Lame

Matt and I have been looking forward to camping this weekend for months. We arn't camping. They kept saying high surf and bad rain. So we decided to have Prime Rib, and friends over for dinner.

It will be AOK to sleep in our bed and not in a tent in the cold.

Chances are it won't rain, and the sun would have be bright and shiny the whole time. Our loss.

Sewing

My sister encouraged my mom and I to watch Project Runway. So yesterday, I spent 4 hours catching up. I really enjoyed it, so many funny personalities. But really I'm most drawn to the actual designing.

My friend Katrina has decided to master making lingerie. She wants to be able to look back in a number of years and say "blank" is my thing. Hooray for lingerie! I hope she'll let me help, and teach me in the process. All I have to say is thank goodness she has a dress makers form!

She also has a new iron. Katrina has mentioned her new iron both in person and in email. It must really rock. The iron junkie in me is afraid to try it; it may be instantly addicting. I'll be making excuses to bring over my wrinkled clothing just to use it. A sewing day is planned for January. Maybe we can use all the fabric for bridal veils for lingerie? I'm way more likely to use the lingerie.

The new camcorder

We got a call from UPS last night offering to let us pick up the package. We agreed and drove to the UPS place this morning.

UPS was pretty much a nightmare. Lots of mad people that they can't find their packages.

They found ours in minutes. We got the hell out of there, as some people were waiting for well over an hour.

As Matt was getting the package out of the truck I noticed the taped up hole on the botttom. We opened it up and everything seemed there, but the camera box was open and there was no manuel. So rather than risk keeping something that was damaged in shipment, we are returning it.

Bummer.

No video record of Christmas 2005

PKG DELAY-
ADD'L SECURITY CHECK BY GOV'T OR OTHER AGENCY-
BEYOND UPS CONTROL

I'm sad, I was planning to spend the weekend learning how to use our new camcorder.

Miscellaneous

I paid for over priced 3 day UPS to Maine from California just so I wouldn't have to stand in line at the PO for 45 minutes.

In the time I saved I
1. Bought a crappy pathetic Christmas tree. I love its retardedness, it fits. I will post pictures when it is decorated.

2. Went to Target to purchase all of Matt's gifts. I bought pretty much all chick presents, a new sugar bowl, a new stainless steel (no Teflon) 10 inch frying pan, and a wallet. He doesn't read this, so I'm not worried about being a spoiler. I'll might get a gift certificate to the new sushi place down the street.
The no teflon is because they are scratched after a day and a half.

3. Dropped of 4 bags of crap to me/new to you items at Goodwill.

I was home 1 hour after I left work!

Sadly, a co-worker passed away this weekend. Not the cancer co-worker, she thankfully is still holding on, day by day. This co-worker drove a laundry truck, every morning we'd greet each other as he was pulling 3 or 4 carts of linens. He choked on a piece of food and freaking died. So sad, he has 4 children the youngest just a baby. He worked 2 full time jobs to support his family. He worked at the hospital for 15 years. Crazy.

We of course then debated the Heimlich maneuver throughout the day. Could you do it? Most of us decided that if it was a bigger man there is no way we could do it. I'd have to throw them over a chair and hope to clear the passage. We don't know if anyone was with him at the time he choked so we don't know if they attempted to use the Heimlich.

Blogger doesn't know the word Heimlich. It does however suggest that you use Homology. Homology doesn't mean what you might think it means, or at least it doesn't mean what I thought it meant. And to be honest, even after reading the definition I'm still not sure what it means.

COLDPLAY

I have the tickets to the show in February! I'm super excited.

The only possible snag could be the Grammy's. They are 4 days later, right in the middle of the worst time of the year for Matt at work. So if he can't go, I'll have to take a friend. I wonder if any of my friends would want to tag along with me?

We have semi good seats.

creative slumber

I am ready to arise from my long absence of creativity. I had decided to take the summer off so that I could take a bit of a break from working with clay. It gets to be a bit much to look at; clay isn't the kind of project one can put away and get out each time the mood strikes; it sits on my craft table and honestly I'm a bit messy. I did not expect to extend the break throughout the rest of the year. I am mending well and I think I can get back into the creative mode soon. I have my hopefully last dr. appointment on Monday.

I’m a little stagnant. I plan to purchase some inspiring magazines or perhaps a whole new thing altogether. Recenlty, I’ve pulled out a few different projects that are incomplete and I have no desire to complete them, so I just put them back for another day. I hate that.

I’ve thought about doing some sewing, painting and various other activities but they are all unattractive at this moment.

I think maybe after the holidays I will awake from my slumber. Even if I really don't have any new and fresh ideas, sometimes they don't strike until I'm actually working, I will get everything out in early January.

Today I am Christmas shopping. I know what I’m getting the nieces/nephews and my parents. Now to find the perfect gift for my husband; we’ve decided to stick to gifts related to our trip, but it isn’t too much fun to just open long johns and flannel shirts. I’ll find something fun.

Matt keeps asking what I want for Christmas. Today the answer came to me in the form of a commercial on the radio. Coldplay, with hopefully backstage passes, the Forum February 4, 2006. Tickets go on sale Saturday. If we buy the tickets, the passes will come, right? This is Hollywood after all and I do have a husband with the hook up. Oh and if the rumors are correct, stupid Gwyneth won't be in my way to spoil my fun cause who wants to go on tour with a toddler and be like 6 months pregnant. Right?

Please Santa Claus bring me front row Coldplay tickets to me for Christmas.

2 things I know for sure

1. I booked our tour for Denali National Park today.

Tundra Wilderness Tour, 54 Miles One Way, 6-8 hours Round Trip For visitors wanting to know about Denali National Park’s varied landscapes and wildlife, this 6-8 hour fully narrated tour takes visitors to the Toklat River at mile 54 of the Park Road. While we can’t predict nor promise when and where wildlife may show up, this tour travels deep into the heart of the park and will allow you ample opportunity to look for Dall sheep, moose, caribou and the elusive grizzly bear. On days when Denali (Mt. McKinley) is visible, it may be possible to travel to Stony Hill Overlook at mile 62 where the mountain first becomes fully visible from base to summit - an impressive view. There are two general departure times daily: the AM departures leaving generally between 5:30am and 7:30 am are designed to get you back for the afternoon train to Fairbanks, while the PM departures allow you to arrive on the noon train from Fairbanks, departing generally between 1:30pm and 3:00pm. Exact departure times are not guaranteed and are based on availability.

2. And cousin Tom's amazing set up http://www.knikglacier.com/

I want to do this (and the air boat and the kayak and of course the flight tour):
GLACIER CAMP OVERNIGHT
Hunter Creek Adventures is pleased to offer our fully outfitted wilderness tent camp, located at the face of the Knik Glacier. Glacier Camp has a front row seat to one of south central Alaska's most spectacular natural wonders. This is the Alaska you dreamed about; wild, rugged, and stunningly beautiful! Knik Glacier has been in a retreat for 7 years and puts on a spectacular show daily. Listen to the sound of white thunder echo off the mountains as Icebergs the size of 5 story buildings tumble into the new lake. Watch Dall sheep, moose and bears graze in nearby meadows Glacier Camp is fully outfitted for a quick visit or a multi day adventure. We supply Tents, sleeping bags, bear proof food storage, tables, chairs, bbq grill, ice box and camp kitchen. You supply a sense of adventure warm cloths, sturdy footwear and lots of film. This is a remote camping experience and we are the only overnight camp here. When the boat leaves chances are good you will not see another person until the boat comes to pick you up the next day. Bring your own food or allow us to provide meals for you.

We pick up the camper on Monday and I made the Denali reservations for the following Sunday. We'll have almost a full week of unscheduled adventures!

baking

I've made russian tea cakes, triple chocolate almond biscotti and hiden mint chocolate wafer cookies (they kinda suck). On the list to do, truffles, various dipped in chocolate items, thumb print cookies and ginger snowflakes. Maybe more, maybe less. Oh and rum balls once I get my mom's recipe.

Also in very exciting news, I'm seeing Coldplay at the Tonight Show tomorrow with Katrina. Coldplay is my most favorite band.

There is also an off chance that I will get to go to an Ellen taping, hopefully during the 12 days of giveaways! That would rock.

We have the whole VIP set up for the Tonight Show and Katrina has never been to a TV taping. Sir Anthony Hopkins and Howie Mandel are the guests. But really it is all about Coldplay. The last time I went to a taping teh musical guest was Enrique Iglesias, Leno couldn't pronouce his name correctly, Inglesias, he did about 12 takes.

I do not have to return to work until Wednesday.

my grandpa

He died today.

It's freaking freezing

Usually my work area is hot, today it was so damn cold that I used a heel warmer to warm my fingers. (A heel warmer is an instant hot pak that we use to warm heels of babies so they bleed real nice) I normally always have a sweater, and today I wore a jacket. I will not make that mistake again, I think I look sloppy in my jacket working at my desk.

I met our new Chief of Staff today I was embarassed at how cold my hands were shaking his hand.

I ran into Bill today, that was a wonderful suprise. Bill was a life long friend to Jimmy. He always says he'll call me when making rounds and never did, I hope he will next time.

I also ran into my favorite Dr. Patel, it is always nice to see him and get a quick hug.

Sconce

I've decided to make a sconce. I watched Ty Pennington on Oprah make a very cool sconce out of a piece of wood and an uplight last season. I use to really like Ty, back when he used his inside voice.

I plan to develope the concept into something with clay. I want to acheive the look of fused glass, but without the super bright colors. I'm not quite sure how I will make it work. I thought about magic mesh, but I really don't want the grid look. What is clear, plyable and heat resistant? And of course affordable?

More on death

I wrote the earlier post this morning at work. The blog from work thing works just fine, I only need to remember to bring my memory key so I don't have to email it home. But anyway, on to death.

While of course I still miss Jimmy, I know it was his time and I hope his afterlife is exactly as he described in fascinating detail to Matt and I one afternoon.

More death is around me today. I work right next to the pathology transcriptionists. They are allowed to have food and drink in their room; sometimes when I don't want to be be in total gross violation of my department rules, I'll drink some of my coffee in their area and chat. I got to know them pretty well when I started my job as the lab secretary a number of years ago. They are a fun group of women, I really enjoy them. One of them has ovarian cancer. Today the girls quietly made the rounds to all of her friends that she has 48 hours to live. She hasn't wanted visitors, so really only a couple of the pathologist (are your doctor friends visitors?) and one other transcriptionist visit her. BTW for context, she is a patient at my work, so visiting is only an elevator ride. So today myself and 2 of my other close coworkers went to visit our friend. In between treatments she became well enough to come back to work, she wore her wig at first, then when her hair was long enough she was all natural, full cute head of hair. Today, she looked 90. It is so completely weird to see her as a 100% different person on the outside. But her spirit is alive and kicking, she was looking forward to getting her lung drained, she said it was a pretty cool experience to have that happen yesterday.

The worst was her husband. He was the saddest man I have ever seen in my life. He couldn't stop crying. I was told to be prepared for both him and her and that I needed to be ready to visibly see them. Even though she looked like a little old lady, he broke my heart. I reached out to touch his shoulder and asked if there was anything we can do for him, he just looked at me with blood red eyes and tears streaming down his face and said no, but thank you.

There are good people around them. I will keep them in my good thoughts and I hope that he can look back in one year and find peace.

More death? No there can't be, right?

Grandpa. He can't swallow, he has tumor in the bronchial area. He doesn't say much anymore, and is on pain meds so he isn't really present. My aunt Kim said, Despite his crotchity shortcomings, I do love him. I'm sad that my mom is loosing her dad. And even though I have selfishly joked about how I'm eager to use the bereavement pay and stay home and paint, I will miss not having any grandparents. Although he isn't in what they call "dying mode" he isn't going to bounce back.

Jimmy 3-12-27 to 12-1-04

December 1, 2004 it was the day before the set up for my first big craft fair. It was a 3 day deal at the fairgrounds and I had a ton to do to get ready.

I need to purchase carpet and a few last minute items from home depot and various other things that a year later I can’t even remember. I went to the carpet store down the street from his house, they are always over priced and I continually get frustrated with their Arab style of customer service, especially when dealing with a woman. They quoted me $80 for a remnant 8x5, I declined and said I’d go elsewhere. As I drove out of the parking lot, 3 blocks from his house I thought about turning right and just popping in to say hello. I’m really not the stop by unannounced type of girl so I decided against it, and anyway I’d spend too much time with him and then not get done all that needed to be done. I turned left.

I drove knowing I could find a carpet store that wouldn’t charge so much for scraps, I did. I paid a perfect $10 for a 10x8 piece of crappy brown carpet. It was perfect. It must have been late morning by the time I got home, maybe even just a bit after noon.

There was a voice mail, it was from Pete, it was Jimmy. He is bad and he is going to the hospital. Please call him back right away. I called and told Pete that I just had too much to do today and I can help him out. I called Matt and told him Jimmy was going to the hospital, at some point in that conversation I decided to call Pete back and tell him I’d meet up with him. Jimmy was taken to Pacifica Hospital, not my choice of hospital, but you go where they take you. I left to pick Matt up from work and then drove the few more miles to the hospital. We ran into Pete in the parking lot, he was being Pete. Matt and I went over to the ER, Jimmy already had 2 people with him, but soon Brian came out and I went in. Jimmy was grey and pale and seemed to be in a tremendous amount of pain. He was hooked up to various machines and Denise was sitting on a stool holding his hand under the piles of blankets. He seemed so pleased to see me, I would have regretted forever had I not gone to be with my friend Jimmy when he needed me.

Jimmy and I met not too long after I moved here when I began working as a bartender at the Queen Mary. It was during a rather personally difficult time in my life, I was honestly a bit lost. We didn’t get to know each other until later; he had some medical issues and I ended up working his shifts until he recovered. He came back to work and he was the best bartender that I have ever worked with, he was fun, clean and didn’t waste time flirting with the customers. Not that one wants to flirt with a 60 year old man in a ball gown and wig pretending to be Sally for the night. Did I mention that the Queen Mary is a drag bar? We forged a friendship behind the bar, the difference in our age was never an issue, he was 70 I was in my late 20s and we could talk about anything. Our friendship grew and I began visiting with him for hours on end at his house.

I long for the afternoons with Jimmy or the whole days for that matter. He lived just a couple of miles away from me and always welcomed me with open arms. During my various unemployment stints, you could find me on the couch next to him, solving the issues of the world. He was my confidant when it came to Matt. He loved watching our relationship unfold and grow into what we are today. He would scold me and praise me and comfort me, and always had great advice.

Jimmy was the first place Matt and I would visit after returning from a trip to AZ to visit his dad. Matt’s dad use to winter in an old folk’s retirement trailer park, the old folks float away the day on a noodle in the over heated salt water pool, complaining about their aches and pains and looking at pictures of the grandkids. Jimmy was our dose of reality; old age can be hip and cool.

At the hospital, Denise and I were trying to comfort Jim. We were both scared; we were all scared for that matter. Jimmy couldn’t get warm. I found the linen closet and covered him with a few more blankets. I tried to hold his hand, but my hands were too cold. “Child your hands are like ice.” The words ‘Oh Jo it hurts so much’ ring in my ears today; him sitting up writhing in pain, asking for something to make it go away. Even with my limited clinical knowledge I knew that they couldn’t give him anything for the pain, but that didn’t stop me from asking the nurses to see what they can do for him. The physicians came in to discuss the situation with Jimmy, Denise and I. The doctor drew a diagram on the bed sheet, telling us that Jimmy had a bleed in his lower abdomen. He looked at Jimmy and asked why he didn’t have surgery when they told him he had this bleed. Jimmy spoke right back to the man and said he was never told anything. Even through the pain, he still joked and was the Jimmy we all loved. He said that he was ready for what ever will happen, we didn’t mention death, but we knew that was what he meant. He was at peace and he wasn’t scared, at least not scared of that. I’m sure that one is anxious when you are in a hospital bed no matter how “ready” you may be.

Selfishly, I’m glad they delayed the pain meds as long as they did I will never forget what we saw when they did finally give a morphine injection. Denise said it best; he went out on the high of his life. We left our numbers for the doctor to call us when he was out of surgery. I know that I left feeling that it was probably the end, but I don’t that any of us voiced our deep down feelings.

I got a phone call from the physician sometime after 5. Jimmy didn’t make it through the surgery. He had lost liters of blood and it was just too much for his body to handle. He was bleeding internally, probably for months. I called Pete and Denise. I knew that we needed to go over to Jimmy’s house. We were one of the first people to arrive that night. The longer we sat the more people came. Soon it was a room full of people, more people than places to sit. We talked about how long we knew our friend, how much he meant to us, how we had just been there the day before or the week prior and he seemed fine. Most of all we talked about how much we’d miss him. We sat around his living room a new community, and new beginning.

One of Jimmy’s passions was making mixed tapes. He would take the best and make it even better. On November 30, 2004 Jimmy completed his final masterpiece. The compilation CD is entitled “Immortal Spirit”.

How is that for knowing that the end was near? In hindsight we knew he knew that the end was near. He had fixed all his finances, he had arranged for the Neptune Society to deal with his body, but best of all he went on a HUGE shopping spree.

In the days after his death the boxes started arriving. Boxes filled with the beautiful items he lusted after in the glossy catalogs that came nearly every day. He bought all of the fine glass vases from the Smithsonian; he bought a fairy that looks remarkably like our Max; a stunning Lion statue for Pete, forever the Leo. Best of all he bought t-shirts for all of his friends. Pete asked that I come open the boxes and determine who is who and what is what. Included in the many boxes was one box from a Chef magazine, 2 mandolins, 2 sets of silicon spatulas and 2 strainers. All of the items we both coveted and I knew he had bought for me; I split them up between Lisa and myself.

We had a beautiful party a couple weeks later. I burned a few dozen copies of his last mix and made cd covers with a wonderful smiling Jimmy for us all to treasure. The weather was more than perfect, we gathered inside and out. We remembered and cried and reconnected. Of course we all promised to keep in touch. We all had good intentions I know we think of each other and the wonderful man we all shared, even if we don’t still talk today.

Over the last year Denise and I have created a great friendship, we have a special bond knowing that we were there comforting him and each other as he died. We both believe he was gone as soon as that morphine hit his blood stream.

I still managed to get all that needed to be done for the craft fair done. I’m sure the events of the day prior to the event put me in a whole different mindset for the fair, but my friend Rose was wonderful. She kept me laughing and kept things entertaining and gave me warm hugs.

A few weeks before he died he told me he got me a subscription to TIME. I always would page through TIME while visiting him discussing the current events and how we felt about the leaders of the world. I received my first issue the day after he died, I received my last yesterday.

I miss him and always will.

Pictures from the park

8 years ago

8 years ago tomorrow Matt and I had our first date. My dear friend Jimmy use to say, "you chased him until he caught you". It was a long chase and well worth it.

Chocolate

Once when my parents were visiting, we went to the museum of natural history to see the History of Chocolate. We all found it quite interesting. Being the marketing genius that those museums are you exited right into a chocolate store. Everything chocolate. My mom promptly stated that my dad would spend at least $50. She was right.

One of the chocolates my dad purchased was a Fire Bar. A large chocolate bar mixed with spicy spices and a creation of flavor I had never experienced. We tasted many, many chocolates that day. Including some mole and various other entree type food mixed with the dark and light delightful chocolate. But really the Fire Bar stuck in my mind.

Quite a long time after the visit to the museum I found the company that makes the coveted Fire Bar. Vosges Chocolate I have placed one order. It came in a lovely package and everything was wonderful. I do prefer the soft truffles to the hard shelled. But these are very good. The order arrived just in time for another visit from my parents. I shared each of the chocolate bars they had at the time. (3 new ones since then!) Again my favorite is the Fire Bar.

The best side effect of ordering from this inspiring company is the mail you get following! OMG, I get catalogs all the time. The pictures are amazing. The stories are interesting. The descriptions are enticing. It makes me want to order more. Even though it is super expensive. I will order more their marketing does work. I also get emails with yummy pictures, enough to make you drool.

So do your self a favor. Order some chocolate. The catalogs that follow make it totally worth the price of the purchase.

BTW, this chocolate is the source of my inspiration of the cookies. I am going to perfect them tomorrow. Cookies for all at work on Monday!

I still have bursitis

YAY! No tear, only a tiny bit of fraying of my tendons. The inflammation should subside within 4-6 months and I shouldn't have any more trouble. My prescription is to do aggressive stretching and yoga. I can do both.

I participated in a state wide disaster drill today. I played a victim, actually many different victims actually. The disaster was a bomb explosion at a hotel convention center (the Hilton in Burbank) after they set up triage outside in the parking lot there was another explosion in the triage area. Then another blast on the main route from there to the hospital. We had 50 victims. I was an older woman who had a large abdominal wound and was sent to the OR. Rather than go to the OR she wandered away and they had to call the cops to find her walking down the street. My personal favorite was the playing the woman who was 7 months pregnant and contaminated. They decon'd me the sent me to L&D and I delivered the babies. I decided to have twins because I couldn't choose a boy or a girl. I was also a few different men, most with hearing loss due to the blast and abdominal pain due to some biological agent in the bombs. It was fun. I like working with different people and these type of drills are always filled with people you only see in passing. Next time they are going one step further and having make up people from the studios come over and do "real" injuries!

I went grocery shopping today. I spent $109 and feel like I hardly bought anything. I suppose the impulse purchase of a $18 prime rib roast, $15.99 tequlia and then $15 worth of water made it seem like so little. I also for the very first time in my entire life bought brussel sprouts. Why you ask? I don't know. But I plan to steam them with some raisins, (the did not have currents) and make myself like them. I'll let you know how it goes. My dad would be jealous!

MRI

I had an MRI of my shoulder today. Prior to the procedure I requested valium. So now I'm home, eating berry pie and watching Starting Over.

The last time I had an MRI it was followed up with Legally Blond with Matt. If I had timed this better I could have come full circle and went to see Walk the Line post MRI. I'll settle for comfy pants and Days of Our Lives and the 20th anny of Oprah.

picture random

I am working on creating a cookie recipe for the November recipe contest on epicurious.com. The theme is cakes and cookies. In my recipe, I recreate some chocolate chips to have a bit more kick and add some fruit for balance. I'll post the recipe when it is perfected.


the cookies, good but not perfect


Chase-er-meow-meow licking her chops, she doesn't like cookies.



Me


Matt and I at Katrina's for a bbq. Matt made his famous ribs, sadly no pictures.


Katrina and Christina


Katrina eating Scott's apple and pomagranet pie



Matt and I again


stalker?

Neighborhood relics

My Doctor posted about the 1940's air raid sirens. I live across the street from one and just last week commented that I think it is a siren of some sort. Matt thought it was just a wire depot or whatever. Here are some pictures others have compiled. My personal siren is not pictured.

http://www.polarinertia.com/sep05/raid01.htm

Deep Thoughts

I'm sick and tired of Natalie Hallaway and her mother. Why are they still in the news? I've done some really, in hindsight, stupid things in my life. Sure it could have been me, but when you put yourself into situations that could endanger your life you stand a risk of something bad happening. And if you choose to go to a darkened beach with a boy you just met in Aruba you made your choice. The same damn thing happens here, it happens at Venice Beach, Jones Beach, beach town USA. I don't see any of those mothers on television. Our justice system is just as screwed up, but we don't call for a boycott of that; nope you just move to a state that allows you to live as you choose regardless of guilt. I'm sorry that she is missing and possibly dead, but slandering the entire country of Aruba isn't going to bring her back, it will probably work against you in the end. Speaking of white girls in the news whatever happened to Chandra Levy, who killed her?

Matt asked me this weekend what ever happened to Reggie the alligator. I’ll have to direct him to his blog. It seems that Reggie has gone into hibernation for the winter, it IS getting cold here.
http://savereggie.blogspot.com/

I’m not voting today. I don’t have any good excuses except I don’t care. I’m just glad it is today and I won’t get any more phone calls from Arnold, or the abortion people and the commercials that run every 4 seconds will stop. I may change my mind and force Matt to go with me. I’ll let you know what happens.

My friend Rose finds free stuff on the internet and has stuff sent to my home. Today Joe Anna received Oguma. Oguma you say? It is the Aqua Key Ion Complex Elite. The kit contains a spray bottle and some face masks. What I gather from the pictures, I’ve yet to read the directions. You spray your face and you then have positive Ions. You can use the mask for the deep Ion refreshment. I haven’t tried it but I did smell it. It smells like nothing, maybe water. Which prompted me to review the ingredients:
ICE-Ion Complex Elite, nanotech molecular water, oxygen.
That explains why it smells like water, it is water.

What does this mean? It is not unusual to find milk flush or exzema immediately after spraying Aquakey due to causes such as waste residue or toxic substance stored in skin, it is of natural metabolism. Reduce the spray amount by 50% until condition disappears. I’m not so sure about this product. I think I’ll have Matt try it and see if he gets milk flush.

It is freaking water in a spray bottle, I swear.

I have a 3 day weekend. Friday I plan to rent a dirt doctor and shampoo the carpets. I don’t know if I can actually do it, but I want to. My shoulder thus far has not been keen on vacuuming.

I nearly have a 4 day weekend, if all goes as planned on Monday. I have an MRI at 9:30, so maybe if I’m brave enough I’ll just go home after. I already emailed my supervisor telling him I think I won’t be back. So maybe I’ll just work 3 hours then come home and watch day time tv! Whoot!

Reservations Made

I know that May is still forever away, but I just made the reservations for our camper in Alaska!

We will be sleeping in a truck camper for 9 nights. 4 nights will be spent with Tom in Palmer.

Now to make the Denali camping reservations. OMG, we're going to Alaska!

Days of Our Lives

Tonight was the night! I pulled into the parking garage, and the lot was full. I pouted a bit and the guy asked me my name. I said Joanna. He left to get "the list" and came back and said that sadly I wasn't on the list. The names on the list were Ken Corday (producer), Deidre Hall(Marlena)... yes; I'm not on that list I KNOW those names. I asked him what I was supposed to do and he said he didn't know, I pouted a bit more and he took my keys and gave me a ticket. YAY. I then asked him where I could get a drink. He didn't have any suggestions. I walked out and checked out the line.

It was 5:15 and I didn't really want to stand in line for an hour. I kept walking and saw the Cheesecake Factory. Bingo. I don't know why I forgot about the CF. I saw one seat at the bar and politely asked the woman sitting next to it if it was available. It was. I sat, ordered a cosmo and perused the menu. I heard the women next to me mention details of Days or DOOL if you are a true fan. I said “Oh are you guys going to the days thing?”. All three women sneered at me and said yes, then as if an after thought the woman next to me asked quite rudely if I was. I snotted right back to her yes. Snotty bitches. I tried my best to ignore them and listen to every word they said while I read the menu and watched the football/basketball game.

The bitches left and I finished my (gasp) second drink. $25 later, I left and walked the two blocks to the TV & Radio Museum. The line was still outside, and I now a little buzzed and quite a bit braver, chatted with the old (70ish) couple behind me. Doug and Julie, two old time cast members go to their church, the one at Colfax and Moorpark where they filmed 7th Heaven. Once inside with tickets in hand I found a single seat in the middle. I asked the woman next to me if she was from LA. She was from out near Joshua Tree. I said that is a very special place in my heart. The woman she was with lives in JT. I told them all about my wedding and we bonded over DOOL. We brought the woman on the other side of me into the chit chat. Then all of the sudden the desert chick squeals and realized that it is Sunny from NY. ??? It seems that they all post on the same message boards, mainly Deidre Hall fan sites. The desert chick seriously knows everything about his other chick’s life. I can totally relate, even though I’m not a very active member of my own online community I know their little secrets and it would be weird if I happened to be sitting next to one of them. I give them both my card and they promised to keep in touch.

Soon the lights go dim, and the show begins. They began with a nice clip show and man do the Deidre fans scream when she comes on, wow! The moderator was only ok. It was great to see everyone in real life. On the panel was Ab, John Black, Marlena, Bo, Hope (she is sickly skinny), Ken Corday, Julie, and Doug. In the audience was Maggie, Sami, Carrie, Austin, Nicole and Frankie. There may have been more, but it was hard to tell. They discussed their auditions, the various plots, and different feelings they have for each other and the show. I learned that Ken Corday the son of the original producers. When his father died his mother took over. When she was ready to retire, he took over; 40 years one family. The super fans next to me give quite a spoiler that Marlena is actually married to Alex. I don’t know how that happens; but he isn’t Roman. He really is Roman, he is the OG Roman, the guy that we saw in Vail, CO when I was 15. But he isn’t Roman now, he’s been replaced multiple times, by John Black and Dylan’s dad from 90120.

There were a few fan questions, none of them very good. More along the lines of when are you going to have John and Marlena get a back together? I guess I’m in the minority for the reunion of Roman (Dylan’s dad) getting back together. I quickly learned to keep my thoughts to myself.

After they wrapped things up, there was a nice little reception. The food looked very good, I had an apple slice. Sami was walking towards me and I stopped her and told her how much I enjoyed her character and I thought she was really good. She is the only one who can draw real tears (ok so can Kate but not like Sami). I got my camera and asked some woman to take our picture. I lost the chance and she had her arm around a cute retarded boy, he was in front of me and seemed totally into it. Then someone else grabbed her for a picture. I said to the woman with my camera, oh well missed opportunity. As soon as Sami was done with the second picture she came back to me and said I know you wanted to have your picture taken with me! Hooray.

I also took pictures of Carrie, Ab, a few of Marlena (ok I got all swept up into her fan club, I don’t know if I’ll join, but I might run behind the bandwagon for a bit and check things out) John, Doug and Julie. All the others retreated straight to the green room and did not mingle with mere fans. I’m a tiny bit annoyed that they didn’t even spend 10 minutes in the crowd. Nobody was that crazy. They probably really are that crazy, cause they’ll hate your non mingling ass and let it be known all over the internet. I look forward to reading the boards.

Sami and I

Marlena (I'm such a fan I even took one of her at her car in the parking garage)

Carrie

John



there are a few more, I'll post them later.

Internet be damned

I am ineligible for consideration for the job at the other hospital due to my inappropriate use of the internet during business hours. FOR 6 MONTHS.

In good news, my manager is moving forward with me as the liaison for the physicians. I hope that it doesn't involve a new job title or something that would require me to request a transfer. Someone did say that it can be overruled if I am the highly qualified candidate.

I haven't even used the internet for one single purpose outside of work. It has been an incredibly interesting week politically. I LOVED reading all the articles on salon.com and keeping up on the state of our union. Unfortunately, I'd rather watch Days of Our Lives when I get home than read salon. But I have to watch Days, I'm going to the 40th anniversary seminar on Wednesday and I'd be shamed out of the room if I wasn't down with the comings and goings in the lives of the wonderful people of Salem.

I had my follow up appointment after the cortisone injection. The pain has been far worse following the injection, it took a full week for a partial recovery. The MD was not pleased. He is requesting an MRI. I hope that the MRI doesn't show a rotator cuff tear. I would prefer not to have surgery. In fact I do not want surgery, no thanks.

Camping Pictures

I don't really know how to use the photo layout, I loaded them in order, but they show up rather random.

We had my mom's chili recipe Friday. I also made cornbread, which you can see being grilled in bacon grease with the eggs! I was seriously impressed with my ability to make cornbread, I used those throw away pans and didn't even burn the bottom (too badly).

Saturday we had stuffed pork chops and ribs, along with a salad. Breakfast pictured above. Best of all were the pumpkin seeds hot off the fire, I marinated them for many hours in my own special pumpkin seed marinade. I only wish they lasted the night, sadly they were very soggy from the exteme morning dew.

Matt's pumkin was a punk who did time, you can't really see his tear drop tat, I named him Paco. My pumpkin is a gorilla, he doesn't have a proper name.

Tomorrow pictures

We had a great time camping. I'm too tired to post anything of note, so look for pictures tomorrow.

new job?

I check the job board ALL THE TIME. Like I know within a day if there is a new job posted. Yesterday I saw a great job for me, Patient Relations Coordinator. It isn't at my hospital but our sister hospital a little bit further away, but still in our hospital system, so I wouldn't loose my retirement plan.

I quickly got the paperwork together and called the recruiter. When I approached Donna, my new manager, she asked me a bunch of questions about why I want to leave, she has to sign off on the request to transfer before I am considered for an interview. The recruiter didn't leave me feeling very positive, the first thing she said is "well, we have had a chaplain apply" which I guess means she believes based upon his choice of careers he is more qualified. I didn't let that get me down, I redid my resume, called the Patient Relations Manager and told her I was applying for the job. She thinks I would be great, but really did not want to see me leave our hospital. Today Donna called me and said she wanted to ask a few more questions about the job and why I want to leave. I explained that I really do love my job and my hospital, but I am not stimulated and I don't think faciliting diagnosis is the best use of my qualities. She agreed. She asked if she re-created my job to be about 1/3 field work would I be interested. The field work would be visiting the doctors offices and training the staff, providing customer service and making sure that their needs are being met by the laboratory. I already do that but on a very small scale. She attended one lunch that did some training at the office and I guess she was impressed. She is going to present her plan to the powers that be tomorrow! She pulled me aside later in the day and told me she isn't just paying me lip service, she really wants to keep me in the lab, and I am the best candidate to be the liaison between the lab and the physicians. I told her that I think we are really missing out on providing a better level of service to our doctors, the sales rep gets the account and then we don't really hold their hands or honestly treat them all that good when they are new. Maybe because nobody pays a follow up call and tells them what our expectations and requirements consist of.

So I hope that on Monday she will have some great news for me.

Grrrrr

Over the last 6 months I have sent 1275 accounts to Medical Records for coding. Today I decided to do a random audit to make sure they are coding as requested. So far I have found about 50% that have either been coded wrong or not at all. I've only reviewed 75 accounts. I'm a bit angry with Medical Records. Why do I bother even getting the diagnosis if they don't code it and bill in the time frame set forth by Medicare? So tomorrow I need to review the other 1200 or so account and be prepared for a meeting on Thursday.

I need to change my planned camping menu for this coming weekend. I had planned to make chicken on a spit, but with just Matt and I that seems like too much work. I don't want to rotate the bird every 5 minutes for 4 hours, no thanks. We can have chicken cooked in the dutch oven or something equally as good. Maybe we'll even scrap making everything from scratch and purchase some of the beautiful meat from the fancy pants grocery store in Malibu. Yay Malibu.

Sunday Random

I watched Pretty Woman today. I never get tired of that movie, and I always cry at the end.

I purchased some new clothing. I love new clothes. I will wear some tomorrow.

I scheduled to have a cortizone injection into my shoulder tomrrow. I am dreading it.

Intervention begins a new season next week. Best terrible to watch show on tv.

I am making chicken breast, stuffed with left over homemade spinach artichoke dip, breaded and baked. We are also having chipotle ranch french fries and roasted corn. I'm hungry and it has at least an hour left.

Today Matt had a terrible headache. It freaks me out and makes me think of his mom. I told him he has to go to the doctor if he gets another bad one like today. He agreed.

today

4:55am: got in shower
5:11am cuddled with Chase-er-meow-meow and watched the news
5:17am began to get ready for work
5:45am kissed Matt goodbye, put 1/2 & 1/2 in my coffee cup and left for work ,
6:06 punched in, I am usually not so late, but I was still "on-time" because we have a 7 minute grace period.
6:09 disinfected my desk. I don't trust the night shift to not use my computer with dirty gloves or to have specimens at my desk.
6:11 checked the overnight print job, and printers. AOK
6:12 say good morning to the night shift and smatterings of day shift while checking the call in list
6:15 coffee, usually there are a bunch of phlebotomists and various scientists also having coffee, but not today. Sabir and Jose have coffee together everyday, they both do intense FISH and cytogentics studies; everyday the eat some cracker/cookie things and offer one to me, I always say no.
6:20 decide what I'm going to work on, surprise its diagnosis issues
6:21 finish writting up the tests ordered and also write down all the phone and fax numbers for Tracy. Tracy is recent grad who has been working with me for 3 years, she graduated in the spring. She is planning to go to grad school in the spring. She is wonderful.
6:45 send some faxes requesting diagnosis so we don't tie up the fax after the offices open
7:00 I was asked to give the opening reflection for the new Service Ambassador term. I choose the prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sowlove; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; wherethere is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there isdarkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so muchseek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to beloved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoningthat we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.Amen.

I copied it from my email into word and printed it out. When my co-worker left to fill supplies I practiced reading it out loud.
7:07 my annoying, doesn't pull her weight coworker showed up. I worked and chit chatted as people came in until 8:15
8:15 hot chocolate from the coffee shop
8:25 get ready to read the prayer
8:30 - 10:00 meeting time. The prayer was perfect and the new term should be great. I'm very pleased to be a part of the team. Our patient satisfaction scores have sky rocketed, they are up to 83.9% with a 3 year goal of 85%. We have 2 more months to make that goal. We went from the last hospital in the health system to the second, hopefully by the end of the year, we'll be up to #1!
10:10-11:00 worked on dx and checked and responded to various email
11:00 LUNCH half a chicken salad sandwich on rye and 5 carrot sticks and a water $1.50
I finished reading the article about Hi Poo Poo (I can't remember the actual name) it is where the tsunami hit and The Beach was filmed in Radar. (one of my many free magazine subscriptions, thank you Rose) The article started good but finished poorly.
11:30 back to work I guess I missed a blow up while at a the meeting, my lazy co-worker got mad that she was told she had to work at her desk and called the lead girls bitches and threw a bag at them. I didn't miss the fight 2 weeks ago when she went off on someone else. I worked on diagnosis BS until 1:15.
1:15 break with Karry. We usually go to the giftshop or the coffee place and look in the vending machines. I don't ever get anything from the vending machine, but I eat a few bites of whatever Karry gets. Today we also went to the gift shop as they are having a 50% off sale on halloween items. I got a black cat witch candle holder for $2.
1:30 work for another hour, wrap up the day and check in with Tracy
2:27 clocked out

After work I went to Naimie's beauty supply. I was hoping they would carry my new favorite hair product. They do not. I purchased some blotting rice paper for my crazy grease face, and looked at $100+ hair dryers and curling irons. Then I went to Gelson's, we have stopped cooking on Wednesday and do some sort of take out or dine out. Today it is turkey meatloaf, brown rice veggie salad, and garlic bread. I also bought some chicken bolognese sauce in case the meatloaf is dry. I hope it doesn't suck.

Now it is 4:50. I am going to spend the next 40 minutes watching Days of Our Lives. Matt should be home shortly after. From there, all I know is from 9:00-10:00 LOST!!!

I'm an addict

We had our health fair at work today. I had my BMI and fat index done, I'm a GOOD, my fat mass is 19.5% and my BMI is 20, excellent is less than 17 for the fat mass and less than 25 for the body mass. They put an electrode on your foot and hand and measure the fat mass by the flow of the current. I am down from last year. Which is suprising because I feel like a fat pig and I've gained a few pounds.

Now the bad news:
My cholesterol is 234! OMG, up over 70 points in the last year. I blame it on BACON. BACON I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Just this week I had you for breakfast on Monday and Wednesday and Thursday, wrapped around my amazing filet mingon on Wednesday, and wrapped around my pork loin last night. Why do you taste so good? Why are you so bad for me?

The change started today. I had oatmeal for breakfast and half of a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. I will only eat bacon when camping, I swear. I will exersize and I will eat less red meat.

I like to think that my cholesterol is an error. So in a few weeks after I have not eaten red meat 4 times in the week prior to the test and not eaten unhealthful amounts of BACON I will get retested.

Bacon YOU are no longer welcome on my plate.

Blog I miss you

I won't be posting in my blog quite as much. It seems that my new supervisor requested that our information systems department do an audit of my internet usage. Blogger, why aren't you, eonline, salon, cnn, television without pity, and various other sites work related? WHY?

Back in the late 90's early 00's I worked for a well know pornogapher. He published mainly glossy magazines, but really started to branch out into gambling and shops in my last year of employment. Magazines are magazines whether they feature a couple of nikkid girls in a farm scene with a pig, one of them peeing; or Consumer Reports. They all have to get to the printer on time. When you work for a montly magazine you tend to have some downtime in between deadlines. In my particular job, I had about 2.5 weeks of downtime a month. And what does one do with all that downtime? (aside from the 40 minute smoke breaks) You surf the internet. I like the internet, it is my friend. In those couple of years I developed long standing relationships with various websites. Websites that taught me things, websites that make me laugh, places where I met people who later became my "real friends". I think it is good to have diversions at work, granted whilst working in porn, my time online was much more colorful than it could ever be at a hospital. And to be honest the days dragged on into what seemed like years, probably because I didn't have anything to do.

But anyway, at my current job they didn't take to kindly to my time online and I got a written warning on Monday. It is my very first written warning. I can't say that I'm proud. I'm proud that I didn't cry and that I accepted my wrong doings and promised to make a change. So far, I have only gone to 2 different sites. One to find a physician license and one to find the UPIN. I'm detailing everytime I go out of the intranet into the WWW in my outlook calendar. I do that because I have a shared computer and I don't trust my supervisor. My co-worker also was written up, so at least I'm not the only one!

I feel so wasteful of my personal time if I come home and spend an hour online. Damn that work.

I keep thinking that I can create posts at work and then save them to my memory key. That is work related, right?

Pictures!

Canadian Thanksgiving

This weekend I celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving. We all met up at the beach for a long weekend of camping, but since most of us have to work today, it really wasn’t so much a long weekend as an overnight. And it was really all about the food.

Saturday
SNACKS
Chorizo cooked in wine. Fine cheese and crackers. Chips and dip.

DINNER
Garbage can Turkey. After realizing that a turkey will not fit into any affordable Dutch oven Katrina and Scott came up with a baby sized metal garbage can. The turkey was stuffed with bacon and fruit and all sorts of wonderful flavors. The turkey was moist and delicious. We ate every last bite.

Yams with lots of sweet spices simmered in the Dutch oven for many hours.

DESSERT
Banana Boats wrapped in foil. Bananas with a wedge cut out stuffed with peanut and chocolate chips and bits of marshmallow. Toss them in the coals and you’ve got dessert in a short 15 minutes!

Shaggy salty dogs; roasted marshmallows dipped in a can of Hershey’s warming on the fire rolled in coconut and chopped peanuts.

Sunday
BREAKFAST
An orange, hallowed out and filled with gingerbread batter, wrapped in foil cooked on the coals. They were every bit as good as I had hoped. I assume I made them as a girl scout, but I don’t really remember them.

Cinnamon rolls in the can cooked over the fire in a Dutch Oven.

Mimosas

Fresh fruit

LUNCH
Gourmet burgers with aged cheddar cheese cooked over an open fire.

The only bad thing about camping was Dick and Cindy. They were in the site next to us. When they went to bed about 12:30, they carried on for about 2 hours; Cindy going from laughing to crying in her drunken stupor. But Dick really sealed the deal of being the worst camping neighbor ever when he woke Cindy up at 4 because she was snoring. He then proceeded to talk, bitch, complain, whatever at the top of his lungs for about 2 hours. Until he got up to find water, and yogurt without a spoon whilst signing “The Things We Do For Love”. At that point the it was my usual waking time and the sun was almost up and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I wanted more than anything to start singing Rise and Shine and give God your glory, glory, all 20+ versus at 7:00 when Cindy and Dick were sound asleep. I didn’t.

I'll load pictures at home!

Memo To:

To the alarm and its owner
Your alarm started to go off at 8:00 pm Sunday night. By 1:00 am, I was growing weary of the insensate ringing. By 4:00 am I was thinking about calling in sick as I really hadn't slept all night. By 5:10, I was in the shower determined to not let the alarm take away a day of pay. By 5:30, someone else seemed to have been mad enough to draw their weapon. It seems they missed with their random gunshot, as you were still going off when I left for work at 5:45. If you are making even one peep today when I get home, I'm calling the cops. Fucker.

To my new manager:
You start a brand new job today. I hope you like it here. Now that you are here I have 4 managers/supervisors. If I can make one suggestion, we (my department) like it when new people say hello to us it will win you brownie points. Perhaps you could also teach bozo how to be a proper supervisor. Please don't be a bitch with an agenda. Many people in your new department have worked here 20 years or more, use them as a resource instead of a threat.

The smoke gets in your eyes

My truck usually smells like a camp fire. Mainly because we are too damn lazy to unpack all the camping gear just to pack it back up to go camping again. It is a little enjoyable to smell the smells of camping.

unfortunately now the air smells like a camp fire. I work in Burbank and the hills above my employer burned yesterday. 13 miles to the West, the hills are charred and still burning. My truck not only smelled like a fire today, but was also covered in ash.

Friend Rose lives right across the street from the fire command station! If I think it smells bad, just look at her pictures.

I should have worn my glasses today, my contacts don't react well to massive fires.

LOST

I think I like reading the message boards about LOST almost as much as I like watching the show. It reminds me of the initial speculation about the first Survivor on the internet.

Hump Day

I am looking forward to watching LOST tonight! I am also eager to eat a yummy pork roast.

Yesterday we watched the Lords of Dogtown. I really enjoyed the movie. I'm down with the skater boys.

After 12 physical therapy appointments on my shoulder I am not progressing as they would like. Now I get to go to a specialist, for x-rays and an MRI. Call me crazy but in my line of work, we do the diagnostic testing before providing treatment. Whatever, I'm just ready to proceed and get back to my creative life, I'm starting to get depressed.

I'm trying not to post depressing things in my blog. But I really don't have too much going on that isn't depressing.

Weekend wrap up

I woke up at 6:00 yesterday and couldn't go back to sleep. 6 is still over an hour later than normal waking hours but for some reason I can't consider that "sleeping in".

Matt got up with me and we watched 5 hours of Six Feet Under, saving Season 4 finale for later in the day. Well worth the wait. I can see why people didn't enjoy it as much towards the end but we are really enjoying it. I like the character development. I assume the final season will be released just in time for Christmas.

We decided to run errands and go out for bagels. I had an everything bagel with cheese, toasted with cream cheese. It was gross, I'll never stray from my usual again. Matt had is regular salt with cream cheese and Lox.

The rest of the day was spend doing a lot of nothing.

Today I managed to sleep in, or at least until 8. I got up and put a pot roast in the crock pot. I've never made a pot roast, I'm hopefully it will taste ok. We gave the dirty dirty dog a bath. She is now super soft and shiny.

The rest of today has also been filled with a lot of nothing mixed in with bits of uneventful house keeping.

I did make some mean french toast for breakfast! French toast, bacon and mimosas.

I am super duper excited about a job possibility. More to follow.

God Bless America

School Expels Girl for Having Gay Parents
- - - - - - - - - - - -
September 23,2005 ONTARIO, Calif. -- A 14-year-old student was expelled from a Christian school because her parents are lesbians, the school's superintendent said in a letter. Shay Clark was expelled from Ontario Christian School on Thursday.

"Your family does not meet the policies of admission," Superintendent Leonard Stob wrote to Tina Clark, the girl's biological mother. Stob wrote that school policy requires that at least one parent may not engage in practices "immoral or inconsistent with a positive Christian life style, such as cohabitating without marriage or in a homosexual relationship," The Los Angeles Times reported in Friday's edition.

Stob could not be reached for comment by the newspaper. Shay and her parents said they won't fight the ruling.

School administrators learned of the parents' relationship this week after Shay was reprimanded for talking to the crowd during a football game, Tina Clark said. Clark and her partner have been together 22 years and have two other daughters, ages 9 and 19

Deep Thoughts

Are mash ups (bits of 2+ songs molded together into one new creation) actual new songs? Or are they just edits of another's work? My DH (dear husband for you non quiverful folk) thinks they are no more than someone taking someone else's work and calling it their own. I kind of think that they are new creative songs. Is that because he is a musician and I'm just a listener?

What did that Irish guy shoot up in the opener of LOST? Does it have to do with the drug plane? Is it a heroin operation like my friends think? Personally I think that is a little far fetched, but than so are special boys who kill rare birds with their thoughts.

I'm very anxious to finish 6 Ft. Under. Will Ruth divorce her new husband? Will David die? When will Season 5 be out? I hope to wrap up 3 tonight and dig right into 4 this weekend.

I'm seriously sick and tired of going to physical therapy everyday.

I had a longer post written in my head earlier today. I can't remember anything else.

One more show

Just in case you were worried that I was skipping America's Next Top Model don't I'm catching in second run on Sundays.

I missed discussing the girls with my sister last season.

I need one more television

Tonight at 8 there are 3 shows I MUST watch.

LOST the review
So You Think You Can Dance
Martha Stewart

I can live without Marth, so I think that is what I'll skip. Unless I find a television on my way home. Which honestly, in my neighborhood, won't be difficult whether it works or not would be the problem.

I thought about making a special mysterious LOST meal for dinner, but we decided take out instead.

Bits and pieces

I know dirt regarding the "fraud" between Kenny and Renee. It is nice to know people "in the business".

We had dinner at my most very favorite Cuban place. It was delicious. We had beef and chicken empanadas, fried mashed potato balls stuffed with ground beef and a Cuban sandwich. I had a special mojito, I prefer the non special.

Tomorrow we get to meet baby Sophie. She was born last Friday to our friends Linda and Robert. She arrived nine minutes after they walked in the door of the hospital! Go Linda.

Matt is at the dentist, I hope he has as good of a review of his teeth as I did.

We are almost done watching season 3 of 6Ft Under. I had hoped we would finish all that are available before this week, but it didn't happen. I have so many wonderful tv commitments coming up in the next few weeks.

I really, really love So You Think You Can Dance. Survivor seems like it will be entertaining. I do have a thing for the Mayans. I CAN NOT WAIT for LOST. I still have been unable to get anyone at work to watch so therefore no one to discuss the plots and stuff. I do however have a number of coworkers that watch The Amazing Race!

Depending upon the dentist, we may go to the south facing beaches to watch the biggest waves in many years. There was a big storm in N.Z. two weeks ago and the waves have now reached SoCal, coupled with the full moon, they should be pretty great.

Regarding waves, when we were camping last weekend the waves were an amazing color of blue in the middle of the night. I had recently read up on why glaciers are blue, they aren't. The reflect all but the blue color because of how dense they are. I think the crashing of the waves is the same concept. I would have liked to take a picture but it was dark and I didn't want to find the camera.

Reggie 2 - Gator Hunter 0

Need I say more? Also as a side note, when the power went out and the refineries had to burn off excess fuel, the coptercaster refered to the location of the burn off as just down the street from the lake where Reggie lives! HA.

L.A. Still Hunting for Elusive Alligator
- - - - - - - - - - - -
September 13,2005 LOS ANGELES -- Authorities on Tuesday dismissed a claim that a wrangler had nabbed a 7-foot-long alligator named "Reggie" from a city lake, where he had been dumped several months ago and repeatedly avoided capture.

Earlier Tuesday, a man claiming to be wrangler Jay Young, who had been hired by the city, told several media outlets, including The Associated Press, that he had caught the alligator overnight.

That story was cast into doubt when the promised delivery of the alligator to the Los Angeles Zoo never happened. "To the best of my knowledge and all the reports I have received this morning, it was a hoax," said Ron Berkowitz, the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks superintendent, who supervises the area that includes the lake. "I called the zoo to verify and the gator is not there. I called the rangers, the city council office and my staff at the lake. There was no capture."

Reached by phone at his Colorado gator farm later Tuesday, Young said he has not been in Los Angeles recently and that he hadn't called the media earlier in the day. He said the caller apparently was someone impersonating him.

In a written statement later in the day, Young blamed "a jealous ex-employee trying to ruin my reputation." Young had been hired by the city last month and promised to capture the alligator within a few days. He left town on Aug. 18, unable to deliver on his promise.

ALASKA

There are a slew of jobs I am well qualified for in Alaska. They are also higher pay than what I make in LA.

I wonder if Matt could find a fullfilling job in the great white north.

New Job

I think it is time.

we all make mistakes

Yesterday my faux supervisor spent numerous hours looking for errors I've made. She was able to find 16. Considering that I work on about 500 accounts on the regular, 16 errors isn't that bad. Today I got this quote from my daily quote sender.

"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to
determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself.
Otherwise, go on about your business."
*Norman Vincent Peale

I need to work on that. I've never really been good at taking criticism. It all began when I was 15 and working at Skagway, the grocery store in Grand Island, and Judy the bagger supervisor yelled at me for bagging the food wrong. She made me cry.

Tuesday Random

My Doctor's appt was fine. I'm not a big fan of things being inserted in to my nose and down my throat, just so you know. I have Acid reflux, no lump. Now to find a medication I'm not allergic to. Not one physician has mentioned a thing about diet, just pills, it is all about the pills. I'll probably opt for some diet modification and tracking to see if I can make a difference on my own.

Matt and I have been watching Six Feet Under non stop. We are half way done with Season 2.

I can't wait for all the new TV this month. Amazing Race, Survivor, LOST, and all the others I can't think of off the top of my head.

We are camping at the beach this weekend. It will be just the 2 of us, and Emma. We haven't been camping solo in ages. I'm sure we will obsess about Alaska looking at maps and books and daydreaming. It is going to be in the 60's this weekend! I cold camping trip! I can't wait to spend the day by the fire.

I'm nervous about the doctor

A while back I posted about the lump in my throat. Tomorrow I go to the MD to have my throat scoped. I guess they spray down my mouth and throat to numb me and stick a camera down there to check things out.

I'm worried that it is something bad or something that will require further exploration.

And I'm bummed out that I won't be able to talk to my mom following the appointment. Although I am delighted that my parents are on a fantastic 3.5 week vacation to Italy, Greece and Turkey.

Cross your fingers it isn't anything bad.

Dork Alert

Guess who got the LAST ticket? That's right, me! I'm such a dork. Well at least I'm not flying in from Michigan or Washington like the ticket lady said. It should be some good people watching.

Forty Years of Days of Our Lives

Thursday, November 3, 20057:00 to 8:30 p.m.;
reception to follow
Panel:Ken Corday, Executive Producer
Kristian Alfonso, "Hope Williams Brady"
Deidre Hall, "Marlena Evans Black"
Bill & Susan Hayes, "Doug and Julie Williams"
Drake Hogestyn, "John Black"
Peter Reckell, "Bo Brady"
James Reynolds, "Abe Carver"
Moderator:Joe Adalian, Television Editor, Daily Variety

"Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." For forty years viewers of the classic soap opera Days of Our Lives have heard these words intoned by the late Macdonald Carey, one of the show's original stars. More than 10,000 episodes of Days have been produced, making it the longest running scripted program in NBC's history, with only Today and The Tonight Show surpassing its longevity. Members of the cast and creative team will reminisce about the melodramatic events that have occurred in the fictitious town of Salem and will share their favorite memories from Days of Our Lives, which premiered on November 8, 1965.

ALASKA

We are in the process of picking dates and will purchase the tickets THIS WEEK to go to Alaska. I spoke with cousin Tommy yesterday, he gave us a few must see things and also said if we want to camp in his 100 acre woods we are welcome to hang out with him the whole time. 13 days in the great white north.

Too bad it is NINE months away. I wish it were right now.

Have you been to Alaska? What things must I see?

Day 12 Gator Watch 2005

Today is day 12 for Reggie the gator. It seems that once upon a time Reggie lived in the back yard pool of a former LAPD, current narcotic distributor and exotic animal keeper. Reggie got too big and the neighbors complained. So the gator dad did what any one would do when faced with an unwanted pet. He dumped him. He dumped him in a neighborhood lake. According to the news, the gator at any given moment could jump out of the lake and eat all the children in the neighborhood, the children and the dogs and maybe even a parent or two.

They have flown in gator experts from all over the US of A. I had no idea that there is a hot bed of gator activity in Colorado!?! The first dude came out, claimed his expertise to the point that he declined payment unless he caught the damn thing. He failed. The next group of gator hunters are at least from Florida, I see FL as a more likely location for a gator catcher expert to reside. These guys own and operate Gatorland!

So far Reggie the gator has managed to allude the experts. I think he is out looking for an agent or out on auditions. With all this gator coverage he'd be crazy not to!

I had a baby kitty

I rarely remember my dreams, never really have. But every once and a while I do. Like last night.

I was pregnant and had a baby, a baby kitty. She was so cute, just like a little baby Chase-er-meow-meow. My whole family, all my aunts and cousins and everyone came to visit and see my new baby. I had her big unveiling at some sort of sports arena, our seats were way way up.

I was so happy when I woke up, thinking about my new baby kitty.

I'm pretty sure I dreamed of pregnancy since I dealt with a nightmare patient yesterday, a pregnant girl the tender age of 15.

Death of a theremin

I hope that Matt will play a robust tribute with a choir of theremins and moogs for me tonight.

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- Robert A. Moog, whose self-named synthesizers turned electric currents into sound and opened the musical wave that became electronica, has died. He was 71.

Moog died Sunday at his home in Asheville, according to his company's Web site. He had suffered from an inoperable brain tumor, detected in April.

A childhood interest in the theremin, one of the first electronic musical instruments, would lead Moog to a create a career and business that tied the name Moog as tightly to synthesizers as the name Les Paul is to electric guitars.

Despite traveling in circles that included jet-setting rockers, he always considered himself a technician. "I'm an engineer. I see myself as a toolmaker and the musicians are my customers," he said in 2000. "They use the tools."

As a Ph.D. student in engineering physics at Cornell University, Moog -- rhymes with vogue -- in 1964 developed his first voltage-controlled synthesizer modules with composer Herbert Deutsch. By the end of that year, R.A. Moog Co. marketed the first commercial modular synthesizer.

The instrument allowed musicians, first in a studio and later on stage, to generate a range of sounds that could mimic nature or seem otherworldly by flipping a switch, twisting a dial, or sliding a knob. Other synthesizers were already on the market in 1964, but Moog's stood out for being small, light and versatile.

The arrival of the synthesizer came as just as the Beatles and other musicians started seeking ways to fuse psychedelic-drug experiences with their art. The Beatles used a Moog synthesizer on their 1969 album, "Abbey Road"; a Moog was used to create an eerie sound on the soundtrack to the 1971 film "A Clockwork Orange".

Keyboardist Walter (later Wendy) Carlos demonstrated the range of Moog's synthesizer by recording the hit album "Switched-On Bach" in 1968 using only the new instrument instead of an orchestra.

"Suddenly, there was a whole group of people in the world looking for a new sound in music, and it picked up very quickly," Deutsch, the Hofstra University emeritus music professor who helped develop the Moog prototype, said in a 2000 interview with The Associated Press.

The popularity of the synthesizer and the success of the company named for Moog took off in rock as extended keyboard solos in songs by Manfred Mann, Yes and Pink Floyd became part of the progressive sound of the 1970s.

"The sound defined progressive music as we know it," said Keith Emerson, keyboardist for the rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

Along with rock, synthesizers developed since Moog's breakthrough helped inspire elements of 1970s funk, hip-hop, and techno.

Charles Carlini, a New York City concert promoter, staged Moogfest in May 2004 to mark a half-century since Moog founded his first company while still in college. Emerson, Rick Wakeman of Yes, and Bernie Worrell of Parliament/Funkadelic were among those who played, and a second Moogfest was held a year later.

Moog had "this absent-minded professorial way about him," Carlini said. "He's like an Einstein of music," Carlini said. "He sees it like, there's a thought, an idea in the air, and it passes through him. Passing through him, he's able to build these instruments."

"A lot of people today don't realize what this man brought to the masses," Carlini said. "He brought electronic music to the masses and changed the way we hear music." But the now-pervasive synthesizer's ability to mimic strings, horns, and percussion has also threatened some musicians.

In 2004, musicians extracted a promise from the Opera Company of Brooklyn to never again use an advanced kind of synthesizer, called a virtual orchestra machine, in future productions.

Born in 1934 in New York City, Moog paid for his studies at Queens College and Columbia University by building and marketing theremins, which are played by passing the hand through and around vibrating radio tubes. Theremins were used create the spooky "eww-woo-woo" sounds on the soundtracks of science fiction films such as "The Day the Earth Stood Still."
He went on to attach his name to a long list of synthesizers developed over the years -- among them Micromoog, Minitmoog, Multimoog and Memorymoog.

Moog, who had set up shop in suburban Buffalo, New York, sold R.A. Moog in 1973 and moved five years later to a remote plot outside Asheville, a scenic Appalachian Mountain city and center for new-age pursuits that Rolling Stone magazine once dubbed "America's new freak capital."

A deliberate man with brushed-back white hair and a breast pocket packed with pens, Moog drove an aging Toyota painted with a snail, vines and a fish blowing bubbles.

"When I drive that thing around, people smile at me," he said. "I really feel I'm enhancing the environment."

He spent the early 1990s as a research professor of music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville before turning full-time to running his new instrument business, which was renamed Moog Music in 2002. The roster of customers includes Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, Beck, Phish, Sonic Youth and Widespread Panic.

Moog is survived by his wife, Ileana; his children, Laura Moog Lanier, Matthew Moog, Michelle Moog-Koussa and Renee Moog; a stepdaughter, Miranda Richmond; and his former wife, Shireleigh Moog.

A public memorial is scheduled for Wednesday in Asheville.

Mondays

It was a beautiful weekend. The weather was nice and hot, but not too hot. I didn't really do anything this weekend. Which means nothing really to report.

Today should be an interesting day. I'm alone in my department of 5. They are firing someone in minutes, and I don't get to attend my luncheon meeting.

I do however have some cinnamon swirl bread to eat at breakfast, I'm looking forward to that!

I made berry crisp yesterday. Fresh blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. It was very good.

I have recently started using MSN money, I'm a bit obsessed.

Shooting Stars

Matt and I did not get up and watch the shooting stars last Friday. We opted to stay asleep. I think next year we'll have to plan a camping trip, then there is no excuses.

I swear I'm not sickly

I feel like I've been spending too much time at the doctor. Yesterday I was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis aka tennis elbow and golfer's elbow, ICD-9 726.32. Since I play neither golf nor tennis I didn't get this the fun way, it is all work related. I wonder if back in 10th grade when I failed (a big fat F) both tennis and golf if that was some sort of foreshadowing into my future issues. But anyway, I also have tendonitis of the shoulder, ICD-9 726.0. I start PT on Wednesday. And in the meantime, I get to wear a big old brace on my arm. Cool.

I swapped my mouse to my left hand in hopes that I can continue to click away without pain. It'll take some getting use to clicking with the left.

I hope to finish up my physician appointments in September, one with lump doctor and then a few follow ups with the other mds.

I should have put aside more pretax dollars for this year.

In other health news, my foster sister is dying. She has bone cancer and was given the you've got 5 years speach a few weeks ago. She was going to radation therapy and her walker collapsed and she fell and hit her head. She went to ratation and came home, all was fine. She went to lay down for a nap and started to vomit. She has a bleed in her brain and has less than a week to live.

A question of eyes

When someone has a totally lazy eye, like looking at the wall over there lazy, where do you look when speaking to them? My intake nurse at my dr. appt had a lazy eye. It freaks me out a little bit.

Thunderstorm

We had a thunderstorm last night. Normally that isn't a big deal, especially growing up in the midwest, but in Southern California is it like an blizzard struck. Everyone at work is all abuzz, did you hear it, did it wake you up, were your pets going crazy.

Yes to all of the above. Matt and Chase-er-meow-meow slept through it.

In comparison to the midwest storms, it was pretty lame. It was nice to listen to the rain and hail in the middle of the night, much better than waking up because it is too hot to sleep.

excel

I love to use excel. I like to think that I'm pretty good at it, especially since people always come ask me how do you do .... in excel. I usually know.

Today I am going to figure out how to build a macro to convert physician id numbers into names. I work off 2 reports on the regular, one has the actual name one has the id #. It is pain in the ass to always pull up the report that tells me the md name and flip back and forth to see the converted number to name.

Almost the weekend!

TGIF!

This weekend I plan to do a number of things:

BBQ with friends on Saturday, swimming, ribs and fun.

Take pictures of the crazy development in my neighborhood. I think they are trying to make my hood the grove, north. (the grove is a shopping mall they plopped right in the middle of a neighborhood in another part of town, its nice and all but it changes a place when they put in a mall) I think there are at least 5 new high rise (ok 5+ stories) apartments and 2 malls in the process of being built all within 4 blocks of me. I will post pictures.

Work on the floor cloth I am painting. It is gesso'd and I'm in the process of deciding a pattern. I'm messy with my clay and I'm tired of picking it out of the carpet. I'll post pictures of this as well.

We are planning to set the alarm for 1:30 am tonight and get up and drive out to the darkness to watch shooting stars. It sounds like a good plan, we'll see if we actually get up and do it.

Hooray weekends!

jobs suck

I don't like my job right now.

We have a new supervisor for my department. He started while I was on vacation in June. I don't think he likes me. I'll know more after our meeting tomorrow.

My faux supervisor is in the final rounds of interviews for a new job. Since I started work, I've been told I'm next in line for her position. She finished school last fall and has finially started interviewing. God willing, she will get the job. And I will get hers. It isn't really a job I want. But then, I really can't think of a job a WANT. But it is higher pay... so whatever.

I hope that I am not emotional tomorrow. Normally I have a pretty good handle on my emotions at work. But last week and today not so much.

The monkey chair

A few years ago I purchased a great chair with yucky fabric that was very scratchy. My kitty cat loved it!

Last spring the hot style in upholstery fabric was monkeys and all things ape. We'll if you have ever been to our home, or spent any quality time with my husband, or heard his band, you would know that there is a monkey theme running through our lives. Our home oozes monkey love.

I brought home 7 monkey fabric swatches (not all that were available!) we settled on one and the project began.




note Chase-er-meow-meow checking things out


Me ripping the old layers off, I stopped counting the nails after 500, for real!


beautiful naked chair


the early steps

Ta Da!!!

new curtains

I am making new curtains for the living room window. The window is big, 60 inches long and 105 across. I currently have 3 panels. I think I'll either make 2 or 4 this time around.

Katrina are going to go get fabric tomorrow. I'm planning on a nice creamy brownish linen and some creamy sheer. My goal is to do some stripes of the sheer into the linen. I just need to decided horizontal or vertical. Vertical would add some height and you couldn't see any potential none straight lines because of the folds.

I hope the Iranian guy will sell me the linen for $5 a yard like he did the last time! 70 in linen for $5/yard! I love the fabric district.

I also want to redo a chair. I don't think I'll go as far as I did with the chair I took down to the frame, I'll just make a nice cover. I'll look for fabric ideas tomorrow.

I'm so eager to paint, I'm thinking that Labor day weekend will be perfect!

Acute Allgeric Reaction

Remember a while back I posted about the lump in my throat. My dr. has been trying new medications on me to see if an acid reducer will reduce the lump. She gave me 15 days of free samples, hoping that I would get an appt with the ear, nose & throat dr. in the meantime. I wan't able to get an appoitment until 7 weeks later. So I requested a new pill to tide me over. 3 days later I'm in the emergency room suffering from an acute allgeric reaction. It sounds worse, because I just really have hives, but upon the advice of our employee health, and my pcp office, I walked on over. I guess these thing can take a bad bad turn for the worst in no time.

I was oredered to stay home yesterday and I was given a variety of drugs to counteract the second round of drugs. So lump remains, my shoulders and neck itch like crazy and I can't stay awake for more than a few hours.

I think I will forgo any other remidies for my lumpiness. I will just wait for the ear, nose & throat to scope my throat and hopefully the lump will go away.

DSL and life

For the first time we can now talk on the phone and be online! OMG, so exciting. Of course if I had a cell phone I could have done it all along. It is so much faster than dial up. No longer will people laugh and point and say you're so dial up, just like in the commercial.

My job kind of sucks right now. I'm frustrated by systems, personnel, our sales rep, and the physicians. At least I'm no longer doing 3 jobs, I'm back to just mine and 80% of my co-workers. Oh well, at least they got some teen volunteers to help me 4 hours a day 3 times a week. That'll fix the problem.

In good news, the old Roman is back, Marlena has lost her memory, Sammie is in the sewer looking for her evidence, and Kate will get hers on Friday. I do love the 40 minutes a day watching the ever so clever Days of Our Lives. My most favorite is when Katrina comes over and watches it with me on Fridays. We laugh and laugh. I always forget that I don't need to fill her in because they always recap, good times. My favorite days page.

World's Shortest Personality Test

You are funky, outdoorsy, and down to earth. While you may not be a total hippie... You're definitely one of the most free spirited people around. You are very impulsive - every day is a new adventure. However, you do put some thought behind all your actions. Still, you do tend to shock and offend people from time to time!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

I miss our friends

Tonight Matt and I went to our favorite neighborhood restaurant. It is a great corner spot, huge patio, good food, great prices, happy hour... Everything you would want in a neighborhood joint. Tonight the breeze was perfect, the company of course was wonderful, and the sunset reflection off the building across the street was beautiful. And for some reason there was also a 2 piece band and an independent animation film festival going on. The band was so-so and we didn't want to wait for dark to see the films.

But, it made me miss our friends.

In the past, I would IM with my friend Molly and we'd decide that she'd take the train to my hood. Her husband, Ben, would drive over and the four of us would walk over for dinner. We'd always have such a good time with both of them. They moved to North Carolina in February, we miss them.

Coolest postcards EVER!

You MUST check out my sister's blog http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com She has made an awesome series of bird themed quilt postcards! They Rock!

Can't you just picture them in a soft book for little kids! Add some great prose and you have a best seller.

Website updated

I updated my website yesterday! http://www.jjmhandcrafted.com I added some new projects and some pictures. I had hoped to add even more, but without the DSL I don't have the patience to upload. They say I'll get my modem tomorrow, and the DSL should be active by Thursday. I'm not holding my breath, I'm still not sure why it has taken 2.5 weeks for this to happen.

Things about this week:
My morning break partner is on vacation so this week I'm breaking with Chrissy.
My HGTV show airs again on Wednesday.
Payday
My last Service Ambassador meeting for the 2004-05 year.
Our friend Michael's birthday, sushi, and some DVD making.

For dinner:
A massive chicken breast from our friends the meat dealers. Grilled, it is still too hot for the oven. Green beans and a salad.

I'm off to break, I hope to have the will power to deny the delish hashbrown tater tots.

New adventure

My friend Katrina came over to hang out yesterday afternoon. I mentioned that I've been obsessing about branching off from my clay to work on a new business venture.

My friend Kathleen is getting married in November. I have been fortunate enough to help her select a wedding dress, there are some beautiful dresses out there, and some beautiful veils. The veils range from $125 to $1000+. Huh? $1000 for some beads and $.50 a yard material? I can do that. I made my veil for my wedding. I'll scan a picture and post later. (for some reason the only picture folder I didn't move from the old computer is the wedding??? so sad)

So anyway, I'm also a bit obsessed with wedding shows, all except for a wedding story, that one sucks. The bridal industry is HOT. And as of yet, unsaturated with 1000's of new companies getting in the mix. Katrina and I are going to become the best bridal veil creators in the world. We have tons of great ideas. Fun and funky bachlorette party veils, fancy veils with feather plumes, simple and elegant! I'm totally excited.

For research we are going to go pretend we are brides and try on wedding dresses.

HOT

It it too hot to write anything interesting. It is over 100 AGAIN.

Acid Reflux

My MD believes I have acid reflux. The lump in my throat is most likely my vocal cords inflamed by acid. Or it is something else altogether. I have to make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor. They will scope my throat and view my lump. Or not. I have to take a prescription antacid for 2 weeks, and ideally in that time I can cancel the ear, nose, throat appointment.

Matt's last album was entitled Acid Reflux. You can listen to a tune at www.apehaskilledape.com