be short-lived, I hope, because I'm pumping my body with every supplement and vitamin I can get my hands on. I'm swabbing my nostrils with Zicam. The worst part of this is that I had to cancel a second date with a really great guy. I certainly don't want to give him this cold. Hopefully, we can reschedule when I'm feeling better and -- most importantly -- not contagious. So, I will be spending the weekend trying to get better. And the weather is so pretty this weekend -- it will be a shame not to be able to enjoy it.
Work was extremely rough this week. We had more layoffs, and many of them were in the training group. I am deeply saddened that these co-workers and good friends are no longer there. At one point, I had to retire to the restroom because I was just so overcome by what had happened and I had to shed a few tears. I want to help them as much as I can, so I'll keep my ears to the ground for jobs or other networking opportunities. But there is an incredibly rough job market out there, and it's frightening for all of us.
Postscript: Date has been rescheduled for Friday the 13th! :-D
Work was extremely rough this week. We had more layoffs, and many of them were in the training group. I am deeply saddened that these co-workers and good friends are no longer there. At one point, I had to retire to the restroom because I was just so overcome by what had happened and I had to shed a few tears. I want to help them as much as I can, so I'll keep my ears to the ground for jobs or other networking opportunities. But there is an incredibly rough job market out there, and it's frightening for all of us.
Postscript: Date has been rescheduled for Friday the 13th! :-D
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Lots of cursing
Sometimes, I can really do good little jobs around the house, and sometimes I'm completely hopeless. Many months ago, Jeff had bought some "Power Lock" baskets that were supposed to hermetically seal themselves to a tile wall and hold our various toiletries. However, they didn't work all that well. More than once, I had the life scared out of me when a basket came loose and clanged into the bottom of the bathtub, sending shower gel and other various toiletries hither and yon. So, I bought a nice shower tower from the Container Store when Karen and I went prowling around in Southlake on Sunday. I decided to assemble the shower tower on Monday night.It seemed like an easy task. You slide the little baskets over the poles and join them together. Easy squeezy, right? Well, it may well be easy squeezy, but it was extremely challenging for me. I cursed and huffed and puffed, and then once I got it all put in (notice the large gaps between the baskets) I sat down and laughed at myself for getting all worked up over something so silly.
So, for what it's worth, here's my handiwork. Tah-dah! The baskets are not evenly placed, but what the hell? They hold stuff, right?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Favorite Restaurant in Fort Worth?
As a life-long resident of Fort Worth and the greater Metroplex, and as someone who is not the skinniest person to come down the pike, I've had many a great meal in my day. But this past year, I discovered what has become my favorite restaurant in Fort Worth. It's one of those places that when we go out to lunch, I automatically put it first and my fellow cubicle dwellers often indulge me, since they like it too. It's Byblos, which is a Fort Worth institution on the North Side of town. Byblos is a neighbor to one of my favorite Tex-Mex places: El Rancho Grande. But while El Rancho is a now and then treat, I could eat at Byblos all the time. Generally, I stick with vegetarian food while I'm there: the salads, spreads (hummus and tahini), and vegetables. I also love the dohlmas and falafel.
On Friday, to celebrate the warm weather, Fran suggested we go out to lunch. When she asked where I wanted to go, I said "Byblos!" It's one of her favorites too, and we found two others who eagerly wanted to enjoy the lunch buffet. For $9.99, it's all you can eat Lebanese goodness, including dessert and unlimited pita bread. A few months ago, I took Shane there for lunch and he loved it!
Byblos is an exotic place -- at least on the inside. I've never been there at night when they have belly dancers, and I haven't ventured into the hookah lounge yet. Since I live in Lewisville now, I have to be content with Byblos for lunch, but if I lived closer, I would be there much more often.
On Friday, to celebrate the warm weather, Fran suggested we go out to lunch. When she asked where I wanted to go, I said "Byblos!" It's one of her favorites too, and we found two others who eagerly wanted to enjoy the lunch buffet. For $9.99, it's all you can eat Lebanese goodness, including dessert and unlimited pita bread. A few months ago, I took Shane there for lunch and he loved it!
Byblos is an exotic place -- at least on the inside. I've never been there at night when they have belly dancers, and I haven't ventured into the hookah lounge yet. Since I live in Lewisville now, I have to be content with Byblos for lunch, but if I lived closer, I would be there much more often.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Get Me a Hazmat Suit!
I swear -- and my mother always told me not to swear -- it seems like everyone at work is still sick and not getting any better. Just about everyone I know is either coming down with a cold or trying to finally get rid of one. Sneezing and hacking sounds are more prevalent than phone calls. When I was at the doctor's office a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was trying to get over a cold and the nurse tersely said, "You and everyone else in Fort Worth." Colds -- fueled by allergies -- usually turn into sinus infections, and life gets really moist and miserable. I just got over my cold, and I have the final remnants of a cough plaguing me, but I am not going to get sick again. Say it with me: Scott is not going to get sick! I've finally gotten to the point where I can laugh without sounding like I've been smoking for eons, and I've gotten enough lung power to sing again in the car (which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your vantage point), but I'm not back 100% yet and I don't want to catch this mess again.
In other late-breaking news, I'm shopping around for a camcorder. One of my classes this semester is an introduction to video technology. I would like to learn more about creating videos, and I have to be able to submit video projects for class assignments. I've been researching them for the past few days. I have to go with Mini DV, so I can probably get something quite reasonable. My other class focuses on doing critical reading on various educational topics. I don't think I have to buy any textbooks this term, so I don't mind spending some money on a video camera. I have always secretly wanted one, anyway.
What else is going on? I posted a personals ad on Yahoo! personals. I bit the bullet and paid for the subscription. I have a friend who called the computer 'the magic boy box.' I'm not looking for a boyfriend, but I would like to find guys to meet and see if anything further develops.
That's all the news I have to report from here. I hope everyone is having a good weekend. If you're in the D/FW area, stay warm and try to get over your cold! :)
In other late-breaking news, I'm shopping around for a camcorder. One of my classes this semester is an introduction to video technology. I would like to learn more about creating videos, and I have to be able to submit video projects for class assignments. I've been researching them for the past few days. I have to go with Mini DV, so I can probably get something quite reasonable. My other class focuses on doing critical reading on various educational topics. I don't think I have to buy any textbooks this term, so I don't mind spending some money on a video camera. I have always secretly wanted one, anyway.
What else is going on? I posted a personals ad on Yahoo! personals. I bit the bullet and paid for the subscription. I have a friend who called the computer 'the magic boy box.' I'm not looking for a boyfriend, but I would like to find guys to meet and see if anything further develops.
That's all the news I have to report from here. I hope everyone is having a good weekend. If you're in the D/FW area, stay warm and try to get over your cold! :)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A New President
Around 10:50 this morning, I heard soft footsteps behind my desk chair. Glenna - my wonderful boss - came running around to gather us all to see Barack Obama's inauguration. She whispered, "Come on, let's go watch history being made!" We went out to the commons area on our floor and I pulled up a chair and got comfortable. Several people on our floor joined us. Unfortunately, we were watching a channel where there was endless news commentary. The talking heads stopped talking long enough for us to see Joe Biden's swearing-in, and then there was more talking, and then Dianne Feinstein came out and we didn't get to hear all that she had to say, since the yapping had continued. Then, there was Chief Justice Roberts and the Lincoln Inaugural Bible and the big moment had arrived.
On a side note, there was a book published in 2005 that suggested that Lincoln might have had lavender leanings. Here's a link to a NY Times Book Review article about it. Interesting stuff. I haven't read the book, so I can't give you a personal review. I heard an interview with the author who wrote the forward on SIRIUS OutQ radio one afternoon and the book sounded interesting.
Personally, I liked the fact that Obama's speech had a more somber tone to it. I didn't want to hear a rah-rah sis-boom-bah speech full of happy talk. These are somber times. Our roommate is filling a vacancy at work for a receptionist position, and she is sifting through almost 400 resumés. Some of the applicants are completely overqualified, but the job market is so tight. A friend told me that her brother was looking for a part-time job and he couldn't even find a vacancy in retail jobs. I walked out of a Kroger grocery store on Saturday because I thought the prices were just too high. I then drove over to Super Walmart and paid what I felt was a more reasonable amount. Normally, I'm not a Walmart shopper, but it was later at night and Super Target (my normal store of choice, especially since it's so close by) was already closed.
My wise and dear friend Cristy published a great blog posting about her thoughts prior to Obama's inauguration. I liked what Obama said about that it wasn't whether or not our government was too big or too small, but whether or not it still worked for us. I admit that I've been cynical and blasé about government, especially during the last eight years, because I didn't think my voice counted for much. Maybe it still doesn't, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try to make it heard. I think we all have the responsibility to make our voices heard.
On a side note, there was a book published in 2005 that suggested that Lincoln might have had lavender leanings. Here's a link to a NY Times Book Review article about it. Interesting stuff. I haven't read the book, so I can't give you a personal review. I heard an interview with the author who wrote the forward on SIRIUS OutQ radio one afternoon and the book sounded interesting.
Personally, I liked the fact that Obama's speech had a more somber tone to it. I didn't want to hear a rah-rah sis-boom-bah speech full of happy talk. These are somber times. Our roommate is filling a vacancy at work for a receptionist position, and she is sifting through almost 400 resumés. Some of the applicants are completely overqualified, but the job market is so tight. A friend told me that her brother was looking for a part-time job and he couldn't even find a vacancy in retail jobs. I walked out of a Kroger grocery store on Saturday because I thought the prices were just too high. I then drove over to Super Walmart and paid what I felt was a more reasonable amount. Normally, I'm not a Walmart shopper, but it was later at night and Super Target (my normal store of choice, especially since it's so close by) was already closed.
My wise and dear friend Cristy published a great blog posting about her thoughts prior to Obama's inauguration. I liked what Obama said about that it wasn't whether or not our government was too big or too small, but whether or not it still worked for us. I admit that I've been cynical and blasé about government, especially during the last eight years, because I didn't think my voice counted for much. Maybe it still doesn't, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try to make it heard. I think we all have the responsibility to make our voices heard.
Monday, January 19, 2009
My apologies
I made a blog post a few days ago about dating and what I'm generally looking for in the people I want to date. However, on second glance, the post was a bit tactless and it actually (and completely unintentionally) did hurt someone I had briefly dated back in December, so I have removed it. I suspect that I hadn't completely thought through the posting before I published it, and it came back to bite me. My goal with this blog is to express myself and share what's going on in my life. It certainly isn't a forum for me to hurt anyone's feelings - whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Lesson learned - shame on me.
Lesson learned - shame on me.
Clean Bill of Health
Even though I've been suffering from the same cold, allergies, and sinus infection that have plagued just about everyone in the D/FW area, I got a clean bill of health from my recent physical. All functions were normal (no jokes, please) and my cholesterol levels and blood pressure were in good shape. And since I'm getting back out in the dating world, I had her check me for transmittable diseases of a more intimate nature, and everything came back negative. I didn't think it would be otherwise, but it never hurts to double-check these things.
This weekend was pretty low key. I spent Saturday out in the Settlement for little Shaney's birthday. He wanted pizza, so we had Pizza Hut delivered. I did some computer work for them and got Dad's iPod hooked back up. I gave them my old iPod a few months back, and Dad has taken to that device like a duck to water. He accidentally restored it, which took some figuring on how to get everything back. After you restore an iPod, you actually have to connect it to an Apple AC adapter or into a powerful AC iPod adapter to do the firmware update. I don't have an Apple AC adapter any more, so I used the iPod adapter in my car and it did the trick. After coming home, I found that Leah and Jeff had gone out, so I made myself some dinner and ultimately went out to buy groceries. It was a bit late, so I had to sidestep the stockers at Walmart. They weren't too happy to see shoppers, so I tried to be as inobtrusive as possible and stay out of their way while getting what we needed. Today, I spent most of the day in my room, playing on the Internet and watching TV.
Unfortunately, I don't get MLK day off, but since others do, I should have a pain-free commute tomorrow morning! :-) I hope everyone has a great week. We had Obama's inaugural concert tonight (I saw some clips from it - it looked fantastic) and the full festivities on Tuesday.
This weekend was pretty low key. I spent Saturday out in the Settlement for little Shaney's birthday. He wanted pizza, so we had Pizza Hut delivered. I did some computer work for them and got Dad's iPod hooked back up. I gave them my old iPod a few months back, and Dad has taken to that device like a duck to water. He accidentally restored it, which took some figuring on how to get everything back. After you restore an iPod, you actually have to connect it to an Apple AC adapter or into a powerful AC iPod adapter to do the firmware update. I don't have an Apple AC adapter any more, so I used the iPod adapter in my car and it did the trick. After coming home, I found that Leah and Jeff had gone out, so I made myself some dinner and ultimately went out to buy groceries. It was a bit late, so I had to sidestep the stockers at Walmart. They weren't too happy to see shoppers, so I tried to be as inobtrusive as possible and stay out of their way while getting what we needed. Today, I spent most of the day in my room, playing on the Internet and watching TV.
Unfortunately, I don't get MLK day off, but since others do, I should have a pain-free commute tomorrow morning! :-) I hope everyone has a great week. We had Obama's inaugural concert tonight (I saw some clips from it - it looked fantastic) and the full festivities on Tuesday.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Colds Are Icky II - The Return
Gah! I've been stricken with yet another cold. And owls are STILL assholes! I have my physical on Monday and if the doctor feels so inclined to give me something to relieve my cough, I'll be ever so grateful to her. I know how I got the cold, and I don't regret the reason why I got the cold, but the fact remains that I have the cold and now I want to get rid of the damn thing.
Aside from that, things are going generally very well at home. Leah goes out of town next week to do some training (in Phoenix), and Jeff and I each still have some time off before school starts on January 20. We just had cable put in, and I feel like we're getting caught up with pop culture. On January 18, we can watch Obama's inauguration on HBO. I'm really digging the HD channels on cable and watch them every chance I get. But today, I found myself watching a marathon of The Jeffersons on TVLand. I got the eye-rolls from everyone here, but I feel that when you're sick, you can eat what you want and you can watch what you want on television.
Leah just celebrated her birthday, and my brother celebrates the big 3-6 on Friday. My mom asked me last night if I could believe that she would be turning 70 in 2010. I said I certainly could, because that's the year I turn 40. There's one good thing about being born in a year ending with zero; the math is always easier.
Other than that, I don't have much to report. I hope everyone is having a great week! :)
Aside from that, things are going generally very well at home. Leah goes out of town next week to do some training (in Phoenix), and Jeff and I each still have some time off before school starts on January 20. We just had cable put in, and I feel like we're getting caught up with pop culture. On January 18, we can watch Obama's inauguration on HBO. I'm really digging the HD channels on cable and watch them every chance I get. But today, I found myself watching a marathon of The Jeffersons on TVLand. I got the eye-rolls from everyone here, but I feel that when you're sick, you can eat what you want and you can watch what you want on television.
Leah just celebrated her birthday, and my brother celebrates the big 3-6 on Friday. My mom asked me last night if I could believe that she would be turning 70 in 2010. I said I certainly could, because that's the year I turn 40. There's one good thing about being born in a year ending with zero; the math is always easier.
Other than that, I don't have much to report. I hope everyone is having a great week! :)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Meryl Streep in Postcards
While I'm at it, I'll post another favorite Meryl clip. Here she is singing I'm Checking Out from Postcards from the Edge. I think Cristy and I saw this delightful movie at the theater, and I'm glad to have it on DVD.
Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia
I treated myself to the DVD of Mamma Mia for Christmas. It's not a great movie, but it certainly is fun. Unless you just loathe ABBA, you cannot watch this movie and be depressed. Here's a clip of the incandescent Meryl Streep singing The Winner Takes It All. She is so awesome in this movie.
Enjoy the clip!
Enjoy the clip!
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