Get It All Down

reporting, or, why I hate this stupid job

2009-12-07T16:26:00.004-06:00

Hi [HQ person],
I’ve been working on Consumer Reports. Numerous problems, addressed below. Please let me know what actions you wish me to take with these, if any. Thanks,
[me]

s0010-7174 is a serial record for Consumer Reports (the whole magazine) on microfilm, but it is not an 0CLC record. There are numerous (i.e. 67) hits for that ISSN in C0nnexi0n. [My place] does not hold the title, so I can’t…or won’t…track down which one is correct.

Best baby products, serial o54961005 (previously Guide to baby products, serial o20861237). If I’m reading this right, I should merge o298184974 (ED. 10 2009), o122285516 (ED. 9 2007), and o54848365 (ED. 8 2004) into o54961005 (serial ED. 8 2004- ). And, separately, I should merge o39024891 (ED. 5 1996), o36025765 (ED. 5 1996), o41492308 (ED. 6 1999), and o47968434 (ED. 7 2001), and 0verlay with the serial record o20861237 (closed serial ED. 1 1988-ED. 7 2001). Correct?

Best buys for your home. Merge a1769915 (2000) and o54403808 (2004) into o40461727 (serial 1999- ), yes?

Best of health. Merge a1834474 (1998), o40717558 (1998), o42017597 (1998), and o48395107 (2001) into o24202835 (serial 1994- ), right?

New car buying guide. Merge o144513745 (2007/2008) into o19745068 (serial 1989- ), correct?

Best Travel deals. Merge o33664779 (1996) and o40986117 (1999) and 0verlay with o34125854 (closed serial 1996-2001), yes?

Guide to income tax. Merge o34050000 (1996) into o29416697 (serial 1993- ), right?

How to Clean & Care for Practically Anything. This title changed – I think? – at some point, from How to Clean Practically Anything. There is a serial record in 0CLC, but it is tiny and Elvl M: o317391679. Still, it would be nice to accumulate the following into one record: o13760100 (1986), o19628684 (1989), o25551884 (1992), a1799116 (1992), o19977664 (1993), o32807544 (1993), o32969953 (1996), o51687481 (2002), o49537613 (2002), and o84542291 (2006).

The Medicine Show. Merge l74081288 (1974), o01235398 (1974), o05725770 (1980), o06419034 (1980), and o18909681 (1989) and 0verlay with o34991748, correct? Though it seems a shame to input a record to keep any of these, given that the newest one is 20 years old. Twenty-year-old medicine.

New Car Yearbook (l94642313) (ISSN: 0010-7174) is on a non-0CLC serial record but doesn’t give a year, so I can’t figure out what to 0verlay it with. If it’s somewhere 1994-, probably o30629172?

Buying Guide. The record is fine (!); the holdings are wackadoodle.

Mant#n0 Pub Lib, Scal#s M0und CUSD, H-rv-rd H!gh Sch00l, M0unt M0rr!s Pub Lib, Rahn Jr HS, S0uth Bel0it HS, W!nnebag0 Pub Lib, C0rtland C0mmunity Lib, New Len0x Pub Lib, R0ck !sland Pub Lib [and branch], Muss#r Pub Lib, Pe0t0ne Pub Lib, R0bert W. R0we Pub Lib, H0mer T0wnship Pub Lib, Sandw!ch Dist Lib = no [vol differentiation] data at all.

2005 BUYING GUIDE (Sc0tt C0mm C0ll).

2006 BUYING GUIDE (Sc0tt C0mm C0ll).

2007 BUYING GUIDE (Sc0tt C0mm C0ll).

2010 BUYING GUIDE (Sc0tt C0mm C0ll).

2004 BUYING GUIDE (Sc0tt C0mm C0ll).

2008 BUYING GUIDE (Sc0tt C0mm C0ll).

2009 BUYING GUIDE (Sc0tt C0mm C0ll).

BUYING GUIUDE (B#tt#nd0rf Pub Lib)

V. 110 2010 (Muscat!ne Comm C0ll)

Digital buying guide. Merge o53082908 (2004) into o50641417 (serial 2002- ), correct?

Electronics buying guide. Merge o62122241 (2006) into o61329950 (serial 2005- ), yes?

Guide to personal computers. Merge o32969957 (1996) and o36525877 (1997) and 0verlay with o35980941 (serial 1996- ), right?

Guide to used cars. Merge l89646734 (serial 1986- ), o09825714 (1983), o18149030 (1988), and s1530-3713 (2006?) into o04157333 (serial 1978- ), correct?

Money book. Merge o24286363 (ED. 1 1992), o31045150 (ED. 2 1995), o38041281 (ED. 3 2000), and o45318693 (ED. 3 2000), and 0verlay with o317400802 (serial 1992- ), yes?

Travel well for less. Merge o48995883 (2002) and o52148059 (2003) into o48806312 (serial 2002- ), right?

Consumer Reports. The periodical itself. The following are all of the title c0ntr0l records that I could find that seem to correspond to this title. I think that all should be merged into the last one (#21 below).
1. a1738916 (1/05)
2. a1738968 (7/06)
3. a1738781 (2/07)
4. a1738966 (7/05)
5. a1738776 (2/06)
6. a1738926 (1/07)
7. a1738769 (2/05)
8. a1738917 (1/06)
9. a1738669 (12/06)
10. a1738667 (12/05)
11. a1738444 (4/06)
12. a1738528 (8/06)
13. a1738441 (4/05)
14. a1738526 (8/05)
15. o00807406 (non-0CLC serial 1936- )
16. a1853105 (12/01)
17. a1853151 (1/02)
18. a1757445 (1994 year-end)
19. a1774194 (2002?)
20. a1894856 (?)
21. o01564931 (serial 1942- )

the shadow

2009-12-05T23:49:00.003-06:00

Missing is a pain
in everyplace
making a toothache
out of a day.
But to miss something
that never was:
the longest guilt
the regret that comes down
like a fine ash
year after year
is the shadow of what
we did not dare.
All the days that go out
like neglected cigarettes,
the days that dribble away.
How often does love strike?
We turn into ghosts
loitering outside doorways
we imagined entering.
In the lovers’ room
the floor creaks,
dust sifts from the ceiling,
the golden bed has been hauled away
by the dealer
in unused dreams.

[Marge Piercy, ‘Never-never’, in Circles on the Water; emphasis added]
I'm in a mood. Feeling more than a little sorry for myself. 'Profoundly unlovable' might be a better way of saying it. Why do I always...? Why can't I ever...? Not that it matters, because even if I got it all figured out, I'd manage to fuck it all up again anyway. Probably best that I put down the beer in favor of water a while ago. Also probably a good idea if I stop writing and just go to bed.

mental diet

2009-12-04T00:52:00.002-06:00

"Great discomfort arises from too hearty a supper: if you would
enjoy a tranquil sleep let your supper be a light one."

~Proverb, (Latin)~

Literal, or metaphorical? I'm leaning toward a metaphorical meaning--that thinking too much causes great discomfort.

That's what I'm thinking about, anyway, as I head to bed....

well, I think I've been a good girl this year...

2009-12-03T13:54:00.000-06:00

In case anyone needs holiday gift ideas...

Although I do fervently adore my leather car coat, I think I need a funky alternative for cold weather wear. Hence, the Madison coat. Navy plaid, so it's hardly traditional, but also utterly adorable.

Don't ask me why I'm still using plastic picnic knives on those rare occasions when I eat actual meat--just take these into consideration. Chicago Cutlery Landmark steak knives. The 9-piece boxed steak set.
There are a lot of holes in my head. They need filling daily. My birthstone is generally pretty oogly and boring. These are not. Square-cut peridot stud earrings from Blue Nile.

And for those days when I'm wearing something that won't coordinate with pale green--the deep red version. Blue Nile square-cut garnet stud earrings.

This may be the single most fascinating article of clothing I've ever seen. I want it SO BAD. Where would I wear it? What would I wear with it? How would I look in it? God knows. But I want it. The Carmen vest, from J.Peterman.
Other ideas:
~ soft-scent candles from The Scent Shop (i.e. s-y-c boutique), e.g. wedding cake, apple (no spice), other fruit, linen....
~ cereal. No, I'm not kidding.
~ any or all of my wish list from Sundance Catalog, available upon request.
~ bookends. Disorder reigns and must be controlled!
~ iTunes, Borders/B&N/Amazon, Target, VS, Crate & Barrel gift cards.
~ pay my way back to--and spend a day with me in--Tiger Lily. Not a whole day....
~ Cash is nice, too, since I'm being totally unrealistic.

too hot - brain melting!

2009-12-02T10:32:00.005-06:00

At work, playing "what does this smell like?" Donation of music CDs, in a heavily scented bag. Scented with...something illegal...and either potpourri (coworker T's theory), laundry detergent (moi), car air freshener (admin. assistant), candle (stinky coworker), or bath salts (the Lickster's idea). In any case, since it's not a bag of smell-avision discs, it stinks, and I'm not wanting them on my desk any longer.

The HVAC dude visited my place of work yesterday. After several months of moootherfoooking cold working conditions, the past day and a half have been ungodly hot. I'm way more comfortable with cold, thanks. Sooo sleeepy!

Had intended to complete my semi-annual "gimme gimme gimme" post - my Christmas list - until I realized that I hadn't loaded the photos with the links that I put in last night. Durrr. So, later this evening. Stay tuned!

Remind me not to buy this bread again. *blegh*

People are so weird in public restrooms. That's probably all I should say on that matter.

The monitor arrived today. Oh, yeah: I ordered a new computer, to replace The Burning Laptop. CPU is scheduled to arrive sometime between today and next Tuesday. Let's hope for earlier rather than later, since The Burning Laptop smells very much like burning.
The monitor, on the other hand, is large and sleek and smells like YAY!

Just turned on some music. Last time I did so, it must have been much quieter music, 'cause Alkaline Trio's "Love Love, Kiss Kiss" just blared from my computer speakers. Not a problem for me, but the people on the other end of this building were probably disturbed. "Blah blah blah."

My eyes are dry. My nose is dry. My hands are dry. My country for a humidifier!

People can surprise you. Sometimes that's funny. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's, "Could you come back another day? I'm tryin' to finish up here. Thanks."

How can I possibly be nervous already? Maybe I need to try some yoga. I've heard it's intensely purifying. It might even make me more perfect than I already am, which is difficult to imagine.

My Dove chocolate "fortune" yesterday: It's never too late for a fresh start. True? Or does there come a time where it's best to just try to accept the cards we've been dealt, with dignity?

and, of course, plentiful currency exchanges

2009-11-29T14:18:00.003-06:00

Name seven things you wish most people were more thankful to have.

deodorant

floss

lips that close

car volume changers that turn "down"

political and religious freedom to keep things to themselves

myriad ways to communicate the stuff that's hard to say, but important

the friends they take for granted

[from The Cat, who got it here]

hey, has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like...

2009-11-28T13:07:00.007-06:00

Name someone with the same birthday as you. Jim Thome

Where was your first kiss? On the sidewalk behind my hometown's, er, repository of books. No, I do not believe that it was destiny - just convenience.

Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? If yes, why? Yes. I am the youngest child in my family, so there was simple self-preservation at work. Since then, it's happened only once that I recall. A former boyfriend asked me to slap him, to distract him from something we'd been discussing, because were were no longer alone in the room. He wasn't expecting me to put any force behind it. heh...

Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? When? no

What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? eyes, usually.

What really turns you off? Arrogance. Confidence is terrifically appealing, but when it rears up and pounds on its own chest: blegh!

What is your biggest mistake? 1996

Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? yes

Say something totally random about yourself. I am reluctant to accept that I am "organized" in any way except in my work.

Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? Yes. It happens way too often to be believable. The most recent: Samantha Bee. Add her to Reese, Drew, and Helen, and you've got a pointy-chinned melange of bossy women. Swell!

Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original version) can always capture me. Some of The Peanuts specials, too. Other than that, not really.

Are you comfortable with your height? Um, sure - but there really is no alternative to acceptance in this matter, so what's the point?

What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? I'll leave that one open to possibility.

When do you know it's love? I honestly don't have a clue.

What's something that really annoys you? Tailgating. (Not eating food outside a stadium, but driving too close to the car ahead. A lack of braking distance.)

[from The Cat, who got it here]

ironically, better than ever

2009-11-27T03:22:00.003-06:00

For reasons that are immaterial and will change fairly soon, I have created yet another OkCupid profile. Just for the sake of, I don't know, accuracy, or curiosity maybe, I've answered a few of their ubiquitous questions: 50/3960, to be exact. Enough to allow for 97.8% statistical accuracy in what I am about to reveal.

Brian-from-Madison, the guy who two Novembers ago decided within 4 hours that we were not destined for romantic greatness?

92% Match / 94% Friend / 0% Enemy
I guess that means either [his precious] Mathematics, in the guise of Statistical Analysis, is wrong, or that the condescending moron really didn't give us quite enough of a shot. Stupid fuck.

November is just a bad, bad month. Maybe I can find a cloister gig someplace for next year.

never wanna say goodbye

2009-11-24T23:59:00.003-06:00

I finally had the chance, since my phone wasn't buzzing off the table, to think about what you'd said. The title of this song wasn't an accident, was it? And it wasn't just something you thought of that second. You thought we've lived this. I don't know; maybe we have. That makes me pretty sad.

Honey, why are you calling me so late?
It's kinda hard to talk right now
Honey, why are you crying, is everything OK?
I gotta whisper 'cause I can't be too loud

Well, my girl's in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on

It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl, you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

It's funny that you're calling me tonight
And yes I've dreamt of you, too
And does he know you're talking to me?
Will it start a fight?
No, I don't think she has a clue

Well, my girl's in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on

It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl, you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

It's really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl, you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel

And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl, you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel
Honey, why are you calling me so late?
['Lips of an Angel' by Hinder, from Extreme Behavior]

it'll all make sense in a moment

2009-11-24T14:45:00.003-06:00

for Molly

2009-11-23T21:29:00.004-06:00

Advice from a Caterpillar

Chew your way into a new world.
Munch leaves. Molt. Rest. Molt
again. Self-reinvention is everything.
Spin many nests. Cultivate stinging
bristles. Don't get sentimental
about your discarded skins. Grow
quickly. Develop a yen for nettles.
Alternate crumpling and climbing. Rely
on your antennae. Sequester poisons
in your body for use at a later date.
When threatened, emit foul odors
in self-defense. Behave cryptically
to confuse predators: change colors, spit,
or feign death. If all else fails, taste terrible.
by Amy Gerstler, in Dearest Creature, a wonderful new book of poems available from Penguin Poets. I highly recommend it.

feel like answering questions, thanks

2009-11-22T16:39:00.004-06:00

If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say? You need some rest, and a new lab tech.

Do you trust all of your friends? Yup. I'm a little easy that way.

Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love? Let's not put the cart before the horse, shall we?

Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? Yes, but that reason remains unknown to us the vast majority of the time. If we do find "a reason," it is only the reason we've applied and not necessarily the reason, anyway. As I recently told a hobgoblin friend, "We're just butterflies in a windstorm."

Can you make a dollar in change right now? I think I could do that pretty much any day, thanks. I'm not THAT bad with money!

Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor? Besides the two who are already doctors? Wolfgang.

Are you afraid of falling in love? nah. Apparently I do it distressingly easily.

Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times? oh yeah

What’s your most favorite scar? the poker-induced series on my left shin & knee

When was the last time you flew in a plane? As opposed to outside of a plane? August, to and from DFW.

What did the last text message you sent say? "Not :)"

What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex? Facial

Fill in the blank? I love little baby ducks

What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future? I'm not terribly goal-oriented. Let's just say I'd like to keep certain aspects of the wobbly status quo from toppling.

If you were to wake up from being in a coma for an extended time, whom would you call? Mom

How many kids do you want to have? erk

Would you make a good parent? No

Where was your default picture taken? For the blog? In the kitchen of the house where I grew up. On FB? Likewise! Huh. Kismet.

What's your middle name? In Italian, it is Alba (at least that's what Babelfish says!).

Honestly, what’s on your mind right now? Honestly, I'm thinking about vegetables, and romantic restaurants in the city with the best town square, and in which color to buy this sweater:
which is available in Mist Heather (shown), Light Pink Melange, or Black. Obviously, black was my initial choice, but I think the gray might be more wearable over the long-term. Opinions? Anyone??

If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be? Buy the strapless black dress when I was 17. And don't buy the boots from Main St. Shoes, even though they were gorgeous, because They. Did. Not. Fit.

Who was (or will be) the maid of honor / best man in your wedding? Was: Mike and Jane. Will be: NOT Mike or Jane. Beyond that, God only knows.

What are you wearing right now? Kauai t-shirt, navy PJ pants, white fuzzy socks

Righty or lefty? Very, very righty.

Best place to eat? Home

Favorite jeans? On me? Depends. I've been in a cargo pants mood lately, but I do love my worn, slouchy boot-cut Levis.

Favorite animal? Steve Bulgejewski

Favorite juice? Lemon

Have you had the chicken pox? Yes, when I was 5.

Have you had a sore throat? Of course. All the time during college. Trying to resist it lately but it's hard when so many others have been very sick.

[from The Cat, of course, who got it here]

hope I don't lose a bff over this

2009-11-22T16:35:00.001-06:00

You Are a Vampire

Right? You seem like a vampire. Pale? Check. Strong? Check. Nocturnal? Check!

There's a good chance you even like the taste of blood, and that's just down right [sic] creepy.

The funniest part about you being a vampire is that you haven't seemed to notice it yet. You must have some pretty weird habits to let the news slip by you like that.

Stay out of the sunlight, and avoid Italian restaurants (too much garlic). And if you have to feed on a human, please be gentle!

Are You Secretly A Vampire?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

also got a history of Ireland, to cleanse my intellectual conscience

2009-11-20T22:27:00.000-06:00

Why bigger isn't always better:
Jury duty was WELL worth the price of admission. The case was interesting, too.

Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur: A Mythological Dating Guide = fascinating. All the rage at my place of work these days, 'cause I read it within hours of release and have been hand-selling it ever since. For what it's worth, I'm a Banshee. Who's surprised?

Speaking of work...it's really not a happy place to be lately, and it's not going to get any better for a while. No money means distinctly uncomfortable conditions.

I made a huge, borderline-revolting breakfast dinner last night: scrambled eggs, snausage, cinnamon toast. Don't get me wrong; it was truly delicious, but I used 3 pans and spread crumbs and dried egg and snausage grease throughout the kitchen. It took a good hour to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen afterward.

My computer is on its last leg. Not even "legs." Limping and dragging. Snarling. Coughing. Taking long naps. Must bite the bullet and order a new one. Maybe Thanksgiving weekend?

I don't remember the last time I turned on my TV. Tuesday, for NCIS? Must've been. I'm quite out of touch. I don't mind.

Contemplating another tattoo at Christmastime.

I'm putting off composing an email message to write this. Not that I don't want to, but just to experience the delicious anticipation of the response for a little longer. Acknowledging it makes me nervous, so I'm just going to do it.

probably not a manga cat, though

2009-10-24T14:38:00.001-05:00

You Should Dress Up As a Cat

You are a shy, reserved person who takes a long time to warm up to others. You are close to those you've known the longest.

You are crafty and smart. You may seem like you're lost in your own little world, but you're really paying attention to everything going on around you.

You are not easily influenced by the other people in your life. If anything, you counterbalance their emotions well.

You are intuitive and have a lot of wisdom to impart. Most people don't pay close enough attention to the lessons you teach them.

What Animal Should You Dress Up As?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

these days are ours

2009-10-16T14:00:00.003-05:00

Listening to Paul Simon again. Mulling - but trying not to think too carefully about - the imminent end of a relationship that has meant a lot to me. Imminent, but not yet here, because the other person seems incapable of dealing with it. It makes me wonder: why deny the obvious?

I'm accustomed to a smooth ride
Or maybe I'm a dog who's lost its bite
I don't expect to be treated like a fool no more
I don't expect to sleep through the night
Some people say a lie's a lie's a lie
But I say why
Why deny the obvious child?
Why deny the obvious, child?

And in remembering a road sign
I am remembering a girl when I was young
And we said, These songs are true
These days are ours
These tears are free
And hey
The cross is in the ballpark
The cross is in the ballpark

We had a lot of fun
We had a lot of money
We had a little son and we thought we'd call him Sonny
Sonny gets married and moves away
Sonny has a baby and bills to pay
Sonny gets sunnier
Day by day by day by day

I've been waking up at sunrise
I've been following the light across my room
I watch the night receive the room of my day
Some people say the sky is just the sky
But I say
Why deny the obvious child?
Why deny the obvious, child?

Sonny sits by his window and thinks to himself
How it's strange that some rooms are like cages
Sonny's yearbook from high school
Is down from the shelf
And he idly thumbs through the pages
Some have died
Some have fled from themselves
Or struggled from here to get there
Sonny wanders beyond his interior walls
Runs his hand through his thinning brown hair

Well, I'm accustomed to a smoother ride
Maybe I'm a dog that's lost his bite
I don't expect to be treated like a fool no more
I don't expect to sleep the night
Some people say a lie is just a lie
But I say the cross is in the ballpark
Why deny the obvious child?

wonder what's up with all the guinea pigs in my life lately?

2009-10-09T15:45:00.003-05:00

I'm at work, skimming a book called The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment (by A.J. Jacobs). Go ahead: click over to Amazon and read the description. I'll wait.

Thanks. So, the section that I read (yup, every word, beginning to end) was about the married and male A.J. acting as 'Cyrano' for a female friend who was online dating. There are funny, snarky anecdotes and some sweet bits that make you think. But overall, I'm left with two questions. First, isn't it rather horrible to contemplate dating someone based on "courting" that someone else has done for you? And second, isn't there some romantic and/or emotional connection implied there, between the "courting" couple, that would actually be made between the suitor and A.J. himself, the lovely Michelle's stand-in? No doubt I'd have done better to have stayed out of the choosing a mate portion of the game (at any point), but I'm not sure that I would ever trade the part where you actually make the decision (such as it is) to form the attachment.

Still, it's making me think. Not such a bad thing for the middle of a Friday afternoon.

lip fuzz?

2009-10-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

You Are a Mustache

You are eccentric and even a bit of a weirdo. You are a bit out of step with the mainstream, and you honestly don't care.

You have cultivated some unusual interests and practices. And you definitely have a sense of personal style that's highly unique.

You have a bizarre sense of humor. No one ever really gets when you are joking, and you tend to laugh at things that other people don't find funny.

You approach the world with sincerity. The problem is, no one else understands that you're being genuine.

What Kind of Facial Hair Are You?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

not even close to safe for work

2009-10-07T17:02:00.001-05:00

Go to UrbanDictionary.com and type in your answer to each question in the search box, then write the first definition it gives you.

Your full first name?
to take, hold, or steal your heart. a person who is a soulmate. a good lover. - awwwwwww

Your age?
The act of doggy style, hitting it from the back ferociously, sliding up to the bumper in order to saddle up and ride. - hahahahahahaha...

What should you be doing?
A worldwide slave labour organisation used to control modern man and prevent independent thought from occurring in any form. This is the reason it's much harder to make anything of yourself working in creative arts, such as acting and singing - the government sees anyone more popular than them as a threat to their power. It is also an ingenious creation to make placebos such as computers and photocopiers look important to our way of life. Some may argue that the workplace is designed to build character and learn about teamwork...others prefer to think of it as the perfect place to practise your aiming skills as you throw ball after ball of scrunched up paper into the bin in the corner, then make a little competition out of it with fellow colleagues. - um, yeah.

Hometown:
[undefined] - as well it should be.

Month of your Birthday:
The idea of perfection. The 8th Month of the year in certain European and Asian cultures signifies greatness in achieving perfection, or something close to it. - um huh.

Last person you talked to on the phone:
The parent that takes the most shit. Sure, if you had a shitty father, then go ahead and bitch, but not all of us did. Some of us had great fathers, who really loved us, and weren't assholes. Honestly, if you could see how much damage a mother could do to one's self esteem, you wouldn't even place so much blame on "dear old dad." - defensive much?

Your last name:
Spanish origins, any person with such surname similar to has either a massive schlong or a great breasts. - ROFL

Your middle name:
An irresistible beautiful girl who can make her very special sexy friend hard and horny and is proud of it. - good gravy. These children need a hobby!

[snatched from The Cat, who got it here]

window to the soul

2009-10-06T13:13:00.001-05:00

Deep Down You are Mysterious

You're the type of person who hasn't figured yourself out, so good luck to anyone else who plans to try!

You are a mash-up of many contradictions, and your mood changes daily. Once find yourself, you've changed into someone else.

You don't show the world much about yourself. You are a person of few words and confusing actions.

You prefer to observe and learn about people before you chime in. You only say things that you are sure of.

The Eye Test

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

questioning my faith

2009-10-05T23:42:00.003-05:00

Why is it that my very best friends know just which questions to ask - and those happen to be the ones that are the very hardest to answer?

What demon lurked among those olive-trees,
Blackening your name, questioning my faith,
Raising sudden great flaws of desperate wind,
Making a liar of me?
Confess: was it the demon Jealousy?

Has there been any gift in these eight years
That ever you refused when gently asked?
Or that I ever chose to refuse you--
For fear of loving you too dearly--
However much I had failed to demand?

Forgive, and teach me to forgive myself.
This much we know: lifting our faith above
All argument and idle contradiction,
We have won eternity of togetherness
Here in this tall tower blessed for us alone.

[Robert Graves, ‘The Tower of Love’, from At the Gate]

looking back (and it's a perfect square!)

2009-09-25T12:49:00.000-05:00

Where did you get the shirt your currently wearing?
Hudson's in Rkfd, which is now Macy's, after a N!C Cat meeting many moons ago. I wanted a black blouse with black buttons. I found this and loved it...until I realized that while it is indeed a black blouse with black buttons, it has tiny white polka-dots on the inside of the cuffs and underside of the collar. By that point I'd already fallen in love, though, and bought it anyway. It's been a go-to for a long time.

Who do you currently like?
Gayle, my dear friend who's being married tomorrow. And my brother. And Paul Simon, whose "The Cool, Cool River" is still wandering through my brain. And Chuck, who delivers for World Famous Pizza. And....

Sunrise or Sunset?
sunset is more my speed, I guess - though sunrise is certainly dramatic, particularly when enjoyed surprisingly with someone you love.

What time did you go to bed last night?
midnight

Time you woke up?
7:33

What movie is in your DVD player?
NCIS, Season 6 Disc 1

What month were you born in?
August

Who's your favorite sportscaster?
Renton Laidlaw

How old were you when you figured out your parents weren't heroes?
maybe 12

What one band/singer can you just not listen to, even though everyone else thinks they are all that + chips?
John M#ll#ncamp

Have you ever been to Mexico?
nope - not yet

Do you make your bed daily?
not even close

Your favorite movie?
The Professional

Who last called you by something other than your name (i.e. "dear" or "babe")?
Gary

Single or taken?
in a manner of speaking, yes

Do you own slippers?
yup. In more than one state, even.

Can you skip stones?
no, but I'm good at drowning them.

Do you remember the first time you were VERY sick (fever, etc.)?
not hardly. I'm the youngest of the 3 in my family and one of 40+ cousins - if it was going around, I got it.

How many piercings do you have?
6, and counting

What do you think of Tom Cruise?
he's a very weird, formerly skilled actor

What brand of computer are you using?
Dell

From where you are sitting, how many picture frames can you see?
23. (I am at work.)

Do you use the spiral light bulbs that save energy or the regular bulb-shaped ones?
Spiral, if they fit in the fixture.

Who was the last person you called?
probably Debbie

Who was your favorite teacher?
Seymour

Are you afraid of the dark?
no. Nothing's there in the dark that's not there in the light

Can you roll your tongue?
yes I can

Who was the last person to call you?
the mystery person from 213

Best fast food?
Taco John's

How was your day?
it will get lots better in about 28 minutes

What is the last game you played?
Mafia Wars

Have you ever eaten at T.G.I. Friday's?
yes - probably with The Cat, even

Can you skateboard?
not for long enough that it might be scary/funny

How about play an instrument?
passable piano

How much money do you have on you right now?
nothing "on me"; maybe $90 in my wallet, which is elsewhere

Song you're listening to right now?
at the moment, I can hear a baby squawking uncontrollably, her mother's cell phone chirping unabated, lots of keyboards clicking, and traffic

Who's in your house?
there'd better be no one in my house, since I'm not there. I guess the landlords could be...?

What are you doing today?
working. Trying to find something to wear to the wedding. Probably having a beer for the first time in a couple of weeks, if this day keeps going like it is now.

Who did you get this survey from?
see below

What side of the bed do you sleep on?
mine

Who was the last person in/on your bed other than you?
the delivery guy, I suppose?

Where was the best hotel you've ever stayed?
probably Miami, or maybe Santa Fe

Your favorite season?
autumn

Do you look more like your mom or your dad?
yes. There's no doubting I'm their kid, either one of them.

Where are you going on vacation this summer?
this past summer I went to MN and TX. This coming? God knows.

What sport do you hate the most?
not a fan of true soccer, 'cause if I wanted to watch running, I'd watch running. I also don't find animal racing to be "sporting."

What color was your bedroom when you were 5?
apple green

What was the first radio station you remember listening to?
WIZM

Something you're looking forward to in the future?
(it's hard to look forward to the past, isn't it?) Receiving notice that my loans are paid in full.

Have you ever had something stolen from you? Did you get it back?
Yes. No.

Campfires: better in summer or winter?
winter. When you're truly cold, then warmth feels warmer.

What were the names of your next door neighbors in the dorms in college?
I never lived in the dorms.

Fishing, or hunting?
Given the choice I'd rather fish, though I don't eat fish. However, I'm a strong advocate for hunting in general.

What color is your bedspread?
white

Brick or siding?
brick looks better, most of the time, but is impractical and prohibitively expensive.

Have you ever watched Aqua Team Hunger Force?
Yup, and I will do it again.

Favorite current song?
I wouldn't date myself by claiming to know anything about "current." I do like the new Killers CD that we just got....

Have you ever been to an art museum?
Is there a person on this planet who can't answer Yes to this??

Do you like Mexican food?
Love it.

Are you a loyal person?
Yes. Probably too much so.

When's the last time you showered?
I can't recall. Oh, wait: it was 7:45 this morning.

When is the last time you mowed the lawn?
third year of college, maybe?

What do your pants look like?
dark blue cropped jeans

Favorite cartoon to watch?
Bugs Bunny

The Cat

here

what are the odds?

2009-09-22T16:49:00.002-05:00

I almost never receive telephone calls. It is particularly rare for me to get wrong numbers.

Yesterday during mid-afternoon, I had a call from area code 702. I didn't answer, because I didn't recognize the number (and I was at work).

Today, around the same time, I got one from 213. Again, I didn't recognize the number, and I was already a little leery because of the missed call/no message yesterday.

Weird. Very weird. What are the odds?

No - I'm serious: anybody know what the odds are, of something like that happening randomly?

that would be a 'no'

2009-09-21T19:46:00.001-05:00

As always, I have italicized the portions that apply to me.

You Are Unfocused and Depressed

You view people with optimism. You have many meaningful relationships in your life.

You had more conflict with your father than your mother. Your relationship with him was healthy but challenging.

You don't deal with stress well. Even moderately stressful events tend to send you in a tailspin.

It's hard for you to multitask. You feel easily overwhelmed and frightened in this modern world.

The Inkblot Test

Blogthings: We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

why I want to write

2009-09-21T10:41:00.001-05:00

ver. 9.21.09

from The Invisible Mountain by Carolina de Robertis