I set up my desktop (still on the rolling file cart; I haven't been to Ikea yet) and updated all its little software needs. You'd be proud, Broos ;)
Then I worked through some of my Sims2 homes. For a lot of reasons, most of them ergonomic and heat-related, I haven't had the PC on in over a year. It was somehow comforting to see my families in suspended animation, waiting to continue their little dramas for my benefit. I may need to head out and pick up an expansion now!
This has been such an interesting year at work. Getting used to working on Free Realms; realizing how much I missed Seattle; being loaned back to EQII; and then getting a job with The Agency, which facilitated my moving back home. I'm looking forward to being back at work this week! Time off is nice, but I want to have a focus to enjoy time away from. Right now, I feel a bit disjointed.
I can't say that I was unhappy to work in San Diego, just unhappy living there. On the other hand, the other day I craved carne asada, which I don't know where to get up here. And, of course, there's no In'n'Out :) Then again, I know how to do a mileage run to LAX to get one! Muahahahaha!
Kevin and Shienna are visiting, so I'm planning to join them and Kevin and Candyce for New Year's Eve tonight.
Happy New Year, everybody!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
I Suck!
Yes, indeed I do, for now I have my Royal Airo-pro RY2000!
I've never owned a cannister vacuum before. Ever since my first apartment, I've had an upright of some sort. But upon leaving San Diego, I decided to leave the old vacuum behind and get a new one once I settled in.
As some of you know, I collect airline miles and by shopping on-line at certain merchants, I get points for my purchases. Hence, I ordered my little vacuum and awaited its arrival. It got here on Thursday.
Yesterday, I unpacked it and set it up. This is the lightest vacuum in the world! I can practically swing it around by the hose. At the lower power setting (useful for curtains, which I don't have), it's extraordinarily quiet.
Mittens was offended, however. He and Melody retreated to the bedroom and every time the vacuum pooked in through the open door, he hissed and charged it, bristling with anger. Melody hid under the bed.
Later on, I plan to vacuum off their cat condos, which are each as furry as a sasquatch. The cats will really hate me then! Muahahahaha!
I've never owned a cannister vacuum before. Ever since my first apartment, I've had an upright of some sort. But upon leaving San Diego, I decided to leave the old vacuum behind and get a new one once I settled in.
As some of you know, I collect airline miles and by shopping on-line at certain merchants, I get points for my purchases. Hence, I ordered my little vacuum and awaited its arrival. It got here on Thursday.
Yesterday, I unpacked it and set it up. This is the lightest vacuum in the world! I can practically swing it around by the hose. At the lower power setting (useful for curtains, which I don't have), it's extraordinarily quiet.
Mittens was offended, however. He and Melody retreated to the bedroom and every time the vacuum pooked in through the open door, he hissed and charged it, bristling with anger. Melody hid under the bed.
Later on, I plan to vacuum off their cat condos, which are each as furry as a sasquatch. The cats will really hate me then! Muahahahaha!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Condensation
Chris's schedule was so tight that he was only with me for a day and a half. He and Phil drove up in Phil's car (which is the same model Nissan that Chris has, only Phil has not lowered and put a cow scoop on the front of his) yesterday by 8:30AM to maximize the time.
As the time was short, we abbreviated everything, yet managed to do all our traditional holiday things in the short time we had. The cherubs hooked up my new surround sound system (a gift I bought for myself) so that we could enjoy the fullness of the Rebel Alliance zipping all over my living room via Star Wars. :)
Chris fell asleep and so Phil and I started watching a movie I'd given to him, Samurai. When Chris woke up, he was confused...where was Episode V, his puzzled expression conveyed.
"We're watching the correct movie," said Phil.
I added, "That's right. It's The Feudal Empire Strikes Back."
And of course, we did actually follow Samurai with the rest of Star Wars...because that's what we do. I cackled gleefully every time I heard the surround sound surrounding us. It's so cool! Hahaha!
The cherubs just left as Phil has to work this afternoon and Chris is going to go hang out with his friends until his flight leaves early tomorrow morning. I already miss them. :(
At least there's a game night tonight to help take my mind off the lack of cherubic chirpings in the apartment.
As the time was short, we abbreviated everything, yet managed to do all our traditional holiday things in the short time we had. The cherubs hooked up my new surround sound system (a gift I bought for myself) so that we could enjoy the fullness of the Rebel Alliance zipping all over my living room via Star Wars. :)
Chris fell asleep and so Phil and I started watching a movie I'd given to him, Samurai. When Chris woke up, he was confused...where was Episode V, his puzzled expression conveyed.
"We're watching the correct movie," said Phil.
I added, "That's right. It's The Feudal Empire Strikes Back."
And of course, we did actually follow Samurai with the rest of Star Wars...because that's what we do. I cackled gleefully every time I heard the surround sound surrounding us. It's so cool! Hahaha!
The cherubs just left as Phil has to work this afternoon and Chris is going to go hang out with his friends until his flight leaves early tomorrow morning. I already miss them. :(
At least there's a game night tonight to help take my mind off the lack of cherubic chirpings in the apartment.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Wrapping it Up
I spent last night watching The Polar Express and wrapping gifts. As always, I lay out the things I've gotten for the cherubs and then fret that I haven't gotten them enough.
Their stockings are hanging up now, bulging with their favorite candies and I hope they like the things I did get for them. I will not see them until tomorrow.
I haven't decorated much this year at all (other than with cardboard...such a versatile material ;))
As I wrapped gifts, I had my laptop going and it started chirping at me. Matt IMs from South America, where he's travelling around through the beginning of next year. And Jean asks me to come over for Christmas supper!
Jean and I worked together at AIG. She was a manager and I was the president's assistant. Her husband Brian often called the office while he was on the road, and if Jean was on another call, he'd talk to me until she could pick up. As I spent my days with Jean as well as copious phone time with Brian, I got to know them both fairly well.
They often invited me over for holidays. Brian loves to cook; he went to a culinary school in San Francisco. Once I commented about his culinary experience to Jean and turns out she had been unaware he'd gone to a school for it. But I knew because he and I had talked about it.
Another time, I emerged from the bathroom with the empty toilet paper roll and asked where their recycle bin was. "Just put it in the trash," said Brian. "You recycle these," I said. "No, we don't," he replied. "Yes, you do," I said, laughing with Jean. She'd told me that he'd throw the cardboard away and she'd later pull it out for recycling but she couldn't break him of tossing them out.
It'll be great to see them again for another lovely, scrumptious prime rib. Broos would love it, too. Brian's a really good cook! And Jean is a wonderful person and friend.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Their stockings are hanging up now, bulging with their favorite candies and I hope they like the things I did get for them. I will not see them until tomorrow.
I haven't decorated much this year at all (other than with cardboard...such a versatile material ;))
As I wrapped gifts, I had my laptop going and it started chirping at me. Matt IMs from South America, where he's travelling around through the beginning of next year. And Jean asks me to come over for Christmas supper!
Jean and I worked together at AIG. She was a manager and I was the president's assistant. Her husband Brian often called the office while he was on the road, and if Jean was on another call, he'd talk to me until she could pick up. As I spent my days with Jean as well as copious phone time with Brian, I got to know them both fairly well.
They often invited me over for holidays. Brian loves to cook; he went to a culinary school in San Francisco. Once I commented about his culinary experience to Jean and turns out she had been unaware he'd gone to a school for it. But I knew because he and I had talked about it.
Another time, I emerged from the bathroom with the empty toilet paper roll and asked where their recycle bin was. "Just put it in the trash," said Brian. "You recycle these," I said. "No, we don't," he replied. "Yes, you do," I said, laughing with Jean. She'd told me that he'd throw the cardboard away and she'd later pull it out for recycling but she couldn't break him of tossing them out.
It'll be great to see them again for another lovely, scrumptious prime rib. Broos would love it, too. Brian's a really good cook! And Jean is a wonderful person and friend.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Happy Christmas!
I'm having trouble typing. Mittens is firmly wedged between me and my laptop, chin resting on my left wrist. It's funny to see his poor little head bobbing up and down as I type, but that's the price he must pay for wanting to snuggle right now!
Today I'm finishing up some of my chores. Two big boxes left to haul out to the dumpster. I shove as much paper as I can into the recycle bin, then chuck the box into the trash. Shameful, I know, but the recycle bin just isn't big enough and I have failed to find a store that doesn't lock its recycle bins closed.
Boxes migrate from one room to the next as I reorganize closets into which I dumped stuff upon first moving in. Things that need to go to the office (I keep a ton of reference books at work) are stacked by the kitchen. Ye olde window seat of plastic shelves and leather pillows is resurrected in my dining room, providing a bench seat that's only slightly too high for the table.
Guess that's where I'll sit short people ;)
I'm kind of hoping to see Ron today, but he's been packing to move (coincidentally, not all that far from where I'm living now) and has also been entertaining some work-related guests that aren't leaving until after Boxing Day. Oh, well. If I don't see him today, I'll just have to eat the pistachio-studded fudge I was going to give him. Muahahaha!
May all your hopes and wishes come true for the season!
Today I'm finishing up some of my chores. Two big boxes left to haul out to the dumpster. I shove as much paper as I can into the recycle bin, then chuck the box into the trash. Shameful, I know, but the recycle bin just isn't big enough and I have failed to find a store that doesn't lock its recycle bins closed.
Boxes migrate from one room to the next as I reorganize closets into which I dumped stuff upon first moving in. Things that need to go to the office (I keep a ton of reference books at work) are stacked by the kitchen. Ye olde window seat of plastic shelves and leather pillows is resurrected in my dining room, providing a bench seat that's only slightly too high for the table.
Guess that's where I'll sit short people ;)
I'm kind of hoping to see Ron today, but he's been packing to move (coincidentally, not all that far from where I'm living now) and has also been entertaining some work-related guests that aren't leaving until after Boxing Day. Oh, well. If I don't see him today, I'll just have to eat the pistachio-studded fudge I was going to give him. Muahahaha!
May all your hopes and wishes come true for the season!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
It's Beginning to Look...
...a lot like a home and not a cardboard box repository! Yay!
There are some boxes I can't lift, but that's what cherubs are for, right? And both are coming for a couple of days next week, wherein I shall put them to work. Muahahaha!
I like that our company closes for the last week of the year. It takes away a lot of that "but you took it off last year" stuff that I've seen happen in other places I've worked. Everyone's off, recharging themselves and that helps refresh the mind for the year ahead.
My goal for the day is to do a bit of grocery shopping. I want to make some cookies (hahaha, nothing like leaving things for the last minute) or chocolate loaf cake for next week. And, of course, I need cheese for fondue, too.
And so, off I go! The nearest Trader Joe's isn't as close as the ginormous Whole Foods, but I prefer to get staple items there. The roads may still be icy. The shoppers will be at their most desperate.
Wish me luck!
There are some boxes I can't lift, but that's what cherubs are for, right? And both are coming for a couple of days next week, wherein I shall put them to work. Muahahaha!
I like that our company closes for the last week of the year. It takes away a lot of that "but you took it off last year" stuff that I've seen happen in other places I've worked. Everyone's off, recharging themselves and that helps refresh the mind for the year ahead.
My goal for the day is to do a bit of grocery shopping. I want to make some cookies (hahaha, nothing like leaving things for the last minute) or chocolate loaf cake for next week. And, of course, I need cheese for fondue, too.
And so, off I go! The nearest Trader Joe's isn't as close as the ginormous Whole Foods, but I prefer to get staple items there. The roads may still be icy. The shoppers will be at their most desperate.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Girls' Night In
As Kevin returns tomorrow, last night was our official last girls' night in the O'Hara household. I have to go home tonight, lest I find that Mittens has pooped on my new bathroom rug in protest of something or other!
We've had a lovely handful of days, sitting together with cups of tea, surrounded by cats and the glorious clutter of craft projects in progress.
I love spending time in this house; it's full of love, friendship and laughter. And while Candyce thinks I have been doing her a favor by sleeping over, it's actually me that's benefiting! The aura of her home is so pervasive, I can't help but go about the rest of the year in a happy, hopeful and blessed mood.
May a little of her magic work its way through the internet and find all y'all, too.
We've had a lovely handful of days, sitting together with cups of tea, surrounded by cats and the glorious clutter of craft projects in progress.
I love spending time in this house; it's full of love, friendship and laughter. And while Candyce thinks I have been doing her a favor by sleeping over, it's actually me that's benefiting! The aura of her home is so pervasive, I can't help but go about the rest of the year in a happy, hopeful and blessed mood.
May a little of her magic work its way through the internet and find all y'all, too.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
It's Dead, Jim
As pre-arranged, I drove over to Candyce's house and we spent several hours talking and talking. Candyce is making some Yule wreaths and I'd brought along the latest in baby blankies.
One of the wreaths is destined for one of Candyce's "Rat Lady" friends, and I mentioned that I knew how to make yarn rats. We decided to head to the store to pick up some supplies and get some lunch.
"I'll drive," I said. So we hop into Old Paint, who refused to stay on. We sat there and tried again. We tried again. Finally, we got into Candyce's car and did our errands.
On the way back, we picked up a gallon of gas; perhaps Old Paint thought it was completely empty as it's parked on the hill of her garage at a pretty good angle. In went the gas. Old Paint clanked and protested and stubbornly died each time I managed to get it turned over.
Fucking Old Paint =(
The litmus test for getting a new car is generally if you're spending more per month to fix the thing than a car loan. So let's see...in the past three months, I've put in a new alternator and battery; had its headlight re-re-re-fixed (not that that's helped; it re-re-re-re-broke again); got it completely serviced for my road trip and now this. I think it's going to cost me more to fix whatever ails this bastard than its going to be worth.
Stupid, freaking fracking gol darn stupid cars. When I called USAA's roadside assistance program to ask about getting someone to tow it, the rep asked what year, make and model I have.
"It's a 2001...piece of junk," I replied. Both she and Candyce started giggling. So at least I haven't lost my sense of humor about this!
I spent the night at Candyce's and tomorrow, USAA will have my car towed to the nearest mechanic. That's when I get to decide if it's truly curtains or what, but I am leaning towards killing Old Paint now before he dies somewhere really inconvenient.
At least the yarn rats are coming along okay. Sigh.
One of the wreaths is destined for one of Candyce's "Rat Lady" friends, and I mentioned that I knew how to make yarn rats. We decided to head to the store to pick up some supplies and get some lunch.
"I'll drive," I said. So we hop into Old Paint, who refused to stay on. We sat there and tried again. We tried again. Finally, we got into Candyce's car and did our errands.
On the way back, we picked up a gallon of gas; perhaps Old Paint thought it was completely empty as it's parked on the hill of her garage at a pretty good angle. In went the gas. Old Paint clanked and protested and stubbornly died each time I managed to get it turned over.
Fucking Old Paint =(
The litmus test for getting a new car is generally if you're spending more per month to fix the thing than a car loan. So let's see...in the past three months, I've put in a new alternator and battery; had its headlight re-re-re-fixed (not that that's helped; it re-re-re-re-broke again); got it completely serviced for my road trip and now this. I think it's going to cost me more to fix whatever ails this bastard than its going to be worth.
Stupid, freaking fracking gol darn stupid cars. When I called USAA's roadside assistance program to ask about getting someone to tow it, the rep asked what year, make and model I have.
"It's a 2001...piece of junk," I replied. Both she and Candyce started giggling. So at least I haven't lost my sense of humor about this!
I spent the night at Candyce's and tomorrow, USAA will have my car towed to the nearest mechanic. That's when I get to decide if it's truly curtains or what, but I am leaning towards killing Old Paint now before he dies somewhere really inconvenient.
At least the yarn rats are coming along okay. Sigh.
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